#ALL CULT LEADERS SUFFER EVENTUALLY

[orderofthe-pyramids]

THIS IS TO ALL THE DIVINEKIN WHO ENCOURAGE WORSHIP ON THEIR BLOGS

*inhale*

YOU’RE WEIRD AND ENCOURAGING PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO BOTH PARTIES

[the-artist-grimm]

Closeup plus basic notes of the lamb's room from my Starfall comic! Anthea's got a room in the attic of the temple

Also extra notes! Placing under Read More just to keep things tidy

The One Who Waits Alter

Anthea started worshipping TOWW shortly after entering Ratau's care. The rat hadn't exactly planned on telling his freshly orphaned, somewhat traumatized ward that their new guardian was previously a cult leader, but Anthea discovered some of his old books on the lost 5th Bishop of Death one day and Ratau was left little choice but to explain. The book was an exact copy of an extremely old, likely from right before Narinder was imprisoned, text that depicted the god of death as a kind, patient being, which for the lamb whose family had died in the most violent way possible quickly became a comfort. It contrasted Ratau's own memories of a somewhat more reserved, stern god, but since it made Anthea happier he decided to let it be. Anthea hasn't missed a nightly prayer ever since, and still does it before bed despite now having direct access to the god himself. The layout was one they read from that old book, which stated that a pentagram wreath was to hang between an evenly divided four candles. Unwritten however was the reasoning-the center was Death, and on either side his siblings who ruled over Life. They were meant to be lit in honor of the siblings who took care of the mortals Narinder would eventually receive after death.

Stars and Starmap

Back when he was still alive the lamb's father, Aries, would take Anthea with him on supply runs knowing they didn't get much one on one time otherwise with their younger siblings around. They'd sometimes be out overnight so the two would go stargazing, and its something the lamb still holds dear. Their original copy of the book, 'A Story of Stars' was one of his last gifts to them which even while he was alive Anthea was super careful with it since books are hard to get, but their brothers kinda colored all over it while Anthea was out gathering supplies shortly after his death one time. The lamb played it off and shared with them after as a 'oh they're little and just miss dad its ok' type of thing, but it was kinda reluctantly, with them being secretly upset about it whenever they saw scribbles all over their favorite illustrations while reading to the kids. It burned with their old life, and now Anthea would give anything to have those scribbled pages back.

Sleep Potions and Herbs

The lamb suffers from sleep problems and often brews their own remedies. They know not to take them often since they're kinda really strong-like once they kick in they literally just pass out, but they keep them around for when nightmares get bad. They know a few other remedies from Flinky, since he used to double as both Ratau's right hand and cult medic. Antidotes, pain tonics, basic essentials for when you don't have a doctor.

The Crown

Gonna make a silly doodle comic but after an uh...awkward incident with Narinder calling the lamb while they were dressing one morning the two made a deal in regards to his being able to see through the crown-if the crown is off and facing a wall it means the lamb needs privacy and he's to try again later or until they call back unless told otherwise. Look he may be a bit of a grumpy god but Shamura raised at least one brother to be a gentleman lol

Hope Chest

In sheep culture weaving/knitting with wool was a huge thing, especially for ewes, like most learned from the time they could walk from their mothers. After coming of age most would start keeping a chest they'd gradually fill with handmade linens, blankets, ect. for their future homes after marriage, and it was something Ratau encouraged Anthea to do since he didn't want them to just drop their culture. They still got a loom over at his place since it's hard to move, though they do have knitting needles in the chest.

Books

Books are somewhat hard to come by if you're not in one of the Bishops' cults where they have scribes so Anthea tends to collect any and all they find

Ratau's Family Crest

Given to the lamb on their 18th birthday. Rats have family crests tattooed onto their foreheads at 18, and since he'd essentially adopted Anthea Ratau thought it was fitting to give them something similar but not permanent. It fell off during their execution, but they made sure to go back and grab it after downing the heretics that attacked after resurrection. They still wear it now under their tunic

[ghouljams]

The Church of the Broken God (chapter 2)

Words: 5k Tags: Eventual John Price x reader, public masturbation, brainwashing, doublespeak, indoctrination, f!reader, passively suicidal ideation, self destructive habits, horrible bosses, depressed!reader, Cult Leader!Price Summary: Your life has been on a downward spiral for months. It's hard to find a real reason to keep going when everything you do seems to backfire. That is, until you get a flier for a meditation seminar that promises to fix all your problems.

<- prev chapter | next chapter ->

These women are… super nice. You don’t know why it puts you on edge. They’re not doing anything wrong. They buy each other drinks, compliment each other, they’re attentive listeners and laugh at every joke you make. You offer to buy a round, the same as they’ve been doing for you, and you’re not met with a rush to stop you. They look pleased, shoot off thanks and smile the same as they did for the other women. You feel like you’re doing the right thing, you don’t know why it makes your stomach squirm. Maybe you’re just not used to people doing nice things for you.

“You ok?” Nina asks, leaning over the table to frown at you, “you’ve gone all quiet.”

“Yeah, uh, I guess I’m just not used to crowds anymore.” You attempt to cover.

“It’s the compliments isn’t it?” Cassie jumps in, Nina waves her off.

“No, no!” You hold up your hands to defend yourself, “Those are really nice, you’re all really nice! I’m just not-”

“Used to it?” Nina finishes with a wince, “I wasn’t either, it was super awkward the first time I came out for drinks, you remember?”

“Oh my God so awkward, you were like a robot.” Cassie laughs, it takes some of the weight off your shoulders.

“But you get what you put out into the world, y’know? You give kindness, you get it in return, that’s what John says.” Nina nods, she crosses her arms and leans back against the booth. She feels serious, her jaw set and her brows drawn. “I was in a really dark place when I first took John’s class, it felt like I was living a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. My friends were drifting away, my fiance was cheating on me-” She shakes her head, you wince at how closely your situation matches, “-I was so bitter and it made me mean, I get why no one wanted to be around me.”

“Nina-” Cassie sighs, her sympathy obvious. Nina waves her off again, sitting forward to grab her drink.

“Whatever, it’s in the past now.” Nina mutters, your heart aches for her. You set a hand on her shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze. She smiles at you. It feels… good. You can see yourself in her, your pain and suffering. It’s a weight that she carries the same as you. “Kyle really helped me a lot, Christ I owe him a whole bakery.”

“Nina!” Cassie squeals, shoving at her. Nina’s shoulder bumps against you, warm. Camaraderie. Did you forget what it was like to have friends? When was the last time you saw your own? The last time they laughed with each other, with you? “You’re so bad,” Cassie laughs.

“What? He’s hot!” Nina laughs back. You feel a little left out. Your stomach clenches.

“Sorry, who’s Kyle?” You ask, “Your boyfriend?”

“She wishes,” Cassie snorts into her drink. Nina shoves at her.

“He’s a counselor, life coach sort of guy.” Nina explains, “He has a class at the rec center on Wednesdays-” Claire’s phone pings “-honestly it’s worth going just to see him, God I wanna make a sandwich out of that man.”

“I’m gonna hit the bathroom,” Claire announces. You glance at the other women at the table. None of them move. Weird, you would have thought women this close would be biting at the bit to accompany her. You always used the buddy system with your friends. Especially at bars. In fact the other women at the table seem to ignore her, only acknowledging her enough to move out of the way. 

You guess there’s a black sheep in every friend group. You know the feeling. You tap your fingers against the table watching her retreat to the bathroom. You don’t have a good feeling about letting her go alone. Nina’s insistence on “putting kindness into the world” or whatever is running through your head and you just… you can’t let her be on the outskirts of the friend group alone. You’re not even really part of it, but everyone is being so nice- you won’t be the reason this girl is left out.

“Oh um, I’m gonna ask the bartender something,” You tell the girl on your left, shit what was her name “can you-?

“Sure!” She pushes herself out of the booth to let you out, quickly cozying up next to Nina when you vacate the spot. You glance at the table over your shoulder as you make your way towards the bar, then make a hard turn towards the bathrooms. No one’s paying attention to you, that’s good.

You push the bathroom door open, trying to be quiet in case Claire’s shy. You’ll just, uh, wash your hands and pretend you’re fixing your outfit when she comes out. Nothing weird about that. Totally normal thing that people do, and not like you’re waiting for her to come out of the stall so you can- What? Commiserate about being left out? Ugh, you don’t know why you even-

There’s a distinct, wet, noise coming from one of the stalls. A ‘shlick, shlick’ sound that you recognize all too easily. You catch the bathroom door to keep it from slamming and cover your mouth. Fingers sliding against a wet slit, a soft huff of a stifled moan, and the quiet low rumble of a man’s voice. Deep and throaty, she’s on the phone with someone, or listening to something. You can’t tell which, what you can tell is that Claire --the girl who had seemed almost too shy to ask you to join them--  is masturbating in a public bathroom. And you’re standing there listening. You’re not sure which is worse. It squirms like bile in your stomach, you’re intruding, you’re being a creep. Your own cunt clenches. 

A quiet whimper leaves Claire’s mouth and you rush back out of the bathroom. You catch the door a second time to make sure she doesn’t hear it slam, then you press yourself against it. You fan your face, try to get your breathing right, fix your face. Fix your damn face! You press your hands to your cheeks, and squeeze your eyes shut. Oh my God.

You make your way back to the table, doing your best to avoid looking at anyone. The girl who moved for you initially lights up when she sees you, hopping out of the booth and ushering you in. You feel a little awkward sliding into the middle with Nina, but you don’t want to cause a fuss with so many people watching you. Good lord do they all have to look at you? 

“Did the bartender have what you were looking for?” Nina asks. Your eyes dart to her.

“The- oh, uh, no. I was wondering if he had a phone charger.” You cover quickly.

“I have a power bank you can use,” Cassie offers. You open your mouth to turn her down before remembering that would blow your story out of the water.

“Sure.” You relent, forcing a smile onto your face. 

“No problem,” Cassie chirps, digging through her purse to tug a power bank and two different chargers free, “it feels good to do nice things for people, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” you agree absentmindedly, fussing with the charger and plugging your phone in. An alert for a non-branded charger pops up and you quickly dismiss it. 

The conversation moves on to other topics, but you hardly pay attention. Your eyes are glued to the bathroom door, waiting for Claire. When she does finally exit she looks the same as when she left. No ruddy cheeks, no guilty glances around, no rumpled shirt or anything that would give away what she was doing in the bathroom. You try not to narrow your eyes as they flick over her body. You don’t want to look like you’re checking her out, you just want proof that you heard what you heard.

“Welcome back,” Someone says, and Claire beams at them.

“Who’s buying the next round?” Claire asks.

You drift in and out of conversation. Someone offers to split an uber with you, apparently they live in the same building. You wonder how you never noticed them before, but they hug you before you get off the elevator.

“It was nice to connect with you,” She hums, “it feels nice being part of something, doesn’t it?”

You don’t get a chance to answer before the doors close.

-

Wednesday, you think, flipping through your phone while you brush your teeth. Nina said her life coach guy was on wednesdays right? Curious, you check the rec center’s website.

“For the Whole You!” The site banner reads in friendly font. You scroll down to their calendar. There’s a lot of pictures of people smiling, a pie chart of something, testimonials, blah blah blah. The calendar is easy to read at least. And packed. It looks like meditations happen every three days, you spot John’s name easily. Price, huh, that’s a cool last name. Wednesdays… 

You click on the only Kyle you see, and a page pops up with- Christ- one of the most beautiful men you’ve ever seen. Kyle Garrick, life coach with a masters in psychology. That doesn’t sound too bad. You thought life coaches were just con men in ripped jeans, but this guy seems like he might actually know what he’s talking about. John’s name pops up again, a short anecdote from Kyle about serving with him. Huh. That’s kind of interesting you guess. 

You think back on the meditation lesson you’d attended, the power that John seemed to carry in simple actions, the musculature, the way he’d pinned you in place with a single tilt of his head. Military fits you guess. You click on his class and tap your fingers against the side of your phone as you think. The class has a helpful registration counter at the side, letting you know there’s one spot left for the wednesday evening class. It’s not like you have anything else going on, and it’ll fill your usual therapy slot. It’s twenty for a single class. That’s not too bad, less than therapy co-pays. You make an account on the site, begrudgingly signing up for their email list, and send twenty dollars into the void. 

You get an email from Kyle about an hour later as you’re scrolling through instagram, avoiding looking at the time. It feels pretty standard, welcoming a new person, attaching a survey on what you want to work on. You type out a few quick words promising you’ll get to it in the morning. Your email pings a few minutes later.

“You must be an insomniac, just tackle it now.” You narrow your eyes at the screen, “Might help you sleep to accomplish a task before bed.” 

What sort of weird logic- fine. You squint at the questionnaire, typing out your answers as best you can. Honest enough to get some advice but not honest enough to get sent to the hospital has always been your MO with these things. This one is sort of weird, but you’re exhausted, too sleep-addled to pay proper attention.

Are you lonely? Do you ever feel out of place? Do you have dreams where you act as someone else? Have you heard of the law of attraction? When someone says they feel “connected” to you, how does that make you feel?

Do you ever feel talked over?

Do you ever feel pushed out of conversations? Do you find it hard to accept yourself?

Are you on the path you want to be?

You rub your eyes, typing as best you can. 

Where do you see improvement for yourself?

Describe yourself in one negative word.

You type, and type. It feels never ending. Worse than the insomnia that keeps you up. It’s nearly two hours later when you finish. You send it off to Kyle without another thought, and snuggle down into your blankets. You’re so tired.

Your phone buzzes. You roll over to check it. Another email from Kyle.

“Thanks, this looks great! :)” You sigh. At least your work checks out. That’s good, you’re sure it’s just an auto-response, but you appreciate it nonetheless. Another message pops up. Your email alerting you to a new response in the chain.

“How long have you had trouble sleeping? I know a few good remedies.” You sigh, the screen hurts your eyes. You don’t know what inspires you to reply, why you don’t simply roll over to sleep. The attention is nice, you suppose.

“A few months. What’s your miracle cure?” You stare at your phone, let the blue light laser its way over your eyes. The screen dims, you tap it to keep your phone awake. To keep you awake. 

“Have you heard of sleep restriction therapy?”

-

Your morning has never felt more miserable. You barely slept and you had to upgrade your usual tea to an instant coffee. You’re nursing the brown sludge that you managed to scrape together from the break room’s limited stores when your least favorite manager swings by your cubicle.

“Did you finish the reports I asked for?” Kevin asks. You do your best to keep your face neutral as you sip your scalding caffeine.

“I told you they’d take me until the end of the day.” You remind him, “It’s nine in the morning.” Nevermind that he’s swinging into the office a full hour late, but you know for a fact that you promised the updated numbers by five today. You have the email to prove it.

“Oh,” Kevin makes a face, his teeth grit as he exhales through them, “I was really hoping you’d work on them last night.”

“Outside of work hours.” You confirm, trying not to sound too much like you’re questioning his less than sound judgement.

Kevin sighs your name with a shake of his head, “You know you’re not going to get very far in this company if you don’t care about your work.”

You take a deep breath through your nose, inhaling as much coffee vapor as you can stomach. It does nothing to calm you down. You can’t be expected to deal with this level of bullshit on practically zero sleep. Maybe you should look into that sleep therapy Kyle sent you, you really can’t keep living like this.

“I care about my work Kevin,” You tell him with as much of a smile as you can manage, “I’ll have the reports to you as soon as possible.”

“Atta-girl,” Kevin praises, snapping his finger to hit you with a nauseating pair of finger guns before moseying back to his office.

If you thought reporting him to HR would do anything you might consider it. As it stands you’ve already tried that twice and gotten nowhere. It just made him more dedicated to making your work life hell. Crazy how they always talk about retaliation in the “Hostile work environment” training videos, but no one seems to give a shit about it when it’s happening to you.

You spend the next two hours swearing at the mess of spreadsheets that Kevin emailed you yesterday. If he’d bothered to clean any of the sheets up it would’ve made your life a hell of a lot easier. You don’t even want to think about how many cells could’ve been saved if he knew how to use just one function. You can feel the start of a migraine pressing against the back of your eyes by the time your stomach is starting to growl at you about lunch.

You glance away from your monitor to rub your eyes, try to get some of the blurry tilt out of them. Your bag sits on the desk next to you, deliriously empty. Fuck.

Fuck that’s right, you’d decided to skip packing a lunch this morning because you were running late for your train. 

With a heavy sigh you check your lunch options just as your phone pings.

It’s an unknown number, weird.

You swipe the message open to delete it and pause.

“Hey, it’s Nina! I saw you work near me and was wondering if you’d want to grab lunch?”

You blink at your phone screen. How the hell would she know where you work?

Your sluggish brain clicks away as your stomach churns nervously. You guess Cassie works at the rec center, she’d see applications that come through, membership stuff. Maybe Cassie gave it to her? Nina was the one who suggested you sign up for Kyle’s class, maybe Cassie wanted to, you don’t know, spread the good news of your signing up?

Your head throbs.

You’re not really operating at 100% right now, you’re not sure you want to interact with someone who seems to have their life together.

“My treat?” Nina double texts you.

Alright, you can pretend to be a human being for free lunch.

You’re almost relieved to see Nina has a little darkness under her eyes, purple sleeplessness that she’s tried to hide with concealer. It makes you feel a little better for your own sluggish brain to think that she might be tired too. 

“I know this is probably totally weird,” She laughs when you greet her with a raised hand, “You’re probably like, oh my god this bitch is a stalker, how does she know where I work?”

“I figure Cassie gave it to you, because I signed up for your favorite class.” You yawn, as she nods.

“That’s smart,” She says nothing about your second yawn, “wouldn’t have been my first thought.” You hum, before deciding a verbal answer is friendlier.

“Yeah, I mean it seemed sort of weird, but you don’t strike me as the stalker type.”

“Tell my ex-fiance that,” Nina says with an eye roll, “ask to share your location one time- of course I was right to be a stalker but…”

You snort and she positively beams at you. You have to squint to avoid blinding yourself in the sunshine of it. She links her arm with yours and tugs you along to walk with her. You do your best not to tug your arm out from her hold, not used to being touched so casually.

“So what are you in the mood for?” She asks, leading you down the street.

“I’m not picky,” You tell her, trying to be easy. You could really go for something warm right now, you think you might be coming down with something.

“You look exhausted,” Nina coos sympathetically, “Maybe you should go home instead. Rest.”

You rub your eye with the heel of your hand and shake your head. “I’ve got a lot to get done today.”

“Surely your boss won’t mind you taking some sick time?” She sounds so sincere, you feel bad when you bark out a laugh. Nina frowns, “One of those, huh?” You sigh, letting yourself feel the heaviness in your limbs like a sick indulgence.

“Just a few more hours,” You assure her, “Then I can go home and sleep.”

“Let’s get something good in you before then.” Nina nods to herself.

Nina orders for you and sets a steaming bowl of rice and saucy vegetables in front of you. It smells heavenly, like ginger and coconut, and there’s little crispy bits of something sprinkled on top. She has a salad, and shakes it vigorously in front of her while you mix up the yellow curry and rice. Even just the thought of the food’s warm steam settling in your stomach energizes you. You glance at Nina and she’s got her head bowed. 

You-

Pause. 

A little awkward in the face of what must be prayer. You’re not quite sure if you’re supposed to start without her, or if that’s rude. You don’t know the protocol for this. After a moment she raises her head and blinks at you.

“Oh my gosh, were you waiting for me?” She asks, scandalized. You nod, unsure what to do with your hands. You settle on spooning a heap of curry and rice into your mouth. You figure that’s fine since she’s done. “That’s really sweet of you,” She smiles. She doesn’t give you any indication if this was the right thing to do. You stare at your bowl and chew.

“I was going to invite you to hang at the rec center after work,” Nina starts, waving her fork with a sigh, “but I don’t want you to push yourself if you’re exhausted.”

“Do people hang out at the rec center?” You question, trying to remember if you saw other people there when you went yesterday. It had seemed fairly empty, almost abandoned, but maybe you’d been too focused on getting to your class to notice anything else. The class was full, so there must have been other people hanging around.

“Of course,” Nina gives you a look like you’re crazy for asking, “like all the time. It’s a nice spot just to chill and see people. John doesn’t mind us hanging around.”

John. That was the meditation instructor’s name, wasn’t it? It’s pretty common, you doubt it’s the same guy. Why would an instructor mind if people hung around anyway? Cassie had pointed you towards a lounge area last night so there must be more of those to steal for chatting.

“The meditation instructor?” You ask dumbly. It’s not the question you want to ask, but it’s the only thing that sticks on your tongue. Nina hums her assent.

“He runs the place.” She explains, “he’s super nice, really cares about bringing people together, building community, connections.”

She says the word like it means something: connections. It sticks in your sluggish mind, but doesn’t raise any red flags.

“Sounds like a good guy.” You shove another bite into your mouth.

“He is.” Nina tells you. Tells you, like she’s demanding you try and disagree with her.

You blink. There’s a coldness to her face, there and gone. She smiles, and tucks into her salad.

Maybe she’s got a thing for him. You make a note not to say anything bad about him to her.

He seemed nice, good looking, she could do worse.

You suppress a shiver at the memory of his hands on you, pushing you forward and pulling you back like it was the most natural thing in the world. His touch is the first you’ve had in a long time that didn’t make you cringe and want to squirm away. Actually his class was the most relaxed you’ve been in, well, ever and the short nap you’d taken was probably the best sleep you’d had in months. You’d almost be willing to give up on going straight home after work if you knew John was going to be at the rec center, maybe you could slip in another meditation workshop?

You want to ask Nina about it, but you also don’t want to give her the wrong idea. If she does have a crush on the guy, it’s probably not great to ask too many questions about John if you want to stay in her good graces. 

“Right,” You try, “yeah his class was great, and I’m, uh, looking forward to Kyle’s class too.” Not your best subject change, but Kyle’s name makes Nina light up.

“Oh yeah, you’re going to love it!” She assures you.

“Yeah, I- yeah,” The attitude shift has you a little stunned, your molasses thoughts stick to your tongue as you try to collect them, “He sent me this huge questionnaire last night, it was really, um, in depth?” You try to remember one of the questions but wading through your mind is difficult with so little sleep.

“Well,” Nina stabs her fork into her salad, you flinch at each punctuating crunch of lettuce, “he has to get to know you, silly, so he can help you.” You stir your curry in jerking motions, for something to occupy your hands. “You can’t pull yourself out of a hole,” Nina tells you with a blank smile, “someone has to throw you a rope.”

-

You were almost happy to get back to work. Kevin chewed you out about taking too long a lunch, and you were probably going to get an ulcer from all the tylenol you took, but you were happy getting away from Nina. She’d chatted your ear off about Kyle and somehow didn’t answer a single one of your questions about him. Not that you had any chance to get a word in edgewise. You couldn’t handle the perky tone in her voice by the time your lunch ended. At least you didn’t have to pay for your own food.

You manage to get Kevin his spreadsheets before five. You still leave the office late and thankless.

You doze on the train home, your head tugging at your neck each time the doors opened, and you barely make it into your house before you’re collapsing on the couch. 

Yeah, you couldn’t have made it to the rec center like this.

You startle awake when your ass starts vibrating. You blearily fumble for your phone  and swipe at the screen, turning off your “call Baby” alarm. You should really delete that.

You toss your phone on the coffee table with a sigh and turn onto your back to stare at the ceiling fan. Ten. You slept for a good couple hours. You’re starving.

And you’re not going to be able to sleep tonight because of this nap.

Great.

-

You consider canceling your registration for Kyle’s class as you sit on the train heading to the rec center. You could just go home. You sort of want to go home, but Cassie had called you this afternoon to confirm your registration and she’d sounded so sad when you’d asked about canceling that you just couldn’t. Also you were pretty sure it was too late to get your money back. So here you were.

At least the rec center is busier than Monday. Cassie had told you the Wednesday meditation was full, maybe this is their busy day. You see people coming in and out, and look for a familiar face in the crowd. You’re hoping to see one of the women you met Monday, but instead your eyes lock on slightly less familiar icy blues.

John smiles at you across the street, and glances both ways before jogging across. You paint on a smile for him, and try not to look like you were avoiding going inside.

“Waiting for someone?” He asks in lieu of greeting. You keep your eyes on his, the creases at the corners of his eyes deepen a little as you stare. 

“No, just-” You search for a normal time killing activity, “-people watching.” John hums and steps to stand beside you. The space he takes up feels enormous, like a black hole sucking up your attention, despite the way he crosses his arms over his chest. You peek at the bulge of his bicep against the dark shirt he’s wearing, the stiff fabric stretching to accommodate more man that it was made for. You would’ve expected him in the same comfortable yoga clothes as he was wearing Monday, but this feels more formal. He’s wearing slacks. And oxfords. 

“It’s intimidating,” He tells you out of the blue after a moment of silence. Your eyes dart to his face, and your confusion must be all too clear because he chuckles. The deep throaty noise of it makes your stomach clench. “Letting people help,” He fills in, “choosing peace.”

You make a face.

And John touches you.

His hand slides, big and warm, over your back. His fingers spread wide and he leans into your space like he might pull you closer, except you suddenly feel rooted in place. Fear shoots through you, anxiety punctuating your breaths unnecessarily. You fix your face quickly, tamp down the surge of adrenaline that makes you want to run. John isn’t doing anything but looking at you, his smile the same placid thing even as his brows twitch in concern.

“Sorry,” You find yourself apologizing, trying to unlock some of the stiffness in your shoulders, ���I’m not used to people touching me.”

“It’s a natural response,” John doesn’t move his hand, his thumb rubs against your back and you feel the unnatural drag of your shirt against your skin like sandpaper, “You’re trying to protect yourself. Silly little thing that people have gotten into their heads these days, that everyone’s out to get them.” He tips his head, and you’re hit with a wave of claustrophobia, the open air seems to sink into you until you’re a single focus point in a tiny void. “Doesn’t that feel awful?” 

His words feel like they’re sinking into you, echoing every thought that bounces through your tensed musculature. It feels awful, you feel like a cornered gazelle, like a lame wildebeest, like a fly trapped in a spider’s net. 

You feel almost pleading the way you must be looking at him. Humiliated to react like this to something so simple.

He smiles brighter and his hand leaves you, you suck in a breath and feel your lungs ache, “That’s why it’s so important to pick apart that distrust, humans are social creatures, made to be connected to each other. All from the same warm pool, yeah?”

You nod. John nods his head towards the rec center.

“Let me walk you in, you’re here for Gaz’s class right?”

“No, um, Kyle’s.” You correct.

“Ah,” John laughs, his hand reappears on the small of your back, pushing you forward, “old habit, that’s what we called him in the SAS. You’ll like him, not as touchy as me.” He pulls his hand away with a small apologetic smile, “force of habit.”

“It’s fine,” it’s not, “Everyone around here is so friendly, I just have to get used to it.”

John hums, “Already untangling the web, good girl.”

Your stomach clenches pleasantly. You can see why Nina likes him.

[absolutehomosexuals]

The Infamous "Durge Is a Man" Essay

I - INTRODUCTION

There's one simple question that led us to developing this theory: "would Bhaal want a female heir?"

Bhaal created Durge to be his ideal successor: the hand who would've reaped death in the world, conquering it in His name.

Every detail we get about Durge's lore is tied to this objective, the entire purpose of Bhaal's creation.

The cult is obviously shown to us as patriarchal, which is hinted at from the sole fact they worship a male deity: the argument may come off as silly at first, since one could argue Gods do not understand nor care for the concepts of gender.

It would be a valid counterpoint, if it wasn't for the fact Bhaal used to be a human, having navigated the world as a fully grown man before he eventually became a God.

If we believe he created Durge in his ideal image, it seems much more intuitive for his offspring to be male.

II - THE MATTER OF SUCCESSION

We must note that Bhaal's plans heavily rely (as we can read in Durge's "diary" tab) on reproduction ; e.g "siring lots of Bhaalspawn".

This alone isn't coded as one sex or the other but, if we think of it in terms of convenience, a female heir wouldn't be your first choice for the task: women can only gestate one child per year and conceive in very specific windows of time within their cycle, while men can potentially impregnate countless women in the same time span and not suffer any physical disadvantages during gestation.

We should also consider women tend to develop a bond with their newborn and the latter needs to rely on them for survival during the first few months of their life, while a man:

1. has no such obligations from a social point view (especially in a medieval context, where bastard children were the norm)

2. isn't strictly needed by the child for survival, biologically speaking.

I doubt Bhaal was expecting his heir to keep track of her cycle, gestate for nine months with all the drawbacks that come with it, give birth risking death and spend the following months caring for a newborn – all of this, on repeat for years if not centuries.

"But he's a God, he could potentially speed up the process!"

Technically true, but why would he go through such trouble, if he could craft his ideal child as a male and avoid complications?

The game itself seems to agree with this theory, since you get the "Bhaal's stallion" line regardless of your Durge's gender, in one of the bad endings.

We could also consider the idea that reproduction = power, "spreeding the seed", to be a typically patriarchal concept.

Bhaal himself isn't fond of the idea of raising children, as he let Durge be raised by an adoptive family – a "regular" one no less, meaning he didn't even concern himself with choosing one.

III - IN-UNIVERSE MYSOGINY

There are many aspects of the religion that seem to glorify manhood, and for its leader to be a woman (by Bhaal's choice, no less) seems inconsistent.

Let's think of the infamous blessing granted to Bhaal's favourites, the Ecstasy of Murder, which basically consists in a pseudo prostatic orgasm.

Then we consider the presence of predominantly-male sexual crimes, both coming from Durge and other important figures within the cult.

We cannot deny necrophilia, for functional reasons, is extremely uncommon amongst women: necrophilic acts are typically carried out by penetrating a dead body, as it's almost the only pleasurable act you can perform on a corpse ; Durge being a known necrophiliac pre-lobotomy could be one of the many hints the character is meant to be read as male.

Not to mention the horrendous way in which Bhaalist female characters are treated in-universe, between Sarevok sexually abusing his daughter (and this concept being treated as completely normal by the narrative, as far as we know of) and Orin being constantly belittled.

We never hear of any male cultists undergoing the same treatment, meaning abusing women is the norm amongst Bhaal's faithful – yet again, a telltale sign of a patriarchal religion.

"But Orin isn't mistreated because of her sex, she's mistreated because she's not the true heir!"

Orin is, indeed, not Bhaal's biological daughter: she's related to Him by blood, but as Durge himself says, her blood is "diluted".

However, while he acknowledges she's not his biological sister, he still addresses her as such in multiple sources, meaning the cult leader himself doesn't care about her actual origins.

She's constantly portrayed as someone who gets talked down to, cast aside and her beliefs are harshly criticized both by Durge and others influential members such as Sarevok.

For Larian to choose a woman to fill this role could have been accidental, but we must admit the symbolism is quite clear.

Orin interprets murder as a form of art, while her Bhaalist peers frequently accuse of her misunderstanding her own faith, considering her too immature to lead the flock.

She's the only Bhaalist female character we're shown as remarkable, and she's coincidentally used as an example of someone the cult does not respect ; she's even biologically related to Bhaal and yet, she had to seize power by force.

IV - ROMANTIC SUBTEXTS

Another interesting matter are the characters commonly paired with Durge in fanworks: Durgetash and Durgestarion are the most popular romantic pairings according to ao3, and we cannot blame the fandom for catching up on the subtext.

Durge's "admiration" (as he calls it himself) towards Gortash is viewed as controversial and arises suspicion in-universe, to the point he feels the need to apologize to his Father and repent for an implicit sin.

While it would be scandalous to fraternize with Gortash even in a platonic matter – he's practically the leader of the rival cult –, the emphasis put on justifying their interactions has been interpreted by fans as romantic subtext.

The letter in which Durge addresses the issue is titled "Letter for Forgiveness", despite Gortash only being mentioned at the beginning, while the rest of the letter focuses on different topics entirely.

Right after expressing guilt for the way he views Gortash, Durge proceeds to repeat Bhaal's plan and promises to follow it, stressing that he would have made his Father proud regardless.

The letter overall comes off as an attempt to justify being attracted to Gortash and reassuring Bhaal that it wouldn't come in the way of their plans, as it would pose an enormous threat otherwise.

Durge being attracted to Gortash – if we choose to interpret him as a man – would come with a handful of important challenges: first of all, sympathizing with the 'enemy', implying Durge could abandon the idea of betraying him or even allow Gortash to do the same to him.

Second of all, being capable of such vulnerability that would come in the way of being a sentient weapon: a killing machine isn't supposed to feel pity, let alone experience something as foolish as forbidden love.

And thirdly, for Bhaal's heir to prefer the company of men is simply a disgrace, as it would come in the way of reproduction and possibly undermine his public image.

While all of this may have not been meant as a homosexual allegory, the fact you can find the Letter for Forgiveness on Durge's corpse if you play as Tav, still comes off as "bringing a secret to the grave".

Not to mention the note at the end of the letter, written by another cultist, reading: "Ha! Orin was right about her sibling." which is clearly a jab at what we mentioned above.

When you go to confront Orin in Act III (as Durge) about the fact she has been following you around town, she replies: "The little lordling has been whispering in your ears? He always knew how to tumble and twist your mind matter, leaving you knotted in his chords."

The matter of Durge's attraction to Gortash is seen as something silly and shameful at the same time: it's an open secret cult members dare to joke about, because they find it ridiculous.

If a hypothetical female heir of Bhaal had the slightest possibility of reproducing with the Chosen of Bane, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't find it as humorous – they find it hilarious because it's taboo, a powerful demigod developing a "school crush" on a male ally.

We should also talk about some of the in-game implications about Gortash, such as being someone who possibly "slept his way to the top": managing to charm and daze a much more powerful man on purpose sounds surprisingly in-character.

What we find even more interesting are the implications that come with Durgestarion, a pairing the writers are openly fond of.

We know both characters were characterized by the same writer, the latter going out of his way to include personalized romance interactions between the two: unlike other characters, romancing Astarion as Durge gives the player access to tons of new dialogue lines and greetings, sometimes making for a completely new experience compared to romancing him with a regular Tav.

Some hints may point to Durge being the "canonical" romance for Astarion, as many fans have speculated ; while one may disagree with that sentiment, we must admit it's not far fetched.

If we consider all of Astarion's canonical past relationships (meaning, the few ones he actually deems important and genuine) were with men, and the emphasis put on Durge's "admiration" towards Gortash + the incessant pressure Bhaal puts on him to reproduce, the thought of these characters romancing each other in an alternative timeline actually sounds liberating.

Some Durge-specific lines Astarion says during his romance arc seem to be aimed at a male character, rather than sounding gender neutral: the first example that comes to mind is "Are you alright now, or is today a 'I will wed you with a delicate veil of blood blooming over your white curls' kind of day?"

Astarion sarcastically references Durge "wedding him", thus putting the player in a stereotipical "groom" role from the start, with the veil resembling the one brides typically wear during the cerimony.

If we consider all other aspects mentioned in this theory, the line reads as somewhat... male-coded.

If we want to be truly insane about this theory – and of course, we do – , we could even add a "gay allegory" element to the equation.

A vampire and the spawn of an evil deity, excluded members of society who'd usually feel a compulsion to hide, are implied to fall in love by the narrative.

V - ACTING CHOICES

Finally, we come to the voice actor: while a specific actor was chosen to play the character and is regarded as the iconic Durge VA, Larian didn't concern themselves with choosing a female voice actor to include the possibility of a female Durge, which is why we can only hear his intro in Neil Roberts' voice.

VI - CONCLUSION

With all of this taken into account, a female Durge seems to be an after-thought, if not directly a fantasy or a headcanon that the game gives you the possibility to play out.

The original narrative, as we can see, best accomodates a male character.

[furiousgoldfish]

I've noticed that when living with other people (roommates), I easily get stressed to the point of panic and mortification, if there's a tense silence in the air, and nobody is talking to me or reacting positively to my attempts to communicate. This very often is the situation, since I'm living with roommates I don't know well, and who do not have any incentive to be friendly, or are generally just not very polite people. It is normal and fine that we all stick to our own business and ignore each other. But it gets me stressed and I find myself feeling like I am despised by them, even if they don't do anything to me, or complain about me at all.

I'm generally feeling more relaxed with the rare roommates who are more social and accept my invitations to watch a movie, or go to a walk together, or just have a conversation; suddenly it's all okay and I can go on without second-guessing if something is extremely wrong. But this is rare and most of the time I can't count on it.

I believe that this is happening because of the past 'shunning' or 'the silent treatment' abuse tactic, I believe the two are very similar. Shunning is generally something that happens within a cult; when a certain member is 'disobedient', which means, they question something, complain about something, try to do something against the rules (which is in reality a completely normal thing to do), or just find themselves at the wrong side of the leaders, they'll be shut out from any and all communications. Other members will not be allowed to look at them, talk to them, help them, they'll sometimes be forced to preform some humiliating activity or be isolated and locked up until they've managed to 'redeem themselves' (whenever the leaders decide it's been enough and the shunned member is unlikely to 'misbehave' again). The function of this is to not only stop the victimized member from being allowed to think and act freely, but also to scare everyone else who starts thinking into the 'forbidden direction', they will not dare to voice it seeing someone being punished so harshly for that same behaviour. The victim will feel completely alone against the world, despised, and eventually they'll be forced to say that they're in the wrong, even if their original 'crime' was something completely normal, logical and human.

I believe that the 'silent treatment' is almost the same thing, only it's happening in more intimate setting, within the victim and the abuser directly. It usually happens after the abuser does an act of abuse, or the victim does something that is perfectly okay and normal but the abuser wants them to not be able to do that, that's when they start the 'silent treatment', to convince the victim they're in the wrong, they're responsible for whatever just went down, and they now need to suffer the consequences, which is the abuser withholding any attention, affection, familiarity or communication from them. It usually happens after the victim has already been isolated from everyone else they could rely on, so it means the victim is effectively cut off from the world. The victim will usually be stuck in this isolation, rejection and neglect until the abuser decides they want or need something, or until they apologize, accept blame, and promise to be 'obedient' to the abuser. It's a slow method of brainwashing, convincing someone they deserve a painful punishment for doing nomal things, that the abuser doesn't like, or just to convince them to take responsibility for the abuse that the abuser did out of their own volition.

And my parents did that a lot. I would often be subjected to assault, I never knew exactly why, only that my father was in a bad mood, and then all of the family members would not look at me, talk to me, give me food, they would be angry and glaring if I as much as went outside of my room. The message was clear; I was responsible for the abuse, I needed to feel guilty, ashamed, humbled, I needed to accept that the violence was deserved, that it was my fault. I needed to apologize, repent, and be aware that because I caused all this, I was disgusting and monstrous to my entire family to the extent they couldn't even look at me. It was a pretty insane farce to isolate and shun a child because the father is violent and assaults the child, and we all needed to pretend this is 100% child's fault, and father was in fact, forced to do it because the child is just, so bad (wow I feel so sorry for him, if only he could control his own actions, how sad that a child completely controls an adult in this fantasy).

(And the child is controlling the adult in the way that forces adult to assault the child, thats the exact thing children want from adults for sure. Not, I don't know, candy and freedom. For sure a child would use control to force assault.)

When this was going on, I did feel like every person in the world hates me, and like I was some sort of a monster who couldn't be looked at without disgust. I felt like every part of me was horrifying and ugly, and sometimes it messed with me so much, I felt like even the furniture in the house hated me. I would shut myself in my room and I felt like even the bed and the chair and the desk were hostile, angry, and wanted me to not exist anymore. There was no escape.

I didn't realize until now, but it's possible that every time my roommates are cold, ignoring me, rejecting my friendliness, I might be re-living that feeling of being shunned again. It's not like after living that life for so long, I can just be normal and okay with being ignored and treated with silence again. One of my roommates was leaving the other day, and since the stakes are no longer existent, I asked them if they hated me the entire time, because they sometimes wouldn't even greet me. They told me 'no, I was exhausted from having to socialize at work, by the time I got home I didn't have the energy to look at anyone'. Which was of some comfort, but not something I would assume. They basically had no complaints, but I felt like I was being despised most of the time. I hope I can eventually be normal about this. Suffering for no reason is not helpful. But I also don't know if any person as isolated as me would be bothered by being ignored and rejected, and not shown basic politeness, and my painful experience of it is maybe normal and not that odd. I just get to have extra pain because it's triggering.

[manicpixieyandere]

The Leader of a Queer Generation; The Rocky Horror Picture Show

(This is another college essay we are posting for funzies lmao, enjoy!). (Also had to censor it, sorry!).

With the fall of the Hays Code, the queer demographic was finally able to have their own cult classics and media culture. Most prominently was The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Richard O’ Brien) in 1975. For a bit of history. The Hays Code was in effect from 1934-1968. The Hays Code was a rigid set of rules for television and film that stated all delinquent behavior must be punished on screen. If a character did something immoral, they must suffer the consequences, the consequence usually being death. The Hays Code itself outlined what it deemed to be immoral behavior. Among that list was anything remotely queer. This is where many tropes and writing tools were developed such as the “Burry Your Gays” trope or queer coding. The Hays Code was lifted in 1968 and replaced with something similar to our rating system today. So, what did that mean for queer audiences? It meant it was time for them to be the stars!

​For the first time in decades showrunners and movie makers could show queer activity on the small or even big screen! The most notable product of this time period was The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Originally a musical performed onstage in the early 70s that was adapted into a film in 1975. The original musical and movie shared a similar cast, most notably Tim Curry as the main antagonist Frank-N-Furter. Frank was a self described “Sweet Transvestite from Transexual Transylvania” (O’ Brien 1975). The word transvestite was very different than what it means today. In 1975 it was equivalent to Frank telling the characters Brad and Janet (but also the audience) that he was transexual or transgender (as those terms were not in frequent use until much later).

Speaking of Brad and Janet, they are the audience’s “straight man”. To quote David J Getsy “One cannot be queer alone” (Getsy, 2017, para. 2). This is to use the original meaning of the word “queer” as in weird. You cannot be weird if there is no normal, so Brad and Janet are the stand ins for an average American straight couple. Throughout the movie though we see Brad and Janet start to learn things about themselves at Frank’s castle. After Frank has s*x with each of them separately they start to see things differently. Janet becomes more open and lustful with her sexuality making many advances towards titular character Rocky. Janet is also seen making out with another girl, Columbia. Brad while less confident, still learns some preferences he did not know he had that can be considered “out of the norm”. Another popular reading being he was a closeted gay man as well. Brad and Janet learn with the audience that it is ok to explore one’s sexuality and gender identity. While Frank-N-Furter does in fact die, the Hays Code still has no effect here as Brand and Janet get to live out their lives after their newfound discoveries.

Brad and Janet aren’t the only ones who have a good time in the castle. In the “Time Warp” the audience along with Brad and Janet are introduced to Riff Raff and Magenta, a quirky sibling duo. Later in the song the character Columbia introduces herself. She tells the story of how she met Frank-N-Furter and how he changed her life. Later in the movie we are also introduced to Eddie and Rocky. Eddie being a former lover of Frank and Columbia’s. Rocky is the man Frank-N-Furter makes, very Frankenstein esq. In the song “Rose Tint My World” each character performs in a floor show expressing how Frank’s lust and freedom has rubbed off on them. Some like Brad and Columbia have their reservations but choose to wear those rose tinted glasses, while Rocky and Janet are completely accepting of this new found life. Eventually the evening is cut short when Riff Raff kills Frank as well as Rocky and Columbia. Riff Raff does this as he proclaims Frank-N-Furter’s lifestyle was just “too extreme (O’ Brien, 1975).

Just like Brad, Janet, and everyone else in the castle, the real world also has a tradition inspired by Frank-N-Furter (and The Rocky Horror Picture Show). Performance groups acting along side showings of the movie become vastly popular. As did a script of “counterpoint dialogue” the audience would shout during the movie. It was also tradition to throw toilet paper at the screen during certain scenes in the movie (although this one has fallen out of fashion at some theaters, being deemed “rude”). For these events the audience can dress however they want! The idea was to be comfortable and be yourself. This means many people show up in similar fashion to the movie. Gothic, gram rock, corsets, you name it! It is a night of community and fun.

​In 2016 The Rocky Horror Picture Show was remade as a filmed stage musical titled The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do The Time Warp Again (Kenny Ortega, 2016). In this production, actress Laverne Cox was casted as Frank-N-Furter. Cox is a transwoman, marking the first official time Frank-N-Furter was played by an actual transwoman. Laverne Cox is also African American and finally sheds some light on black queers in this production, something sorely lacking in the original production. There are stark differences in the interpretations of the character Curry and Cox portrayed. The outfitting of Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter implies shock value by using feminine clothing to show off a masculine body, while Laverne Cox’s costuming is more feminine in nature. Cox’s Frank-N-Furter is still compared to the “straight men” of Brad and Janet but not in an oppositional nature.

​The influence of The Rocky Horror Picture Show still goes on today. There are still many notable screenings of the movie with live actors and scripted audience responses. The 2016 remake was just one production of many put on through the years. Popular media nowadays even references The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even in places you wouldn’t expect such as kids shows like Phineas and Ferb (Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh, 2007). The Rocky Horror Picture Show introduced an audience to queer culture and continues to be a part of said culture many decades later. The way in which this movie carried itself into queer culture signifies its strong se of rhetorical devices such as; ethos, logos, and pathos. The ethos present in the film is that of Frank (who has experience) showing the characters AND the audience how happy they’d be to give into desire and to simply be themselves. This ties into the logos being that these characters do in fact end up happy in their newfound situation, especially Janet. The pathos plays on the fact that all humans have some sort of desire they push down. The Rocky Horror Picture Show uses these literary devices to tell its queer audience for generations to be themselves and have fun!

[emmikoochaitea]

Hello everyone! After a while I’m finally releasing my space rider ocs public after working on them for a while! (the dangerous critters as space riders) I’ve kept them hidden for awhile because of shyness but I decided to finally show them all off! This au belongs to @onyxonline

I’ll be sure to draw the riders as spies and spellcasters too but I wanted to finish all the full outfits of the full group shot of space riders first!

There is also gonna be a fanfic I’m working about them and hopefully you’ll like it! Enjoy my silly goobers! Let’s give them all a small introduction!

Since originally the dangerous critters are sort of rivals to the critters, all of them are pretty competitive and kinda? Mean to the og critter due to some dumb childhood rivalries that are petty.

Sinful Shepherd: The leader of the crew! He’s a kind yet strong willed dog that has a lot of empathy for others and tries to be friendly at first. However he knows how to stand his ground and won’t hesitate to punch someone to put them in your place. He can be clumsy and nervous sometimes as well but always has his heart in the right place and is a good leading figure!

Whimper Wolf: Why is he second in command? The others are wondering that too! He’s really shy, seems scared of everything and usually stays nears Sinful Shepherd. But Sinful still seems to trust him and has given him the role for the crew. Although he still gets scared and panics, he has proven himself in battle he can handle cultist and be a good rescuer just.. in his own scared panicky way?

Noxious Neveah Kangaroo: She’s the team’s medic but also a professional boxer and is a BEAST on the field! She uses her strong legs to pack a painful kick that makes the pain last weeks! She’s very energetic and loves fighting more than anything. If you have a cultist fight without her she’ll just take offense and probably ignore you for a week out of pettiness.

Cassi Carless Cheetah: Neveah’s best friend and partner in crime. She’s also a beast on the field but a bit different from Neveah. Her talent is super speed with her strong legs and it’s hard for any cultist to try and run from her when she can catch up to them in just a few seconds!

KittyBelle: Sinful’s adopted sister. She’s a calm caring soul and sweetheart who loves fashion and galas. She’s the one who made all the crew’s gala outfits as she’s a professional outfit maker on the sideline of a space rider!

Frantic Ferret: He’s more focused on right now as a thief and rebel for the prototype’s cult. He’s had a traumatic past that involved them and set up a small rebellion of other victims and survivors that suffered at the hands of the cult. However he justifies his morals by pickpocket and stealing from others and using it for this small rebellion. He eventually will get arrested by the crew but that hasn’t happened yet.

Carter Cobra: Frantic’s best friend and partner through it all, he’s the engineer of the rebellion and a bit of an odd ball when it comes to research and science. He helped Frantic start his rebellion and has followed him ever since. He makes small gears for the rebellion and creates robotic things to help his friends.

Fenni Fennec: Formally training to be a space rider, Fenni was kidnapped by cultist and raised and manipulated into believing her friends left her for dead and the prototype saved her, giving her a twisted mind set and hatred for the dangerous critter crew. She plans to torment them and get rid of them all, and bring them to the prototype, doesn’t matter if alive or dead.

[nyaskitten]

The FSM Family is like, BEYOND inherently tragic and heartbreaking...

The FSM was said to be born from the ashes of the Oni/Dragon War, and his whole childhood, possibly even further along the road, he was pursued by Oni and Dragon (well for all we know the Dragons stopped after he left the First Realm, but the Oni were still desperate.) He could never escape suffering, he's fought so many battles in his youth that it hardened him, almost as if it stripped him of all emotion and joy.

The FSM had a son, and another son. Both were forced to bear the pain of a father whose gone through so much its made him a terrible man.

Garmadon, his first son, was bitten at a young age by a serpent created (Idk if the Overlord created her but I decided he did) by the incarnation of evil, which brought his darkness to slowly overwhelm him. For millennia, he fought against it, he held it back. He had a wife, and a son, and he was happy, but the temptations overrid him, and he succumbed to them. He tried to steal the weapons, and in return he was struck down to the Underworld, unable to leave without the power of the weapons. Then, when freed, he continued his dark scheming, and went to a realm wherein he could manifest the ability to wield all of the Golden Weapons. In doing so, he brought himself closer to destiny.

When he got his son back from the Serpentine, he left, because through whatever compelling darkness, he could never truly be good. He left, and eventually, he took the weapons, and eventually he became the Overlord's vessel, and then he was freed, and then his brother turned against him for a period of time, and then he sacrificed himself to save Ninjago, and then he was resurrected as this dark, cold, unfeeling monster. He was only the worst parts of him, and now his son can barely even bear to speak to him! All of this suffering has brought him all too far from his family! The ones he once loved!

Wu... oh Wu... he was the favored, pure son of the FSM. The FSM was awful to both sons, but Wu was certainly favored (as evidenced by Garmadon's line in the Pilots which flatout said Wu was always FSM's favorite, and season 8 telling us that FSM kept a lot of shit from Garmadon and he told it to Wu instead.) Wu was from a young age, just constantly being betrayed and abandoned. Betrayed by a serpent he befriended, betrayed by two brothers which he clearly cared about, abandoned by the odd child he took in, and betrayed AND abandoned by his own brother! He spent a couple decades alone, no family, probably no friends either. His brother was gone, he was alone, he knew his brother wouldn't be gone for good, but that didn't stop it from hurting. Additionally, he had the weight on his shoulders of the Green Ninja Prophecy, and the fear of the chance maybe HE was supposed to be the Green Ninja at one point (Book of Spinjitzu,) as well as knowledge of a catastrophic, world-destroying event known which would cause all the realms to come together, and eventually they'd be destroyed!!

Now Lloyd... he was robbed of his childhood and molded into a destiny he didn't deserve. He lost his father, he was possessed by his uncle's former student/Green Ninja wannabe, he lost his uncle in a magic Time Vortex, he fell for a girl, and she was the secret leader of a biker gang/cult which wanted to resurrect his father, TO KILL HIM!!! He watches as the girl he liked dies, the building she was on crumbling to the damn ground! He fucking dies fighting the Oni! And he doesn't choose to rest even though he SHOULD rest! He's been through so much... he needs to just rest... AND THEN his best friend is killed, or so he assumes! Because turns out his friend is actually in another realm and he committed genocide at one point and he has to live with that!

Then he's in a magic videogame and oh would you look at that? He watches two of his friends sacrifice themselves to help him, Jay, and Nya win a race! AND the girl he likes is now a digital manifestation feeding on his guilt and pain! YAY!!!! THEN, Nya merges with the sea, and he's devastated, he's broken! He quits, not wanting to be responsible for anyone ever again. Then the girl he likes is revealed to have been resurrected by the Overlord, in a council of villains, and he has to tap into his Oni side, a side he fears due to how he can only see it as his father, someone he's TERRIFIED of becoming! And then he like, loses all his friends for approx 5 years and lives in isolation, and has no clue where any of them could possibly be so. YAY!!!!

[brucewaynehater101]

I've been reading your blog since I stumbled upon it and gotta say I love your ideas and the way you expand on asks.

I've been having some thoughts on Brightest vs Darkest future Batfam. For the Brightest future we are looking at a timeline where Bruce got some therapy and he's actually a decent dad by the time we reach current day. This doesn't completely erase the arcs where characters suffer, but he handles things a little bit better. The kids still have issues with him but they understand that he's trying now and they want to give him a second chance.

Now some time of magic bullshit conjures to this version of Gotham the worst versions of each of them. All coming from different dimensions where Bruce is the worst to them specifically. Some may have even killed their version of the Bat and won't waste the opportunity to do so again. Suddenly, they are forced to fight against

Talon Dick Grayson, who is not only an extremely skilled killer, he's cult leader levels of manipulative. He may even pretend to ally himself to the bats at first just so he can actually get his claws in and make it hurt later on.

Catatonic/Pit mad Jason who never got his own mind back. A league level ninja with only the flashes of his worst memories. We are talking "might nuke Gotham if he had the cognitive function to plan it out". His Bruce is not that much different than canon Bruce, the main difference being he refuses to accept RH is Jason, making him regress more and more into pit madness to the point of fully losing it.

Evil Jane Doe Tim that absolutely (and deservedly) snapped at B after everything he put Tim through while never asking his siblings for the same sacrifice. Maybe he was also JJed in his timeline and is the single most unsettling, cunning, motherfucker. He just keeps fucking with the Batfam from the shadows and they can't find the source.

Silent assassin Cass that simply can't be reasoned with because she has no way to communicate outside body language. Not only is she capable of beating Batman's ass without breaking a sweat she's also very hard to catch even with all the Batfam going after her (very much you can kill me or you can let me go, but you're not catching me)

Usurper Damián, similar to canon Damian but completely cut off from any external support (including Dick) due to Batman's paranoia. Bruce punishes him without explaining where he went wrong. No positive reinforcement at all, no encouraging of proper socializing. He doesn't get out of his brain washed mentality and comes to the conclusion that his father is weak. So he kills Tim Drake, frames Red Hood and takes over Robin. He feeds his father paranoia and eventually takes over Batman too because his father doesn't deserve it. He might take over the league afterwards too, because if Ra's respected someone as weak as the Bat maybe he shouldn't have his cult.

I just think it would be just so deliciously angsty for the happiest version of the Batfam being forced to confront these awful possibilities. I can also see Talon/Jane Doe/Usurper trying to convince their other selves of joining them, explaining just how awful Bruce is, even if this version is not as bad as theirs. How Dick/Tim/Damian might struggle to disagree or defend Bruce's past actions. How devastating it would be for Jason and Cass to face a very real possibility. Someone they can't even reason with, reduced to an almost animal state by forces outside their power.

And of course Bruce. A version of Bruce that had actually realized he'd been failing his kids and started working on making things up to them being forced by the ghosts of his failure. Would he completely close off and give into paranoia? (If these versions of his kids are evil, what's stopping his own kids?). Going into denial mode and erasing his progress? ("See? I've done nothing wrong, you guys turned out fine compared to them). Does he give in to grief and his martyr complex, more focused on his failings than trying to fix things? I imagine in a good ending version this event would solidify his resolve, understanding the weight of his failings as a father and as Batman. After fixing the timeline issue he would have to work not only on being better, but acknowledging his past mistakes and giving his kids the space to stay mad/express why that hurt them.

But outside that one good ending? The Bat is fucked. Especially with greatest manipulator Talon, master of puppets Jane Doe and (possibly) literal cult leader Damian getting into their heads. Hell Jason doesn't need to be told twice to turn on his father again after being reminded of how he screwed not only him but his siblings up. Cass might be loyal to Bruce but if Oracle switches sides she might start reconsidering.

Just fucked up Batfam haunting their canon selves and forcing them to admit even "nice" canon Bruce has traumatized them severely.

Hello!!!! Glad you enjoy my blog! I particularly love how people share their ideas, and it inspires others to add on or share other ideas.

So! Let's develop this AU a bit more.

We've got Dick, Cass, Jason, Tim, Damian, and their counterparts. If you wanted, we could add Barbara and Steph counterparts as well. Bruce's "evil" self never appears in this dimension, but his evil selves are part of what created the "villians" that do appear.

As far as timeline, this is after Damian appears. For Damian's angst, I think he should be Robin. Tim and him have worked past their issues regarding the change in mantle, and the older one has even said he was proud that Damian was the one to wear his mantle (which makes what F!Damian did even worse).

Imma use F!Batfam for the counterparts to indicate the fucked up ones.

No matter what the others say about Bruce, F!Bats will not believe that he is a decent father and man. There's several reasons for this. One, all F!Bats come from separate universes where Bruce was a horrible person. Two, the man is exceptional at mind games and deception. Three, if Bruce was capable of change with just some therapy, what does that say about their lives with their Bruce?

I wanted to add on to Talon Dick's lore. I hc that, after he becomes a talon, he slowly manipulates and murders his way up to the top of the Court of Owls. From there, he kills off weaklings and creates his own cult/rule. He is a very fucked up person, morally and mentally, but he believes that he's enacting some sort of good with his power. Through his cult that preaches acceptance and love, people flock to his "goodwill" and "grace." His Bruce, which has proven to be a horrible man with the way he dehumanized this Dick, kept hurting Dick and getting in his way. Dick had to kill him.

I really wanted F!Damian and F!Dick to be cult-ish leaders, with the parallels of them revamping an ancient order for their own desires.

For F!Jason, he can communicate and plan. He's stealthy, deadly, and tactful. His Pit Madness and rage, however, make it impossible to communicate or convince him from whatever he deems is appropriate. Even if it's impractical, such as making displays out of his enemies' bodies, he will not be deterred from his judgments and wants.

F!Tim could have similar tendencies as F!Dick to manipulate, but he's not as skilled as that man is emotionally. He's ruthless and toys with his enemies, drawing out their pain and misery in creative new ways (some part of him curses Joker and JJ for that). No one was on his side, so he'll never allow for anyone to be. All of the F!Bats hurt the OG family, but Tim was failed repeatedly by the Bats. JJ may have helped, but it was F!Tim's batfam that twisted the kid into an unsettling creature waiting to draw out suffering for his own amusement.

I can add more for the others (or create some for Babs and Steph) if you want.

However, more angst real quick to add would be watching their F!Batfam recommit their faults against OG batfam. By that, I mean OG Jason watching as F!Jason slits Tim's throat.

Stuff like watching the worst version of yourself recommit deeds you've already worked to beg forgiveness for. Yikes.

[fannishstuff]

Have more Biddleford AU!

This is in specific reference to my AU where Fiddleford tried meditation instead of inventing the memory gun, and consequently met and began to worship Bill.

So, I opened that piece of fanart with Fiddleford reaching out a hand to Ford, and telling him that he was welcome.

"Why," you might ask, "is he welcoming in Ford? Doesn't Ford already worship Bill?

Hehehehehe, that's where the fact that Bill is extremely manipulative comes in. More under the cut.

So, in the ficlet that I included with that picture, you'll note that Bill set himself up to be the golden magical savior that would protect Fiddleford from evil spirits and bad luck. Well, Fiddleford falls for it and he falls for it hard. Bill can be very charming and convincing when he wants to be. (...sort of. He does a lot of, like, giving people upsetting gifts and terrifying compliments and stuff. You kind of have to be a little unhinged already to fall for Bill-style charm, basically. Fortunately our pteratron-building man is.)

Fiddleford now belongs to Bill. Great. You'll remember that Ford is not actually able to build the portal himself - he needed help from Fiddleford because his math wasn't strong enough. Okay, so Bill was using Ford to build the Portal, and Ford was using Fiddleford... but now Bill can use Fiddleford directly, so he has two geniuses under his thumb. Even better: Bill had to manipulate Ford by keeping him isolated and paranoid. Fiddleford, on the other hand, we know to be charismatic and sociable. We know that he tends to seek out people who are suffering from problems similar to his and that he can get them to open up. He's also very convincing, and can convince them he has a solution to their troubles. Ivan, whose recruitment we see in Journal 3 and who is the eventual leader of the Society of the Blind Eye, is a great example of this.

So, now Bill has two patsies: a genius nerd who's convinced everyone is out to get him, and a big-hearted but very odd duck guy who wants nothing more than to help people. The second one, the charmer, has a habit of proselytizing.

And, oh, how Bill loves to be worshiped.

So, he still needs and wants Ford, but why would he settle for Ford? Bill starts occupying more and more of Fiddleford's time with the cult, and while he's at it, he himself start to breadcrumb - and eventually ghosts - Ford. It sends Ford into a panic. Ford is getting increasingly stressed and overworked, he's barely making progress, his only friend is spending almost no time with him and acting weird even when he's around, and his muse has seemingly abandoned him. Oh, and by the way: Bill hasn't told Ford that he's in contact with Fidds, and has instructed Fidds to keep the secret.

One day, Bill returns to Ford's dreams.

He's snide. He's cold. He asks for progress, and then makes like he's going to leave. Ford leaps at him, begs him to stay, asks what happened, and what he did wrong.

What are you talking about, Sixer? Aren't you doing fine without me? I thought you were some kind of genius. Well, I'm - I could never do as well alone as with your guidance, Bill! You're my muse! Oh, yeah. That. What is it? What's wrong?

Bill goes on to point out that, well, yeah, Ford was fine, but Bill was really starting to feel lead on. Bill's not just some broad you can expect to keep around forever and never bother pop the question. Like, Bill's a god, not just a """MUSE,""" and it was just kinda getting old, right? Like, you're clearly fine without me, so whatever. What? What's wrong? No, seriously, it's fine if you don't want to commit, you have commitment issues since you abandoned your brother and all. What, you want another chance? Seriously? I'm not really convinced. Oh? Okay, fine. Fine. We'll talk it out. But you are on thin ice, Sixer.

So, Ford is given some pretty strict instructions for the next couple of days, and then he's sent to meet up with Bill's other worshipers.

Ford didn't know about the other worshipers, and he's really embarrassed about this. (Never mind that they didn't exist.) He's angry, he's frustrated, but most of all he's desperate for approval.

So he goes, and he meets...

Fiddleford.

Bill's been talking to Fiddleford. Bill explained everything to Fiddleford. He explained that Ford is coming, and he's to be the co-ruler of the cult or Fiddleford's right-hand man, but that he needs to behave himself. Ford hasn't always been totally committed, Bill explained, but he's being given another chance.

But it's okay! Fiddleford believes in Ford! Fiddleford one hundred percent is vouching for him, Ford's such a swell guy, always goes the whole way in everything. Fiddleford would never doubt Ford, and together, they're going to prove to Bill that Ford's serious.

Ford... isn't convinced. Ford is having doubts. But Ford has to make sure to never, ever, ever voice those doubts, because that would be proving that he has doubts, and that he's just like Bill was afraid he would be, even though Fiddleford trusts him unconditionally like the good friend he is.

Anyway in this AU the world ends

[zopharooni]

"Lament"

A DMAU story, part 3/4 (start / previous / next)

Chaos. That's all that my life has been as of recent.

Now? That's all my life will ever be.

I step into the cult grounds, and immediately I'm greeted with bustling crowds, all working in tandem on one thing or another. Everyone is talking, it's so loud, and yet there is order among them? Strange.

I blend right into the crowds and attempt to locate some building where I can speak to a leader, priest, or someone in charge. I stow my greataxe as to not appear larger or more threatening. I spot a large temple, that seems mostly unoccupied right now, make my way over and slip inside. Immediately, I spot a Rodent follower, clad in better robes than most of the others. They spot me, and immediately draw a sword and rush me, recognizing I am not a member.

I swiftly draw my greataxe, and parry their strike, knocking their sword to the ground. Immediately after, I toss the greataxe to my side, as to show I mean no harm.

"I'm here to join. Who do I talk to?"

"Uh.... We don't really have a leader here, but I'm responsible for educating new members. If you'd like, I can help? First step being... not attacking members." the Rodent meekly states, still on the ground.

"Yes. I wish to devote myself to chaos, and chaos only. Also, you struck first. You simply failed."

The day quickly passes, as I am shown around the cult ground and am outfitted with proper robes, minus the hood, as per my request. I wish for the heretics to know my face. The education process was very fast, as I wish for nothing but to serve Chaos.

The next few months pass by in a blur. I spend this time acquainting myself with beliefs of chaos, and blacksmithing, as to craft my own weapon. One to serve as the hand of chaos. I eventually fashion a wicked glaive to be my weapon of choice. After gaining sufficient trust of the cult, I am allowed to go on solo missionaries. Finally, I can bring the fight to the other cults. I'll start with rogue cults in rotwood, then make my way back to the cults that wronged me.

A year passes, then another, as I hone my skill past that which I was taught.

It's time. I need to go to Ombros and find the cult that caused all these problems. Pestilence will pay. I prepare my bag for the journey, and sharpen my glaive. I won't spare a soul. I leave the cult, and begin my journey back to Ombros.

A few days pass before I reach my destination. I know Rotwood well now, but Ombros I know better. The journey is no challenge at all. I push through the underbrush and reach it.

The cabin.

I... had to know.

Cliff and Spike are almost certainly already gone... but I wanted to check anyways. I'm not sure why. I push open the door, and the cool air inside pushes out, a smell of dust and a stagnant musk lingering. I make my way to their room, and look at the bed. Empty. Don't know what I expected. There's a picture on the side desk.

Its... Us....

Me. Spike. Gid and Cliff. Collecting dust. I slowly grasp it, wipe the dust from the glass... and stow it away. I shouldn't keep it... It will make me weak, but my heart isn't whole without them.

After a minute I check Spike's room. Empty.

I check mine. It's exactly how I left it, so long ago. Except... there's a note on my desk. I pick up the dust covered paper and read:

"Thorne, if you ever read this, know that you were the best sister I could have ever asked for, and it hurts me so much to know I might never see you again. Whatever reason you had to leave us for, I'm sure you were justified. Cliff left us yesterday, and I had to lay him to rest. It hurt me so much, seeing him go, but at least he isn't suffering anymore. I miss you. So, so much. I'm going to venture out to look for help. This illness has me close to the light, but I will push on. For Gideon. For Cliff. For You."

"Love, Spike."

"...I miss you too." I mumble, unconsciously.

I wipe my tears... wait, I'm crying? It doesn't matter. I have a job. I wipe my tears away, pocket the note, and leave the room. It's time to go. As I exit the cabin, I spot it. A grave, a wooden stick marker poking up from it, all surrounded by stones. In the middle... is a familiar iridescent crystal. Said to bring good luck. Good health.

I swiftly push back into the forest, I have a job to do. An obligation. For my family. To get back at the bishops. After a few hours I begin to hear them. Those pestilence heretics. I catch a view from my elevated position. It looks... similar to the layout of the chaos grounds back at Rotwood. Simply with added Ombrosian flair. Rock pathing, rain catchers, crystal decorations.

I make my way closer, and try to think how I want to do this. Take them by surprise in the night? Attack in broad daylight to send a message? The rain is very light right now and a fire might be possible. That's it. I have to strike now. I'll target the ones in charge first, with the stronger fighters following them.

Activity seems to be low right now, so I'll just walk in and force my way to the temple. What if I act like a messenger first? That may do it. I walk into the open cult ground, cloven hooves clicking against the stone path. I see the temple right away, and start making my way over.

Suddenly, a monkey follower lunges at me, with a large sword. I parry with my glaive, attempting to disarm him, but his grip is tight and his resolve steeled. Still, no damage, but he doesn't seem the type to talk.

"I'm here to send a message." I calmly say.

"We don't listen to the falsehoods of chaos!" They bark out, garnering attention from the crowd. This might change things.

They strike fast and aggressively. Not nearly skilled enough to beat me, but enough to give trouble if I want to continue my plans.

Suddenly, a deep bell sound is struck, resonating throughout the cult. The monkey quickly withdraws from our fight upon hearing it. Interesting.

"It seems the leader and his right hand wish to speak to you directly. Lucky you." The monkey sneers.

Two figures make themselves known from the crowd. One hooded, one without, with antlers.

The larger figure removes their hood, and deep purple fur with large ears poke out. Beside him, I finally recognize a familiar set of blue eyes.

[asktheadams]

AU's on the blog and short explanations (Part 1?)

Finding series (Finding Nemo/Dory).

Lucifer is a single father, quite overprotective of his young daughter, Charlie, after his wife died protecting them. After losing his anger, that lead to Charlie being taken away, Lucifer teams up with Adam, a man suffering from short-term memory loss and his own history of being taken away from his family, he manages to save Charlie and returns home.

Until Adam starts remembering his own family and now it's a mission to go undercover into a cult to find his mother and sister.

Current timeline : About a week after Adam reunited with his family.

Run AU

Adam was born sick... or, at least, it's how his mother, Sera, says he was. But one day, with help of his new neighbor, he starts questioning everything, he thought he knew of himself and his mother.

Current timeline : 5 months after Adam learned the truth. Currently in collage.

Lucifer's playhouse

Lucifer collects first humans as prizes, keeping them in his basement, forcing them into a delusional safety of game of "House". Eve already gave up hope of escaping, Lilith stays back so Lucifer wouldn't touch Charlie... Adam is new in this, but he's doing everything to get out and help the girls.

Current timeline : First week after they're rescued from Hell. At the moment, them (and Charlie) are staying with Sera and other high angels to keep them safe from Lucifer.

Story of evil (Evillious Chronicles AU. 1)

Adam is an evil king, unknown to anyone possessed by a demon.

Lilith is his maid and right hand woman (and secret for everyone, even Adam himself, also his twin sister, he was separated from in childhood).

Carmila is leader of kingdom's resistance force and Lilith's adoptive sister.

Michael is king of contry of across the sea and Adam's fiancée.

Eve and Lucifer are pair of best friends, working for merchant as servants.

Everything starts falling apart when Michael meets Eve...

Current timeline : A bit before the Red War.

Project MA (Evillious chronicles AU. 2)

A prophecy is set for the land... as of the country is doomed to end soon. The only way to escape this fate is to reincarnate the Gods, that promised to destroy the land.

Lucifer is put in charge of the reincarnation project... meanwhile, in nearby village lives Adam, a nice warlock man with incredible power. Sometime before that, the two meet and fall in love with one another, Lucifer suggests Adam to sign up as a candidate for the project and Adam agrees... and gets chosen the one to be one with Lucifer to carry the project through. After some preparations, Adam wakes up, now carrying two babies, that will be soon known as Twins of God, rather than Dragon Gods.

Current timeline : Mid the first project, about 3rd month of pregnancy.

Helen's child is an only child (Evillious chronicles AU. 3)

Story of same family in two different dimensions. In both, they had one child in their lives...

In one, it's Adam, a sweet and polite boy, who loves wearing dresses, dolls and other feminine things (his mother even suspects she might have a trans daughter, but never asked).

And in another, it's Lilith, a smart, if a bit cold, girl, that managed to go to college at only 6 years of age. At this point, she wishes to learn of evil in people and why it's there.

The story of two worlds and their eventual meeting.

Current timeline : Some time after Adam fleed his world to Lilith's.

Seraphim Twins

Pretty easy. Adam and Lilith are Sera's biological children, but due how much Sera got attached to them, all three had the memories of their relation erased and story of "dust of the Earth" was created as a cover up.

Now, Adam and Lilith learn about the fact they have a mother... and they want to find her.

Current timeline : During Lilith's 7 years in Heaven.

Story of Heaven and Hell (Once upon a time AU)

Adam and Lilith are twins, who think they were abandoned soon after their birth. But on night of their 25th birthday, a little girl appears on their doorstep. She introduces herself as Charlie and claims to be Lilith's daughter. But what's more crazy, Charlie claims that they're from a different world, destined to break a powerful curse.

But little by little, they learn that there's more to little Purgatory, Oregon, than meets the eye.

Current timeline : 5th month after Adam and Lilith's arrival.

Cocoon/Incubator AU

Here's a full-on explanation of AU, plus picture of the children.

But in short, Adam falls after Lilith and Eve die in extermination. Him and Lucifer fall in love, get married, after awhile, they find a spell to get children between two of them and with their late wives... that ends up with them having 13 children.

Current timeline : Somewhere mid-season one.

Two Undertale AU's

These two are random and not fully worked out, but I just randomly imagined Guitarapple as Soriel and Charisk... so this exists now. For first one - Lucifer is Toriel, Adam is Sans, for second Lucifer is Chara, Adam is Frisk.

Current timeline : Post-Pacifist (for Charisk one, Lucifer is brought back to life)

Ib AU

Adam visits a gallery with his mother and sister... but after awhile, he finds himself in another world, where everything from the gallery comes to life and... now is after him. So now, with new friends (jumpy, but well-meaning Lucifer, mysterious Lilith and upbeat Eve) they must find the way out of this terrifying, yet beautiful place.

Current timeline : Promise of return (Good/True ending)

Mad Father AU

Adam lives alone with his mother, Sera, in isolation. His mother is a scientist, who constantly locks herself in basement with her assistant, Lilith.

But on day, his sister Emily passed, he wakes up to unusual noise in basement... before he learns that a curse is set upon their house, that is now overrun by undead... his mother's test subjects... all come to life to get their revenge on her.

So now, Adam is determined to descend down into depths of his house, just for take of saving his mother.

Current timeline : Night of the curse

Fairy AU (Tinkerbell and great fairy rescue crossover)

On vacation on mainland with his siblings, young fairy prince Lucifer meets a pair of human children, Adam and Lilith. Not heeding his siblings' warnings, he ends up befriending two kids.

Current timeline : Few days after first meeting.

Psychopath Mother Sera and Little Adam (this still needs a better name)

After his creation, Lucifer was put in Sera's care. For awhile, it was great, they'd be just what people would call a typical mother and son duo... until Lucifer started mature, but Sera's treatment of him never changed. Eventually, after Lucifer fell, Sera grew devastated. She had her responsibilities for Heaven, sure, it was taking her time to get her mind off the loss... but it was still present. And it was driving her insane.

So when Adam finally arrived into Heaven... the High Seraphim instantly launched onto him, making him her new child... a replacement for Lucifer, much to Adam's dismay. But he could do nothing about it. His only chance to get away from Sera... is to follow Lucifer's footsteps... To fall.

Current timeline : A month after Adam fell into Hell (post-season 1)

Reincarnation/Rebirth AU

After his death at Nifty's hands... Adam is reborn in different world... where everyone, he knew, loved and hated, are with him. But as humans and at the same time.

The only downside... he still has all his memories of his past life.

Current timeline : Adam is 3 years old.

Hazbin Swap/Reverse Hotel

My version of Hazbin Swap! :D

Adam, the first man, opens a hotel in Hell to rehabilitate sinners to let them into Heaven. With help of Lute, his right hand girl/adopted daughter, he is determined to show everyone that redemption is possible.

Current timeline : Between events of Pilot and Overture

Cendrillon AU

Adam is invited to a ball with his family. But on the way there... he meets a person, who puts a curse on him, turning him into a woman... the only way to break it, is to kill the prince, who throws the ball. He only has time until three days to do it. If he fails to do it until midnight on third day... the curse will never be broken.

But once Adam meets the prince, he couldn't bring himself to do so, as the two fall in love with one another.

Current timeline : First night of the curse

Siren AU

A long time ago, Zastiel had three daughters, Sera, Carmila and Rosie. Three powerful sirens, who protected their kind. Each of three sisters was a mother on her own. Sera had three children, son, Adam, and two daughters, Lute and Emily, Carmila had twin girls, Odette and Clara, and Rosie adopted a little boy, Alastor.

For so long, the family was happy, caring for their people and raising their own children... until one day, the three sisters vanished. No matter how long and much they searched, no trace of them was found. The six children were now left in care of their grandfather. Until years later... they get a word that their mothers weren't dead, but were merely transferred into another world.

And now, the six children, now young adults, travel across dimensions to find their mothers.

Current timeline : First week after arrival

Ghost children

In this world, they're orphans, live in a big house deep in the woods, under careful watch of their teacher and mother figure. But even most carefree life has it's dark side... for they were once test subjects for experiments to reach immortality. A successful ones to say more.

So now, as bunch of people, forever stuck as children, unable to die... how else would they spend their lives?

Current timeline : Does it matter? No! :D - Charlie

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

How's about you do a follower hetek with a frog reader that is the cults head chef and often gives her snacks as a gift.

Ever since Lamb established a kitchen for their followers to use, you've been appointed as head chef, cooking delicious high-quality meals for everyone.

You were happy to do it, and it's one less thing for them to worry about when they returned from crusading. So it's a win-win!

Somehow you can even make grassy gruel extremely appetizing for all.

The day your great leader indoctrinated Heket (who used to actually be your leader before you joined the cult) was...interesting.

She practically leaped over to your kitchen the moment her eyes landed on you, struck with sudden hunger pangs as she clutched her stomach.

".....food....now....." She demands, plain and simple.

Her hoarse speech surprises you...until you remember that her crown used to enable her to speak easier. Now she's suffering both the loss of her throat and the effects of starvation.

Somehow you knew that karma would eventually come for the ex-bishop of famine, considering you were one of the few followers she plagued with hunger during Lamb's conquest of Anura.

But you never withheld food from her, nor did you treat her any differently, instead befriending her and making whatever she asks for.

Fortunately, Heket's not a very picky eater and is up for anything (tho she won't eat bowls of excrete or "deadly dishes"; she's not that desperate).

Although you're always hard at work whenever Lamb's away, sometimes you'll take a break from cooking and hang out with her--granted her hunger's moderately satisfied.

She's not much for words (for obvious reasons), though as a sign of your growing friendship, you'll give her snacks throughout the day. You'll pass some along to her during sermons so she doesn't loudly complain about hunger while Lamb is speaking.

If a fast is declared, she's the only one who will refuse to follow it for its entire duration.

No she won't dissent, but rather sneak off into the farm plots at night while everyone's asleep and munch on some berries and grass.

You once caught her trying to pry open the bird trap to get the meat ensnared within, nearly crushing her fingers in the process.

Seeing her panic, you reassure her you're not gonna snitch, instead gently opening the trap and allowing her to indulge.

Part of Heket actually feels some guilt, believe it or not, in defying Lamb like this.

But again, you reassure her it's okay. They'd understand.

It's that night where she starts to see you as a genuine friend who always looks out for her, expressing her gratitude to her siblings.

However around Lamb or any other follower, she'll insist you're only useful for your cooking and act highly tsundere about it.

[liteonlamb]

The New Generation

The Lamb and all the new Crown Bearers from my "Fate of the Red Crown" au More info below

A little bit about each character from left to right

If you're interested in seein more of this lil world o mine my ask box is WIIIDE open :)

Sakuro; Previous member of Leshy's following before his death. Sakuro tended to the camellias, got along well with all her fellow cult members and was very well liked though she led a very peaceful and reserved life. After Leshy's defeat by the Lamb his cult fell to chaos and Sakuro took up archery for her defense during the time. Eventually after the initial chaos the cult attempted to reform under a new leader. Majority rule picked Sakuro as the best fit for the new leader and she was given ownership of the green crown. Sakuro begrudgingly accepted the crown after the overwhelming support, though she really doesn't want to be the leader. She continues bearing the Green Crown due to her caring about the cult which is practically her family and not wishing to pass such a burden to another. Ekari; Previously the disciple of Heket, Ekari acquired the Yellow Crown through force in the violence that occurred after Heket's death. Ekari's proficiency with a dagger makes quick work of any in Anura who oppose him. Ekari believes that one must fight for what they have and want. If you are too weak to defend what you have then you have no right to it. He leads what's left of Heket's following through fear and respect of his violent tendencies. Ekari believes that he is the strongest being, and so far, those who have sought to prove him wrong have perished in their delusion. The Lamb; Previous vessel and now sole bearer of the Red Crown, The Lamb's past is unknown by most and is not too often recalled by the Lamb himself The Lamb leads his following with values of mercy and community. Though he can be led astray, The Lamb generally has good intentions and wishes for the betterment of all who are under his protection. Koren and Aark; Born and raised as part of Kallamar's following, Koren had a fairly uneventful life until his teenage years. During which he would fall fatally ill. Koren fell into a deep depression at the realization of his life being cut short, though he was eventually pulled out of it by the companionship of his jellyfish Aark whom he was gifted as his condition worsened. During this time, Koren became infatuated by curses and relics, eventually, through trial and error, creating his own relic by imbuing a knucklebones dice with mass amounts of fervour. The properties of the dice relic allowed for Koren to be cured of his ailment, and the second chance he was given gave him a deep appreciation of his life. After Kallamar's untimely end, Koren was eventually chosen by the following to be the Crown Bearer due to his personality being the guiding light that they needed in these dark times. Koren leads the following with the companionship of Aark as the 2 have become an inseparable duo in their shared immortality. Ceru; Ceru was raised by Shamura to become the new bishop of the Purple Crown after they suffered their grievous injury at the hands of Narinder. During their years under Shamura's guidance, Ceru would be taught many of the principles of leadership, war, combat, and the wisdom and values that they would need to become the next bishop. Though unfortunately for Ceru, their training would be cut short by The Lamb slaying Shamura leading to Ceru immediately having to assume the responsibly of the Purple Crown. Ceru now tries to lead their cult the best they can with the wisdom they currently have whilst also dealing with the loss of their only family they know.

[thxrgism]

from what i understand Soundtracks For The Blind was kinda imagined as the soundtrack for a film. i get that there are a lot of more personal themes to the album (i.e. gira and jarboe’s relationships with their parents) but am i the only one who has an imagined “plot” to the movie?

here’s the outline i wrote at 2am last week:

Protagonist lives with abusive parent(s) (I Was A Prisoner In Your Skull, Helpless Child)  who use her as a scapegoat for their own problems. She runs away and joins a cult out of desperation (Live Through Me, Yum-Yab Killers), and witnesses and experiences physical and sexual violence and exploitation within the cult (The Beautiful Days, Volcano, All Lined Up). She begins to confront the possibility of growing old in this cult (How They Suffer), and begins wishing for the god they believe in to give her an opportunity out (Animus), which eventually comes after the leader’s death (Red Velvet Wound). However, after she escapes she turns to drugs (Her Mouth Is Filled With Honey, Blood Section) and impulsive sexual relationships (Hypogirl) to cope with her trauma. However, she comes to realize that she is unsatisfied (Minus Something), and that both her views and her parent’s views on how to live her life were unsatisfying. After running out of money she moves back in with them, still finding them equally as terrible as before (Empathy, YRP), and begins to turn to the god of the cult she was in, drinking the blood of the now-deceased leader in an attempt to be possessed by him (The Final Sacrifice), and killing her parents  (YRP 2) in hopes of being satisfied by the sacrifices as the leader claimed to be. However, she finds herself then with neither her parents nor her god by her side, and is left unsatisfied (Surrogate Drone).

[cosmicheartz]

Yknow I should talk abt Maveth more so here’s some tidbits abt him

( idk how to properly tw this but just know death and torture is bought up )

- missing their right eye ( the eye hidden under his hair ). Lost it before being sacrificed

- Never rlly trusted or worshipped Nari. Only saw him as a way to enact revenge on the bishops for what they did to their kind and was planning on usurping him after they killed the bishops

- he was planning to keep Nari locked in the temples dungeon after usurping him while they were a vessel but the torture aspect didn’t rlly come until after the Nari fight

- Nari actually did die from one of Maveths torture sessions but was revived afterwards in a private ritual bc Maveth thinks death is too merciful. They want to keep him alive and make him suffer for eternity

- the only lamb I have that actually acts like a cult leader. Solange is actively trying NOT to be and my third lamb ( ie the fervour favors fleece lamb who I’m calling Mary for now ) doesn’t exactly see themselves as a cult leader?

Like they know they’re essentially running a Cult but they see themself more as like royalty/a celeb and eventually a goddess ( think that one monologue bit in Roxie from Chicago bc that’s their mindset )

- still figuring out the spouse situation. Idk if I wanna go with my initial idea for them but we’ll see

- would most likely sacrifice Ratau

- keeps the bishop relics as “ trophies “ and tbh if given the chance would totally replace his missing eye with either leshys or narinders third eye they gouged out

- Narinder is literally miserable and broken. He fears Maveth and has panic attacks hearing foot/hoof steps above the temple even if Maveth isn’t coming down to the cellar or if it’s even Maveth at all

- Saw Solange as a sister ( both in Solange’s universe and in his ). She died a younger than she does in her universe ( like 15-16 as opposed to 18-21 ) and her death along with his mothers fucked Maveth up

- Speaking of Solange if she ever got to meet him in a lambswap esque situation she’d be horrified/disgusted. She may not like Nari that much ( and depending on the au has killed him ) but the idea of torturing him for eternity makes her feel I’ll

- Was genuinely a decent/caring person before all of this happened. The genocide and seeing Solange and his mother die in front of him basically fucked him up so bad that they want revenge/justice ( not even just for their family and the sheepfolk either. He’s heard literal horror stories from his followers about their lives before joining his cult )

- frequently switches between He/Him and They/Them ( which differs from Solange who primarily uses She/Her and feminine terms but doesn’t mind ppl using They/Them )

- haven’t rlly decided on Maveths goat counterpart but I’m thinking that Maveths goat kills Naenia ( my goatverse Nari ) but regretted it and tried to resurrect her which resulted in her becoming a zombie/corrupted ( which is a lot more dire here than in Lambverse bc there isn’t any known cure for it )

So Maveths goat keeps her in the temple dungeon to keep her from harming their followers while they try and find a cure