#And the person Red Son run to after the Brotherhood's attack

[samadhifired]

In JttW, changing ones name is quite common and usually accompanied by a big changes in their life (mostly for Buddhist reasons). And LMK seems to acknowledge this since they have used both the pre-Journey Zhu Ganglie as well as his later Zhu Bajie names when talking about the Pig Pilgrim.

And with this line of thought: there is no way that Iron Fan is is PIF's birth name.

Not only is it way too on the nose (unless PIF chose/was given her fan because of her name), she also has gone through a huge change in her life: abandoning her life as a Celestial Maiden and marrying DBK.

Which means... There is a huge opportunity for the show (or fanfic) writers to give her a double identity.

And part of me kinda hopes, if canon, that identity will be Yang Chan; the sister of Erlang Shen.

I mean think about it.

As Celestial, she was shown to have an equal standing with nephew and (kinda) grandson of the Jade Emperor. This makes it very likely that PIF is also related to the Jade Emperor in one way or another.

If she is Yang Chan, her mother would be Yunhua (Yaoji?); a goddess whose job by some sources was to "limit the gods' mortal urges such as love, greed, and ambition". Is it just me, or aren't those also major traits of Iron Fan as a character?

You could argue that DBK getting imprisoned under a mountain is loosely inspired by The Magic Lotus Lantern, the main story Erlang's sister is known for (forbidden marriage, parent getting imprisoned under a mountain by their brother, the son getting a weapon linked to Sun Wukong is a key item at freeing the said parent.)

IronBull family has been part of every single season so far. And when the time to choose the next Jade Emperor comes, it would be so easy for the writers to use PIF (who is still Celestial enough for Azure to refer her as such) as an excuse to get them involved in the progress. Double so if it actually turns out that PIF (and Red Son) has a claim for the throne.

The mere idea of Erlang and PIF as siblings is absolutely hilarios

[astradrifting]

This is kind of inspired by this recent ask I sent to @esther-dot about Jon’s characterisation and Jonsa shippers’ apparent disregard for it, because it made me think of another part of Jon’s characterisation that is really integral to who he is. Mainly, that Jon really loves his brothers. Especially Robb. His rival and best friend and constant companion. Jon envies him, competes with him, buried a formative traumatic memory where he was deeply hurt by him... but ultimately loves him. Complex relationships with his brothers, both the Starks and his Night’s Watch brothers, are a running theme in Jon’s chapters.

Speaking of Jon’s brothers...

Aegon VI and Robb have a lot of potential parallels, actually. The “Young” moniker, red-haired counselors who are also their parents, trained to be the heir to a great kingdom from a young age, the barely younger half-brother Jon borne of their father’s dishonour of their mother… one that they might both have a good relationship with despite that?

The show tried to play with Jon ‘accepting’ his Targaryen lineage through the jonerice romance, very unconvincingly because it was simultaneously undermining it at every opportunity, in what was maybe a half-assed attempt at Pol!Jon (”They’ll all come to see you for what you are” isn’t anything but a threat in all contexts).

Jon will ultimately choose the Starks over everything else, that’s not really a question. But if Jon were to genuinely connect with another Targaryen, it’d likely be easier for him to find kinship with a half-brother than with an aunt - he has a basis for positive relationships with trueborn half-brothers, while the only aunt figure he’s ever known about is a) long dead and b) actually his mother. I think it’d both make more sense and be more compelling for GRRM to leverage Jon’s existing complex relationships with brotherhood by having him interact with and build a relationship with Aegon, than a rushed and out-of-character romance with Dany. 

Jon also is already primed to believe that Aegon is the real deal, that he was saved as a baby, because he’s already done the exact same thing himself - he swapped out a baby of royal blood who was in danger for a common-born boy, and then sent him halfway across the world for safety (side note: if Septa Lemore is Ashara, and if the baby was actually Ashara’s son as theorised here by @agentrouka-blog, that would just strengthen the parallel, because it would be his body double’s mother caring for him, as Gilly has to do for Mance’s son).

They’re definitely going to come into conflict first - politically, Jon will likely be in a position of power in the North by the time they meet, maybe as the KitN through Robb’s will or regent for Rickon, and probably will fight for Northern independence, while Aegon is fighting to be king of the Seven Kingdoms, not 6. Personally, it will be hard to get past the fact that Jon is the direct result of Rhaegar dishonouring Elia, plus that the Kingsguard who should have been protecting her were all stationed in Dorne, guarding Jon’s mother (in whatever capacity). But these interactions, a conflict and eventual friendship/brotherhood between them, would all be a lot more layered than jonerice can really offer. If a relationship between Jon and Dany was truly all that GRRM has been building up to, then there would have been no need for R+L=J - it adds nothing to that storyline, it doesn’t even make it a forbidden romance, because aunt-nephew is hardly the worst incest the Targaryens have engaged in.

It’s almost inevitable that Da*nerys is going to kill Aegon VI/Young Griff in the books, likely by burning him with dragonfire, in the Second Dance of the Dragons. The weird Dragonpit meeting in the show was very contrived, but it does make sense for Dany to meet the ruler on the Iron Throne at least once in a semi-peaceful context. In the show, she used her dragons only to intimidate Cersei, but she didn’t have a personal grievance with her. Aegon is in much more danger during such a meeting. After all she will think he is a pretender, and she doesn’t much care for the rules of safe conduct, as she showed to the envoys from Yunkai.

Dany shrugged, and said, "Dracarys."

The dragons answered. Rhaegal hissed and smoked, Viserion snapped, and Drogon spat swirling red-black flame. It touched the drape of Grazdan's tokar, and the silk caught in half a heartbeat. 

[...]

"You swore I should have safe conduct!" the Yunkish envoy wailed.

"Do all the Yunkai'i whine so over a singed tokar? I shall buy you a new one... if you deliver up your slaves within three days. Elsewise, Drogon shall give you a warmer kiss." She wrinkled her nose. "You've soiled yourself. Take your gold and go, and see that the Wise Masters hear my message."

(ASOS, Dany IV)

"Ah, there is the thorn in the bower, my queen," said Hizdahr zo Loraq. "Sad to say, Yunkai has no faith in your promises. They keep plucking the same string on the harp, about some envoy that your dragons set on fire."

"Only his tokar was burned," said Dany scornfully.

(ADWD, Dany VI)

So Dany will burn the Blackfyre pretender, and everyone will be happy and cheer to see the rightful queen, the last Targaryen, Slayer of Lies, Breaker of Chains, Insert-The-Million-Other-Titles-Here. Right?

Except how would she prove that he’s an imposter? She can’t exactly roll up with an Alt Shift X video pointing out that Illyrio has said some weird things about Aegon. Is Varys going to have an attack of remorse and explain his whole plot, complete with Blackfyre family tree? Or maybe she’ll explain that she went on a vision quest in Qarth and Aegon totally matches up with the vague symbolism that a bunch of drugged up warlocks told her before she set them on fire?

I don’t think it’s going to matter if Aegon is fake or not, and we might never find out either way. The mystery of his identity isn’t his main narrative, and all of his significance to the story and to multiple other characters is removed if he’s proved to not be Aegon VI. Him being proved fake would just make this plotline a weird, unnecessary digression on Dany’s journey to being the righteous and true queen, his death just another #girlboss moment for her. That’s definitely going to be her perception of it, but once she reaches Westeros we won’t have to rely on only her POV of her actions. History is written by the winners, and no one’s going to miss that it’s a lot more convenient for Dany if the boy with a stronger claim than her turns out to have been fake all along. Arianne and the Dornish are definitely not going to take it lying down, and neither is Jon. He’s not going to fall in love with the woman who murdered his brother, especially by burning him alive. ADWD has plenty to say about how much he hates death by fire.

“Men say that freezing to death is almost peaceful. Fire, though … do you see the candle, Gilly?”

She looked at the flame. “Yes.”

“Touch it. Put your hand over the flame.”

Her big brown eyes grew bigger still. She did not move.

“Do it.” Kill the boy. “Now.”

Trembling, the girl reached out her hand, held it well above the flickering candle flame.

“Down. Let it kiss you.”

Gilly lowered her hand. An inch. Another. When the flame licked her flesh, she snatched her hand back and began to sob.

“Fire is a cruel way to die. Dalla died to give this child life, but you have nourished him, cherished him. You saved your own boy from the ice. Now save hers from the fire.”

(ADWD, Jon II)

Funnily enough, the same fire as a kiss imagery from Dany burning the envoy’s tokar appeared there too, also used as a threat. 

If he is not a kinslayer, he is the next best thing. [...] What sort of man can stand by idly and watch his own brother being burned alive?

(ADWD, Jon IX)

So Aegon’s death is not going to be a triumphant victory for Dany, after which everyone proclaims her the true queen. It’s likely to just solidify opposition to her, from every corner of Westeros. If it happens during a summit or negotiation, it’d be even more of a tragic parallel to Robb and the Red Wedding; the young king murdered off of the battlefield, at an event where he was promised safe conduct. Featuring Dany in the role of Roose Bolton and Tywin Lannister. Tywin’s already died a very undignified death, and Roose Bolton looks to be on his way too.

I think the tragedy of Aegon’s death would also hit harder if we see it through Jon, as a main POV, or at least the aftermath of it. Jon was integral at the Dragonpit meeting after all, and probably would be at a peace summit or negotiation between the leaders of Westeros and the invading force.

In ASOS, there’s a curious lack of Jon’s reaction to Robb’s death. We see his initial reaction to Bran and Rickon’s supposed deaths when he gets back to Castle Black, but he doesn’t even know about Robb’s death until Stannis arrives to defeat the wildlings, and we’re not shown the moment he’s told about it. He barely even thinks about it, not even a mention until he meets with Stannis on top of the Wall:

“Your brother was the rightful Lord of Winterfell. If he had stayed home and done his duty, instead of crowning himself and riding off to conquer the riverlands, he might be alive today. Be that as it may. You are not Robb, no more than I am Robert.”

The harsh words had blown away whatever sympathy Jon might have had for Stannis. “I loved my brother,” he said.

(ASOS, Jon XI)

And that’s literally all we get that is specifically about Robb’s death - the rest of Jon’s chapters, his guilt and grief is about the loss of all his siblings, and the idea of stealing Winterfell from them. It doesn’t really make sense for him to not think about it at all, considering how close they were. This reminds me of how he has a non-reaction to Sansa’s marriage to Tyrion as well, as talked about in this post by @agentrouka-blog. Part of this could be Jon’s tendency towards denial and suppression of all his feelings, but it also points to GRRM explicitly obscuring his reaction - perhaps because he’s going to explore it in the wake of another brother dying a very similar death? One that this time he’ll be there to witness?

[razrbladekiss]

Tyrants | Chapter Four - Peril

WORD COUNT: 5.1k

WARNINGS: Mentions of death, drug use, Tig being Tig. The usual SOA shit. Sorry Donna..

She always saw the beauty in darkness. The lugubrious belle that came alongside the moon and stars and whatever else lurked amidst the murk of nighttime.

Isla was cliche in that sense.

She was cliche in the sense that she adored watching the sun set, swallowed by the mountains and high-rise buildings as the evening fell and Charming was painted black.

And maybe it was mostly melancholic because of the horrors that swathed that small town, but it was still beautiful nonetheless.

She still liked to bask in the scenery, to discern the marvel of her home, from the highest point she could access. And, sometimes, she liked to take somebody along with her so she wasn't completely alone.

"Why'd you still come up here?" Ope asked, pulling himself onto the roof as she sat with her back to the wall--puffing on a cigarette.

"Because it's quiet." She was content, comfortable with her response. "And whenever I'm looking for Jax, or Gem, or my dad--or they're looking for me--this is where we're almost always found. Just people watching, or reminiscing, or having a few minutes to ourselves away from the chaos downstairs."

It wasn't an unknown safe space--Gemma had told her that JT and Clay would climb up there during the earliest days of the club--but it was special.

Jax, Opie, and Isla spent time up there as kids, too. Because they were bastards and were always running from their fathers--and den mother--and the roof of the clubhouse was their go-to.

She never really got out of that habit. She'd spend hours up there if she could, just watching as Charming bustled beneath her. And she liked that it was separate to the garage, but everyone knew where to find her if they needed her.

"It clears your head, being up here." She added. "I have got so much shit going on right now--between work, and my personal life--but coming up here is like a refreshment, I guess."

Opie understood what she meant because he was also seeking comfort in the night. Riding through dusk, spending time alone on his bike as he cruised the streets of his quaint town, relishing in the darkness because it was strangely comforting to him.

He liked to be alone. His thoughts were brutal and they seared his brain left and fucking right, but he liked his own company.

"Wish I thought about comin' up here when I was released from holding." The man chuckled, balancing a cigarette between his lips. "Stahl grilled the fuck outta me."

"She did?"

"Yeah. She really fuckin' did." He added, grunting as smoke blew from his nostrils. "Did she get you? I know she got Gemma."

"Nope, she didn't. I don't know why, though. She interrogated everyone else. Starting to feel a little left out."

Opie chuckled, smiling a bit. "Be glad. It's obvious that she's used to getting what she wants."

"And did you give it to her?"

"Fuck no." Isla smiled. Proud. "She can cross-examine me all she fuckin' wants—I'll never sell the club out."

"They know that, Ope."

"I know." Half confidently, he nodded. "Just—Stahl made me second guess it all, y'know?"

Nobody in Charming--aside from the PD--knew where that despicable bitch came from, and nobody cared to ask.

What they did know, though, was that she had her heart set on making that town a living fucking hell as she strived to eradicate the Sons of Anarchy by getting to its members.

She'd grilled everyone she could've. She cornered Gemma when she was out running errands, leaving the grocery store with a sour taste in her mouth when Teller told her where to fucking shove it.

Same went for Jax, and Clay, and Chibs, and Tig, and...Well, all of them told her to get fucked, actually.

None of them caved. None of them wanted to sell the club out because there was no reason to.

Well, there was a reason to, but no desire to.

There'd been murders. Three, to be specific. And one of them just happened to be a police officer--which was quite unlucky, but it wasn't awful.

They hated cops.

What they hated more, however, was the idea of getting caught by them. And Clay was. Somehow, anyway.

Piney's old "friend"--Nate Meineke--needed quality, albeit illegal, guns with no traceability to attack the convoy that was transporting one of his friends from point A to point B. And it went as swimmingly as possible...

Until June Stahl was put on the case and found that idiot's phone at the scene after dropping it mid-ambush.

Clay just happened to be the last person he had called. Which then caused the investigation to point toward Charming.

They all knew the Sons were guilty of supplying those weapons. Who else would it have been? They were known for running illegal firearms without batch numbers from a quaint Californian town whose name didn't quite fit its image.

It was blatant, though nobody gave it up.

But Stahl tried her damndest to get answers. And when she didn't, she targeted the member that she saw to be the most vulnerable--after a hit went wrong and he failed to cover his tracks--and Opie just happened to be that guy.

She questioned him for hours. She practically held the man captive in that little cell until he caved. But he didn't--and he wasn't going to, either.

He was loyal. That's one of the reasons why Jax wanted to patch him back in.

"Yeah, I know." Isla got to her feet when she heard Tig yelling for her downstairs. "But you're the strongest guy I know, Ope. I don't think Stahl, of all people, is gonna get to you."

He shrugged her off, flicking the butt of his cigarette to the gravelly ground of the roof.

Opie had changed. Not much, and it wasn't very apparent, but he'd changed. Chino had changed him, she thought.

He was still dedicated to his club, still in love with the reaper and the responsibility that came with the patch--but Opie Winston lacked that flicker of enthusiasm now.

"How does your dad feel about you being back at the table?"

"Said he's proud of me."

He was a man of very, very few words. But the tone that he took--the sheer relief twined into contentment--spoke a greater volume.

Piney would always support his son, feel a sense of gratification from his involvement in the club. And, of course, Ope felt grateful to be back--but it was different now.

He'd served time for his club. Donna consistently argued that they sold him out and that he was fucking stupid for running back into the arms of SAMCRO.

But it was his brotherhood. The Sons of Anarchy were his family--his lifeline. He was nothing if not blessed to be patched back in.

"And I guess that wife of yours isn't too happy about it?"

"How'd you reach that conclusion?"

"Well," she ignored that Tig was waiting for her, standing directly in front of him. "If she was genuinely thrilled about you being back here, she'd have been coming to Gemma's dinners, and spending more time at the clubhouse with us. But she isn't, and I'm starting to realize that she probably hates me now."

His head shook. "She doesn't hate you. It's just...It's just raw. Weird being back, I think."

"She didn't even have to leave. She knows that."

Donna did know that. But there was always something about Gemma. About the way she let things slide so often, how she felt that she had Clay so pussy whipped that he'd be at her every beck and call--but, really, that was redundant. Because Gemma let him get away with fucking murder.

Literally.

"Is she gonna be there tonight?

"Of course. She wouldn't miss Jax's son coming home." He got up, reaching for her hands. "Sorry that she's been so distant with you, Isla. But she's just been stressed out--money worries and the kids and stuff, y'know?"

"Yeah, I know."

Donna wasn't traditionally a worrier. But five years worth of finances, being a single mom, and fretting over her husband potentially not making it out of prison alive, just did that to a woman.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"I don't think so." Grateful for her offering, though recognizing how damn stubborn his wife was, he conceded. "Thanks, though."

"Anytime. And if you change your mind, or need me, you know where I am--"

"Isla!"

"He is getting on my last fucking nerve today." She groaned, flipping Tig off as she looked over the ledge. "I'm coming! Give me a minute!"

"I've given you plenty of minutes! Just get your ass down here!"

"Just go," Ope chuckled, leaning down to peck her cheek. "We can have this talk another time."

Isla turned back to him, frowning. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Go 'n talk to him--I'll see you tonight."

He was such a nice guy. So considerate, kind.

She loved him a lot.

The flouncy sundress rose to the middle of her thighs as she sauntered through the clubhouse, hearing Trager talking--rather conspicuously, though slightly muffled--to somebody on his cell.

"C'mon, Tiggy. Why'd you yell at me?"

He waved his hand to shut her up, gesturing for the blonde to follow him out of the clubhouse and toward his bike.

"Yeah, cool. K, brother--see 'ya later. Bye." He hung up and slid the phone into the pocket of his cut, swiveling to face Isla with a smile. "You ready?"

"For what?"

"The party?" Tig told her, watching confusion sweep over her face. "I'm taking you over 'cuz you want a drink and don't wanna drive home after? And that you're probably gonna end up heading home with Juice, or something--"

"Juice?"

"It always happens," he shrugged, pointing at the helmet he set out for her at the back of his bike. "We all head out, you get too drunk, you take a liking to Juicy, and you try to ride his dick."

"What?" Isla got herself situated behind him as he got on first, her arms wound around his waist. "That was one time. I've only slept with him once, and I told you it'd never happen again."

"And why is that?"

Her cheeks flushed red, the engine revving sending vibrations through her entire frame.

"Because he was too gentle." Tig's foot collided with the kickstand.

"And the little Catholic girl likes it rough."

She felt the solid gold crucifix burning a hole into her chest.

"Yes. I like it rough." He groaned, leaning into her. She swatted at his chest over his shoulder, laughing heartily. "Just take me to see the baby, dickhead."

The bike sped out of the lot and Isla was loving the thrill of being on two wheels. She'd always liked being stuck to the back of somebody's Harley--but she'd never own one herself.

Isla was like Gemma. She felt stable enough riding with somebody, but riding alone--being in control of the motorcycle--was fucking terrifying.

Jax and Opie had encouraged her to take a ride at one point, but it didn't end very well, and Chibs spent the best part of two hours trying to stitch his daughter back up whilst Gemma castigated the two imbeciles who thought it was even reminiscent of a good idea.

Weaving through traffic gracefully, freely, was appealing to her, however. But she wouldn't be caught dead--alone--on a fucking bike.

Plus, she quite enjoyed being taken places. Escorted by a member of the club. It was safe.

The wind whirred and whipped around them, and she wished she didn't make the effort with her hair tonight. It was ruined, tousled to within an inch of its life, and she dreaded the thought of having to brush the knots out in Jax's bathroom.

Still, commuting via Harley was a hell of a lot quicker and had a few more benefits than commuting via car.

But the looks that they got were piercing. Horrible. Mainly from Hale stationed beside his squad car, watching as Isla and Tig raced down the freeway.

"He likes you." He spoke over the roaring engine when he hit the first stop light all night. "He hates that you've never given him a chance--"

"He's a cop, and I'm the outlaw's daughter. I've been raised to hate his kind."

Tig nodded his approval, setting off once again when the light switched to green and all opposing traffic stood still.

At one strange point in time, David Hale had his sights set on Isla Telford. He was in love with her. Completely besotted.

And she never gave him a second glance because, for one, she wasn't interested. He hated that she was so close to Jax and Opie, but not him, and he wished that she'd push herself away from the bad guys to grow closer to the heroic law-enforcer.

But he was a control freak above everything else, and Isla was just a free-spirit. She was loyal to her friends and family but she didn't want to get tied down, and she didn't want to become friendly with a fucking cop.

The only cop she liked was crooked. And Unser was in a similar spot to her--a little too affiliated with SAMCRO, but not completely doted on. Though, they were both strangely essential fixtures, and Clay would've been lost without them.

"Juice is here." Tig taunted as he helped her off the bike, holding her hand when she stumbled over herself a little. "Try to keep those panties on."

"Can't make any promises, Tiger." Her growl was seductive, though he knew that she was fucking with him.

She'd given up rebuking his claims, instead feeding into them because, with Trager, she couldn't seem to win. He was sleazy, and she loved that back and forth.

What she loved more, though, was that he was comfortable. He was a strange man, and nobody really understood just where he came from, but Isla liked that she could make jokes of any kind around him. He was easy to get along with. Easy to love.

And, man, did she love Alex Trager.

"If you do fuck him, though, would you make a video?"

Isla stepped into Jax's front room, turning on her heels. "Who said that we haven't already got one?"

She chuckled and wandered into the party, leaving Tig with a few convoluted thoughts and even more raunchy questions.

"Fuck. Gemma taught her well." He grumbled under his breath, reaching for the beer in Half-Sack's hand.

He slumped on the couch, motioning for his usual lay to sit in his lap as he watched Juice fawn over his little blonde friend making conversation with some other random woman already.

"Yeah, totally..." she agreed with whatever the girl was saying, but her eyes were glued on Tara. Just floating around the party.

She felt bad that the doctor was alone. Despite all that she thought of her, being out of ones depth in such an intimidating setting wasn't very nice. And Isla was an empath.

"D'ya think anyone 'round here has any nail glue?"

"Gemma might." She smiled, pointing toward the kitchen.

Grateful that she managed to shake that one off, Isla weaved through the small conclave and sat beside Tara, offering a friendly face during a time of such discomfiture.

Her heart was aching, the sheer nervousness was palpable, and she knew that Tara felt the same way too.

But Isla just sucked it up. Because she wanted to talk to her, and had to be the one to initiate it.

"Thanks for coming." Her smile was wide, genuine.

She offered a beer to the brunette, hoping that she'd take it.

"Thanks for asking me here." Tara accepted it, glad that Isla remembered she wasn't particularly a wine girl like herself.

Christ. This is awkward.

"Trust me, you were the first person I asked to come tonight."

"How so?"

"Well," a little bit more comfortably, she faced her completely, "you've literally nursed Abel back to health. You've been there every step of the way. You've been the best surgeon. And, as much as I hate to say it, you helped Wendy so much, Tara. I'm really thankful for all that you've done for this family."

"It's my job." She tried to brush the comments off, but her heart definitely fluttered at the praise.

Isla never changed. She was still the sweetest soul, she thought.

"I know, but you've had it rough with this lot--with Gemma, I mean."

"She isn't anything I can't handle." Confidently, she asserted.

"I know, and I'm glad that you're able to stand your ground." Reluctant, a hand landed against Tara's palm.

She jolted a little bit, but softened into the embrace.

It was comfy, warm. Prosperous, perhaps, because it meant something. Tara not jerking away and leaving once Isla offered a friendly embrace, was promising.

They spoke about the baby for a little while, and shared a few laughs at Tig's expense. It was strange, really. To be talking to her ex-best friend was strange, but she'd missed it.

Donna joined the mix, too, and it was starting to feel like old times. Isla recognized that they'd never slip back into that routine, the dedication to one another that they'd known when they were kids--but it was nice.

The conversation stuttered and it wasn't able to flow as freely as what she might've liked, but it was a start.

To know that she had something resembling an acquaintanceship with two women she admired, was nice.

And Jax introducing his baby to his brand new home, to his extended family that were already so fucking dedicated to him, was just the most wonderful thing ever.

"What about a beer?" Clay joked, holding the bottle close to Abel. Jax laughed, though he shook his hand away. "What? Grandpa can't give him his first beer?"

"No, he can't."

"I'll take it, though. If you're offerin'." Chibs grabbed the Budweiser and twisted the cap with the leather grip of his glove.

He gestured to Isla, tipping it toward her. "Want some?"

"No, you're alright." She went back to her wine, smiling at that little bundle of happiness in Jax's arms, wondering how the hell he'd gotten to be in this position now.

But it was because of Tara. Her commitment, her talent, and sheer want to help that angel through the roughest patch that a baby could have possibly been thrust into.

How Gemma could still loathe that girl--after everything she did--was beyond her completely.

Tara was the unlikeliest hero in Abel's story.

"Why is it that every time I see you, your highlights get more chunky?" Gemma smiled at the comment, turning to see her favorite girl, flaunting the most beautiful smile.

She handed Isla the bottle of whatever wine Chibs could get this evening, unable to quit beaming at the thought of her grandson finally being at home. Where he belonged.

"I told you I'd do them for you, Gem."

"I know," she nodded, playing with a few strands of hair, "I was gonna ask you, but you've been a little distant this week--didn't wanna add to your workload, baby."

"That's super considerate of you. Are you alright?" Isla teased, holding a hand to Gemma's forehead.

She slapped it away with a laugh. "Fuck you. I'm always considerate."

"Sure you are. That's why Wendy is here, right?"

"No," her head shook, "she's here 'cuz this is her house. If I had it my way, she'd be out on her ass faster than what you could even say 'crank whore.'"

Isla wiped at her lips with the back of her hand, tipping her head toward the blonde in the living room.

"I thought you made sure she was gonna be here tonight?" Confused, she quizzed.

She was under the impression that Wendy was starting to grow on her. After she'd tried to kill her, of course.

"I did," Gem confirmed. "But only because I knew it'd be awkward between her and Tara."

Amazed, or maybe fucking horrified, Isla simply glared at her.

It should've been obvious to her--plain as day--that Gemma Teller doing a good thing was simply a bullshit facade, built in order to take away from the fact she wanted to do an inherently bad thing.

But Isla liked to see the good in people, so it wasn't. And that really was one of her mot fatal flaws.

"She thanked me for letting her stay, too."

"And what'd you say to her?" Almost as if she didn't want to know the answer, she asked.

Black nails danced along the rim of her wine glass as she leaned against the counter, watching everybody enjoy themselves as they bitched and moaned.

"That she's lucky to be alive."

"Jesus, Gem," her head shook disparagingly, disappointed perhaps.

But being surprised that the woman made a threatening comment toward Wendy, was just as stupid as being surprised at Tig for fucking another hooker during his free time.

"You've gotta keep her close, ma. She's the mother of your grandson, the woman your son did love at one point."

Ma. The word rolled off her tongue unintentionally most of the time, but she didn't hate it.

Gemma was the mother figure in her life--hell, she was the mother figure in a few of the Sons' lives--and it didn't feel weird using that around her. It was affectionate. She adored it.

"Jax never loved her," matter of fact, she retorted. "They got drunk together. They smoked dope together. They didn't love one another--"

"They got married." Isla reminded her. "They have a kid together. They have a lot of history."

"Just because they have history, doesn't mean they love one another. You've got history with him."

Her chuckle was throaty, almost a full-on splutter. "We have not got that same history--we're friends, Gem, you know that's different."

She supposed the blonde was right.

There was hell of a contrast between friends for life and friends with benefits--and Gemma knew that. She just didn't like that Jax gravitated toward Wendy when he'd always had Isla right there in front of him.

Though, she was more than aware that the pair didn't look at each other that way--she still lauded the thought of the two together.

"I still hate her."

"I know," Isla laughed at Gemma's irritability, sipping on her wine, enjoying the sight of everybody having a damn good time.

"She's checking into rehab, too."

"Really? Where?"

"Some place in Oakland, I think." Gemma added, smiling at Clay when he wandered over to the pair. "But you didn't hear that from me."

"You think she's gonna stick to it?"

"Couldn't tell 'ya." He answered for his wife, leaning in to press a chaste kiss to Isla's cheek. "She's determined though, I'll give her that."

"Yeah?" His nod was optimistic--strange for Clay Morrow. "Well, I'm glad she's working on herself, anyway. She's got potential."

"You hate her."

"I know." She didn't refute the assertion. "But I'm still happy for her."

At least somebody is.

She wasn't lying. Wendy was a good girl, a woman tortured for no good reason. And she felt for her, she really did.

It'd been a shock, finding out that she was pregnant. But it wasn't like they weren't expecting it--what with the rate she and Jax were going at it.

From the start, Isla and Gemma were worried. She was notorious for her crank habit and the girls thought she was going to kill herself before she had the chance to see her son into the world.

And that almost happened, didn't it?

The doctors at St. Thomas were fucking miracle workers--Isla was on pins and needles waiting for a call to say that Wendy and Abel were okay.

But she tried not to dwell on that, now. They were both as healthy and Abel was as happy as he could've been, so Isla was content. She wasn't pleased, but she was comfortable with the way that things were going.

Tara, however.

"No!" She yelled, backing out of the nursery. "No, fuck you, Jax."

Juice stumbled backward when she nudged him out of the way, pulling her purse from the kitchen counter.

Isla and Gemma couldn't not stare.

"Tara, c'mon!" Jax called after her, but it was too late.

The front door had been slammed shut and the party came to a complete standstill. A thickening tension was shrouding the group, and things were only just starting to simmer.

"What was that all about?" The blonde asked Juice, leaning against the island.

She didn't want to prove Tig to be right but, after a few glasses of wine, Juan Carlos Ortiz was starting to pique her interests.

He swallowed thickly, watching Clay leave the room. "He said something about Wendy--wanting to keep whatever it is that he and Tara have going on the down low so it doesn't set her off, or something."

Makes sense.

"He has a point. She's doing really well lately." He continued. "Jax would hate to stunt her progress by shoving his relationship with Tara in her face."

Isla was rattled.

Jax hadn't talked to her in days, and she wasn't aware that so much had changed. She wasn't aware that he had established a relationship with Tara Knowles.

Again.

You know what they're like--like two fucking magnets or something. They always find a way back to one another.

She was too irritated to reside in that same room as Gemma, now. Knowing the conversation she'd initiate the second that Juice left was too fucking much. So she left first, instead.

The living room was almost empty. Just Clay, Bobby, Tig, and Chibs sat around the couches as Donna, the kids, and Ope were preparing to set off.

Everything was annoying her, now. She hadn't made the effort with Donna all night, but she was pissed that she hadn't started to say goodbye to her yet.

Isla was so fucking irritated that she didn't even want to talk to Tig, or her father. So she didn't.

"Where're you going, petal?" Chibs asked, hindering her plan to keep her mouth shut for the rest of the night. He knew that she'd crack a smile at the nickname.

"I was just wandering. Not really sure what to do with myself."

"Come sit down," he gestured to the space between himself and Tig, and wound an arm around her when she met the leather. "I've missed 'ya."

"Tonight? Or just in general."

"In general. It's been a few days, love."

"I know, I'm sorry." Her head rested against his Sgt. At Arms patch, and she sighed. "Work has been so fucking busy and I feel like I haven't gotten a moment to myself this week."

Isla only worked a part-time gig at some shitty salon just on the outskirts of Charming--edging into Stockton--but she hated her job.

She hated driving into the city every morning and evening, wasting a fuck ton of her paycheck on gas when, really, there was no point.

She hated her cunt boss.

Hated her cunt clients.

She hated that nobody really spoke to her because of who her father was. And when they did speak to her, it was almost like they were scared. Of Isla.

Gemma had always promised her that there was a space at the auto shop for her had she needed it, but she couldn't think of anything worse than having to answer to Gemma and Clay every single day.

Well, more than what she already was, anyway.

"Who'd 'a thought that being a hairdresser was so demanding?"

"Me, apparently." She joked, watching Tig get up and leave the room.

It'd turned somber. A little too bleak for her liking, but she guessed that everyone felt a bit awkward after Tara stamped out and Jax sat on his porch. Alone. With a bottle of whiskey.

She hated the hold that woman had over him sometimes. The way he was so fucking devoted to Tara Knowles that she could literally slap him, scream in his face, and ruin his son's homecoming party--and he would still pine for her.

She'd never understand that.

And she didn't understand how such a lively bunch of individuals had mellowed out over the course of two hours, either.

The party had disappeared. Dissipated into nothing and the atmosphere she once lauded was completely dead in the water.

It was fucking grim, and she couldn't wait to head home.

"Can I come with you tonight?"

"Why'd you even ask? Y'know you're welcome to come home with your old man whenever you want." Chibs told her a little bit stern, though it was essentially full of love.

She just smiled up at him, a bit buzzed. But she was having a good-ish time and who was he to chastise her for drinking a little too much tonight?

"Wanna head off now?"

"Yeah--lemme just say 'bye' to Gemma."

"Alright, I'll be out front. Don't forget your purse." He reminded, knowing she was too ditsy for her own good.

Chibs helped her to her feet, letting go of her hand only to part ways for a few moments.

Her mood was perking up, now. The prospect of being able to spend a few hours with her dad after a long fucking day, was just the best.

And she'd really missed him. Missed the time they once had an abundance of. Missed the evenings that they'd spend talking, drinking, watching movies, doing the generic father daughter activities.

They hadn't had that for a while, and it was truly a blessing that it was within reach tonight.

Well. It was within reach for all of five minutes.

"Oh my God--" Gemma's cell slipped from between black nails and bounced across the table. Saturated hues were locked on Isla, and her head shook.

"What?"

"There's--there's been an accident." She managed to muster out. "Or, maybe a drive-by, I don't know, but Donna--"

"Donna?" Piney's attention was snatched at the mention of his daughter-in-law. He stood up. "What about her?"

Isla knew the answer. She knew what Gemma was going to say because it was just the usual now, wasn't it?

Being affiliated with SAMCRO just did that to somebody. Man, woman, child. They didn't fucking care.

"She's--Piney, she's dead."

[siribear]

just want to say a quick thank you to anyone following this self-indulgent little thing. i hope everyone’s staying safe and healthy. love you guys

alice enters valentine’s office for the second time in the very early morning, morning dew still glistening on the weeds growing around diamond city. not even ellie is present; instead, nick takes her place in pacing around the office, sorting through papers and case files. now, folders are stacked high on the desk in front of her. one folder lies open on the desk, alice scribbled on the tab in sketchy penmanship.

‘i talked to piper last night,’ nick says from across the room. ‘got some of your history, here.’ her life story condensed to bullet points. he gestures for her to sit in the nearest chair. ‘it’s all very interesting, but doesn’t tell me what lead you here.’

she sits, and so does he in the chair opposite. he brings his hands together over her file, skeletal over plastic skin, layered and intertwined. she looks down to her own hands, technically two hundred years old, nail polish still flaking on her cuticles.

if she wants to get any part of her life back, she has to give up another. her history.

‘i assume this doesn’t leave this office?’ at his slow nod, she takes a deep breath. ‘my husband was murdered. my child - my son - was kidnapped. he’s-he’s not even a year old.’

valentine makes a note - missing person’s case, she reads upside down. ‘describe everything you remember.’

she closes her eyes, forces herself to remember. to put herself back in that moment, in that pod, hands pounding against the metal door that separated her from her husband’s killers. ‘there was a man and a woman. they were dressed in-in hazmat suits.’ she frowns, stomach turning. the memory plays itself out. ‘nate wouldn’t let them have shaun.’ tears burn the corners of her eyes. ‘god, he wouldn’t let go - ’ i’m not giving you shaun! ‘ - so they killed him. they just - ’

she puts her head in her hands, tries to will the tears away, but one sniff and it’s - it’s over. that cold envelopes her again, threatens to pull her under, but when she looks up it’s just nick. just nick with a tissue in his hand and his other on her shoulder. she takes it with a nod and pulls herself together. puts claire to sleep again and wears alice like armor.

‘a two man team for an abduction,’ nick says smoothly, pulling out details she hadn’t considered. ‘there are few groups in the commonwealth that could accomplish something like that. we’ve got raiders, gunners, super mutants and, of course, the institute.’

‘not raiders.’ her voice comes out watery. ‘the man was too well armed. i don’t - who are the gunners?’

‘high profile mercenary group. they’ve got the guns to pull that off, but child stealing isn’t exactly their M.O.’ he strokes his chin. ‘super mutants aren’t sophisticated enough to pull something like that off, either. which leaves - ’

‘the institute.’ alice swears.

‘it’s a start,’ he says with a sigh without breath. ‘describe the man.’

‘he had this... deep voice. rough, like being dragged across gravel. he was bald, with a scar, here.’ she drags a finger down across her left eye.

unblinking yellow eyes widen. he picks up a file next to him, then another, and another, until he finds what he’s looking for. ‘i knew that sounded familiar.’ he turns the file toward her. it’s a rough sketch of a man, and it could be him if she squinted, but the features - no hair, distinct scar - are undeniably the same.

‘that’s him,’ she whispers. ‘that’s the man that killed my husband.’

nick drops the file on top of the stack. ‘you didn’t hear the name kellogg, did you?’

‘no - ’ just nate yelling, the man threatening, the gun shot. ‘but i remember he called me the back up.’ face right in front of hers, grinning, not caring that she was screaming -

‘the back up?’ he shakes his head. ‘maybe they were supposed to come back if something happened.’

‘i don’t know,’ she responds lamely. ‘but if he took my son, if he knows where he is...’

nick stares at her. ‘actually, we have records that put him in a house in the west stands.’

stands. like - ‘wait. here? in diamond city?’ is that what mama murphy had meant?

‘it’s been years since he was last seen - ‘

the chair screeches across the floor when she stands suddenly. ‘nick, if he’s here, if there’s any clues we could follow... please. i have to try.’

‘well, you saved my life. let’s go get yours back.’

she’s halfway out the door before he even rises from his chair.

-

piper catches up to them as the sun rises over diamond city. she’s still rubbing at her eyes when she rounds the corner and literally almost runs into alice and nick. alice looks grim and wan and nick looks - like nick, though there’s a tension in his jaw she can see through his broken plastic skin.

barely seven in the morning and the mood is already dour. she should curse herself for sleeping in, but she didn’t.

‘what’d i miss?’ she falls into step with nick when alice only gives her a tight smile.

‘might have some clues to the whereabouts of her missing person,’ nick replies.

‘that’s... vague.’

‘client confidentiality, piper. this doesn’t go in your paper.’

‘come on. i know i’m pushy, but i’m not intentionally an asshole.’

nick hums, and piper gives up, following in alice’s wake as she storms up to the abandoned west stands. ‘hey, isn’t that - ?’ she points at the singular house up in the stands.

‘it is.’ alice’s response is colder than the morning air.

‘well - damn.’

-

alice watches nick fiddle with the tumbler. she taps her fingers on her leg, keeping time with the beat of her heart. it’s been five minutes since piper left to get the key to the house. five minutes nick has been trying to pick the lock. five minutes she’s had to wait. it’s five minutes too long.

nick grabs her arm when she moves away from the wall. ‘be patient. piper will get the key. that elevator to the mayor’s office isn’t the fastest.’

‘i can’t keep waiting like this.’

‘here, then.’ he pulls away from the lock. ‘you give it a shot. keep your hands busy.’

‘i - ’ she takes the bobby pin out of his hand. ‘okay.’ she grips it tighter to keep her hands from shaking. ‘right. h-how?’

nick does his best to teach her, she knows. but by the time piper comes bounding up the stairs, alice has broken three bobby pins and hadn’t made any more headway than nick had.

‘thank you,’ she says, and stalls with the key in the door.

piper draws her gun, and nick does the same. alice turns the key, takes the handle, and pulls open the door.

-

nick steps forward first, gun drawn. piper follows. alice stands in the doorway, stomach lodged in her throat. piper flips the light switch on the wall, illuminating the small house. her stomach falls through the floor. dread numbs her arms.

kellogg’s house is empty.

not even just unoccupied. she could live with that. but wholly and entirely empty. the only thing in his house is the thick layer of dust coating a lone desk in the center of the room.

alice drags her fingers across the surface, watching the lines appear with a disinterested stare. nick comes down from the loft, declares that empty too. but she finds a button, red and too-obvious under the desk; she pushes it anyway. the wall shifts near the door, sliding away and revealing a secret room.

still nothing. the weapon racks on the wall are empty, the shelves are empty, the chair in the center - empty. nick said it had been years - she’s far too late. kellogg is long gone and shaun - shaun -

‘oh my god.’ alice covers her mouth with her hands.

-

piper dismisses herself awkwardly, squeezing alice’s shoulder as she walks past. alice hardly feels it. hardly hears nick’s words over the rush of blood in her ears, the dull throb, the echo of her own breathing in her head. he leads her, slowly, back to the office, avoiding the waking city residents and waving off anyone that comes too close.

what does she do? where does she go? kellogg was her only lead, the one directly responsible and he’s - gone. like shaun, like nate, like -

‘oh god,’ she whispers again, stifling a sob.

‘breathe. ellie, water, please?’ nick asks his confused assistant, but she does as she’s told. ‘it’s not over yet, kid. don’t give up on me now.’

no matter what. she had said that once, hadn’t she? to piper, for the newspaper.

alice forces herself to drink, to breathe. ‘what now, then?’

‘the institute has plenty of enemies. someone’s got to know something.’

she shakes her head. ‘the brotherhood patrol i met didn’t know anything. they might have been able to contact their superiors by now, but who knows how long it’ll take for them to reach the commonwealth.’ she sets her cup down on the desk. ‘the minutemen - we don’t even have people to gather intel.’

‘hm.’ he pulls open a drawer and removes a holotape. join the railroad is written on it in marker. ‘they may be your only shot. the trouble is finding them.’

‘the railroad?’ a woman’s voice plays from the tape. the pitch is not one she needs convincing on - synths are people, this she knows, with nick valentine sitting in front of her. join with us in fighting the real enemy: the institute. join the railroad.

when you’re ready for the next step, don’t worry, we’ll find you.

‘i’m just supposed to... wait until they contact me?’

he places the holotape back in the drawer after she ejects it from her pipboy. ‘there are rumors that float around diamond city. the railroad is hidden, but people have mentioned the freedom trail.’

‘are you serious? the freedom trail. the one that starts - ’

‘just outside park street station, yes.’ if he could narrow his eyes, she imagines he would. instead, he just tips up his chin, his voice growing suspicious. ‘i’m sure you remember the way.’

too well. ‘i do. can’t forget that swan boat.’

‘ah, yes, swan. you need any help out there?’

alice stands, wipes off the collected dust from her fingertips. ‘i think ellie would have a heart attack if you disappeared again.’ the assistant in question rolls her eyes. ‘the way will be clearer now. i’ll be okay.’

‘well, all right, then. i’ll see what more i can dig up around here. mayor owes me a few favors.’

hand on the door, she turns. ‘what do i owe you for this?’

‘you saved my life. we’re calling it even.’

[wheremytwinwatches]

[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 28

Last time: We had a “Surprise, you’re shipping my son and my great-granddaughter” scare, unresolved Season 2 issues gave way to a recap episode, and Beard argued with himself. Onwards!

Straight into the Crush Flower/Spare Flower intro this time (still can’t get over young!Armstrong crying GUH), let’s hurry up and get some answers! A fanged skull being used as a candle-holder? Obviously the laboratory of a reputable scientist! So yeah, Gluttony’s just shown Al into Father’s lab (who isn’t in his chair for once, did he actually go fishing?), Al and Shao are just a little freaked out at the interior decoration. Gluttony doesn’t give them time to settle down though, calls out for Father- What. Oh my goodness. Father is Papa Elric? Who would have ever guessed. What a shock.

Episode 28 - “Father” So! Awkward family reunion time! I’m sure that Al has lots of questions. But surprisingly, Father isn’t that happy that Gluttony just opened the door for a Protagonist, Gluttony’s in a heck of a lot of pain. Father targeting his Stone, somehow? A deadman’s switch if any Goths went against him directly? Oh! Jeez, I’d almost forgotten about how Ed, Ling, and Envy were forcing their way out of a Leto-forsaken pocket dimension. Jailbreak! Al’s a little concerned to see a titanic monster burst out of Gluttony, but is distracted by seeing his brother and the freeloading prince alive. Easy with the hugs, Al! After the brothers get their “OML I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE NOT DEAD” out of the way, time to talk with pops. Who… notes their metal limbs/body, and asks if they’re the Elric Brothers? Hold on, what? He doesn’t recognize his own kids? But he saw Ed in Resembool just a while ago, how- Oh. OH! D’oh, it’s so obvious. Dude’s made artificial humans with fragments of his own personality, is that kind of guy really going to do drudge work when he can pass it on to others? And someone who makes “superior beings” out of himself is too vain to just hire common workers, oh no. Why stop at making only seven Goths, when you can make a couple more to keep the place clean? Yup, Uncle asks if they mean von Hohenheim, is surprised (and pleased?) to learn that the guy has children. More confused as to why they call themselves the Elrics, learning that it’s their mother’s name just has him ask where Hohenheim’s been if not with his kids. See, Beard/Father? Even your clones think that you’re being a jerk. Ouch, Ed’s still a bit beat up from the escape (so wait, are Envy, Gluttony, and Ling just hanging out by the wall while this is going on), and Al’s missing his hand. Didn’t Ed bring that back? Let’s go ahead and- uh. Um. Uncle just Transmuted Al’s hand back, and fixed Ed’s arm. And then Ed’s broken ribs as well. Without any Transmutation Circles, no movement, and without drawing on any pre-existing materials. [Ed/Al]: “There isn’t any Equivalent Exchange!” EEC: 10 And with that, Uncle goes from “quirky household help” to “terrifyingly powerful Goth”. Ling points out that he’s obviously not human- [Uncle]: “I would ask who you are, but I honestly don’t care.”

While Ling stands shocked at the utter disrespect, Uncle just walks away and says Gluttony can eat him. Whoa dude, hold on. Maybe the Elrics can argue that if Uncle wants them to be well, he should spare their friend? Nope, Uncle DNGAF about an insect such as What’s-his-name. Ed? Ed buddy, I know that you’re the hotheaded Anime Protagonist, but maybe this is the time for a strategic retreat? Maybe you shouldn’t attack the dude who can do freeform Transmutation, and who has two Goths waiting just off to the side? Or you could Earthbend at him, whatever. Guys? Guys, please think about what you’re doing. Uncle here is a minion of Father, and he’s powerful enough Transmute without EC. You’re facing the Big Bad’s Dragon here, and the show’s barely halfway through. You need to get out of there, now. Envy’s attacking the kids now, and they’re all but ignoring the Titan!Goth to try and hit Uncle, who at most raises a hand to block Al’s attack, then sends Ling flying. This is not a fight you can win, and I can tell Uncle’s patience is running out. He takes one step forward… Uncle takes a single step, and the sheer force of his power radiates through the room, to Scar and May where they face the chimeras, and even out to Beard himself as he apparently is still on his fishing trip. Point is, dude’s strong. Ed and Al snap out of their shock, strike the ground… ok, good, they’ve finally realised they’re outmatched and are surrendering. Or… not? [Ed/Al]: “What’s going on? I can’t Transmute!”

Oooooh Leto. That’s not good. Not only is Uncle ludicrously strong, but they can make an anti-Alchemy field? And one that’s selective, too; Ed and Al have been depowered, but Envy can still smash them into the ground. Envy mocks them as lower life forms, blathering about how humans don’t even understand their own power. (Oooh, sudden thought. If that implies that Alchemy comes from Truth, and we can assume that the Elrics are gonna defeat Truth to get Al’s soul back, is that going to disrupt Alchemy as a whole? Is Amestris going to have to reorganize around not having magic?). Uncle tells Envy to shut up, then says that Ling may be useful after all. Holy crud, the intro was right. That was Ling standing with the Goths? Hoo boy, Lan Fan is not going to be happy when she hears about this. Envy’s expositing that Uncle’s got the Stone in his bloodstream, and can spread it to others to create Human Homunculi. All Ed and Al can do is pound hopelessly at the ground, crying about how they’ve lost their powers and can’t do anything. But wait! Ed has the pistol! But before Ed can/has to use the gun, Ling yells at him to stay out of it. [Ling]: “I came to your land to find a Philosopher’s Stone, and now this guy wants to give me one! I’m not gonna turn this down!” Come on, Ling! You’re going to go through what Bradley did, stay strong! Battle of the mind again, Ling’s floating in a sea of tortured red souls, when ok here’s Father’s Sin. You… you can do it Ling? Ok, ok good! Don’t fight the Sin (assuming Greed, not Lust), but work with it, be unconventional! [Ling]: “I said come! I freely accept you!” [Greed]: “Y’know, people normally reject me.” But Ling is anything but normal. Future Emperor of Xing here (disregarding the whole “making the guy whose job I want immortal” thing, but whatever). Greed at least is amused by Ling’s ambition. And yeah, as much as I applauded the first Greed for acting so Slytherin (views subordinates as possessions, angry that someone would steal from him by harming them), if Ling does end up going Goth then there’s no better way than a quest for power, to provide for his people.

Ling goes into the light… And Greed wakes up. Damnit. So yeah. Ling’s gone, replaced by the new Greed. Ed and Al frantically plead for Ling to remember, to answer them, but no dice. Greed just stands there and smirks at them. Door? Someone else coming to the party? Oh hey, Scar and May! About time you showed up! Ok, ok, let’s get the important stuff out of the way; Shao reunited with May? Check! Scar finally realizing that the Elrics aren’t working with the Goths? Check! May finally seeing Ed, and all her romantic dreams being shattered in a tragic and hilarious fashion? Check! Gluttony points out the Ishvalan, and Uncle lets him loose. Crap, and they don’t have their Alchemy, Scar’s Hand O’ Doom won’t- work?! And May, too? All right, the effect’s worn off! Or not, the Elrics are still depowered. Well, when punching won’t work, try talking. And what better thing to say that tell Scar that the one responsible for the destruction of his people is standing right in front of him? Scar… does not take this revelation calmly. Like, May’s backing away from the fury of Yoki’s servant. And Uncle’s going to have a bit of a mess to clean up after all this is over. Uncle orders Greed to eliminate the outsiders, Ed tries to run interference and talk Ling back into control, and May’s fleeing from Gluttony. Uncle’s in his Investigative mode, ports right behind Scar to ask how he’s still using his Alchemy. Scar goes for the Hand O’ Doom, and Uncle just stands there, and calmly works through the technique. Scar’s freaked. And almost killed, Leto! May pauses for one second at seeing Scar hurt, and gets struck by Gluttony for her concern. Thankfully Al comes in for the save and gets the protesting May outside. Where there are chimera waiting, great. Ok, Scar’s there now but injured, the chimera are still massed, and both Gluttony and Envy are heading directly for them. Al tells Scar to take May and run, since he’s the one who at least will survive facing them. But Scar refuses and grabs his helmet, throws it to make a spark. Big boom! The smoke clears as Al grabs his helmet, only to get grabbed by Envy in turn. Looks like Scar and May escaped in the cover, so Gluttony’s ordered to sniff them down. Thankfully all of Scar’s HOD’s at least disrupted Gluttony’s regeneration ability so he can’t do much more than lay there and smoke. And OH MY LETO I just realized where the Ishvalan and Xings went to. Hopefully it goes better for them than it did for Martel. Greed’s fighting Ed, Ed’s still screaming for Ling to take back control. Knocks Greed down, challenges him about his country and Lan Fan- OH. That right there, Ling not blocking the punch and just glaring at Ed? Maybe it’s false hope, maybe I just don’t want Ling to go the way of Hughes, but I’m getting a message of “dude, stfu and stop trying to blow my cover” from that glare. Please please please let this be a ploy to enter the Goth circle as a spy.

Greed captures Ed and Uncle orders him to be taken upstairs to Wrath. Accusing them of “treason” and throwing in jail, maybe? Ed’s calmed down now, whispers to Al what he’s discovered/hopes for: Ling is still alive. End credits! Hoooooo boy. Lots of stuff this episode, lots of setup. Looking forward to next week, let’s give Uncle a bit of time to tidy up before the Elrics wreck his stuff again.

[sosu-morgue]

Romanced companions reactions to having a child with Soul.

Aww, that’s so sweet

I was going to do this whole convoluted process of who is and is not having a child with Sole since non-humans can’t reproduce, like Hancock - ghouls are sterile.Unfortunately, there are many complications with that which make it too complicated to really enjoy. Curie is a synth, Danse is too, Deacon isn’t so Sole would carry the child but that means a gender neutral Sole isn’t possible.Default reacts will have a neutral Sole. I don’t want anyone to feel left out.

So Sole will be gender neutral and all children will be adopted children taken in by romanced Sole x Companion. It allows everyone to love, adopt, and raise a child while allowing you guys to imagine your own Sole; male, female, or really any gender you want whenever. : )

Context:It was a depressing reality in the commonwealth. This post-war world was changed when Sole emerged from Vault 111, but the harsh world still exhibited no mercy on the defenseless.During their travels Sole found something in need of their help. Or rather, someone.

Cait:Sole, the singular person she cared for dearly, had found a child. An infant to be exact. The kid was wrapped up in this mix of torn clothing and a section of what looked to be tarp.

Cradling the infant in their arms, Sole had this look in their eye. Something connected to them instantly. Cait didn’t know that look, but she had a guess. “Don’t tell me you’re thinkin’ what I think you’re thinkin’.”

Sole seemed awestruck by this child. A young boy with a tuft of brown hair and hazel eyes. “He has the same eyes as Shaun…” They said quietly, like a shocked response under their breath. “It’s… kind of funny. He looks a lot like Shaun, actually.”

Cait stared at Sole who never looked up for even a second. It didn’t take long for Cait to figure out what Sole wanted to do. Though they still fought to save Shaun from the Institute, they couldn’t shake this feeling.

“The hell we doin’, Sole?” Cait’s usual harsh tone caused Sole to glance up, a worried look in their eye. “We can’t just leave the little noise maker here. I know you still got Shaun’s crib.”

Sole smiled and reached to give Cait a hug with one arm. The red haired woman just shook her head. “He’s… kinda cute lookin’. For somethin’ that cries nonstop.”

Curie:Now she didn’t need a lot of convincing. She was more than thrilled to see the infant Sole brought back to Sanctuary.

She held the child, rocked them, and read them stories. She learned all these practices from various surviving books as well as Sole’s instructions. Curie felt so deeply connected to the infant the second she held them.

This affection came as a surprise to Sole and a very welcome one at that. She spent as much time as she could with the new child in their life, sharing parenthood was never something she thought about. She didn’t think it was a possibility considering herself as a synth and Sole searching desperately for their own son.

“Sweet little thing…” Curie held the child close, hugging them to her chest and kissing their nose. “I love you.”

Danse:His life was a… complicated and confusing mess since he was kicked out of the Brotherhood. As a synth he believed his life was an affront to humanity, a threat to future of this world. The Institute created him in a lab, he was not born, he had no family.

Well, expect for Sole. They became his only family and he was thankful, even though he didn’t understand why Sole chose to be with a synth.

Now the complicating life he lead with Sole got even stranger. He figured, before he discovered he was a synth, eventually he would have a family and possibly a child. He would age, he would have to retire from active duty. Something he never wanted to happen, but now that he wasn’t with the Brotherhood…

He held the infant in his arms up, careful to support their neck and head. He had no idea what to do, this was far more confusing than anything else.

But Sole knew what to do, Sole knew everything from the very beginning. Which made sense of course, they had a child before so of course they knew more than Danse.

Yet he held the child, felt how soft their skin was, how they smiled until their face turned red.

And he fell for the child immediately. It was difficult, he didn’t know what to do about this, he didn’t know if he should say this or if this wasn’t normal.

Sole placed a hand on the baby’s head, catching Danse’s attention. They smiled at him and he grinned back.He never thought much about a family outside the Brotherhood and now he wished he had before. He loved the promise of this new civilian life.

Deacon:He missed his wife dearly, he always thought about raising a child with her. Of course he knew that wasn’t possible now, but back then… it was a different world.

Holding this child in his arms he patted their back to calm them. Sole had this sweet, loving expression as they watched Deacon with the child. Deacon was surprised he had imagined it so accurately, specifically how it would feel to hold a child of their own.

This infant was all he wanted as a family. The kid wasn’t a big crier, they seemed more into staring and touching than anything else. When the infant grabbed the rim of his glasses he chuckled. They were reflective and that was perfect for the kid.

“I think they’re digging the shades, Deacon.” Sole took a step back, watching Deacon’s smile widening.

“Of course, they have good taste.” He lifted the infant up, watching them holding the sunglasses to their mouth and sucking on them. “I didn’t mean literally.”

Hancock:The kid was cared for certainly - it was unfortunate that the parents were part of a violent gang ambushing caravans. Sole had to stop the attacks, they were crippling Minutemen supply lines to settlements. Sole and Hancock had no idea there was an infant down here until they heard the cries.

Sole took a shine to the kid the second they found them. Carrying the infant out of the dilapidated super duper mart, Sole found themselves unable to let go of the kid.Then Sole proposed the… option of taking the infant back to Sanctuary and raising them. It was sudden and unexpected, Hancock had no idea what to say.

So Sole suggested that they take the kid in, but Hancock didn’t have to be there. They simply did not want to force anything on Hancock especially since this was such a sudden turn of events and a huge commitment.

Hancock hesitated, he didn’t know what to do. All he really knew was he was in deep with Sole, he didn’t want to leave their side. It took some time, he took a few days to consider it.

In the end he saw how much Sole loved the child, how much they doted on them. He figured Sole was the person he wanted to be with, if there was anyone he wanted to raise a kid with… Sole was definitely the person.

At the end of it all he took up the responsibility. After all, someone had to be mayor when he retired.

MacCready:Having a kid was nothing alien to MacCready. He loved Duncan like his life depended on it. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his son and he didn’t think he would have another child anytime soon.

Yet here he stood, Sole at his side cradling an infant and cooing to them. Sole loved the child, adored them with everything they had. The kid would want for nothing under the protection of the pre-war survivor from Vault 111. Between Sole, the Minutemen, and Sole’s network of loyal friends and factions - this was the most well protected child in all the commonwealth.

When Sole raised the child to MacCready and he held the infant in his arms, he was smitten with them. The infant held his finger, all bubbly and just happy to be there. Such a sweet happy little child so curious and excited.

He held the infant close, rocking the baby until they grew tired. When the infant fell asleep in his arms, such a content look on their face, MacCready realized Duncan had just got a sibling.

Sole was glad because they already knew the kid would be staying with them in Sanctuary. There was no other option. With MacCready and Sole’s experience raising children, they both were ready for this one and more than happy to take the child in.

Nick:In this dark, grisly, and struggling world raising a child seemed impossible to Nick. For more than one reason for Nick, obviously him being a synth made having a child with any relationship he started would not happen.

Still people raised children and they grew up either in the commonwealth by wanderers, by settlers, or people living in the few towns in the area. He found it rather hopeful, he was glad to see people still trying to live their lives. Seeing the kids run around Diamond City was always a welcome sight.

He never thought about caring for a child himself. There just wasn’t that option, not until he arrived in Sanctuary seeing Sole in their home holding an infant in their arms.

The kid was not Shaun, he knew that. Shaun was older than an infant, they learned that from Kellogg’s memory. This was another child, he didn’t know where from but seeing Sole carry them close…

Nick sat down across from Sole, sure to be quiet as the child slept. Sole gave him an almost nervous smile which Nick returned. He figured this was how it would happen. Unexpected, surprising for sure, yet he welcomed the chance to raise a child with Sole quickly.

Piper:She was always trying to raise Nat, always trying to keep things together. Between work, raising her sister, and crossing the commonwealth with Sole she barely had any time to herself.

So when Sole and Piper found a child in the home of some farmers that had been murdered by raiders, she didn’t know what to think.

Sole took the child back to Sanctuary, resting the exhausted and upset infant in Shaun’s old crib, they took a serious look at their options. Watching the child sleep, Sole knew exactly what they wanted. They wanted to move on… Sole still had Shaun, the synth child made by the real Shaun, who was gone now.

But giving Shaun a sibling, having the chance to raise a child… Sole felt a compulsion to have this chance.

Piper wasn’t against the idea really, she just didn’t know what to do. How to raise a child in the commonwealth wasn’t an easy task. Seeing Sole coddle the child brought a smile to her face.When she cared for the infant, she grew attached quicker than she anticipated.

It didn’t take long before she and Sole agreed to raise the child together, Shaun now had a sibling, and Nat became an aunt.

Preston:He was proud, thrilled to get this chance as a father. He wanted a family, he wanted to make the world safe enough to have a kid and a significant other like Sole.

Now, with the General of the Minutemen, and the Minutemen themselves connecting all across the commonwealth. This was the most secure they might ever be.

When Sole found the child and shared their plan with Preston, he was happy to take on the challenge of raising a child with them. He adored the child, dedicated his days to caring for them and making the world a safer place while they grew up.

He was the happiest he had ever been, it had been far too long since he felt this hopeful for the future. Rebuilding the Minutemen made him hope for the best, but it wasn’t the same.

Now he had someone he loved, a child he would give his life for, and a people he could trust to do right by the commonwealth.

His life, even though he still fought against raiders, mutants, and so many other threats, was perfect. He had everything he ever wanted and never imagined he’d have.

With Sole and his own child in his arms, he knew everything would turn out just fine.

[leelee10898]

Chikara: Itami (4/?)

Summary: Ellie has been saved, but how will the events of the attack effect her? Meanwhile in California, the brotherhood makes another move. The word Itami, roughly translates to pain.

Catch up HERE. As always if you'd like added to the tags, let me know. Also I apologize in advance, tumblr apparently hates the read more feature stil....

Raiting: Mature. Series contains Violence, language, death and Lemons..

Compton, California….

Ximena slipped out to her red SUV, she had it painted to try to throw the brotherhood off her trail. The night Jason was arrested she took off for Compton. An old friend had a house she could crash and lay low for a while, the only person who knew her whereabouts was Colt. With him showing up she would need to put some effort in relocating again, keeping the trail Cold. A quick trip to the 24 hour market for some groceries and she was headed back to her safe house. Not a soul in sight she slowed to a stop at the sign and signaled right. Suddenly a car with no lights came out of nowhere plowing into her car, sending it spinning around 3 times before coming to a stop.  

[[MORE]]

Ximena hit her head on the window, her body jostled around from the collision. She tried to turn the engine over to no avail. Fuck she growled, reaching for her baseball batt she kept tucked away in the back seat. She could make out two figures stepping out of the vehicle  behind her. She quickly assessed her surroundings, her only vantage point was her car stopped crooked, her passenger side a blind spot. She carefully climbed into the passenger seat, quietly opening the door and slipping out.

"Hester warned us about her, she's tough. Stay alert." She heard one of them say as she stayed hidden in the shadows. Come on. Come on. Just a little closer. she thought to herself. "The doors open, she's gone. Check the alley." The other man spoke, as she heard footsteps approaching. Lucky for her, he passed by where she was standing. Once he turned to leave she jumped out from behind the dumpster, swinging the bat at the man, he hit the ground with a thud. She took off running towards her car, the other man on her tail. He lunged at her, grabbing her waist. He was larger than her, not giving her much advantage she struggled against the man finally wriggling free. "You son of a bitch." She swung her arm, the man ducking and landing a blow to her side.

Ximena clutched her side, fire raging through her veins, "big mistake asshole." She reached out grabbing the thug by this neck, bringing her free hand up to punch him in the jaw. The man struggled against her as She backed him up against the wall, pushing him up against it with force, knocking him out cold.  Rushing to her car she climbed in the passenger side, settling behind the wheel. "Come on. Come on." She grunted turning the key, as the engine sputtered. She noticed the other man emerging from the alley way, wielding a baseball bat. Finally the engine roared to life, the man jumped in front of the car, ximena clipped him with the passenger side,  sending him flying backwards.

She picked up her phone, frantically searching for a number.  "Colt. Its ximena, i'm on my way to you.. and your plan, I want in."

New York……

Ellie laid in the hospital bed, still unconscious. The nurses and doctors had left the room, leaving only Nick and her. After answering numerous questions by hospital staff and the cops, he was finally given permission to see her. When Ellie told him she was leaving the party, he was so caught up in the fact she put him in the friendzone, then worry about her safety. After a moment to compose himself, he mentally reprimanded himself for allowing a beautiful girl like herself to walk home alone, and so he set out to trail behind her. He only found her as she darted into a dead end alley, a figure following behind her. By the time he had reached her, she laid barely conscious as he grabbed the assailant off of her, and beat him until he passed out. He called 911 reporting the incident, and Ellie and the assailant were taken to the hospital.  

He was able to get into her phone and give the hospital her dads number. His memory reaching back to the image on her wallpaper, the boy with the leather jacket, dark hair and eyes, his arm wrapped around her waist. He knew he must have been something special to her, the fact made him a little jealous.  He stood next to her bed "Ellie, I need you to wake up. I need you to be ok." He spoke as he noticed her hand started to move. Slowly she opened her eyes, an audible gasp escaped her as she began to panic. "Ellie. Ellie, hey its ok you're ok." She looked over to Nick, relief and confusion on her face. "Nick? Where. Where am I? She whispered. "You're at the hospital, do you remember what happened?" She nodded her head, lifting her arm that was free from wires and iv lines to the back of her head.

"The brotherhood." She whispered.  Nick snapped his head to look at her "what did you say?" A nurse walked in "oh miss wheeler, glad you're awake. Im Nadia, I'll be the nurse taking care of you." She walked over assessing her. "Well everything looks good, however they do want to keep you overnight for observation. And there is a couple police officers who would like to speak to you." Ellie nodded as the nurse left the room, a minute later tow officers walked in.

"Hello miss Wheer, im officer grubbs. This is officer Davis" he motioned to the man standing next to him.  "we would like to ask you a few questions about what happened."

Ellie began to tell them how she had left a party to walk home by herself, when she was followed and cornered in an alley and then attacked by the man. "I see, and do you know the person who attacked you, had you ever seen him before?" Ellie shook her head "No. He said that Jason Shaw sent him to get rid of me. I have never seen him before tonight."

Officer Davis approached her "Had you been drinking at this party?" Ellie looked at the officer shocked.  "I had one cup of punch, hours before I left the party."

"So you're saying your judgment could be clouded by Alcohol consumption. " Davis smirked slightly.

"No. I'm saying that man followed me into an alley with every intention to kill me." Ellie bagam to tear up, frustrated by the turn of events.

"Kill is such a strong word. Were there any witnesses? The way we're told is you two have a history and your jealous boyfriend here stepped in while he was trying to save you."

"Davis!" Officer Grubbs warned.

"No. That's not what happened at all. I don't know him." Ellie sobbed.

Nick stood up from his chair "Hey, that asshole was attacking my friend.  He's the one you should be grilling, not Ellie."

Davis laughed out "ok casanova, calm yourself."

"I'm sorry miss wheeler if this had upset you. I have your statement, he will see a closed circuit judge." Grubbs spoke with a soothing voice.

"What. What will happen to him?" Davis gave her a  wicked smirk, Grubbs more sympathetic.

"He will be charged with assault, however he already has someone trying to post bail."

"B- bail? No. No no no, He's working for the brotherhood. Jason Shaw sent him to kill me. Check the FBIs wanted list, you cant let him go." Ellie sobbed out.

Davis gave her a smirk and walked out the door, in that moment she knew he was in their pocket. Grubbs walked up placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Im sorry Ellie, the best advice I can give you is to file a no contact order against him. I wish there was more we could hold him on." He gave her a sad smile and walked out the door.

Ellie began to panic, Jason wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted, revenge on her for taking him down. "My dad. I need to call my dad." She tried to get out of bed. "Hey, hey calm down Ellie. The hospital called your dad, he's on his way here." Nick assured her as he wrapped his arms around her small shaking frame. "Ellie, it's going to be ok. It's all going to be ok." Nick assured her in a soothing voice, calming her down. Something about the way he spoke was so familiar and she realized it was the same reassuring, soft tone Colt took with her it made her heart ache.

They sat there like that for a while, until the nurse came in telling them they were moving Ellie to a bed in the main hospital and Nick had to leave. That night Ellie struggled to find a good night's sleep, she tossed and turned until exhaustion took over.

Jason looked at her,  a maniacal smile that bared his teeth, chilling her to the bone. "I told you Ellie, Do as I say and nobody gets hurt. It's a shame you didn't listen."  Colts limp body sat hunched over in the chair, clinging between life and death. She tried to scream but her voice failed her, instead she sobbed out a pleading cry as he sauntered over to Colt. "Please. Please no." She managed to get out. "Such a sweet, innocent little thing still.  To bad that delicate skin is going to be your undoing. Say bye bye to lover boy." Jason lifted his hand pulling the trigger.

"Colt….." she Jerked up in bed, screaming as a constant flow of tears streamed her face. She looked around the room,  still in the hospital, alone. No Jason, no Colt, just her completely and utterly alone. The events of the past day wearing her down, He was supposed to keep her safe,  he told her going to Langston would keep her safe and it didn't. He failed to keep her safe, and he failed to do what he promised he would, Love her. Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft rapp at the door. A petite brunette nurse peeked her head in. "Ellie, Its early and we usually don't allow visitors at this hour, but someone wants to see you." Her eyes landed on her dad, he quickly crossed the room throwing his arms around her.  "Oh Ellie. Oh thank god you're ok." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Im ok. She flinched, her body sore from the attack. "If something happened to you Ellie, I don't. I don't know what I would do."

"Im alive." Her tone with a hint of harshness to it. She was angry at Colt for his failed promises,  it wasn't until her father came that she realized she was angry at him too.

"What's wrong Ellie? You seem a little angry." Her dad pulled back, sensing her tone. She sat there, silent for a moment he expression unreadable. "Why didn't you tell me Jason wasn't in jail?"

Her dad, caught off guard by her question doubled back. "Ellie…"

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded.  She was angry, much more than she thought.

"I. Was just trying to protect you." His voice soft, maybe a hint of shame in it.

"Right, because I'm this delicate little flower that everyone thinks cant handle the tough stuff." She scoffed.

"I wanted you to focus on school. The farther you were from this, the safer. " her father reached for her hand, she pulled it back quickly. "Well, look how well that worked out." She rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty tired dad. I think im going to get some rest. You should go get some sleep too. I'll see you later."  Her dad looked at her with a sadness that screamed heartbreak but he nodded anyway. "Ok. Get some sleep, I love you Ellie." He leaned over giving her a soft kiss. "Love you too, dad."

Once the door closed she tossed herself on the bed.  Jason's words from her dream running through her head. Too bad that delicate skin is going to be your undoing. She was soft, everyone seen her as a softie who needed saving, who couldn't get the job done. She was weak, meaningless and useless and that had to change. As she laid there she felt the darkness creep over, no longer would she be weak, useless, the girl who always needed saving. She wouldn't allow Jason to pull her puppet strings anymore.  he was going down once and for all, and she was going to be the one to do it. No matter what it took.

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house of cards | kth v. jjk [9]

House of Cards

The Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6|Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

Subtitle: V for Valiant  

Characters: Taehyung x Reader x Jungkook (Mentions of Jimin x Reader in the past)

Categories: Fluff, Angst, Suspense

AU(s):College!AU, Stalker!AU, Best Friends!AU

Word Count: 2,644

Sypnosis: Some people see life in black and white, and others see it in brown and blue, but Kim Taehyung only sees it in red and you.

WARNING: Mentions of Violence, Strong Language 

• ° °•○•° °•○•° °•○•° °•○• ° °•○•° °

Within mere hours, everyone on campus had heard about what happened. How disgusting was it, to know that the star soccer player, Jeon Jungkook, had been obsessed with his best friend to the point that he attempted to kill her? How sick could he have been, disregarding her life for his own selfish desires and tried to foster a loving relationship with her? He was sick.

It took members of the feminist group on campus to begin a petition to have him expelled. It took those of the fraternity that Jungkook was a part of, Beta Theta Sigma, mere days to decide that they could not have someone that controversial apart of the brotherhood. (Truthfully, it was because he had been so open about it, but they would use whatever cover that they could). The coaches were likely to struggle the most, unsure of whether or not to release their star player when he was projected to bring them championships to their division over the next four years.

Yet, no one suffered as much as you did.

You could barely sleep at night, thinking what might have become of your loving best friend, your boyfriend. You began to burden yourself with question after question, wanting to know why you ignored the blatant signs that Jungkook had picked up on. You wish that you would have taken up his offer of moving into his apartment when he offered. Yet, you could not change the past.

Hansung, or rather Taehyung, or whoever the hell he was had not shown his face to you over the last three days. That seemed to be the only advantageous part of all of this. No immediate threat to your persons was made, but your heart ached to no end. How could you let this happen to Jungkook?

Thus, you spent the greater half of all your time (that was no consumed by classes), visiting the police station, trying to explain that you had no intention of pressing charges and that Jungkook, was in fact, a very innocent man, but that proved to be a bust. It confused you to no end, why was it that you were the victim but they ignored your testimony? It was as though someone had it out for Jungkook on the force, but you had the slightest idea who.

“Can you move it? I have a class to be at,” Quips someone from behind you with a cup of coffee in his hand and you have the idea of snapping at him because could he not see that you were actively researching lawyers for your best friend, but when you see him, your heart immediately stops.

You do not want to believe your eyes as you as take in his figure and your mouth falls agape instantly. You can not believe your eyes.  You ask the question that burdens your mind before you can stop yourself, “Jimin?”

Jimin only smiles in response before he nods. He even adds a light bow to you out of respect and also because he wanted to appear the slightest charming before sitting down on the chair. He wears a blue sweater, hugging his skinny frame and he looks so… not Jimin. His cheeks used to be fuller, they have long become more defined since you have last seen him. The smile on his face does not reach his eyes either; his characteristic eye smile that you once adored looks permanently gone. Erased. “It has been a while, hasn’t it, Y/N-ah?”

Taehyung does not know this is possible, but despite having Jungkook as far away from you as possible, he still feels anxious. Empty. It made no sense to him, he had gotten rid of the biggest obstacle, Jungkook, and he had not even laid a single finger on him. He thought that you would be grateful that he did not injure the athlete. Yet, here you were, not running to his arms like he hoped you would. He hates himself for you not running to him and he feels that he has done wrong. He feels terrible, not because he is framing Jungkook, but because it seems that he only has been pushed further away from you.

He ignores all of Hyejin’s calls when she tries to contact him; you were the only person that he wanted to talk to. He does not make an effort to go to his classes either, too depressed to try to continue this persona of Hansung. He wonders how Hansung would have felt about all of this. And for a split second, he even wonders if Hansung would have cared at all.

He trudges into the old house located on Samsung-don street, the one with the gate led slightly ajar and he physically trembles at the sight of it. He remembers everything that happened in this house, how many times he was forced to climb out of windows to go find solace, how many times he cried himself to sleep, and how many times he had tried to stand up to his father but failed. Taehyung hates knowing that he is here, and not with you, where he feels comfort and security because of his irrational behavior. He knows how wrong it is to think you as his, as a possession, but he does not know any other healthy way to try to love you. So he is forced to resort to this.

He knocks on the door three times, his knuckles still bloody from last night when he had one too many drinks. He immediately wipes a drop of blood that stains the door with his black shirt and steps back when he sees his father - tall and brooding and every bit as intimidating as he had been since he last seen him two years ago.

“You are back,” is what his father says to him, no sense of endearment, no welcoming greeting to reassure Taehyung, nothing. It reminds Taehyung of his younger, much more vulnerable years when he used to cower in fear when his father acted as a tyrant over his sister and mother. “Come in.” He says through tight lips.

Taehyung’s lungs burn the second he steps into the house. He knows the house rules: take off your right shoe before your left; bow to your father, you are expected to respect him; take off your coat and hang it in the closet on the hanger furthest from your father’s; and don’t forget to smile, remember your father loves you - those words from his mother echoes in his head. The smell of alcohol masked by Lysol and cleaning solution fills his nostrils and he struggles to breathe, taking him away from his aforementioned thoughts. The house looks the same as it did before he left, the couch still against the wall with the same orientation, two chairs on either side of the couches with a glass coffee table in the middle, beer cans littering it. He hates how much it has changed; he hates how same it is.

“I will not beat around the bust and speak frankly with you. What the hell are you thinking? Did your mother mess up on you that bad?” Taehyung’s father exclaims before he slaps Taehyung against the face. He had no regard for his son - it had been years since Taehyung learned that if he was not Hansung, he was unloved, uncared for, and unnecessary.  “Did that whore of a mother of yours not teach you manners, huh?”

Taehyung’s cheek stings and he keeps his eyes glued to the floor. Your father does it because he loves you. He only wants you to be a better person, Taehyungie-ah. He loves us, his mother’s words echo in his mind. He takes in deep breaths, trying to ignore his father’s words. His mother had spent years living under his father’s will, acting as he desired, raising the three children that they had, and being a loving and deserving wife. Taehyung knew this much because he spent the better half of his childhood trying to convince her to leave him.

“The day you were born, it rained.” His father shakes his head incredulously. His years as a police officer had turned him serious, strict, and his years as an alcoholic turned him cold and brooding. “I should have known then that you would cause nothing but trouble for this family.” He says before he shakes out his hand. Once. Twice. Three times, before he allows his fist to sink into Taehyung’s side, and the younger man immediately buckles to the floor in pain. “When will you learn? If you are going to cause problems, fix them. Do not bring more attention to them, you fucking idiot.” He growls before he kicks Taehyung in his side; the kick is calculated and a soft crunching sound is hard - his ribs are broken.

Your father does it because he loves you. He only wants you to be a better person, Taehyungie-ah. He loves us. His mother’s words rang like a mantra and he wishes that he can crawl into her lap and cry like he did as a child. But he can not, because now it is only his father and him.

Another kick to the ribs, a grip of his shirt collar, thrown against the carpeted floor before another punch is landed against Taehyung’s face. Right under his eye, the slightest hint of a purple leaf stains his cheek. “You want to stalk some stupid girl, and for what?” His father punctuates his sense with a kick at his side and Taehyung is forced to go on the defense, curling himself tighter into a ball. He is already weak from Min Suga’s attack earlier in the week, so he lacks even more than usual. “She doesn't even want you.” He grips Taehyung’s shirt to stare into his eyes and Taehyung has to force them closed. Your father does it because he loves you. He only wants you to be a better person, Taehyungie-ah. He loves us. “No one wants you. You’re nothing.” His father pulls away before he takes a vase and pours the water over Taehyung, as though he were absolving him of all his mistakes and laughs cynically as Taehyung coughs, struggling to breathe. “Your mother died because of you. How do you feel knowing that? You killed her.”

“What is going on here?” Comes a feminine voice, one much softer and more comforting to Taehyung.  His eyes immediately buck upen and he immediately wishes that he could tell his younger sister, Taeyeon, to run. “Father..? Taehyung-” She immediately runs to Taehyung who is not coughing up blood, his lips stained with crimson as he clutches his stomach. His eyes are wide, large, shaking his head.

Go, is what he wants to tell her, but his voice dies on him and he only is able to mouth the words instead. She is stubborn, just as her brother is, and shakes her head before slowly trying to bring him to stand up, but she struggles.

Their father throws his head in laughter at the sight before shaking his head. “Why are you trying to help him? He is supposed to be a man. Do you want to be a doormat for a wife?” He asks with a raised brow before taking another swig of his soju and tosses the bottle behind him. The green bottle shatters into pieces the second it hits the floor and he grabs Taeyeon by the arm to pull her closer. “Did I raise three fools instead of just two?”

“Father! Let me go-” Taeyeon whines as she tries to push him away.

“Huh? Did I?” He screams, his loud voice echoes throughout the house before he slaps her with every bit of force that he instilled into Taehyung. Taeyeon stumbles immediately, only being held up by the harsh way that their father holds her arm behind her at an unnatural angle and tugs at her hair.

Taehyung forces himself up against the wall, his entire body on fire. His lungs feel like they are being filled to the brink with blood and the taste of iron is on his tongue. “St-stop,” He chokes out as he holds his rib.

“This is my daughter. If she needs to be disciplined, she will be-” Their father replies without sympathy, tugging at Taeyeon’s hair as though he wanted to rip it directly from the scalp. “A woman’s place is to never speak when a man is doing as he does-”

“I SAID STOP!” Taehyung screams before he grabs one of the empty bottles of soju on the table and hits the bottle against the wall, emerald fragments dot the floor as Taehyung steps closer, his eyes darker than their usual shade as he approaches the two of them. “Let her go-”

“And what will you do with that? Your mother raised you to be a pussy, unable to stand for yourself and doomed to fail. Remember, I am your father. I am stronger than you will ever be, so put it down, Taehyung. Do it while I am still being nice.” He throws around Taeyeon as though she is a rag doll and not his daughter and the scene makes Taehyung’s blood boil, and before he knows it, he is spiraling towards him with the broken bottle in his hand and crashes the bottle into the side of his father’s head before he pulls back - a mess of hands as his father tries to push him away - and angles the bottle perfectly into his side. The impact is instant as the sharp ridges of the broken bottle tears into his father’s skin, the wounds puncture immediately and blood spews all over. It stains Taehyung’s white shirt and black hoodie. It covers the floor and his sister gasps, in shock of what happened.

“T-taehyung-” She chokes out from the floor as she watches their father crumble to the ground, much like Taehyung had done only minutes before. “Taehyung, w-what did you do?” She stutters.

Taehyung stumbles back, his eyes wide in surprise as he drops the bloodied bottle. He had never killed anyone before and he had never had the intentions to. He only wanted to protect himself and his sister, but god, the voices in his head were too loud, the scene was too familiar and it makes him think back to the accident. The accident that drove the two of you apart and unable to repair it all. He drops to his knees, immediately scrambling to his father. He hated him for all the abuse he put them through, but he never wanted to kill him. That was his father--. “C-call the police,” He croaks out as his watches his eyes flutter close. “NOW!” He screams, his voice cracking at the seams and Taehyung visibly shivers as his father’s blood covers more and more and more of his hands. It doesn’t stop. It was red, red, red.

And then, in an instant, he stops seeing his father and begins to see you. He sees you, covered in blood, your ribcage punctured and your lungs filling with your own blood. He is taken back to the accident. His hands are quaking, you clinging on to him for dear life as you ask him what happened. Your eyes, big and doe-like as you clench to Taehyung, begging him why he did what he did, and he does not what is worse - doing what he did or losing you altogether. Taehyung has killed you, and he knows it, but he can not speak. He cannot speak a word, for dead souls do not talk.

Don’t be a silent reader! Feel free to send your opinions, questions, and/or thoughts! 

[franzbiblio]

Where in the comics are Professor X and Magneto?

So it occurs to me that those not up-to-date with comics might be interested in a "where are they now?" for Professor X and Magneto, especially if you might be interested in jumping into the breach with this new launch of House of X/Power of X making it a bit easier than usual to jump into the insanity that is comics in general and X-Men comics in particular.

The short answer is that there isn't really a status quo established for this particular era of X-Men as of yet and as for Magneto and Charles Xavier's potential place in the coming status quo, I can't even really predict, which is both exciting and terrifying if I'm being honest.

Magneto:

I will start with Magneto who is a little more complicated to explain how he got where he is, but I do at least have a vague notion of the general trajectory we might be seeing from him in the next several months:

Until recently Magneto has spent most of his time running about being an anti-hero type from leading a distinctly shady team of the X-men in Uncanny X-Men (2016) #1-19, until Psylocke (Betsy Braddock) decided that he had been too shady and stabbed him and apparently killed him.

This being comics means that he got better immediately, but decided to not make this fact known and instead served as the secret mentor for the teenage time-displaced original five X-men in the pages of X-Men: Blue (2017) #1-28, that is until during the arc during issues #23-28 (collected in the X-Men trade titled Cry Havok) when Magneto is shown disillusioned with trying to be hero because his teenaged wards had run off into space (let the record show this is not the first time that Magneto has been driven back to villainy because his wards have a predilection for running off to space without so much as leaving a note) during a huge international crisis leaving Magneto to pick up the pieces in the only way he knows: being shady. This is then exacerbated when at the end of the arc Magneto is forced to kill brainwashed mutants he was attempting to save, fleeing to the future (there was a time machine in the basement… let’s not go into it) where he learned that him being an asshole is the only way the future will be saved, he then returns to the present seeking revenge on Emma Frost who was complicit in the whole brainwashing mutants thing. The original five X-Men freshly back from space objected to this whole killing Emma Frost thing and Magneto and the original five make their formal break in X-Men: Blue (2017) #31.

We are then shown Magneto fully returning to villainy with the destruction of a research facility, killing all the scientists inside, but because this is Magneto there are sympathetic "trying to prevent the future destruction of mutantkind" motivations behind this, but still kind of a dick move. He is then shown with a new Brotherhood of Mutants on a new Asteroid M (you know the secret asteroid base he has because he is not a dramatic bitch at all) setting him up clearly as a future threat for the X-Men.

Then Uncanny X-Men relaunched with an event called X-Men Disassembled that spanned Uncanny X-Men (2018) #1-10 where Magneto appeared as the brainwashed, bearded minion of Jean Grey's sort of alternate universe son who is now a reality warping messiah figure, Nate Grey AKA X-Man. While Magneto shakes off the brainwashing in Uncanny X-Men #10, joining the X-Men in attacking said reality warping messiah, he, along with every other mutant present, end up sucked into some kind of pocket dimension/alternate universe (it's a little unclear at the moment what exactly it is) and the results of this is being explored in the crossover event Age of X-Man. Magneto specifically is a principal character in the Marvelous X-Men (2019) #1-5 miniseries, which depicts Magneto as a part of the X-Men team in this alternate universe utopia with no memories of the regular universe. He has a half cape with a fluff and is pretty dapper, so I'm a fan. The last few issues have shown him along with the rest of the cast beginning to have flashbacks of the other universe and begin to doubt the Utopia.

This miniseries will be running until sometime in June where we can only assume that all the mutants currently trapped in the pocket dimension will return to the regular universe with their restored memories. It's impossible to know what the exact fallout of this will be.

It seems unlikely to me that Magneto would go back to being an ally of the X-Men after all the build-up to making him a proper "villain" again. They released a whole series dedicated to X-Men "villains" one-shots called X-Men: Black and there was a Magneto issue and the cover of Uncanny X-Men #13 that came out in March sorted Magneto along with other X-Men villains like Sinister, Apocalypse, and Cassandra Nova.

Most likely Magneto coming out of Age of X-Man will go back to being a “villain”, though whether future writers will necessarily follow-up on the story threads that were left dangling by the end of X-Men: Blue, I can only speculate.

For Charles Xavier:

So, Charles is a little easier to explain insofar as he was dead for a lot of the past decade of comics.

For those unaware during the Avengers v. X-Men crossover event back in 2012, Charles Xavier died at the hands of one of his oldest students and son-guy-figure, Scott Summers, in Scott's defense he was possessed by the phoenix force at the time and felt really, really bad about it after (like not bad enough to stop being part of the rad mutant rebelz, but you know, bad).

From thereon Charles would only appear in a limited capacity as some kind of ghost or psychic shadow or whatever you want to call it. Most prominently Red Skull would grave rob his brain and use it to manipulate the world in Uncanny Avengers (2012) eventually leading to the crossover event AXIS.

He'd also pop up as a spirit in heaven alongside Kurt Wagner in Amazing X-Men (2013) #2 and #5 and Charles's son David Haller would spend the majority of X-Men Legacy (2012) fighting against a malicious psychic entity that looked like Charles Xavier but is actually more of a manifestation of David's hatred... or something (the actual details are kept purposely vague).

It's not until Astonishing X-Men (2017) does the actual Charles Xavier appear and even then it's ambiguous until basically the end of the series whether it is really Charles Xavier back (it... mostly is) but in #7 he rejects being called Professor X, saying it doesn't feel right (I mean he's thirty, has hair and is drawn by Phil Noto, it makes a person feel different) and instead adopted the moniker X. At the end of the arc in Astonishing X-Men (2017) #12, Charles forgoes returning to the X-Men, claiming that Kitty was doing fine without him and then wipes everyone's mind who had been involved in the matter except Psylocke (Betsy Braddock), asking her to keep an eye on him and stop him if he's being too shady (sound familiar?) and then just vaguely refers to his "new dream".

Our next and as of writing last time seeing resurrected Charles is in Astonishing X-Men (2017) Annual #1 written by Matthew Rosenberg. It's a standalone story where the four of five original X-Men (Scott wasn't there because he was busy being dead or effectively dead at the time, I mean he was a student of Charles Xavier, he learned from the best) meet up and have a bitchfest about their fucked up lives. This is interrupted by Charles just strolling in, not explaining how he got back, stealing their wine and sort of apologizing for involving them in traumatizing superhero shenanigans.

He then promptly takes them out for some family bonding through more traumatic superhero shenanigans that ends with a warehouse full of people dead. It's capped off with Charles mind-wiping them, but they then get to have a do-over reunion dinner where they show that they can appreciate what they've accomplished instead of dwelling on missed opportunities, which I interpret as Charles's messed up apology to them, which is kind of sweet while being really messed up. Which I think is kind of what this take on Xavier is going for. He was trapped in the astral plane with the Shadow King for effectively centuries so I guess strange coping mechanisms are to be expected.

So with Cyclops back from the dead in Uncanny X-Men (2019) #11, it seems that some kind of reunion between the two is inevitable and it's more of a question of when, under what circumstances and will Scott get to remember it even happened after? With Legion (David Haller) being a part of how Nate Grey was able to suck everyone into Age of X-Man, I wouldn't be surprised if Xavier plays some key role in getting the X-Men back from the Age of X-Men. I really doubt that Xavier will blame Cyclops for the whole killing him dead with cosmic fire thing, but other than that I can't say.

The Charles Xavier we are getting is definitely a darker take on the character who is more comfortable with taking extreme measures, but how exactly this plays into what his "new dream" is remains to be seen. I definitely don't want Xavier to get too much exposure, he really works best right now as an enigma doing his own thing, with the Astonishing X-Men Annual playing this up to good effect with Charles being used sparingly but completely stealing the scene when he does appear. Since Rosenburg that wrote the Annual and is now writing Uncanny X-Men I'm feeling slightly optimistic, though I can't help but be worried that since things established in Astonishing (like Warren being in control of his Archangel persona) was ignored by later writers.

In a previous X-Men Monday on Adventures in Poor Taste (http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2019/03/04/x-men-monday-featuring-jordan-d-white-2-nightcrawlers-soul-sacrificial-goats-and-weezer/) senior editor in charge of the X-Men line at Marvel, Jordan White mentioned that Professor X will be back and play an important role in the future of the line and included an image of X, but absolutely no more context on what his role might be. So at least he doesn't seem lost in limbo.

In the back of my head I can't help but vaguely hope that since this Xavier is darker and seems to be cleaning up loose ends in secret that might threaten his students that we could see him joining up in some capacity with newly villainous Magneto since we've had Magneto join Xavier's side several times but never seen the reverse. That could at least be novel, but at the same time I can't really see Charles fighting against his old students even if he thought it was in their best interest as we saw in his emotional breakdown during Avengers v. X-Men.

From what we’ve seen of the promo materials from House of X/Powers of X, I kind of doubt that direction, Hickman has been making vague references to X trying to take the X-Men in a new direction, I guess that “new dream” vaguely referred to at the end of Astonishing.

All of this being a long-winded 1.5k way to say: we'll have to wait and see.  

[belmontsfate]

Day 3: Spirit - Sypha

- The Year of our Lord 1103

Sypha wasn't exactly sure how it happened … One moment she lay dying in the forest, surrounded by Lycans, and then she woke up as nothing more than a spirit, a bodiless soul, unable to talk and trapped in a frozen crystal shard kept in an underground cavern. For thirty years she was stuck in there, fully aware of everything that happened around her. She saw beasts and brotherhood soldiers alike pass her by, but none of them paid her any attention.

As you can imagine, thirty years left a lot of time for contemplation. By studying her surroundings, as well as the number of brotherhood warriors who passed by, she was able to conclude that she was somewhere within Dracula's domain. She still did not understand how or why, but as far as she could figure out, someone had stolen her soul and placed it inside the crystal.

She thought of her family … Trevor and Simon … Were they dead or alive? Had Trevor truly been killed, or had he too had his soul stolen? And what about Simon? Had he managed to escape from the Lycans and find safety? Was he still living? Did he have a wife and children of his own? Oh, how she wished that she knew the answers to these questions.

The years dragged on and Sypha had started to give up hope on ever being freed when a man unlike any she had seen before stumbled into her cavern. From the first moment she spotted him, she found there to be something oddly familiar about him, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on how she knew him. Everything about his appearance hinted that he was a warrior, though definitely not one belonging to the Brotherhood of Light.

He was a beefy man, tanned and covered in scars, with a head of shaggy red hair and a matching beard. It was hard to see his face with all the hair and scars, but she managed to get a decent look at him as he approached the crystal shard. His features were harsh, the sign of a difficult life. Though his eyes were a soft shade of brown, they were filled with anger and determination, making them look just as wild as the rest of his appearance.

Then she noticed the pendant hanging from his neck. It was then that she realized who he was. The revelation shocked her. Trevor had given their son an identical mirror pendant before he left, requesting that he always keep it with him. The man before her had to be none other than Simon, now at the age of thirty-six.

Before she could even fully comprehend the revelation, she felt the crystal shard being picked up. Simon held it in his hand for a moment, turning it this way and that as he examined it. Had she had a body with a heart, she was sure that it would have started beating rapidly. Would her son save her? Did he know that her soul was trapped inside?

Her answer came soon enough …

"Bah!" he exclaimed as he started to turn to leave, tossing the crystal shard over his shoulder as he did.

The shard broke into hundreds of tiny pieces as it collided against the hard cavern floor. With her prison broken, Sypha was finally able to escape! Her soul slowly rose from the shard ascending upward into a beam of light, but she stopped halfway and turned back to glance over at her son.

One by one monsters emerged, forming a circle around Simon. She had a hunch that her son could probably manage on his own, but the thought of one of the monsters sneaking up on him from behind and hurting him didn't sit well with her.

Just then, she heard a voice come from above.

Go to your son. He will need your help with the mission he faces. I will be waiting to welcome you through heavens gates with open arms when you are ready.

She smiled up at the beam of light above her head, watching as it vanished into thin air. No sooner was it gone then she turned all of her attention towards her son, her determination to protect him just as strong as it was the moment she died.

By this point, both her son and the monsters surrounding him were staring at her. Quickly she flew to Simon, wrapping her spirit around him to protect him from enemy attacks as he made short work of defeating them one by one. She realized as she was protecting him that he had indeed grown into a skilled warrior, just like his father. It seemed to run in the Belmont's blood. Trevor would have been so proud.

Sypha remained at Simon's side as he continued on his journey into Dracula's castle. It pained her that she was unable to speak with him, or even reveal who she was. He didn't seem to recognize her, though she couldn't exactly blame him for that. It had been thirty years since he had seen her last. She had hardly recognized him herself.

Eventually, they made it to Dracula's lair, where the Prince of Darkness himself awaited them, seated on his dark throne.

"You fight well," Dracula complimented. "Worthy of the name Belmont."

She didn't know if the compliment was sincere or not. There was no way to tell when it came to the powerful vampire. He was dangerous and unpredictable, able to kill within a matter of minutes, or so she had heard. To think that this man was Trevor's father as well as Simon's Grandfather ... It was a terrifying thought.

Admittedly, this was the first time she had ever seen him in person. While he possessed the usual physical attributes of a high ranking vampire such as pale skin and glowing red eyes, she could tell that he still somewhat resembled his human self. She identified certain features that Trevor had inherited from him. The shaggy hair being the most obvious.

"I am Simon Belmont. I have come to avenge the death of my parents. I have come to destroy you."

"Tell me; how do you plan to do this, Simon Belmont?" Dracula chuckled, motioning to the combat cross in his hand. He without a doubt recognized it as his son's. "With that perhaps?"

Sypha gritted her teeth. The vampire was taunting her son, and she couldn't stand it. However, there was nothing she could do to stop it. She was nothing but a spirit. All she could do was block physical attacks, and she wasn't even sure if it would work against Dracula.

"That relic you carry with you holds no power over me, Young Belmont," Dracula continued. "Know this. Your father died by my hand. Will you suffer the same fate?"

Hearing this plunged Sypha into sadness. So, it was true … He admitted it himself … Trevor had died by his hand … If that was true, then what chance would Simon have against him?

Unfortunately, Simon refused to back down, ignoring the warning he had been given. He was still just as stubborn as when he was a boy.

Sensing his grandson's refusal, Dracula rose from his throne, his fist blazing with fire. "You cannot kill me. You will die in vain, just as your father did."

"We'll see about that now, won't we?"

Dracula started to move towards her son but stopped as the sound of the door being unlocked behind them echoed through the air. Everyone turned and waited to see who it was. To Simon and Sypha's surprise, the door opened to reveal none other than the mysterious white-haired who had helped them through the castle.

"Good of you to join us, Alucard," Dracula greeted him.

Alucard … The name struck Sypha as odd. Another thing that struck her as odd was the fact that Dracula seemed to know this man. The look on his face hinted that he had expected him to come.

Until that moment, neither her nor Simon had been able to get a decent look at him, as he kept to the shadows, but now, as he strode towards them with determined steps, his fists clenched at his side, they could see him as clear as day. He too was a vampire, like Dracula, the only difference being that his eyes were bright yellow. As she examined his scarred face, she couldn't help but feel as if she knew that face. It was the second time she had felt that way, and the first time it had ended up being her son … Who then was this?

"Father …" Alucard greeted Dracula, his voice dripping with bile.

That was when it hit her. Dracula had only ever fathered one child as far as she was aware. That child was Trevor. Could it be? No! A part of her didn't want to believe it. Yet, all the signs seemed to point to that conclusion. This vampire … Alucard … He was none other than her husband, Trevor Belmont.

"It's been a long time," Dracula smirked at his son.

"It seems fate has given me a second chance," Alucard stated. "I have come to finish what I started."

Sypha watched the father and son's exchange closely, noting how the smirk vanished from Dracula's face as he heard his son's refusal to join him. It was almost as if he was disappointed, which seemed odd for such a merciless killer. How could he possibly expect his son to join him after all the crimes he had committed against him?

"Look at me! You've made me a monster, father!" Alucard declared. "You've made me like you: a creature that thirsts for blood, filled with rage! You should have let me die that night!"

Had she still had a heart, it probably would have broken at that moment. The way her husband spoke of himself made her want to burst out crying. He truly hated what he had become.

"No matter," Dracula tore his gaze away from his son, refocusing it on that of Simon. His hand once more ignited in flames. "It all ends now!"

Alucard stepped in front of Simon to protect him. "Let him go. This is between me and you!"

Dracula shook his head. "He is a Belmont. I will not suffer that bloodline to live any longer!"

And with that, the battle began. Dracula tried to lunge at Simon, but Alucard stopped him, taking the hit himself as he wrestled him. Before long, Simon joined Alucard in fighting him. The two attacked him from both sides. He would grab one, trying to strangle him, only for the other to distract him, causing him to let go.

Sypha did her best to protect Simon, even though there were many moments she was tempted to rush over to her husband and aid him as well. When it came down to it, she chose to stay with Simon, knowing that he needed more protection than her husband did. Trevor, or Alucard as he now went by, was a vampire and was not so easily killed in comparison to their son.

It was a tough battle, but in the end, Dracula was slain. With Alucard holding Dracula firmly in place, Simon was able to deliver the fatal blow, driving the combat cross into his heart. The Prince of Darkness vanished into a blinding ray of red light. The combat cross collapsed to the stone floor. Sypha smiled at her two boys. Together they had completed their task.

"This is not how a vampire is supposed to die …" Alucard muttered as he stared at the spot his father had been slain.

Both Sypha and Simon were alarmed by this.

"What do you mean?" Simon asked.

Alucard failed to reply as he appeared to be deep in thought.

Just then, the lost soul, a specter like creature who had helped guide them through their mission, appeared before them, holding his hand out towards Simon. Neither her nor Simon knew what he wanted, at least not until Alucard explained.

"He wants the pendant you are wearing."

"Not a chance!" Simon refused. "It was a gift from my father. It's all I have of him."

"Your father gave you that without knowing it's true power. As long as you wear it, you won't be able to decide or act entirely for yourself. Your actions will be guided … manipulated. Do you think you are here entirely of your own free will?"

Simon was clearly conflicted. In his mind, it was all he had left of his beloved father. Even though he was a grown man, there was a part of him that hadn't changed since he was six years old. He still loved his father, or rather the memory he had of him.

"Let it go. It doesn't belong to you," Alucard told him. "Just as it did not belong to your father."

After a moment's hesitation, Simon pulled the pendant from his neck, reluctantly dropping it into the lost soul's hand. The lost soul vanished with it not a moment later. Free from the pendant's control, he turned back to face the white-haired vampire.

"Will you tell me who you are now?"

Sypha held her breath, or rather she would have if she had the breath to hold, as she watched and waited to see what her husband would do. He kept his back to them at first, but slowly he turned and drawing closer, raised a hand to cup Simon's cheek. He said nothing, simply staring into his brown eyes, which Sypha noticed no longer held the burning anger she had seen earlier. If anything they looked lost, as did her husband's.

A moment later, Alucard swiftly retracted his hand, turning and retracing his steps out of the throne room.

Sypha knew that her time with her family had almost come to an end. She had fulfilled her task of protecting Simon. There was no doubt in her mind that he would be all right now. However, she wasn't ready to leave quite yet … Not until she at least got the chance to say goodbye to her husband. She silently prayed to God, begging him to grant her this one last wish.

Go to him and speak your final words. I will return your voice to you, but only while you are with him.

Thanking him, she left Simon's side, stopping for only a moment to wave to him before she rushed out of the throne room as well.

It didn't take her long to catch up with him in her spirit form, seeing as she could pass through walls and objects as she pleased. Once she was close enough to him, she felt her voice return to her, just as God had promised. She might be unable to touch him, but at least she could speak to him.

"Trevor, wait," she called to him.

At the sound of his name, his human name, he stopped dead in his tracks. "I know that voice …" his voice sounded shaky, "but it cannot be. Its owner is dead."

"Turn and see for yourself."

Slowly he turned to face her, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of her, bloody tears beginning to form. "S-Sypha? Is that really you?"

She nodded her head, floating closer to him. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and caress his face, kissing his lips and wiping away his tears, but she could not.

"What happened to you?" he asked. "Why is your soul still on this earth."

"My soul was stolen by one of Dracula's minions and imprisoned in a crystal shard for many years. Thankfully Simon came along and freed me. I have been watching over him ever since."

"Simon told me of your death … I am sorry I was not there to protect you."

"None of this is your fault, Trevor," she assured him. "There was no way you could have known how the future would unfold. You left to try and save us, and you've done nothing but protect our boy since he arrived here. You have done what any good father would do."

He hung his head in shame, his face hiding behind his long white hair. "I am not the same man I once was, Sypha. Trevor Belmont is dead, and in his place now stands the vampire, Alucard."

"That is not true. You are still the man I fell in love with, even if you are a vampire now," she insisted. "There is still goodness in your heart, and there always will be so long as you continue to love."

He started to raise his head back up, a sign that she was getting through to him.

It is time.

A blinding light enveloped her again as she started to ascend. Her time was running out, and she was ready to go. She smiled at her husband. Her work here on earth was completed. She felt at peace, assured that both her son and husband would be alright without her.

"I love you, Trevor Belmont. Never forget that," she said. "Remember that I am waiting for you in heaven."

Then she was gone, leaving Alucard there by himself. Though the tears threatened to surface again, he fought them back, a sad smile tugging at his lips.

"I won't forget …"

[twinfanfics]

The tale of the three head beast. The marching fishes (20/21)

WE ARE BACK!! 

Fandom: Digimon GoT au.

Charaters: All the choosen children from Adventure, 02, Tamer and sometimes Frontier. 

Ships: Taiyama, Joumi, Daiken, Takary, TakatoxYuri, RikaxRyo . . . 

Second part of the tale of the three head beast series, you can read the first part The chosen children Here and here, or look for the tag  3t3hb  on this blog.

Resume: Three years had pased since Taichi won the hand of princess Sora and both get crowned King and Queen of the living land, now they must faced the duty of the monarchs, but the King is must worried about cover his affair with the royal guard. The war started on the Honest Island, does the King Joe would manage it?. Mean while at the other side of the sea Takato and Ruki stronger their forces.

And you can read all past chapters of the marching fishes in the links below or in AO3

ACT 1. ESCENE 1: THE RAIN

ACT 1. ESCENE 2: THE WILL  

ACT 1. ESCENE 3: THE TRIP

ACT 1. ESCENE 4:THE SON

ACT 2. SCENE 1: THE ARRIVAL

ACT 2. SCENE 2: BROTHERHOOD

ACT 2. SCENE 3: MOTHER | **warning suicide attempt**

ACT 2. SCENE 4: THE BATTLE OF THE IKKAKU ISLAND

ACT 3. SCENE 1: THE INTERROGATION

ACT 3. ESCENE 2:  DELIVERY

ACT 3. ESCENE 3: RED DRESS

ACT 4. ESCENE 1:TRIAL

ACT 4. ESCENE 2: THE SAINT QUEEN

ACT 4. ESCENE 3:THE SPY

ACT 4. ESCENE 4: INTRUDERS

ACT 4: SCENE 5: THE BROKEN SWORD

ACT 5: SCENE 1: THE WIDOW

ACT 5: SCENE 2: WELCOME HOME

ACT 5 : SCENE 3: FAITH

ACT 5: SCENE 4: LIONHEART  (Chapter after the cut)

“Why?” the old man ask as soon as the knife penetrate his skin, the surprise take all the strench that remains on his body, he didn't fight, he didn't scream, he just repeat “Why?” 

But Henry didn't answered  to his corpse, he left the room of his former allie as quiet as he entered, he has a fair mision, not good or noble, but fair. 

Kill the spies, prove his loyalty, serve the King 

The death of the counselor was  scandalous; a member of the court stabbed on his own bedroom;  all the castle shake with fear, everybody talked about the  silver knife nail over the body and the beautiful symbol engraved on the handle: a  flower with diamonds as petals, the symbol of the light 

The king was there when Henry inspected the room, he, the trusty adviser, the wiser; the one in charge of investigate his own crime, Takato really was that naive, kill him would be so easy. 

To be fair, Henry had not be his first choice, Takato instanly search for Ruki, but she denied it, is the work of a coward  she said pretending to know nothing, what an amazing liar. 

Gallant lick the blood of the carpet before it could be clean it and  the Lion buried the body and burn all of the gathering. 

In all the palace no one cried the dead of counselor as the Queen, such a crime was no common on Piramide, they were used to fights at coliseum, the honor to die with your opponent in front of you; but for Takato, raised on the old temple, a childhood on the cult, killing on the dark was expected; he fails at comforting his wife. 

The lion carried her around the castle, throwing suspicious and curses to anyone who come closer, doing the job he had done all his life: be the champion of the Queen.

 “Is the work of your enemies your majesty” Henry Wong asure kneeling in front of the King and Queen 

“How?” Takato tried to look compose and fails “How did they surpass our defenses?” 

“and why him? “ Yuri  as usually asked the questions that Takato would never ask “Why send an  from a old man when the Queen and KIng live in the same castle?” 

“I don't know” he standed up and spoke calm and slowly   “But i promise i will found out” 

“Tenemos que prepararnos” the queen continues “we must reinforce the castle, bend the guard…” Lion was beside her, nodding with his head after every order 

“Momantai” 

“Excuse me?” 

“Momantai” he repeat “Is mean no te preocupes” he turns to Takato “Not to worry” 

“How i cannot be worried if a man is killed in my own castle” Yuri yells, send wàs so little,he could take her down with no effort; The Lion standed up.

“Because that man was a target” still serene he continues “ just think about it, someone entered the castle and only attack an old council, not you or the King, my guess is that is personal, not only that, my thought is that no one really break into the castle, it was an inside job” 

He felt Ruki eyes over him, the entire court gasped, the queen sobed

“the guards saw nothing, the lock was not forced, there was no sign of a fight, the murderer was someone the council knew, someone he trusted, the murderer is a member of this castle, probably a spy from the light” 

The gasp became a scream, and the sob became tears 

“And you tell me not to worried about it?” 

“Gallant is with you all the time,  the Lion protect the Queen, and now that we are aware of this spy he or she would not be able to act without been caught”  he bow “Momantai” and excuse himself out of the audience. 

“Are you out of your mind?”  Ruki follow him  “what is wrong with you?” 

“the best lies are the ones who begins with the true” 

“Don't mess with me Wong!” she come closer “just tell me who the others spies are and i would handle it! this is way out of you control!” 

“Wong!” another figure run to them 

“Hide”  

“I don't take orders from you!” 

“Just do it!” and very much to her regret she obeyed

“Wong!” a man approached to him, he was sweating despite the cold weather “Wong! we need to talk, the counselor! what you said¡” the man searched for a safe place to speak “ are we in danger?” 

Ruki recognized him as one of the guard

“listen” a little tremble on his voice, subtle and fake “my hope is that whoever is behind this crime would panic after my declaration, I only act by the command of the alchemist” 

“Did you speak with him?” both men whispered but Ruki was able to listen  “What did he said?” 

“What I need to know, I told you, I merely  follow his instructions” one hand over his shoulder “I trust in his guide, if my purpose is to die for the light, then it will be” 

The man become a young boy at his words 

“Yes, yes of course” he mumble “I, i think the same, i just… im use to the life in this city” 

“Are you coming outside of the light my friend?” 

“No! of course not, im sorry for bothering you is just.. i have doubs” 

“Doubs about the true of the light or about our lider? 

 the fear on his face was enough  answer

Ruki come out of her hide at the same time he running away 

“Nervous men make stupid mistakes” 

“Dont lecture me” she was not convince “this is gonna explode in your face, let me help you” 

“You are helping” he sigh “The king would recognize your murder technique in an instant, I´ll do it, one by one until the last one snap” 

“or you…” 

“I´m calm” he breath, exasperate “I´m in control” even when he was thinking in a millions ways of break her neck

Ruki look at him with her big menacing eyes “Koushiro train you well” 

“I never told you he was my teacher” 

“You didn't have to” but she pause, as  if she was afraid “don't forget why are we doing this, our goal” and she look back at the throne room, the King smile as he talk and welcome the audiences, the light shine over Takato crown making him look almost divine “Only a child of the sun must reight over the living land” 

“For the glory of the house of courage” 

 “For the glory of the house of courage!” she repeat, hoping that he knew what he was doing, hoping that trust in him would not be as disastrous as it was trusting his teacher.

That night the archers of the wall shoot the guard who tried to escape at the middle of the night.  

Two days later one of the maids  throw herself from one window 

One of the gardeners was found floating on the south fountain one week later 

His work was almost done, one last victim and it would be over. 

He called him to met on the garden at dawn, at diference of the others this time they will fight, Henry will won, then he will drag his corpse to the King chamber claiming that he was the perpetrator, ending all doubs over his persona and bringing peace at the castle. 

The last spy  appear at dawn, as planning,  sweating and at the edge of tears, the oldest sidesman of the castle. Henry feel the rush on his blood, still he remains calm. 

“My friend” he said with a smile, barely controlling his excitement “i´m so happy that  you come to me in this our darkest moment” 

 “I´m sorry” he barely whisper,  something was wrong

Another figure emerged between the leaves, tall as a three, strong and proud, The lion looked at him as you can only see the traitors 

“se terminó Wong” he roar 

“Dear light” he turn to the old man “What had you done?” 

“The right thing my friend” his grind was peacefully but twisted “ the right thing” 

 “You…” Henry rush   “You old snitch” 

“hard words on the mouth of a spy” the Lion was still there, with his old chain and ball “I didn't want to believe it” 

“but is true” the sideman step back as he talked “ Wong is the one who communicate with the great alchemist, he had been an informant for him since before the King even married our queen” 

“As same as you!” 

“but he come to me with the true, he regret his past  and swear the rest of his life in favor of Piramide” 

“I´m in favor of Piramide!” Henry need to thing faser, “I´m purging all the light of this city” 

“All except you” 

“That was not...!” 

“Liar!” the heavy chain hit the floor, Henry need to act, The lion would not fail a second time. 

He need a strategy, a way out, he need to focus, to think, he would not follow into dispair; the firmest tree is the only one that can stand the storm 

“I´m not following the orders of the alquemist…” he said trying to stay calm 

“You called this man to murder him, just as you had murder so many others, you attack them from the back and  set them up as accidents, rejecting the honorable pat of a true warrior, do you denied those crimes?” 

“No, but listen…” if only he could explain 

“You lied about your loyalties, you share the secrets of the crown with their enemies” 

“I´m loyal to the king!” his plea sound empty “My only concern is the safety of the King!” 

The lion speak since his hearth “And i only live to protect my Queen” 

The queen, the fragile girl who cried with every dead, and those tears where his sentence, the Lion would kill him for bringing pain to  the monarch 

Even then, he keep breathing, he search for an exit, a distraction, an opportunity 

But then he hear the laugh of the sideman, his bitter utterly obnoxious laugh, suddenly it's fill all his thoughts, all his mind, the mocking of a buffon; he didn't care for the King, or the Kingdom or the magic or the Courage, he was a man manipulating the true to his benefit; Henry get mad at seen at him, not for the imminent death but for how much he could see himself in that elder. 

The calm before the storm was over. . . 

“Wong! Henry stop!” The hand of Ruki hold his wrist, he drop the chain and the ball fall to a pool  of blood,  his eyesight was blurry, his coat was dyed red, to his right the inert body of the old man lay on the ground “What are you doing?” 

What was he doing?

Breath… breath…  he remains  himself and stand up, the ground feel warm, under him layed another body, in horror he saw the lion heads crush on the floor, more than fourteen stabs on his back, with total security injuries perpetrated by his hand

“It's dawning, come on Wong, we have to clean up this disaster”

“Its to late” he remain inmobil, perplexe by the unspoken crimes, soon screams shocked the wind around him, the life in the palace begins early. 

A monster roar, the King was near and he was covered in rot and violence, he did not stand the storm, he was the storm. 

“Run!” Ruki commanded at the same time that she throw over him a dark water.  And what else he could do. 

Henry jumped and ran the faster, the monsters of the King would smell the blood and start follow him at any second. But they didn’t, Henry saw the dark shadow of Ruki colecting every drop of blood that fall from his body. The warrior didn´t stop until the water of the sea had cover him to head to toe. When the shadow of Ruki let him he stayed under the ocean, hopping for the salt water to clean his concience and clean his doubs. He noticed that he still had the heavy weapon of León on his hand, it was drowing him at the deptest of the blue. Henry colected his stregnth  and get out of the water.

The King watch horrified. The corpses of Leon and the old coin advisor were on the floor. There was blood and human parts all over the place. 

“It must had been an ugly battle” Ruki said 

“What?” Takato asked incredulous “Why León would fight an old man?”

“He was obviusly hidden his force, but they kill each other, that is clear” Ruki spoke with force and saw how Takato believed her “we found our killer”

“What?” the child repeated

“One of them was the killer and the other his last victim” 

A heartrending scream cut the conversation. 

Takato turned over himself and hold his trembling wife. 

“León!” The Queen cry and scream as she fallen over the corpse of his protector. 

The King hold her. The three sauros get together and howl. Ruki commanded the guard and get shure to clean everything. 

The murders stopped and for three months the castle cover its standar of black. The Queen stopped to cry a week after the body was buried, but she wasn’t talking anymore. The King hold her hand and talk to her, but her eyes failed to look at him. 

The Queen versed over herself and The King versed over her pale Queen. 

The throne of Piramide was weak.

[fullmetalirin]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Episodes 50-51

Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 50: "Death"

As zeppelins rain bombs upon London during World War I, Edward and Hohenheim flee the city. As they watch the attack from a distance, Hohenheim explains that in this world, on the other side of the gate, the science of physics has developed instead of alchemy but, because Edward's soul was transferred over without his body, the Gate of Truth within himself can be used to return to Amestris. Meanwhile, with Hawkeye's help, Mustang has sneaked into the Führer's mansion to confront him and avenge Hughes. Gluttony, moping over Lust's death, is forced by Envy to begin gradually eating Alphonse's armored body to complete the Philosopher's Stone within him so Dante can use the stone to switch bodies with Rosé. Annoyed with Gluttony still mourning the loss of Lust, Dante alchemically destroys his mind so he can be nothing but an eating machine just as he begins gradually eating Alphonse. Wrath, still moping over Sloth's death, tries to intervene by using alchemy so he can use Alphonse to revive Sloth, but Dante has Edward's original limbs removed from Wrath's body so he can no longer perform alchemy in doing so. After repairing his relationship with Hohenheim, Edward returns to Amestris and tries to stop Dante's plans and set Alphonse and Rosé free, only to be distracted by Envy, who begins tormenting him in battle. When Edward angrily demands to see Envy's true form, Envy gleefully obliges, transforming into Hohenheim and Dante's deceased son, causing Edward to hesitate in sorrow. Dante reveals that Envy was the first ever homunculus, created when Hohenheim attempted human transmutation to revive his son who died of mercury poisoning. As Envy admits this is the reason why he hates Hohenheim for abandoning him to start a new family, the homunculus instantly transforms his arm into a blade and heartlessly kills Edward by piercing him through the heart while a horrified Alphonse, Rosé and Wrath watch.

Hm, I forgot he transferred to WWI London. I thought Amestris was equivalent to Nazi Germany.

Ed is impressed by zeppelins and airplanes. Hohenheim says their mechanical engineering is better than in their world, but Amestris has pretty sophisticated manufacturing too. Trains are apparently about a century old, which is about on par with our timeline. I guess you could presume that technology hit a plateau as people figured alchemy was better for more advanced applications.

Bradley keeps his remains in his house. He's read the Evil Overlord List! Selim saw the safe, so Bradley entrusts him with the key. That's pretty smart, since it's unlikely Mustang will think the kid is relevant.

Riza has dispatched Bradley's guards and is at his door. I presume this is a diversion, because we cut to Mustang sneaking in by… jumping over the wall? I'll presume that was alchemy-assisted.

Archer is still not dead.

We cut to Ed and Hohenheim and get my other favorite scene. Hohenheim explains conservation of energy, explicitly drawing a comparison to our very first example: Al fixing the broken radio. The souls of the dead from Earth pass into their world and provide the fuel for alchemy. This makes perfect sense: we already know the Philosopher's Stone, which amplifies alchemy, is powered by souls, so it's only logical that regular alchemy work the same.

Hohenheim explains he really did love Trisha, but left because he didn't want them to see the rot. I think this is a flawed but reasonable explanation. The rot represents more than just itself: it's a mark of his sin, a reminder that this body is not his own and that he's committed atrocities to obtain it. I see this more as him being unable to bear the answer to the inevitable question, "Why are you rotting, Dad?" It's horribly selfish and cowardly of him, but at the same time, it's understandable. Humanity is flawed.

Back in Amestris, Dante needs Gluttony to eat Al to complete the Philosopher's Stone. Apparently Dante designed him to refine red water. However, Gluttony is still BSODing over Lust, so Dante destroys his mind by removing his ouroboros tattoo.

Hohenheim confirms that Dante can't create a Philosopher's Stone on her own.

Hohenheim leaves us with the bright side of Dante's philosophy: you can gain something for nothing too. When a parent loves their child, he says, there need be no cost or reward.

But Ed still clings to equivalent exchange, admitting his only argument is that he doesn't want to believe a sacrifice could go unrewarded. He believes he just has to keep trying.

And then a zeppelin falls on him! He returns through the Gate just in time, but the poor boy he was inhabiting is still certainly dead.

Back in Central, Riza tells Bradley Mustang is after him… why? To get his family out of the way? Bradley goes into the wine cellar to fight Mustang, and the door is alchemically sealed behind him.

Bradley gives basically the same speech as Dante, saying really he's helping people by keeping the Philosopher's Stones from them.

Bradley explicitly says Mustang's fireballs will be less effective in an enclosed space. Thank you!

The Gate takes Wrath's arm and leg, but not the rest of him.

Ah. Ed realizes he used Earth!Ed's life to make the jump.

And now we get confirmation Gluttony killed Marcoh way back then.

Envy has a lot of fun running through forms to taunt Ed.

Alchemy can't be used because the activation of the Philosopher's Stone makes it too reactive. What does "activating" it really mean, though? We haven't seen alchemists need to do anything special to use it before.

Seeing Envy's true form stuns Ed, but… it doesn't look that recognizable? Ed says it looks like Hohenheim, but Hohenheim had a beard, and we just established he was willing to punch his mom's face. I remembered it as him looking like Ed, which would have made more sense. Still, it's a neat reveal. I've heard Brotherhood fans say it's a worse motivation than the one he has in Brotherhood, but, eh, his Brotherhood motivation was clever in theory but felt totally contrived and out of left field. Daddy issues might be cliché, but it's fitting for the more human homunculi, and it makes for a powerful parallel with Ed – further emphasized by them both being his children. I still think it'd have been stronger if we didn't learn it earlier, though.

Also, I do like that Envy violates talking-is-a-free-action to shank Ed while he's distracted.

Dante says Envy was the first homunculus ever created, so I guess Dante and Hohenheim were the first alchemists?

Rose appears to break out of her trance upon seeing Ed die.

Let's update our homunculi list real quick before the last episode:

Greed is wasted.

Lust defects, and is killed out of vengeance for a loved one.

Sloth is paralyzed.

Gluttony refuses to eat, and is made a slave to base desires.

This one is actual irony. He's spent the whole series only caring about eating things, but now, when he's actually ordered to, his human emotions get in the way. He's killed by an absence of gluttony, and becomes the embodiment of gluttony – a slave to base instincts. I find that a lot more clever than "Gluttony is eaten" – that is just so utterly trite and banal, you don't get points for that.

Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 51: "Laws and Promises"

Alphonse breaks free and attempts human transmutation as he sacrifices himself - using what's left of his Philosopher's Stone within him to revive his brother. Envy appears at the Gate of Truth, having failed to stop Alphonse, and encounters Edward's soul. Learning that Hohenheim is still alive on the other side, Envy gleefully decides to head through to kill him against Edward's advice, disappearing into the distance as a green, serpentine dragon. Edward reawakens to see his body fully healed as well as his right arm and left leg are now flesh and blood. However, Alphonse has been taken by the Gate of Truth as a consequence. After having Rosé take an injured Wrath with her and flee to Resembool, Edward attempts human transmutation, offering his own life, allowing Alphonse to return to his body, albeit his memory is recalled up to when the brothers tried to resurrect their mother. Meanwhile, Mustang successfully kills Führer Bradley with the help of his son Selim, who unintentionally weakens his adoptive father by bringing him the remains of the human from which the Führer was originally based. The Führer responsively strangles his son to death out of anger before Mustang takes his advantage. As he takes Selim's body and leaves the mansion, Mustang is confronted by Archer, who apparently shoots him in the left eye. Hawkeye arrives in time to save Mustang's life and kills Archer. Dante escapes into an elevator to find the Führer to help her exact vengeance, only to be devoured by Gluttony, who fails to recognize her. Alphonse is back in Amestris now and Edward is pulled through the Gate of Truth and is currently in Munich. The brothers both resolve to reunite again someday.

Dante snarks that maybe Ed just didn't pay enough to deserve survival – "We always come just a little short of the price."

We actually see Mustang drawing the transmutation circle with his blood. So much cooler than him doing it offscreen!

Al destroys Gluttony's jaw. Gruesome.

Mustang successfully destroys Pride. Since he didn’t use a sealing circle, I’m guessing he really did exhaust all of Pride’s lives. See, that’s acceptable to do once as a climactic cool moment. Notice also that we skipped straight to the end instead of watching him use fireballs for two minutes straight.

Riza saves Mustang by being the only person smart enough to shoot at Archer's human half.

Envy jumps into the Gate in pursuit of Hohenheim, and even manages to shake off the souls trying to eat him. Hardcore.

After the scene with Dante and Gluttony, we see the elevator open to an empty chamber. Creepy.

Ed's lost limbs are restored when he's resurrected, but it costs all of Al's Philosopher's Stone.

Sheska says Amestris is no longer a military dictatorship, but the current wars will still continue. However, they've become more tolerant towards Ishbalans.

Roy has an eyepatch. Just like Bradley! Riza said her outing him and then doubling back was part of the plan, but I'm not sure how or why.

How did Hohenheim get to Germany? The year is 1921, so he somehow survived 7 years even though his body looked to be at its limit.

Ed thinks Einstein's theories are bunk. Heh.

Ed says he planned to offer his life as the price for restoring Al. The fact that he didn't makes him wonder if he got something for nothing.

The ending spiel is a twist on the standard opening spiel: Al recognizes that equivalent exchange is not the law of the world, but he still hopes that hard work will pay off, and that one day they'll be reunited: a promise, not a law.

Conclusion

I think this is a good finale. The cutting around is a bit disorienting – it perhaps might have been better to resolve Mustang's side of things earlier? – but not uncalled for. I like how Mustang is actually challenged and injured in his fight scene instead of just effortlessly coasting his way to victory; he's cool without being overpowered. The final boss fight with Envy is a bit meh, but huge fight scenes were never what I was watching for in the first place (and Mustang vs. Pride kind of has us covered on that front). In terms of how this interacted with and resolved the story's major themes and questions, I think it was excellent. We learn what is behind the Gate, we learn the truth behind alchemy, we get discussion on the theme of equivalent exchange, and the protagonists' driving motive, the restoration of their bodies, is resolved. It's an open-ended finale, but not an unsatisfying one. The villains are defeated, the characters have learned important lessons, and they're going to keep on living.

Mustang's side is probably the weakest part here – Cyborg Archer is really weird and random and seemingly just there to add more tension and battles. His fight with Pride feels a bit truncated since we keep cutting away from it. I'm still not totally clear what his plan was or if it made sense, and it was very dumb of Ed not to tell him how to fight homunculi. I do like that Riza saves him in the end, though.

Ultimately, this is again the rare OG arc that I feel could have been better spread out over more episodes. Getting all the characters into position is rather rushed and relies on a bit of contrivance, and the finale itself feels like it's trying to say more things than it really has time for. But I'm still happy with what we got.

Now, this is more subjective, but I find the dual sacrifices way more emotionally meaningful here. I plan to do an ending comparison post where I will discuss this further, but for now, I think it's very powerful that Al finally has his moment of triumph. He's spent the whole story as a damsel in distress, even getting literally turned into a MacGuffin for this finale, only ever watching helplessly as people make horrific sacrifices for him while he can do nothing to save them. So here and now, he says screw it, for once he has the power and he's going to use it to save the person he loves more than anything in the world. It's so strong that it's an absolute mirror of what Ed did for him, and extremely meaningful that in a series that started with and revolved around the impossibility of resurrection we end with a true one.

But Ed, stupid, stupid Ed, can't be content with what Al gave him and refuses to learn his lesson, so he puts them back where they started. I'm not sure how I feel about that – it makes him into a very stagnant and stubborn character who refuses to learn the narrative's lessons even when they've been so firmly pounded into his skull. The point of Dante's speech, to me, was that you cannot keep throwing good lives after bad – Ed has hurt himself and so many others on this journey, justifying it to himself with sunk cost fallacy. The correct option is to cut his losses and go home, to be happy with what he still has instead of throwing away even more. Even the very fact he planned to kill himself to bring Al back shows he's still ignoring him – Al has said over and over again he doesn't want Ed to do that. Are these brothers doomed to be trapped in an endless spiral of self-sacrifice for the other? But… I gotta say, Al staying dead would have been too much of a downer. They've been through so much that they do deserve a miracle. (There's that stories-as-just-worlds striking again!)

I actually have never seen the movie, so maybe it resolves some of these things! I shall see. But for now, let's complete our list…

Greed is wasted.

Lust defects, and is killed out of vengeance for a loved one.

Sloth is paralyzed.

Gluttony refuses to eat, and is made a slave to base desires.

Envy kills himself out of jealousy.

Pride is killed by his son.

Wrath outlives them all.

An ironic pride death is easy – hoist them by their own petard. This show takes it a step further, and has Pride undone by his namesake. I'm pretty sure it is said somewhere that Selim is his biological child in this continuity, and that the capacity to sire children was one of Pride's human traits. That makes it deeply ironic that the son is the reason he dies.

I never bought Wrath's Brotherhood death as "irony". Wrath being killed by wrath… I don't even know if that's poetic, it just kind of… is. We say those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and for good reason. Wrath dying to wrath isn't unexpected or at all clever. The volatile, self-destructive sin being the only one to live, though? That's irony.

And oh my god you guys Brotherhood!Envy kills himself out of PRIDE not jealousy, he could not have been more explicit about it! Know your sins if you're gonna be smug about what deep symbolism they are!! This one is still a bit of a reach – wrath is a closer fit – but there is a case to be made that he is doing this out of a desire for the connection and satisfaction that other children have yet was denied to him.

Lastly, I think you could make a case that Dante embodies all the sins and is undone by all of them simultaneously. She believes herself above humanity, yet she is easily frustrated, slothful in her attitude towards the homunculi, envious of others' bodies, and greedy, lustful, and gluttonous for life and power. Wiping Gluttony is an act of impatience, frustration, greed, and arrogance in the assumption she could still control him.

Even aside from that, though, this is such a fitting end for her. She's spent her whole life plotting in the shadows, never allowing herself into a position of personal harm, and just as she tries to slink away to do it again she's undone by her own tangled web. Work behind the scenes, die behind the scenes.

[hailpiratekingrouge]

Headcanon: BroOTP

When you're tired and your dash is full of your favourite boys, what do you do? Your mind makes headcanons of course and now I have a new BROOTP.

Characters: Portgas D Ace (One Piece) x Jason Todd (DCU/ Red Hood and the Outlaws) - Platonic/brotherly

NOTE: FOOSHA is a district of Gotham. Ace still lived with the Bandits. These are headcanon and will be edited later

• Give me a crossover where Ace would go into the backwaters of Gotham and ask "What if Gold Roger had a son?" And beating the crap out of everyone there.

• Imagine Ace running into Jason Todd, both of these boys are somehow in a in in your face kind of argument but got dragged into a fight with a gang and begrudgingly form a tag team to beat them up

• Imagine Jason and Ace becoming best pals after a few run ins with each other and after a while it was for fun and not for safety.

• Ace was Jason's confidant and the first person who Ace opened up to and vice versa.

• These were two angry boys the World had turned their back on. Two boys whom not even the streets wanted and tried to kill them from her relentless cold, plagues and malnutrition.

• These were two boys whom the World had dubbed as sons of no good crooks. Yes one was the son of the most evil man in the world, The Pirate King while the other was the son of a lowly crook but that didn't make it any less painful for Jason.

• These two angry boys got together and fought not only in the backstreets of Gotham but also in the Grey Terminal too as they stole and collected wealth for their ship to freedom.

• Jason met Sabo and Luffy, just like Ace he was sceptical of Luffy too bit welcomed him when he po9ved his loyalty

• But unlike Ace and Sabo, Jason wasn't ready to kill Luffy and had stepped in two save him against Porchemy and Bluejam because Jason couldn't bring it in his heart to hurt children.

• This time Jason made a pack with Ace, Sabo and Luffy for brotherhood.

• Now imagine Sabo dying and Jason getting taken in by Bruce. Can you imagine just how pissed Ace would be at Jason for getting adopted that it would result in a fight? That how dare Jason leave him after Sabo was killed.

• Ace would blame himself actually. Of course Jason would leave the son of a demon for a billionaire who would give him everything Jason ever desired but Jaybird wouldn't have any of that bullshit because "God damn it Ace! We're brothers! Why the hell would you even think that?!"

• The fight that would ensue between them, they would tear each other apart and both of them would lie panting and bleeding, until tears slowly slip and they're sobbing in each other's arms

• When Jason becomes Robin, Ace knows. Don't ask Ace how but he knows and despite their insane fight these two get together once a month to have a guys night.

• Now Imagine Jason being murdered by the Joker and just how utterly broken Ace and Luffy would be. They would be crushed. They had lost two brothers over the span of 5 years. Two.

• Ace would be absolutely livid at Batman/Bruce and he probably attacked Bruce too for letting Jason die because "where we're you Batman? Where were you when Jason needed you? Where were you when that clown beat the hell put of my brother and killed him huh?! You're no hero! Youre a coward!"

• Now imagine Ace dying at Marineford thinking he'll see his brothers again, unaware that they're both alive...

• Because Imagine Jason being revived by the Lazarus Pit and trained by Thalia picking up a newspaper and learning his brother died. Imagine the utter anguish coursing through him when his knees buck and hit the ground when he realises his brother was killed by the World Government and the Marines.

• So when the Red Hood first made his debut, the explosion at a newly rebuilt Marineford there was a battle cry "This is for Ace!"

• Or better yet

• When the Magma Fist is flying towards Ace, a gloved Hand shoves Ace and Luffy out of the way while his other hand fires sea prism bullets into Admirals Chest "Not today motherfucker. My bros and I have plans and you're not ruining it"

[madd-devil]

The Dimensions War

Chapter 3: Moments After

Author Note: Another part, yay!

“I don’t fucking care if you hurt people on the way but I order you all to search for your king, now!” Naomie roared in the throne room, still in her wedding dress, stained with a bit of her blood. “I don’t care if you’re hurt, sleepily, hungry, thirsty, you need to find him!”

The demons in the room bowed before running in different directions. Michael stood in front of her. “I will take the ship my queen and search in their galaxy.” He said to her. “She didn’t say where exactly she sent him.” “Yes, I trust you Michael. Go find him.” She replied in a tired voice. Once everybody were out of the throne room, she let herself sink on her throne, tears started to pour from her eyes. Angela entered, a frown on her face. She walked toward her soul sister and hugged her tightly. “Why does it always happen to me?” The devil asked, sobbing. “Why can’t I be happy? Why can’t we be happy?” “I don’t know, sister, but I promise you we will find him and beat Evrelata. She needs to be stopped.” The angel said. “The deities told me that she already has attacked some dimensions and worlds. They sent their armies, as well as their sons and daughters but I fear we had to form our own army to beat her.” She explained. “Why do you mean?” “I mean that we have to search soldiers and allies.” She smiled, cupping her sister’s cheeks. “You need to go and travel through the dimensions to find them.” “I don’t want to!” Naomie screamed. “I need to find Felix first!” “You seem to forget that he is a god and that he can’t die! He knows how to survive on his own, he’s strong. You shouldn’t worry about him.” Angela soothed. The younger girl grimaced before nodding, reluctantly. She stood up and Angela watched as she disappeared in a corridor. The woman then sighed and decided it was better to leave and she had to tell them that their first part of their plan had succeeded.

 Angela went out from the castle and flew until she reached a mountain. She waited for a few minutes before Ares and Athena appeared, in their golden armours. Athena looked rather sad but determined, just like Ares, but the muscular man looked also very excited. “So?” the god asked. “She agreed. I think she is going to leave tonight but I don’t know if she will take the Horsemen and her army with her.” Angela resumed. “Perfect.” Athena said. “We must be careful with her and with our way of speaking. We don’t want her to turn fully wicked.” “What do you mean?” The angel questioned. “What are you talking about, Athena?” “Listen, Angela, we can not tell you anything about that, not now anyway.” Ares added. “We have a war to organise and enemies to fight and conquer!” He boomed, his axe in the air. Athena smiled, seeing her old friend, brother and rival in a such mood. But she clearly knew that what she had slipped while talking to the soul sister of the devil had made her curious. “Angela, you must return to Heaven Land, to prepare yourself to defend a world.” The goddess of war and wisdom said. The angel stretched her white and light pink wings then flew like a rocket in the sky.

 The Horsemen looked as their leader was preparing her bag for her trip. She was wearing a black and silver armour with dragons and skulls on it as well as other old symbols. She tied her hair in a ponytail and the four friends could see that she had cried before they had joined her in their bedroom. “So, do you want us to come with you?” Ethan asked gently. “No.” “Okay… Then, do we have your authorisation to rule Hells while you are away?” “Yes, you guys got it. I will take the astral phone to contact you if I need help or if you guys have a problem.” She mumbled in a whisper. “Of course, my queen.” Pablo replied, while bowing, just like the three others. She watched as they all put a knee on the floor and once again she broke up. She started to sob, shaking so hard that she fell on the parquet. She was soon hugged by her friends and a hell hound who jumped from the shadows when he heard his owner’s cry. The dog whined until he could put his head on the girl’s thigh. “I’m fine, I’m fine…” She repeated. She just had lost the person she loved the most, thanks to a pink lover woman who hated the Assembly and who is jealous of them because of their powers. She wiped her eyes before blowing her nose with a handkerchief that Tom gave her. He also told her that she could keep it and gave her a small pocket box of tissues that she could put in her pack bag. “I don’t know how much time I will be out there, I will try to call once a week.” “You will be okay?” Sonny asked. “I’m the goddess of death, destruction, revenge, chaos and destruction, ruler of Hells, wife of a god and protector of the Assassin’s brotherhood. I fought in many wars and won them all, crushed and killed my enemies. Of course I’ll be fine.” She stated with a dark resolute look.

  Felix woke up, gasping for air. He was still in his wedding suit, his weapons were near him and he was in a forest, near a strange and familiar well. The tall boy stood up, looking around, realising that he was back in his dimension, in his world, in the exact place he had died some time ago. He shook his head, trying to erase this horrible memory he had of his lover best friend, taking his heart out and crushing it in the well. Felix was still bitter about that and was glad that he didn’t had to face Pan once he was in Hells. The boy sighed, trying to remember which path leaded to the small town of the Maine, where he was imprisoned and killed. His weapons disappeared in a puff of grey light and he straighten his sleeves before stepping in the woods.

 He arrived to a road minutes later and he simply decided to follow it. He wondered if Hook or Rumpelstiltskin will recognize him. Or if the prince of so charming will to. And what about Henry, the boy Pan wanted the heart from? The one who was supposed to help Pan? Felix rolled his eyes. Help. What a way to say it. The truth was Pan fooled everyone, including his own lost boys and his right hand man. But Felix wasn’t going to mourn his relationship or even the person, he was happier now. No more training to death, no more crazy plans. No more Pan. Sure, he missed Neverland and his friends but in Hells, it was better. He had a comfy castle, a kingdom he shared with the most amazing and stunning girl he had ever met. He smiled, thinking of her, wondering if he will see her again. He still hadn’t mastered how to create a portal, he had tried many times and few were a success.

 Suddenly, he heard chirps. He turned his head to the right and saw a little bird, a blackbird, probably injured, on the side of the road. Felix trotted toward it and took it carefully in his hands. The bird started to chirp harder, trying to fly, but his left wing seemed broken. “I’m a friend, I will not hurt you.” Felix softly said. The bird stopped making noise and looked at this giant human. Usually he didn’t understand them but him, he could. “I can hear you talk, I’m the god of nature and protector of animals.” This human was clearly different from the others. He put his hand on his wounded wing and a grey light started to emanate from his hand! The blackbird started to feel warm and fuzzy. Then, in a blink of a eye, his wing was healed! He looked once again at the human, who held his hand high, as if he wanted him to fly away. But the small animal had other plans… Instead of doing what any bird would, he flew around the boy and put himself on his shoulder. “Oh, so you want to stay with me?” The blackbird nodded to agree. The human sighed. “Okay then, let’s go.” And they walked and walked until they reach a town with busy people and cars rolling on the road. Felix recognised the tall and red tower with the clock. He went on the sidewalk and of course, he could hear people talking about him, this weird teenager in a wedding suit with a bird on his shoulder. But nobody seemed to remember him yet. He wondered where the heroes could be at. He snickered. Heroes. He did more noble things than them these last years. The bird told him that he knew a nice and pretty lady with short black hair who taught the children in a school and that he knew where she lived. Felix thanked him before asking him to lead him to her. The bird happily chirped before flapping in the air and leading the boy to the house or rather flat of Snow White.

 The teenager didn’t know how they were going to react. They will probably attack before asking questions and he didn’t want to fight. He was tired, sad and started to be hungry and he had to explain why he was here and why he was alive and he wasn’t in the mood to do it but he knew he was going to be forced. He arrived in front of the door and he could hear them chatting and laughing. He sighed again and told the bird that he could be back on his shoulder. He knocked on the door and then, everything was silent. The door opened, revealing Charming, who looked quite shocked seeing him. So, he remembered him. “Hello, before you decide to scream at your friends and you all start to fight me, can I come in, sat and relate what happened to me after Pan killed me and used my heart for his spell?” He asked, the bird looking at both of them. Charming stared at him for a few seconds, before opening the door widely and he tilted his head to indicate that the former lost boy was invited to enter. The latter smiled and nodded in his direction. When he stepped inside, he could feel the stares of the family of heroes on him and he stared back. Henry grew up, Hook looked surprised, the Evil Queen seemed to want to destroy him with her look, Snow White and Emma were quiet. “Fe… Felix?” Hook asked, eyes wide. “Yeah, that’s me. Seems like you didn’t forget me.” “What are we waiting for?!” Regina screamed, a fireball appearing in her hands. “We need to kill him now! He’s going to hurt Henry!” “I don’t think he is here for that, Regina.” Prince Charming intervened. “But if he’s here and alive, that means Pan is too!” Snow said. “Wait Pan is dead?” Felix asked, surprised. “He didn’t success? So my heart was useless?” “Sorry, but yes that’s true. Rumpelstiltskin killed him.” Emma replied, bitterly. “Why are you dressing like you’re marrying someone?” Hook finally questioned. Felix turned to him. “Oh, I married someone but let’s say we had an uninvited guest and she kinda sent me back here, which is against the rules of the Assembly and of Hells but she doesn’t really cares about that, I guess.” Felix told them. Snow White looked at him with a compassionate look and stood up, letting him her seat. She walked up to him and smiled at the boy. “I believe you said you wanted to explain why you were here?” “So, you want me to start from the beginning?” Felix asked, while sitting on the chair. The bird went on the table, looking around curiously. “Yeah, actually, that would be nice.” Regina said, crossing her arms. “It’s a crazy story.” Felix mumbled. “When I “died”, I went to Hells, a place where all souls come when they leave their bodies. And I was given a salvation, the opportunity to live again but as a demon. So I accepted and became a demon. I worked for the Devil, went on a missions with her, fell in love, ending up being a god, discovered by godly powers and a bunch of insane things happened to us… Fighting to save the dimensions, having to save the Assembly, working with the brotherhood… And then, we decided to marry and I became “officially” a god, part of the Assembly, and this woman, Evrelata…” He spat the woman’s name with such hate. “She just came in, destroyed everything me and my wife built before sending me there…” “Wait, wait, wait you are a god?!” Hook screamed. “Yeah.” Felix replied, the blackbird chirping happily when he caressed his feathers. “God of nature, protector of the animals and the lost, king of Hells and god of the Assembly.” “So this woman, Evrelata… She sent you back here… But why?” Emma asked him. “I don’t know. But Zeus told us that she was jealous of their powers and that she was imprisoned for a long time on a planet. I don’t know more, sorry.” Hook let appear a small smile while hearing the name of the Greek god of thunder. 

Charming looked at Felix, hoping that they could help the poor boy to regain his home and to be reunited with his wife. He knew what the teenager was feeling and experiencing. He knew that too well.   “It’s okay.” Snow White said, putting her hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. “I guess you could stay here with us, until we find a way to send you back to where you live.” “What?! You want this little murderer to stay with us?” Regina cried, walking swiftly toward the table. “Snow, he tried to kill Henry! He tried to kill us all!” “He actually didn’t tried to do or didn’t attend to do so.” The other boy declared, facing his adoptive mother. “He was doing what he thought was right. And I don’t think he knew Pan was going to murder him.” Felix glanced at Henry, astonished by his intervention. Emma stood up. “Well it’s settled. Felix is going to stay with us, I will prepare the guest room.” The blonde haired woman climbed the stairs, Hook going with her. Regina groaned and went in the kitchen. Snow White and Charming quickly followed her, most likely to have a discussion with her, probably about him.

 Henry observed the bird, who was cooing. “What’s his name?” He asked. The blackbird peeped. “Quickblack.” Felix answered, eye brow raised. “That is a strange name, my friend but it fits you well.” “You can talk to birds?!” Henry exclaimed, eyes full of stars. “Yeah and to the other animals too. What can you expect from the god of animals?” “It’s cool!” The room fell silent. Felix sighed and turned to look at Henry. “I’m sorry.” He said to the boy. Henry’s brows furrowed. “For what?” The other one asked. “For trying to murder you, when I was serving Pan.” “You didn’t tried to kill me. You were just following Pan’s orders.” “I was a fool for not questioning myself… To not rebel against him.” “Were you afraid of him?” Henry questioned. “No… Well, I guess I kinda was but I was more grateful that he took me away from my home and gave me a life.” Felix said, looking at the bird and stroking him. “And love I needed at that time…” He whispered. Henry observed the former lost boy for a while before asking, discreetly: “Did you love him?” Felix nodded hurriedly, scarred that Henry might be deranged by his previous relationship. But the boy was looking at him, with a compassionate look. “I’m sorry for what he did to you… You didn’t deserved this.” He murmured. “Oh don’t be. I met new friends, I’m a god and a king and I’m the husband of a goddess!” He smirked. “And I’m more than ready to beat Evrelata and to come back home. To come back to her.”

[zacklover24]

Fallout OCs master list

@ahzrukahl

‘I‘ve already lost my father, my mother, my home I'm not going to lose you or anyone again!’

Name: Roy

Gender: Male

Age: 29

Height: 5’6

Body type: Athletic

Hair: onyx black hair done in a layer undercut.

Eyes: Thin Almond Blue eyes

Clothes: Vault 101 suit and leather armour

Weapons: Lever action shotgun, laser pistol, baseball bat

Face Claim: Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Father: James(Dead)

Mother: Catherine( Dead)

Husband: Charon

Skills: Sewing, cooking, medical knowledge, shooting, and lock picking.

S: 4

P:4

E:4

C:5

I:10

A:4

L:3

Skills: Barter,  medicine, repair, speech and science

Bio: Roy was born in vault 101 twenty-nine years agos. Roy grew in the safety and the peace of the his vault, where he expected to die. At sixteen Roy, GOAT told him, he was set to be the next doctor of the vault, and Roy was happy with that. But then Roy’s father James feld the vault, and Roy went after him. Roy would be lying if didn’t struggle or was afraid when he first stepped out of the vault. But with a hell of lot of luck and hell lot of help Roy made it. Along the way Roy made friends, and enemies and found a lover in his ghoul bodyguard Charon.

Charon and Roy carved a bloody path in there quest to save James and to defeat the enclave. After Roy killed Colonel Autumn, Roy entered project purity and brought clean water to Capital. But not without losing part of himself.

Ten years later, Roy has helped to make Capital better than it was. Roy with the help of the ghouls in the underworld and the BOS has helped to create thriving area of trade, technology, and settlements. But Elder Maxson sights have turned to Commonwealth and now he wants Roy and Charon to come with him.

***************************************************************************

‘The house may always win but this time I won and he died.’

Name: Vic short for Victorian

Gender: Female

Age: 30

Job: former Courier for the Mojave Express, is the head of the New Vegas Strip

Height: 5’9

Body type: Athletic

Hair: bright red, done in a fishtail

Eyes: Round green eyes

Clothes: Ncr ranger armour

Weapons: Lever action shotgun, plasma rifle, and combat knife

Face Claim: Julianne Moore

Father: ?

Mother: ?

Husband: Benny

Son: Benny jr

Skills: Sewing,  shooting, and lock picking.

S: 4

P: 6

E:5

C:5

I: 7

A:4

L:10

Skills: Energy weapons, barter, lockpick, and melees weapons

Bio: Vic was born somewhere up past new reno. She doesn't talk much about her past or she can recall from past. She got work the Mojave express running packages for them. One day she was sent to deliver a package from mr. House when she was ambushed by Benny and his gang and shot twice in the head and left in the shallow grave in goodsprings. Thankful Victor and the good doctor fixed her up.

With a lot of luck and some skills she was able to kill house, get the chip, kill Caesar, give the khans peace, make the strip and freeside one, defeat the legion at the dam and become the ruler and mary Benny and now they have a son. Vic has survive big mountain has found and survived the Sierra Madre, came and went to the divide and is friends with the burned man.

***************************************************************************

‘ I'm not as innocent or has prue as people may think I am.’

Name: Angel Gray

Gender: Female

Age: 219

Height: 5’3

Body type: Athletic

Hair: Pastel blue, done in Dutch braid

Eyes: Thin almond blue

Clothes: vault 111 suit, a plaid shirt, jeans, her uncles old army jacket, army hamlet later the silver shroud hat

Weapons:  10mm pistol, righteous authority, and baseball bat with nails

Face Claim: Sophie Cookson

Father:  The admiral

Mother:  Lucy Lyons

Uncle: Staff- sergeant Ken Gray

Brothers: Charon and Shaun

Pets: red wolf Dog named hades

Boyfriend: Elder Maxson

Skills: Shooting, boxing, lock picking

S: 3

P: 6

E:5

C:5

I: 6

A:7

L: 8

Bio: Angel was born prewar in Boston, she lived in sanctuary hills with her uncle and Charon. Her father was busy working at the sub base in Bar Harbour and her mother waa big time lawyer in DC. Angel was anything but good girl she got into trouble a lot from starting fights at school to defacing public property. If it wasn't for her uncle and a detective named Nick Valentine she would have been in more trouble. Nick gave angel a job at the station he worked at, along with being an ear for her talk to and it helped angel.

The day the bombs dropped angel, her uncle and Shaun were heading to bar harbour for the admiral ball but then the sirens went off and they booked it to the vault. Angel watched in horror as kellogg killed her uncle and took Shaun. Now she is on the hunt with her dog hades, Danse, a synth named nick she hopping to get to the bottom of this mess.

There is a part of Maxson that stills loves and misses Sarah Lyons. He never got over her death, he's tried but no one could really fill the gape in his heart. Now Angel comes along, native and fresh from vault 111, they by chance and maybe Arthur thinks he found someone to help him. But here's the thing angel doesn't get it. Arthur could have any women be wants so why here? Because she looks like Sarah.

****************************************************************************

‘ I am only afraid of two things deathclaws and ranger knight and fuck the brotherhood of steel.’

Name: Ranger Lupus

Age: 24

Height: 5’6

Gender: Female

Hair: sun bleached blonde  and the sides had been shaved off leaving the top alone. The back of her hair was tied into a small ponytail.

Eyes: Round steel grey

Face claim: scarlett johansson

Scars:   The three scars which looked like cawl marks ran from the top left corner of her forehead, across her nose and ended at the bottom right corner of her mouth, missing left arm from the elbow down

Tattoos: on left shoulder down to elbow deathclaw hand, back from next her neck starts to where her jeans starts is a pattern of black diamonds followed by white dots, right shoulder to elbow a ghost of she.

Pre-war Prosthetic left arm

Body type: lean with muscle and heavily tanned

Gear: Ncr ranger combat armour, colt 45, anti material rifle from, cosmic knife

Animal's: night stalker named venom, Appaloosa horse named mustang

Goal: broker a peace between the rangers and bos of the east even if it means wooing elder Maxson

Skills: Sewing, medical know how, tracking, hunting, barter, speech, and repair

Bio: Luna was born in the capital wasteland. Her mother and father were both paladins. They were both killed by super mutants when she was very young. After there death elder lyons took luna under his wing. She trained hard and strong to become a field scribe and was close to Arthur Maxson.

But then one day while she and Maxson were on patrol a deathclaw attacked and luna lost her left arm. Lyons had the scribes find her a pre-war prosthetic arm. But the damage was done and luna no longer trusted Maxson.

Some time later the elders of the east coast chapter hated how much there soon to be leader cared about luna. Luna was nothing more than a scribe and he was going to be an elder. They plotted, and knew that even those luna lost her trust in Maxson she still loves him. To make sure they didn't became something the elders sent her to the Mojave, seeing as she being tossed aside luna left faking her death.

The leader of the rangers listened to luna story and saw she had what it would take to be a ranger. She passed the training and gained a new arm and was given a mentor in ranger knight. Luna has survived zion, survived the Seria Medrea and a hero the dam.

Awards and accommodations: field scribe for the brotherhood of steel, veteran of the battle for hoover dam, veteran of the helios one battle, savior of zion, helper of waking cloud, personal friend of Joshua Graham aka the burned man, savior of New Canaan, tammer of the night stalker, killer of the salver centurion dead eye, champion of the throne, killer of salt-upon-wounds, and liberator of the dead eye slaves

[atombombbagel]

Companions First Kiss With SS

This is a long one. Also, sorry if it’s a bit shit. 

Cait: “Are you alright, Cait?” Sole’s face was etched with concern as they helped a distraught Cait out of the chair. The trek to Vault 95 had been a dangerous one, the place having been guarded by two assaultrons and a couple dozen well-armed gunners.

“I’m okay. I feel really strange, everything feels different, everything feels clearer,” Cait looked around the room as she spoke, almost like she was seeing everything in a new light, “Nothing is like I remember,”

Sole let out a breath they hadn’t realised they’d been holding in. They were just glad that Cait was alright, seeing them in that chair, in pain, it had scared them.

“I’m glad you’re alright, I was worried about you,” Cait squinted her eyes as she studied Sole, everything about them, something was different, she was feeling something she hadn’t felt before and she didn’t know if it was because the chems clouded her feelings before or if it was there all along.

“Can I try somethin’?” Cait asked and Sole tilted their head before nodding slowly. Cait reached up and planted a kiss on Sole’s mouth, running her tongue along their lower lip as they kissed them. Sole’s arms wrapped around Cait’s waist, squeezing her gently as they pulled her into their body. Right now, Cait didn’t know if it was lust or just the fact that they’d saved her life but she sure as hell wanted to find out.

Curie: “Stay still, if you keep moving I won’t be able to patch you up,” Curie instructed as Sole shifted around on the bed. Sole had been stabbed during a raider attack at a settlement and Curie was the only one with enough medical knowledge to stitch them up.

“It hurts,” Sole squealed and Curie shook her head, proceeding to clean the wound, luckily for Sole it wasn’t anything serious and they only needed a few stitches. Curie injected a stimpak into Sole’s side as she finished.

“See it wasn’t too hard was it, you’ll be up and ready to go in no time,” Curie smiled, that sweet innocent smile that Sole loved so much. Everyone who thought Sole was this pure and innocent creature hadn’t set their eyes on Curie, so new to the human world.

“Thank you,” Sole smiled, leaning up and pecking Curie’s mouth. Curie’s eyes went wide, and a light blush stained her cheeks, “Sorry… I,”

“No, no it’s okay. I’ve actually wanted to do that for a while,” Curie turned her head away, but Sole cupped their cheek with their hand, turning her to face them. Sole guided Curie back down into them, pulling her into a gentle kiss.

Danse: “You need to stop treating them like that, they were once people too, they still have feelings,” Sole snapped, shaking her head as they listened to Danse, insult yet another poor ghoul. They regretted bringing him along to the Slog, where they were helping with the super mutant problem. Sole was getting pretty tired of Danse’s medieval views.

“I don’t see how you could defend them, they are abominations, they don’t belong in this world,” Danse watched as Sole rolled their eyes, their hand firmly planted on their hip.

“You’re wrong about them, I support the brotherhood but some of your views are ridiculously out of date,” Sole blasted the head off of another super mutant, stepping over their body as they proceeded through their camp. Danse couldn’t believe his ears, how could they possibly side with the ghouls, they were disgusting in his eyes.

“That isn’t how you should talk to your superior, knight,” If that’s how he wanted it. Sole balled their fists, ready and willing to cuss Danse out.

“My superior? You’re an ass-” Danse cut Sole off mid-sentence, crashing his mouth to theirs as his hands gripped tightly at their waist. Sole’s hands flew up, curling them into Danse’s hair as they moaned into his mouth.

“DIE HUMAN!” Danse snapped away from Sole, pushing them behind him as he fired at the Super mutant, beams of red light, slicing through its skull.

“We should get moving,” Danse nodded, moving on through the building, leaving a flustered Sole wondering ‘what the fuck just happened.’

Deacon: “I’m everything wrong with this whole fucking Commonwealth,” Deacon may have had his shades to hide his face, but Sole could see right through him. They shook their head as he spoke, not believing a word he said about himself. The Deacon they knew may be a liar, but he is a pure soul, who’d help anyone if they asked for it and yet, he couldn’t see it.

“See, I find that very hard to believe, after all you’ve done, I know you’re a good person. I’ll always be here for you,” Something inside Deacon urged him to do something he didn’t usually do. He reached up, taking off his sunglasses and put them in his shirt pocket, he wanted to look at Sole when he did what he was about to do. Sole smiled and that’s all it took.

Deacon tenderly ran his fingers down the side of Sole’s face, cupping their cheek as they brought them into him, kissing them as he fingers entangled into Sole’s hair. He was letting his guard down and he hoped, he really hoped he wasn’t getting the wrong idea from Sole. He broke apart from Sole only to be pulled back in, Sole hungrily kissing him, like they’d go hungry without him. Sole pulled away to catch their breath.

“Well, I’m not really the hugging type,” Deacon blushed, looking down.

“Shut up,” Sole joked wrapping their arms around Deacon as they dragged him into a hug.

Hancock: Sole sighed in relief as they hit the perfect head shot on that bastard Sinjin. His brains may have splattered the wall and poor Kent’s face, but he was alive and right now that is all that mattered.

“Let’s get you out of here,” Sole untied Kent, pulling him to his feet as he thanked Sole for saving him, he hadn’t realised how dangerous the life of the Silver Shroud truly was, but he was thankful when all was said and done.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Sole cocked an eyebrow as their eyes met Hancock’s charcoal ones. He had that look in his eye, that look that could melt even the coldest persons heart. Without warning Hancock crashed his mouth to Sole’s, pulling them into him as he deepened the kiss. Sole sighed into his mouth as they closed their eyes, kissing Hancock back. Hancock broke the kiss, breathing heavily as he winked at Sole.

“It’s a good thing you did for Kent, you’re so good and honest… I’m sorry if I presumed-”

“It’s about time you kissed me Mr Mayor,” Sole said, dragging their lower lip in between their teeth and Hancock almost growled at the sight.

“Yea? And I’m about to do it again…”

MacCready: He’d done it. He’d found the cure for his son, with the help of Sole of course and for that he would forever be grateful. He dragged Sole into the Third Rail, he wanted to celebrate their success, Sole laughed as they pulled them along, ordering them both a drink and paying Charlie up front. Something he never does. He sat down on the Sofa in the back room, Sole sitting next to him as they downed their beverages.

“Thank you. I really couldn’t have done this without your help, I owe you big time,” MacCready smiled at Sole and they returned the gesture.

“You owe me nothing. I would’ve done it either way and I’d do it again,” Sole tilted their head back, grimacing at the strong drink as they drank it. MacCready watched as Sole put their glass on the table and for once he decided to be brave, because if he didn’t, he knew he’d regret it.

He waited for Sole to turn to face him before he took her hand in his, his eyes flickering from Sole’s eyes to their lips. It was now or never MacCready told himself as his heart pounded in his chest. He pulled Sole into him suddenly and before Sole could react, MacCready crashed his mouth to theirs, burying his hand in Sole’s hair. Sole melted into him, their hands, almost instinctively making their way to MacCready’s neck, pulling him closer.

MacCready pulled away breathless, resting his forehead on Sole’s and as he looked in to their eyes he knew one thing for sure. His life couldn’t get any better than this.

Nick: “You bastard, I hope you never find peace,” Sole said in disgust as they finally took down the man who’d stolen everything from them.

Nick took Sole’s hand in his own, giving it a squeeze as they both looked down at Kellogg’s dead body. There wasn’t a man who deserved his fate more than he did himself. Sole looked up at Nick, resting their head on his shoulder. Sole took their own fate in their hands, leaning up and pressing their mouth to Nick’s, their hand cupping his face. He didn’t kiss back right away but after his ol noggin processed what was happening he did. he hadn’t realised how much he wanted this until now, so he kissed back with everything he had in him. He pulled away.

“Come on, you don’t want to be stuck with an old bot like me,” Nick looked down, but Sole made him face them, their eyes locking.

“Kellogg took my husband, and my son, but he’ll never take away this, never.”

Piper: Sole wasn’t sure how they and Piper fit in the tiny gap between the two buildings, but they didn’t have a choice seeing as they were being hunted down by a couple of Gen 2 synths accompanied by a courser.

“We should just go out there and kill them,” Sole whispered, rather loudly, causing Piper to roll her eyes.

“Yeah, sure, if you have a death wish,” Sole couldn’t help but focus on Piper’s chest, pressed firmly up against their own and when they tried to push the thought away it came right back to mind. Their faces were inches apart and Sole could smell the Nuka Cola on Piper’s breath that she’d drank only minutes before being chased down this alley.

“Maybe I do have a death wish,”

“Shut up Sole,”

“Gladly,” Sole kissed Piper, causing her back and her head to be pressed firmly against the wall, making it hard for her to move. Piper melted into the kiss, trying to push Sole back but failing, causing her to groan into Sole’s mouth. She may have groaned a little too loudly.

“Is someone present?” Sole pulled away, turning to look at the entrance of the alley, only to be met by a Gen 2 Synth, standing next to a courser.

“Shit,” Sole cursed, grabbing Piper’s hand and pushing past the synth, running as fast as they could away from them. They’d just have to continue the kiss later on.

Preston: “Come on! It’s weak, aim for its head!” Sole shouted as the Mirelirk Queen roared, moving quickly towards them, Preston and a group of Minutemen that had agreed to meet at the Castle. Taking it the Castle back had proved a lot harder than Sole had originally thought, a dozen mirelirks, their hatching’s everywhere and a surprise attack from their Queen, was a very difficult battle.

With a loud thud the Queen crashed to the ground, the earth around them shaking as it took its last breath. Sole laughed as the Minutemen cheered, looking at Preston, standing next to them, who was already looking their way. Sole bit their lip and in the moment, they grabbed Preston’s jacket pulling him in and pressing their mouth to his. His hands immediately made their way to Sole’s waist, his fingers digging at it slightly until Sole pulled away.

“We did it,” Sole said into Preston’s mouth, making him smile. He pulled Sole back into him, wrapping his arms around them as he hugged them closely, kissing them back.

“We did it,” he said into their mouth before passionately kissing Sole again.

Thank you Airagne for the ask!