#Also Hero - 'just fifty more minutes'

[corduroykoala]

I've been rewatching Frieren and was struck by just how effectively it uses montage to tell its story.

The passage of time is a huge part of the story, so montage is an obvious tool to employ, but Frieren uses it for more than just skipping to more interesting parts. Yes, that is often the goal, but it is also done in a way to demonstrate that time is passing. The montage in the first episode stands out—seeing a young shopkeeper appear much older just a few scenes later—as does the one used while the party waits in the Cabin with Kraft—Fern and Kraft are initially the only ones who pray at meals, but then Stark joins and, eventually, Frieren does as well.

My favorite montage, however, manages to convey not just the passage of time, but Frieren's perception of it. Relevant clip and discussion of it below the cut.

Throughout the series, we're also frequently told how much time has passed since Himmel's death, which serves to accentuate the passage of time as the characters—particularly Fern and Stark—get older. Fern is twice as old at the end of the season as she is at the beginning. The viewer can understand and relate to her experience of time.

In contrast, Frieren explains in the first episode that the ten-year journey with the Hero's party was short to her as an elf, not even one-one-hundredth of her life. On her journeys, we're constantly reminded of how short months and years seem to her, though it's generally played off in a light-hearted manner, juxtaposed against Fern's desire to continue their journey and not linger in one place for very long. To the viewer, this may make sense logically, but it is difficult to fully comprehend as a human. It's a lot like trying to understand the difference between one thousand and one million.

Episode 10 plays out largely in flashback, detailing Frieren's relationship with her master. After a fifty-year jump in time, Frieren is told to live in obscurity until the time comes when she can kill the demon king. Cue montage.

We see Frieren do as she was told, living a (mostly) quiet life as time passes. We see a small community grow into a village, a town, a walled city. We see a thousand years pass in about a minute of screentime. End montage.

We then see Himmel and his party approach Frieren to recruit her. It's a fairly standard Himmel flashback, demonstrating his uncanny insight and calling back to Frieren's meeting with Flamme. Then, the music falls out and—

Before you can even say the word montage, it's over. Five frames in rapid succession. The entire journey—ten years—in a single heartbeat. Painfully short, barely enough time to even understand what you just saw. One second in a video 100 seconds long.

This quick sequence captures just what that journey was like for Frieren. Of course she didn't get to know Himmel better. How could she have been expected to? It was barely any time at all, just one one-hundredth of her life.

This is my favorite montage in Frieren. It made my breath catch in my lungs the first time I watched it, and it did the exact same on rewatch. I love this show and I am incredibly happy it was renewed for a second season.

[legobiwan]

34. “ Are you testing me? “

With Dimentio and Mr.L

Not 100% happy with this one, but I'm trying to bang these out!

Also, what it tense consistency, I never knew her hahahahaha

I do so love Dimentio, though.

SPM, takes place pre-Whoa Zone.

~~~~~~~~

He needs to know who he’s working with. 

He needs to know what he’s working against. 

The enemy is the hero, at least on paper. The one in red and his band of misfit friends, more story than person, a man tireless in his quest to collect the so-called Pure Hearts and forestall a future already foretold in the Dark Prognosticus.

He’d meet them soon enough.

~~~~~

Perfect worlds. That was the prize for serving the Count’s destructive whims.

Quite the incentive. Who wouldn’t want a reality to shape for themselves, to create an existence tailor-made for one’s own hopes, wants, and dreams?

The thing was, L thought, securing an instrument panel cover with a hard twist of his wrench. 

The thing was, deals too good to be true were usually too good for a reason. (He knew this from experience. What experience exactly, he couldn’t quite articulate, the majority of his memories still floating around his brain like soggy cereal bits, misshapen and bloated past all recognition).

Perfect worlds didn’t manifest from nothing.

It was a law. The first law, in fact.

He must have missed something in translation. Again. This whole dimension, it seemed, communicated in metaphor, in meanings and symbolism that everyone could parse but him. 

And maybe Bleck’s “perfect worlds” were just that. An ideal to strive after, a motivation, an existence excised of bad actors who threatened the fabrics of reality.

Or maybe he had landed himself in a cult.

It didn’t matter. Not really. There was a job to do, and he would do it. 

He pulled on one of two large red levers, initiating a set of thrusters on their lowest setting. The reaction time was good, better than good.

But it wasn’t enough. 

He might have to switch to a hypergolic bipropellant. It would be longer-lasting and eliminate the need for an ignition source. But it also would eat through its storage container faster, would heighten the risk of an all-systems implosion, if the engagement got protracted out in the field.

L wasn’t planning on letting the “hero” last more than five minutes forget fifty.

It would be fine.

There had to be more to Bleck’s offer. The stick to the carrot he hung over all their heads. People didn’t just hand out perfect realities, metaphorical or not. Same as they wouldn’t give away a bridge or even a mansion without some reason.

The real question was where the other shoe was hiding. 

And when it was going to drop.

~~~~~~

He decides to start with O��Chunks. 

In truth, he tried to start with Nastasia, but had received a stony refusal in response to the lightest of entreaties. Unsurprising, but a disappointment. She, along with the other one, had the most to plumb, to pick apart and piece back together. 

Despite this, he had been able to gather some tidbits here and there. How her methods of persuasion were more about rearranging the furniture of the mind, of optimizing rather than overwriting. (After all, why should you keep the pans in the lower cupboard, if someone taller did the lion's share of the cooking?)

Maybe that wasn't the best explanation.

He thinks of the other analogy he had concocted, that of an audio engineer standing over a mixing board, Nastasia looming over some piece of equipment with large headphones over her perfectly coiffed hair. Lower inhibition. Fade memory. Add distortion to schemas.

The important thing was that it wasn't magic. Not really. Nastasia's brainwashing abilities, as the others so gleefully called it, was just another path for science to manifest, an evolutionary quirk of biology that allowed someone to tamper with neurology from across a crowded room. 

Odd, yes, but ultimately understandable. Something he could wrap his head around and fit into the neat schematics he had started to draw out for this world.

~~~~~

L was a curious man. He knew that much about himself. 

He wasn’t curious enough to approach the Count.

~~~~~

Of all of them, O’Chunks had provided the least amount of useful information. A typical enforcer-type, his preternatural levels of strength combined with a literal combustion engine of a stomach, the latter of which probably merited some form of investigation, if not for the fact its byproduct was a vile organic concoction that treaded just above the definition of “biological weapon.”

His arms, however, were a point of interest. Not for the heavy-packed layers of muscle (anyone could cultivate that, with enough work and steroids), but rather the way his upper limbs lacked visible continuity, flesh presenting in accordion-like chunks that stretched from bulky shoulders to large, gloved hands.

“There are weapons,” O’Chunks had said in his usual grumbling lilt, gazing at some distant point on the violent black-and-violet horizon. “That can deal far worse damage than etching a wee pretty picture on your skin.”

L would like to see those weapons some day, but he doesn’t push for more information. He still needs these people on his side. 

For now.

~~~~~

Unlike O’Chunks and Nastasia, Mimi is more than happy to show off her shapeshifting abilities, morphing between bodies like a caffeine-poisoned chameleon. It’s weird to be faced with himself. Not the flat, mirror image he's already familiar with, but a true three-dimensional replication, one that breathes and moves just as he would - or at least as he thinks he would. 

He (the other he that’s him and damn if that’s not confusing as all get-out) looks tired, dark circles digging under bright, intelligent blue eyes. If Mimi’s copy is accurate, it means he hasn’t shaved in a few days, although he has no recollection of that amount of time passing. L rubs at his mouth. The bit of stubble forming around his chin and cheeks does nothing to add years to his youthful appearance. He wonders if a mask might help to obscure his age, or at least minimize the fatigue that seems baked into his features. 

If nothing else, he could look menacing, less mad scientist and more like those bad guys in movies set in the Old West. (The Old West of what, he asks himself, shaking the thought away). 

He asks if she can shift into someone else based on a description or a drawing. Mimi shrugs, flitting through a series of outfits before landing on a bright fuchsia dress with ruby-red bowties on either shoulder. “Maybe,” she says, rearranging her two green pigtails, tying them off with matching ribbons. “But I’ve never really tried. I think I'd have to see the person for a proper shift. And you know, I don’t get their abilities or anything, just the looks.” She gives a high, piercing laugh. “Could you imagine? That’d be so gross.”

So gross and so powerful. But she’s right. If Mimi had been able to inherit the abilities of the people she shifted into, she would be the one calling the shots right now, not Count Bleck. L takes a moment to be grateful for that fact. As surly and unapproachable as the Count is, he seems to know what he is doing, even if L is certain he hasn’t shared even half of his plan with his subordinates. A world, or part of a world, ruled by Bleck might not be so bad, at least in comparison to Mimi, who would probably try to bury continents in glitter only to demand an army of hot boyfriends on day two.

L shrugs off visions of muscled, tight-shirted men carrying Mimi on a palanquin through a rainbow-colored apocalypse. He considers asking her to shift into the hero, the man in red he knows she’s already faced, and that he’ll be facing (and beating) soon. 

Something stops him.

He tells himself he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise. 

~~~~~

“But what if you were stripped of your magic? If you had to rely on physical combat alone?”

Dimentio’s mask splits into an uneven smile. 

“Are you testing me, my cantankerous friend?”

He's put off this conversation for days. 

A good scientist explores all avenues, he had told himself, building up the resolve to go through with his plan.

It was an essential step. Was maybe the keystone to understanding what was going on around him. 

Unfortunately, it meant being one-on-one with a man (if he was a man at all) who more often than not regarded L like he was a prime cut of meat about to be served on a cheap plastic lunch tray.

It was unnerving. 

And completely bewildering.

Obviously, I’m testing you, asshole, L frowns, throwing his arms across his chest. ��Let’s just say as a hypothetical that some day," a day which I hope will never come, "we have to combine forces. I want to know what I’m getting into.”

Dimentio crosses his legs, allowing himself to float upwards. 

“Combine forces?” The jester takes his chin in his hand, rictus etched into his dual-colored mask. “What a delightful turn of phrase! Such a sculptor of language you are, Mr. L.”

L rolls his eyes with a violent moan. This was why he hated conversations with the jester.

“Just answer the question, Dimentio! If your magic gets taken out by this so-called hero, am I going to be on my own here?” 

So far, all he had been able to glean from his annoying co-worker was that he had terrible suggestions for robotic weaponry (magic missiles? really?) and an aversion to standing on the ground so severe that - if it had been anyone else but Dimentio - he might have called it a phobia. 

He breaks every law of physics with a smile and snap of his fingers. 

The others, he could figure out, could create some kind of link to reality that matched with his understanding of how the universe worked, of the rules and laws that governed the physical realm. Sure, maybe it all sat on the far boundaries of what was possible, but the fact remained that it was possible, that he could justify the existence of this reality and these people within it by expanding his understanding by a few hundred-thousand square meters.

Dimentio existed wholly outside his paradigm.

“If my magic is taken out,” Dimentio echoes, biting on the tip of a gloved finger in an obviously affected pose. “What a catastrophe that would be! Like an asteroid whose path is fixed on a four-footed, doomed civilization.”

“What are you talking about, Dimentio?”

In one smooth movement, the jester comes to land near his feet, the bells dangling from his motley headdress giving a dull tinkle as he curls his hand around L’s shoulder.

“For my magic to be nullified,” Dimentio whispers, the words shimmering with a dangerous edge, “it would require quite the cataclysmic event.”

L wills himself to not pull away from Dimentio’s creeping grasp. “What kind of cataclysmic event?”

The jester stares at him, his mask devoid of any writ emotion, yellow and black twin crescents peering into him with an unquestionable, nearly palpable intensity. A moment later, his sharp fingers dig even further into L’s shoulder, voice lowering to the edge of audibility. “You know what they say about curiosity, Mr. L.”

“Yeah, I do,” L growls, ripping himself from Dimentio’s claw-like grasp. “It killed the cat. But what they don’t like to tell you is that satisfaction brought it back.”

“Oh, Mr. L!” Dimentio cackles, a loud, jagged sound like two knives being dragged over a ceramic plate.  The jester makes a backwards somersault in the air before wiping an invisible tear from his yellowed eye. “You truly are the right man for this job. Fortune has smiled wide upon us with your arrival.”

L tugs at his shirt, trying to wipe away for cloying feeling of Dimentio's touch. This conversation is going nowhere. He should have known the creepy jester was just going to waste his time. L ignores the still-giggling figure, heading towards the door. “Next time you don’t have your magic, don’t come running to me for help.”

“Au contraire, my friend," Dimentio sits up, eyes bright. "I imagine if I don’t have my magic, you would be the first I would call on for help.”

L pauses, his hand hovering above an geometric-engraved ebony doorknob.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

The only response he receives is a wide grin.

“What are you, Dimentio?” L asks after a moment, the question bubbling past his lips in a low, urgent hiss.

Dimentio floats towards him, head tilted. “The better question is what are you, my dear? And what will you become when satisfaction brings you back?”

“I…” L stutters, edging towards the door, hands groping for the knob. Abstract images fly across the canvas of his mind, too fast grab onto, a whirlwind of muted tones and undefinable emotion.

“Mr. L!” a high voice commands from the other side of the room. L gasps, peering around Dimentio's looming form, his heart beating a trail up his throat. It's Nastasia. Clipboard in hand, her pen tapping an impatient rhythm, the Count's second-in-command frowning at the scene laid out before her. 

“It’s time, Mr. L,” she says simply.

Dimentio floats to the side, allowing L a path of egress. “Do enjoy your little reunion, Mr. L," he says, words soft enough only he and L can hear. "I hope it may prove fruitful. And do give the hero my most sincere regards.”

L shivers, slipping past the jester, giving one more look over his shoulder as Dimentio reclines, hands joined together behind his head, one leg crossed over the other like he's enjoying a day at the beach. 

It's nothing. He’ll unravel Dimentio’s game later on, will get to the bottom of Bleck's true intentions, will piece together this world and his place in it.

But for now, he has a hero to destroy.

[sailing-on-a-puddle]

The Science of Baking

This is for @thunder-pride Agender Day and also Week 1 Bingo prompts Role Models, Baking and Self Love, although they don't technically say it. Thanks to @onereyofstarlight for the headcanon of Brains being quietly agender which you can find here, and for reading this through 😊 It's all rather fluffy and also features Gordon, MAX and an OC.

Gordon walked into the kitchen to find an interesting array of equipment out on the kitchen table. A mixing bowl with the electric whisk, three baking trays but also a test tube rack with various colours of liquid, scientific scales and a thermometer. He would usually be the suspect for this type of thing so he wondered who else was cooking.

A small clatter and MAX emerged from the walk in fridge with various cartons and bottles, closely followed by Brains. That wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

“Hey Brains, what you cooking?” Gordon had never seen Brains cook before, but it couldn’t be worse the Grandma’s and he quite fancied something after his swim.

“Chocolate Brownies Gordon, but we must follow the recipe exactly. Max and I are preparing the ingredients.”

“Brains, we used to make those when we were little. You just add water to the brownie mixture, mix it, put it in the oven and then fight your brothers over who got to eat the leftovers in the bowl. You don’t need a recipe. I’ll bring you a mixture packet on the next supplies run.”

Brains looked at him with the sort of horrified look usually reserved for people like Lemaire. “No Gordon, we must follow Chris’s recipe.”

Brains switched on a hologram above the table and a person who Gordon assumed was Chris appeared in hologram form. They were as blonde as he was and probably a similar age but with green eyes. They were wearing a t-shirt with a large agender flag on it.

“Greetings, All!” Chris announced in an accent Gordon couldn’t quite place but he knew was British.

“Hi Chris!” Gordon replied, but Chris carried on talking. Gordon realised Chris was a recording.

Brains paused the recording. “Gordon, this is Chris MacDonald. They are the winner of the fifty-third series of the Great British Bake Off and they have turned cooking into a science!” Brains looked so enthusiastic, and MAX beeped in agreement.

Brains turned the hologram recording back on and Chris was very clearly and charismatically explaining what ingredients were needed to the milligram or millilitre, and Brains was hanging off their every word whilst Max helped.

Gordon watched him for a couple of minutes. It was clear that Brains was in his element applying scientific methods to this endeavour. The swim could wait. Besides, this person had won a baking competition and Gordon was very much looking forward to having first dibs on the brownies. Many years in a house with four brothers had taught him you didn’t give up that opportunity.

Realising he was thirsty and that this recipe clearly wasn’t going to take the ten minutes he was used to as a child, Gordon got up to get a drink. “You want one Brains?” he asked. No answer. Gordon tried two more times before waving his hand in front of the hologram. Brains stared at him. “You want a drink?”

Brains paused the hologram again. “Oh sorry Gordon. I had …”

“Forgotten I was there?”

“Erm, yes, sorry.” Brains looked embarrassed. “It’s just that … Chris is a hero of mine. They are so unashamedly who they are, and I don’t always feel comfortable with that.”

Gordon smiled. “Brains, who you are doesn’t always have to be shouted from the rooftops. I mean, in my case it does because that’s who I am, but you are not me or Chris or anybody else who isn’t you. If that means you're more comfortable being out as agender only to those close to you, that's OK too. As long as you’re happy being you.”

Brains looked up from his feet. “Thanks Gordon.”

“No problem. I meant it. But also part of being me is I want to try those brownies first and I get to share the bowl mixture after my swim. Deal?”

“Oh they won’t be ready for a while. After MAX and I have cooked the brownies Chris has another recipe to 3D print some Pride flags onto them in icing.”

Gordon stared at Brains for a few seconds before bursting out laughing.

“What?”

Gordon opened the kitchen doors to head out to the pool for his swim. “That’s you being you Brains. You’re more comfortable with it than you think.”

[silver-ink-iron-words]

T_T

This is so touching!

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this. But then I was like, I've already made them wait long enough, and what's the harm of posting two things in one day?

Felt it'd be nice to have Part 6 be a little less plot-driven. You'll see what I mean

-------

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

QPR, Part 6

“[Hero], come on!” the villain called, from where they laid sprawled on the couch. “You said it wouldn’t take that long!”

“Hold on just a sec.” The hero’s voice floated from the kitchen. “They’ll be done soon.”

The villain scowled and flopped back on the pillows. “You never see Do-yun making Ha-rin wait around forever.”

“That’s because tv shows have this magical trick called the jump cut.” There was the sound of an oven door closing. “We'll just let them bake, and then they’ll be so good you won’t even remember the wait.”

The villain groaned.

Then they heard the sound of running water, and burst up, rushing into the kitchen. “Are you doing my dishes?!”

The hero jerked their head up like they’d been caught vandalizing. “I was just going to do a few while we waited.”

“Okay, one, you do not need to do my chores on k-drama night. And two, how long is the baking going to take?!”

The hero glanced to their phone on the counter. “’Bout fifty more minutes.”

The villain gaped. “That’s most of an episode!”

“Well I didn’t want us to have to pause the show during a big scene. This way we can – Jesus your hands are freezing!”

The villain had come up behind the hero to hug them, pressing their hands on the hero’s stomach.

“Come watch tv dear,” they said into the hero’s shoulder. “I’m cold without you.”

The hero shook their head, but also cracked a small grin. “You’re evil.”

The villain matched their expression and pressed their hands more. “Of course I am. It’s the only way I can get you to cuddle me.”

In the end, the brownies were, in fact, good enough to make the villain forget why they were annoyed in the first place.

---

“Oh my god,” the hero said.

The villain fidgeted. “Do you like it?”

“Like it?” The hero looked up. “[Villain], it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

The hero was holding a small fluffy teddy bear, its fur the black, grey, white, and purple of the asexual flag.

The villain beamed. “Really?”

The hero nodded gleefully. “He needs a name.”

“I think the tag says its name is ‘Fuzzy’ or something. You could – ”

“Ferdinand,” the hero decided, assessing the stuffed animal. “Ferdinand Bearnsby. The next Prince of Denmark.”

The villain wrapped the hero in a hug. “I’m so glad you like it.”

---

“So is [Villain], like, a law-abiding citizen now?” the hero’s friend asked.

“Uh, sort of?” The hero gazed around at the restaurant’s outdoor seating area. “They still break minor laws, but I think they’ve really toned it down to stress me out less.”

“Hey, that’s great.”

The hero swirled their iced tea with their straw. “Yeah, I guess.”

The friend quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t agree?”

The hero sighed. “Okay, so don’t ever tell [Villain] this, but I think their ‘devil may care’ attitude is maybe, kinda . . . a little bit cool?”

The friend grinned. “Oh really?”

In return, the hero’s smile was sheepish. “It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I secretly wish that they’d behave more like their old villainous self sometimes.”

“Hm, well I suppose that – ”

Something enormous crashed into the street, making all the dishes clatter. The hero and their friend both whipped their heads around to see the cause of the noise.

“[Villain]!”

“Oh hi [Hero]!” The fifty-foot tall mech waved at the two of them. “Fancy meeting you here. How did you know it was me?”

“[Villain], why are you in a giant robot?!”

“Isn’t it cool?” The villain spun around, their heavy feet cracking the pavement and the machine's hinges screeching with every movement. “I finally figured out how to get the power system working.”

“This is illegal.”

The villain laughed. “Ah okay, I see the issue. But, fear not my darling, for I have” – they pulled out a sheet of paper that looked miniscule in their enormous metal hands – “a permit!”

Soon after, the mech continued walking down the street, while the hero followed them, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The friend watched them go, and then chuckled. Those two maniacs were perfect for each other.

---

A-spec stories taglist:

@feline17ff , @piept , @doublericenobeans , @vioqueenofmushrooms , @pigeonwhumps , @thelazywitchphotographer , @taramacgay

[novankenn]

Reluctant Hero?

= Thirty-Three = (Chapter List)

Nora: So, to the bullhead station?

Jaune: And get on one of those death-traps? No way. We're taking the Delta.

Cardin: (From the back seat) Beacon is on the top of a cliff, how is this bucket of... (Nora shot him a glare over her shoulder, cutting him off)

Nora: So how are we getting back without a bullhead?

Jaune: (Guiding the Delta through Vale's traffic.) There's an old access road from Vale to Beacon. We're taking that.

Nora: An OLD road? Can we... even make it?

Jaune: The Classic can make it through anything, oh ye of little faith!

Cardin: How are you so sure?

Jaune: If this old gal could get me and my friends up to the... um... she just will, trust me. Nora, hit play if you please... we need some cruising music.

Nora gave Cardin a questioning look over her shoulder, only to get a shrug of his shoulders as a response. So she reached over and hit play on the old tape deck.

Jaune: Oh yeah, that's the stuff!

Nora and Cardin sat back, giving Jaune a similar look, as he started to tap the wheel with his cybernetic hand, while also singing along... very off-key.

Despite Cardin and Nora's reservations, the Delta 88, or as Jaune called it "the Classic" was easily handling the rutted and rough very unmaintained road that lead from Vale proper to Beacon. Though neither was appreciating Jaune's singing.

After the fifth repetition of the song, as apparently the tape was just the one song, Nora had had enough and reached over and ejected the tape.

Jaune: Hey! (Taking his eyes off the road and giving Nora a look) I was...

Cardin: LOOK OUT!

Jaune/Nora: SHIT!

The beowulf hit the front of the Delta, was flipped over the hood to slam into the windshield, causing it's head to burst in a spray of goo that coated the glass. A second impact caused Jaune to slam on the brakes.

Cardin: What the f...?

Nora: Where the FUCK did that come from?

Jaune: (Attempting to use the wipers to clear the windshield, so he could see) I have no... Crap baskets.

Nora: Jaune? (Looks out the smeared windshield, seeing the approaching forms of at least three more beowulf and two missing Beacon applicants.) Crap baskets.

Jaune: Well, we have a choice, Lady and Gent.

Cardin: And that would be?

Jaune: Do we get out and fight, or?

Nora: Or?

Jaune: Do I run them over?

Cardin: Are you serious?

Jaune: Ah yes, I am serious! What do you think I would joke about running people over? That's cold man, real cold.

Nora: They're getting closer!

Jaune didn't wait for any further conversation, as he put the Delta 88 into reverse and stepped on the gas.

Cardin: What are you doing?

Jaune: I need room to get up to speed!

Nora: (having rolled down her window and peeking past the goo covered windshield) I think they know what you're planning on doing!

Jaune: Too late now! (Jaune hit the brake, put the Delta into drive and stomped on the gas.)

Forty-One hundred pounds of steel met a few hundred pounds of flesh at about fifty-miles and hour. Cardin winced at the sounds of bodies being knocked aside, over and under the car. Jaune didn't even flinch as he kept the accelerator floored and the wipers going.

Cardin: Can you even...

Nora: Let go, you bitch!

Deadite Student: (Half climbing through Nora's open window. It's twisted claw like fingers tangled in Nora's hair.) I will swallow your soul!

Jaune: Cardin do something!

Cardin: You do something!

Jaune: I'm driving!

Nora: Get off me, cunt! Someone, just do something!

Deadite Student: You will all die! There is nothing you ca...

BOOM! The Delta swerved dangerously as everyone now coated in gore shook their heads trying to ease the ringing in their ears, thanks to Cardin firing his shotgun inside the cab of the car.

Nora: I GOT IT IN MY MOUTH!!!

Jaune: WHAT?

Cardin: AHHH!!! MY EARS!!!!

Jaune: WHAT?

Thirty minutes later, the goo splattered trio exited the gore covered car. Glynda sighed as she looked them over. She knew she was supposed to ask, but she really didn't want to. Really, she did not want to know what those three menaces had gotten involved in. But it was her job to keep tabs on the trio.

Glynda: Would you mind explaining?

Jaune: WHAT?

Glynda: Why are you yelling?

Nora: I NEED MOUTHWASH!!! OR BLEACH!!

Glynda: I... ah... CAN, SOMEONE, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!

Cardin: (His hands pressed to his ears) I'LL NEVER LOOK AT ROADKILL THE SAME WAY AGAIN!!

Glynda: Roadkill?

Nora stumbled away from her teammates making a bee-line for the fountain, and as shocked students and a dumbfounded Glynda watched she dunked her whole head in to the cool clear water. Jaune stumbled about to the rear of the Delta 88 and popped the trunk. Glynda's shoulder's dropped as she watched as the young man, pulled out a six-pack of beer and proceeded to walk over to a nearby bench.

Glynda: WHAT HAPPENED? WHY ARE YOU ALL SO... SO... GOOEY?

Cardin: DID YOU SAY SOMETHING, TEACH?

[lucent-things]

i watch one (1) fifty-minute retrospective of a police-consultant series that ended a decade ago - and that i only ever casually consumed while it was airing - and immediately Must Consume All The Things.

(some good food out there, let me tell you. the fandom is strong)

in my defence though: the themes of grief, trauma, self-destruction and healing? the exploration of trust and personal damage and accountability? the found family dynamics between a team of people who are all a little damaged or misplaced, and stumbled across each other, and chose (over and over again) to Stay???

and and and!! an arrogant-expert guile hero main character with a Dark and Troubled Past who is full of self-loathing and on a typical revenge quest, yet breaks the mould for these kinds of protagonists - embodying joi de vivre, delighting in random acts of kindness towards those he cares for, and acting as a gold-standard trickster archetype (mocking towards authority, neutral towards the blameless, gentle towards the vulnerable)???

and don't get me started on the police-consultant-and-their-cop will-they-won't-they oh my god this dynamic i adore them together i just want them to be happy they are so important to me

(also, aforementioned retrospective was right. the season 3 finale was flawless, and it would have been infinitely more interesting to not have the plot twist. because the trauma wouldn't (didn't) disappear with the revenge complete, with the Big Bad dead and buried. the tension lingers. you have to go on living afterwards, and figure out how. and how do you do that, when you've only been living for revenge for so long, and keeping everyone at a distance out of fear you'll drag them into the mire with you? how do you break those old habits? how do you let yourself live again? how do you convince yourself that you deserve it?)

(aaaaand now i'm contemplating writing a post-season 3 au based on that concept, goddamn it)

[thatsnotmygunflash]

oohh i guess either "i'll choose you always. no matter what" or "i love the idea of growing old with you"

Who says we can't do both? 😉 I'm in the mood for some fluff so why not.

"You're late," Len said as soon as he felt the air shift in the kitchen, not taking his attention off the dirty casserole dish he was viciously scrubbing.

"I know, I'm sorry, Hal was-"

"Taking up all your spare time again." Len cut in with a too-casual tone, scrubbing at the stubborn specks in the corners with a single-minded focus. "Yes, I'm aware."

"You're jealous," Barry huffed.

"I don't trust him," Len said quickly in response, using the nail of his thumb to scrap off the black spots the brush couldn't seem to get off.

"Because you think he likes me." Barry accused with a tired sigh. Len didn't reply for a long moment, rinsing off the soap still sticking to the surface and setting the dish down in the drainer with a harsh clank of glass against metal when it knocked against the saucepan.

"He does," Len said with finality as he shut off the water. He kept his eyes straight ahead as he reached for the towel on his shoulder, using it to wipe down the water splashes around the sink.

"Lenny," Barry whispered gently, laying a hand on his shoulder as he came to stand directly behind Len. "You know Hal is just a friend."

"Like how Kara is just a friend?" Len bit out against his better judgment. He hated himself for being like this. For letting his overwhelming feelings for his speedster to cause such ugly emotions to stir inside his chest. He had never been like this before. He didn't want to start a fight, but he also hadn't wanted to sit in his empty kitchen feeling increasingly more neglected with every passing minute, the food he cooked for their weekly date night growing cold waiting on the counter for Barry to show up. His text message sent in the first half hour went unanswered and the phone call at the top of the first hour got the same treatment.

"Lenny, I'm really sorry, okay?"

"Why were you three hours late?" Len asked, finally turning around to pin Barry down with a harsh eyebrow raise.

"I needed his help with something," Barry replied hesitantly, his nervous hands twitching at his side. It made Len bite the inside of his cheek, keeping the first harsh response that popped into his head to himself.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Seriously Lenny, I'm sorry, okay? I swear I just needed his help with something."

He was lying. Barry was actually trying to lie to him. He thought the hero knew better by now, you can't bullshit a bullshitter.

"That's not an explanation," Len said flatly, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared the younger man down with an accusing frown.

"Lenny, you know you're it for me, right?" Barry rested both hands against Len's biceps, giving a reassuring squeeze to the tense muscles. "It doesn't matter who flirts with me or how well I get along with my friends. I'd choose you, always. No matter what. In fact, I intend to prove it."

"How do you plan to do that?" Len asked, narrowed gaze stuck on Barry's devoted smile.

"Lenny, baby, do you wanna know what gets me out of bed most days?"

"What?"

"I love the idea of growing old with you. Of retiring from the hero business and living on a ranch outside of the city. Having grandkids begging their parents to let them stay at our house every weekend. I love the idea of buying a house and living with you for the next fifty years. Of growing our family as big as you’ll let me. I love the idea of you and I old and gray and even more in love than we are now. I love the idea of us, forever. I want you, Lenny, I'll always want you." Barry reached into his back pocket, coming out with a clenched fist and an adoring shine in his eyes. "I was late because I was having a hard time deciding what you would like best. I wanted it to be perfect. Something you could look at every day and still love even fifty years from now."

Barry held out his hand, opening his palm to reveal the shining silver ring.

"I want you in my future, Lenny, I want you to be my future. Will you marry me?"

"Six."

"What?" Barry laughed in nervous confusion, shifting his weight from foot to foot as Len continued to stand there staring unblinkingly at the offered ring.

"My cut off for kids. It's six."

"Is that your idea of a yes?" Barry questioned hopefully, holding his breath when Len slowly reached a hand out towards the ring.

"Yes," Len confirmed softly, taking the ring between two fingers and holding it up to the light to look at it properly. It was a simple silver band, at first glance, but as Len moved it from side to side it looked almost like it was shimmering blue in the right light.

"Yes?" Barry repeated, a blinding grin stretching across his face when Len slipped the band onto his ring finger. It fit perfectly. The weight settling against his skin just enough to be present but not enough to bother him. He could see why Barry had chosen it.

"Yes, Barry,"

[why-is-thinking-so-hard]

okay so au time prologue actually

this gets really long

⚠️spoilers for mean girls, both of them⚠️

fuck okay, I have to remember how this all started hang on...

and the context IS important TO ME

anyway, I think this started with the bus actually. holy shit, this started yesterday? oh my god... I feel like this has been plaguing my brain for weeks.

so my friend and I had just watched both mean girls movies because he had never seen either one before and that needed to be fixed. after he left my place, I saw a post joking about making a legal case for the bus driver speeding through the school zone and my adhd brain took that and ran and I mean RAN. before I knew it I was thinking about how that crash was intentional.

we had just watched both movies so the scene was fresh in my mind, I mean, they had to see regina in the road well before they hit her, but there's no attempt to warn her and get her out of the road or stop the bus until after she's been hit. in both movies the road is clear, not a single car or person-- hell, not even a single piece of trash--, regina's in the road for a minute or so, there are no visible crossroads or corners around the crossings where she's hit so the driver didn't whip around a corner and plausibly not see her, and you don't hear the brakes on the bus until after regina's been hit and buses are big so takes time for the brakes to engage, if they were trying to stop before they hit her, you would've heard the screech and swerving during that scene but there's nothing and the bus is heading straight on.

anybody who follows @butchregina (love their art, literally gave me gender envy and now im shopping for binders) knows they often ask what people are thinking about and so I sent the whole above analysis in and they answered "I think someone put a hit out on her"

what does this have to do with a superhero/spider-man cadina au? im getting there, but wow this is getting long. why is it I can write an essay like its nothing when im no longer in school?

the answer was funny so I sent it to my friend and he said "there is no driver cady just manifests them[...] its why she was homeschooled in the African savannah her prents had to be somewhere with no cheeselog busses for her to teleport to her location within a fifty mile radius or smth," which I also sent in as an ask with the caption "another option," to which the answer was "she is a superhero. She does control the buses."

so this is where we actually get into the how the superhero/spider-man au thoughts came to be. that response got me thinking about superhero cady, not cady summoning buses because that made me lose my mind, but superhero cady. part of me was endeared to the idea of a cadina where cady had powers but regina didn't but how can regina not have powers? when I started thinking about it it truly was just a vague superpower au, like, cady somehow got powers and had to hide them- maybe janis and Damian know and are her Man In The Van TM- and then there's regina who kinda looks down on her but thinks her hero alter ego is the shit it was a whole thing but I feel like I should wrap this essay up.

point being, there are more details, but I will get into them in another post because this was the prologue, the context of why this has been plaguing my mind for... less than 24 hours at last check. I will be posting more about this under superhero cadina or spider-man cadina, it depends on how vague I am about their story and powers.

if you read to the end of this, thank you for indulging my rambling about whatever the hell this was/is going to end up being, best of love and luck to you

[moon-blanket]

Waking up to the Monarchial Summit video dropping was the scariest notification of my life.

IT'S TIME !!!!! IT'S TIME IT'S TIME IT'S TIME IT'S TIME !!!!!!!

FIFTY ONE MINUTES ???? Holy fuck this is going to be the longest post in the world i'm so sorry.

Shaw Pack Boys gettin' ready to head off !!!1 YIPPEE !!! I love hearing all of the Pack and their mates interacting oh my god it fills me with glee every time.

----

William still isn't answering calls ?? Hey dude you NEED to get some kind of act together. Vincent needs you !! His silly little music bit was very heartwarming though :') HE GAVE LOVELY A CROWN !!!! OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO SOB AND CRY ON THE FLOOR FOR EONS. He's so nervous about if they like it or not oh my god. oh my god. HE PUTS IT ON THEIR HEAD !!!!!!! CALLS THEM BEAUTIFUL !!!!! WELCOMED TO MONARCHY !!!!! SAYS THEY WEAR IT WELL !!!!!!! HOW CAN I BE NORMAL !!!!!!

"You're my heart, and it is such a privilege that i get to stand at your side. Thank you, for being a part of my life, baby. The best part." I AM WEEPING PLEAAASE WHEN IS IT MY TURN.

----

Please tell me Samuel Collins has dressed for the occasion. Please tell me it's to the Nines. Remember my big post about doing Anything in the world to see it. Yeah hi hey. Let me see it.

Sam being a Butter Pecan Ice Cream lover makes all the sense in the world and more. Of course he would dude.

----

Porter flipping on Vincent and Not bringing Treasure to the Summit is a low blow. Babygirl you can't keep doing this.

Vincent asking Lovely if He can be the one to punch him this time. What a slay. Love you forever.

----

VINCENT WELCOMING THE PACK IN WAHEEE !!!! I can hear the awkwardness because he didn't know beforehand. He called them enjoyable !! moreso than other people !! David saying that Vincent and Lovely both having a spot at their table i'm falling to my knees.

Uhoh, they're already getting job offers !!

Asher asking him to blink twice if he needs help, and Milo saying that he looks like he has a gun to his head. LMAO. Help this poor man.

----

Vincent's reassurances that Lovely is being a good host :(((

House of Bennett !!! The king seems. So.... nice. wow.

The prince calling him "A kid in his dad's suit." UHOH. And asking for Alexis immediately. That isn't unassuming at all.

----

ALEXIS ?????? ALEXIS SOLAIRE ????? THE ALEXIS SOLAIRE ??? IN THE PRIME UNIVERSE ???? HELLO I SUPPOSE !!!! NICE TO MEET YOU !!!

Alexis asking if they'll turn into a vampire or die and leave sam without them !!! Hey what the fuck !!!! That's kind of sick and twisted !!!

Darlin' being like "I can solo her" is SO REAL. I can do it too. Let me at her ! LET ME AT HER !!!!

Alexis's reasoning for turning Sam from her own mouth !! That's fun to hear. Fuck that !

PORTER HERO MOMENT ? Oh my god their back and forth. I'm LIVING FOR IT !!!! THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTING !!!! Calling her a family disappointment made me choke on my water.

Him asking if they're alright, even if it was to stop a fight from breaking out. SAM IS BACK WAHOO !!!

SAM IS ABOUT TO GO OFF ON ALEXIS !!!!! GET HER BABY !!!! AND DARLIN' FOLLOWS !!!!! LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE WOOOOO !!!!!!!!

---- HOW ARE WE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH DUDE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ----

David getting a message about being Careful of William. Saying that Quinn had to have come from Somewhere, somewhere with Friends. That William is a horrible judge of character. And dragging all of the fuckin' clan members LMAOOOO.

Man the House of Solaire is a mess huh !!!!

----

SAM LETS FUCKING GO !!!!!! GET HER ASS !!!!! God while it's raining also. It's like a scene from a movie. God I could just IMAGINE the hard stare the two of them exchanged before Alexis finally gave in (in her own way). and the IMMEDIATE zip off from Sam after he heard what he wanted. What a work of art.

----

ASH AND MILO !!! YIPPEE !!!! AND PORTER IS TALKING TO THEM ?? I am going to go fucking crazy oh my god dude I'm going to go NUTS.

(Hey off-topic, but this background music is something that shows up in someone else's videos that I watch and I got So Fucking Confused for a second LMAO. Okay we can carry on)

Immediately asking Sweetheart if they're an investigator for the Department, as well as having a Time Crunch-- is VERY SUSPICIOUS.

HEY HE KNOWS ABOUT CLOSEKNIT ??? PORTER YOU CAN'T ALSO BE IN TOWN FOR CLOSEKNIT. HEY YOU CAN'T ALSO BE INVOLVED.

ONE OF CLOSEKNIT'S CURRENT BACKERS IS HERE ?? THE HOUSE OF BENNETT ?????

Okay Porter you're maybe a fuckin' hero. Even if you have potential strings with this.

Telling Sweetheart to get in and listen and get out seems SCARY !!!! HEY THIS COULD BE A SETUP FOR SOMETHING !!!!! HEY UHOH !!!!

Milo being worried for his mate !! hey me too !!!!

Oh my god it's been almost two years since Inversion. oh NO Ash doesn't know what Milo did that night.

Even through his worries he immediately stands up for it when Ash is a little wary about it. :')))

----

SWEET SAM AND DARLIN' MOMENT IN THE RAIN !!!!!!! I'M GONNA EAT THIS UP !!!!!!!!!

Sam stickin' around Alexis even after showin' her true colors, saying there is a heart in her somewhere deep (deep, deep, deep) down in there somewhere. Even if he hates her with everything he has.

He found one of her "real person" moments from her when they talked. Just like a movie dude, i'm tellin' ya.

Him reassuring Darlin' that they can absolutely handle themself, but she is a problem that He "brought" in to their relationship-- so he wanted to at least Help. And deal with his own problems.

HE CALLED HER A BITCH DUDE LET'S GOOOO !!!!! COMMON W.

Darlin' saying that their problems are shared :'))) what if i just scream into the night.

---- HOW ARE WE STILL NOT DONE ----

Uuuuuh-oh. Asher pulling David and Angel to the side. Telling the what's-up.

David and Asher exchanging some kind of look about it oh my GOD what another scene from a movie. I'm so proud of Asher for asserting his decision. He's grown so much !!!

David saying he Knows that Asher can do this. THAT'S BEST FRIENDS RIGHT THERE !!!! WOOOOO.

----

OH MY GOD SWEETHEART EAVESDROPPING.

"We risk losing ground" Closeknit ? The House of Bennett ?? Why are they against demons ? Why did they put their stakes (no pun intended) into CloseKnit ?

SWEETHEART ARE YOU MAKING NOISE ??? SWEETHEART BABY WHAT ARE YOU DOOOOING !!!!!!! HEY YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

WHY ARE WE CUTTING IT HERE PLEASE ARE THEY OKAY.

----

Oh my god Porter starting a fight with Vincent so that they can take away attention from whatever Sweetheart is doing with House Bennett.

I understand that Vincent can't know because of time constraints, but i can't imagine how he feels when it's Suddenly happening in front of EVERY important person in the Vampire circle of Dahlia. At least that makes the fight convincing. .... hahah ......

HEY KING BENNETT IS DEAD ???? HEY WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED ???? SWEETHEART ???? HEY SWEETHEART WHAT HAPPENED ?????? ARE YOU OKAY ????? PLEASE DON'T TELL ME YOU DID THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW DOES ALEXIS KNOW ??? HEY HOW DOES SHE KNOW BEFORE SOMEONE FOUND OUT.

----

THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS ????? HEY WHAT THE FUCK ??????? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT ????

I AM GOING TO GO BERSERK DUDE !!!!!!!!!! HOW LONG UNTIL THE NEXT VIDEO ???? HEY ARE WE OKAY ???? SWEETHEART IS CHILL RIGHT ????? WE'RE COOL ?????

how can I carry on normally after the events that have transpired. Hey i'm in shock and awe. What a great video, by the way. Giving it all of the flowers it deserves and more. But i'm So !!!! afraid for what happens next !!!!!

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

Benjen gave Jon a careful, measuring look. “You don’t miss much, do you, Jon? We could use a man like you on the Wall.”

Jon swelled with pride. “Robb is a stronger lance than I am, but I’m the better sword, and Hullen says I sit a horse as well as anyone in the castle.”

“Notable achievements.”

“Take me with you when you go back to the Wall,” Jon said in a sudden rush. “Father will give me leave to go if you ask him, I know he will.”

Uncle Benjen studied his face carefully. “The Wall is a hard place for a boy, Jon.”

“I am almost a man grown,” Jon protested. “I will turn fifteen on my next name day, and Maester Luwin says bastards grow up faster than other children.”

“That’s true enough,” Benjen said with a downward twist of his mouth. He took Jon’s cup from the table, filled it fresh from a nearby pitcher, and drank down a long swallow.

“Daeron Targaryen was only fourteen when he conquered Dorne,” Jon said. The Young Dragon was one of his heroes.

“A conquest that lasted a summer,” his uncle pointed out. “Your Boy King lost ten thousand men taking the place, and another fifty trying to hold it. Someone should have told him that war isn’t a game.” He took another sip of wine. “Also,” he said, wiping his mouth, “Daeron Targaryen was only eighteen when he died. Or have you forgotten that part?”

“I forget nothing,” Jon boasted. The wine was making him bold. He tried to sit very straight, to make himself seem taller. “I want to serve in the Night’s Watch, Uncle.”

In fandom, we often talk about Jon’s antics in his first AGOT chapter - e.g., boasting about being the better swordsman than Robb, his admiration of Daeron I, his insistence that he is a man and not a boy - as evidence of his immaturity. And there’s nothing wrong with that interpretation at all - I for one think that it’s very valid - but I rarely ever see this exchange with Benjen put in its full context; more specificallyy, the full context of what’s happening this entire chapter (and honestly what’s being going on in Jon’s life up to that point).

Because there’s something so…depressing and tragic about a fourteen year old boy desperately trying to grow up faster than is necessary because once he is a man, then there must be a place for him in this world. Because this exchange with Benjen is not happening in a vacuum. It arises out of the situation where the delineation between Jon’s social status and that of his siblings has been made ever more clear: his siblings get to sit at the high table with the visiting royal family whereas Jon has to sit with the squires far away from familiar company. But more importantly, he is a Snow and his siblings are Starks. They have a place of belonging (afforded to them by their Stark name) whereas he does’t (because he’s a bastard).

So Jon has to nurse his wounds with the belief that despite his bastardy, there has to be something he can do to belong. And what can he do, except grow up and be a man? At…fourteen years old?

So even though Robb can sit among royalty, Jon can still hold a sword just as well (in fact better) and ride a horse. He can be great too, not because of his name but because of his ability; but I do have to quibble with Benson’s (seemingly) sarcastic response to Jon’s answers here. Are you even bothering to actually listen to what Jon is saying, Uncle Ben?

And I have to admit that it makes me quite angry that the notion of bastards growing up faster than trueborns is not at all challenged among the characters. Do bastards actually grow up faster, or are they forced to fend for themselves faster than trueborns naturally would, just like Jon is in this chapter? It certainly doesn’t help that Benjen agrees with he statement, despite literally contradicting it just some few minutes earlier (by saying that Jon is just a boy and thus too young to make any life decisions for himself - like joining the Watch).

And as I was pondering on this, I realized that Jon really has been getting contradictory “advice” all his life: he’s a bastard so he has to grow up faster and cut his childhood short so he can make use of himself, but he’s actually a boy so his abilities and desires to advance are only a boy’s delusions, but then he has to join the watch and be a man and do a man’s job (and make a man’s sacrifices as Luwin would put it 🙄), but then he’s still a boy at the end of it all.

Given all this emotional and mental whiplash, Jon is actually quite well adjusted. I couldn’t imagine having to be pulled into 1000 different directions because at the heart of it the question is: is he a man or is he a boy? And what can he do, boy or man that he is, because he’s still a bastard?

I think this chapter shows that no one really bothered to sit Jon down and tell him that it’s okay to be a child, and that he doesn’t have to age far beyond his years because there’ll be someone to look out for him.

Worse yet, this chapter shows a young boy desperate to find a place for himself in the world, because no one else bothered to do so.

[rheannaaaz]

Unexpected Visitor (Finale)

Jason Todd X Fem!Reader

Summary: When Jason gets kicked off the Titans because of his actions with Johnathan Crane, he goes to his old “friend” who was once in the same situation.

WC: 3k!! (Wow.)

TW: Innuendo, Fluff, Angst (lowkey a lot), Kinda boring in my opinion..

A/N: So it’s been a minute…more like a year! I was rewatching Titans after watching S4 and I decided that I should probably finish this, but I just wanted to say this is very long and it’s not my best writing since I stopped writing after my writer's block. Also wanted to say H/N is Hero name, L/N is last name and Y/N/N is your nickname and for the suit you guys can find any inspiration for your reader! I’m sorry if this is bad or seems not focused, the first parts are more about Y/N & Jason like building up stories to the finale and following the last episode so I hope you enjoy it!——————————————————————————

-3RD PERSON POV-

It’s bright outside, deceased bodies of civilians of Gotham lay on the floor, in subway halls, sidewalks, and the streets. Such a tragedy one may think but to any of the civilians of Gotham that could’ve still been alive. It’s just another normal day in the City of Gotham.

———————————————————————

-DICKS POV-

Dicks phone starts ringing and he answers the call assuming and already knowing it’s Barbara. :

D: “What do you know?”

B: “It’s hard to tell. Based on satellite readings anywhere between 500 to 2,000 dead.”

D: “What about the toxin?”

V: “Winds moving east, thank god, so most of it dispersed over the harbor.”

B: “My guess is we’re not going to get lucky twice.”

Dick sighs and looks around with the phone in his hand.

D: “I’ll call you right back.”

—

All the “Titans” but 2 were in the same room with each other, going over poems and trying to plan. Jason and Y/N were in another room waiting for the signal that Dick said he would give them to let them come into the main room. They were still helping also just not where everyone could see them. Dick went over to talk to Gar and elaborate a little more before he dropped the bomb on everybody.

“Gar, what do you know?” Gar looked at the papers and clipboard and replies “I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-second Street. There’s like 20 dive bars near 52nd Street..!” He says annoyed and slightly unamused, Dick tells him to narrow them all down and just find one before he turns around and talks to Rachel & Tim. A few minutes later he checks with Connor, Komand’r, Donna & Koriand’r.

After Donna & Kori brought up the pit it reminded him of someone. “Can I stop everything real fast? I know it’s not a good time but we do need more help. So, I called in a few people. I know we aren’t on the best terms with them, but they are smart as well as valuable in getting these poems down. I just ask that you all are respectful not only that but professional.”

Dick looked around and nodded his head as he saw all heads turn up and look at him. He turned around to look at the door and said, “You guys can come in now.”

-Y/N’S POV- (Minutes before Dick told them they can come in)

“You know we’re gonna have to go in there at some point this small room isn’t gonna cut it.” Jason breaks the silence. Y/N scoffs and looks at him but quickly goes back to looking at the paper with the top of the pen near her lip, “Well we’re not exactly wanted so it’s better we stay in here and let Dick take the credit for the work we’re doing in here. Like he said.” She says as she puts her pen & paper down to look at him.

Jason rolls his eyes and makes a snarky remark “since when have you listened to Dick when it comes to staying somewhere?” Y/N turned her head quickly and seemed quite annoyed at the question “since I stepped into a place where everybody despises me. I’d rather not deal with the drama.”

As she turned around to look back at her papers Jason sighed and grabbed Y/N’S waist to turn her to fully face him and he took her hands in his, “Not everybody despises you. You know that right?” Emphasizing the “every” at the beginning, also implying the comment to himself. Y/N softly smiled while she looked up at him and replied, “is that your way of telling me you don’t exactly hate me, Jason?” Jason who was taken aback by the fact that she thought he also hated her after the incident felt the need to just confess right there.

“Maybe, but the fact is Y/N, I never hated you. During the incident and the claims of you working with Deathstroke, I guess I just didn’t know what to say, by the time I got to the living room they were talking about kicking you out. I had just got in the room but that makes no excuse for me not saying anything and again for that Y/N/N I’m sorry, and I’ll say it again and again as much as I mean it, and as much as you need to hear it. I know that we had never dropped the big L on each other but I think I’m just gonna say it now. Y/N, I’m in love with you, and I always have been. Ever since that first time you sparred with Donna and ended up being one of the only team members who could take her down which I have to say was very funny seeing her reaction!”

Jason & Y/N both laughed but Jason continued, “I could never hate you, no matter what. I made a promise that I now am going to stick with you forever and I am going to keep myself to that promise.” Y/N shed a tear and finally spoke while wiping her eye, “Wow Todd you really know how to make a girl mess up her mascara,” she said jokingly.

“Only when it’s you.” Jason winked and they both turned around to get back to work, but Jason broke the silence and said “so when we DO have to go in there, who’s going first 'cause it certainly won’t be me!” Y/N laughed and said “I guess it’ll be me then! You’ll just have to repay me for it later.” Jason smirked and replied, “Oh I can think of ways to repay you later that you might enjoy.”

Y/N raises an eyebrow and looks at Jason “Oh stop it, you’re so annoying.” and slightly laughs at his risky remark. Jason shrugs and puts his hand up in the air, “you love me though!” Y/N smiles, “Your right I do.”

They hear from the other room, “You guys can come out now.”

Jason looks at the door, “I guess that’s our queue,” he looks at Y/N and sees her already slightly freaking out so he slips their hands together and kisses hers to reassure her. “I guess so.”

-DICKS POV-

As I gave the signal that Y/N & Jason could come out of the back room, Y/N came out first. There was slight movement from the over Titans at their tables but it doubled when Jason came out as well.

Connor scoffed and pointed at Jason, “What’s he doing here? Not only is he a murderer but he’s a traitor.” Komand’r put her hand on his chest and said “Well I don’t know about him but the girl is pretty and I like her style... So maybe we should give her a chance.” Koriand’r had to add her own opinion in there “I think not. After what that girl did, I don’t think she deserves any chances.” Donna looked at Kori and replied “What do you mean chances, Kori? Do you mean the chances you didn’t give her? The chances *WE* didn’t give her?”

Y/N looked at all the arguments slowly coming up and felt the need to speak. “Look, I know I’m not exactly wanted, cared about, and even despised but for the sake of this city let’s put it all behind for now, professionally, and just work together? We all live here, we all want Gotham to stand here and stand tall so let’s just get to work please.” Jason put his hand on her lower back and rubbed it as he could tell she was feeling uncomfortable.

Connor rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, “Your one to talk about working together. How did it feel after Deathstroke disappeared and you had no more support? You worked and it seems now you’re WITH a murderer, you don’t belong here.”

Y/N looked at Connor with a hint of loss of respect and disgust, “Well Connor, if you know so much about if I quote you 'murderers' you would know more about your parents and why mine aren’t here anymore cause of that parent. If I may, look at the woman you’re with, no offense Komand’r but she’s not exactly the brightest of the bunch and on the Deathstroke note, I wouldn’t even know how it felt without his support since I never worked with him or spoke with him.”

Connor stopped talking, looked back at the papers, and put his hand over his jaw like he just had been slapped, which I would too if she said that to me. Komand’r added in a quick “no offense taken,” and smiled at Y/N.

There was a heavy silence till Tim broke it, “Uh guys, we should probably get back to work...We don’t have much time and Ms. Y/L/N, thank you for helping us, you as well Jason.” With that they decided to get to work, Y/N worked with Donna & Kori despite Kori’s remark earlier and Jason worked with Tim & Rachel.

-3RD POV-

Dick looked around in confusion and then spoke loudly to everybody, “Okay everybody stop.” He walked out of the room and called Barbara while the others looked around in confusion.

| Meanwhile, in the room. |

-Y/N’S POV-

There was a heavy awkward silence in the room till Donna sat down in a chair and patted the one next to her for me to sit, “So, Y/N, how have you been.” I looked up from the floor and straightened myself up, “Well, I went back to my hometown with my mom. Surprisingly Selina let me in. I guess the news spread quickly that I got kicked out so she already had my room ready, she let me train with her and stuff. Felt like when she first adopted me all over again, she let me stay for a bit till I found my own place. When I did find my own place, a year later Jason over there showed up at my door and now I’m here.”

Koriand’r rolled her eyes as if I did something to annoy her, “Don’t act innocent, you can’t just come in here and expect forgiveness with a pity story and a new look.” I just stood up and looked at her.

“You know Koriand’r I tried proving myself to you over, and over again. I did that because I looked up to you, I saw you as a mother figure but it just seems that I was absolutely nothing to you. Since you were one of the first to let me go. I just hope one day, you all can forgive me for the mistake that I didn’t even make.”

“I’m not saying you have to forgive me, or even talk to me but at least don’t listen to what that Rose girl put together to get me kicked out of this 'family' that we had.” I stood up and walked to the back room where I didn’t have to deal with the rest of them. It was gonna be a long day.

I heard that Kori & Donna figured out what to do, so I ended up fixing my suit and getting ready but it still didn’t feel right putting it on. Jason came in to comfort me since I guess they gave him hell too, I just didn’t understand. I told them I didn’t do anything and Rachel knows telepathically I didn’t do it, so why is nobody believing me? It’s a question I’ll never know at this point, nor do I care about it. We have a city to save and that’s the only reason I’m here.

-A FEW MINUTES LATER-

We all sat in the main room and Connor explained this “plan” he had and we all tilted our heads. Donna finally broke the silence, “Yeah, we get it. But the storm was our idea.” Pointing at me, Koriand’r, Rachel, Komand’r, and herself. Connor confidently replied “but I drew it on the board! See?” We all just replied “Yup.” and Rachel made a good point, “The question is can we do it without getting ourselves killed?” Koriand’r replied, “there’s only one way to find out.”

*FINALE PART 2 STARTS HERE*

-3RD POV-

As Dick, Tim & Gar settled the plan and got prepared. Gar went into the house and Jason got “caught” trying to get into the house the girls were all down at the Lazarus pit.

-Y/N’S POV-

We walked down the stairs to Lazarus Pit, it’s not as cool as it seems so I was quite disappointed. The only thing I was nervous about was the fact I haven’t used my magic since I left mostly because I started acting like a normal vigilante so I just don’t want to mess this up since we only have one chance.

Blackfire looked at the Pit, “There’s something very wrong about this place.” Rachel walked around it and replied, “it absorbs the worst fears and nightmares of anyone who’s ever been in it.”

I replied, “Extremely dark magic.” Koriand’r looked at Rachel and said, “Too dark for you?” Rachel shook her hand and looked up, “No.” Komand’r looked at Rachel again and said “And if it goes wrong?” “It’s the last thing we’ll ever do, but I feel it won’t go wrong because if you didn’t know Y/N has magic too.”

They looked at me and I just stared at the Pit because I hadn’t told anyone else about the magic other than Rachel & Jason because I didn’t like using it because whenever I did I felt very weak.

Koriand’r proceeded to tell Kom that she didn’t have to do this and Kom told her she wasn’t that scared. I, on the other hand, could easily pass out if this doesn’t go right.

We all got in stance as Rachel and I started it off.

All the memories, flashes of my childhood, watching my parents be murdered, getting kicked out, and a few times when I wasn’t in control of my powers or my body all flashed before my eyes and I had never been more terrified. I managed to keep quiet and focused but it didn’t last as a few tears rolled down my face.

— KORIAND’RS POV —

I was truly scared for Rachel and Y/N, it looked like they were seizing almost taking in all of the Pit. I never knew Y/N had dark magic, she never talked about it or when somebody brought it up she never wanted to say where it came from.

After the whole argument earlier, I started feeling bad because Rachel told me and everybody that Y/N was telling the truth. It wasn’t pity, I was truly ashamed of myself. I looked up at the girls to check if they were okay and I got a response, didn’t sound like Y/N or Rachel, more like a demon. Never again. Komand’r and I then jumped in to take the weight off the girls.

Y/N and Rachel snapped out of it after we put the pit in a shield, they caught their breath and we continued our mission.

- LATER THAT NIGHT – 3RD POV

“Okay, we have one chance at this,” Kori said still using her powers but after that, she released the storm. It was Connor's turn for the plan, they waited for it to start. Donna showed up and helped with the lightning using her lasso of truth, smirked and all she had to say was “You know what they say.”

Jason had left Wayne Manor and went back to the apartment to wait for Y/N.

There was so much more life in the atmosphere than before and it was all thanks to the Titans. Though there was a certain somebody who didn’t feel like one.

-Y/N’S POV-

As we all looked around at all the people walking and coming back to life, this dude showed up and talked to Connor and started fanboying over Donna & Rachel, I didn’t care till he said “Oh my god, you’re H/N!! I have all your merch can I get a picture after this? I'm getting off topic, sorry, anyway-“ He proceeded to tell us about Komand’r’s ship but after that, I felt the feeling that I didn’t belong there.

After we talked, I turned to Donna, Rachel, Kori, and Connor. “Well, I think it’s time I go. It was nice seeing you all again.” It was bittersweet, as I started walking to my motorcycle Kori grabbed my shoulder and hugged me. I looked at her in confusion as to why she hugged me.

All she said was “I’m sorry. For everything, I- We should have listened to you. I said some very hurtful things to you, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me one-day Y/N.” I smiled, “Kori, that’s all I ever wanted. So I do forgive you,” I looked as all the others that were there came over to me and Kori as well “But I can’t stay. I am not a Titan anymore, this is something you all did. This?” As I motioned to all the people and the sky being blue again, “Is a titan thing, I’m not the same person anymore. For all I know, I was never here. We can still be friends but, I have another path to go down.”

I looked at Connor and smiled, I forgive him for what he said and did but nobody knew the truth so, it’s okay. “I have to get home, I can’t leave Jason waiting so bye guys.” I waved hugged everybody and waved goodbye as I got on my bike and speeded off.

——————————————————————————

A/N: Well how about that? This wasn’t that good in my opinion, I feel like it’s all over the place. I will be taking prompts and ideas since I’m gonna make a mini series of Y/N & Jasons relationship! There will also be an epilogue coming in a few hours but other than that I hope this was okay! I thank you all for the patience and all the support Unexpected Visitor has gotten in the past year. ♥️🫂

[legendoftherisingtide]

I stole your soul in exchange for silly bnha thoughts. Sorry. It was in the contract 😔 ANYWAYS!

Amputee!dadzawa after the war :3

When the dust settles and All for One is pronounced truly dead, the world does not go back to normal. It's subtle, but heroism as they know it has changed. Heroes are re-evaluated, and against his better judgement, Aizawa retires. He remains a teacher at UA, but now he gets to have 8 hours of sleep.

When he rolls into class the first day back, his students aren't shocked. They know. A few of them have lost limbs too, some of them are still hospital patients under the watch of recovery girl. But when the dust settles, they are all still here. Alive, fighting like hell. In the first few minutes there is only silence and the occasional rustle outside the door.

And then, Aizawa speaks. "I'm

proud of you all." He says. The words feel hollow and flat as he says them. Like he's waiting for the tension to break.

He wheels forward, and opens his arms up to his students. Tears line many of their eyes, and exhaust lines even more. They're just kids after all. Just kids, who have faced more than most pros.

The first one forward is Bakugou. One of his most promising students, which said a lot when he knew all of them would be in the top fifty in the coming decade. The boy had always been one to lead by example. He hugged Aizawa tightly, glad to see his stoic mentor. He pulls away with tears streaking his usually angry face. "Well? Come hug the old bastard before he hops out and does it himself." He says, not turning to face his classmates.

One by one they take turns hugging their mentor, every student does, even the more off put and quiet ones like Shoji and Todoroki. Everyone's tired. All of them have lost at least one person, not to mention entire parts of their quirk like Jirou. He makes sure to hug her extra tight and remind her just how strong she is.

He affirms all of his students, even the ones putting on a brave face. By the end of it all, he's crying too. He's angry and upset kids this young, hearts this fragile had to be hardened to survive the throws of war. He's destroyed that they had to face this, but he's so proud of them for surviving it anyways.

Sorry I didn’t answer this earlier,, was too busy wiping the tears from my eyes.

But aaaa I feel like I’ve been blessed and gifted this. I wanted to like exchange something back or draw something inspired by this because it was just so beautiful<3

So thank you ╰(*´︶`*)╯

(Also I didn’t expect you to actually take me up on the offer this is great)

[kharmii]

the narrative goes more and more into hate hate and even more hate... it's tiring... I'm sure it is for you as well...

so with this ask I want to know something that you enjoyed recently. Something making you feel better. You can also infodump a little about one of your favorite topics.

I hope you don't mind this blunt question. Just think it's important to take a break and focus on the positive as well.

Just so happens I have a facetious rant. When I first got into Dabiten, I thought....why are there no videos on YouTube of Geten with his hood down? There are a few with glowing eyed gremlin Geten fighting Dabi, but fans might have made them for Dabi because Geten is the most background of background characters. I was all set to make my own compilation video months ago, but then I realized one can't download episodes off Crunchyroll onto a PC, just mobile. I'm old, and I like to do all my work on the PC. The project was abandoned.

Fast forward to two days ago when I had all the episodes I needed to make my compilation video downloaded thanks to the My Hero Academia wiki which is one of the most edited there is. One can look up a character they like and find data on every appearance they've made in both the anime and manga. I also had to relearn how to cut and splice together edited scenes. The last time I did this was six years ago when I made the Best of Renegades Mindbender video from G.I. Joe: Renegades.

Before I made the Geten video, however, I wanted to make a compilation video of the absolute best most funny thing I've ever seen on MHA -that is still funny six months later- and that is during S6.E.12 Dabi's Dance when Best Jeanist asked Bakugo if he was able to look beyond himself and pick out a good hero name. Bakugo replied he had a name and wanted to tell him in person. It was Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite!

Five episodes later in E.17 The Wrong Way to Put Out A Fire, Best Jeanist passes Bakugo in a hospital hallway and asks, "Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite, are you okay?" I about died. I put those two scenes in a compilation video, along with two more scenes with other characters -Ingenium and Rumi Usagiyama- calling Bakugo by his new hero name. When I went to upload it to YouTube, it was immediately blocked for copyright so only I could see it. In order to get it unblocked, I'd have to cut the first fifty seconds of a minute and a half video.

I appealed the decision claiming 'free use for entertainment purposes'. After all, everybody and their grandma is putting up similar MHA content with no problem. I also credited the people who owned the franchise. Looking at the details of the copyright issue, it turns out the owner has a content ID claim against the content (which might be why my idea hasn't been done before). I still disputed it. The owner of the copyright has a couple options.

After you dispute

After you submit a dispute, the person that claimed your video (the claimant) has 30 days to respond.

What the claimant can do

Release the claim: If the claimant agrees with your dispute, they can release their claim. If you were previously monetizing the video, your monetization settings will be restored automatically when all claims on your video are released. Learn more about monetization during Content ID disputes.

Reinstate the claim: If the claimant believes that their claim is still valid, they can reinstate it. This means that your dispute was rejected and the claim stays on your video. You may be eligible to appeal this decision.

Submit a takedown request: If the claimant believes that their claim is still valid, they can submit a copyright takedown request. If the takedown request is valid, your video is removed from YouTube and your channel gets a copyright strike. Learn more about options for resolving a copyright strike.

Let the claim expire: If the claimant doesn’t respond within 30 days, the claim on your video will expire and be released from your video.

I still haven't heard back from the owner of the copyright. Best case scenario is they release the claim, but I'd be happy if they'd ignore it and let the claim expire. That would be the ultimate in delayed gratification, but at least I'd get to share the damn thing twenty-eight days from now. Expect to see it here in exactly four weeks if that happens.

In the meantime, I'll eventually get working on the Geten video for fun. We'll see if that also gets a content ID claim against it. If so, hopefully that too will expire after thirty days, and I won't have wasted my time for nothing. Sheesh, this never happened after I posted all those G.I. Joe videos. Hasbro Studios, LLC, the owners of the franchise, just put a copyright claim against all my fan videos so that they were advertised and had a link to the movie The M.A.S.S. Device | G.I. JOE A Real American Hero | 40th Anniversary Special | G.I. Joe Official put on all my videos.

Side note: I love how all YouTube videos somehow automatically generate a transcript of every bit of text in any given video. That's amazing programmers were able to make that happen. I'd like to see the punctuation be accurate and have the ability to cut out the timestamps every other second, but the fact it exists is amazing enough. Maybe someday...

-Like seriously, why do we have this on YouTube.....

.......but not this:

[ohbutwheresyourheart]

dante and/or the whole dmc 5 crew for the blorbo meme? :)

oh ho HO thank you for this, I love the DMC gang and don't talk about them enough

disclaimer/note to begin with: they all have pretty privelege and they all need to stop being put in situations, because that's just who they all are as people/chew toys of fate

second disclaimer: I made this post while drinking a big old bottle of beer so if this commentary goes off the rails the further you go down the post then that's why

also I'm putting these under a cut bc this got really long

first up: dante!!!

fewer boxes crossed off than I was expecting but when I sat down and thought about it there were some I couldn't justify, e.g. in my heart I want to believe I can fix him and he needs me but let's be real the only thing that ever had the power to fix Dante is getting his bro back </3

also I say most fandom takes are incorrect bc my main contact with the DMC fandom was back in the day where it was very common to portray Dante as this LOL SO RANDOM horndog (i.e. as if his projected persona was his... actual deep-seated personality) and I am a depression Dante truther. not sure what the current fandom mentality on Dante is, if things have moved on then disregard

next up: nero!!!

gonna be honest, I wasn't too fussed about Nero until DMC 5 and then he quickly leapfrogged into my heart because oh my god this poor, poor, POOR kid. born to be the straight man in a universe of wackos. trying SO HARD to keep this mess of a family on track but if you push him so help him sparda he WILL turn this car around.

I need more Nero. I need more Nero and Kyrie, specifically. I need to see them just living their average everyday lives where Nero slops his way home covered in demon guts and sluices off then puts a load of laundry on and helps Kyrie with dinner.

also hahahahahaa definitely nothing in there about growing up feeling like an outcast so thoroughly one might as well have had a fucked up demon appendage, nope, nothing like that!!!

V aka DOUBLE BINGO

I have a thing for pasty ass dark haired skinny twink vaguely feeble romantic poet creatures okay even though I would get so frustrated the tenth time I asked him a simple question and he replied with a blake quote

but also HE WAS HIS OWN PERSON he was REAL he was ALIVE and now he's NOT because he WASN'T VERGIL, he was HIMSELF, he was HUMAN, and now he's GONE but also he lives on but also V as an individual is GONE but they'll still see glimmers and hints of him in Vergil and be reminded of him but but but (bites fingers and screeches)

THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

okay so all of my years of fangirling aside I have to be upfront that if I ever met Vergil I would want to tear his smug disdainful face apart with my bare hands in a matter of minutes

HOWEVER in the realm of fandom, the only reason he ranks lower than V is because V exudes that high fructose twink timothee chalamet energy

I cannot fix him. he does not need me. and yet. whomst among the ranks of Vergil fancreatures has not sat up late at night in their early/mid-teens frantically typing barely-disguised self-insert fanfic where we DO fix him, where we are the ONLY ones who can fix him, where we are the Eva to his Sparda, washing away the sins of his past and anointing him with love?

Vergil is the most anti-hero of all time. he has it all. he's a genocidal maniac, except maybe he isn't because maybe the qliphoth was going to grow there anyway and he just got in on the demonic gentrification scheme at the right moment. he literally has an unspeakably tormented and tortured past.

he has mommy issues. he has daddy issues. he has brother issues. he has son issues. he's a weeaboo. he loves poetry. he hates you, both generally and specifically. he has the hauteur and arrogance of christian fifty shades. underneath it all he just wants desperately to be loved and protected. his idea of bonding is a no-holes-barred beatdown.

he has an extremely weird obsession with his brother, whom he hates, but loves, but hates, but loves, but hates, but wants to spend forever with, but hates, but would kill anyone if they tried to hurt him. literally every bad thing he's ever done originally stemmed from the need to be strong enough to protect what he cares about (DANTE) because he can't go through losing his family again.

i love him <3

[dorokora]

The story continues..

We start with that strange dream of the past again. Narration talks about the project of the crystallization of the human mind. It goes even further, it’s able to self-replicate and repair without network assistance within a moderate extent of damage. Even in the event of a fatal loss of function, it is possible to reconfigure from the stored blueprints if there is support via the network. The first was “black” and the second was “white” both together created something alive, a new element. This element made it possible to interfere with the multiverse (LW multiverse?). It can be said that this element freed not only the mind but also the body of mankind from space and time. And the definition of life and death in this world lost meaning. Beauty and ugliness, health, and longevity have all been solved by using this element. By connecting to the network and obtaining the necessary information, it became possible to modify and repair the body in any way. Thanks to this project they found discovered a “parallel world”. A body composed of this new elements can withstand both super acceleration and super gravity making it possible to go to this parallel world. And this discovery binds together the threads of parallel worlds. It leads to the discovery of the fourth dimension.

Yuuji wakes up and overhears Sol and Gordon talking. If they keep going the way they’re doing two more people will have to be sacrifice. Gordon thinks this deliberate. First they separate the group, next they sent Ahriman as a messenger to tell Yuuji what to do. It’s almost like they are steadily cut the group forces one by one. If they wanted to take them, they could’ve just sent all five demon lord at them at once. Gordon can’t figure out what the Meteo’s intentions are. The next day the group hear a roar from the distance. It’s Fafnir and Klaus fighting against Ahriman. Yuuji, Sol, and Gordon showed up to give Ahriman the slip and fall and escape.

Yuuji meets up with Klaus and Fafnir. But Gordon tell them to hold off the happy reunion for later. They need to interrogate the fallen Ahriman. Gordon tells Ahriman he won’t go easy on him just because he looks like a kid. Even humans can be cruel. Yuuji ask Gordon to go easy on Ahriman. Gordon tells Yuuji they can’t afford to show mercy to demon lords after they killed so many people. Yuuji tells him that Ahriman is different, he hasn’t killed a single human. Gordon ask if Yuuji is cooperating with the enemy. Yuuji decided that in order to talk to Ahriman they need a demon lord. So Yuuji transform into Nekros and lent his body to him for a moment. Ahriman is overjoyed to see Nekros. Ahriman tells him he can’t hear the voice of the mastermind. Nekros said it’s likely that he’s defective just like him. All demon lords will meet the same end and rest in peace. Ahriman tells him that there are still things he needs to do. He has to find and to protect someone. Nekros closes his eye so he can talk to Yuuji inside. Nekros tells Ahriman memories are mixed up. He’s even more broken than Nekros is. Outside, Gordon and Sol discuss about Ahriman. Klaus wants to go talk to him for a minute. Klaus tells him that he’s the brother he’s looking for. Ahriman viciously denies and run off to the pillar, clearly upset.

The group arrives at the fourth pillar. Seems that only Yuuji and Klaus can go inside. Inside they found Ahriman. Ahriman ask Klaus if he really is his brother then he should know what he gave him on his eight birthday. Klaus said it was a large snake shell found in the castle's backyard it was a secret between brothers. Ahriman ask long has it been since he died. Klaus said it’s been fifty years. Ahriman ask why is Klaus the hero’s friend. He thought if he found his brother he would have no regret. He’s a demon lord, he’s suppose to defeat the hero. Why is it that fifty years went by and he’s still a child while his little brother is a old man. Ahriman ask what he is. Klaus tells him simply that he’s his brother. Klaus said he’ll stay in his brother’s place and ask Yuuji to put his brother to rest. Yuuji ask Ahriman if he’s okay with that. Ahriman tells him it’s fine he’s not scared anymore. Ahriman said if he were to be reborn as a human he hopes he sees Yuuji again. Yuuji uses the spear and Ahriman smiled one last time. Yuuji and Klaus have their goodbyes. All that’s left is the final pillar and Tiamat.

[riahlynn101]

"I Love You to the Moon and Back" (1).

Summary:

Using Rewind on himself could be argued as a decision made in a last-ditch effort. Using Rewind on his son-who should have never listened to a certain loud-mouth, brother stealer-was also a last-ditch effort. All for One needed to save his son. He has no regrets.

Until he does.

Trigger warnings: Trigger warnings: Blood, character death, and violence - All for One is his own warning.

Chapter One:

--

All for One groans, hitting the ground with a thud. Pieces of mountain shatter on impact. They rain down on him, injuring him further. 

Perfect. 

The dizzying sensation of the rewind quirk disappears. An intense exhaustion washes over All for One, his body-now one hundred fifty years younger-begs him for relief, but at least the worst (for him) is over. 

Gigantomachia looms over him. 

Betrayal, All for One thinks to himself, staring up at one of his longest surviving associates. Is better saved for those with intelligence. 

He hears his voice come from the purple haired kid with a brainwashing quirk - and, oh, if he wasn’t fighting to leave right now what he wouldn’t give for another brainwashing quirk. The kid doesn’t deserve it anyway, he used it on-

His bodyguard lunges for him, tearing up bits and pieces of the ground. Heroes scramble out of Gigantomachia’s way, and the purple-haired kid has to hold on tight to avoid slipping. 

All for One, used to dealing with Gigantomachia’s tantrums, dodges to the side. He feels a bit bad about doing this to someone he once considered a close confidant. 

Extending his hand, he sends a blast of air cannon towards Gigantomachia. His former bodyguard is blown backwards. The purple-haired kid is thrown off, being caught by the hero-in-training with a sentient quirk. 

The move won’t kill or destroy Gigantomachia, nor does he want it to, but it will incapacitate him for a few minutes. Which is all he needs. 

The heroes scurry from place-to-place, tending to those that were injured during Gigantomachia’s rampage or All for One’s attack. 

All for One makes his escape while they’re distracted. 

-x-x-x-

Izuku dodges another of Shiagaraki’s attacks. The man is surprisingly agile. Meaning if he loses focus for even a second, the next thing he’ll be doing is watching his body as it disintegrates into dust. 

“You can still do the right thing!” He shouts, using black whip to grab Shigaraki’s hand before it can touch him. 

“Why would I do the right thing!?” Is Shigaraki’s angry retort. “No one has ever done the right thing for me! Ever! Do you know what it’s like to be scared and alone, and to finally, finally be saved only to learn that the one person. The only person who saved you, was no better than all the rest!”

Izuku’s frown deepens, not that Shigaraki can see it, hidden behind his respirator. “I’m sorry,” he offers, “you deserved better.”

Shigaraki sneers at him. “Saying sorry, doesn’t make me hate you any less.”

Another attack that Izuku dodges just in time. 

“I know, but I set out to save you. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

He uses a combination of Fa Jin, Gearshift, and One for All to punch Shigaraki in the chest. Every move makes it harder to breathe, but the vestiges urge him onwards. 

Izuku wonders, as he floats over to Shigaraki, if it’s been five minutes yet? He wants to ask one of the vestiges, if only to see how much longer he has. 

Shigaraki lies sprawled out on the ground, catching his breath from the attack. “You…. you really are so cool.” He closes his eyes, seemingly giving up or surrendering. 

Izuku takes a tentative step back, bracing himself for round two. He coughs, chest tightening more and more with every passing moment. 

His nemesis opens his eyes, looking up at Izuku with something akin to amusement. “Midoriya, don’t look so scared. I’m giving this round to you, little hero.”

Izuku nods, stumbling further back. Perhaps in confusion or maybe because he didn’t actually mean what he said, Shigaraki sits up. Izuku watches him open and close his mouth, telling him something.

His head feels like it’s full of cotton; he’s aware of the buzzing in his ears, the tightness in his chest, and the panic slowly overtaking his senses as his body’s deprived of precious oxygen. He stumbles back even more. His body feels weightless, he has to fight against gravity to stay standing.  

From his peripheral vision he can see Shigaraki standing up. 

Oh, no! He can’t fight like this! 

Izuku looks around for somewhere he can take a breather. But there’s nowhere to go. The only building still standing is U.A, and even if Izuku could make it there in time before he passed out, he wouldn’t lead Shigaraki there. Especially when that’s the last shelter remaining for the civilians left in Musutafu. 

His mom…. she’s there too…. he hopes she’s doing okay.

His vision tunnels. 

“Please,” he begs Shigaraki, who’s steadily getting closer. “I don’t want to die.”

Everything blurs and he finally loses his bid against gravity, falling on his back. 

Shigaraki stands above him, his features blurry. “I don’t…don’t wanna die. Please, my….mom…she….” He’s cut off by a coughing fit. His chest burns and it’s all he can do to take in large gulps of air. “Please, my mom…my dad….I want….”

The next thing Izuku knows is blessed darkness. 

-x-x-x-

Tomura stands above Midoriya. The boy gasping for air even while unconscious. He should feel proud, happy even. Too many nights he couldn’t sleep, thinking of how a certain green-haired brat kept on ruining his plans. Nearly a year ago, he remembers taking the brat hostage, making him answer questions in exchange for Tomura keeping his quirk in check. His answers, though Tomura would never tell him to his face, helped to form the league of villains as they currently are. 

Without him, he would have never taken a chance on so many Stain fans. The very concept made his skin crawl, but….now…..

Tomura has no way of knowing their whereabouts. 

He hopes they’re okay. 

Midoriya trembles, fingers twitching. 

Tomura watches him, feeling not pride or happiness, but an entirely different emotion. 

He frowns, kneeling down next to the little hero. Regret blooms in his chest, latching onto his shattered heart and making him hurt all over again. Tomura clenches his fists. 

“It’s your fault I’m feeling like this,” he says, voice strained. 

Midoriya coughs, rolling his head this way and that. 

His regret turns to anger - a more familiar emotion. He reaches for Midoriya, mind made up on how to deal with heartache. 

WHOOSH

He pauses, hearing someone land behind him. Tomura wonders which hero was brave enough to join the fray. Not many of them have-

With what Tomura can only guess is a wind quirk mixed with a strength enhancer, the hero knocks him across the battlefield. 

Looking up, he catches a glimpse of someone that looks an awful lot like his Sensei.

-x-x-x-

To All for One’s horror, when he finally finds his son and Tomura, his son is choking on air and Tomura’s about to dust him. A quick use of air cannon fixes that problem and should hopefully keep him at bay while All for One collects Izuku. 

He kneels down next to Izuku, getting a full view of the damage. Up close, he looks so much worse. 

Spit clings to the sides of his mouth. His curls are weighed down by blood, sweat, and dirt. His chest heaves with every inhale and exhale. His son gives a painful wheezing sound, reminiscent of Yoichi’s worst sick days. 

“Oh, Izuku,” he murmurs, stroking a thumb across his son’s freckles. “What have you got yourself into?” 

The vestiges flicker in and out of sight. Not a great sign for his son’s prognosis. If All for One were anyone else, he’d start crying and begging, but he still has an ace card up his sleeve. 

He pulls his son onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him. “Don’t worry, Izuku, daddy’s here and he’s going to make you all better.”

He activates rewind, a bit risky, but his son needs it. If he hurries the quirk will only take a few more years off his long life span.

He holds a hand over Izuku’s forehead, letting the quirk work its magic. The quirk isn’t the most pleasant feeling, so the groan of pain that his son gives isn’t shocking. Still, even absent from his son for much of the boy’s childhood, his paternal instincts are working overtime. He hums, trying to ease the pain. 

He can feel himself grow younger as he watches his son do the same. He counts the months back in his head. 

One month.

Two months. 

Three months. 

He only means to go back a year or two at most. His son’s body has been needlessly mangled in his pursuit of becoming a hero. A small gift to show Izuku he still cares about him, despite putting him through all those trials and tribulations for the past few months. 

A strangled yell is the only warning All for One gets before a very angry-looking Tomura charges full force at him. 

He shields Izuku, the quirk working overtime in response to him getting distracted. Full years are steadily taken off his son’s life. His clothes become bigger as he shrinks. 

Tomura lunges out to attack him again, and All for One honestly can’t tell if he’s pissed at him or Izuku. 

“Let him go!” Tomura screams. 

Ah, that answers his question. 

He shakes his head, scrambling backwards. His attention diverted back to his son who looks only slightly older than the child with the rewind quirk. “No!”

It would be a good idea for him to turn the quirk off now, but that requires intense concentration. Something that Tomura isn’t giving him. 

Tomura yells something unintelligible at him, digging his feet into the ground. With all the grace he’s come to expect of the Shimura brat, Tomura runs at him. He dodges All for One’s half-hearted attack with air cannon. 

His son becomes younger still, and he only has a matter of seconds to save his son from rewinding into un-existence and mere minutes before he himself follows his son’s untimely fate. 

Tomura reaches them, extending an arm out. 

“Tomura, no!”

Before he can react, the child he plucked from the streets out of spite for Japan’s number one hero, tries ripping Izuku from his arms. 

A bright light blinds him. 

He tries to keep his hold on Izuku, but the light disorients him enough that he accidentally lets go. 

Just as quickly as it appeared, the light is gone.

All for One lays on the ground, stunned. “Izuku…?” He manages to get out. His ears are ringing and his eyes sting from how bright the light was. 

His voice is younger sounding, perhaps a little younger than his son’s biological age. If the circumstances were not dire, he’d mourn the loss of his credibility. He remembers how hard it was the first-time getting people to take him seriously. 

“Izuku?” He looks around. “Izuku!?”

A groan gets his attention. Turning his head, he sees a mop of curly green hair attached to his now-toddler-aged son. Next to him is Tomura, also younger-but still noticeably older than Izuku-grasping the back of his son’s hero costume with four fingers. 

Prying off Tomura’s fingers, All for One pulls his son back into his lap. 

He kisses his son’s chubby, little face, earning a sleepy groan. 

He chuckles. “I missed you so much, Izuku. I promise this time I’m not going to leave you.” Despite all the challenges that are sure to arise because of his younger age, and his son’s anger at being too young for hero work (for now), All for One can’t wait to see what life throws their way. 

Wetting his thumb, he brushes some dirt from Izuku’s face. He hums a lullaby under his breath. 

“What did you do to him!?” His brother hisses. Green eyes glare at him with the intensity of their dearly departed mother - only one other woman could ever scare him like she used to. 

“What I had too.” 

Izuku whimpers in his sleep, snuggling closer to his dad. 

“You had no right!” 

He takes a deep breath. He reminds himself that this is simply a projection of his brother’s personality, and not the real thing. Though, it certainly sounds the same.

“I’m his father. It’s my responsibility to keep him from destroying himself.”

His brother glowers at him. “He’s going to despise you for this.”

“There he is!” All for One hears a second before he’s forced to the ground. 

“Wait! I have a child in my arms!”

Someone helps him up, they threaten him so he doesn’t make any sudden movements. Another person picks up his son. His son, clinging to the costume he stole, is ripped from his arms for the second time that day. 

As he’s pinned to the ground, forced to watch as his son is taken away from him, the worst thing that could happen, happens. 

It starts with a loud bang, followed by a series of explosions, and then, he and all the pro heroes watch in horror as U.A comes crashing hundreds of feet to the ground. The building breaks apart as it falls, sending bits of debris and shrapnel flying every which way. 

The ground shakes in the aftermath. 

No one moves.

No one breathes. 

Someone, a survivor, screams for help. It breaks the spell, and the effect is instantaneous. Pro heroes rush back to where they came from, shouting out orders and yelling into their coms. Two heroes stay behind with him, pinning him into a sitting position, one of them keeping their hands on his shoulders.

All for One, Hisashi, stares at the wreckage. Numbly, he thinks of his beautiful wife. Of her gorgeous green hair and doe-like green eyes. Of her cooking. Of all the chances she gave to him when he didn’t deserve it. He thinks of slow dancing with her in their living room, and of watching Izuku try to dance with her back when he was smaller, standing on her feet while swaying to the music, squashed between his parents. He thinks of her soft skin and radiant kindness. Of how he couldn’t have possibly asked the universe for a better wife, mother of his child, and best friend. 

“Inko, I’m so sorry.”