#And then of course this bleeds into things like performative activism

[sege-h]

The kids are not only not alright but theyre just downright stupid rn

[hsslilly-blog]

when she’s 13 claire gets an injury from going on pointe too early (at 9) and that’s when her father tells her mother claire is not doing ballet anymore

[amfstargirl]

Yandere batfam x neglected reader

The cut that always bleed✧.* - what was i made for?

Disclaimer: English is not my first language so I apologize for any grammatical errors that this story may have.

Y/n L/n was a far cry from Y/n Wayne. Despite both last names, each carrying the weight of a turbulent history, "L/n" felt surprisingly lighter. Both names reminded you of the haunting shadows cast by your mother and father, yet they bore different emotional tolls. As you stood before the mirror, a somber reflection gazing back, you pondered on the 13 years—a whole decade and three more—that seemed squandered on people who couldn't hold your gaze for more than fleeting moments.

Of course, the toll it took on your emotional health was immense, but there was nothing you could do about it. You knew that no matter what you did, you could never capture their attention, not even for a moment. By the age of six, you took up martial arts, hoping your family would be proud of you for sharing their passion. But all you received was a pat on the shoulder from Dick when you won a gold medal.

At ten, you delved into video games, hoping to bond with Tim. You spent four days learning all the rules and knowledge about the game, and two whole weeks mastering it. But when you finally mustered the courage to ask Tim to play with you, he stared at you with bored eyes, barely registering your presence. After twelve minutes of rambling about the game, he sighed, pinched his eyes, and said, "I can't. I'm busy, okay?" before leaving your small room. The video game stayed in a box, forgotten and dirty, for thirteen years, a testament to the same treatment you received over and over.

You took every opportunity, every chance to learn something they were talented in, hoping to catch a glimpse of love in their eyes. But all you got were bored, empty stares. Every hobby you had was dedicated to them, except for one: ballet. The art of dancing, with its sharp and strict moves, dancing on your tiptoes, chin up, and a graceful smile on your face. Nothing could take this away from you, not even Cassandra, who was the apple of her family's eyes as she danced on stage. You loved dancing; it filled your heart with joy and bliss. You believed this was the one thing they could never take from you. That's what you thought.

Ballet demanded strict poise and discipline, watching every bite you took and every drink you swallowed. Your mother was a beautiful woman, enchanting enough to enthrall your father. Her eyes could charm thousands of men and bend their morals to her desire. She was like a siren, captivating men with her ethereal beauty. Your father was no different, dazzling people with his money, perfect white teeth, and undeniable allure. He made heads turn and people giggle at his mere presence. So why did you feel as if you were nothing like them? Created by a goddess and a god, yet you turned out to be so unsightly that your mother sneered and threw you out of her arms, forcing you into the embrace of an unknown man.

You panted lightly, staring at your features in the mirror. Why? Why? Why? Why are you like this? Why can't you feel beautiful? Why can't you be beautiful? Why can't you be a sight for sore eyes like the men and women around you? Their features blended so well with their faces, but you? You felt like a pig with makeup on. You saw beauty in everyone but never in yourself.

Your performance is in about a few more days and you haven't eaten anything healthy for the past 3 days, you're starved, you're pressured, and your family hasn't even answered your text in which you, inviting them to please come watch your performance. Dragging your body to walk home, Alfred unfortunately can't drive you home as he is too busy with work (helping your family with their nightly activities) you hiss as the cold wind blew against your fresh scars-the result of you scratching your face with your nails due to resentment for yourself because of the question in the back of your mind: “why can't you just be good enough?”

The harsh glare of your ballet dance teacher only added more pressure, intensifying the burden on your weak shoulders. You carried the lingering thought that your family didn't care about you and the nagging feeling that you would never be good enough for them. The performance was just a few days away, and you hadn't eaten anything healthy for the past three days. You were starved, pressured, and desperately longing for your family's support. Yet, your texts inviting them to watch your performance went unanswered.

Dragging your exhausted body home, you felt a deep sense of despair. Alfred, who usually drove you home, was too busy with work, assisting your family with their nightly activities. As you walked, the cold wind bit into your fresh scars, the result of scratching your face with your nails out of self-loathing. The question haunted you: "Why can't you just be good enough?"

Your footsteps echoed in the empty streets, each step a reminder of your solitude. The streetlights cast long shadows, mirroring the darkness that seemed to envelop your soul. You could hear the distant laughter of families and friends enjoying their evenings, a stark contrast to the silence that filled your life.

But even though you're killing me

Arriving home, you unlocked the door with trembling hands. The house was quiet, as it always was when you were alone. The once warm and inviting living room now felt cold and unwelcoming. You dropped your bag and collapsed onto the couch, burying your face in your hands. Tears streamed down your cheeks, a release of the pent-up frustration and sadness. Gasping for breath as you dragged your shivering legs to your cold, small bed room as you dropped your exhausted form to your squeaking bed, staining your pillows with your tears.

I need you like the air I breathe

In your heart, you still held onto a sliver of hope that your family would show up to your performance. You envisioned them in the audience, watching with pride as you executed every move with precision and grace. But reality was harsh, and you knew deep down that their absence would cut deeper than any physical wound. But you needed them. They were the salt to your wounds yet you still crave for their attention. It's not too late right?

Please.

You spent the next few days in a haze, practicing relentlessly for the upcoming performance. Every pirouette, every leap, and every graceful move was tainted by the thought of your family's indifference. You pushed your body to the limit, hoping that the pain would numb the emotional agony. Again, again, again– again y/n! You need to perfect this! This could be the chance for you to prove to them that you're worthy of their attention! That you belong in this family just as much as they do! You can't give up. Stop trembling. Stop acting so weak. If you don't stop acting like a child then maybe they'll eventually throw you out of the house too.

Please

The day of the performance arrived, and you stood backstage, nervously adjusting your costume. Your heart pounded in your chest as you peeked through the curtains, scanning the audience for familiar faces. But as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that your family was not coming. Your lips trembling, your brain can't fathom the idea of them not coming to this performance—of course you'd expect y/n to be unsurprised by this behavior but it's not fair! You worked so hard for this only for them to answer you with nothing but silence.

I need you more than me

You destroyed yourself for this; for them! You worked every bone in your body and stretched every limb of yours, starved yourself for days, just for them to dismiss your one request to just be there. You just wanted that family where they were all so supportive of you, they all loved and adored you. The worst part is they are just not to you. And you had to learn that the hard way.

I need you more than anything

Summoning every ounce of strength, you stepped onto the stage. The spotlight shone brightly, and for a moment, you felt a surge of confidence. The music began, and you moved with the grace and elegance you had practiced so hard to perfect. Each step was a testament to your dedication, a silent plea for recognition and love. Tears threatening to spill from your eyes as a feeling of pain and happiness surged through your chest.

As you danced, the audience watched in awe. To them, you were a vision of beauty and talent. But inside, you felt empty. Every jump, every turn, and every sway of your limb was dedicated to them. With trembling lips you swallow the lump in your throat and ignore the pain in your chest as you play your part of the performance. The applause at the end of your performance was hollow, a reminder that the ones you longed to impress were not there to see it. Backstage, you received praise from your fellow dancers and instructors, but it did little to lift your spirits. You longed for a simple word of encouragement, a sign that your family cared. Instead, you were met with silence. You smiled faintly at them thanking them and exchanging a few compliments here and there. At this moment you couldn't feel anything. You were numb from all the pain you have suffered from this family.

Please, please

That night, as you lay in bed, the weight of the day's events pressed heavily on your chest. You stared at the ceiling, your mind racing with thoughts of inadequacy. The question echoed once more: "Why can't you just be good enough?"

"Those days are over," you say to yourself as you pack your bags and place your belongings into boxes. You've grown, and after 13 years in the manor begging for scraps of their attention, you've realized that what you want will never become reality. It took you a whole decade and three more years to come to this realization. You shake your head softly and smile sadly. What were you thinking? Of course, they wouldn't care about you. Your normalcy and mediocrity never appealed to them, and you’ve decided those days are finally over. It was time to move out and discover what you were truly meant for.

"What was I made for?"

you ask yourself. This question feels so much better than constantly wondering, "Will they finally look at me?" You take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air of your new home. You breathe in and out, closing your eyes for a moment. This was it. You had made it. Slowly, you open your eyes and look at the people surrounding you, those who truly cared for you and saw you through your scars of insecurity, your perfect little hobbies, and your flawed personality. To them, you weren't Y/n Wayne, child of a billionaire, nor Y/n L/n, child of a prostitute. You were just Y/n, who tried so hard, failed, but ultimately succeeded.

The manor has been noticeably quiet for the past few days. The silence weighting discomfort as if something was wrong–as if something was missing. It was surprisingly first noticed by none other than Richard Grayson himself. The first Robin of Batman, the irreplaceable side kick, the first son of Bruce Wayne, and the darling of the crowd whom everyone loves and adore. As he walked through the large halls of the home he grew up in, he felt something was out of place. Like something wasn't in place or rather something was missing. It took him some time to figure it out as the clock ticks

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

Aha! He's got it! It was because there wasn't any classic orchestral music playing through the thick walls of the manor. The soft music of pyotr tchaikovsky wasn't heard anywhere around the corners of the walls. That's strange. The sweet melody of violins and cellos wasn't found in any room at all. He didn't know why but it bugged him. He sighs as he disregards it, nevermind he said, must be Alfred playing his favorite old songs. He walks around the manor to look for his siblings and father and somehow stumbled upon this.. Unknown and empty small room. “wow this is.. Something” he muttered under his breath. He inspected the room and saw multiple trophies decorating the room. It was impressive how someone can achieve this many gold medals and such. His gaze traveled across the room and saw a box full of webs and dust, and got interested as he opened it to see an old video game and thought that it must have been Tim's before he decided to throw it away out of boredom. With no more much to do he slid through the doors and whistled his way out of the room, unaware of how many memories a person created in that very same room withering away.

Tim and Damian recognized the absence of humming and the pattern of footsteps that used to echo around the house from an unknown room. The silence made them uncomfortable. They had grown so accustomed to the faint noise that it had somehow brought them comfort. The melodic lullaby of humming painted a serene picture of paradise, lulling them easily to sleep—a struggle they had faced all their lives as vigilantes, or in Damian's case, as an assassin. Their heartbeats aligned with the rhythm of the faint noise.

For Tim, it was a sweet form of salvation from the demons that haunted his nights and kept him from a good night's sleep. For Damian, it was the comfort he never knew, a stark contrast to the heavy stare of his grandfather and the weight of expectations placed on his shoulders by his mother's watchful gaze.

Jason couldn't care less about what happens around that manor. He hated that place. It made him rethink all the moments he wished he could take back. Jason Todd is a hateful man but a good soldier. He destroys in order to protect. He kills in order to let another live. A morally gray person. In his eyes he was what Bruce wayne–Batman couldn't be. But even a man who goes out at night to protect needs a break. So when he came to the manor and went straight to the library and saw that the usual piled up classic books weren't to be seen at their usual spot he found it.. Unsettling per say. The books written by Jane Austen that were filled with marked pages, sticky notes, and annotations not found in the main table of the room were strange to him. He didn't even know who did it but it made him feel like he was home. The silly doodles and random words written on the sticky notes, careful not to dirty the book, made him chuckle every time he saw it; so where was it now?

Cassandra was into ballet. She grew up silenced, observing others, forever cautious. as to why she expresses herself through dancing: ballet. A moment where she can breathe and let go. Where she can freely pour her heart into dancing. Every point, every movement, she releases her unsaid emotions. She was raised that way. Except then she was thought to swallow her words and release her pent up emotions into bad things instead of gracefully dancing. She was completely in love with dancing. Whenever she went to collect her ballet shoes there's always an extra bandage, extra shoes played on the floor. She never knew why and she never questioned it. Just ignored it. But now she somehow froze at her spot to see nothing but her shoes and not next to the light pink ones that had a small bow to compliment its design. Ever so stunning; the person who wears it must have been the same kind of persona-wait.. Person? There's another one.. Oh.

Bruce Wayne was a busy man. By day, he handled his company, Wayne Enterprises. His days were filled with paperwork, meetings, and managing marketing strategies. But by night, he never slept. No, he donned the mantle of Batman, the prince of Gotham City, the guardian of Lady Gotham. He didn't have time for anything he deemed unworthy of his attention. He noticed every tiny mistake, be it at work or on the streets of Gotham. At work, he spotted grammatical errors and unstraightened lines of decorative mugs. As Batman, he detected the slightest hint of lies in a criminal's eyes. So, yes, he noticed that something—or rather, someone—from the manor was missing.

As dick whistled his way out of the room unable to find his family members, he decided to go to the batcave and have a little fun while being alone. He did all things he could think of. Look for more cases to solve, dig some stuff out criminal records, blah blah blah.. Then he decided to check the manor's CCTV.

As dick was checking the cctv's of the manor out of boredom, he managed to catch a glimpse of footage-about 2 weeks ago of a person..? Packing their bags and putting things from the manor into a box and leaving. It must be a thief! But that's impossible.. The manor has many securities that even a skilled assassin could not pass through the gates, it's impossible. Unless..

Dick took another glance at the footage and zoomed the screen and squinted his eyes. And for a second, his breath hitched and his heart pumped fast, his hand trembled and his eyes dilated..

It can't be.

You.. Y-..y/n? What were you doing? Where are you going? He bit his lips harshly as he watched the footage like a hawk. His hands came to fidget with his hair. Was that really you? You look so grown.. Several thoughts ran through his mind as he pondered on what you were doing. After a matter of time he somehow remembers. Oh yeah! Your contact number. His hands trembling, in a hurry he pressed your name in his phone and.. Shoot. His eyes widened at the several missed calls and texts from you. Not even a single response from him. Come to think of it, when was the last time he talked to you? Like, really talked to you? He quickly text you “heyy baby birdddd I miss you! Let's hang out right now!” while biting his thumb as he bounced his thighs up and down from anticipation. And then suddenly.. He remembers! The room! It was yours! Before he even knew it, he was quick on his feet and ran like a mad man towards your room. He panted slightly at the face of your door and harshly opened your room unaware of his strength. He went through every corner of your room. He explored every side of your room to find something-anything that can give him even a spoil of information about you. And that was when he found a tiny pink notebook. He chuckled softly, out of breath, hair messed up like a mad man but dick didn't care, no because he finally found your one and only diary! Filled with bows and pink glitters.. Hah..you were so cute. He went through your diary, invading your privacy and saw all of the things you've said. The way you praised him, the way you adored your family, your little adventures, your previous ballet performances (you did ballet? Wow, you're just so talented.. Oh his little bird.) he suddenly heard a high pitched ping! And scrambled to his phone as he expected a response from you but instead all he was met with was “y/n has blocked you”.

What..? Why? Didn't you want to spend time with your precious big brother? His blood shot eyes twitched and sweat ran down from his face. The suddenly a deep voice said:

“dick? What's going on here?”

Note: as promised! Here is the chapter yall asked forrr tell me what you guys think!

[avocad1s]

Note: This has been in my drafts for a while, so while I’m finishing Part Seven, I’ll post this.

Character Included: Zhongli, Venti, Ei, Tsaritsa, Xiao, Ganyu, Diluc, Ningguang, Childe, Scaramouche, Dottore

This is long so everyone else is utc! :>

As the Creator, suitors will seek to win your attention. Your inherent beauty is unparalleled, many could only imagine to be graced with your physical or verbal affections. So when word gets out that you want to be with someone romantically, everyone will jump at the opportunity.

If you pick one of the ARCHONS, no one in Teyvat would be surprised. It was obvious you valued them the most out of everyone in Teyvat, they had the strongest connection to you.

If you pick is Zhongli, that is when his identity as the former Geo Archon is officially revealed. Many were surprised to see that their Archon never died, and others questioned why he wanted to take a mortal form in the first place. However none of those things mattered when he was the one you held dear.

Liyue as a whole held a ton of pride it was their Archon you wanted to be with. That means you’ll want to stay in their nation permanently, no? For Zhongli, this is a moment he has waited millennia’s for. He always knew he was your most devoted, everything he’s done was for the betterment of Teyvat and you. When it comes to your relationship, He will do anything to make you happy. If it’s as small as getting you your own Serenitea Pot? Consider it done. If it’s something as major as becoming the Geo Archon again? He’ll do it in a heartbeat.

As much as he cares for you, Zhongli knows that you still have matters to attend to in the other nations. He would be glad to go with you if you wanted but he also has no problem staying in Liyue until you return. He’s waited this long and now that he has you, being apart for a little bit won’t hurt (at least that’s what he tells himself after you’re gone for two weeks).

-

Considered to be the weakest of the seven, Venti is ecstatic that he is the one you want to be with. He has a carefree and playful nature that bleeds into his nation naturally, but even if he doesn’t show his devotion as strongly as Zhongli, it’s still present.

He enjoys doing any activity with you, do you enjoy wine? Well let him take you to Diluc’s Tavern for the best wine you can drink. Naturally he always offers to pay, but unknown to you he’ll just put it on his never ending tab. (not that anyone would ever charge you for anything, you’re their God!). Do you enjoy his singing? He’s absolutely flattered! Let him sing you all the songs he knows, and eventually you’ll two will be able to perform duets of the songs you enjoy the most.

Just like in Liyue, Venti’s true identity will be revealed once your relationship is announced. Mondstadt will be overjoyed, not only has Lord Barbatos returned but he has secured the love of the Creator themselves. You should do expect lots of songs made about you two. You both will be a symbol of love in the nation of Freedom. Not only that, Mondstadt will plan many festivals throughout the year dedicated to the two of you. (Perhaps even a marriage?)

Just like his nation, Venti values freedom above all else. He would never want to hold you back from doing anything you love, so if you wish to visit other nations he has no problem with it. Of course there will be times he’d want to go with you, especially if the nation you’re going to is having some event in your name but Mondstadt is his home and that’s where he likes to stay. Don’t worry though, he will always be waiting for your return and he will have more songs to sing and stories to recite while you both relax in Windrise.

-

This could go one of two ways with Ei.

If you choose her during the vision hunt decree, it would solidify in her head that what she’s doing is right and that even her Creator supports it. She would be way more harsh in pursuing her view of eternity, the fight with the rebellious army would end quickly once the Shogun joins the battlefield. Now they aren’t just disrespecting her, they are disrespecting you. She will not allow that.

The citizens of Teyvat would be conflicted. Should they get rid of their visions? Do you not like them? Maybe you’ll show them they same value if they didn’t have them anymore. It would certainly be a mess for you to clean.

Also in this scenario leaving Inazuma would be… difficult. Ei doesn’t understand why you want to leave, what can those nations offer you that she can’t. She’s doing this all for you and her sister, can’t you see that?

Now if you choose her after the Traveler’s involvement in Inazuma, she would be different. Now she’s trying to find another way to pursue eternity and having you there to support and help her definitely makes her feel better about the situation. She wants to have a better relationship with her nation but she doesn’t know how to go about that, but everyone adores you so being with you should help! At least she hopes.

On the rare occasion she decides to walk around Inazuma city she would be happy if you go with her. She can be a bit awkward at times since she doesn’t believe she should indulge herself but if you tell her she can have all the dango and dango milk she desires she’ll come around to the idea. Especially if you’re indulging with her.

-

“Oh… You’re picking the Tsaritsa? Oh no! There’s no problem with that, you can pick whoever you like Your Grace.”

That is a line you’d hear all the time after announcing your affections for the ice queen. Not many people can think of Snezhnaya without thinking of the Fatui and all of the… things they’ve done in each nation.

Although to the rest of the world, the groups motives are unknown it must be something you support if you harbor affection for the founder of the Fatui, right?

No matter, even if people would have their objections to the union, no one would dare say anything. The Fatui’s power would only grow stronger, many would believe that going against them now means that they go against you. (They might even use that to their advantage)

The Tsaritsa cares deeply for you. As if you are a flame, her cold persona melts immediately when she’s in the presence of you. She’d do absolutely anything for you, and I mean anything. She’s already forsaken her relationships with her fellow Archons so if you make any requests about your distaste of other nations she will waste no time taking care of it.

Unlike the other Archons, she’s is open to killing for you, even if she doesn’t do it herself, she has a lot of powerful people who can take care of it for her.

When it comes to you leaving the nation, she’ll be reluctant. Snezhnaya has everything you need, why would you want to go anywhere else? Are you cold? She can easily get you some warmer clothes or warm you up herself. She’ll come up with any excuse to keep you to here. Don’t get it wrong though, she still has lots of respect for you and your word is still law. If you stay stubborn about leaving the snowy nation, she’ll give up and let you leave. But she will always have an eye on you so don’t worry :)

-

If you pick one of the ADEPTI Liyue feels honored, you may not have feelings for their Archon but the Adepti are the next best thing, right? The rest of Teyvat are a bit confused, what’s so special about these illuminated beasts that caught your attention?

The tactful Ganyu is conflicted if she can only pick one of her two lives. Humanity or the Adepti. Is she capable of doing both? She’ll try her hardest, her contract with Rex Lapis and her position as the secretary to the Liyue Qixing makes her schedule impossibly full. However she will always make time for you.

You mean everything to her, when she fought in the Archon War by Rex Lapis’ side it was for you. Being with you is a dream come true, it was something she always fantasized about. Although she never thought she’d actually catch your eye.

Anytime you’re in Liyue she’ll attach herself to your side catering to your every need. For once she doesn’t mind putting off her work if it means she can spend more time with you. She’ll take you to best places to eat in Liyue, bring you to drink tea with the rest of the Adepti, and if you wish to watch her spar with the Conquerors Of Demons. Well don’t blame her is she shows off a bit.

Once your stay in Liyue comes to an end, Ganyu will drown herself in her work. She has so much catching up to do and even though she regrets it now, she knows she’ll do it again once you come back to her.

-

Oh Xiao… he believes he doesn’t deserves the value you give him. As much as he cares and loves you, he came to terms that he’d only watch you from afar. He will protect Liyue for you so you can enjoy the greatest things this world has to offer. So why? He wants to ask. All of the blood he has shed over the centuries, how can you feel this way about him?

It’s obvious that Xiao has a good amount of self- depreciation, he feels as if he has to push everyone he cares about away. All of his fellow Yaksha has fallen and Xiao doesn’t want to drag anyone down with him.

Yet staying away from you is hard for him, when all you want is to be with him how can he refuse a request from his God? He fears that getting to close to you would makes his worst nightmare come true, but eating Almond Tofu with you won’t hurt anything… and maybe looking at the stars on top of Wangshuu Inn?

You are a double edged sword for Xiao, being with you makes him fear you may get hurt. However when you two are apart, he feels his karmic debt downing him.

But if you don’t show affections for him until after his time in the Chasm with Yelan and the others, he would be drastically different. He now realizes that his life, like everyone else’s, has meaning. He doesn’t have to push the ones he cares for away and he doesn’t have to constantly sacrifice himself for others.

In this instance Xiao would try way harder when it comes to being with you, he doesn’t know much about relationships or any type of customs that comes with it, but he will try for you. He doesn’t want to disappoint.

-

So it’s not the Archons nor the Adepti you desire? Well that’s completely fine! There are many other influential people that live in Teyvat. Some might even call them the LEADERS of the nation they reside in. Or maybe they are just very dependable and have gained everyone’s trust and respect.

Oh so it’s Master Diluc that you desire? Well no one in Mondstadt can blame you. He is the most desired bachelor in the nation of freedom after all. Although many are disappointed that they won’t have a chance with the tavern owner anymore, they also can’t help but feel a bit relieved that it’s you he’s with.

And my oh my, Diluc is just as surprised that you want him too, but it’s a welcome surprise. After his father died and his relationship with his brother became… strained you were all he had left. He would pray to you daily about his wine business, his tavern, or even his secret identity as the Darknight Hero.

Once you descend, his devotion to you becomes stronger.

He doesn’t trust the Knights with your safety, we all know he believes they are incompetent so once you step into Mondstadt, expect Diluc to basically be glued to your side. You want anything from the shops? Let him buy it! He has more than enough Mora to buy anything you desire. Do you want some wine? Please allow him to escort you to Dawn Winery for the finest wine he has.

Speaking of Dawn Winery, Diluc would prefer if you’d stay there. The Fatui bought out the nicest inn Mondstadt has to offer, and even though they explicitly stated they had no problem with their Crestor staying there, Diluc doesn’t want you to. He has a big issue with the Fatui and as long as you are in Mondstadt, they have no chance getting near you.

Diluc doesn’t mind when you depart Mondstadt, he knows how busy you are and he has important work to get done himself. Unless you are leaving for Snezhnaya, he will try to convince you to go somewhere else. If that doesn’t work, he will worry constantly worry about your safety in the claws of the Fatui. His prayers to you would increase until you’re back in his arms again.

-

There is no such thing as a secret in Liyue, so when you show affections Ningguang. Everyone in Liyue will find out fast. Not much is known about Ningguang and all of the things she does for Liyue, people will scramble to catch even a spec of knowledge that falls from the Jade Chamber.

But one thing everyone knows about the woman is how much she loves you. Before you descended, her daily routine would consist of praying to you as soon as she wakes, working, and praying again before she lays to rest. When Liyue throws celebrations in your name, she would give you the most lavish offerings. Not one person in Teyvat would be able to match anything she gives you.

Anytime you’re in Liyue she will force insist that you stay in her home. Have you seen a better place in Teyvat? She doubts it! Don’t forget about the amazing view she has up there too. Ningguang will also handle all of the expenses for anything you desire, she’s arguably the richest woman in Teyvat there is not one thing you’d want that would be out of her budget. If her God wants it, you will have it

She’d treat you to the most luxurious meals you will ever have, making sure everything is adjusted to your tastes. Even if the spices you like don’t originate from Liyue, she will send people to go get whatever you need. All that matters to her is to see you happy.

-

Erm, Your Grace? The one you desire is a FATUI HARBINGER? You should stay away from the likes of them. They have no good intentions, all they do is exploit innocent people and gain power over the other nations. The Fatui has no respect for…

There are only four things Childe cares for, his family, the Tsaritsa, fighting, and you. As he grew up, his family told him how amazing you were and all he dreamed about was meeting you face to face, and when he became a Fatui Harbinger he knew that would be possible.

However he got more than he would’ve ever imagined. He got to call you his.

Childe has no issue killing anyone for you, if anyone goes against you, he will take care of it.

Unlike anyone before, Childe will want to go everywhere with you, he’s already a Harbinger so he’s used to traveling to all of the nations and not only that, he has the money to go anywhere too (thank Pantalone for that smh)

He will rub this in the faces of his comrades, he’s the youngest Harbinger, the lowest ranked but he still managed to snag your attention? Yeah, they’re not living this down.

When it’s just the two of you though he’s soft, he’d love for you to meet his family. They mean so much to him just like you do, to have you all in the same room would make him so happy.

-

Where should I start with the Balladeer? He‘s a puppet and doesn’t have a heart, but these feeling he has for you is strong.

At first he tries to push you away, his… mother cares so much for you and as he tries to distance himself from her, he thought that meant he had to hate you. But he couldn’t…

As he tried to find meaning within himself, everyone kept telling him to turn to you. Even his own friend that tragically died had told him that your divine light would guide him in the right direction. He didn’t want to listen.

Once he had joined the Fatui he figured he wouldn’t hear about you again, but oh boy was he wrong. He hadn’t met anyone more devoted to you than this group, everything they do is for you. All of the killing, exploiting, experimenting, and lying was done in your name and honor.

Scaramouche needed something to latch on to, his mother thought he was useless, and unbeknownst to him at the time, his attachment to the Fatui was a complete lie.

He will try to be useful in any way he can. The Fatui wouldn’t matter to him anymore, getting his hands on the Electro Gnosis doesn’t matter, all that matters is what you want.

With you around, he finally has something to fill his heart with, he will do anything and everything not to upset you. The last thing he wants is for you to throw him away like everyone else.

-

So it’s the Doctor that you want? Can’t say that I blame you…

On the surface, it would seem that Dottore doesn’t worship you. He won’t deny your existence if asked but if he’s asked if he worships you, he’s closed off about it.

Even in his days in the Akademiya he would always pray to you for luck before his studies or exams (not that he needed it). When he was interested in ancient machines and wanted to know more, he would pray to you for a breakthrough to prove to the Akademiya scholars and sages that this is what they should be studying. However he was chased out before that could happen.

He didn’t blame you for it, in fact, leaving Sumeru had given him a better opportunity, the Fatui. They actually funded any experiment he desired, whether it was about the ancient machines, the Archons, or the secrets of Teyvat, he would know it all.

However once you arrived, you took all his attention.

It’s not that he wanted to experiment on your per say, it’s just… he wanted to know more about you! You’re the God of Gods, you have power people on Teyvat could only imagine having. Being able to take a closer look at you would mean everything.

Once the two of you become close, Sumeru are the first to regret it, the one you favor is someone they had thrown out of their nation not just once, but twice. They feel absolutely foolish.

Since you’re a God, Dottore definitely believes your have greater intelligence than the God of Wisdom herself and he would love to “poke at your brain” if you allow him, he would ask you questions about wherever you were before coming to Teyvat and how Teyvat was many centuries ago.

If this is before his time in Sumeru and creating his own God, he would still have his Segments from previous times in his life. Yeah… they’re all devoted to you too. So if you like Dottore, that means them too right?

I think it’s clear that he and his Segments do not get along, they’d all be fighting for your attention lmao (obviously he wins all the time) but if Dottore is too busy with his Harbinger duties he doesn’t mind if you want to spend time with them. It’s better than you running to someone else for attention.

Note: I am also working on a masterlist atm so that should be out once part seven comes out! 🫡

© avocad1s please do not plagiarize or post to any other website

[vroomvroomwee]

Aziraphale's vest

I'd like to take a second and talk about his vest because I think it's a really good metaphor for Aziraphale's internal feelings.

At first glance it's obvious the vest is quite old. Really old in fact if you note the way it's practically disintegrating.

And it got me thinking a bit. The way the white practically bleeds from the edges of the neck, shoulders and buttons, going further and further, one day if he's persistent enough to wear it, it might even take over the entire vest. You could say that that, somehow, mirrors Heavens influence over Aziraphale. Slowly, slowly, biding their time, until it has completely ridden him of any colour. Until it has completely washed him of his identity, of his originality, of his character.

Take a look at his clothing when he's up in Heaven.

Completely and utterly white. Every piece of clothing he's wearing is pure and untarnished white. Upon entering Heaven, against his own accord, it has stripped him of his uniqueness, of anything that might distinguish him from any other angel who blindly follows orders and who's sole purpose is to do Heavens bidding.

Now, he could miracle the white patches on the vest away easily. But he doesn't want to.

The thing is. He likes the imperfect. He likes partaking in human activities and pleasures, like food, music, etc. Likes to indulge himself in earthly things Heaven would label as sinful or "sullying." And as someone who bas been on the receiving end of Heavens ridicule and passive aggression for millenia, as someone who for centuries has been told that he's underperforming and needs to do better, as someone who is all too aware of his own impurity by the standards an angel should hold and of the quite frankly unholy behaviour in performing immoral temptations and directly going against Heavens orders no more than a few times throughout the eras, it's no wonder he finds comfort in the imperfect.

He keeps the deteriorating edges because they are a perfect representation of his own internal feelings and image. After all, there's no rule that says he can't. And a big kudos to the costume department, for the patches perfectly encapsulate his religious trauma. Without it, he would probably be a very different person. He wouldn't be the same Aziraphale we know and love. The same way he likes being old-fashioned with his clothes and how that is a part of who he is, his trauma is a part of him as well, along with Heavens influence that has shaped him into who he is today, whether he likes it or not.

Every part of the vest illustrates Aziraphale's character and internal feelings, which brings me to another point I want to draw attention to, and that is the BACK of the vest.

It's DARK. And I don't think I'm mistaken when I say that most of us didn't expect it to look like that from behind. We all just assumed that it would be the same beige colour as the front, which is in tune with the rest of his attire. After all, seeing him wearing a dozen different outfits all throughout history, all of them some shade of white, it was the logical conclusion.

But no.

It's not white. It's a dark, slightly viridian or a dark blue colour. "Dark blue suggests a more mysterious depth or ominous quality. Power and authority: Dark blue signifies power and responsibility. "

Not what we would have expected that colour at all. Similarly to how one wouldn't expect an angel to perform temptations or be gluttonous, or envious, or slothful, or hedonistic. Not at first glance anyway.

Not unless you look carefully.

Not unless you know him.

The coat almost acts like a cover. The light over the dark. Almost as if it's trying to hide something. The only times we see Aziraphale not wearing the coat is in his bookshop. Which is logical, of course. You wouldn't wear a coat indoors, obviously. Except he DOES. He wears the coat when he and Crowley are drunk, he wears it when he's reading Agnes Nutter, he wears it when Gabriel and Sandalphon pop in, he wears it when he's talking to the Metatron, he wears it when he's listening to Shostakovich, he even wears it at the Ritz where it would be custom to take off your coat while dining. And it's worth noting that during the events happening (at least in the first season), the season is summer. Which would make it quite ridiculous to be wearing so many layers everywhere you go and therefore risk boiling. But he still wears the coat.

The only times he doesn't wear it is in the first episode after the sushi, when he's all ALONE, and in season 2 at the bookshop when Crowley comes back and in 1941.

And there's something oh so personal about that.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the darker part is specifically the back of the vest. There's always been this natural human instinct to protect yourself by never ever turning your back on a foe. And I don't think this is a conscious effort on Aziraphale's part, but rather genius writing, directing and costume design, and anyone who's watched and read Good Omens knows that almost nothing is coincidental.

Note this is probably the first time Aziraphale has called Crowley his friend, seeing how uncertain and doubtful he was to even say the word in this scene and how quick he was to deny their friendship in the Shakespeare scene. And the camera immediately cuts from Crowley to Aziraphale, who is turned away, whose back is turned to Crowley oh so casually without a care in the world. Just before he calls him his friend. His back is turned, and so is the dark part of his vest.

The dark part he only shows in his bookshop, when he's alone and there's no one there. The part that he now only shows to Crowley as well. Crowley who knows him so well and who's been with him through everything. "I won't tell anyone if you won't." And "you said trust me""and you did". Just this small motion of Aziraphale depicts exactly how much trust he has in Crowley not only that he'll keep him safe and protected but to accept him just as he is, to not judge him, to not demean him for his imperfections as an angel. Practically mirroring Crowley's self-protection mechanism that is reflected in his motions to hide his eyes with his sunglasses (there's a wonderful meta on this by @simply-brightly-zee here )

And it might just be clothing, or it might just be genius symbolism, but note how self-aware Aziraphale is of his looks when Gabriel pops up.

The desire to impress is almost unconscious in this scene, and how does he go about doing it? By making sure he looks presentable. Presentable, despite the white patches and the vest that is falling apart, he doesn't even realise it. Therefore, it's clear Aziraphale puts thought into his clothes, whether consciously or unconsciously.

I personally dont think any of this (the coat, the patches, the way he turns his back, when, where and around who he's most comfortable) is a deliberate and intentional act on Aziraphales part but rather creative brilliance from the directors and producers. So him being shown to expose the back of the vest only in scenes with Crowley (and the one in s2 infront of an amnesiac Gabriel with the intelligence and awareness of a squirrel) is a master move on the costume department's part. The symbolusm being so small and imperceptible, but holding so much meaning. This small metaphor shows how much Aziraphale trusts Crowley and how comfortable he is around him. Crowley who knows about Aziraphale's transgressions, sins, unholy behaviours, lack of interest and dedication to his job, and overall "incompetence" as Aziraphale might put it and how he's "just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing". Crowley, who will accept him and love him no matter what. Not despite those things, but because of those things.

They have found their "own side".

Edit: Not that important, but I just want to mention how, despite being tattered and falling apart, the vest is still in perfectly good condition. No matter the white seeping in and draining its colour, the vest doesn't have a single seam torn, not a button lost, perfect as the day it was bought. No matter what it's been put through, it's still kicking, whether by miracle or sheer willpower. Very much like the person wearing it.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

hi my time lord friend uh is bleeding a LOT. like they're glowing type of a lot. i got them into the zero room in their TARDIS but is there anything else i can do i am scared

First off, take a deep breath. You're already doing a great job by getting them into the Zero Room—it's a good starting point. However, based on your description, you need to act now.

1️⃣Assess the Situation (GASS/ABCDE Protocol)

Perform an emergency assessment to determine the extent of the physical trauma:

GASS (Gallifreyan Assessment Scoring System)

This will give you a sense of their overall condition. Find it here.

ABCDE Protocol

This gives you a practical guide to stabilising them as quickly as possible. Find it here.

2️⃣Identify the Cause of the Bleeding

This seems like a prolonged bleed. Gallifreyans generally clot very quickly, so prolonged bleeding could indicate:

Hypoartronosis: Insufficient artron energy could disrupt clotting and healing. Use the Artron Detectors in the TARDIS infirmary to measure their artron levels. Levels under ≤10 mg/dL are indicators of hypoartronosis. This will stabilise over a few days.

Injury Severity: A deep or critical wound that the body is struggling to repair requires medical intervention.

Reaction or Disease: Exposure to toxins, temporal radiation, or disease could interfere with healing.

3️⃣Move Them to the TARDIS Infirmary (if Possible)

While the Zero Room is great for stabilisation, you'll need the medical tools in the infirmary to handle heavy bleeding:

Advanced Diagnostic Terminal (ADT): Run a scan to pinpoint internal damage, blood loss, or underlying conditions. The holographic guide can walk you through treatment if needed.

Surgical Containment Web: Use this for critical wounds. It will remove damaged tissue, reconstruct missing flesh, and reattach severed parts if necessary.

Handheld Healing Devices: Use these for minor wounds to speed up clotting and tissue repair.

If you're confident, transfer them out of the Zero Room and into the infirmary to use the technology.

4️⃣Encourage a Healing Coma

If your friend is conscious but struggling, encourage them to enter a healing coma. This allows their body to focus energy on repairing itself.

5️⃣Avoid Human Medications

Unless you're a qualified Gallifreyan medic, don't administer human medications. Time Lord biology reacts unpredictably to non-Gallifreyan substances, and you could inadvertently make things worse.

6️⃣Monitor for Signs of Impending Regeneration

The glowing suggests that regeneration might be on the horizon. Watch for these signs:

Excessive glowing or flickering.

Sudden spikes in energy or pain.

Disorientation or emotional instability.

If they are regenerating, focus on keeping them calm and in a safe environment. Avoid interfering with the process.

🚨If Unsure, Call for Help

If your friend's condition doesn't improve, the best course of action is to contact a qualified Gallifreyan medic or someone familiar with TARDIS medical systems. Reach out via the TARDIS comm systems.

📜Summary

Assess their condition using GASS/ABCDE.

Identify and address the cause of bleeding.

Move them to the infirmary for active treatment if possible.

Use the Advanced Diagnostic Terminal and Surgical Containment Web for serious injuries.

Encourage a healing coma.

Avoid human medications.

Monitor for signs of impending regeneration.

Your friend's TARDIS has the tools you need. Let us know if you need more guidance!

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[sad-endings-suck]

Mizu’s Period

I’m getting kind of sick of the weirdly agreed upon headcanon within the fandom that stipulates Mizu simply must not menstruate very much if at all, solely because Mizu is often injured, possesses a slender build as well as an athletic lifestyle, and in many ways is androgynous in appearance (but that last point is always unspoken ofc).

There also seems to be an odd obsession with using fanon theories that are not directly disproved nor proved in the canon, such as “Mizu never eats enough” as evidence for the Mizu’s Uterus Is Not Like Other Girls Reproductive Organs™️ headcanon, that presumes Mizu is just so special she’ll bleed from everywhere except her pussy.

Like… is it perfectly possible that Mizu does not often get her period due to her extremely active and dangerous lifestyle? Yes, of course! Does Mizu’s slender and athletic frame make this seem like more of a possibility? It could, but her physique in of itself is not “evidence” per say, especially since Mizu’s body looked exactly the same when she was living a much easier and more comfortable lifestyle on the farm with Mikio, and they clearly had plenty of food. Mizu also wasn’t training intensely if at all for the 8-12 months she was married to Mikio. Yet her build remained the same. So it’s perfectly probable that Mizu’s physique is most greatly impacted by her genetics and thus not greatly affected by physical activity.

And for everyone that’s about to shout “but women athletes that compete at the highest levels often loose their periods for a while!” yes absolutely, some of them do. They also work out for 2-6+ hours a day six to seven days a week, use treadmills, bench press, and eat ridiculously curated diets that specifically target certain macronutrients and involve carefully curated portions that must be eaten at the right times on the right days. The fuck makes you think Mizu is doing all that?? My girl inhales whatever food is put in front of her as long as she has good reason to believe it is safe (i.e not poisoned). Do you really think modern day Olympic power lifters, track and field runners, artistic gymnasts and rhythmic gymnasts are all slurping down full servings of soba or dumbplings just whenever? Fuck no. Also, the current top women athletes in the world from the aforementioned Olympic sports I just mentioned, all have vastly different body types. As well as extremely different dietary needs, training routines, workouts, and just plain genetics that would have naturally given them certain bodies regardless of sport.

as evidenced by the above photos of various female olympic athletes: power lifter (top left), track and field runner (top right), artistic gymnast (bottom left), and rhythmic gymnast (bottom right).

Mizu is not a power lifter, or a sprinter, or an archer, or anything of the sort. Mizu does not train to be incredible at one thing, nor does she base what she eats or how she trains on when she will be preforming at a specific event (such as Olympians do). She is a swordsman, a blacksmith, and an all around athletic person that needs to stay in a state of constant readiness for any physical activity. Such as climbing, swimming, horseback riding, using acrobatic techniques, performing martial arts, working on a farm, and so much more. All of which is presented as such in canon. Not to mention Mizu lives as a lower-class individual in Japan during the 1600s. What ever gave you the idea that she was dieting and training like a modern athlete? Mizu is not a sportsman, she’s a killer.

So can we just stop, please? Plenty of people menstruate. Its perfectly normal and natural. And as someone who has been at a much lower weight at different points in my life with less than desirable health conditions (to say the least), menstruation does not magically halt just because you (stranger on the internet) thinks it “logically” should under such circumstances. That’s not how it works. Bodies are weird, and everyone’s body works a bit differently. And if Mizu actually was as sick and muscular and thin as everyone seems to have headcanoned her as, then how the fuck is she mopping everyone she fights? If Mizu is “so active and low weight that she can’t be getting her period” then how do you explain the fact that she is able to preform at peak physical level while being so active? Make it make sense.

And for the love of god, please stop acting like menstruation is “special” or “other” or “weird”. It’s not. Get educated, and get over yourself.

[batchilla]

Chapter Two - four years later.

Gold digging bitch is perhaps one of the kinder titles Gotham's pack of vultures had seen fit to bestow upon you. Jason had told you the truth of course, but the story cooked up by the bats had been different. The resurrected  son of the prince of Gotham couldn’t just have a divorce in privacy, and you had needed to put on a show for the Black Mask, so a more exciting version of events was created. 

The story went that you’d caught Jason in bed with another woman. He’d insisted on being the bad guy, knowing that he’d be better equipped to put the scandal behind him than you. However it hadn’t completely protected you. Publicly, the story was that you’d made it out of the divorce like a bandit thanks to a good lawyer and a series of compromising photos of Jason and his fictional lover.

 Reality was that Jason had insisted you keep the apartment, the car, virtually all of your shared assets, reasoning it was Bruce’s money, and that he’d be well provided for, himself only taking some valuable art and collectibles to seem like there had been any sort of fight, and the rings, the only sentimental request he had made.

 He ranted and raved about how you had total custody, and yet still managed to bleed him dry with child support, bemoaning the unfairness and your cruelty to all who would listen, playing the role of the bitter ex in a oscars worthy performance, which the press devoured like the pack of jackals they were. 

Behind closed doors, he had initially offered nearly double the amount before you talked him down. 

It hadn’t been pretty, even if you understood his reasons, even if he’d tried to make it easier for you however he could, it had still hurt. You were still angry. But when all was said and all was done, Mary came first. Her safety and happiness were all that mattered, and eventually you came to terms with the fact that Mary being safe was ultimately synonymous with Jason being gone from your lives. Except that wasn’t quite right; the problem wasn’t Jason, but Red Hood… and you weren’t sure one existed without the other.

You had stayed in touch with the Wayne's as a whole - there was no need to deprive them all of Mary, nor Mary of her extended family, so long as it was done carefully, normally in the form of sleepovers at Wayne manor, carefully scheduled to be done when Jason was elsewhere, and any signs of the families more exciting nightly activity hidden away to preserve her ignorance.

 It had taken him two years, but eventually, he came home. No. You remind yourself, no, not home, not his home, not anymore. He had come to your apartment, bearing gifts, a hopeful smile, and word that the Black Mask was dead.  

For two whole years since the Black mask had been killed - since Jason had killed him, he’d largely stayed away. Telling him he still needed to, because even with The Black Mask dead, someone else could step into his place at any time had been the hardest thing you’d ever had to do, short of watching his coffin be lowered into the ground. Jason staying away had hurt, but not nearly as much as when he didn’t. Days of absence didn’t hurt nearly as much as days like this, when the Red Hood landed on your balcony. 

You can’t see his face, but you know him. You know exactly the expression that’s under his mask, the smile that fills your heart with longing and anger all at once, sheepish, yet somehow cocky. He taps on the window, and you snap out of it, turning away to shut the bedroom door, snipping the lock to deter your precocious seven year old before you open the window, letting him in. “What's wrong?” you ask. You can’t manage small talk. Not with him. You’d do something stupid, like admit you missed him. 

Because he was right, as much as it hurt. You missed him so much in the beginning it was hard to breathe, though it had dulled to a throbbing ache. You’d always love him, but the fact was… your baby is safer the further away you stay from each other. The Black Mask may be dealt with - but it could easily happen again, worse than the last time. 

“Think I hit my head…” he says, all but falling into your arms as you help him to the bed, to the bed you’d shared oh so long ago. He takes off his helmet, his gaze piercing your soul, those too green eyes seeming to see into your heart. “Hey pretty girl.” He whispers, as though the mere sight of you took his breath out of his lungs - if he wasn’t concussed, he’d probably insist you did, if you brought it up - not that you would, because it would hurt, and it wouldn’t change anything. “How bad is it?” You ask, trying to assess the damage, turning his head in your hands to check if there were cuts, an egg, any indication of how bad it was to your limited medical understanding. “I’ve been worse.” He says, leaning into your hands. “Honestly I think I’ll probably be fine, but dizziness and nausea and grappling across Gotham seemed … blagh.” “How eloquent.” You tease. “I suppose you best stay the night, in that case.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“How eloquent.” You tease. “I suppose you best stay the night, in that case.”

This isn’t Jason’s proudest moment. Nor were any of the other times he’d done this. He was hurt, genuinely. But he could have called for backup, instead of using it as an excuse to see his two favourite people, but well… he couldn’t keep away. He’d killed Roman two years ago. To his surprise, Bruce had hardly even protested. He was, in all honesty hurt, given the exception had not been made for him, but it also reassured him to know that if anyone came for his baby all bets were off. As they damn well ought to be.

“You're so good to me, darlin.” He’s laying it on thick, perhaps too thick, and with any luck you’ll blame his concussion. He should back off a little, just in case. “I’ll make it up to ya.” He whispers, resting his hand on top of yours, keeping your hand cupped to his face, if only for a moment more. You smile then, something that sends his heart into double time. “Rest up, I’lll call the cave, let them know you're safe… Just…” You stand, moving to the lesser used bedside table - his old one. You toss a pair of his sweatpants and a hoodie onto the bed next to him, kept there for just his occasion. Mary was only seven after all, too young to grasp the weight of her fathers secret, to carry the burden.  

“In the morning, prepare to be a climbing gym for the world's most excited first grader… she missed you.”

Jason’s stomach backflips, and not due to his nausea. It hurt. Fuck, did it hurt to know he’d hurt his little angel. It almost hurt as much as that first visit, two years ago now.

“Well.” Jason starts removing his Red Hood gear and pulling on the sweatpants. “I suppose there are worse ways to wake up. How… How is the little Cherub?” He moves to start undoing the body armour on his torso, but in his slightly dazed state he can’t quite manage the straps and buckles. “ ‘d you mind…” he gestures his chin to the problem, and you nod, moving to undo them for him as you answer the question. 

“She’s doing well. Still practically worships the green arrow.” Jason grumbles, half a laugh and half a groan. “I blame you for that angel.” Your hands falter in their work, a small sad smile on your face. “I confess I … encouraged it. Call it post divorce pettiness.” You say with a quiet chuckle, before continuing. “She’s doing so well at school - she inherited your love of reading, I think.” Jason grins, leaning back on his elbows to give you better access to the various attachments, and you suspect a better view as they come off, but you're in no mood to call him out on it, not now. Partially because you prefer talking about Mary then the mess the two of you made, and partially because well… Jason was quite the view. He was covered in scars, bruises and scrapes, all earned in battle for Gotham, and for the greater good. Not to mention, the training for said work had him built like a fucking adonis. “That's my little girl.” He says proudly. “In more ways than one… she can be a little menace when she wants to be… I worry about Uncle Damian’s influence.” you say, only half joking. “Next time you're at the manor, please remind him that swordplay lessons are not an appropriate bonding activity for our seven year old?” Jason laughs, and nods, now shirtless. The only thing left on his torso is a leather braided cord which holds two rings - one of which had once adorned your finger, the other his. You knew he’d kept them, of course. They’d been the only thing he put up any semblance of a fight for… but you had no idea that he’d done this, kept them literally close to his heart all these years. You have to glance away as he pulls  the hoodie over his head, or you might just tear up. “Don’t worry, pretty girl, I’ll talk to him.” he promises, clearly amused by his adopted brothers somewhat chaotic and warped views of what was appropriate for a seven year old. You feel your heart stop and start at the same time, the nickname stirring feelings that for Mary’s sake, you cannot allow to be stirred. You open your mouth, but then you look at him, bruised and tired and his mind not firing on all cylinders, and decide it can wait till morning. Jason moves to wrap an arm around you, but you push him off. “Right. I best make that phone call. You get to the couch… Do you want anything? Food, water, some - wait can you take pain killers?” Jason shakes his head “No, not with a potential concussion… but the first two sound great. Thank you.” You can’t cook, without risking waking up Mary, so a packet of goldfish, a granola bar and a glass of water will have to suffice, and you drag yourself back to bed, the urge to walk back into the living room and invite your former husband to join you slowly increasing in strength and pull every minute of the rest of your sleepless night. There was a lot to be said… but it could wait till dawn; you’d put it off for four years, you could refrain from completely breaking his heart a few hours more.

[lushthemagicdragon]

OK OMFD pals. I come to you now with a brief queer history lesson, that absolutely has nothing at all to do with Izzy Hands, I mean...

So in the 1960s, Susan Sontag wrote an essay on Camp as an aesthetic sensibility. Beforehand, camp had been this mode of expression that, while not purely invented by or strictly unique to queer folks, had become (much like polari) something of a secret language between queers. In many ways, camp was performed as a survival mechanism, a way of reclaiming insults and derision. If the general population was going to call gay men fairies and pouffes, then turn lemons into lemonade. Live that fabulously and make fun of the weaponizers in the process.

This is an extremely brief and oversimplified explanation of early camp, but what's important is that after Sontag, this was fashionable and exciting, and the straights all knew about it now.

As this discourse developed, in the 70s and 80s (with some bleed in either direction) we saw huge boom of masculinist queers, exemplified by the leather community. A lot of these masculinists were also, in some ways, assimilationists. A lot of these masculinists (though of course not all) started to reject camp and chafe at camp being seen as synonymous with queer expression because they were Manly Men and wanted to be taken seriously, not seen as effeminate weaklings. They felt that camp was setting them back.

Which is of course hugely ironic given that Leather Culture are EXTREMELY camp, as it is masculinity to such a performative extreme that calls into question so many normative ideas but I GUESS SURE, whatever. (Not all leather queers were anti camp to be clear but there's overlap)

So the assimilationist masculinists thought that being associated with camp hurt their cause at being taken seriously. And actively tried to make camp a thing of the past not to be taken seriously. But here's the thing about camp...Camp is all about flourishing in the margins and undercutting the overly serious. Camp takes not being taken seriously very seriously. The assimilationists would not have a platform to stand on if camp hadn't helped keep the heart beating. Camp kept us alive. Camp kept us loving ourselves when the world wanted otherwise.

Camp is funny, glamorous, overtly silly, playful, ironic with a razor sharp edge, and camp loves so deeply.

And so anyway, Izzy Hands the serious masculinist finding the open arms of camp waiting for him in his time of need?? I'll just be over here crying about how well David Jenkins knows his history.

[rock-and-roll-hell]

December 22, 1977

Alive II Tour

The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

From a local review: "KIϟϟ does not need songs to be an exciting stage act. The foursome, which is ranked at the top of the rock pile, has blazed a path in the musical world with its outlandish garb and hard-driving rock music. It's set records which put it in a league with the Beatles as far as audience appeal is concerned. Last night was another example of the group's drawing power. It sold out the Spectrum - a claimed attendance of 15,500 persons - many weeks in advance of the performance. And the performance itself... the music was passable, but the staging and the theatrics were the equal to any legitimate stage production. KIϟϟ has admitted in the past that its music is not its strongest point. The four have become competent musicians during the long years they have spent touring and playing together but they are far from being super musicians. The draw of KIϟϟ is its features four average musicians who are above-average actors. Not only actors but technicians in the art of generating a crowd magnetism. Last night's staging for the group's concert fell somewhere between the futuristic and the fantastic. The group played from a multi-level stage. It opened with guitarists Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley and bassist Gene Simons standing on platforms above the stage level. Drummer Peter Criss was on a platform of his own which remained more or less on one level throughout the show but even the drummer's platform was rigged for some exciting activity. As the band started to play, the upper platforms of the guitarists and bass player began to move toward stage level through their hydraulic systems and the stage simultaneously was layered with fog, blazed by a multitude of lights and was resounding with the after-shocks of planned stage explosions. The chrome and glass stage never ceased to be a marvel with its intricate lighting and design. A snake, coiled around a pole, would alternately spew fog and fire over the stage. Sections of the stage would rise 10-feet-or-more above its base to accentuate a band member's solo. Guitars exploded, lights flashed, confetti rained from above, blood flowed... there never was a point during the concert when the audience even could think of being bored. If anything, it was more like a three-ring circus and if you did not watch the show closely, you stood the chance of missing one of its more subtle nuances, although subtlety was a rarity. If the staging, pyrotechnics and related stage business does not sound flashy enough, you still have to take into consideration the costuming of the group. The members never have been pictured out of makeup. On stage, Criss is a whiskered feline; Simmons is a lizard with a long snaking tongue; Frehley is a surrealistic spaceman, and Stanley, the on-stage group leader, is the star-eyed sex symbol with an exposed hairy chest. They all dress in black, with silver accents, and wear platformed shoes of nose-bleed proportions. During the course of the show, all of the group members, with the exception of Criss, took the band's helm for solo vocals. If it seems that this review is giving the music second-billing to the show, it is because the music was secondary to the show. KIϟϟ will continue to draw astronomical numbers to its concerts as long as it, too remembers, music is not its primary message -- the show's the thing" (Bucks Co. Courier Times, 12/23/77).

[kalevalaknights]

What are your personal personality headcanons, on the 4 Googles? :]

My drawing request is that you draw your interpretations, of the 4 of them, too, but you don’t have to if you don’t wanna!

I know you said personality HC’s I uhh I uhhh let me tell you a thing or two about a thing or two

I like to think the four of them are ultimately one and the same. A hive mind if you will. They can all perform the same mundane or complex tasks as each other, some may have a different attitude about it. I would like to think the original Blue created the other three to spread the brainpower contained in his system.

But of course each robot still has their own mannerisms and quirks to them. The other egos in the office have given them each a variety of different nicknames.

If Google isn’t connected to wifi, the shirt goes white with a dinosaur on it. You will usually spot them playing the dinosaur game.

BLUE: Often dubbed as Ben, Bob, or simply B.

This one has a cracked lens in his glasses, often times wires have been pulled loose from areas that they are exposed. He has the most physical wear and age from a beta testing incident with the streamer Matthias. There is still dry blood in the crevices of his articulated finger joints.

His built-in eyelids and eyebrows have limited function, so his talking is often accompanied with gestures. His eyes are usually covered up by glasses with computer monitor screens for lenses. His “newer” eyes are displayed here and are much more expressive than his built face.

Think of it as your good reliable computer you’re not ready to give up yet and keep putting accessories on it so that it still works.

He has a blunt and tired attitude about him if he is doing tasks, but is generally alright to talk to. He speaks to everyone as if they are a coworker. His form of humor is denying a task, but actively going to do it anyways. Eerily nice to you if he intends to kill you. Smiles too much.

YELLOW: Often dubbed as Oliver, York, or Y.

This one has yellow eyes, and is surprisingly the second least expressive. Being the only Google that mildly tolerates Bing, he has the same amount of head trauma as him from being commanded to kick flip. He isn’t stupid, he is unable to turn down a request. This also causes him to be a bit clumsy / have a slightly off coordination.

He is the nicest one to talk to, as it looks like he’s actually listening. However his “listening” after a while sounds like he isn’t listening. Serious case of customer service voice when doing tasks. Will usually go off and complain and rip up paper afterward. Mistaken as the kind and smiley one because he’s Yellow, but really has more malicious compliance and snark to him than the others.

GREEN: Often dubbed as Greg, Grant or G.

This one has hazel eyes! He’s the most expressive of them and seems to be the only one in good condition.

He is the most compliant, speaking and acting a little more formal than the others. Seemingly the busiest one, often declaring himself the superior office assistant for fetching coffee the fastest. As if there is a contest. Opts for a tight knuckle-cracking handshake instead of a high five. Tries to casually advertise things to you in the hopes you type out your credit card number. No, he’s not going to install an ad blocker for your sake.

RED: Often dubbed Reggie, Ray or R.

He has dark brown eyes. Tends to react to things through body language, speaks a little too fast.

The only one that uses their eye cameras as cameras. Takes videos of random things, embarrassing things, funny things. Will sometimes procrastinate on a task or he will announce that he is going to do it. If you tell him to stop talking he will pull out music videos to concentrate. Or that one time you tripped on your own leg so that you go away. Walks into a room and talks to anyone to find something interesting to comment on. Often hanging out with Wilford or the Jims because they need an extra cameraman that doesn’t bleed. Puts hate comments on all of Bing’s videos.

-They all subtly pick up mannerisms and words from the people surrounding them, to appear “up to date” in conversation.

-Green believes he is the leader until Blue gives an order.

-Red is the only one that has tried to eat things. He still chews or drinks things, but spits it out right after.

-Yellow wears circular glasses. Red usually does not wear any glasses.

[trumanshcw]

WEST COAST LOVE / 16. superposition.

isn't it an irony? / the things that inspire me / they make me bleed / so profusely ( "superposition" - daniel caeser )

SYNOPSIS: after 2 years of being MIA in the industry, y/n is forced back into the spotlight by her label. any ill feelings while hastily preparing for her new album start to disappear as her label gets the idol she'd been admiring, natty, to feature on a song.

WORD COUNT: 1.4k

WARNINGS: self-deprecation. reader kinda spirals for a bit. mention of a past panic attack. reader is not doing so good mentally.

PREV | MASTERLIST | NEXT

you don't mean to be dramatic, but you think you could die right now. it probably would be for the best, and at least you would be happy after the fact.

you're currently sitting in the chair in front of your home studio (the leather is actively peeling, you've been telling yourself that you need to get a new one for a while now) and natty is sitting next to you on a stool that cannot be comfortable.

you're stuck. you don't know what you were expecting, really. maybe some part deep down inside of you tried to convince yourself that you asking for natty's number was infact not an impulsive decision and maybe a genuine attempt at working on this album, but you know the truth.

maybe you can trick your fans into thinking you're something great, smart even, but you can't trick yourself. this entire ordeal was selfish, selfish of the company for forcing you to work on music long before you were ready, and selfish of you for having natty on the album as a way to finally talk to her.

you do like her as an artist, of course. maybe if you weren't the type of person to put fancams of her performing "nobody knows" on in the background while you were working on something else (which wasn't a lie as much as yunjin and giselle makes it out to be, by the way. some people use hour long deep dives into franchises or internet drama to focus on work, some use true crime podcasts, and you just happened to use videos of natty performing, or singing, or, hell, sometimes her just talking. hey, everybody is different), you would've gotten her on the album solely because of her artistry. "sugarcoat" was a hit for a reason, after all.

as minutes that feel like an eternity pass by, you can feel whatever calm demeanor you tried putting up slowly crumble away as a feeling of dread pools into your stomach.

natty has been actively contributing ideas, whether it be simple phrases or full on lyrics, and jotting them down on a spare notebook you had lying around. shamelessly, you've been nodding on everything she had brought up so far. natty could probably say the most ridiculous thing ever heard and you would still say 'yes, natty, that sounds great,' like it wasn't your album you were working on.

anyways, the fact of the matter is that you have contributed nothing. the person who you invited to feature on this nonexistent song has more of a vision and an idea for it than you could ever possibly imagined yourself. it's so embarrassing that your responses to her pitches are gradually getting more minimal as your wish for the floor to just swallow you like quicksand grows.

what were you even famous for, anyways? your debut was a hit, sure, but you didn't write it, nor produce it like you did with your last album. you didn't tamper with lyrics until your first comeback, which earned you a spot dead last on the writing credits for "save room for us". you never bothered with checking the sales of your releases because your CEO usually told you how your albums were doing commercially, which usually boiled down to "it's doing pretty good" or "it's doing less than we were expecting, but that's okay."

you bite your bottom lip. maybe you let the success for your debut get to your head, and convinced yourself you were a real artist. you convinced yourself that you could write, that you could produce, that you could compose, that you knew what you were doing.

if you were a real artist, you would've gotten over how lonely promoting by yourself felt. if you were a real artist, you would gotten used to having articles of the stupidest rumors still circulating ever since you debuted because the company doesn't see it as a genuine priority to take them down. if you were a real artist, you wouldn't have needed to go on a 2 year hiatus all over a small panic attack you had after a festival performance instead of sucking it up and moving on.

but you aren't. everyone that you worked with who let you to continue to tell yourself besides the fact was trying to set yourself up for failure. hate comments from random people on the internet still stung like a knife wound. wouldn't you have been able to deal with the hardships this job guaranteed you by now? why couldn't you just grit your teeth and roll with the punches already?

"y/n?"

your head practically snaps towards natty, who now has a hand on your shoulder. you absentmindedly hummed in response.

"you're like…" natty points at one of her eyes with her free hand. you reach up to your own eyes to find tears getting dabbed onto your fingers.

it takes a second for what's happening to set in until you feel yourself come back to reality. you wipe the tears away as nonchalantly as you could, "oh—" with a choked laugh thrown in to hopefully build away the tension. "sorry about that."

natty looks confused, concerned even, her hand is still on your shoulder. "what are you apologizing for? y/n you were crying, are you okay?"

"yeah, yeah. it's just—" you can feel whatever you planned to say die in your throat. practically tongue-tied. do you really want to burden natty with your issues? how would you even lie to make yourself look like you weren't about to break down crying?

"stress," you decide on, which isn't really a complete lie but it isn't the full truth either, "i'm just stressed about this whole thing, and sorta got into my head about it. two years out of the public eye and i'm suddenly working on music again, i'm just— another awkward laugh, "—a bit out of it. sorry."

natty nods thoughtfully and silently thinks to herself before responding. you're becoming more increasingly aware of her hand still being on your shoulder.

"no, i understand. i'm not gonna tell you how to feel because i'm not you, but i don’t think you should be apologizing," she finally says, "when do you have to turn this into the company?"

you think back to the meeting you had not long ago with the staff members standing around the room and sitting at the center table, your CEO with a prepared powerpoint presentation on increasing public interest surrounding you even when you've been on hiatus, and your manager who was probably more angry at PRISM than you were at the time. you remember specifically your CEO saying they weren't going to give you a specific deadline (practically using it as a way to make it seem more "fair" and "easy" for you since the news was so sudden, like he wasn't the reason this entire thing started), just wanting to have it sooner rather than later.

"they said i don't have to give it to them by a certain date, it just has to atleast be this year," you respond. natty nods again. her other hand slides up your arm and rests on your other shoulder.

"well, then you don't have to have this done now. you can take all of the time that you need, especially since there isn't a strict deadline," natty reasons, "it's still early into the year, y'know? just because you don't have it now, doesn't mean it can't come later. you're an extremely talented writer and a hiatus won't change that."

natty looks down briefly before looking back up into your eyes, "if it—this is just a suggestion, really—but if you think it'll help, i can be there every step of the way during this, even for songs that isn't this one," she swallows before clearing her throat, "again, it's just a random suggestion. i don't want to force you to do anything, especially when you're already this stressed, but just think of it like moral support. if you want that, of course."

you take some time to process her words (you can see natty growing slightly more nervous, possibly thinking she overstepped a boundary of some kind) before nodding.

a small, but warm, smile breaks out on her face as she suddenly leans over to give you a (what could be considered a bit awkward to most) hug and you don't freak out as you reciprocate it because you are y/n, the soloist who debuted with the hit song "mmmh" which gave a breath of fresh air into the mature scene of kpop, officially branding yourself to the public as one of the most attractive idols in the industry. attractive idols in the industry don't freak out when another attractive idol in the industry, who practically fought tooth and nail to get where she is now, gives them a hug after telling them everything will work out in the end.

a bit breathlessly now, you mutter out an "okay."

A/N: reader's mentioned debut song is "mmmh" by kai and the other song mentioned is "save room for us" by tinashe. slowly building up a discography here but also not really LOL

[kurov1864]

Milgram idol au (pt.11)

010 Kotoko:

YAYYAYYAY MY WIFE (I literally created this whole idol au for her <3)

Would 100% be the cold, mysterious and straightforward type. Like everything from her condescending eyes, to her closed off stance, everything about her screams "I hate you but I'm forced to perform so her you go."

Her casual outfits leans more towards "active" styles, so think like a mix of light and breathable jackets, gym shorts, sports bras and running shoes.

Official appearances would show a different side depending on the type. For things like podcasts, shows where people just sit and chat, she'll be dressed like that one girlboss CEO who was originally the villainess of the kdrama MC but then becomes an ally that not only supports MC but helps her see the full picture.

Honestly I don't think punk or girl crush would be too far-reaching as well. Because unlike the traditional ice-cold type, she actually has a lot of passion in her.

Also not present on social media, like at all. Fans are pretty sure more then half of her reposts and tweets are actually made by management rather then her. If she DOES tweet, it'll be very short and curt.

But that doesn't mean she doesn't use social media. Of course she does. Despite how she looks and acts, she actually cares a lot about her image. Less of her fans since those can turn easily, but she takes notes of y'all's loyal fan accounts (yes she is a stalker like Fuuta)

Probably had a dating rumor with Mikoto once, but that completely died out after it was addressed on stream.

Chat: are you really dating Mikoto?

Kotoko, looking at the camera dead in the eye: I would rather bite off my tongue and bleed a slow death.

That stream was never publicly addressed, but many say that Es gave her a good scolding to watch her tongue in public.

Obviously infuriates Mikoto fans, (and also infuriates other fans) on a daily basis. I don't think she'll be liked that much outside of her fanbase, because she seems very rude and condenscending.

Has compilations on Youtube of her smiling because it's just that rare to catch her smiling on camera

She would absolutely SLAY at physical/survival game shows, only person that can actually compete with her in terms of physicalneth is Kazui, and even then she comes out on top when it comes to survival shows (why does she know so much about random stuff??)

While she never graduated from law school, she's pretty educated on it. Constantly brings it up during arguments, she memories sections and recites them like the bible.

Everybody has their own way of stopping Kotoko from going on a law lecture midway through their disagreements. Fuuta and Mikoto annoys the shit out of her until she walks away. Mahiru doesnt even acknowledge it and goes on with her points. Muu shuts off her ears and pouts. Haruka doesn't get into arguments with her because she's scary.

And Es who somehow knows the laws as well gets into a 2 hour debate using other relevant laws to disprove her, only to finally get into a discussion about the flaws of the justice system with her

Even though her whole image is being unapproachable, I do genuinely believe that she would put in effort to being a little nicer to her fans during a fan meet-up or fansign.

Especially towards the younger portion of her fans, she would noticeably try to mince her words and hold her sharp tongue around them, as well as appear a little more open and friendly

(she had to get training to appear friendly she made a young girl cry at her first fansign)

The way she joined was through being scouted (because there is no way in hell that she would willingly join an idol agency)

I would think at first since it was a new agency + didn't really require much of her, she would think of it as a part time job. But then predebut came around and then they debuted and I think it'll be like on some random day during dance practice when it fully sunk in like "oh shit. oh shit I'm actually an idol THIS IS MY JOB".

That's probably when she started putting in more effort.

[doll-elvis]

Why did Elvis not have full sex with a lot of women he dated

some of y’all’s questions never fail to make my mouth drop- but thank you for the ask!! 😃

I actually do think this is an interesting subject although a little awkward to discuss so I just wanna say a disclaimer:

I obviously didn’t know Elvis in real life, I’m not a psychologist, and only Elvis knows why he did the things he did, all we can do is speculate based on the sources that we have

so based on what I have read I think the reason he often preferred foreplay as opposed to penetrative s*x had to do with both his physical body and his religious/southern/conservative upbringing

According to Lamar Fike “He didn’t like penetration that much because he was uncircumcised, and sometimes intercourse tore his foreskin and he’d bleed”

Marty Lacker also commented “Elvis was a little ashamed of being uncircumcised. Maybe he thought it was old-fashioned or kind of country. He mentioned once that s*x was a little painful sometimes because the foreskin tore”

Elvis was born at home and Gladys and Vernon, like many parents, couldn’t afford to have the procedure done. For some reason there is a stigma against uncircumcised men in the U.S and I often see it being associated with uncleanliness (which is probably why Elvis showed Joyce Bova how he cleaned it, iykyk🤧) However for Elvis I think he also saw it as a mark of his impoverished upbringing like Marty Lacker suggested and reportedly Elvis referred to little Elvis as a “hillbilly pecker”

And in the later years I understand that the prescription medication often made Elvis impotent, also I’m sure he just suffered from general exhaustion considering how much performed

Lamar Fike said “Dr. Nick wasn’t giving Elvis testosterone just to make him more virile onstage. Shit, no. He gave it to him for impotence. You couldn’t dope up that much and get a hard-on if Elizabeth Taylor stuck her ass in your face”

Peggy Lipton who he briefly dated said: “A heavy making out and petting session ensued. The petting went on for a quite a while. And then we made love. Or tried to… he was virtually impotent because of the drugs”

However I think it’s untrue to say that Elvis never enjoyed intercourse. According to Barbara Leigh whenever her and Elvis hooked up they would often consummate twice in one night. Joyce Bova and Diana Goodman also gave some very descriptive and frequent stories of their s*x life with him in their books 👀 and of course there have been a lot more women who have said they went all the way with him

Sheila Ryan said “We did have a very active passionate romantic life. Sometimes more than I was ready for, prepared for. Sometimes I was tired and it was ‘no, no, no’. So, you know, I’m really surprised to hear that other women had a problem with the lack of intimacy and s*x”

(once again I wish I was Sheila Ryan in the 70s !!)

Anyways, as I said before I also think his religious and southern upbringing had a lot to do with how he viewed s*x

Joe Esposito said “Despite his s*xual escapades, Elvis had a disarming naïveté when it came to women and s*x. Deep down, he believed s*x and fatherhood were for marriage”

Elvis was raised in and believed in a culture where s*x was strictly for marriage and so he simply found other ways to please himself. I also think he occasionally felt religious guilt for acting out s*xually so that is why he sometimes tried to be fully abstinent, like that one time in the 60s he told Priscilla that he had to learn to control himself from lust

Y’all know when Lana Del Rey said in the national anthem monologue “I always got the sense that he became torn between being a good person and missing out on all of the opportunities that life could offer a man as magnificent as him”?

That quote has always reminded me of Elvis😭!!

I think he was stuck between his love for women (plus the fact that so many were available to him) and his religious upbringing (believing that s*x and virginity were something sacred)

what do y’all think?

[the-muffin-master]

TAV INFO | health condition and traumas

TAV INFO | before the nautiloid -- here (1/2) and here (2/2) TAV INFO | approvals, camp behavior, etc -- here

FEARS AND DEBUFFS

Arachnophobia: the coma was induced by a spider bite known for its powerful somniferous venom. As a gameplay feature, it should work like Shadowheart’s fear of wolves: when approaching enemies that could be classified as arachnids, Zyra might become Frightened if she fails to perform a saving throw.

This has interesting ramifications when it comes to NPCs like Minthara and Kar’niss. Zyra’s mostly fine with the regular drow, despite their association with spiders. Driders, however, border on uncanny territory due to their appearance. And while he won’t antagonize a drider just for existing, the sight of those legs skittering about will put him on fight-or-flight.

They’re also not fond of being tangled and restricted with vines, the familiar grip from over a century of imprisonment still fresh in their mind. Act 2 was rough, as it happened quite often during their journey through the Shadow-Cursed Lands to reach Moonrise Towers. Despite all of that, Zyra is still willing to help Astarion lead the spawn in the Underdark for the rest of their immortal lives – that is, once they’ve explored Faerûn together to their hearts’ content

Astarion’s siblings can take care of everything until then.

ANTI-AGING EFFECT (scientists hate them)

I’ll be honest and say I didn’t want my character to die – I realized this as soon as I began shipping them with an immortal being. And I don’t care if this is the stupidest thing you’ll read in your entire life. I made up an explanation for why they’ll live forever, because I want Astarion to have one constant in his life, and I’m HAPPY with it. The man is going to lose all of his other friends eventually but not this bastard. Zyra will be an eternal source of comfort to him because nothing matters and D&D isn’t real.

Here’s a brief summary: during the century-long nap, her body was "suspended" in time as if she was kept in a cryogenic state (or else the bitch would've starved / dehydrated). Since the venom never left her system and Zyra instead found a way to coexist with it, the aging process has permanently frozen her in the body of a 33-year old. Creatures affected by this substance end up being killed by their predators at some point, so this is a unique condition.

His mind definitely took a while to adjust to the "jetlag" of waking up in the future, though. It was much like going under for a surgery: you’re knocked out and into the most peaceful slumber you’ve ever had. The kind of heavy, dreamless sleep that leaves you groggy and lethargic for the rest of the day. But it also feels like it lasted for five minutes at most. So, in his perspective, it’s like he just blinked and suddenly Brranwin was in front of him.

Oh, and it was quite disorienting to wake up after what he assumed would be his death.

This passively gave them conditional immortality (they can still be killed), as the venom keeps them from aging as a way to ensure the fear of falling asleep continues forever. Remember, right now the tadpole is the one thing allowing Zyra to sleep for just a single night like a normal person. They’re afraid of removing it and falling into a deep slumber again. Luckily, now they’ve got someone who’s always around to wake them up! Forever!!!

YES, THEIR BLOOD IS SAFE TO DRINK

The “sleep-inducing venom” coursing through Zyra’s veins is vicious. Their blood cells are actively looking for ways to force the concentration levels to stay the same, due to it having reached their bone marrow. Their body is forced to cooperate with keeping the infection stable. So even if Zyra is stabbed and bleeds profusely, as their body replenishes the blood back up, the venom will simply multiply and spread until it reaches equilibrium again.

Astarion gets a little sleepy from drinking too much of their blood, just enough to calm his nerves. It’s a fine drink of choice to sip on right before meditating! Other than that, it doesn’t seem to have an adverse side effect – not in small doses at least. My headcanon is that flavor-wise the venom gives it a little spicy kick, or maybe it’s more on the bittersweet side? It’s more like an alcoholic drink than netherese bile.

TASK FAILED SUCCESSFULLY (for either way you choose you cannot win)

The possibility of Zyra being awakened was foreseen by the king. But the venom was strong enough to assure it wouldn’t happen for at least a century (it has a cycle inside of your body, which I’ll go over during the companion quest segment). The venom’s purpose in nature is to put a spider’s prey to sleep while it feasts on its victims. It’s just paralysis in a different font (at least if you’re, like, trying to catch a Pokémon). There are illegal traders who use this venom (heavily diluted in water) in medicine to help with insomnia, which is much less risky since it’s not injected directly into your veins AND it’s watered down, but it’s still dangerous enough to be outlawed.

The king used it as a long-term form of torture and punishment: he never intended to kill Zyra, for if they died by his hands, they’d become a martyr. Harder to erase, seen as a fallen hero. He wanted to throw the jester into obscurity, erase their entire legacy and efforts to overthrow the crown, force dissenters to forget “or else”. The king knew he’d likely be dead by the time someone woke them up (if someone ever did), so he wasn’t concerned. If anything, it’d just further solidify how the world went on without them.

For a young bard that was quickly rising in popularity, waking up having lost everything – fame, fortune, friendships – was devastating. How would you feel if you woke up just as irrelevant as you were when you started your career? You lost EVERYTHING. And you will lose it again and again, because who knows when you’ll wake up next time you fall asleep? There’s no point in forging bonds or alliances. You’re not a part of this world anymore.

You’re the fleeting spark of a campfire in a thunderstorm.

You’re a victim to the sands of time, falling through the hourglass.

[whumpbug]

just a random question for the whole gang (simon, archie, gene, cassidy)!

if they were in the montage of a tv show where each individual member of a team shows off a particular aspect of their personality or their skills as they're introduced to the audience, what would each of their 'snap-shots' look like, if that makes sense?

OOOOUH THIS IS SUCH A UNIQUE QUESTION I LOVE IT

im gonna answer it the best i can but if i misinterpret it IM SO SORRY i hope this will suffice!!!

✮⋆˙

simon:

i think his little clip/snapshot would focus on highlighting 1) that he's a medic duhh but also 2) that he's level-headed and responsible for a lot of things while being calm under pressure. he's good at what he does, and he good at being good at it if that makes sense

it would probably show him suturing since that's perpetually what he's doing, but maybe in a high stakes scenario like in the middle of the field or while someone (archie) is Actively bleeding out and being able to do it Effectively and in a focused manner

archie:

i think his HAS to show how silly he is. he is incomplete without it. his whole thing is being able to quip and smile and keep civilians and bystanders Calm and happy while he deals with threats so his little intro would have to demonstrate how sunny he is

i feel like it would just be the camera pointing at while he does some Unecessary flip while saving someone, maybe with a snarky little comment to the person he'd fighting because he doesn't want people to think he takes his job too seriously (even though he does)

gene:

for gene, there are two things i think i would want to come across in his intro. that he looks mean and rough and Brooding, and that he's a softie. i think that disparity is what makes gene gene and it would also be very silly

i think the little scene would start with gene looking like the Big Bad Deputy he is, maybe reprimanding a criminal and locking them up. then, it would HAVE to cut to him being sweet and loving on calliope like he always done, with his baby voice and everything.

cassidy:

last but certainly not least! the main traits i would want to highlight for this Silly cowboy is how sly and charismatic he is, and also that all of that is an act. he's an actor, a performer, and almost all of his charm is compensatory for how much he is really hurting all. the. time.

it would probably start with a very flashy shot of him robbing a stagecoach or something like-- his favorite pastime is beating up Bad People, but (pardon me getting cinematographic) i'd want there to be a foreboding shadow creeping up on him at some point. its montana, of course, because everything he does is hindered by that man in Some way.

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this was SUCH a fun ask! i love thinking about my boys in different visual media (speaking of visual media i have a surprise for you all coming Soon) but yeah! this was so much fun thank you so much!! i hope it was what you were looking for!!!