#BUT he's so linked to eugene that i don't think i could ever see him in a different disney role

[the-name-is-z]

SKELETONS | ch. 50

daryl dixon x f!oc

masterlist

a03 link

Summary: Whilst Gabriel gives the group shelter in his church, Abraham makes plans for D.C.. Daryl, Iris and Carol follow a lead to find someone they'd lost. Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; mocking religion; implications of abandonment/forced human sacrifice (I don't know what to call it); discussions of damnation; discussions of kidnapping; pep-talk turned judgement; cops

Chapter 50 - Perception

Rick left with a small group consisting of Sasha, Bob, Michonne and Gabriel to see to a nearby building that supposedly had supplies they could use. Food, water, whatever it was, the place was apparently overrun. Daryl and Iris discovered some empty water jugs in the back of the church where Gabriel had been storing the cans from a church food drive, and the pair of them decided they would walk down to the nearby creek to fill them. Even if it was creek water, it could be boiled and sterilized to the best of their ability. Make it as potable as possible.

“Hey,” Daryl called to Iris as he trudged back to the creek to grab the third jug Iris had filled. She was on her knees, filling the last one, looking up at him through the sun. He side-stepped to block her eyes with his shadow. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.” Iris replied, twisting the cap onto the jug as she stood. The two of them walked back up the bank toward the road they’d walked down, now carrying two jugs each.

“They didn’t come back for you, at Terminus, did they?” He asked, mumbling somewhat. Iris frowned.

“No, not after they took you. Why?” She asked. Daryl shook his head.

“Said they were gonna. Found Glenn with your knife.” He explained gruffly. “Guess Carol distracted ‘em in time.” Iris hummed in agreement, watching Daryl in her peripheral. 

“You worried about me?” She asked with a teasing grin. His side-eye was lethal in response, and Iris almost giggled. 

“‘Course I am.” He grunted quietly. Iris’ grin shrank, and she looked over at him fully.

“I was worried about you too.” She admitted. “I was climbing on the damn ceiling, asking Eugene how the railcars open. But all I could think about were those piles of bones, the room with the candles. I was so scared that the last thing I ever would have said to you was some sarcastic shit about knives. The last moment we spent alone together was running after…” She shook her head, turning half-way to see that Daryl had stopped walking. She looked to him, simply staring back at her. “I worry about you, too.” She repeated. He swallowed thickly.

“We get to start over.” He said quietly, after a moment. “We made it.”

“We got lucky.” Iris said with a half-hearted chuckle. “We should be dead.”

“Long dead.” Daryl agreed softly, the two of them still staring deeply into one another’s eyes. Iris broke the hold to glance back over her shoulder. An abandoned car sat in the ditch ahead, seemingly untouched, at least for a while. She turned back to Daryl.

“I’ll check it.” She offered. He nodded and they continued onward, Iris placing the jugs of water down beside Daryl before jogging toward the car. He picked up the other two jugs easily, carrying the four over to the car as she emerged, unlocking the trunk with the keys and testing the battery.

“We’re not dead.” He stated, and she turned back to face him, leaning her hip on the edge of the car. 

“Yeah.” She agreed, and he stepped forward to rest the four gallons of water in the empty trunk, though he had really only stepped forward to get closer. He was practically breathing on her neck. She tilted her head back to look up at him, trying to hide her surprise at his proximity. 

“So let’s start living.” He suggested with a small shrug, Iris turning to face him fully. Her eyebrows knit together and her lips curled upward.

“That was really corny.” She stated, pursing her lips. Daryl’s lips curled upward to match hers.

“Got you to smile, though, didn’t it?” He replied nonchalantly. Iris’ smile grew, and she conceded. They pulled the water jugs from the back of the car and Iris pulled the trunk shut.

“We should keep this here in case something goes south at the church.” She suggested. Daryl nodded in agreement.

“Want me to take one of those?” He asked, and he gestured to the water jugs in her hand, but the one in his slipped, the plastic breaking apart as it hit the asphalt, water spilling out and splashing both of their boots. Iris blinked at the jug on the ground, turning up to face him. His hair hung down over his face, but it did little to hide the rosy flush coming to his face. Her grin widened further.

“I think I’m good.” She replied as he ran his empty hand over his face. 

They walked cheerfully back to the church, and Iris said not a single word about the mishap with the water jug. She got back to work, helping Abraham and Rosita, or rather, they helped her, fix up the small bus near the back of the church. Carl was milling about, entertaining himself, and not long after, Rick, Michonne and the others returned with carts full of non-perishable food items from the building Gabriel led them to. The food bank.

“Hey, Iris? Can I get your professional opinion?” Carl called. 

“Uh-oh.” She replied with a small grin, wiping her hands off on a rag before making her way to where Carl stood at the side of the church. Rick followed suit, out of curiosity. “What is it?”

“You think these came from knives?” Carl asked, gesturing to the church wall. Iris leaned closer, finding a plethora of scratch marks left in the paint around the window and shutters. “They’re deep. Someone was trying to get in.” Not unusual, especially when walkers were involved, but they weren’t deep enough to be knives, and too organized to be walkers. Iris and Rick glanced at one another, thinking the same thing.

“Too thick and too shallow to be knives, cowboy.” Iris said quietly, pulling out one of her own knives with a small flourish, demonstrating a scratch down the window frame. The scratch was evidently different. “Those came from fingernails.” He glanced up at his father.

“There’s something else. I don’t know what happened, but whatever it is, we can handle it.” Carl assured. They followed him around the corner of the church, finding another set of scratch marks in the wall. These were definitely from a knife. They spelled out, in perfect, ominous-as-hell fashion, YOU’LL BURN FOR THIS. “Doesn’t mean Gabriel’s a bad guy for sure, but it means something.” Rick ran his thumb along the words, looking over at Iris. She sighed, catching his knowing look. She’d keep her head up.

-

After the sun set, Gabriel lit enough candles in the church to rival Terminus’ creepy memorial room, and it added a good amount of ambiance to the room. There was loud laughter, chatting between the group. The lovely sound of spoons and forks and fingers scraping plates, bowls and the bottom of tin cans. A true feast. 

“I’d like to propose a toast.” Abraham announced loudly. Iris was more than happy to make good use out of the ceremonial wine they’d brought out for the occasion. Everyone quieted down, taking their seats at various points between and in front of the pews. “I look around this room, and I see survivors. Each and every one of you has earned that title. To the survivors.”

“Survivors! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“Woo!”

“Survivors.”

“Is that all you want to be?” Abraham asked. Iris looked up from her plate, raising an eyebrow. They all paused at the insinuation. “Wake up in the morning, fight the undead pricks, forage for food, go to sleep at night with two eyes open, rinse and repeat? ‘Cause you can do that. I mean, you got the strength. You got the skill. Thing is, for you people, for what you can do, that’s just surrender. Now, we get Eugene to Washington and he will make the dead die and the living will have this world again. And that is not a bad takeaway for a little road trip. Eugene, what’s in DC?”

“Infrastructure constructed to withstand pandemics even of this fubar magnitude.” Eugene replied after clearing his throat. “That means food, fuel, refuge. Restart.”

“However this plays out,” Abraham continued, “however long it takes for the reset button to kick in, you can be safe there. Safer than you’ve been since this whole thing started. Come with us. Save the world for that little one. Save it for yourselves. Save it for the people out there who don’t got nothing else to do except survive.” Rick chuckled softly, looking down into Judith’s eyes as she cooed.

“What was that?” He asked her gently, earning a few laughs from the others. “I think she knows what I’m about to say.”

“That was a damn good speech?” Iris asked. Abraham tipped an invisible hat. 

“She’s in. If she’s in, I’m in.” Rick replied, smiling. “We’re in.”

“Yeah!” Tyreese called. “Let’s do it.” A few of the group cheered, laughing. Abraham grinned. 

After a few minutes of peaceful eating and idle chatter, Daryl nudged Iris with his elbow. She looked up, following his minuscule gesture to the doors of the church as they gently clicked shut. She nodded and they both stood, slipping out. Carol’s figure disappeared down the trail toward the highway. Daryl jerked his chin at the woods beside the trail and Iris nodded.

They followed Carol a good ways, Daryl’s footsteps carefully placed so as to be silent, Iris following carefully to ensure the same. They watched her come upon the emergency vehicle they’d discovered, and Iris watched her start it up effortlessly. A walker growled, emerging from the woods on the opposite side of the road, and Carol grunted as she put an end to it with her knife. Daryl motioned his head toward her and Iris nodded, the two of them coming out from their own hiding spot in the forest. Carol whipped around, Daryl purposefully stepping on a twig so as to alert her to their presence. 

“What are you doing?” Iris asked quietly. Carol glanced around, as if caught doing something she was not supposed to be doing. 

“I don’t know.” She replied, shaking her head. Iris raised an eyebrow. Daryl gestured down the road back to the church.

“Come on.” He urged. They all paused at the sound of another car, ducking behind theirs to get a better look. It sped down the adjacent highway, and Daryl ran a few steps after it, but Iris already knew. The same black car with the same white cross. The one that took Beth. He lunged for his crossbow, using the butt of it to break the taillights of their car.

“What are you doing?” Carol asked loudly, in a slight panic.

“They got Beth.” He replied. He practically ripped open the driver’s-side door, and Iris was already in the passenger’s seat. Carol climbed in the back, looking confusedly between the two of them. The tires squealed against the asphalt as they tore out onto the road after the car. 

-

After a while, Daryl let Iris drive. She and Carol could both see how stressed he was, and with good reason, but they also knew he had quite the temper. None of them wanted to wind up dead in a ditch because he couldn’t control his anger. Besides, Iris was definitely no stranger to speeding behind the wheel. Felix taught her to drive. 

There was a part of her that liked it. The thrill, the adrenaline. The feeling of the wheel in one hand, the gearshift in the other, and her foot on the gas. She’d made quite the street racer in her late teens. And then here she was, a world a way, and yet, less than a hundred miles. And decreasing. Carol spent her time in the backseat trying to distract Daryl, leaving Iris to focus on the road.

“So it was just you two and Beth after?” She asked.

“Uh-huh.” Daryl grunted.

“You save her?”

“She’s tough. She saved herself.” Daryl replied with a half-shrug. His eyes were glued to the highway in front of them. “We were out there for a while. We got cornered, she got out in front of us and… I don’t know, she was gone. We came out and a black car was pulling out with a white cross on the window.”

“Just like that one?”

“Yep.”  

The engine roared, and they were close enough behind the car now to see the red of the taillights in the distance. Iris flicked the headlights off, making sure to leave a decent distance between the two cars. Daryl gripped the handle above the window, grimacing.

“Rick’s gonna wonder where we went.” He murmured.

“They’ll head toward D.C., and they won’t go far without us. They can handle themselves, and so can we.” Iris replied. He hummed in agreement. Iris glanced down at the dash as the engine started to change in pitch. “Running low on gas.”

“We can end this quick. Just run him off the road.” Carol muttered.

“We’ll be good for a bit.” Iris grimaced, shaking her head.

“If they’re holding her somewhere, we can get it out of the driver.” Carol suggested.

“Yeah, but if he don’t talk, we’re back to square one.” Daryl replied. “Right now we’ve got the advantage. We’ll see who they are. If they’re a group, see what they can do. Then we’ll do what we gotta do to get her back.”

“They’re heading north, I-85.” Carol pointed out, reading the road sign as they passed it.

“Mm-hmm.” Iris replied. She knew exactly where they were headed. She’d driven down this damn road before. One-way direct to Atlanta. She exchanged a look with Daryl across the console.

They continued down the highway and reached the darkened city. It was strange, barely seeing the silhouettes of skyscrapers in the night, the moon their only source of light. Iris had learned fast when it all started— if you left a light on in the city, a fire, a damn flashlight, you’d be raided for everything you had and more. She found a few camps— or the remains of a few camps— after they’d been raided. It wasn’t pretty. 

Now, however, it all seemed so quiet. Barely any walkers, and if there were any, they wandered aimlessly toward the closest sound or smell. Iris followed the car at a closer distance now, especially as they began to weave down streets that had at one point been flooded with debris, abandoned cars and bodies. The car ahead slowed and stopped at an intersection, unmoving for at least thirty seconds. Iris stopped about two blocks back, waiting for them to make a move.

“What the hell’s he waiting for?” Daryl murmured.

“Maybe he saw us.” Iris replied, bracing herself with a heavy breath. The taillights flashed as he put the car in park, killing the engine. There was no movement for a minute before the passenger’s side door opened, a man with a gun stepping out onto the street. He was wearing a bullet proof vest and what looked like a uniform.

“There’s two of them.” Daryl observed. “Is that a cop?” Whoever it was stepped up onto the sidewalk, purposefully striding around the corner before disappearing. There was a light source of some sort around the corner, though it could have been anything.  

The three of them gasped loudly as a walker pounded against the window. Iris had leapt out of her damn skin, clutching a hand to her chest. Daryl scowled at it through the window, clawing and mouthing at the glass. It thudded loudly, and Iris prayed it would not draw any unwanted attention.

The man from before came back around to the car, tossing two bicycles onto the sidewalk beside a lamp post. He dragged something across the ground before dusting off his hands and meandering closer toward them. His steps slowed as he took notice of the walker slamming against the car. Iris clenched her jaw. The man stared for a moment longer before opening the car door once again, slowly and calmly getting inside. The car started again and they turned around that same corner.

Iris turned the key for their own vehicle, frowning as it sputtered. 

“Shit.” She breathed. Daryl sighed, looking up.

“They would have taken the bypass and they didn’t. They have to be holed up in the city somewhere.” He pointed out.

“There wasn’t many places left that weren’t overrun. But… I suppose it’s been a few years.” Iris murmured. The noise had started to draw walkers, and the familiar grunts and moans accompanied by shuffling footsteps started to draw nearer.

“We gotta move, find someplace to hole up till sunlight.” Daryl stated.

“I know a place just a couple of blocks from here. We can make it.” Carol assured. Iris nodded, gathering herself. Daryl rolled down the window, stabbing the walker that had been making eyes at him.

-

TAGLIST:

@heidiland05

@ryoujoking

@catlalice

@maxinehufflepuffprincess

@lowkeyhottho

@fadingpalacebonkpsychic

@hayley1998

[splendentmoon]

IDo you know that one scene in Rapunzel where Rapunzel promises Gothel to stay with her if she lets Eugen go ? I just had to think about the Jade Prince in this situation (because I live this au 🥹!) and here is the result :

—————————————————————————

Macaque and Wukong find themselves surrounded by celestial warriors, dozens of spears pointing at them. The emperor has created a binding seal, trapping the two monkeys in place. Even the great sage is powerless against the might of the man who holds the very fabric of the realm together. Emperor be damned. 

MK struggles against the guards, their iron grip preventing him from escaping and helping the monkey demons – his  parents.

Jade emperor: Now look what you've done, Yu. Oh don't worry dear. We will find a nice mountain for those two insufferable demons to trap them under. Permanently. And as for you? You are going where no one will ever find you, again. 

In a desperate struggle, MK fights even more against the guards hold. His blindfold slips off, unveiling the burned upper half of his face – the unsightly, imperfect side. His shame. The part his grandfather wishes to hide. 

Jade emperor: YU, REALLY! ENOUGH ALREADY! STOP. FIGHTING ME!

MK: NO! I won't stop. 

Looking directly the emperor in the eyes, his golden eyes shine against the red, burned scars surrounding them.

MK: For every minute of the rest of my life I will fight. I will never stop trying to get away from you….But, if you spear them.. I will go with you.

Macaque: No. No, Xiaotian...

MK: I'll never run, I'll hide my imperfections and never try to escape. 

He lifts the blindfold from the ground,  showing his choice to hide the scars and everything they stand for. He turns off his  gold vision. He will never show his monkey features or abilities ever again. Everything that could link him to his loving and kind parents must be erased and hidden. 

He puts the blindfold over his eyes to show his resolve to distance himself from his monkey origin. Giving the emperor what he wants. 

MK: Just let them go. And I will stay in the palace. Forever, just like you want. Everything will be the way it was. I promise. Just like you want. Just let them go. 

Jade emperor:  I know you always keep your promises. Fine, I shall grant you your wish. The monkeys will be taken to earth and all gateways to heaven will remain shut, to forbid them from ever causing havoc in the celestial real ever again. 

Wukong: No, Xiaotian! Don’t do that. We will find another way! We can still save you and take you away from this prison ! Don’t throw away your life. Please! 

Rapunzel: Everything is going to be fine. I promise, you have to trust me.

MK forced a calming smile on his face and looked at the direction his father was speaking from. He was glad to not being able to see in that moment. Hearing the desperation in Monkey Kings voice was already tearing his heart apart. The look on his face would surely break him and he can’t do that. Not now. Not when his grandfather is willing to let them go. It doesn’t matter what Yu wants. It never has. He need to be perfect for everyone. He can’t show any cracks in front of the emperor as long as the two monkeys are still in danger. So he smiles. Standing perfectly straight. Standing still…like a doll. Perfect little Yu, the Jade prince, the delight of heaven, the emperors most precious treasure. Not MK, or Xiaotian or himself. Endure, don’t crack, don’t crack don’t crack don’t crack.

Wukong: No...I can't let you do this.

MK (wispers): But I can't let you die.

Wukong: But if you do this...

He couldn’t bring himself to finish. 

Macaque answered in his place. 

"Then you...will die.“

Tears rolling down his cheeks.

Yu's shock slowly faded as the gravity of the words sank in. They still confused him. He wasn’t going to die. His grandfather loves him. He would never kill him, he would just  forbid him from leaving the palace. Yes he would be cut off from Mei and the friends he found on earth and…never taste piggy’s food again or hear Mr. Tangs funny stories and wrong legends about the celestials. Bai He, Sandy, Red Son, EVERYONE. They would be separated from him. Forever. Suddenly Yu understood. This choice he was about to make would in fact kill him. But not like a death sentence. Even worse, a  life sentence in this prison of the celestial realm. Is this truly living, he wondered, trapped, alone and without the people he loved ? No. No this can’t be living. His father was right. He was choosing death. Yet he didn’t fear it. Knowing that his family and friends are save is enough. He would suffer an eternal life for them. 

MK: Hey. It's gonna be all right.

Wukong:  Xiaotian, wait...

Macaque: Please, my baby, don’t…

MK: I am the Jade Emperor and you will address me as such. Farewell monkeys. Forever

Would you believe me if I told you that while I was reading this, I was listening to the song "Mother Knows Best" in my head?

That result was, it was amazing!!!

I read it at least 15 times!

Bravo! Bravo! That would be a story I would read!

God, you gave me ideas for future chapters! Thank you!

[the-writer1988]

With this newest chapter of TLP and Cass seemingly having accepted Eugene as her brother (at least for the sake of fighting Gothel), I wonder how long you think Cass would have taken to accept this news had the situation been less urgent? Say the guards didn't force Rapunzel to push Eugene of a cliff and he came back to Corona with them? Would Cass have accepted this news or been like 'nah'?

Well. This is definitely an interesting question and I've spent the last 12 hours thinking about this very scenario.

If the situation had been less urgent, Cass would have eventually accepted it though with a lot of push-back on her side first of all. But, if we were looking at the perspective from if Eugene had returned to Corona with them, would Cass have accepted the news quickly or been like 'nah'?

I've written a short scene detailing this very scenario...

Cassandra could hardly believe the audacity of King Edmund. He could not be her father. More to the point Eugene could not be her brother. It did not make any sense! She folded her arms, glaring at the man who kept on insisting he was her father. "I don't know what side of the bed you woke up on this side of the morning, but you are not my father!" She pointed towards Eugene. "And, he is not my made-up twin brother!"

"Daughter, you must understand-" Edmund started.

Cassandra glared. "Do not call me daughter!"

"I would have done right by you if I could have done..." Edmund admitted. "Your brother was missing. I had to leave you here. You were both dying... I never once forgot you Cassandra. Every year I visited you on your birthday."

"That doesn't mean anything!" Cassandra retorted angrily.

"What about your hair going blue whenever I use my powers in close proximity to you?" Eugene interrupted.

Cassandra whirled to face him. "You stay out of this!" She turned back to Edmund but then quickly back to Eugene. He hair was blue. And so was hers. "STOP DOING THAT!"

"I feel you in my chest," he responded quietly. "Don't you feel it too?"

She didn't want to admit anything.

"Have you ever felt empty, Cassandra?" Edmund pressed.

Balling her fists together, Cassandra growled angrily. "Yes."

"But do you feel empty now?" asked Eugene.

It took a lot to say it, but she eventually did. "Yes." Her shoulders slumped forward. "You can't be my brother. You can't. And... he can't be my father!"

"Why not? You are adopted..." Eugene had figured that out pretty quickly.

"I know... But admitting that he is my father is one thing... but accepting it is another. By accepting it, it means I know he never loved me. He chose to gave me away instead of raising me himself!"

Edmund stepped forward, sorrow reflecting gently on his face. "I would have raised you, Cassandra, if you were not dying. The link between the two of you, if it shatters in the first six months of life, it means the other twin dies too. The separation between the two of you had you both dying. We had a rough idea where your brother was likely to be. We placed you here in the hope that you were close enough to keep you both alive long enough to survive past the shattering stage. I couldn't stay with you. I had to look after my wife and my own Kingdom. I did everything I could to keep you both alive even if it meant giving you up. It was the hardest day of my life leaving you here, knowing that I would never see you grow up."

She couldn't argue against it. Cassandra sighed. She pierced Edmund with a stubborn glare. "You've got a lot to make up for before I can even forgive you. You know that, right?"

Edmund smiled sadly. "Of course, my daughter. Would you like me to start now?"

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "If we must. And, you, Eugene, quit with the blue hair!"

Eugene smirked. "Why? Blue looks good on you."

"Oh, that's it... You asked for it!"

Eugene stepped back laughing as Cassandra lunged at him. "You can't catch me!"

And he ran off.

"OI! Get back here!" Cassandra ran after him.

Edmund watched on, a contented smile on his face.

Arianna slid up beside him. "You know those two are not going to get on, right?"

"Oh, I know, but it'll be fun to watch..." Edmund smiled.

THIS COULD GO ON FOREVER IF I DO NOT FORCE MYSELF TO STOP! OOPS XD

[anotherbluesunday]

Weyler Week Day 7: Hurt/Comfort

Lacing his fingers together with mine--his palms resting atop my hands, Tyler gave me a squeeze as he steeled himself for what he was about to say. For what he was about to share.

"It wasn't just once." His hands reacted as mine tightened around his fingers. I could feel him tremble slightly. "I don't understand it. I don't know what she got out of it but when she'd order me to do something I couldn't...I had no control. Between the beatings and the injections and the nights she forced me to stay with her..."

My heart fought against the prison it was held captive in, screaming like a banshee in the dim as Tyler forced himself to speak--to open himself up to me. It was unbearable, this feeling. So painful and miserable but strangely enough comforting and reassuring. He did trust me.

"At one point I just learned to sort of shut my brain off and let it happen. So long as she had control of me and my hyde there was no way for me to defy her. But it meant nothing. I felt sick every time she would touch me—like I’d throw up at any minute. I still feel ashamed because if I had just been stronger than my hyde--if I had just fought a little harder then I could have stopped it all. But it’s funny, I feel like I probably deserved it." Tyler sniffled and hot tears fell from his eyes to his chin where they collected on my head. "I did honestly after what I'd done."

"No one deserves to be treated the way you were."

"I killed eight people."

"Under Laurel's order. Had she not entrapped you. Had she not drugged you and abused you, would you have done those things with a clear mind?"

"No," he whispered.

"Would you have hurt me? Would you have attacked Enid or Eugene?"

"No."

"Then why do you continue to believe Laurel's lies?" I paused briefly to reign myself in; my anger toward that wench flaring the more I spoke of her. "You aren't what she said you are. You're an artist," I began, my mind compiling all the things I knew about him as I spoke. "You love animals and saved wounded birds and snakes as a child. You're a musician and enjoy sad love songs. You sing along to them when you think no one is listening and smile that silly grin of yours when I catch you. You're a hopeless romantic," I said with a slight smile as I reached a hand up to cup the side of his face, "and are entirely devoted as a partner. You put your all into our dates and always take my neuroses into consideration."

"Wednesday..."

"Would someone deserving of torment make a birthday cake for a girl who hadn't even accepted his invitation for a date?"

Tyler held me tighter, burying his face in my hair.

"What happened to you was not your fault. You neither provoked or deserved to be the object of her sick infatuation. You're an innocent." Shifting in his embrace so that I could see Tyler's expression, I breathed in the ardor and timid hope in his pooling eyes. "There is no need for you to apologize when you have done nothing wrong."

.

.

.

this is an excerpt from chapter 10 from my first ever fic for this fandom, In My Blood. this story was such a joy to write and the final chapter—the epilogue will be arriving by the first week of August. i know i promised it sooner but life has been a struggle lately so things have been pushed back.

if this snippet has intrigued you, click the link below to read the full story.

.

.

.

[bwobgames]

Previous First

Two teens are sitting in the carpet, watching YouTube videos on a phone, they pause it and look up judgementally.

"As a former teen, I understand the appeal of sitting on the floor instead of couches, but as a back-pain-prone creaky-knees adult, I no longer share these views"

"Are you two the couple having gay sex on the second floor?"

"When will I ever be free from the consequences of my actions"

"Nope, wrong person, we are the gay detective couple that were investigating the second floor"

"Oh, cops"

"Private detectives"

"Yeah, man, there's no gay cops"

"That makes more sense"

"Anyways! We need you guys to go to -"

"Actually, there is something else."

"There is?"

"Are you two Simon Coli and Owen by any chance"

"Uh, yeah? I'm Owen"

"I'm Simon"

"Do you happen to know anything about Mr. Coli's speedrunning incident ?"

They look at each other

"... Not really"

"Yeah! It was something about an anonymous link to a video of him doing a weird tour, right? We just read the news about it"

"I see"

"Another quick question"

"Are you lying to me?"

They freeze up

"Ah, I mightve been a little too intense there. Whoops"

"... Care to share your thought process, partner?"

"Oh! This is the part where the main detective says their hypothesis! What would Benoit Blanc do? Ah, yes! Slight undressing!"

"You're right Owen, it was an anonymous link sent to a reporter. It is interesting that you remember that specific detail.

You see, Mr Coli is known for being a man who cares a lot about his public image, it is weird that he would willingly put a video proving him guilty of multiple crimes and being put as a speedrun for a game, it's a bit silly isn't it?"

"And sure, maybe he just did it on a whim, maybe to just be funny or something"

"But wouldn't it make more sense

That it wasn't him who made and uploaded the video?"

"Ah, signs of anxiety, how familiar I am with them.

Still, as much as I think I'm right, this hypothesis doesn't have much to stand on, This just feels like something someone younger would do. Maybe if I apply a bit of pressure to them, they'll say something? I don't want to be mean to kids, though..."

"Partner. Partner help. Understand my telepathic message Ángel!"

"Owen, by any chance, you don't happen to know the speedrunning account Eugene happened to use when he was younger, right? Is not like he showed you it or anything.

And Mr. Little Coli, I suppose Eugene was never interested in telling you about his company or factories or anything. That would be crazy!"

"What. Where did he get that from. Did he talk to them before?

And he's not even undressing!"

"Ah, it would also be very convenient if they knew someone who owned a lot of cameras"

An anxious atmosphere hangs over the room

"Um, we are not trying to arrest you or anything!! I think it was very , uh, poggers? If you exposed him like that?"

"... Never say poggers again."

"Duly noted"

"Let me be honest, we think your dad invited us here to kill us all. And we need to know the truth of the speedrunning incident to finally figure out what he is planning exactly"

"Wha... We're going to die?!"

"Ah, don't worry! We are taking care of it! Look! I haven't died yet!"

Ángel makes a weird expression

"Let me get to the point. I think you guys made the video without him knowing.

The fact that it was recorded as some kind of tour, replacing the sound of voices, and that it would be unlike Mr. Coli to set himself up like that makes me think it was some type of secret recording

And what Ángel said would fit really well to this theory, too.

There is no motive to the speedrun because it was never supposed to be a speedrun.

So please tell us, we need to know what it is that actually happened"

"Our lives could be at risk"

"... You won't snitch to the police or anything?"

"The only thing I've ever told the police is 'I request a lawyer' "

The teens look at eachother

" ...Um, it was the three of us actually"

[nothing0fnothing]

Ok, one of quitblamingnarcissism's flying monkeys just compared narc abuse victims to fascists.

Do you ever wish these people would get doxxed by someone so they could get in trouble for their bullshit IRL?

That's wild and I'd love you to dm me a link so I can actually see wtf he's talking about, but I see this kind of narrative on quit blaming narcissism too so I can field a guess.

Quit blaming narcissism argues that abuse survivors are ableists based on the (ableist) misconception that narcissist is the word for a person with NPD all the time. Their recent thing has been baslessly claiming that narcissistic abuse survivors are thin blue line, blue lives matter copaganda guzzlers who decry the abuse in our homes but celebrate abuse when the police do it... no idea where he's getting that from, but I guess (misinformation + vaguely leftist talking point - facts or evidence) has been a formula working for him so far so why would be stop now?

So yeah, it doesn't surprise me that one of his fanboys is jumping about this app saying that people who are traumatised and know the name of the abuse we experienced are actually all overt eugenics supporters who hate on disabled people and the poor, while comparing our matching swastika belt buckles or whatever his argument was. It's the next illogical step on the slippery slope of misinformation and anti intellectualism seeded by his fave.

Doxxed so they can face consequences irl? I don't think I'd go that far.

For one in my experience the world outside the Internet just doesn't give a shit about abuse survivors. A glance at what happened to Amber Heard or 86% of other domestic violence cases that go to court for that matter will show you that. How many child abuse survivors sue our parents and win? Not many.

I think if his name became publicly tied to his online presence he might get some hate mail or swatted or something, but the repercussions that actually matter wouldn't happen. He'd keep his job, his friends won't care because they probably all think the same, ditto his family considering they raised him, he's not committed any crimes so there will be no criminal action. He will move and his life will go on as normal.

To me the purpose of doxxing someone is to make their online footprint traceable. I'm not above calling for a well deserved doxx, if he was commiting crimes or doing stuff that would have real social repercussions I wouldn't be opposed, but all that will happen is someone will order 100 pizzas in his name or falsely tell the police he's building bombs in his attic, whats really the point?

So yeah, in case you were asking for my permission, don't doxx him.

[qveenpoppy]

hercules on broadway starring jeremy jordan in the title role disney, please... i'm begging you...

[tangledbea]

Could I then also ask, since you say that most main characters are inhumanly strong, agile and fast, could you do some of these too? Like, Rapunzel, Cassandra and Varian also have moments where they are shown to be extremly strong. Could you also do some screencaps of them?

Hmm... Varian, not so much. I'm thinking back on him and his scenes, and he's not really ever shown to be particularly strong.

And for the record, I didn't make any of these screencaps. I got them from @tenshichan1013 or kissthemgoodbye.net. Both of those are excellent sources for Tangled the Series screencaps.

With Rapunzel, I'll start from the very beginning.

Daily hauls someone who weighs more than her seventy feet into the air, and back down again.

This is a cast iron skillet. Cast iron is very heavy, and she's tossing it around like it's nothing.

And it works better when you see it in motion, but when Eugene is swinging across the gorge, headed straight for the Stabbingtons, she yanks on her hair, which is already wrapped around a rock for support, and manages to pull him out of their reach.

She fights gravity and Lance's weight to keep him from falling off a cliff.

She can easily support Eugene and Vigor's weight at the same time while she, herself, is suspended. (Note, she also caught him mid-fall.)

Before Eugene picked him up, Rapunzel was effortlessly dragging Hook Foot away from the drexis.

And all of that is stuff she's done with her muscles. Yeah, when she was lifting Gothel on the daily, she had a fulcrum, but it wasn't a complex one.

Oh, she's also fast.

Here, she's outpacing were-Ruddiger. This isn't the only time she's shown running faster than something she had no right to, but this is the first time, and I can't offhand remember what the other times were.

And I'm not going to lie: While Cassandra is canonically strong, I don't have any particular times memorized - especially pre-black rock suit - where she displays feats of strength that made me go, "Whoa." That doesn't mean they don't exist, it means I didn't focus on them or memorize them. But you can look through those two links at the top of the post if you want to try to find examples for yourself.

[originaldisneydescendants]

Adding in, because of the events of "Rapunzel and the Great Tree" Cassandra possibly also didn't mention any of this to Rapunzel prior to "Destinies Collide" because she didn't believe Rapunzel would listen to her and would just try to touch the moonstone anyway.

Cassandra has always been guarded and generally not the most trusting, but I believe there is a reason why she was particularily suspiscious of Adira when she came along mysteriously and said that she was there to help.

"Look Adira, you might have sold my friends on being the 'wise but kooky old mentor' but I'm not buying it. I'm watching you."

-

"You know what I think? I think you're playing us! I think you led us here on purpose and for some sick reason you wanted Rapunzel to find that incantation and read it!"

"Come on Cass! Listen to yourself!"

"Rapunzel, I am telling you right now we need to get out of this tree but more importantly we need to lose Adira before she gets us all killed!"

"I can't do that, Cass."

"What do you mean you 'can't do that'? Of course you can! Are you that obliviously naive that you can't see--"

-

"I don't get it, Eugene. I have never seen Cass act like this before."

"Yeah angry, brooding, impatient. I'm stunned."

"You know what I mean. Ever since we left Corona she's been... different."

-

"You know it's not just about Adira right? I mean she's a jerk and I can't stand her it's just since when did you stop trusting my judgement?"

-

"Cass is gonna be devastated when she finds out the truth about Andrew!"

-

"I knew you were a fraud from day one. You misspelled 'bibliophile' in your letters, Bonehead."

-

"We collectively are going to figure it out, but I need to know that I can trust you."

"You can count on me."

-

"...You're smart, you're compassionate, you're unique!"

I believe when the episode "Rapunzel and the Great Tree" opened, Cassandra was already feeling a bit insecure about her own judgement of character because of how things went with Varian and Rapunzel's words/actions in the episode inadvertently caused that insecurity to grow to where Cass felt like she had to prove that her judgement could still be trusted. Here is just an example of what I imagine some of the dialogue in season 3 could sound like as far as addressing the origin of Cassandra's suspicion:

Rapunzel: Varian? What does Varian have to do with any of this?

Cassandra: Open your eyes, Rapunzel! His dad was part of the brotherhood! He had the first piece of the scroll! He must have known all along about the sundrop, the moonstone, the Dark Kingdom, the rocks, everything! He wanted the power for himself and he conned us with the whole 'sweet kid' act!

Eugene: For the record, I knew there was something off about that guy from the get go.

Rapunzel: But before the storm, he came to me for help and at the science expo, he wanted so badly to impress you...

Cassandra: He was faking it! Ugh! It all makes sense! I'm your bodyguard! He couldn't get to you without gaining my trust and he knew it! I was nothing but an obstacle in his way to get to you! It was his dad's job to keep people away from the moonstone and you know what? I bet Varian trapped his own dad in that amber on purpose so he couldn't stop him! Even more so you'd feel sorry for him then willingly hand over your power and when you didn't, he showed his true colors and tried to take it by force! You said he told you that he didn't care about Corona, so why not do it during a storm when everyone else's lives were in danger?! Do you think he cared?! I heard the rumors about him, I knew he was dangerous but I underestimated him so I led you right in through his front door and we all payed the price for it! To think, I actually set aside my big chance to live out my dream and be a royal guard just to help him clean up the mess made while he was trying to win me over! Well, I promise you, I'm not going to make that mistake again!

Rapunzel: Cass, I think you might be feeling a little too hurt to see things clearly right now.

Cassandra: Believe me, Rapunzel, I see everything just fine and I'm not hurting. I don't feel anything.

Basically my prediction for the first half of season 3/the midseason "Cassandra's Revenge" is going to be when this particular conflict comes to a head before building up to Zhan Tiri in the series finale.

For those who missed my earlier observation video that I shared after the S2 finale, here is a link. Note: In the video I mention that they would be in the same age groups as Belle and the Beast but a more accurate comparison would probably be to Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty.

[theangrypokemaniac]

Ma adopts the classic pose of a Lady by gathering her hands together, for that speaks of breeding. Look at Renaissance portraiture and you'll find many a predecessor doing alike.

When at ease, Pa puts his hands behind him, as they teach a gentleman to behave. Prince Philip also follows the rule in part thanks to the hard discipline of a naval career.

On Ma her waist is a deeper red, as that's the shadow cast by her...blessings.

In a similar fashion, the ideal build of a man is a flat stomach and broad chest, and Pa's pecs extend so much the rest of him is thrown into darkness.

I told yer it was gym in the dungeon!

Let me make a comparison with Sinnoh's version of this scene.

Original picture:

You're too far away. I can't see properly.

Instead of staring out of the French window, maybe more concern ought to paid to the demonic apparitions in the background.

What's this, a party for the Beings Between Dimensions?

I kept thinking the second one is Angela Lansbury, busy blending in to solve another society murder.

This explains why James is confined to the immediate outside: well within observing distance but not too close, in case one of the guests consumes his soul.

How bloody evil is Sinnoh Ma there?

Look at her nasty face: she's like a furious mint imperial.

Her head is imploding under its own gravitational pull.

Even Sinnoh Pa's trousers are an affront to me. Gone is the proud protuberance and in comes a material arrangement implying he's trying not to soil himself whilst also hiding the truth, both in stance and spillage, hence turning his back to the crowd.

Worry not, Sinnoh Pa, you're wearing those special pads aren't you? Very absorbant.

I know the berks who wrote Sinnoh held Team Rocket in contempt but does that extend to their relatives too? Is there any reason why Sinnoh Ma and Sinnoh Pa have suffered the Palsied Touch Of Death wiping 'em down with its slimy appendage?

Perhaps it befell the pair on this very evening, so the boy was locked out for his own good.

Too late, his head's already had the sniff of it, that's why he resembles a midget version of his older self.

As I've commented previously, every single scene of The Treasure Is All Mine! featuring James's parents was lifted straight from Holy Matrimony! because the 'artists' are too busy picking their own arses to come up with anything new.

Why not? The plot's a copy, so might as well do the same with the animation. Flaunt those recycling credentials!

Some are exactly the same pose, albeit in poorer quality, but many are reversed, as if that disguises it, and when a picture is flipped, it seems twisted and misaligned, as shown above.

Yet even that wasn't enough, as their rendering of it is even worse, and given a scowling expression.

What are they trying to say? You think a wizened old dog like that could ever entice Pa's lust?

As if! Sinnoh Ma is blatantly older than him! Why would he put up with that?

He's rich! He can pull underwear models!

Sinnoh Pa would, because he's desperate. Appearances don't matter so much when you're in dire need of a bed bath.

I tremble with the fear that one day the writers might recall Ma and Pa's existence, and reintroduce 'em, as going by this progression the third showing will be even more shrivelled:

Next thing you know we'll be dealing with Link's nan from The Wind Waker!

What is this thing in anime when anyone over forty suddenly resembles a friendly walnut?

What colour is Sinnoh Ma's hair meant to be there? Mauve?

Mauve?!

Since when was she bloody mauve?

Her actual shade somewhat depends on where you get the image.

Google:

Serebii:

Both of these match the old cassette copy I cherish.

What's up with yer screen shots, Serebii? Did you take 'em through one of those blurring toilet windows?

Pokémon T.V. Crapp:

I can't trust it. Each update produces a slightly different version of the same scene. I don't know whether I'm coming or going.

What is it, claret? Maroon? Aubergine?

Hey, T.A.P. isn't on intimate terms with exact hues and all their airy-fairy appellations. In my day reciting the contents of a rainbow was impressive. Doing it in order ranked one as a genius.

It certainly isn't mauve. Apparently Sinnoh Ma wasn't withered enough, and required something to really wash out her complexion, implying greyness but not quite.

I'll tell you of what this reminds me:

Hey Arnold!

If I remember it correctly (and that's not guaranteed) there was an episode featuring a go-kart race, though I don't believe they really exist, as I've never seen such a spectacle.

Sid (the one with a penis for a nose and a nose for a penis) called his The Dark Avenger, whereas Eugene (the grinning one with ginger frizz) had The Mauve Storm.

After a mishap they were obliged to share an makeshift vehicle, but rather than combining names to form The Dark Storm, Knobnose got well annoyed as Pubehead insisted on christening it The Mauve Avenger.

You could call Sinnoh Ma that.

Well there's some bloody mauve avenging taking place tonight, though I don't deserve this insult.

Fun fact: mauve is entirely synthetic, invented by accident during the Industrial Revolution.

Well there you are then.

God is so opposed to the concept of Sinnoh Ma's barnet He refused to even make it possible, because God hates mauve, refusing to allow it in nature. 'Twas forged from the diabolical furnaces within those Dark Satanic Mills instead, emphasis on the Satanic.

But I thought you liked purple and all it's many varieties.

Quiet you. It's the principle.

Where was I?

The reason why Sinnoh Ma has the fan surgically grafted to her person is it makes an easy flat surface to draw, rather than having to bother with her beads, brooch and folded neckline.

Her bony exterior evokes female slebs who foolishly imagine being as thin as possible adds youth, when in fact it's deeply ageing.

As for Pa, none of his colours have been followed, and that waistcoat on Sinnoh Pa has a most angry cut.

His general dodderiness gives the impression his pockets are peppered with furry Werther's Originals, as pensioners love sucking a Werther. Everyone knows that.

But they break yer teeth!

S'okay. Sinnoh Pa has none.

Now what about the physiques?

Notice on Pa little red is visible, with his blazer hanging straight down for meeting no impediment, even drawing inwards at the end of chest.

You can see a lot more red on Sinnoh Pa, and the blazer has to part the further down it goes to accommodate the belly. The shadow is absent because this area exceeds the top.

They've warped Pa from being a fella who cared about his body enough to keep it trim, to one who let himself go.

How people deal with weight tells you about their personality. He can't be busy sweating it off and also not give a toss!

What, is Ma gonna tolerate the possibility of a conjugal crushing as it rolls over?

No way, she's got standards!

Why would she touch that when there's plenty of sexy beasts ready to snap 'er up?

Sinnoh Ma would. She needs a big container to store her favourite tipple of blood.

Bear in mind that Pa is the character when James is grown up, and Sinnoh Pa a recollection from childhood, meaning the old, fat, grey, decrepit vision is the younger incarnation. Make sense to me.

Sinnoh Pa ate all the pies, man!