#Ben can see good and bad spirits that somehow find him. He tries his best to help them to the other side.

[spnmoosejerk]

Ben the ghost whisperer

[robronsecretsanta2020]

Dingle Family Christmas Party

For @shellbutty82 “Just meet him for a drink. Al says he’s really nice.” “Al says that does he?”

Chas sighed.

“Ok maybe not exactly. But I met him the other day in passing and he was really polite. Called me ma'am and Mrs Chapman.”

Aaron rolled his eyes.

“So that’s all it takes with you? Some lad you don’t know assuming you’re his boss’ wife.”

“No. He was just friendly. He had a sweet smile.”

Aaron sighed.

“How do you know he’s even gay? Or single? Or would be interested?”

“Oh come on love, you’re a catch!”

Aaron rolled his eyes again and sighed.

“Right.”

“So you’ll meet him? Just a drink in the pub, see how you get on? I’ll ask Ellis to give him your number on his next shift.”

“No mum don’t do that. I’m… I’m actually seeing someone.” Aaron said quickly.

“What? Who? What’s his name? Do I know him?”

“You don’t know him. It’s early days.”

“I want to meet him.” Chas decided.

“No, it’s too soon. Like I said, it’s early days.”

“Bring him to the family Christmas party then. That’s a month away.”

“No.”

“Why not? I want to meet the man who’s swept my boy off his feet.”

Aaron rolled his eyes.

“It’s not like that…”

“I still want to meet him.”

“Fine. I’ll ask him. He might have plans with his own family.”

“Surely he’ll want to meet your family? His boyfriend’s family. His in laws.”

“I’ll ask him ok mum? I’ll let you know if he’s coming. I have to go now. We’re heading into a tunnel. Byeee.” Aaron said and hung up just as Adam got into the passenger side of their truck.

“What was that?” He asked.

“My mum. Trying to set me up with some bloke working for Al.”

“Oh? Who?”

Aaron shrugged.

“Some bloke called Ben. One of the water sports instructors I think. And a really sweet lad who called her Mrs Chapman apparently.”

Adam smirked.

“So when’s the wedding?”

“Shut up. I told her I’m seeing someone. And now she wants me to bring him over for Christmas.”

“Christmas with the family? Isn’t that a bit… soon?”

“Yes. Especially since I’m not actually seeing anyone.” Aaron let his head fall back against the head rest.” I’m screwed.

“No mate, I’ll help you. There’s these apps for gay guys right? Like gay tinder?”

“Hmm…”

“We’ll find you a guy on that!”

“Ads… guys on those apps aren’t looking for dates or a boyfriend. They just want sex.”

“Well then… Tell him you’ll sleep with him if he pretends to be your boyfriend for a night! Or just hire someone.”

“What? Like an escort?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing… but I’m not doing that. I’m not paying someone to play my boyfriend.”

“Alright, fine. Don’t take the easy fix.” Adam muttered as he put on his seatbelt. “Plan B it is then.”

“What’s plan B?”

“We find you a guy before Christmas day.”

“Yeah that was kind of plan A already, Ads.”

“What about Finn?” Adam asked, ignoring Aaron’s comment.

“What? No.”

“Why not? He’s gay.”

“I know.”

“And single.”

“I know.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“Nothing. I just… don’t want to give him the wrong idea.”

“What wrong idea? Just be straight with him.” Adam said and laughed when he realised what he’d said, earning him an exasperated eyeroll from his friend.

“Idiot.” Aaron mumbled as he started the engine.

“So what’s wrong with Finn?” Adam tried again a few minutes later.

“Nothing… It’s just… We hooked up ok?”

“What?! You slept with my brother? When? Is it a friends with benefits thing?”

“No. It was just a one off… After that Halloween party we went to.”

“Wow… I didn’t know you fancied him.”

“I don’t. I was just kind of drunk and… in the mood… you know… And he was just… there.

“My best friend and my brother… I don’t know what to do with this information.”

“Nothing. Because it’s never happening again. And I’m not asking him to play my boyfriend either.” Aaron insisted. “I had a hard enough time trying to get him to leave the next morning. He was gone when I woke up, so I just went for a shower, thinking he’d left, only when I got downstairs he was having a cuppa with my mum.”

Adam laughed.

“You’re joking.”

“I wish I was. I had to almost physically throw him out. It was embarrassing.”

“Ok so no Finn.” Adam said in between fits of giggles. “And you don’t want a guy from an app, or from some dating service… so where does that leave us?”

“Us?” Aaron glanced sideways. “When did this become an us thing?”

“Operation get Aaron a boyfriend is go! I’ll help you find a man. I’m good at these things.”

Aaron snorted.

“Yeah right. The only reason why you’re with Vic is because she told you the two of you were together and would not accept anything else.”

Adam sputtered through a protest but was thankfully distracted by his phone.

He groaned when he read the message.

“What? Don’t tell me that was the business account. I can’t deal with bad news today.”

“No, it’s Vic. Her brother is coming to stay with us for a while. I was hoping she’d forgotten about that.”

Aaron frowned.

“Why is Andy staying with you?”

“Not Andy. Robert. Her other brother.”

“I didn’t know Vic had another brother.”

“He lives in London I think. Or lived… she said something about him going through a divorce.”

“And that’s why he’s staying with you? Because of his divorce?”

Adam shrugged.

“I think so. But I’d rather not have him staying in our box room.” He sighed and read the message from Vic again. “Hey why don’t you join us for tea tonight?”

“Why would I do that?”

“So you can be my buffer if the guy is a twat. And I’ll have at least one person to talk to that I like.”

“Vic will be there.” Aaron pointed out.

“You know what I mean. She’s making lasagne. It’s the prat’s favourite apparently.” Adam told him. “Just say yes, mate, please.”

Aright. Fine. But the guy might actually be nice? Have you considered that?”

“No. He never stopped by or called before. And now his wife is kicking him out, Vic is good enough again.” Adam explained. “And Andy’s told me a few things. He doesn’t like him either.”

“Since when does that mean anything?”

“Just trust me on this one.”

Aaron rolled his eyes but for the sake of keeping the peace, he didn’t say anything. They had two hours left on their drive home, three if the roads were busy, and he’d rather not have an angry Adam on his hands during it.

In the end they made it home in a little over 2 hours and Aaron rushed home quickly to change. Thankfully his mum was busy in the pub so he didn’t have to answer any difficult questions about his non-existent boyfriend.    

He grabbed a bottle of wine from the pub cellar and made his way over to Keepers. He didn’t particularly like wine,  but he didn’t want to show up empty handed either.

When he walked up to the door and knocked, one of the most beautiful men he’d ever seen answered it.

“Can I help you?”

“I… I’m Aaron.”

“Ok. Good for you. That doesn’t answer my question.”

“I… I uh.. I’m…”

“Oh there you are mate! I was beginning to think you weren’t coming because your mum was holding you hostage until you told her everything.” Adam suddenly appeared and all but dragged him into the house.

“Uh… no… she was busy.” Aaron told him. “I brought this.” He handed Adam the bottle.

“Oh cheers mate, I’ll go put it in the kitchen.”

And just like that, Adam disappeared and left him alone again with the beautiful man.

“You’re Adam’s mate then I take it?”

“Uh… yeah… and Vic’s…”

The beautiful man nodded.

“I’m Vic’s brother Robert. Don’t believe anything you’ve heard about me.”

Aaron frowned.

“I haven’t heard anything about you.”

“Really? Well… I’m sure you will sooner or later… and well… I’m not as bad as Andy would like you to think.”

“Noted.”

At that moment Vic emerged from the kitchen and ushered them both inside.

The four of them sat down at Vic and Adam’s tiny dinner table and Aaron ended up sitting next to Robert.

“So you two deal in scrap metal?” Robert asked and seemed genuinely interested.

“Yeah, business is actually going well too.” Aaron replied and soon the two of them were deep in conversation. They’d started out talking about business and Robert looking for an investment for his divorce settlement, but soon moved on to more personal subjects.

“So why did you divorce her then? It sounds like you had a pretty good life down there in London?”

Robert took a sip of his wine to buy himself some time to think of an answer.

“It uh… just didn’t work out.”

Aaron nodded.

“Fair enough.”

The rest of the night was uneventful and it was nearing 10.30 when Aaron thanked Vic for the food and made his way home. He’d spent most of the evening talking to Robert and had really enjoyed himself.

He was easy to talk to, funny, gorgeous, had a smile to die for and eyes to lose yourself in… and he was straight.

“Don’t fall in love with the straight guy.” Aaron told himself as he walked home.

Over the next few days, everywhere Aaron went, he seemed to run into Robert somehow. Which did nothing to calm down the butterflies in his stomach.

“Is this all you have?” Robert asked David as he held up a bunch of flowers, just as Aaron walked into the shop.

“Why? Is it not good enough for a cool business man from the city? What girl are you trying to woo? Is it Leyla?”

“I… don’t know who that is. I just want some decent flowers to put on my mother’s grave alright? But obviously I’m looking in the wrong place.” He tossed the flowers onto the counter and left the shop. Aaron hesitated for a moment but then went after him.

“Hey, Robert, wait up.” He called out and jogged a few steps to catch up with the other man. “Are you alright?”

“Fine.” Robert replied automatically.

“You don’t look fine…”

Robert didn’t say anything and they just kept walking.

“What was all that about with David?” Aaron asked after a moment. “In the shop?”

Robert shrugged.

“It’s nothing. I just… thought I’d buy some flowers for my mum. But he didn’t have much to choose from.”

“Yeah… I think he gets the petrol station rejects.” Aaron joked, trying to lift Robert’s spirits. “Is it her birthday? Your mum I mean.”

“No… I just… haven’t been home in so long… I thought I’d go say hi and give her some flowers you know. Make myself look like a prat talking to a headstone.”

“I do that too. My ex is buried there too. I go see him sometimes to update him on what’s going on with me and the village.”

“Your… ex?”

“Yeah. Car accident. Drunk driver. I was devastated. He was my first boyfriend… I thought I’d never fall in love again after him.”

“But you did?”

“Sort of.” Aaron shrugged. “But I’m single now.” He blurted out. “Sorry, I don’t know why I told you that.”

Robert gave him an amused smile.

“It’s ok. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Good. Thanks.” Aaron said and bit his lip to stop himself from smiling like a lovestruck idiot. The whole not falling in love with the straight guy thing wasn’t going very well. “I know a place. In Hotten. That does nice bouquets.”

“Thanks… but I don’t have a car here, my ex got it in the divorce… and if the buses around here are as punctual as they were when I was a kid… I don’t want to walk around Hotten for two hours with flowers because the bus didn’t show up.”

“I can give you a lift.” Aaron offered. “I should get my mum something too. As a Christmas present.”

“Christmas is over two weeks away.”

“I like to start early.” Aaron joked and they both laughed.

“Alright… well if you don’t mind. When are you free?”

“Now?”

Ten minutes later, the two of them were in Aaron’s car on their way to Hotten. It turned out having Robert sit that close to him was absolutely the worst thing to happen to for his ability to focus on the road.

“So… how long have you lived in the village? I don’t remember you from when I was a kid.” Robert started, trying to make small talk.

“Oh uh… five years? Maybe six? I don’t keep track.”

They talked about the village, and the road to Hotten and how much it had changed since Robert had lived there, and probably some more things, that Aaron couldn’t even begin to focus on.

“This is it. “ he said when he pulled up outside a shop. “The girl that owns it used to go to school with me. We were in the same year. Her name is Michelle. She might give me mates rates.”

“Ex-girlfriend?”

“What? No. I’m gay.” Aaron said and if he didn’t know any better, he’d say there was a spark of something in Robert’s eyes, and the butterflies in his stomach were doing somersaults again.

But the second they walked into the store and a girl, not Michelle, walked up to them asking how she could help them, the butterflies stopped and turned into a thick lump in his throat, when Robert started flirting with her.

“I’m looking for something special. For my mum. What do you recommend?” he smiled at her. “I trust your expertise, Amber.”

She started putting together a bouquet of flowers Robert chose, and commented on his good taste with every choice.

By the third flower Aaron had had enough.

“I’ll wait in the car.” He told Robert.

“Oh… didn’t you want to get a Christmas present for your mum?”

“Christmas is ages away.” He shrugged and waved Robert’s comment away. “You know where to find me when you’re done.”

He knew he was being irrationally harsh to Robert, but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t deal with him flirting with some girl in a shop. Not when he’d give anything to have Robert smile at him like that.

He got into the car and pressed the balls of his hands into his eyes.

“You idiot!” he told himself and rested his head on the steering wheel. He didn’t know how long he’d been sat there like that, when suddenly the passenger door opened and Robert got in.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Aaron lied. “Those must’ve cost a fortune.” He nodded at the huge bouquet in Robert’s hands.

“Oh… uh no it wasn’t that bad. She used her staff discount.”

Aaron nodded and then noticed a little red heart shaped card in the flowers.

“You put a card in there too?”

“No…” Robert turned the bouquet around and plucked out the card. “Oh… it’s her number…”

“Looks like you won’t have to be lonely for long after your divorce.”

Aaron started the car and drove them back to Emmerdale, without either of them saying a word. He turned the radio on after a few minutes to drown out his thoughts.

“We’re here.” He announced some time later, pulling up near the village cemetery and waiting for Robert to get out of the car.

“Did I do something to upset you?”

“No. Everything’s fine.”

“It doesn’t seem fine. You’ve been all… angry since we were at the shop.”

“No I haven’t. Everything is fine. I promise.”

“You’re full of shit.”

“You what?”

“You heard. Something is wrong. I upset you somehow didn’t I? Tell me what I did.”

“No. It’s… it’s not like that. It’s not you. It’s me.”

Robert raised an eyebrow but didn’t reply.

“I… I like you ok? Like that.” Aaron admitted. “But you’re straight, so nothing will come from it and watching you flirt with that girl in the shop just reminded me of what I can’t have.”

“Oh… right.”

“Yeah.”

“You like me.”

“Don’t make me say it again please…”

“I kind of liked hearing it.”

“Well tough. I am not here to stroke a straight guy’s ego by telling him I like him over and over again.”

“What about a bi guy?”

“What?”

“I’m not straight. I’m bi. My ex and I split up because she found out I’d been sleeping with her sister. And her financial advisor. An American guy called Brandon.”

“Oh…”

Robert maneuvered the flowers out of the way and leaned over the gear stick.

“And I like you too.”

“Oh…” Aaron said again and Robert chuckled, leaned in further and kissed him.

“You’re cute when you’re confused.” He said and kissed him again, waiting for Aaron’s brain to catch up and for the other man to kiss him back.

They spent the better part of an hour snogging like a bunch of teenagers, until Aaron’s elbow accidentally hit the horn and the sound made them jump apart.

“I uh… should get these to my mum…” Robert was the first to speak. “Meet me at Vic’s house in an hour? So we can… pick up where we left off?”

Aaron smiled.

“Sounds good. See you in an hour.” He said and let Robert kiss him once more before he got out of the car.

Only an hour later, when Aaron walked up to Keepers, Robert was waiting outside for him.

“Hey… they’re home… Christmas preparations or something… maybe we can go to yours?”

Aaron looked over his shoulder in the direction he’d just come from.

“I… I’m not sure if anyone’s home… half the family lives in that pub. We could try to sneak in through the back.”

“I can be quiet.” Robert grinned. “It’s kind of exciting… sneaking around.”

A grin matching Robert’s spread over Aaron’s face and they walked back to the pub, doing their best to look casual. Only when Aaron carefully opened the back door, he could hear voices coming from the kitchen and the door to the backroom was open.

He turned around and put his finger to his lips, signalling Robert to keep quiet.

The other man nodded and followed Aaron inside.

Aaron carefully closed the door and the two of them crept past the backroom.

“Aaron is that you?”

They both froze but when they heard footsteps Aaron pushed Robert towards the stairs.

“Second door on the right. Go.” He ordered and then turned around and walked into the backroom. “Hey yeah it’s me.”

“Didn’t you just leave? I thought you had to run errands in town?” Chas asked.

“Yeah… but I’ve got a bit of a migraine. It just came out of nowhere. So I’m going to have a lie down.”

“Oh you poor thing. Do you want me to get you an aspirin? I’ll bring it up for you.”

“No! I mean… that’s ok. I just need some rest. I’ll be fine in a couple of hours, I’m sure.”

“Alright… but if you’re not down here by tea time, I’m coming to check on you.”

“Sure. But I’m sure I’ll be fine by then.” Aaron said with a smile. “I’m just going to go upstairs now.”

“Alright love, we’ll be quiet!” Chas called out after him and Aaron did his best to control himself and not run up the stairs. When he reached his bedroom door, he took a breath to steady his nerves and slowly opened the door.

Robert had taken off his shoes and jacket and was lounging on his bed. He closed the door behind him and locked it.

“You took your time.”

“Impatient much? I told my mum I have a migraine.” Aaron kicked off his shoes and threw his jacket on his chair.

“Oh a migraine?” Robert sat up and reached out for him, pulling him onto the bed with him. “You poor thing. Maybe I can… kiss and make it better?”

Aaron smiled and let Robert kiss him. It started innocently but soon became more heated and Aaron revelled in the sounds Robert made when he pushed him onto his back and pinned his wrists above his head, while pushing up his t shirt with the other and kissing his chest.

He let out a loud yelp when Aaron took one of his nipples into his mouth and lightly bit it.

“Shh!” He released Robert’s wrists to clap a hand over his mouth. “Quiet. I don’t want my mum breaking down the door because she’s hearing strange noises.”

Robert nodded and Aaron removed his hand, before leaning down again to kiss the other man.

Robert’s hands started roaming over his back and tugging at his shirt and jeans.

“Off.” He demanded, and Aaron was happy to comply.

By tea time he’d successfully managed to sneak Robert out the backdoor, after one of the best afternoons he’d had in a long time.

“There you are. I was beginning to get worried about you.” Chas said when he shuffled into the kitchen. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah. Much better.” Aaron replied, not being able to keep the utterly satisfied smile off his face.

That look became a common sight over the next few days, and people started to notice. Though nobody seemed to have figured out why he was so happy all of a sudden.

He and Robert would meet up whenever and wherever they could. They’d make the most out of an empty house, or a busy pub which meant an empty backroom, and they’d discovered the backseat of Aaron’s car was bigger than they thought when they’d ended up in some layby after they’d gone for a drive.

The sex was absolutely mind blowing but Christmas was getting closer by the day and Chas was starting to ask more and more questions about his boyfriend.

“So… what are your plans for Christmas?” Aaron asked carefully one afternoon, a few days before Christmas. They were snuggled up in Robert’s bed in Vic’s box room, after making the most of an empty house while Vic and Adam were out for some last minute Christmas shopping.

“Uh… I don’t know. Why?” Robert asked, pressing a kiss to Aaron’s bare shoulder.

“Well… my family is having this mad Christmas party… They do every year…”

“Hmm…”

“It’s just… this big family dinner and everyone will be too drunk to remember their name by 9PM.”

Robert chuckled.

“Sounds fun.”

“I uh… I’d like you to come… as my boyfriend… if… if you want.” Aaron stammered. “I know it’s early days and all and I’d understand if you thought it was too soon… but… well… I might have told my mum I’m seeing someone to get her off my back… before I met you… and now she’s kind of expecting to meet my boyfriend at the family Christmas party.”

“Wait… so… you only did this so you would have a date to show your mother?”

“No! She wanted to set me up with someone, some guy who works for Al. And I told her I was seeing someone to get her to stop nagging me to go out with him. That was the day I met you. When Adam invited me over for tea. That was his idea to go over the plan to find me a date for Christmas.”

“Right.”

“But then I met you… and you changed everything. I fell for you. And I hated myself because I thought you were straight.”

“Not straight.”

Aaron grinned.

“I know.”

“So… what now? Does your mum know about us?”

“No. But she’s not blind… she knows I’m seeing someone. She told me last night how nice it is to see me happy like this.”

Robert smiled.

“You do have a nice smile.” He propped himself up on his elbow. “But meeting your whole family? At Christmas? Isn’t that a bit… much? This thing between us… it’s only been going on for three weeks.”

“I know… I’m sorry. Forget it.” Aaron said and got out of bed and started looking around for his clothes. “You’re right, it’s too soon. I’ll think of something to tell my mum. Don’t worry about it.”

Before Robert had a chance to really say anything, Aaron was stepping out of the bedroom and all but running down the stairs, and rushing out the door.

He was still only half dressed by the time he reached the pub, and slammed into Al when he yanked open the back door and walked in.

“Wow. What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing. Mind your own business.”

“Aaron!” Chas scolded him but Aaron ignored her and just ran up the stairs to his bedroom.

A few days passed where Aaron snapped at everyone that so much as breathed in his direction, until Chas got fed up on Christmas eve.

“I don’t know what happened, but I liked you a lot better with that dopey smile on your face all day.”

Aaron shrugged.

“Things change.”

“Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?”

“There is no boyfriend, ok mum? There never was. I made it up to get you to stop going on about that Ben guy.”

“Ok. So who put that smile on your face these past few weeks?”

“Nobody. It’s over. I invited him to the Christmas party and he said no. End of story.”

“Oh love…”

“Uhm… sorry to interrupt…” Al started as he knocked on the open backroom door. “But there’s someone here to see you, Aaron.”

“Who?”

“I didn’t catch his name… Blond. Blue eyes. Tall.”

“Listens to the name Robert. Or idiot if you will.” Robert said, stepping around Al.

“Robert? What are you doing here?”

“Well you’re not replying to my texts, and you don’t pick up when I ring you…”

“What is there to say? You made yourself perfectly clear the other day.”

“We’ll leave you two to it.” Chas decided, getting up from her seat and all but dragging Al back into the pub.

“I didn’t.” Robert said after they were alone. “You caught me by surprise… and I didn’t know what to say… and of course I said the complete wrong thing. Robert puts his foot in it, shocker.”

A smile started pulling on Aaron’s lips but he did his best to fight it.

“I like you Aaron. A lot.” Robert admitted. “And I’m sorry for making you think I didn’t feel the same.”

Aaron nodded.

“I’ve never had this with anyone. Not with Chrissie, not with Katie… you’re special.” Robert said with a small smile.

“You’re not so bad either.” Aaron said eventually.

Robert chuckled.

“Thanks.”  He took a few steps forward and reached out to take Aaron’s hands in his. “If the invitation still stands…I’d love to come to the famous… or infamous Dingle Christmas party… as your boyfriend.”

Aaron softened at the hopeful look on Robert’s face.

“Of course. Come here you idiot and kiss me.” He said and Robert happily did as he was told.

“Are you ready for this? Half of them will be off their heads from Snowballs or whatever they’re drinking this year.” Aaron said as they walked up to Wishing Well cottage together the next day.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Robert gave him a smile.

“Yeah? It could get kind of crazy in there. Last chance to do a runner.”

Robert chuckled and shook his head.

“You’ve met my family, right? I can handle crazy. It’ll be fine.”

“I’ve… I’ve never brought anyone home to meet the family…” Aaron admitted. “I’m not really sure what to do…”

“I’ve never met the family of someone I really care about. With Chrissie it was all just part of my plan… now… I want them to like me and think I’m good enough for you.”

“I’m sure they will.” Aaron said and turned around and knocked on the door after a quick kiss to Robert’s lips.

The door opened almost right away, like someone had been waiting for the knock on the other side, and Lydia ushered them inside.

“Welcome, welcome. Just put your coats on the stairs and make yourselves at home, loves. Dinner will be ready in a bit.”

“Thanks Lydia…” Aaron said as he took off his jacket. “But there’s something I want to tell you all first.” He cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Everyone… there is someone I want you to meet. Someone really special.” He reached out for Robert who took his hand and laced their fingers together. “This is Robert, my boyfriend.”

[severnlight]

Day 05 [Whumptober]: “Where do you think you are going?”

***Swords and Starflowers AU***  ⚔️💮⚔️

Luke had made a good plan. A solid plan. It had taken weeks of preparation, but everything was proceeding on point, and if they could just round this corner, he would be able to get Obi-Wan out through a window facing an overgrown side of the castle grounds, where they would have some cover until his old teacher was far away from the walls. Luke had spent many long hours unbarring this shuttered window secretly over the last few nights. Obi-Wan paused before climbing out, face tired and worn, and the boy looked away, tears streaking down his face.

“Luke… You should go back now, you have done more than enough.”

“No. I will see you out of the citadel walls first.”

Obi-Wan shook his head. He looked like he had aged fifteen years in the fifteen weeks he’d been held captive in this castle. He tried again:

“Luke, you really need to…”

“We are wasting time, Ben. Start climbing. I will be right behind you. Let’s not let this chance go to waste.”

Luke had picked the day carefully: his father was away, on his monthly summons at the Emperor’s palace. He should not be back until the day after tomorrow. With some luck, the news of Ben’s escape wouldn’t even reach him before he returned.

Luke pulled out a ladder he had stashed away in the room’s storage closet and extended it carefully through the window until it touched the ground outside. He picked up the large backpack of supplies and provisions he had prepared for Obi-Wan, and motioned to him:

“After you.”

Obi-Wan sighed.

“Oh, but before that,” Luke added, “I thought you would be happy to get this back.” The boy pulled out a dagger wrapped tightly in a woolen sack - to prevent the blade’s glow from attracting attention. Obi-Wan gasped.

“Oh, Luke! I never thought I would see this again…”

He took his kyberblade with a shaky hand, then tied it to his belt, and pulled in the boy for a tight hug. “Dear boy… you should come with me, truly. I am afraid of what he would do, should he ever find out…”

Luke just hugged him back, and whispered: “I will be fine, I promise.”

Obi-Wan was filled with dread, but there was nothing more to discuss. Luke had remained intransigent about remaining with Vader. He believed, like his mother, that there was still good in him. A belief which hadn’t done her any good - that was for sure.

The old man stepped through the window and climbed down the ladder. When he was safely down, Luke looked around to make sure they weren’t noticed and followed him. He skipped the last few steps with a jump and found himself next to a very still Obi-Wan. Something was wrong.

“Where do you think you are going?”

The familiar deep voice chilled his heart. Oh no, Luke’s only thought bounced around his panicked mind, oh no… He stepped in front of Obi-Wan, as if he could hide him. His father’s figure had never loomed so tall, and his red kyberblade glowed in his fist like an angry fire-spirit.

“He wasn’t planning on coming with me, Anakin! You must know. I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

His father’s eyes shone with that dangerous glow Obi-Wan had explained came with the use of dark magic.

“Silence, old man!”

“I am just helping Obi-Wan escape, Father,” Luke chimed in. The truth was probably his best option. “He was getting ill in that cell. He needs care.”

“Care?!” His father spat out and pointed a gloved finger at Luke’s face. “Step away from him this instant.”

Obi-Wan sensed Vader’s temper rising, and moved away from Luke himself. Vader continued pointing a finger at his son, while the fisted hand with the kyberblade visibly shook. “Do not move. Do not speak. I will deal with you later.”

“Anakin,…” Obi-Wan tried again.

“And you… “ Vader turned on him. His voice was deathly quiet, each word perfectly annunciated. “No more words, Obi-Wan. This is the time, this is the final hour - just you and I, before the will of the Force - “ he pulled his blade up in the traditional motion to issue a challenge and set the duel magicks in motion.

“Oh, do simmer down, Anakin!” Obi-Wan exclaimed, “You know the spell won’t even take!”

Vader flinched as if struck by an invisible blow. Luke sensed a shift in the Force around them and used the opening to step in between the two mages once more. He did not understand what had just transpired, but his father looked positively dejected, and his rage seemed to have dissipated, together with the yellow glow from his eyes.

“Would it be so bad to give him a warm blanket, Father? It is very cold in that cell…”

Lord Vader stood like a planted monolith for half a minute, and everyone kept their silence.

“Or... Can we just let him go?”

Vader found his words, at last.

“Absolutely not.”

“But a blanket, at least?”

The dark lord took a shaky breath. Luke came closer and pulled down his hand, still gripping the kyberblade as if ready to strike. Then, the boy suddenly wrapped his hands around him in a swift hug.

Vader sheathed his blade and held him back tightly, glaring at Obi-Wan with spent menace. Luke had not planned to run from him. This is what mattered. Everything else… was irrelevant.

“We will have words tomorrow, young one,” he spoke quietly to his son, “but in the meantime… you can give the old man everything you’ve stashed for him in that backpack.“

Luke’s eyes lit up when he smiled up at him, and somehow, giving luxuries to his worst enemy was absolutely worth this moment.

“I will have that back, now,” he pointed a finger at Kenobi’s kyberblade. Obi-Wan sighed. He untied the blade and handed it to Vader.

“I hope you are happy.”

“I am slightly happier. Get back to your cell.”

“But must he go back there, Father? Can’t you find him a better room, in the upper levels? One with a proper fire?”

Lord Vader looked up to the starry skies. He had never felt more tired.

⚔️💮⚔️ Find the series on AO3.

[writingstruggles]

Ben Solo/Kylo Ren: a character analysis

OK, first things first: THIS ISN’T A STAN OR ANTI POST. This is a character study, and if you can’t handle this character getting impartial concrit, just don’t read. If, however, you don’t agree with some of the points I’m going to make and want to have a healthy discussion about it, then I’m all ears. I don’t think my opinion is the only valid one, so feel free to try and change my mind.

And second things second: I tried so hard to love the sequel trilogy, but when it became clear after TROS that the studio had no plan other than making money, it became very difficult. I’m aware that the main problem for all the characters is the lack of general planing in this whole mess of trilogy, so keep this always in mind while reading this post: the first problem of this character was that the studio didn’t even know what to do with him.

1. Does Ben Solo becoming Kylo Ren make sense?

I checked the comics to get his background better. He had a happy childhood traveling a lot with Han and Leia, but when she discovered about the First Order, she sent him to train with Luke while Han and Chewie ran undercover missions for her. This is important: up to this point, he had a good relationship with his family, even if he was already being pulled by the dark side of the Force. It was during his adolescence that he started to be really seduced by Snoke, hearing the voice he thought belonged to Darth Vader. After the Luke incident, he did explode the cabin and thought he had killed his uncle, but he was not the one who killed all the other students and destroyed the temple: that was Snoke’s thing. He did kill some of his fellow Jedi apprentices later on, though. So, his turning points were Luke’s treason and Snoke’s coordinated abduction. And I would like to point out: the Sith training involves torture and brainwashing, so the first wrong impression I would like to correct about this character is that he was not simply a dick and revolted teen who ran away to join a cult.

BUT, there are some huge problems here. The first one is that when you watch the movies, you don’t learn anything about that aside from Luke’s part. In the way he’s presented in TFA, he’s Leia and Han’s son who betrayed his family, destroyed his uncles’ dream and joined the dark side for no reason. OF COURSE half of the audience wouldn’t like him. That wouldn’t be a problem if they just wanted him to be a villain like Darth Vader was, but it’s very clear that there was a plan (at least for one director) to make him a supposedly redeemable character. And how can we sympathize with his character like that? Even after we get to know what Luke almost did, the next question is simple: ok, so why he didn’t go back to Han and Leia?

And here is the second huge problem: we learned that after Ben leaves Yavin IV, Luke vanished, and Han and Leia broke up and went back to smuggling/leading a rebellion. And I can’t stress this enough, this doesn’t make any sense. The sequel trilogy killed Luke, Han, and Leia’s characters. These three characters that we have known for years would never, ever, had abandoned Ben Solo. Leia F*cking Organa and Han shot-first Solo would have brought their son back or die trying. Luke Skywalker is not a coward, he wouldn’t go into hiding and abandoned his only sister to clean up his mess during another war, let alone close himself to the Force, knowing full well he wouldn’t be able to feel if she was in danger. Just remember Han risking his life to save Luke in Hoth; or Leia leaving the rebellion to rescue Han from Jabba; or Luke straight-up disobeying ghost Obi-Wan and ghost Yoda to save Han and Leia, even if that costed the war. They were older and different, for sure, but we are talking about the quintessential things, the things that make these beloved characters themselves.  

(THIS ^^. This right here is the spirit of Star Wars)

So no, in the way it was done in the movies, Ben Solo becoming Kylo Ren doesn’t make sense to the audience, and that’s a huge problem. A friend of mine suggested once that instead of being a rip-off of ANH, TFA should have been a movie about the beginning of the First Order (because after we defeat the Empire on episode VI, episode VII starting with ANOTHER all-powerful evil government already dominating the galaxy and exploding planets just throws away all the previous movies’ efforts) and about how Ben Solo becomes Kylo Ren. Just imagine if Rey, Finn and Poe had interacted with Ben Solo before he becomes evil: the stakes would have been so much higher, and it could have been well done. It would have made this character more human and likable.

2. Kylo Ren’s motivations: what does he want?

If the OT was about hope, I think we can agree that the ST’s themes are legacy and belonging. Having their protagonists, Rey and Ben/Kylo representing two apposite sides of those things was one of the best ideas for the new saga.  Rey looks for belonging in the past she doesn’t know, while Kylo wants to abandon Ben Solo’s past and find his place in his future as Kylo Ren.

In that sense, his character arc was somehow solid. In TFA, it’s clear he’s still struggling with the dark side and feels the temptation of the light: he loses control easily, and he’s not doing anything unless Snoke orders him to. Ok, but why? Why is he clinging to Darth Vader’s ideals and staying in the sith path? Basically because he thinks it’s too late, and he has no other options. Which brings us back to the problem with Han and Leia: his parents didn’t go after him, they chose to go back to their old lives – of course he would think there’s no going back for him now. “But he is an adult man and could make his own decisions.” It’s a fair point, but again: sith training corrupts you and even if he had escaped, the only thing that would happen would be Snoke finding him again. It’s kinda like leaving an addiction: you supposedly can do it by yourself, but it is so much easier if you have help. Not a simple promise or offer, but actual, constant, and present help. I can not stress this enough, but I insist that one of the main problems with the sequel trilogy was not explaining in a satisfactory way HOW and WHY he turned to the dark side and stayed there.

3. Han Solo

Okay, I will admit: maybe my opinion on this specific topic is biased, because Han Solo is my favorite SW character. You may call me out as a fangirl if you don’t agree, but my point is: making Kylo Ren kill Han Solo was a bad idea. They basically killed the character for half of the audience, with zero chance of redemption.

It’s because it’s fratricide. Unless your father is Satan, the Emperor, or someone as equally villainous, fratricide is just that bad. It’s not easy to redeem a character who commits murder, but one that kills his own father? Who happens to be one of the good guys? And one of the most iconic and beloved characters in the franchise? There were other options to give Kylo Ren a tipping point, a conflicted moment that didn’t involve killing Han Solo. But they did, and he killed him. And now he’s no longer a villain we can sympathize with: now we think he’s a monster.

4. His interactions with Rey in TLJ

(I’m not wearing shipper goggles for this. I don’t even own shipper goggles when we are talking about Star Wars.)

Kylo Ren is conflicted after killing Han Solo, (and I will make a small pause here to reinforce how good Adam Driver’s acting was. He’s the only responsible for all the likable parts of Kylo Ren, especially in this movie). Kylo is once again unstable and Snoke is displeased with him, and for a moment we think he finally turned completely to the dark side, until he pauses before shooting Leia’s ship.

The force bond was the most interesting part of the movie. I don’t agree that he used it to manipulate Rey: if anything, he was completely harsh and blunt and kind of a dick to her, but he didn’t lie. He told her things how he saw it, with so much conviction that she started to see his side of the story. And since she was probably the first person in years that actually listened to him, his decision of murdering Snoke and inviting her to join the dark side makes very much sense.

We are talking about motivations and his are simple: let the past die, forge a new path. When he kills Snoke and no longer has a master, he only has one option: to become the master. That’s why he takes over the FO, and wants Rey to be his apprentice. Does the character suffer from sith-tunnel-vision? Definitely. But it makes sense. His decision-making is not overly complicated: he feels alone, and he wants a purpose: he decides that the solution for both is Rey joining him in the dark side. When she refuses, he still has one purpose: the FO.

This is, however, the point where he turns his back to the light completely: on Crait, he orders the FO to explode the Rebel Base and kill everyone, knowing full well his mother was in there. He orders them to exploded the Falcon out of the sky, once again knowing that Chewie and Rey are on board. When facing Luke, he repeats that he will kill Rey and the rebels. His transition from conflicted sith apprentice to the new villain of the franchise was actually well done.

And exactly because of that, the next topic pisses me off so much.

5. The continuity problem between episodes VIII and IX

Introducing Palpatine here was bad for so many reasons: backtracking Rey’s arc, making us think about Palps’ sex life, insisting on beating a literal dead horse when there were new things to explore, etc etc. And it was also bad for Kylo Ren’ arc. As I said before, the way they finished episode VIII, everything pointed to Kylo becoming the final evil Rey would have to face, and that would have been awesome. We didn’t need Palps, or ANOTHER all-powerful evil army ready to conquer the galaxy with exploding-planets-tech (seriously, is Alderaan a joke to you, Disn*y?).

  But, in the third movie, they went back and decided they didn’t want Kylo Ren to be the ultimate villain anymore. They wanted him to be redeemed. And that’s not bad per se, but an actual redemption arc needs to be planned, and I think we can all agree, there was no planning in the sequels. And again, FRATRICIDE. So they introduced an old, more powerful evil to make Kylo Ren less evil and less of a threat in comparison. And evil so definitive, and with such a bullshit connection to Rey, that it makes Kylo reconsider his previous promises of killing the last jedi and going back to the plan of making her turn.

And so, his character spends the movie going after Rey, to tell her the bullshit truth about her parents, to convince her to join him. At least his arc is still somehow solid, because once he’s decided on his path, he doesn’t lose control like in the previous movies, and his body language is more firm and lethal. Which, honestly, thanks Adam Driver, he knew the character way better than the director at this point.

He finally comes back to the light when Leia dies. Although it was rushed, I agree that, at that point, it was literally the only thing that could have made him turn. Rey reminding him that he wouldn’t be alone if he hadn’t chosen the dark side helped, too. It was clear that the moment with Han Solo was supposed to be with Leia, but I’m really glad Harrison Ford agreed to come back to fill in the role for his old friend.

6. Ben Solo

Okay, there’s so much to unpack here. When Ben Solo finally comes out to play, it’s very good. We can finally see some things that explain Kylo Ren better – it’s so obvious how awkward he was in his own body trying to be an evil sith lord when he is clearly a natural disaster. He still suffers from tunnel vision, but at least now it’s Skywalker-do-or-die tunnel vision. It’s like a weight was lifted from his shoulders, and the way his actions scream Han Solo makes me, once again, wish the first movie had been about him, and not the whole “find a map/ Star Killer base was ANOTHER ridiculous idea / I know R2’s alignment is chaotic bastard but COME ON”.

Star Wars has a notorious story with pulling Force powers out of nowhere, and I’m not going to pretend to be an expert in SW lore, so I won’t complain about the dyad thing (and the weird stuff with the light sabers). I honestly liked the concept. There’s a lot I have to say about the final battle against Palpatine, but I think it would fit better in a future character study about Rey (God, that’s going to be another long ass post). I just want to add that after Luke insisted on her taking both light sabers to Exegol, and after all the crazy stuff Ben did to get to her, they should have, you know, actually fought side by side against 85% dead Palpatine? Aren’t these two idiots supposed to be stronger than that?? I’m not complaining about Rey bringing him down “alone” since she is the protagonist yada yada, I just wished that Ben had done something, instead of being thrown into a hole.

(Palps did that out of spite because of his grandfather? I bet he did.)

I won’t say I didn’t cry hearing the voices of the past jedi talking to Rey, because I definitely did. If anything, it was great to see so many beloved actors getting a chance to honor such iconic characters. But are you freaking shitting on us? Where were ANY of those assholes when Luke, Leia and Ben needed them, like, ten years ago?? “Well, force ghosts should not be used as ex machinas, and they don’t see the future” Tell that to episodes IV, V and VI. Anakin, Obi Wan and Yoda can show up for Vader weird funeral/party with ewoks but they can’t send a jedi signal for the Skywalkers to warn them about Sith bullshit about to happen? “They were probably ahead in the world the comes next and they didn’t have a way to come back, they just talked to Rey because Exegol is a Force nexus and-” And so is Ach-To. And so is Yavin IV. And so is Dagoba (Yes, Snoke sent Ben there for training). Look, I have no problems with Force Ghosts, I love them bastards. I’m just so freaking mad with the lack of coherence in this trilogy. If they did not talk to the Skywalkers – and I’m sure at least Luke and Ben asked Obi Wan/Anakin to show themselves A LOT – they should not have talked to Rey. It was a crowd please moment, for sure, but it was another gigantic middle finger to Ben Solo (before he becomes Kylo Ren).

And then Rey died, and Ben brings her back. I know how many funny jokes are going around in the fandom about how resurrecting Qui-Gon or Padme would have saved the galaxy so much trouble, but again, I’m okay with that. It was previously established that since they were a dyad, they had this living Force between them (although it was rushed in the final like everything else). And it does make sense Ben doing that: he had just come back to the light, and his parents were both dead. Han and Leia were gone because of him, the last time he saw Chewie was as his captor, and before that, he got shot by him, etc, you get the idea. He had nothing else, only this: the chance to make it right by a person that genuinely cared for him. Exchanging his life for Rey’s was nothing: he knew that his family would be waiting for him in the world that comes after.

So, did I like the Bendemption? It. Was. Not. A. Redemption. It was the right choice, and it made things right between him and Rey, because she forgave him for everything. But that’s it. He did not face the consequence of any of his previous actions. “But he died for her!” And we just established that it was not a difficult choice, considering that he had literally no reasons to stay alive if Rey was dead. If you want to see an actual redemption arc, go watch Avatar the Legend of Aang.

And finally, the kiss and the death. Okay, I know I’m digging my own grave by addressing that, but my mama raised no coward. Here it goes: it was fan service, pure and simple. It’s there to make part of the fanbase happy. Good for you, reylos, but to us, not shippers, it came out of nowhere. And I’m not questioning if they had feelings for each other or not: I’m talking about pacing and characterization. I’m not 100% convinced that Rey, as a character, as she was presented to us so far, would have done that. It felt out of place, and it broke the immersion of the scene. I was emotionally invested on what was going on, I was happy to see Ben smiling at her and everything, but then suddenly they were sucking faces and the “FAN SERVICE” alarm was so loud in my mind that I immediately lost interest. If they wanted that in the movie so much, there was probably a better way to do that.

It makes sense that Ben had to die to bring Rey back: one life for another and everything. I still think that, story-wise, it would have been better if none of them had died a ridiculous death, and Ben had faced the consequences of his actions as Kylo Ren, but okay, moving on.  The main problem here is what happens after he dies: nothing. Absolute-effing-nothing. He dies, he disappears – which, again, I won’t question because Leia was involved and Skywalkers do whatever they want with the Force and I’m no expert – but that’s it. Rey, the same Rey that had just jumped his bones fifteen seconds earlier, doesn’t even mourn him. She doesn’t cry, she doesn’t do anything for him in the end, she just goes to Tattooine because it makes sense to the Skywalker saga to end where it started. She sees more of those Force Ghosts who never appear when they freaking should and that’s it.

Why is it bad? Well, first, like it or not, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren was one of the main characters and he deserved an actual final. Finn and Poe too, but those are long posts for another day. And second, it makes the fan-service in that kiss scene more evident. You can’t have the girl kiss him and in the next scene act like it didn’t matter at all. “Ok, then it was a thank-you kiss and there were no real feelings of loved involved”. But that makes it worse, it would be even more completely out of character for Rey – who avoids physical contact with people on the regular – to just kiss someone as a thank-you. Do you see how the math does not compute? If she had feelings for him, and therefore kissed him, she should have mourned him. If anything, she should at least miss her other part of the dyad thing. And if she didn’t mourn him because she didn’t have actual feelings, then she should not have kissed him. A little consistency, it’s all I’m asking.

7. Conclusions (aka tl;dr)

He was a somehow consistent character, but the lack of plot for the sequels was a huge problem. If the trilogy had been about Ben Solo becomes Kylo Ren – Kylo Ren kills Snoke and becomes the real villain – Rey faces Kylo Ren and she either saves him or kills him, it would have been so much better than the mess the studio did.

His story in the comics is so much more complex than what it is shown in the movies, but what they did to Han, Leia and Luke was a crime.

It was clear that one director had a vision to give him a redemption, and the other to make him the ultimate villain.

Adam Driver did what he could to make this character solid and somehow likable, let’s thank him for that.

There was no reason to bring Palps back,

Rey’s actions in the final are contradictory,

He should have stayed alive to face the consequences of his actions,

and the studio is charged guilt for getting our hopes up just to crush them with their lack of interest in doing something descent for the fans.

But again, that’s just my analysis of this character. Feel free to disagree with me, I would love to see what other people think about Ben Solo/Kylo Ren.

[jimtheviking]

So now that it's been a while since the ST ended, I'm gonna talk about why, of all three movies, the only one that worked for me was TLJ, and why The Mandalorian, Rogue One, Rebels, and Clone Wars are the best bit of New EU out there.

Okay so, first off, the basic thesis of this is that, when Star Wars works, has always been a story about one thing, and one thing only: Hope. And when it hasn't worked, it's been about how Cool and Badass and Edgy and Dark things can be in the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

So, let's start with the beginning, shall we?

The Force Awakens is a bad remake of A New Hope. And I don't say that just because JJ Abrams can't write or direct for shit (he can't, btw, but I'll get into that later.) I say that because, well, it's true. It's almost a shot-for-shot remake of ANH, except that unlike ANH, there is no sense of hope in the entire movie. Rey, Finn, and Poe are thrown into a Terrible Situation and they never once have any display of fear or doubt. They're confident and plucky and ready to win the day. At every point, even their lowest, they're plucky and scrappy and fighty and are never allowed to feel anything. And that means they can't hope for better things, they can't fight for a better world, because to their characters the better world is already there. It's the world they're in, because they can get what they want through Pluck and Scrappiness and Fighting Spirit, and never have to worry that it won't be enough.

Don't get me wrong, TFA is, of the two JJ films, better by a mile. Mostly because it has a coherent plotline. But it's still not good. Even when Han is killed, there is no chance to mourn him. There is no "I just can't believe he's gone" moment. There's a duel and a celebration. Leia feels his death and that could have been interesting to explore, but nothing gets done with Rey or Finn. Rey attaches to Han as a father figure, but it was Finn whose character was hamstrung most by Han's death. Finn should have been mentored in the ways of Roguish War Heroing by Han, just as Luke would mentor Rey in Jedi-ing, and Leia mentored Poe in Leader-ing. That is how the new Trio was shaping up to relate to the Original Trio, and should have gone that way. But no, JJ had to kill Han off for absolutely no purpose.

And there was no purpose to Han's death. I will get to that in a minute.

When Obi-Wan died, he died knowing he was buying the Trio time and that his sacrifice would help the Rebellion destroy the Death Star and ultimately prevent future Alderaans from ever happening again (and it did!) Obi-Wan dies in A New Hope because he knows that, like Leia said, he was her only hope. The only hope for the Rebellion. For the Galaxy. And, right after Scarif, he was the only hope she had. But now? On the Death Star? Surrounded by Storm Troopers, facing down his old padawan, his brother, his best friend? Now there is A New Hope (see what they did there?) and it's in Luke and Han and Leia and he doesn't die in vain. He sacrifices himself and that lets hope live on.

When Han died, it was, thematically, the exact opposite of Obi-Wan's death. Because Han wasn't expecting to die. Han's whole walking to meet Ben thing was him expressing hope - hope that his son would return to him, that there was good left in him - and then he was killed. Hope gets you killed in this movie, and it doesn't help anyone do anything. It doesn't save uncounted billions. It doesn't stop an evil Empire from terrorising the Galaxy. It doesn't inspire other people. It just gets you a lightsaber to the belly and kicked into an abyss. Han's death served no purpose except to show that Ben was evil. As if massacring untold hundreds of civilians to find the location of Luke wasn't indication enough. We knew Ben was evil. It was the entire point of the character. Killing Han was just to reinforce that hope is foolish.

Luke, as well, was terribly served in TFA. Luke Skywalker, who triumphed over evil despite hovering so close to the edge of it time and again, who does the right thing all the time, who every chance he gets tries to help and save people? That Luke Skywalker? He just fucked off to who knows where. Gone. Entirely. No explanation. Luke, who constantly failed in his Jedi training, but never gave up hope that he could become a Jedi, like his father before him. Luke, who knew he wasn't ready to confront Vader on Bespin but hoped he could get there soon enough to save his friends. Luke, who knew that there was no way he would be leaving Jabba's palace without a fight but still had hope that the Hutt could be negotiated with. He just...gives up. No explanation or reason given. Just...goes.

And that is the most wildly, painfully out of character moment in the entire ST for me. Because Luke was always Hope in the OT, and in the Filoni shows, and having him become Hopeless and leave? An absolute affront to the character.

But I digress.

I won't get into what TLJ did right (almost everything re: Luke, Rey, Leia, and Poe, and that throne room fight especially) and wrong (the handling of Finn, Space Monaco) but suffice it to say that TLJ at least understood that Hope was what made Star Wars good. Because Luke's sacrifice at the end of it was done just like Obi-Wan's. Luke did what he did, knowing he would die, but also knowing that it would buy time for Leia to escape. So long as Rey could get to her in time. He had Hope in Rey, and he had Hope in his own actions, and that Hope was rewarded. Luke dies, and dies a hero, dies giving Hope to the Resistance, dies a meaningful death for a hero to die.

And then we get to TRoS.

Oh god TRoS.

So, you know how I said JJ can't write or direct for shit? Here's a great example. Because we had Rey, a Jedi now like Luke had been, and ready to discover what being a Jedi means to her, and how she fits in the wider, larger Galaxy as a nobody, as a regular person who somehow became Greater than she started. As someone who isn't from a line of Force Users or other Super Special People becoming a hero and finding her place. Rey, who began her story on a desert planet, hoping desperately to be a part of some bigger dynasty, not having any confidence in herself being Rey from Nowhere, finds out she IS Rey from Nowhere, Daughter of Nobody, but becomes a Jedi, a Protector of the Galaxy, an important person in her own right, the Saviour of the Resistance. And then we find out she's the granddaughter of one of the most powerful Force users ever. And she makes herself a part of the Super Special Force User Dynasty. Completely destroying any character growth from the previous movie, because it's no longer Rey succeeding on her own, it's Rey being a Dynastic Heir.

Rey begins on a desert planet, digging things out of the sand, and ends on a desert planet, burying things in the sand. Rey begins not knowing who she really is and desperately wanting to, and ends up finding out, rejecting it, and claiming some other random legacy. Rey is no longer Rey from Jakku, she's Rey Palpatine and she wants to be Rey Skywalker so she just...claims it. There was a chance for Rey to be a beacon of Hope for other people who aren't from Force user lineages. But no, she's the child of a clone of the Emperor and decides she's a Skywalker because of an unexplained phenomenon that linked her to Ben. So without the Super Special Lineage, what hope does anyone have of changing the world for the better? None.

And, back to character deaths, Leia and Ben dying were two of the most hopeless scenes in all Star Wars. Entirely without hope. Utterly.

Why?

Well, let's start with Leia. Apparently, in the novelizations, she'd been forcing herself to stay alive to run the Resistance because no-one else could (despite like, a massive increase in operations staff, and, you know, Poe having been Leia's protogée in her Leadership Crash Course) and had been hearing Luke tell her it's okay to just let go and become one with the Force (what??) And so when she does decide to do that, it's when she transfers her life-force to Ben, to redeem him (maybe? At that point Ben hadn't had his weird Harrison Ford dressed up in Han Solo's costume hallucination, and it's not really clear why she's doing this in the film) and thus have him the Galaxy. Okay, that could work, but then Ben dies. And then dies again. Twice. (Though, really, only once, because apparently he got caught on a rock and broke his ribs and twisted his ankle when he fell in the pit, but you only learn that in the novelization. But I digress.)

So Leia's sacrifice to redeem her son is ultimately futile, because Rey managed to kill Palps on her own anyway, with the help of all the Jedi in the Force, and Ben was mostly dead. Then Rey dies from the exertion of it all, and that would be a shitty enough ending, bleak and hopeless - the only way good triumphs is by destroying itself - but then Ben comes back! And saves Rey using the healing powers Obi-Wan Kenobi used on Luke in A New Hope and Rey used earlier in the movie! Leia's sacrifice was meaningful! It redeemed Ben, who saved someone's life!

And then he dies.

Which makes Leia's death pointless again. Because she used the last of her life force to make her son Good, and then he just...dies.

And Ben's death is Hopeless in and of itself too. I'm not a Reylo fan - that dynamic just does not do it for me, generally, though there are some few well-written execptions - but how do you begin to say "The Power of Love can triumph over everything, even death!" and then kill off the person who did that? Like...that just says that Love and Sacrifice for others is pointless. That Hope is pointless. Because with Ben dying, Leia's sacrifice means nothing, and his own death means nothing because Dying Saving Someone You Love is just Suicide with Extra Steps if there's no Hope of Survival to it. The tragedy happens when a character dies hoping they can still make it back to the person they love. Ben, on the other hand, just...dies. The movie tells us that he's not worth surviving this, but Rey is. And so what, exactly, was the point of either Leia's sacrifice or Hope for her son?

Now let's get to the Filoni shows.

Clone Wars was a tragedy. Clone Wars, from the very beginning, was going to end badly for everyone involved. And it did. But even up to the end, they held out Hope that it wouldn't. And even after it happened, the survivors still Hoped that they could bring a return to Good. Obi-Wan sees literally everyone he loves die in front of him. Whether it's Satine or his fellow Jedi or Anakin, they all die. And yet he continues to Hope that the Light Side will prevail. Ahsoka loses everything and leaves the Order, but she still has Hope that she can make the Galaxy a better place. Rex loses his entire family, but Hopes that there are others out there who, like him, were able to avoid Order 66.

Rebels shows us that Ahsoka and Rex's Hope wasn't misplaced. That there was still a chance for them to do Good and for the Galaxy to resist the Empire. For Rex to find other Clones. For Ahsoka to find a purpose again. The crew of the Ghost hoped that what they would do would bring about a positive change. Kanan sacrificed himself knowing that Ezra, Hera, and Sabine would be able to help the Rebellion. Like Obi-Wan, he knew that he was not the only Hope - that Ezra and Ahsoka and Obi-Wan would continue on the path of the Jedi, even if the latter wouldn't join the Rebels, and that Hera's leadership ability and Sabine's connection to Clan Wren would help the Rebellion in coming battles. He died hoping that there was a greater good being served with his sacrifice, and it wasn't that he wanted to die - him looking back to Hera was all the proof that was needed - but that the survival of Hope was important.

Rogue One is pretty self-explanatory. Rebellions are built on hope. What did they send us? Hope. Always, every time, when it comes to it, Hope for the better is what people sacrifice themselves for. They don't do it because they don't feel like their lives are worth it. They do it because if they didn't, then Hope would die instead. And Hope is what makes life possible.

The Mandalorian keeps up this trend, too. Din was doing his thing, collecting bounties and not caring about anyone or anything but The Way until he meets the Child. And at that point, he feels something, a greater purpose, and when he's given his task by the Armourer, he accepts it. At first, he wants to complete a Quest, but as time goes on, he bonds with the Child and, once he realizes that, everything from that point forward is Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, a faceless and ruthless hunter, hoping that he can make this child's life better in some measurable way. When Din finds a settlement that's in trouble, he could just get what he comes for, but he knows that the people are suffering and you can't ignore that he has the Hope that the Galaxy will, one day, be a better place, and he can make it a bit better by doing what he does. So he does it. And keeps doing it. Because the people are hoping for salvation and, even if he's not what they want, he can at least fake it well enough that they don't realize it.

So yeah.

Hope is what good Star Wars media is about. It's what it's always been about. And when it's ignored, we get TFA and TRoS.

[blueberryraindrops]

Blueberry’s Ultimate TUA Masterlist

KEY

Fics are organised alphabetically (articles e.g. ‘the’ will not count) 

mostly gen and fiego fics 

Download links are EPUB files only 

authors can feel free to send me a msg if they want their fics’ download link taken down

Links are now unavailable on PC due to a Tumblr link limit (I also had no idea this was a thing, but apparently it is?)

Regular updates can be expected as long as I remain in the fandom

Last Update: 15/10/2020

FANFICTION

☁︎ actions are worth a thousand words by achilleees { E }

→ Download Here

“I think it would be best if we keep up the ruse for a short while longer,” Five said. “For the sake of time-space continuity.”

“Oh, so Klaus was right before, huh?” Diego said. “The fabric of the universe unravels if my hairdresser knows we’re not boning?”

☁︎ Adventures In Childhood [Series] by just_a_sunflower_girl { G / Partially WIP }

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Five really should have guessed that something would go wrong. The universe hated him, it was an abject fact. And right now, Five hated the universe right back.

The commission turns Five into a four year old, hoping it will make him easier to kill.

☁︎ all dressed up and naked by cathect { E }

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The skirt hanging off of it is pleated and pale pink, with two white stripes near the hem— like a cheerleader might wear, Diego thinks wildly— and Five looks almost awed. Diego doesn’t want to assume anything by an expression alone, but he can’t quite help it.

Before he can stop himself, the words are tumbling out. “That would look good on you.”

Or, the one where diego fucks five while he's wearing a skirt.

☁︎ another cog in the murder machine by Ford_Ye_Fiji { T }

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Five finally gets the breakdown he deserves

☁︎ As I Want You to Hear Me by karcheri { E }

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“It’s hard to explain.”

“Try me.”

Five sighs.

“I’m trying to prove that our current timeline has branched off from it’s initial trajectory by such a large margin that it could only have been caused by the existence of unknown variables interrupting the timeline at non-linear points throughout history. I believe that we are living in...let’s call it timeline 2.0.”

“I don’t understand,” Diego says. Nutcase, he thinks. Insanely hot nutcase.

This time Five smirks at him, looking bratty and arrogant and entirely too sharp; “I know you don’t.”

Or: What I like to imagine alternate/Sparrow Academy timeline 2019 Five and Diego are up to

☁︎ Bizarre For You Is Normal For Us by pupeez4eva { G }

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“I think he’s talking to himself again,” Ashley said, leaning forward. “Okay yeah he is — oh my god, is that kid talking to the mannequin?”

Maggie shot a glance behind her. Yes, the boy was talking to the top half of a mannequin.

“I love working here,” Ashley breathed.

Wherein Klaus, Dave, Five and Dolores go on a double date, and people are confused and very concerned.

☁︎ Blink by Lady_Origami { G }

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When Five blinks, sometimes he's back in the world of ash and embers. It's hard to remember how to breathe when that happens. In which Klaus tries to play the role of supportive brother with Ben's help, and Five struggles more than he lets on.

☁︎ Blood like Lemonade by Ford_Ye_Fiji { T }

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Hunting high and low to seek revenge, Brand new moral code, got made reluctant renegade. Leaving empty souls when he avenged, Evil spirits flowed he drank the blood like lemonade.

Five's sordid past comes to light in, quite possibly, the most unpleasant way

☁︎ Bloom by jenpix { E }

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The first thing he noticed was the heat. A sudden, overwhelming heat. It started by his neck, his throat tightening, cutting off oxygen to his brain. The heat spread lower, permeating throughout his chest and abdomen, focusing and growing in his groin. Every inch of his skin was on fire. He couldn’t breathe; he couldn’t think. He needed something- anything- to relieve the ache that had abruptly settled in his bones. Lust utterly consumed him.

“Something’s wrong.” Diego concluded.

☁︎ Call Me Wild Thing by Electra_XT { E }

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“Diego’s been screwing guys who look exactly like you,” Klaus said.

“True,” Five said.

“He acts embarrassed when you encounter him with one of these lookalikes,” Klaus said.

“True,” Five said.

“You want to bang him,” Klaus said.

Five hesitated.

☁︎ Comes And Goes (In Waves) [Series] by hujwernoo { M }

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The apocalypse happens, Five arrives in the rubble, and his entire family is dead.

However, one of them has power over ghosts. And even if being dead seriously sucks sometimes, Klaus is going to be there for his brother.

☁︎ Dead Aren't Good Company, The by RosyPages { G }

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They’d been back in time for less than a month when their father forced Klaus back into the mausoleum.

But maybe this time his family can do the right thing.

☁︎ Details [Series] by VeteranKlaus { T }

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The last time Klaus saw his siblings was at Allison and Patrick's wedding. A lot had changed since then; including the not-so-accidental, irreversible loss of his sight.

There's no time to tell them that, though. Not with the return of their long-presumed-dead brother and the impending apocalypse. Plus, it doesn't matter. He's got Ben as a good seeing-eye ghost.

☁︎ Digging Up The Past by FiveUmbrellaAcademy { E / WIP }

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"You want to roleplay me being raped." Five muses, stirring his margarita. He plucks out the tiny umbrella and leaves it abandoned on the edge of the table.

Diego splutters, before glancing wildly over his shoulders.

Five and Diego are in a busy bar, and Diego had absentmindedly suggested Five looking particularly hot, especially when he's pliant, almost as if he's being -

"What the fuck? Shut up, Five." Diego hisses, eyes darting around. "Anyone can hear you."

Five says nothing.

Or: Unfortunately, the roleplay triggers a memory Five desperately wishes he'd forget.

☁︎ do androids dream of electric sheep? by the_crownless_queen { T }

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Number Four is crying, and Grace was made to care for those children.

In which Grace was created to protect the children of the Academy. Even, as it turns out, from their father.

☁︎ don't waste your time (or time will waste you) by rosewitchx { T }

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He was an old man. He is sixteen. Ben dies next week. How does he know that?

“I think I broke it,” Five stutters, and for the first time in her short life Vanya sees absolute terror in his eyes.

Or, Five travels back again. Something goes wrong.

☁︎ Dulce Periculum (Danger Is Sweet) by Anonymous { E }

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Klaus swallows heavily.

He brings up the hand that says “Goodbye” on the palm up to Five's hair and rakes his fingers through the strands. When Klaus is blessed with a high pitched whine, he knows he's done for.

or: Five wants something stronger than alcohol.

☁︎ Fighting (Pre)Determinism by chibi_tantei { T / WIP }

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They go back in time, determined to rewrite their own family history. Only problem is, only one of them looks the proper age to get near their younger selves.

Or, six months after Five stormed out, determined to time travel, he returns home. His siblings are happy to have him back, but he's acting differently...

(Or, Five goes undercover as himself. Twice the siblings should make saving the world easier, right? Yet somehow, he's only now realizing how many issues his family has to fix.)

☁︎ Five and Dave's Life Changing (Life Saving) Field Trip by neuronary { T }

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The little boy, who Dave could now see was not as little as he’d first thought, shoved a tin mug at him. “Drink this.”

Dave drank. It tasted sickly sweet and slightly citrus-y. “Who are you?”

“Five.” The boy’s scowl deepened at Dave’s confusion. “Klaus’ brother.”

Or, Five saves Dave's life to stop Klaus from moping. From Dave's perspective, a very grouchy, sleep-deprived twelve-year-old kidnaps him and he finds it much more entertaining than he should.

☁︎ Five And Diego Take Ukraine by yawarakai { G }

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It’s definitely her. She's around fifty, and striking – Diego can see where his brother gets his features. Light skin, grey eyes, hair dark and straight, slim. She’s a carbon copy of the boy standing before her.

“Da?” Five’s mother asks warily.

☁︎ Forward Trajectory by karcheri { M }

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“Ha ha,” the cop replies,” How’s your little troupe of nerds today anyways?”

His Professor groans, burying his face in the man’s neck and Nick winces. He should’ve anticipated that answer.

“That bad, huh?”

Or: Every semester students work themselves to the bone to score the highest mark on Professor Five's final project.

☁︎ Ghost Math by pinstripedJackalope { G }

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Number Five needs a new hobby now that the apocalypse is off. He decides to help Klaus--and in turn maybe he'll help himself.

☁︎ game of waiting, a by sky_blue_hightops { G }

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He was always the fastest. He always beat the others up the stairs, down the halls, through time and space. If there's one lesson he's learned, it's that there's always a finish line. A stopping place. Blood bubbles from between his fingers, and suddenly there's no air in his lungs.

Five jumps in front of a bullet. He calls it quick reflexes. Diego calls it stupidity.

☁︎ Gift-Wrapped by punk_rock_yuppie { E }

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Diego discovers Five's secret.

☁︎ god-intoxicated by chrysostomos (nantes) { E }

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Of all the things Diego expected to get dragged into this month, meeting a mythological witch, finding out Five is married, and rescuing him from his unwanted sun god husband were not on the list.

☁︎ handling myself by achilleees { E }

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Five pressed his lips together. “I advise against… touching them with your bare hands,” he said, taking the pills out of his pocket and dropping them into Diego’s gloved palm. “It would be unwise.”

In the light streaming from the Academy windows, Diego could see the sheen of sweat on his skin, trickling down his temple.

“Oh my god,” Diego said, starting to laugh.

☁︎ Happy Accidents by Starrstruck_64 { G }

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You’re making a mess, is what Diego wants to snap back. Instead he hears his mom’s voice clear as day say ‘boys will be boys’ and without thinking he’s moving on autopilot.

Diego can feel his hands clenching rhythmically at his sides before he’s moving forward to take the bowl from Klaus and ripping the apron off in one smooth motion. Discarding the bowl to the side he works on getting the strings untangled and slips the apron over his own clothes.

“Out.”

He has so much work to do. The pancake is beyond salvaging, the kitchen is a mess, and he’s fairly certain the batter is inedible.

Aka: the fic where Diego’s mothering instincts go wild

☁︎ haven't you heard of meditation? by rosesareredvioletsareblue { T }

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"Klaus, you have a piece of glass sticking out of your neck!"

Klaus felt for the glass, wincing as he found it.

"Oh yeah. Fun." It took all of Five's willpower not to throttle him.

☁︎ Hidden Variables Theory, The by siriuspiggyback { T }

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Something has disturbed the space-time continuum, and it's up to Five to figure out what it is.

With a bit of luck, and a lot of alcohol, he might even manage to do it before he snaps and murders his siblings.

☁︎ Honey and Vinegar by JayTRobot { M }

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The Handler sends Five on a mission only he can complete - to seduce a known pedophile for information. Then kill him.

Five doesn't appreciate playing the honeypot.

☁︎ I Want It (I Got It) by Electra_XT { E }

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“Oh, Christ,” Five said, starting to grin. “Diego, no. Don’t tell me you’re actually into being called—”

“Shut up,” Diego muttered.

“It’s not sexy,” Five said. “It’s cliche and corny and macho and self-aggrandizing, and I’m disappointed in you.” He waited a beat. “Daddy.”

☁︎ i'm gonna be here til i'm nothing (but bones in the ground) by iguessyouregonnamissthepantyraid { T }

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Someone definitely just punched him in the chest, right? That’s the reason for that feeling? Or that last batch of pills had something seriously off-label mixed into them. Because there’s no way. There’s no fucking way.

He squeezes his eyes shut until dots burst behind his eyelids, but when he opens them, the hallucination doesn’t go away.

“… Five?”

☁︎ I'm The Daddy? by TUA (IAMS) { G / WIP }

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Five spends fifteen years in the apocalypse and two years working for the Temps Commission before breaking his contract and time traveling back to the year 2003; just a year after he originally went missing.

According to his calculations, wiping Reginald's existence from the timeline means the apocalypse never occurs. But of course, this leaves several newly orphaned fourteen year olds in his care.

Let the family bonding and therapy ensue.

☁︎ if the sky comes falling down by synchronicities { T }

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The equations are still wrong.

In 2002, Number Seven wonders why her siblings are acting odd.

(Or, the post-finale “Vanya doesn’t remember the time travel” fic)

☁︎ If You're Different And You Know It (you're not alone) by M3zzaTh3M3z { T }

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Five was different. He’d always known. Different from most people, what with his freakish birth, powers and unconventional upbringing, all that old news. And different from his siblings. He was smarter. His powers were stronger. And he’d never picked a name. All that was old news too. But there was something else that separated him from the rest, something he didn’t know how to put a finger on, how to categorize, analyse, understand. Five didn’t like not understanding. It was probably Klaus that made him first notice something was off.

☁︎ Is the sadness everlasting? (love, I think it is) by ArmedWithMyComputer { T }

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A look into what Klaus' newly discovered ability could mean for the siblings.

Diego could feel his whole body trembling as he faced the ghosts, only able to take shallow breaths as he struggled to process the true horror of what he was seeing.

And then they started howling.

The sound pierced though his stupor and forced him to his knees instantly. It was like nothing Diego had ever experienced before, and he was consumed with the intensity and overwhelmed by a deep chilling fear. It felt as though his mind had been taken over and all he could hear was the shrieks of grief, more intense than any emotion he had ever felt.

☁︎ It Does(n't) Matter by MYSTERYstew { T }

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It’s a familiar feeling, being lifted up by Luther and tossed around like he weighs nothing (to Luther he certainly does), it was a favorite move of Luther’s as a child. Nostalgia is not what Five feels, he’s too busy flailing as Luther throws him over the railing.

or, Five fails a jump

☁︎ Jealousy Sucks by FiveUmbrellaAcademy { E / WIP }

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"God, Diego." Five rubbed his temples, sounding exasperated. "He's our brother."

"I'm your brother, too." Diego blurts out. Fuck, now he's sounding like an insecure, whiny boyfriend. Perfect.

Five just stares back at Diego, his eyebrows burrowing.

At the physical age of seventeen, Five has, in Klaus' words, grown up hot.

☁︎ Just One Minute by willowhisperer { T }

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Five holds up his end of the deal, soaked in blood. The Handler decides to toy with him a little while longer.

Maybe it's revenge, maybe she's riding the high of her shiny new position as head of the Commission.

Really, she just wants to win, once and for all.

☁︎ Kinktober Day 12 - Crossdressing by Multifangirl69 { E }

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The Umbrella Academy Kinktober Fest//Day 12

☁︎ Kitten Socks by sky_blue_hightops { G }

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Klaus's lost his favorite pair of socks (again) (Ben shut up) and finds them in an unexpected place.

☁︎ Lessons 'verse [Series] by Soulykins { T }

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Five was maybe four years old when he figured out that he was pretty much ride or die for his siblings. He was also four when he figured out that in the Umbrella Academy, you could never let Reginald Hargreeves figure out what you loved lest he use it against you. There was safety in aloof indifference, more than could be found anywhere else under their roof.

Five times Five Hargreeves protected his siblings the best ways he could, and the one time he failed.

☁︎ Lethe by shoelaces { T }

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Le·the | A river in Hades whose waters cause drinkers to forget their past.

Or: Five loses his memories instead of Vanya, and it falls to his siblings to raise a superpowered teenager in the 1960s, all whilst preserving their own new lives and preventing yet another apocalypse.

☁︎ Like an abyss by fridayyy { T }

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For the second time, Five has to (gets to?) grow up.

☁︎ Like Oxygen by sevansa { T }

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Klaus's powers may be a bit more extensive than just seeing the dead, he's not sure what to do about that.

OR

The one where Klaus's power is not ghosts, but souls and that makes a hell of a difference.

☁︎ master of my domain by achilleees { E }

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“You’re asking five 13-year-old boys not to jerk off for – it can’t be done,” Luther says. “Now that we’re older, it would be different, but back then –”

“Excuse me, I could do it,” Five says. “I could certainly outlast all of you.”

They all look at each other.

“Oh, no,” says Allison.

☁︎ Meet the Hargreeves Siblings by AmyR { G }

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Klaus is found passed out by a confused Patch and Beaman. When Diego comes to get him, refusing to divulge who the unconcious man was, things get weird. At least the first time. The second time, it was a different person. And then the third. Then the fourth.

Until finally, explanations are demanded.

☁︎ Mellow Rays of a Departing Sun [Series] by Emotionally_Detached (Yeah_Toast) { T }

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He makes it. He time travels and makes it through another apocalypse. He makes it, but his siblings don't.

His siblings don't make it, except he's in his own childhood and they're still here, alive and thirteen and he can fix things.

He will fix things

☁︎ Midmorning Coffees and Therapy Sessions by wereworm { G }

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Local woman working at coffeeshop accidentally adopts a child and gives advice with a focus on getting closer to siblings when she, herself, has a sub-optimal relationship with her sister.

Or the time Five went to get a good cup of coffee and ended up slowly befriending the barista while trying to reconnect with the siblings he hasn't seen since his childhood without the looming threat of the apocalypse anymore.

☁︎ most dangerous place in the world, the [Series] by Princess_Sarcastia { T }

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"Grace is the third model in a series created by and for Sir Reginald.  She has access to the knowledge obtained by her predecessors in their time assisting Sir Reginald in his many endeavors.

All three of them were primarily designed as protectors.  Do no harm, just as Mr. Asimov said!

But Grace is slightly different."

[priority one: protect the children]

☁︎ Need a Vacation by Electra_XT { E }

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“You ready for a relaxing weekend at the beach?” Diego said.

“Thrilled,” Five said, looking down at the map in his hands. “A relaxing weekend of hunting down a hired killer and pretending I’m dating my brother.”

☁︎ New Life, A by BirdInTheCave { T }

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Allison had convinced Ray to come back to 2019 with her and her family and after a month of being cooped up in the house with the other Hargreeves plus their own unconventional guests, Ray suggests they spend some time alone. He's still struggling to fully comprehend the new world he's stepped into but he's determined that with Allison at his side he can get used to anything. Allison can't find a reason to say no. She should have said no.

Luckily for her, Five will always be there for his family, now that he's back.

☁︎ Next time, hire a nanny by TheArchaeologist { M }

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While the rest of his family go out to Vanya’s concert for the evening, Five, still recovering from the remains of a lingering chest infection, agrees to watch Claire. He is fifty-nine, he can handle a little girl for the night.

Everything goes fine.

Until it very much doesn't.

☁︎ Not my body, not my life (But I am here) by Panonnymous_Bloom { G }

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He wasn't going to explain to Diego why exactly he was following Allison's every move with his eyes because he didn't own anybody any explanations, especially not his simpleton of a brother who seemed to think that every Alpha was going to pounce on Allison at the first sign of any heat.

Allison's decision to spend her heat in the house leads Five to a small realization - and even smaller desire - but he will kill a thousand men before admitting to it.

☁︎ Not with me by ClaraCivry (Kat_Of_Dresden) { T }

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They never asked if any of that blood was his. Five is bleeding, and he is also giving up.

AU to 2X07, with hurt Five because after all that boy has been through...

☁︎ Number Five | And The Things that Make Him Tick [Series] by Kraeyola { T }

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It's only been two weeks for him.

AKA: Five succumbs to two weeks worth of badly cared for (physical and emotional) injuries, and ends up extremely feverish.

☁︎ On My Terms by CivilBores { T }

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“I did what you asked,” he tells her. “Now, the briefcase.”

Her eyebrows raise in mock-surprise, red lips curling up her face in a sadistic smile.

“You didn’t think that was all, did you?” she asks.

AU: The Handler gives Five a slightly different deal.

☁︎ On This Day In History by telm_393 { M }

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Five had a...special relationship with the Handler during his time at the Commission, or maybe he didn’t. After the apocalypse doesn’t happen, he tries to order his memories of the last few years while also actively suppressing them. It goes badly.

His siblings are worried, and genuinely want to help. They are not unsuccessful.

☁︎ Out of My Mind by Electra_XT { E }

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“What happened?” Diego said. He looked down at himself. “Am I hurt?”

What happened? echoed a voice from the back of his head.

☁︎ Outside, For the First Time by Trees_Frogs_andPotentially_Treefrogs { G }

→ Download Here

Grace is torn between her programming to obey the rules set by Mr. Hargreeves, and her duty to the children, and decides that being a person is self determined.

☁︎ Partners, Parents, or None of the Above by DarkFairytale { T }

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Kenny's mom assuming that Diego and Klaus were A) a couple and B) Number Five’s parents was both bemusing and amusing at the time. But that was because it was the only time it had ever happened. Now though? Now they just can't understand why these misunderstandings keep happening.

☁︎ Raising the Bar by Electra_XT { E }

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Five looked ten years older. He was still youthful, early twenties, but he had suddenly and visibly become an adult. Diego had braced himself for… something, but not this. He was dressed heartbreakingly preppy— neatly tailored slacks, a shirt that fit him like it was made for him, and a casual blazer. Diego hadn’t known a blazer could be casual before, but the way Five wore the linen jacket made it seem genuinely effortless.

Of all the ways this new body thing could have gone, Diego didn’t expect him to be hot.

☁︎ rude awakening by Soulykins { T / WIP }

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When Five wakes up, he just knows someone is in the room with him. Of course, even he didn't except to come face to face with the Handler who he'd thought to be very very dead. And he especially didn't expect her to break into his room and watch him sleep while waiting for him to wake up.

It's very fortunate that Diego and Klaus show up to wake him up and take offense to some random lady in the same room as their very uncomfortable, very thirteen-year-old brother.

☁︎ Screaming in the Face of Communication by papayaromantic { T }

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It's not that he doesn't want to pay attention to Five, just that he seriously can't hear what the boy is saying past the wailing of the torn apart woman in front of him.

☁︎ Second First Time by venDi { E }

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Five spent his early years learning about Alpha biology -- and he knows, recognizes the sudden shift in his family's scent, that his heat has sent them all into a very, very early rut.

☁︎ Servus by Anonymous { E }

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"They had been given a chance to start over, all of them, together. At least, that’s what Five intended, when he pulled he and his siblings from imminent death...He had watched his siblings be swept back to their collective childhood, armed with the knowledge of what was to come, and how to prevent it. He, on the other hand, had ended up somewhere entirely different."

Five receives one, final business proposal from the Handler, and her methods of persuasion are far from conventional.

☁︎ Shadow Elixir, The by Phantom_Vidar { E / WIP }

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With the apocalypse averted the Hargreeves attempt to rebuild their lives and transition into something that resembles a fraction of normalcy. A year later and strange visions start appearing to Klaus, of a dark space contaminated by souls bygone and a voice who aches to be free; especially Ben's. The apocalypse has passed but now another disaster awaits— one that Diego and Five might have accidentally walked into.

Alternatively: Diego and Five have sex and coincidentally start the next stage of the end of the world.

☁︎ shaking like I shook before by Anonymous { T }

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Five tries to deal with it alone, until he learns that he doesn’t have to.

☁︎ skirts and sweaters by slightlyworriedhuman { T }

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"I don't want to be a ‘cute little schoolboy’ anymore, alright?” Five snapped. For some reason, the thought of himself as a schoolboy was enough to make his skin prickle. Was it the implication that he was younger than the rest of them, less mature despite his life?

...Yeah, it was definitely that. Absolutely.Five wants a change in wardrobe. His siblings are more than happy to help.

☁︎ small changes by calypso42 { T }

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“I need to ask you something.” He set down the large stack of books he was carrying beside him. Klaus glanced at a few of the titles - Consciousness in the Brain - Memory & the Role of the Hippocampus - Soul vs. Matter: A Comprehensive Look at the Origins of Sentience - and grimaced.

“Are you… having an existential crisis, or something? Because I am possibly the worst person you could go to for that.”

...

When Five goes to Klaus to ask him something about his powers, Klaus doesn’t think much of it. At least, until he realizes that what he thought was simple curiosity was actually deeper than that, leading to a revelation about Five himself.

☁︎ Snacktime. [Series] by HotCocoaaa { G }

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There was a wolf spider, just, chilling on the table that morning when Diego came down for breakfast. A...a really big wolf spider. Just...a real hunk of a thing.

(“You...you just….you just ate a spider.” He murmured.)

It didn't end well.

☁︎ Special punishment by Anonymous { M }

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Five was the only one with a tattoo on his rib

☁︎ sweater weather by KittenAnarchy { G }

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Number Five, a dryer, and his first blink.

☁︎ take shelter by aloneintherain { T }

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AU where the apocalypse doesn’t follow the Hargreeves to the 1960s. Without the threat of nuclear annihilation hanging over their heads, the siblings can take the time to be a family again.

Until they find out that the Handler has been blackmailing Five.

☁︎ There are Stones in my Stomach and Worms on my Plate by TheArchaeologist { M }

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If you ever need a crash diet, try the apocalypse. It is fat free, dairy free, lacking in all the vital vitamins and minerals, and totally organic.

After all, look at Five. Weeks after stopping the apocalypse and he still can’t finish a plate of food.

☁︎ there is simply nothing worse than knowing how it ends by Drhair76 { G }

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"What's this?" He said pointing a finger at the bread and peanut butter that was laid across the table top.

Five rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "What do you think. It's a sandwich."

"Oh?" Klaus reached out a hand to brush the sleeve of his beloved hoodie. "And what's this?"

or, the one where Klaus 'loses' a hoodie, Five gets a hug and Ben is proud.

☁︎ they could care less (as long as someone'll bleed) by Ford_Ye_Fiji { M }

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Number Five is cornered once again by commission agents, but this time with his family.

Diego and Klaus learn something about their littlest-oldest brother.

☁︎ this is a bad town (for such a pretty face) by luciimariiellii { T }

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Five’s gone. (How the Hargreeves cope, and how they reunite.)

☁︎ time on my hands by achilleees { E }

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“If you orgasm, you’ll die,” Five said with a grimace.

Diego’s eyes went wide.

“Bet you wish you’d just been sterilized now,” Five said.

☁︎ Timelines 1-2.1 [Series] by dgalerab { M / Partially WIP }

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As the world ends, Five takes his siblings back into their child bodies on the day he originally left. With the knowledge of how the world ends fresh in their minds, the Hargreeves siblings do what they can to leave clues for their past selves on how to grow up a little less fucked up before returning to the present.

A present where they all have different lives they can't remember, there's a fun new apocalypse on the way, and Reginald Hargreeves remembers the day where all his children suddenly and inexplicably lost their minds and all respect for him at once a little too well.

☁︎ to unexplain the unforgivable by darkviverna { T }

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Ability to see the dead and having a temporal assassin for a brother don’t mix well.

☁︎ Too Much Too Little by 1spideyson { T }

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Five says nothing on the ride back, just gently presses the tips of thin fingers to his eyes and temples like his head is a new instrument he’s learning to play. Like he’s searching for the right notes.

Diego tries not to cast too many worried glances the boy’s way, but when Five crawls into Diego’s bed, shaking and grey, he can’t stop himself from speaking up.

A look at Five and Diego's relationship through a h/c lens.

☁︎ Too Old To Be So Young by KaseyBeth { T }

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Five winced loudly, pushing his head off the floor to see bright red smeared across his chest and stomach; crimson soaked into his shorts, running down his leg. His head fell back against the ground dizzyingly, and he groaned as someone touched the wound, biting his bottom lip as he tried to stay conscious. The end of life, of everything, was in three days; they didn’t have time for this, he didn’t have time for this. A bullet wound, a stupid bullet wound and all that stupid concern and worry, was just going to slow them down. There wasn’t time for mistakes, or hiccups, or rest and recovery. It was the end of the fucking world. 

☁︎ trans diego & child five [Series] by iamnotalizard { G }

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eudora and beaman are surprised to find out diego has a kid; they're more surprised when they see what their relationship is like

☁︎ traumaversary by WeWalkADifferentPath { T }

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It follows him like an unscratched itch. Under his skin, over his body, around his energy, like a mosquito that won’t leave him the fuck alone.

April 1st. April 1st. April 1st.

(A character study of Five, with some inevitable family feels, in honour of March 24th).

☁︎ two can be as bad as one by myeyesarenotblue { M }

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“Five, sweet little Five” Klaus says, from where he’s sitting cross-legged on the floor, next to one of the living room’s couches, instead of sitting on it like a normal person. “We love you but what the fuck”

Five growls, like he’s a dog or something. “It should correct itself”

☁︎ Uncle Five PT1 by glitched-coffee { G }

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Allison has to take care of Claire without warning the others but its all fine and dandy until Claire thinks she’s old enough to hear everything about Five. She’s seven.

☁︎ Unexpected Future, An by aseies { T / WIP }

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“I’m sure you’re looking forward to finding a way back to your own time as soon as possible,” Nedzu said. “I want you to know that U.A. will do everything in its power to help you achieve that goal. Time travel is a complicated equation to solve, but I’m sure if we put our heads together we’ll come up with something!”

Five raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And you’re just going to do that out of the goodness of your heart? I’m not even old enough for high school yet.”

“Well, we’re all heroes for a reason, no? What good are we if we can’t help a single child in need?” Nedzu pointed out with a pleasantly neutral smile as he sipped his tea.

OR: Instead of time traveling into the apocalypse, thirteen-year-old Five Hargreeves teleports in the middle of the USJ fight.

He gets a couple of new dads out of it.

☁︎ Vital Signs by aye_of_newt { M } 

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Sometimes, it's difficult for Klaus to tell if someone is alive or dead.When Five shows up, covered in blood after killing the Board, Klaus panics.

☁︎ walls kept tumbling down, the by Ingu { T }

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It started small.

There was a nagging ache in his chest, phantom pain from where the bullets had pierced his flesh, in the overwritten timeline that never will be.

(the one where rewinding time doesn't miraculously resolve mortal gunshot wounds)

☁︎ We All Deserve Second Chances (but don't repeat your mistakes) by justarandomword, wolvesandnovas { T }

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Time-travelling gave Ben a second chance at life. He's not about to let Reginald Hargreeves ruin that for him and Klaus.

(a.k.a. Reginald takes Klaus' dog tags and the aftermath.)

☁︎ we didn't choose this life, we're just (kind of) living it [Series] by noodlerdoodler { T / Partially WIP }

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Five couldn’t move, standing by and watching complacently, as his younger brother grabbed him roughly by the front of his sweater. It was like he was watching a play he wasn't apart of, yet that was definitely his small body being tossed over the balcony. No doubt, Luther thought that he would just jump out of the way. He'd always jumped out of the way, sometimes without even meaning to, but now visions of a world on fire flashed through his head as his body plummeted towards the ground. Seemingly, he was tumbling through the air in slow motion and absentmindedly, Five wondered if this was his life flashing before his eyes. All he saw was the desolate world he’d left behind weeks ago.

When Five hit the ground, it was with a sickening cracking noise.

“Oh my god, Luther, what have you done?”

☁︎ with two arms by karcheri { T }

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What it comes down to, really, is that Five had been too eager for results. Once it became clear to him that there was a connection between his powers and his energy level the obvious course of action, as he saw it, was to test this information. The hypothesis was this: higher energy levels = stronger powers and the easiest way to get more energy is to eat more. Pretty simple stuff. Too simple. 

or Five times that Five starves himself and one time that he gets called out on it.

☁︎ world of options, a by achilleees { E }

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“So did you ask Five about me?” Klaus asked.

“Was I supposed to do that?” Diego said.

“You are the worst fucking wingman,” Klaus said.

☁︎ year that wasn't, the by achilleees { E }

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Diego turned to Five. “I’ve already, uh, lived today. This has already happened.”

Everyone went still.

“Ooh, that’s a mind-fuck,” said Klaus.

☁︎ you from yesterday by questors (sieges) { T }

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The difference between who his siblings once were and who they are now.

☁︎ You Put Your Head In My Hands by shadowsapiens { M }

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“I need a favor.” Five scrambles to his feet, fluffy dark tail lashing behind him. “Don’t worry, it’s not the apocalypse.”

☁︎ You Shook Me All Night Long by Persephxneeee { M }

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Diego was right, Five thinking too much sometimes.

☁︎ zero to sixty by achilleees { E }

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“Man, have you seen me?” said Diego. “Are you really that surprised?”

Oh, Five thought.

“Seems right,” said Klaus, pleased. “Other than the turtlenecks. Very hard to take you seriously as a Dom in the turtlenecks.”

[samclownchester]

The day is June 15 2020

The time is 3 am

The situation is that the world has fallen into a pandemic of Covid-19, and my job closed down in March, leaving me with lots of time on my hands. Despite my doubts, I fell back into Supernatural, deep into it, and I am now rewatching it. I thought it would be fun to try and see how much I could remember from earlier seasons before I watch them all

I have watched up to 1x14 at this point, so those episodes are fresh in my mind, but lets see what else I remember

Season 1

“Dad’s on a hunting trip, and he hasn’t been home in a few days”

“Saving people, hunting things, the family business”

Sam’s girlfriend dies just like his mom did

Their dad is the point of the season but is only actually in like 3 episodes

Sam and Dean break up but get back together

Sam has VISIONS and moves things with his MIND

Meg is a demon, Sam has a bit of a crush on her

They find their dad, but don’t kill the demon

colt

Season 2

Dean dies in a car crash, John sells his soul for him and dies

Bobby Singer is best dad

Ellen and Jo and Ash exist

Purple Nurple

Gordon?

Lots of psychics! Sam can make friends??

Jk, it’s the hunger games

Sam gets stabbed in the back

Dean sells his soul for him

They kill Azazel I think??

“I have … demon blood in me?”

Season 3

Saving Dean from his demon deal

Groundhog day episode where Dean dies everyday

Gabriel?? (trickster)

Blonde Ruby (let’s hear it for Laurel Lance!)

Very short because there was a writers’ strike that year

Hell hounds

Season 4

Dean was “gripped tight and raised from perdition” by Castiel

Sam has a new gf! (Surprise, it’s Ruby in a new body! :o)

Why does she pretend to not know Dean when he first shows up? Is she lying to Sam about who she is this whole time?? Hmmm I wish I remembered

Time travel?? (Sam doesn’t get to come ☹ )

Demon blood

Demon blood detox ☹

Let’s kill Lilith

“Because it had to be you Sam”

“The boy with the demon blood”

Season 5

Dean is the Michael sword

Sam is messed up, trying to quit demon blood

Cas rebelled, and he did it, all of it, for Dean

Adam Winchester is a person who exists

Also I think this is the season with Jesse the antichrist who never shows up again it’s fine.

He only existed so they could have important conversations about nature vs nurture which honestly they should’ve just saved from when Jack was born but they didn’t know that was gonna happen

More time travel??

Future

Cas likes drugs

Team Free Will

Samifer

Fall into the cage

Dean goes to live with Lisa and Ben

The end?

Season 6

Cas is working with Crowley and spying on Dean but not talking to him like the pining idiot that he is

Dean can’t help but inspect monster happenings in town

Soulless!Sam

Dean finds Soulless Sam

Hanging out with some old dude?

Get Sam’s soul back

Meet Death?

Find out Cas is working with Crowley

 O: Ultimate betrayal

???

Season 7

Leviathans

Godstiel?? Why?? Idr

Hallucifer

Please give Sam therapy

Sam goes to an asylum

Cas takes Sam’s trauma??    

More leviathans

Dick?

Charlie!

Kevin!

Garth? Did we know him before. Idk, we know him now

Dean and Cas go to purgatory!

When does Cas die and walk into the lake? That’s before they go to Purgatory, right? Hmmmm but how does he come back

 Cas is Emmanuel and has a wife? Is that in this season?

Season 8

Dean gets out of purgatory!

But no Cas

Sam had a girlfriend and a dog! Nice!

Not nice, he ignored Kevin and didn’t look for Dean

Like they agreed on, but whatever ok sue him for trying to be happy

Dean has a vampire boyfriend

Not so high and mighty about killing every monster are we now, huh Dean?

Right? I don’t remember, this is a conversation that happens though

He does end up killing Benny though, doesn’t he? huh

Cas is back from Purgatory! But he’s got Secrets ™

“I’m gonna become a hunter”

Then he stays in the old folks home and next time we see him he’s all wacky and likes to watch the bees?

Megstiel

You’re just playing sorry

Am I right?? I don’t remember, but all of this happens at some point

Who even is the big bad? What are we fighting? Idk

Oh we have to save Kevin from Crowley and he reads the demon tablet. Only eats hotdogs, doesn’t shave. I love him please keep him safe.

Spoilers, they don’t

Right! The trials, Sam does the trials, they “purify” him

The angels fall, but Sam doesn’t complete the trials and almost dies.

Season 9

Sam almost dies, Dean is like “right, nonconsensual possession is clearly the best answer for this”

Human!Cas, he drinks lots of water. Steve.

§  “you can’t stay here” :o

Abaddon I think?? What was the point

Crowley is sort of our friend now and I think we meet Rowena? Idr

Kevin dies ☹

“What is the upside to me being alive” – Sam

§  Maybe in this season, maybe not. Who knows?

Cas is a cannibal (eats grace) and becomes and angel again at some point

§  Hannah exists

We all hate Metatron

Cain??

Metatron stabs Dean and Sam puts his dead body on the bed

Demon!Dean

Season 10

Demon!Dean and Crowley are living it up!

Sam and Cas try to cure Dean

Charlie and Rowena interact a lot I think

Book of the Damned

When did they find the bunker? Men of Letters? All that? Idr, anyway they have it at this point

Dean kills lots of people

Charlie dies ☹

Dean blames Sam which is unfair and I hate it

They get the mark off and The DarknessTM is release

Season 11

The Baby episode exists

Really weird sexual tension between Dean and Amara while she’s still kind of a child, no one knows why. Please stop.

Cas gets called expendable and then makes poor life decisions

Lbr, though, Misha is the only other one who can play Lucifer with the same spirit as Mark Pellegrino. Sorry Jared, it’s the truth.

Eileen!! <3

Chuck is God :o

Let’s kill Amara!

Except we don’t kill her, she just needs to bond with her bro.

Here, have your mom back

Season 12

Mom????

British Men of Letters

Lucifer F*cks

Boy I didn’t think this would turn into what it did, let me tell you

Winchesters escape from Federal Prison

Cas says “I love you”

But like, the plural you. No homo.

Sam admits he lost his drive to lead, then finds it again and leads hunters against the dang brits! Hooray!

Oh shoot Lucifer wants custody of his kid!

FIGHT

Fatality – Castiel

Fatality – Mary

Oh no wait she didn’t die she’s just trapped.

Season 13

Jack jack jack jack jack

3 dads, all at various levels of dadding

Actually 2 excellent dads, one dad who is too emotionally damaged to dad but he tries sometimes

Yeah Cas pisses of a cosmic entity. That won’t come back to bite him

Jack just wants to be good

Wayward sisters was not picked up which sucks

Apocalypse world

Rowena is our friend now

Custody Battle!!! Who wins? Not Lucifer

We saved the day! And a ton of people

Literally they made a whole deal of the people being like “We won’t leave our home or our cause” and then they got back to Sam and Dean’s world, didn’t have archangel grace and were just like “meh, actually this place is cool. We don’t have to worry about going back”

Psych! We’re not done yet! Luci wants his kid

And Michael wants his planet

Season 14

Michael! Dean

Jack dies

But it’s ok, we fixed you, just don’t use your powers

Oh shoot he used his power

Nick is somehow alive

In love with Lucifer

Burn his ass!!

Oh Mary disapproves

RIP Mary

RIP Dean being a father, now he’s gonna murder

Hi Chuck, nice of you to show up

Oh no.

Season 15

Chuck sucks

Dean and Cas break up ☹

Sam has visions again

But he’s not psychic, it’s just the piece of his soul inside Chuck

Resurrect your girlfriend! Yeah!!

Jack is eating hearts, but it’s ok, Death told him to do it.

Garden of Eden?

Get your soul back boy!

 And cry

Honorable mentions (Aka these happened but idr when)

Sam falls in love with a werewolf and then has to kill her and MAN Jared really brought the tears

AU where Supernatural is a TV show

Finding out Supernatural is a book series and the author is Chuck!

Crowley becomes helpful mostly

Crowley has a son??

 Meet grandpa

Ellen, Jo, and Ash die

Bobby dies

literally everybody dies

Kill Hitler

They meet that Jewish guy with the Golem who pretended to flirt with Dean at some point.

Jimmy Novak was a devout man who deserved a lot better than he got

Claire Novak is so cool

She moves in with Jody

When do we meet Jody? She’s just always kinda been there?

Gabriel, I don’t remember anything about Gabriel

The council of the Gods’ happens and then I think Gabriel dies in that episode?? Idr

The Four Horsemen

Death, Pestilence, War, Famine

“You’re not hungry Dean”

 I literally do not remember what was happening with these guys

Also, they killed Death, killed a reaper, that reaper became the new Death. I remember when all that happened I just didn’t feel like putting it in the timeline.

[celtictrinity]

chapter 7

    “He’s gaining too much strength. If this goes any longer none will be able to stop him. The cycle must end, Airmid, before he finds a way to destroy everything we’ve tried to protect.”

    “The others weren’t happy about this the first time we tried it. Especially because the children were stronger than they had expected. You know they are wary of the children of gods and mortals, and for good reason.”

    “Nevertheless, those three put something into motion that none of us expected them to. The time for their spirits to re-enter the world is coming. If we want them to be able to stop him once and for all, you must go now.”

    “I know. Tell the others. I will do what I can.”

    “I know you will, Airmid.”

                                                   * * *

    Ben and Cinda wandered the salvage yard, Cinda brushing absently at her arms every now and then. Ben noticed that she was faintly uncomfortable but he wasn’t sure why. Both he and Sam had picked up some faint discomfort from her since they’d showed up at the salvage yard but there hadn’t really been time to ask about it. Of course, he was uncomfortable himself, not far enough away from his twin to cause pain but enough to make him very aware of the distance between them.

    When they’d gotten in last night they hadn’t talked much before unloading the truck and heading to bed. Bobby had been surprised to see the weapons they’d brough with them and it had only sobered him more. But they had waited until this morning to talk about the events of the last few weeks.

    Bobby hadn’t seemed wary of Cinda until after Sam told him what they both remembered of that night back when they were four and a half years old. Learning that it had been Cinda’s father that had come to tear their family apart had the older man studying Cinda, who has been busy studying her knees, shoulders hunched. Ben had tugged her into his side as Sam finished up with what they knew, that their mother had come back much later that night to talk to John and John hadn’t reacted well. Bobby’s face had turned grim as Sam explained that their mother had spoken to them both that night before she’d left and John had taken them away.

    “She told us it wasn’t safe,” Sam had said. “That we had to stay with our dad. She told us we wouldn’t remember much but it was to keep us safe. And she told us she loved us very much and she’d watch over us as much as she could. Bobby… he lied to us. He told us she hadn’t come back for us at all, that she didn’t want us. For years he told us that. The only reason Mom let him take us was because she was trying to keep us safe.”

    They’d learned that after John had talked to Missouri (whose house they had been staying at after the confrontation between their mother and Cinda’s father) he’d made his way to Bobby.

    “I knew… well as much as John could make sense of what happened that night. He didn’t know he was dealing with gods, didn’t know anything at all except that his wife wasn’t human and was fighting something else that wasn’t human. He was running scared, I knew that. He came to me because we were old friends but also because of my specialty. He wanted to know what he could do to protect himself and you boys.” Bobby had paused and looked uncomfortable for a long moment before adding slowly, grudgingly, “He also wanted to make sure you boys were human.”

    Sam and Ben had been taken aback by the admission. Not that it surprised them much. John was always uncomfortable around his boys, even before they’d left Kansas and their mother behind. And knowing what they knew of themselves now, they couldn’t really get offended since it seemed they weren’t fully human anyway. But it left them wondering what their dad would have done with them if Bobby hadn’t told John they were human.

    “Did you know?” Sam’s question was quiet and Ben held Cinda a little tighter.

    Bobby pulled the hat off his head and twisted it in his hands. “I knew that there was something more to you boys. But that’s all I knew. Missouri hadn’t sent me any kind of warning about you so I trusted her judgement. I don’t have any special powers, you know that. I read a damn lot and I’ve picked up even more but it’s all intellectual knowledge, Sam. I don’t sense things the way Missouri does, the way you two do. I don’t feel the world the way you do. So, I could only go with my gut and my gut said you were traumatized boys who needed their family to care for them. If I’d known what John was going to do….”

    There had been silence between them until Cinda had finally spoken up, hesitant. “It was a bad situation. You did what you thought was best for them. They were only wee lads and you didne ken that their da was hiding things. I dinna think you acted to cause anyone harm. I believe you were trying to help your friend and his children. If you’d kent what had happened perhaps you’d have done things differently. But guilt… it does nae do much to change what’s already done and gone. It’s clear you care for them; you’ve done what you can to make up for what their da did. You canna ken everything.”

    Sam had glanced at Cinda, still huddled into Ben’s side and sighed softly. “She’s right. It doesn’t matter anymore. You already told us you didn’t think John meant to hole up for more than a decade in that old bunker you sent him off to. You couldn’t have known what paranoia and fear and strong drink would do to him. Especially if he didn’t even keep in contact. We need to focus on now and try to figure out how to handle what’s coming. Because something is definitely coming. And our mom, she told us we have to stop Cinda’s father. We need to figure out how. That’s why we’re really here. We need access to your library.”

    Bobby had studied Cinda for a long moment before pulling his cap back onto his head and sighing heavily. “I’ve regrets aplenty for my life. Can’t live this long without collecting up some. But none have ate at me as much as when John dropped off the face of the planet and wouldn’t even talk to me. Worried about you boys all those years. Was surprised and glad when Missouri called me and said John’s boys needed help. Any help you need, you got from me. You know that.”

    Sam had wanted to dive into the books right away. Cinda had spent a few hours helping him. Ben had struggled through two books before Sam had gently suggested he go work on something out in the salvage yard instead of torture himself with fighting words that didn’t want to cooperate with him. Ben had been all too relieved to put the book down and escape to do something with his hands, even if he’d felt he was somehow failing Cinda and Sam by doing so.

    Cinda had come looking for him a couple of hours later and Ben had taken a break from his single-minded focus on the engine he’d been fighting with, which led to them taking a walk through the salvage yard.

    Ben glanced sidelong at Cinda who was rubbing her arms absently and finally decided he wanted to know what about the salvage yard was setting her on edge.

    He stopped walking and Cinda paused as well, looking at him with a question in her eyes.

    “What’s bothering you about the salvage yard, Cinda? You keep… brushing at your arms absently and while you don’t seem in pain there’s something… some kind of discomfort.” Ben didn’t bother with trying to lead up to it, just asked fairly bluntly. It didn’t make any sense to beat around the bush and he wasn’t good at it anyway. None of them really were, though Cinda could circle a subject for ages before actually coming to the point.

    Cinda blinked then let out a startled laugh. “I hadne thought it was obvious. It’s all the iron. I told you and Sam I have fae in my background, aye?”

    Ben nodded, head cocked to one side. “What does that have to do with anything?”

    Cinda gestured around. “Fae canna tolerate iron. I dinna have much of the blood but I’ve enough for this place to make me fair itch. Is nae pain, leannan. It’s only discomfort.”

    Ben studied Cinda for a long quiet moment, trying to make sure she was being honest. The endearment brought a brief smile to his face as it always did, but he wanted to be sure Cinda wasn’t trying to tolerate something that was causing her actual pain for their sakes. Neither he nor Sam had thought about what being at the salvage yard might be like for her because neither of them had known her fae blood might make it painful.

    He looked around the salvage yard, suddenly registering how many old wrecks were stacked on the grounds and how much iron had to be found in the mess of metal and fiberglass gathered on the grounds of the salvage yard. “We didn’t think….” Ben said softly, looking back to Cinda in concern.

    She touched his arm, eyes softening. “Is nae pain. I promise. Is an annoying itch but naught I canna handle. I dinna usually even think of my fae blood much, there’s nae a lot truly told. But sometimes it will rear up and make itself felt.”

    Ben studied her face again and decided she wasn’t trying to hide more pain than she could handle. He was pretty sure he’d be able to tell if she was actively in pain. “Is it better inside?”

    Cinda shrugged a shoulder. “A wee bit, aye. Easier to block out. But I came looking for you, remember? I needed the break. I kent what I was doing when I walked out of the door, leannan.”

    Ben nodded but he didn’t like the idea of walking about the salvage yard now that he knew it was causing Cinda even minor discomfort. He put his arm around her shoulders and gently turned them back to the house. “We should probably rouse Sam for dinner anyway or he’ll forget to eat. He often does when he gets into the books looking for something in particular.”

    Cinda let Ben turn her and gave him a fond smile though she didn’t argue to walk any longer. Ben was glad she didn’t decide to argue because he was pretty sure he’d have been insistent and he didn’t want to come up against Cinda’s temper, which was a match for his and Sam’s easily. They ambled back towards the house. “I dinna think I’ve ever seen him at the books like he was today. I kent he could focus but I didne really understand how focused he could get.”

    Ben laughed softly. “He likes to know things and he loves books. He would tear through any books we had looking for an answer when he got a question in his head Dad wouldn’t respond to. When we first showed up at Bobby’s and he saw the books, I think he had an orgasm just from the sight.”

    Cinda chuckled softly, leaning into him as they walked. “I dinna mind books, I even like them. But I dinna have the same kind of focus he does. And he makes some intuitive jumps when looking things up I canna follow.”

    Ben nodded. “Yeah, that’s Sam. He’s ridiculously smart.” There was pride in his voice and his fond smile.

    Cinda nudged him lightly. “You are just as smart as he is, laddie boy. Dinna think I missed you were doing more anger management on that engine than actual fixing of it. Reading is nae all there is to solving a problem. Is nae your fault the words on the page dinna behave as they ought when you try to read. It does nae make you less intelligent than Sam.”

    Ben felt himself flush at Cinda’s words because they were entirely too accurate. He had been taking his temper out on the metal and had been castigating himself for not being able to help more with researching. He should have known Cinda would notice.

    “Sam usually read to me,” he said slowly. “I don’t know why reading is so hard, but it always has been and it makes me feel stupid. Sam tells me all the time that I’m not but… it’s hard to believe sometimes.”

    Cinda shrugged as the house came into view. “Everyone has different strengths. You have them a plenty. Reading is just nae one of them. Is nae your own fault for that.”

    Ben shrugged noncommittally. He mostly believed her but there was a small part of him that still felt dumb because reading was so damn hard. It kept whispering to him it shouldn’t be so damn hard, it was reading for fuck’s sake, not rocket science.

    Cinda was about to say something in response to the shrug when they both heard a car entering the salvage yard. They both went on alert as though expecting the worst. Cinda’s hand drifted towards one of the knives she had on her person and Ben’s eyes narrowed as they hurried up to the porch where the house wards were stronger than the ones in the yard. But neither of them could bring themselves to go in the house until they saw whether it was friend or foe approaching.

    Ben felt a moment of surreal disconnection at the thought and how easily it came. He and Sam were wary of people in general but they had never jumped straight to wondering if someone approaching was a threat. Of course, that was before they’d learned a dark god had tried to kill them as children and their mother had exhorted them to stop the same dark god. It didn’t feel like they were in the same world they had been in before.

    It took longer than usual for Ben to place the sound of the engine coming towards them because it was so unexpected and out of place. Once he did, he relaxed though his face looked puzzled. Cinda felt him relax and glanced at him, though not pulling her hand away from the knife.

    As the car came into view and pulled to a stop next to their truck Ben said slowly, and in some confusion, “It’s Missouri. What’s she doing here?”

    At the same time the front door behind them opened and Bobby came out onto the porch. Cinda and Ben both looked at him as he stopped, waved to the car that had just appeared before looking at the both.

    “She called about twenty minutes ago to say she was almost here. Don’t ask me what brough her out here, I didn’t call her. Didn’t even think about it. But I’m guessing she sensed something that couldn’t be said over the phone.”

    Ben and Cinda exchanged a look and then glanced back over to the car. Then Ben shook his head and left the porch to meet Missouri at her car. If Missouri felt she was needed here, he wasn’t about to argue it.

                                                  * * *

    The first time Airmid incarnated as a human, she was unprepared for the experience. Gods were not mortal and experienced the world differently than mortals did. Taking on human flesh to carry a child that might stop Crom Cruach altered the way she saw and felt the world. She thought she had been ready for it, had had others try to tell her what the experience was like. But she had never incarnated as a human, had never seen the need to, and the first time had been overwhelming.

    She’d lost herself to it, truly told, and she knew it. It’s what allowed her to be taken unawares and for her human flesh to be killed before the children she’d borne could be taught their purpose. But more than that, she’d loved her children, her twin boys, with a fierceness she had never known could exist. She’d had no children before and the way gods loved their children was different than the ways mortals loved theirs.

    She had watched over her twin boys as well as she could. Had been glad their father had taken them to be taught to use their powers, though it saddened her he seemed to think nothing of leaving the boys behind. She hadn’t expected the way grief would change the man who had fathered her children. She hadn’t loved him in the human way but she’d been fond of him. She hadn’t known he had loved her quite so fiercely, hadn’t known what her apparent death would do to the man.

    Still, she hadn’t taken human form to conceive children on a lark, there had been a purpose and the twin boys were important in a way their father was not. She’d watched over the boys as much as she could. She hadn’t counted on them coming across a third child of a god, hadn’t foreseen the soul ties the three would forge. Airmid didn’t think anyone had seen that coming or the repercussions of three very powerful children being tied in such a way. They definitely hadn’t expected the third to be the child of the one they were trying to stop.

    In the end, the gamble had failed and all three had died as only mortals could die. But their powers and magic and soul ties had tied their souls together in ways the gods couldn’t even understand and kept the purpose her twins had been born for alive and part of the fabric of the world. Therefore, the gods could only wait for the three to return to the world and hope they were more successful the next time.

    Airmid was more prepared for incarnating as a human this time and didn’t lose herself as she had the first time. She expected to carry twin-borns this time and she was far more careful about keeping her own presence as muted as she could lest she lead Crom Cruach to her again. She hadn’t counted on her twins being more powerful this time around. She did what she could to erase a signature from the power that flowed around them but they still shone like beacons and in the end all she did was postpone when they were discovered. Sooner this time than the first, but she was prepared, not lost in mortal sensations.

    Again, however, she did not count on the twin’s father reacting as he did. Time was a difficult concept for her to come to terms with and the many years that had passed since the last time she had incarnated had made such things as gods who walk among mortals a rare thing more humans not only had no experience with but could not comprehend. She knew her boys would be safer without her, to grow up and hopefully become strong enough to stop the mad dark god. She had hoped to explain to their father their purpose and have him help her but he was not willing to hear her out, indeed feared her almost more than the god who had come and destroyed their temporarily quiet lives.

    It pained her greatly to have to let her twins go. A second time, no less. And this time she could not watch over them as she had before, still wearing human flesh and feeling the need to continue to do so for the time being. She wasn’t sure what instinct led her to keep to her current incarnation of Mary Winchester rather than shedding it and regaining her full powers, but she did.

    Instead of following after her boys, which her heart wanted to do, she sought out other deities currently at work in the world, seeking a few who might shelter her, who might be willing to help her boys when the time came for them to face the dark god they were meant to stop. Airmid knew it wouldn’t happen until they had once more found their third and hoped that they would do so before Crom Cruach regained his strength from the encounter between them. She had managed to weaken him greatly and it would take time before he could go seeking her boys again. Hopefully it would give them enough time to come into their full powers, find their third and end this once and for all.

    But she missed them desperately.

                                                  * * *

    Sam crawled up out of the books once he knew Missouri had come to visit them, looking surprised and frowning in frustration. He’d had little luck poring through the books he’d pulled out in learning how one killed or stopped a god. He wasn’t sure if there was no info because there was no way to do so (which he didn’t believe, why would their mother tell them to do the impossible?) or he hadn’t found the right book yet. Bobby had a fairly extensive library but he had a whimsical categorizing system so sometimes it got tricky finding the right book. And Sam hadn’t looked for something in Bobby’s library in earnest for a while. So, his memory of the system was hazy at best.

    He hadn’t been aware of how many hours he’d been poring over books until he stood and his back protested the movement. Ben often teased him that he was gonna need glasses the way he spent hours at a time with his nose in books when he was given the chance.

    He met the others in the kitchen, where Bobby was pulling out drinks for everyone and Missouri was settling into a seat at the kitchen table. He glanced at Cinda, who was hanging back and looking awkward and like she might bolt and figured that five people in Bobby’s kitchen was about her limit of tolerance. It would have been for the twins if it had been anyone other than Bobby and Missouri, who he was pretty sure he had never seen in the same place at the same time before.

    Before he could move to Cinda’s side, Ben snagged her arm and tugged her over to the kitchen counter to make sandwiches for them all for dinner. Instead, Sam settled in a chair next to Missouri as Bobby tried to find something other than beer to offer the woman.

    “What are you doing here, Missouri?” Sam asked with a smile and a hug for her. “Kansas isn’t exactly a social drive.”

    “And well I know it,” Missouri said agreeably. “But I knew you boys would be here and I needed to give you something and you needed it sooner than later. First though… are you going to actually introduce me to the young woman with you both?”

    Sam blinked in surprise, having figured that Ben would have done so already and glanced to his twin who looked faintly chagrined. He looked back to Missouri. “This is Cinda Callaghan, our third and other half. We met her in February. I’m sure we told you about her.” Sam frowned, thinking back over the months and trying to recall if either of them had thought to call the powerful psychic and let her known about Cinda. He found he couldn’t recall.

    “No, you did not bother to call me and let me know, not that I didn’t know when you found her. Think most of the psychics and witches and anyone with power in the whole country heard when you met. It was a powerful meeting and echoed through the world. It’s nice to meet you, Cinda, dear. I hope these boys are treating you right.”

    Sam looked over in time to see Cinda toss a wary smile over her shoulder, face flushed though he couldn’t tell if it was nerves or embarrassment. He felt oddly protective of Cinda when he caught her look and sought to draw Missouri’s attention back to himself and away from their fire witch who didn’t do well with many people. They hadn’t planned for Cinda to have to deal with anyone new other than Bobby.

    “You said you needed to give us something?” Sam looked inquisitively at Missouri, wondering what she had that couldn’t have been sent through the mail.

    Missouri patted Sam’s arm. “Your meeting shook the occult world, Sam. Anyone with power felt that meeting even if they didn’t know who it was who’d met. The echoes of it have just been settling down but it’s stirred up some powerful beings. Something I think you are all already aware of.”

    Sam blinked in surprise. Then shook his head with a bemused smile. Missouri always seemed to know things and they never did know how she did so. She never explained but she was rarely wrong and she seemed to have a soft spot for them. He knew that Ben was listening sharply even as he and Cinda worked at the counter, Ben softly telling Cinda where the chips and pickles and such were as she retrieved them.

    “We learned who our mother really is,” Sam said seriously, the smile fading from his face. “And what sent dad running off into the night when we were kids.”

    Missouri touched Sam’s arm lightly before pulling her hand back and studying his face. “Yes… your memory is free now, I can see that. You can see the truth your daddy couldn’t accept. So, you know what’s coming then.”

    Sam frowned. “I know we have a god to stop,” he said, his voice hard. “But other than that, we’re woefully lacking details. Do you know anything?”

    Missouri looked at him sadly and shook her head. “I don’t have much to do with the gods of the world, Sam. I don’t know what you need to know. But that’s what brings me here. I think maybe I know someone who can help you. I just recently came across this book, newly published, called Children of the Gods. Some of the artwork is what made me think of you and Ben and I knew I needed to get this book into your hands. I didn’t want to trust to the dubious postal service while such powers are moving in the world. Too easy for one package to be waylaid and never reach its destination. Since I knew you boys would be here, I thought I would bring it to you myself.”

    She reached down and picked up a large handbag set on the floor next to her. Sam blinked at the size of it, wondering what all Missouri felt the need to be carrying around in it and wondering if she could use the bag as a weapon on its own.

    Missouri dug around in the bag for a moment before pulling out a hardback book which she handed over to Sam. “It hasn’t been out for very long, mind, and its only really known in the occult community. It’s a different book than I would usually read but when I saw it, I had to buy it. Almost as if there was a geas bound into the very words of it. Considering it was written by a very powerful witch I wouldn’t be surprised if she inadvertently did just that. Look at page 153. The author is also a very gifted painter.”

    Sam frowned, looking at the book before taking it from Missouri. At the contact he felt a tingle shoot through his fingers and Ben and Cinda both stopped what they were doing to look at him with wide eyes. Clearly Missouri wasn’t wrong. There was power bound into the book, though Sam couldn’t figure what it was meant to do.

    With a wary glance at Missouri he turned to the page she’d indicated and then stared at the full page illustration in shock. It wasn’t a portrait, exactly. The style was abstract and beautiful, illustrating flows of power Sam could recall seeing but had never thought to try to put down to paper. What had him staring so hard, though, was that within the gorgeous work he could clearly see two figures that resembled himself and his twin.

    At his shock, Ben stopped what he was doing and turned away from the counter. He moved over to Sam’s side to get a look at the picture Sam was studying and froze. “Damn,” he said softly, reverently. He and Sam exchanged a glance, both wondering who the artist was and if they’d ever met them, even in passing.

    The shock and surprise in both twins pulled Cinda over who stared at the illustration with wide eyes. She pulled the book from Sam’s hands and flipped to the back of the dust jacket and stared long and hard at the author photo there before breathing out softly, “It’s Shara Rose.”

[trevardes]

Only a gentler kind of sleep (Kylux, post-TRoS)

A fic about Kylux as Force ghosts, because after The Rise of Skywalker we all need a happier kind of ending.

Also on AO3: https://archiveofourown.net/works/21876055 Summary: Ben huffs out a laugh. "I have to admire you then; being so stubborn you became strong in the Force at the last possible moment by sheer will.

"Hux shakes his head. "You're an idiot, Ren. I didn't do it on purpose. Figures I'd get stuck with you by accident." Ben laughs, almost carefree. "I don't know why, but I'm actually happy about it." Hux is sort of fun, now that there's no power to fight over, and no possible way to kill each other. Seeing his angry little face day in and day out makes Ben feel like there still is a constant in his life - or in his death. Something he can count on, even if it's just someone endlessly miffed about his mere existence. "I did betray you, you know that right?" says Hux, perplexed.

-

Ben floats up and takes a seat on a thick tree branch. He's taking care to stay almost invisible, and he's far enough away from the firelight that the three people around it can't see him.

They've built a bonfire and Dameron is roasting some kind of meat on it, the other two looking on with hunger in their eyes, telling him to hurry up. Ben can't quite smell the meat cooking, but at the same time he can see and feel every molecule of it, every last particle making up the fat and the gentle smoke rising from it.

FN-2187 - no, Finn - has an arm around Dameron's waist and seems to be close enough to restrict movement and be more of a bother than of use. He's telling some joke Ben can't quite hear, and they're all laughing, encased in their little bubble of careful happiness against the dark of the night.

Ben's eyes stray to Rey, and there's the customary roil of sadness somewhere around where his stomach once was. He can see her in half-profile, her eyes crinkling with her laughter and her hair in unruly wisps, soft brown turning to red in the fireglow and black where the light doesn't touch her.

He could go join them, Ben thinks. If he tried very hard, they might even see him, she might even take him by the arm and pull him to sit on the ground beside her.

Her hand might pass through him, though, and he knows the fierce light and the devouring darkness would make him a pale imitation of what he once was, fleeting and feeble. He doesn't want to go to her like that.

It's not that Ben regrets what he did. Fighting Palpatine and saving Rey were some of the best things he ever did, the best things he ever would do. He keeps his eyes on her, seeing how happy she looks. No longer burdened by any unreasonably heavy fate or purpose, she can focus on helping the galaxy along on its way to healing in little ways that she can. She's happy and mostly safe… and he can't quite be sorry.

He does regret not being able to sit there beside her, not being able to gradually learn to know her better. He regrets not knowing if one day they might have been something precious like real friends, or even something more, like he'd wanted to. Sometimes he still thinks he can feel her lips on his, cool and chapped and rough, and it makes him miss life.

Still, he doesn't regret his death. He'd been so tired for so long, and now he finally gets to rest.

It feels good to be a part of the Force, wholly now, and without the pull to either side, dark or light. He still belongs to both in equal measures, but somehow the two sides have an easier time existing as one when he's no longer made of flesh and bones. Only spirit, now, and it… it feels like peace. Like forgiveness.

-

The fire's almost died and Finn has fallen asleep with his head on Rey's shoulder, when Ben catches a glimmer to his left. He turns, an expectant frown already on his face, waiting.

It takes Hux longer to materialize than it's ever taken Ben, even in the beginning.

"Hello, Ren", Hux says evenly, settling to sit beside him. Ben can see the rough bark of the branch through Hux, and it still feels disconcerting. Ben suspects it will for a long time.

"Hux."

"I still can't fathom why you choose to spend so much of your time watching over them." Hux is in a huff like he always is, red hair turned pale by his ghostly state, looking even thinner than he looked in life, deep shadows under his eyes.

"I still can't fathom why you choose to spend yours bothering me", Ben says, though he doesn't really mind, not any more.

"I'll have you know I do plenty of things without you", Hux scoffs. "I like how easy it is to go to distant places and just… listen."

Ben knows Hux does that. Walks into deep forests and barren wastelands and puts his hands to the ground, feeling the Force move in everything around him. Floats around in the cold expanse between stars and listens to the hum of the universe. He could never hear it when he lived, so it must be shocking, to discover he really is only a tiny speck in the great flow of the Force.

"I went to Arkanis", Hux continues quietly.

"You did?" Ben looks at him more closely. Hux is squeezing his hands tightly together on his lap, biting his lip. The skin seems to lose colour, though it didn't have any to begin with. He's still wearing his uniform, even now, though it isn't pristine like it always was, Before. His hat is nowhere to be seen, his collar unbuttoned, and there's a scorched hole on the left leg of his trousers, and another on the chest of his jacket.

"I went into the sea to see the monsters."

That means something to Hux, but Ben doesn't know why. He's only been able to find out that Hux's father had a school on Arkanis, and that Hux has bad memories from the place.

"What were they like?" he asks, in the same quiet tone Hux is using.

"Just big fish", Hux laughs, bitter for some reason. "I suppose we're all ultimately less than."

Less than what, Ben doesn't ask. He knows.

Below them, Rey is falling asleep too, leaning her cheek on Finn's hair.

Ben could try to visit her dreams, it might even be easier than going to her in the waking world and trying to hold onto a form she could see and hear.

He doesn't. He'd be a pale copy. Less than, just like Hux said.

"Guess we are", he whispers. Shoots Hux a lopsided smirk.

"Though you're more than I thought, General. I tried so hard to sense the faintest echo of the Force in you, when we were Snoke's, and I never found anything. How did you hide it, all these years?"

Hux laughs. "Do you think I would have hidden it, if there was even the slightest chance I could have gotten back at you somehow? Wouldn't I have weaponized it if I'd known I had it?"

Ben huffs out a laugh. "You definitely would have. I have to admire you then; being so stubborn you became strong in the Force at the last possible moment by sheer will."

Hux shakes his head. "You're an idiot, Ren. I didn't do it on purpose. Figures I'd get stuck with you by accident."

Ben laughs, almost carefree. "I don't know why, but I'm actually happy about it."

Hux is sort of fun, now that there's no power to fight over, and no possible way to kill each other. Seeing his angry little face day in and day out makes Ben feel like there still is a constant in his life, or in his death. Something he can count on, even if it's just someone endlessly miffed about his mere existence.

"I did betray you, you know that right?" says Hux, perplexed.

"Yes, it was pretty noble of you, wasn't it?"

"No. I just wanted you to lose."

Ben smiles, a little melancholy. "And I did. Are you happy?"

"Honestly?" Hux asks, smiling as well, though he's more rueful. "Yes. If I couldn't be Supreme Leader, I'm happy as hell you couldn't either, nor Palpatine."

"You'd rather take the 'lawless chaos?'" Ben still remembers how passionate Hux always was about controlling the whole galaxy, and how ardently he wanted to give it his own kind of order in return, even if it was a peace kept only by fear of him and his Starkiller base.

"Better lawless chaos with no leader than lawful chaos under you or stars know what kind of utter madness under Palpatine." Hux has gone all huffy, though there's a smile tugging at a corner of his mouth.

Ben chuckles and looks back at the three sleepy friends around the fire. Dameron's eyes are half closed and he seems in danger of tipping forward and frying his nose in the embers.

Ben waves a hand, and across the clearing, a twig snaps on the ground. It's not a loud noise, but Dameron sits up, alert. He sits quietly for a moment, looking around, hand on a blaster at his hip. When nothing happens, he turns to prod Finn and Rey awake, and despite their grumbling, he herds them away towards the command centre and their beds.

Ben and Hux watch them go in silence, until their voices can no longer be heard.

"Don't you think it's bad for you to lurk like this?" Hux asks quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Being alone and dreaming about things you can't have. About living people and living things."

Ben sighs, pulling a leg up onto the branch and hugging the knee to his chest. "I guess", he concedes, "But I like it, too. Knowing she's okay."

Hux hums, not saying anything for a long time. He mirrors Ben's position, seemingly unconsciously, but pulls his other leg up too.

"You're not with them anymore, though." Hux seems to still enjoy stating the obvious, hurtful things as much as he always did.

"No", Ben admits. "I'll cling for a little while more, If you don't mind." His tone becomes sardonic, but he doesn't exactly mean to show he's affected.

"At least I'm not all alone", he continues, jostling Hux none too gently with his shoulder. "There's always you."

"There's always me", Hux concedes, chuckling and shaking his head. "It's still not good for you", he repeats, clearly just to be annoying.

"Don't you think it's bad for you to always go looking at your forests and seas and asteroid fields all alone?" Ben asks him.

Hux huffs out a breath, surprised. "I do listen to people too, sometimes. I just… I want to learn to know the Force. It's unsettling, not knowing what I'm made of now."

"You were always made of it, we all are", Ben says, almost gently. Hux makes a face.

"Smartass. Easy for you to say, since you know everything about it."

"Not everything", Ben laughs. Not nearly.

"You laugh a lot nowadays", Hux muses, looking like the thought annoys him.

"I guess I have fewer reasons not to. Less to worry about."

Hux tilts his head. "Must be nice."

"What are you worrying about, then?"

Hux looks down, his fingers absentmindedly picking at the scorched hole in his trousers. The translucent skin underneath the fabric seems flawless, no blaster wounds in sight.

"Why are you still wearing those, by the way? It's been months."

It's hard to say how many; Ben and Hux aren't tied to existence and time the same way living beings are, and sometimes it's easier to lose shape for a time, just floating in the current, asleep almost.

Hux makes an embarrassed sound. "Because I don't know how not to. I've been angry about how you're in a different fancy robe everytime I see you."

Ben snorts, and then laughs harder at Hux's offended expression. He reaches out a hand and lays it on Hux's chest over the hole. The fabric knits back together as he tells it to, and Hux's chest rises and falls quickly in a breath he doesn't need. He feels warm to the touch, like nothing has for a long time, his useless ghost heart beating a staccato rhythm near Ben's hand.

"I could teach you", Ben offers, surprising himself as much as Hux.

"I have no intention of becoming your… padawan", Hux spits the word like it tastes revolting.

"Your choice", Ben smiles, enjoying Hux's sneer.

"Kylo Ren", Hux hisses. "How can you still be the most irritating thing in my life after I've fucking died?"

The name is unfamiliar now, but at the same time hearing it from Hux feels like coming home. He won't tell Hux to call him Ben; Hux probably wouldn't obey him in the first place, and besides, a part of him likes keeping that tie to his past.

"It's a gift", he hums. "How about it?"

"Fine", Hux growls and grabs Ben's hand from his chest, putting it on the hole in his trousers. "Show me."

Ben can feel his warmth under his palm, through the fabric and on the patch if bare skin. He can feel the way this strange half-life of theirs pulses through Hux, and the way he trembles just the tiniest bit under the touch. Icy blue eyes meet his, fiercely, and Ben smiles.

"I will."

[justatiredghost]

Unsolved Academy Ch8

Klaus and Dave’s ghost-hunting adventures are put on hold while they get some much-needed rest and deal with everything they’ve been through.

Now that the adrenaline was fading, Klaus was beginning to see the ghosts around them. Hospitals were almost as bad as graveyards. They phased through the walls, searching endlessly for something they would never find, reaching out hungry desperate hands for anything they could take. 

Klaus tried not to make eye contact, but somehow they always seemed to know that he could see and hear them. All he could do was try to block them out, tightening his hold on Dave. They couldn’t have him. 

“Hey,” Dave said, pulling him out of his thoughts. Either he could sense something was bothering him, probably even guessed it was ghosts, or he was trying to cheer him up from their earlier conversation. “What would you say to getting a bed with railings like this?” 

“It was one time!” Klaus couldn’t help but laugh.

“Look, your boyfriend has a nightmare and kicks you out of bed and you start to think about these kinds of things,” Dave chuckled

“How about we get a bigger bed first?” Klaus said. “We should really do that anyway, cramming two people in that tiny thing, it’s a wonder I didn’t push you off sooner.”

“Good thing I’m like an octopus,” Dave said, demonstrating by squeezing Klaus close. 

There was a knock at the door and Ben entered, giving a little wave.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” he said, handing Klaus a coffee as he took the seat next to the bed. “How are you guys holding up?”

“Just fine,” Klaus said as he sat up on the edge of the bed, Dave’s hand still securely in his own, accepting the styrofoam cup gratefully.

“Yeah, super,” Dave said, stealing the cup from Klaus and taking a sip before handing it back. “I should be up and ready to go in no time.”

Klaus had the cup almost to his lips when the door slammed open again, startling him and causing him to spill some on his hand. He looked up to see Diego, looking harried and angry.

“You guys okay?” he asked, taking in their various conditions as he hurried forward, dropping a hand on both Ben and Klaus’ shoulders. 

“My coffee’s not,” Klaus grumbled, sucking a drop on his hand.

“We’re fine,” Dave assured him.

“Fuck, I knew I should have come back after I dropped Claire off,” Diego said, furious. “Too bad he’s dead or I’d kill him myself.”

“He was waiting for Klaus to be mostly alone, he would have just attacked at a different time,” Ben pointed out.

“Yeah, better to get it over with now, I say,” Dave said.

“Hey yeah, shouldn’t you be at the crime scene?” Klaus asked.

“Nah Eudora’s got it covered,” Diego said. “Come on, let’s get you guys out of here. The doctors gave Dave the all-clear, but I’ll feel better after Mom takes a look at him.”

“We’re getting out of here? Awesome,” Dave said, sitting up gingerly. 

“And here I had this elaborate plan for how i was gonna smuggle you sweets from the cafeteria,” Klaus said, lending him an arm to lean on as he got ready to go, pulling on his coat.

“Don’t worry, you guys are so reckless I’m sure we’ll be back,” Ben said. 

-

It was a relief, finally being home and away from the sterile white and blue-green walls of the hospital. And the ghosts of course. Everything felt so much less dire here in his room. Safe, even. Klaus never thought he would ever feel that way about the Academy of all places, what with all the nightmares it had held for them growing up, but here he was, breathing a sigh of relief as he helped Dave into their bed, getting him comfortable.

“Do you need anything else?” Klaus asked. “Another pillow maybe?”

“Nope, all good,” Dave assured him for the hundredth time.

“Are you hungry? I could run down and get you something--”

“Klaus, stop,” Dave said with a fond chuckle, catching his hand. “You’ve been running around constantly since we got home. Well, hobbling around. Come on, come lay down or you’re gonna pull a stitch and Grace is gonna be pissed.”

“Fine,” Klaus grumbled but he complied.

He thought he was too wired to rest right now, but as soon as he curled up next to Dave it was like the night finally caught up with him. It felt like it had been years since he last slept. He was physically and emotionally drained and he was just so glad to be home, wrapped up in Dave’s arms. It was morning by now and the sound of the birds outside was soothing. 

“Man, the fans are gonna be pissed,” Klaus said as they settled in, chuckling to himself.

“Hmm?”

“It looks like we’ll be taking another break.”

“I’m sure they’ll understand,” Dave replied with a little laugh. There was a long pause and when he spoke again, his voice sounded hoarse, words whispered into Klaus’ hair as his arms tightened around him. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?””

“I know I said we watch each other’s backs, but, fuck, I was really useless, wasn’t I? 

“What are you talking about? I don’t want to encourage you to pull stupid shit like that but you really did save my life.”

“He took me out instantly and I almost didn’t make it in time. What if next time he doesn't take the time to gloat? What if the first hit keeps me down?”

“You can’t think like that,” Klaus said, sitting up and taking Dave’s head in his hands. Leaning down he placed a gentle kiss to his lips, desperately wishing there was more he could do to reassure him. 

“If I can’t do my part and watch your back, what use am I?” Dave asked and it was heartbreaking.

“Come on, that’s not the only reason I keep you around,” Klaus urged desperately, feeling too much, unsure how to get across everything he felt. “Look, if you’re really worried about it, we can start going to Diego’s gym or something. I admit I’ve probably gotten a bit rusty and I’m certainly not gonna complain if you want to bulk up. Just be warned Diego will probably try to talk you into boxing.”

“And risk ruining this pretty face?” Dave said, mustering up a smile. “Never.”

“That’s the spirit,” klaus laughed. “But really, we can’t live our lives like that, just waiting for bad things to happen. I don’t want to waste this. Us. I just want you to be happy. That’s all that matters. 

“I love,” Dave said, voice breaking as he reached up to caress his cheek.

“I love you too.”

Klaus kissed him again, lingering for a long moment before settling down at his side, wrapping him tightly in his arms. They were out of the war zone, but would they ever truly be free of it? They’d been living day by day, constantly in danger, knowing that one or both of them could be killed at any moment. They’d tried to ignore, pretend they hadn’t been inches from death after every shootout, but deep down that fear was always there. A habit born of desperation drilled in by adrenaline and fear form constant near-death experiences was hard to shake. 

It got them through the war, but that was no way to live, spending every second trying to prepare for everything that could potentially go wrong. Klaus had been so terrified he’d lost Dave all over again tonight but that just made him want to focus on each other even more. He wanted to live every moment they had together, to make more memories and never waste this second chance they had been given. 

He knew how consuming those thoughts could be and he didn’t want to lose Dave to them, he didn’t want him spreading himself so thin he broke with the impossibility of trying to keep them both safe from harm. There was no use worrying about the future, Klaus was always the type to live in the moment anyway, so he would just do his best to make sure Dave’s life was filled with so much joy he couldn’t fear what might happen. And if the worst did happen? They probably couldn't stop it anyway and Klaus didn’t want them to regret a second. 

Sure, they would still fight to keep each other safe, but that couldn’t be the only thing they were about. Klaus didn’t want to think about death and doom anymore. He just wanted to think about Dave and how much he loved him, and how loved Dave made him feel. 

-

They took things easy the next couple days. Mostly they slept or talked or watched movies, too tired to do much else. They received several calls from siblings checking up on them which surprised Klaus. Ben lived there so he of course stopped by every day to talk and hang out, but he did that anyway. What Klaus really didn’t expect was their surprise visit from Diego. 

Dave was lying on top of Klaus on the bed, head resting against his stomach, arms wrapped around his waist, carefully arranged so as not to jostle Klaus’ injured leg. There was a knock at their door and, without even waiting for them to reply, Diego threw the door open.

“You guys good?” he asked

“Oh yeah, just peachy,” Klaus said, waving a dismissive hand. 

“Either of you need anything?” 

“I could use another pillow,” Dave said.

“Yeah, hang on.”

Klaus and Dave shared a glance as he left.

“I didn’t think he’d actually do it,” Dave said.

Klaus could only shrug in confusion because he hadn’t either. He couldn’t help but wonder how much Diego would actually put up with. A sly grin spread across his face and apparently Dave was having a similar thought because he grinned back.

“Anything else?” Diego asked when he returned, tossing the extra pillow onto the bed beside them.

“I don’t suppose you could get us some juice?” Klaus said, looking extra pathetic. “I am quite parched.”

“Sure, no problem.” 

“You aren’t,” Dave said incredulously as soon as Diego was gone, huge grin on his face now. 

“Oh you bet I am,” Klaus said.

“He’s never gonna do anything for us ever again after this,” Dave giggled.

“Worth it.”

It was hard to suppress their giggles but they’d successfully gotten Diego to bring them an extra blanket and some playing cards before he started to get suspicious. 

“I think we’re gonna need another pillow,” Dave said, fully committed to Klaus’ terrible plan.

“Seriously?” Diego was definitely looking annoyed now. 

“Please?” Dave said. “My head is killing me.”

“You’re not even using the other pillow I br--” Diego cut himself off with a frustrated sigh. “Fine, but this is the last thing.”

He stormed back in a moment later, threw the pillow at them, and left. Ben happened to be walking past and had to dodge out of the way.

“What’s Diego’s problem?” Ben asked as he entered their room.

Both Dave and Klaus devolved into a fit of giggles. 

“Oh he is going to kill us,” Dave said.

Most of his siblings started coming around more than usual after that, bringing them food and just generally checking up on them. It was completely unnecessary, especially because even when they were uninjured Grace would still stubbornly cook most of their meals despite their assurances that they could do it themselves. It was nice, though. It helped to know they were worried about them, even if Klaus could see the way they looked a little too closely at his eyes to make sure he wasn’t high. That didn’t help as much. 

-

Whereas Klaus eventually caught up on sleep and returned to a more or less normal routine, Dave continued to sleep for large portions of the day for another week or so and it was upsetting seeing Dave so quiet and still. Klaus knew it was good he was getting his rest, but he still felt relieved as Dave slowly returned to his usual animated self. It meant he was getting better. Even if it also made it more difficult to make sure he actually took it easy. 

That was fine, though. The distraction was nice for him. Klaus knew it was only temporary and it wasn’t fair to rely so heavily on something like this, but it made it easier. After something so terrible, his cravings were so much worse and it was hard to stop himself from wandering off to find something, anything, to drown himself in so he could stop feeling for a second, so the ghosts would leave him alone. But knowing Dave was hurt and wanting to be there for him was at least something to focus on. 

Being cooped up was starting to get to Klaus, though. He and Dave had both always been active people and it didn’t take long for him to start feeling antsy. The ghosts harassing him more than usual didn’t help either. He could go out, but then what about Dave? He didn’t have the same option, as weak as he still was, and it just didn’t seem fair to go and leave him all alone with nothing to do.

Sure he knew Dave didn’t expect him to stay with him all the time and entertain him, but he always found ways to distract Klaus when the cravings were so bad it was all he could think about. Dave would come up with all sorts of little games, each more ridiculous than the last until he was laughing too hard or too focused to notice the way his hands still shook. He just wanted to return the favor

Unfortunately, Klaus had been getting a bit irritable the last few days, but he tried to keep that under control and he thought he’d been doing a pretty good job of it. Dave hadn’t said anything at least. They’d spent their morning playing various word games and Klaus thought it was going fairly well when Dave suddenly sat up from where he’d been draped across Klaus’ lap.

“You know,” he said. “If you want to go out, you can. It’s gotta be torture being cooped up for so long. You should exercise that leg if nothing else.”

“And leave you here all alone? Nah,” Klaus waved a dismissive hand.

“Come on, I don’t want you making yourself miserable because you feel like you have to keep me company or whatever.”

Klaus was silent a moment, weighing his options. He felt bad, talking about his own issues and concerns when Dave was having a worse time. But also, he knew Dave would never forgive him if he kept things to himself and just suffered in silence. Setting your own limits and boundaries of what you can handle in any given moment was one thing, but deciding for the other person so you could stew and be miserable wasn’t right and could only push them further apart. Klaus sighed.

“I guess I’m kinda worried about being alone right now. Cravings have been on the mind a lot lately,” he admitted. 

He felt guilty that this was even still a concern. He knew Dave wouldn’t blame him, that’s just how addictions worked, but it didn’t stop him wishing he could just magically be better.  

“I don’t know if I can trust myself. I’ll tell you what, that’s a shitty feeling right there.” Dave placed his hand over Klaus’ sympathetically. And because things were getting a little too serious, Klaus added, “Besides, I don’t know if I can trust you unsupervised either.

“You got me there,” Dave chuckled. “You’d probably come back to find me trying to surf down the stairs on our mattress.” 

“Oh, that sounds fun, remind me to try that later when we aren’t so injured,” Klaus laughed.

“If we break something doing it, your siblings will probably put us under 24 hour surveillance,” Dave said. “Hey, Ben should be back from classes soon, why don’t you talk him into going out with you, then you can get us something to eat. I love Grace’s cooking but I have been craving sushi. I promise I can behave myself for that long at the very least and that way you can hopefully avoid getting cabin fever.”

“Aren’t you bored though?” Klaus asked, still hesitant. 

“Incredibly. Being injured is so lame,” Dave said, drawing out the last word and leaning into Klaus’ side dramatically. “But I can survive without you constantly entertaining me. And this way I can live vicariously through you. And eat sushi. Win-win.” 

“You’re the best boyfriend ever,” Klaus said, leaning over to kiss him.

“Um, excuse you, I think you’ll find that I’m the one with the best boyfriend and I am prepared to fight you on this,” Dave said, kissing him again.

“Well in that case,” Klaus said, kissing him one last time before hopping to his feet. “You’re right, I am the best boyfriend.” 

Dave laughed and Klaus couldn’t help the ridiculous grin as he went to look for Ben. Even though he’d graduated from crutches to cane, they couldn’t go far with Klaus’ leg, but they did manage to get sushi, even stopping off at the corner store to grab some painkillers for Dave and a movie or two. 

Oddly enough, there was a display filled with yarn and he grabbed some on impulse. He’d been meaning to do some more knitting and it had been a while since his disastrous attempt to teach Dave, maybe they could have another go at it. Sure, this outing was supposed to be about getting some fresh air, but who could blame him for wanting to get more things he and Dave could do together?

-

(Next chapter)

[heylir]

New fic

Post-CC, the first scene happens on Barbers' farm, the rest does back in Widdershins.

Good Luck

There was silence in a room, except for the rustling of the book's pages that Wolfe turned over and scraping of Ben's pencil that he scribbled in his notebook with. Mal got bored and reached into his pocket for his tobacco, but he looked at Ben and decided not.

"Wolfe, can ye?.." He stopped himself. "Th’ hell, I forgot. I wanted t’ask ye th’ other day, where d’ye put yer violin?"

Before Wolfe had a chance to reply, Ben shut his notebook.

"I remembered something," he said quickly. "I must ask Sidney Malik about some details. And Vee, too. Anyway, I'll leave you for a time."

He took his notebook and pencil and hurried from the room.

"What’s wron’ with ‘im?" Puzzled, Mal looked at Wolfe.

"Never mind," he waved his hand. "I left my violin in a secure place... in the hands of some reliable person. Just for keeping it safe. I shall take it when we come back."

"Ah," Mal seemed to relax. "Alright. Whom d'ye give it to?" he asked casually.

Wolfe coughed gently, closed his book and put it aside.

"To Dominik," he said at last.

"To whom?" Mal didn't understand at first.

"To Dominik Voss."

"T’ whom?! T’ Voss? Th’t traitorous..."

"Mal."

"...envious..."

"Mal!"

"...double-dealin’ bast..."

"Mal, please, don't!"

"S’him y’called a reliable person?!"

"Mal, look. He is a different man now."

"‘eard ‘t already, y’know. Now ‘e's singin’ th’ same song, ‘gain?"

"He is not. I have seen that, with my own eyes. Dominik helped us defeat Envy and saved us all. If it was not for him..."

"’f s’not fer ‘im, nobody ‘ad t’ be saved from Envy."

"That is not true," Wolfe said gently. "The Seven Deadlies would still get released, with him or no. And maybe, we all were very lucky that it is Voss summoned Envy, not someone else."

Mal grunted, “S’not ‘is credit, y’see. That ‘e in’t any good as a villain or anythin’ else.”

Wolfe shook his head, “He managed to do something no one of us was able to do. He broke Envy’s string as it wanted to make him…” He looked at Mal, “...well, kill me. We, everyone, did what it wanted, and he could tell it No.”

“None o’ ye’s been keepin’ company w’Envy fer years. ‘e ‘as.”

“Yes, so I hoped he could help us because of that. And he could. The good things came of the bad ones.”

“Doesn’t cancel th’ bad past 'ings,” Mal muttered.

“And the other way round. The past does not cancel what he has done now. Mal, he risked his life for mine. He offered himself to Envy, instead of me.”

Mal shrugged, dismissively.

"I didn't kick ‘im, ‘en. Didn't mind yer lettin’ ‘im go. Now ye gave ‘im a chance, it worked, fine. Y’re a good fellow, he... s’not a complete so-an’-so. But givin’ yer violin t’ him?" Mal’s voice pitched a bit higher. "Jus’ don't say y’couldn’t find some other secure place fer it."

Wolfe looked at Mal, a little apologetically. "I could not. He... he won the day, he saved us all, but he was not happy. He looked like... he felt lost. I wanted to support him, somehow. What else could I have done, my friend?"

Mal grinned, "Don't ask me. Alright. ‘e's surely gonna break or lose it, but w’can get another violin, not another ye."

Wolfe smiled, "Thank you, Mal. But I am sure he will return it safe and sound, I would not give it to him otherwise."

"Wanna bet?"

"On what?"

"Ye'll play whatever I wish. W’ a new violin."

"You do not need betting for that. And if I win the bet?"

"Then ye may ask me fer anythin’," Mal promised generously.

***

Wolfe held the violin case carefully, with his face beaming, but Mal looked above him, at the violinist playing inspiredly and glowing with joyful colours.

"My violin is all right!"

"See I've lost m’ bet", Mal said nonchalantly. "Make yer wish."

Wolfe shook his head, "I do not need anything."

"Think ‘gain?"

Wolfe thought for a moment and smiled cunningly.

"Very well. Please bring some rice from the kitchen, I have to clean my violin."

Mal frowned but went to fulfil the wish.

"Thank you," Wolfe tore a pack open. "And now I ask you for something, but it is just a request, not the wish to be granted."

Mal grinned, "A sly thin’, ye’re. Shoot away!"

"Dominik wants to talk with you."

Mal scowled, "What’s he ‘ave t’ talk w’ me about?"

"I do not know. But if you find it disagreeable..."

"Can’t care less. S’not ye that put ‘im up t’ it?"

"Of course not. I did not say a word... "

"I know ye, don't need words fer ‘ese things. Alright, let ‘im come in. We're gonna have a talk."

***

O'Malley sat on his bed and passed his hand through the air as if he stroked an invisible cat. He didn’t look up as Voss came in.

“He said, ye want to talk to me?”

It seemed to Voss that O’Malley tried to talk more properly than usual.

“Yes. I want to... say sorry.”

Thus engaged, O’Malley didn’t still look at him.

“Why to me?”

“I apologised before Wolfe and Thackerey already.”

O’Malley shrugged.

“Ye were Envy’s tool. Did what it told. You ain’t gonna mess with me, yourself. Ye were scared to death of yer master, that’s all.”

“How do you know?”

“I saw,” O’Malley muttered between his teeth.

“How?”

“With my eyes. If it weren’t for Ben jumping at ye, you’d know what I talk about.”

“You mean...” Voss stopped. “It’s your vision it told me to steal? You were able to see Envy... and it said you can see many things. You can see spirits and... people’s feelings?”

O’Malley didn’t reply.

“It said later that I wouldn’t like it,” Voss recalled.

“Even liars tell th’ truth sometimes,” O’Malley said grimly.

Voss thought for a moment.

“But then... Then, in Prussia, you could see my true feelings? It’s why you tried to talk Wolfe out of going with me?”

O’Malley get up abruptly and went to the wall.

“I could. I tried. An’ y’know what ‘e said t’ me?” O’Malley attempted to imitate Wolfe’s talking. “But most people are good inside, yes?” He snorted in disgust and pounded his fist against the wall. “Bugger ye! How could ye? How could y’do such a thin’ T’ HIM? ‘e called ye ‘is friend, he trusted ye, an’ ye... How COULD ye sell ‘im out like th’t?”

In excitement, O’Malley began to speak rapidly and skip sounds, so Voss made out no more than one word per three ones, but he understood the point. He got to know English and himself good enough for giving the true answer, but he didn’t think it would help anyone. So he just said, simply and calmly,

“Wolfe’s very lucky that he has such a friend like you.”

Unfortunately, O’Malley mistook his words for a mockery. He turned on his heels to Voss, clenching his fists, “I ain’t an angel, ne’er been, ne’er pretended t’ be! But I’d ne’er...” He stared straight at Voss, for the first time in their talking, and cut off suddenly. In silence, he went back to his bed and sat on it.

“What’ve you seen?” Voss demanded.

“Ye don’t tell ‘bout it!” snapped O’Malley. “An’ ye don’t ask, ‘bout yerself or others. Is it clear t’ ye?”

“Yes,” Voss replied obediently.

After a pause, O’Malley went on, more mildly.

“He said, ye saved his life.”

Voss got heavily embarrassed, “It isn’t...”

“I know that ‘it isn’t’,” O’Malley said sullenly. “Ye haven’t t’ explain. But if we were so lucky, an’ we’re alive an’ all,” he moved his shoulder, “what’s th’ use of thinkin’ about old past stuff?”

Voss raised his good eye to O’Malley, incredulous.

“You really think so?”

“Can’t tell fer all, nat’rally. But I’ve got enough on my hands fer mindin’ all that crap.” He passed his hand through the air again and turned away, letting Voss know that the talk is over.

"Thanks," said Voss, instead of good-bye.

***

"How was it?" Wolfe asked, rosining his fiddlestick.

"So-so. We didn't come t’ blows if ye were ‘fraid of that."

He smiled, "No, I was not afraid of that. Or something else. But I am glad."

Wolfe put the rosin away and took his violin out of the case. Getting ready for listening to music, Mal sat in the chair, tucked his legs beneath him, shifted a little and made a casual-like remark, "He's changed."

"We all change," Wolfe replied serenely as if there was nothing unusual in Mal's words.

"But fer that, not everyone’s gotta..." Mal thought it best not to finish.

"Yes, some people are more lucky than others," Wolfe agreed, in the same tone, putting the violin under his chin.

The bow touched the strings. As usual, Mal tilted his head back for a better view of Wolfe's spirit. For a moment he remembered another, changed aura, with a human face, two sound eyes, and faint glimmers of the same colours. But the music began, and he could think only about it and Wolfe.

Mal knew his good luck when he saw it.

[missnight0wl]

Ups and downs

Summary: Someone said “Celestial Ball”? The Yule Ball? No, it’s the Winter Ball coming to Hogwarts. It’s still quite stressful, and rather confusing.

Note: I assumed that it happens during year 5 after Bea was somehow freed without breaking the curse. It doesn’t really matter for the plot. I just feel the need to specify it. Also, I think it’d be a pretty interesting and mysterious plot twist for the game, but never mind that.

There’s also a continuation where you can find out what happened during “A night to remember”.

Words: 2650

December 1988

Nobody was expecting that Beatrice would simply enter the Hufflepuff Common Room on one evening in December. The girl was shocked and very weak, she didn’t remember much, but most importantly – she was alive. Penny wasn’t the only one overwhelmed with joy because of that reason, although, only she was allowed to accompany her sister to St Mungo’s Hospital. The older Haywood was absent for two days and then she came back for the last classes before Christmas. Helena hadn’t seen her so happy in months. But even though the aspiring Curse-Breaker wanted to join her friends in cheerful celebration, the mystery of that rescue wouldn’t leave her in peace.

“Nell! Wait!” Someone called her one morning in front of the Great Hall when she was in deep thought. It was Charlie. “Do you have a moment?”

“Sure, always,” she said, more focused. She noticed that Charlie is stepping on the side, letting her know that he wanted to talk more privately, so she followed him. “What is it?”

“It’s about the ball.”

Oh, right. There was also that. Helena’s classmates were excited not only because of the upcoming holidays and Haywoods’ situation. Apparently, the school had planned the ball at that time as well. The Winter Ball on the Christmas Eve, to be exact. It was supposed to be cancelled, however, taking into account the recent circumstances, everything was back on track. Truth be told, Helena forgot about it already. Or at least she wasn’t thinking about it. She was thrilled at first, of course, but how many things one can have on the mind at once. Still, Charlie got her curious again, thus she encouraged him to speak.

“So,” he started haltingly. “I know it’s a rough time, considering… well, everything really. And I know you’re worried about Bea, we all are, and it’s kind of weird with that ball now, you know… But even Penny said it’s fine, right? She’s staying longer only for that… And I think we should do something fun too…” The girl was watching him carefully. The Gryffindor prefect rarely was acting like that. He clearly didn’t know what to do with his hands as he was speaking. He rolled up his sleeves and crossed his arms on the chest, just to let them loose right away. He took a deep breath and continued: “Anyway… I was thinking…” He looked her in the eyes. “Would you like to go to the ball with me?”

“I’d love to!” she replied enthusiastically. After the event’s announcement, she had hoped that the younger Weasley would invite her, although, she definitely wasn’t anticipating it to happen so soon. As far as she knew, most of their peers hadn’t made such decisions yet.

“Really?” Charlie grinned. Helena couldn’t find another word to describe his expression than a relief. “That’s brilliant!”

They were standing there for a moment without a word.

“Well, I guess we could discuss some details,” Charlie eventually broke the silence, blushing slightly. “The thing is, I don’t know much about that ball yet…”

She chuckled, pulling her hair behind her ear. “Me neither, actually.”

“They didn’t tell us much, did they?”

“No, not really,” Helena admitted.

“Well, I suppose there’s still time, so…”

“… we’ll be in touch,” she finished for him.

“Exactly,” the redhead said thankfully. “Anyway, I promised Ben to meet him before classes…”

His words disappointed her a bit, but perhaps it was better to have time to think about what had just happened. “It’s okay. I’ll see you later then?”

He nodded, not stopping to smile. They entered the Great Hall together and went separate ways to their tables. Suddenly, Helena felt very light and optimistic about everything. Even Merula’s usual scowl couldn’t ruin her humour - or possibly she was getting used to that after all these years. Still beaming, she took her place next to Rowan, Tulip, and Andre. Tonks was also there, seemingly doing her homework.

“It’s too early for you to be in such good mood,” remarked Rowan, chewing a toast.

Helena hesitated. Should she tell them? There were only close people there, after all. She leant forward. “Charlie asked me to the ball,” she said in low voice.

At that moment, her best friend started choking on orange juice.

“I know, Rowan,” said Tonks, scribbling in her notes while Tulip was patting the fellow Ravenclaw on the back. “They’re growing so fast! But what you gonna do? We have to accept it.”

“You agreed, right?” asked Andre next. They all appeared more eager than she expected. Well, maybe besides Rowan who was still coughing.

“Yeah, I did…” Helena replied. She didn’t have a chance to continue, because Tulip interrupted with a glint in her eyes:

“Did he stammer?”

She tried to analyse their conversation in memory. “A little, I guess… Wait, is it bad?”

Her roommate laughed. “No, it’s not bad. I’d say it’s on the contrary.”

Helena wanted to ask what exactly did it mean when she got distracted by Bill entering the room and waving to her as he was passing by. A couple of girls stared back at him and giggle. And then, she realised something. The eldest Weasley had the natural talent to look good. Helena though? Not so much.

“Oh God, the dress!” she panicked suddenly. “The accessories! And my hair? It’s terrible, everyone knows it, you can’t do anything with it… Andre, you need to help me!”

The Ravenclaw best athlete seemed to be waiting for this moment. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve told you I’ll take care of you. All of you,” he added glancing at other girls.

“This is a bad idea,” Helena concluded gloomily. “All of it. Why do we need a ball in the first place? I can’t even dance!”

Tonks finally completed her task, so she could close the books. “Calm down, Helen,” she said blithely, looking at her friend. “Just remember what Diego always says: if you can duel, you can dance!”

As she was sharing this valuable knowledge, she put her hands on the chest and reached out one arm in a dramatic gesture. Unfortunately, she hit a jug doing so, and therefore spilt its content. The pink haired Hufflepuff cursed, collecting her recently finished work while the rest of the group was sniggering. Nonetheless, Rowan pretty quickly grabbed her wand to stop the small flood, and she proceeded to help Tonks repairing any other damages. But then, Helena heard someone else – Bill.

Bill’s laugh was very pleasant, kind of resonant and melodic. It always made her feel better because it sounded honest. She could also see why it was making some of the students swoon. However, why was he laughing right now? The Weasleys were always sitting together during meals, today probably wasn’t different. Did Charlie tell him about the ball? Were they… making fun of her? No way, they would never do such a thing… wouldn’t they?

Helena’s mood changed once again that day which barely had started. All excitement left her body like the air from a popped balloon.

“I have to go,” she announced abruptly, standing up.

“But you haven’t even eaten anything…“ noticed upset Rowan.

Yet, the other Ravenclaw was already gone. Helena went straight to classes, and she was just grateful that none of them was shared with Gryffindors. She was also glad that Rowan thought of bringing her some sandwiches. Still, it wasn’t enough to make her want to interact with anyone.

After the last period, she was standing in the corridor by the window, watching white crystals slowly covering the whole castle. It was snowing gently the whole day, making everything seem more and more magical. Some decorations started showing up also in the inside. It was a perfect time to feel festive spirit.

“What’s wrong with you this time, Ellis?” Merula walked to her from behind. “In the morning, you looked as if you overdosed Elixir to Induce Euphoria, again. And now? More like your pet died.”

Helena glared at Snyde. “Why do you even care?”

“I don’t,” the Slytherin responded. “So it’s about the pet, isn’t it?”

“Are you actually concerned about my feelings?” Helena asked incredulously.

“No, you idiot,” Merula rolled her eyes. “I want to know if it has anything to do with the Vaults.”

“Well, that’s reassuring… And no, it’s not about the Vaults.”

“What is it then?”

The Ravenclaw leaned against the wall, looking away from the intruder. “Just leave me alone, Merula. I’m not in the mood to deal with you today.”

“Oh, but you will have to. We have a meeting with Rakepick, remember?”

Of course, she didn’t. She would probably stay here watching the snow, without a reminder. Their mentor wouldn’t take well such an insult.

Right on cue, the current Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher appeared in the corridor as well, and she quickened her pace as soon as she saw her apprentices. Helena could swear sometimes that Patricia cast some kind of spell summoning her every time she’s mentioned anywhere in the building. She was a little scared by this ominous thought.

“Miss Ellis, Miss Snyde. Good to find you here,” said Rakepick hurriedly. “I’m afraid I have to cancel our plans for this evening. There’s an emergency that needs my attention outside of Hogwarts. Can you meet me tomorrow instead?”

Merula didn’t seem to be delighted about it, yet she agreed, whereas Helena just shrugged her shoulders.

“Is something wrong?” asked Rakepick, looking at the second student.

“Ellis is heartbroken,” Snyde answered with contempt. Was she being sarcastic or did she in fact know something?

The professor raised her eyebrow and sighed. “Well, would it still allow you to pass my message to Mr Weasley? I don’t really have time to search for him, I shouldn’t even be here by now…”

Helena shrugged again, and Patricia apparently took it for confirmation, because in the next moment, she was gone.

“She can do with us whatever she wants, can’t she?” Merula snapped. “I wonder what she’s up to this time.”

“Maybe you should ask her,” Helena proposed a little waspishly.

The Slytherin gave her the stink eye. “Get yourself together, Ellis. I assume you’ll take care of Weasley. I don’t have time to be a messenger.”

And just like that, she walked away too, leaving her companion with no real choice. The girl didn’t feel good about the perspective of the confrontation with Bill, but she couldn’t be avoiding him forever either. Her first guess turned out to be correct, and she found Head Boy in the library, preoccupied with the stack of the books.

“Hey, Bill…”

He glanced at her with a rather absent expression. “Helen, is it time already?”

“No, actually Rakepick had to reschedule it for tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s great. I can finish my revision for today in that case!” He opened back his notebook when he noticed his friend’s troubled face. “You know, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’re upset about that cancellation. What’s going on?”

Helena hung her head, avoiding his eyes.

“Is it about the ball?” the Gryffindor persisted. She looked at him briefly and went back to staring at the table. “I was quite happy for you and Charlie, but perhaps I shouldn’t have. Do you want to talk about it?”

This drew her attention. “Wait, you were?”

“What? Happy? Of course,” said surprised Bill. “Why wouldn’t I be happy about two people I care about getting together?”

The Ravenclaw wasn’t convinced. “Why were you laughing at breakfast then?”

Now he also looked confused. It took him a while to understand. “Oh, that…” he smiled, realising finally. “Yeah, I might be making fun of Charlie a tad. He was pretty nervous if you didn’t notice. I honestly thought I’ll have to ask you for him. I guess it’s just that stupid age when talking to a girl you like is the biggest challenge. You remember me in my fifth year…” Bill must’ve realised that Emily Tyler is not the best memory, because he quickly added: “At least Charlie chose better, and he’s smart enough to actually get know his crush first.”

“So… it wasn’t a joke?” Helena asked to be sure.

He shook his head. “No. Not on his part at least.”

“You idiot…” the girl muttered under her breath.

Bill was staring at her blankly. “It might be because of too much caffeine in my system, but I don’t think I follow anymore...”

“No! It’s not about you!” she assured him quickly. “I have to find Charlie though.”

“Training, probably,” suggested Head Boy, frowning.

“Of course. Thank you, Bill!” She ran out of the library before he could answer.

It started getting darker already, the cloudy weather sped up that process. There was a thin layer of snow laying on the ground. The practice must’ve just ended when Helena finally reached the Quidditch pitch because she got past a couple of Gryffindor players. Soon, she spotted Charlie landing, so she walked in his direction. He noticed her too.

“Hey, I don’t see you here much,” he greeted her, grinning. He was still a little out of breath. His face was flushed from the cold wind and exertion. “I hope you don’t spy for the Ravenclaw team,” he added jokingly.

“Of course not!” she said, pretending to be hurt by his assumption. “I wouldn’t dare.”

The redhead took the Golden Snitch out of his pocket and put it in the wooden chest, closing the lid next. He grabbed it in one hand, his broom in another. “Really? Sounds like something a spy would say. Besides, I’ve heard you’re quite good at this job,” he teased her.

“Are you making fun of me?” the girl gasped.

“Of course not! I wouldn’t dare,” Charlie replied, his eyes twinkling. She couldn’t help but giggle. “Seriously though, let’s go inside. You’re freezing, and I don’t have anything warm here to give you.”

Driven by the emotions, Helena hadn’t thought about dressing up before going outside, and it was indeed rather cold. She only now realised it. She pulled down the sleeves of her robes and tried to not think about it while Charlie was walking by her side. The entrance to the changing rooms wasn’t that far off.

“So, did something happen?” the Seeker went back to the conversation.

“Um, no, not really. I was just wondering…” The Ravenclaw’s mind became blank. She didn’t know what to tell at all. She simply wanted to let him know that she wasn’t ignoring him the whole day, and she’s actually looking forward to their time together. Still, she couldn’t admit to her terrible misunderstanding. “Do you think… I should have a corsage for the ball?”

She was never really interested in the balls, so she didn’t know if it’s a part of the tradition in the wizarding world. She had seen it once in some American movie, and she didn’t even like it much. However, for some reason, it was the first thing that came to her mind.

Charlie was clearly caught by surprise, perhaps not knowing what’s she asking about. “I have no idea, to be honest. But I’m pretty sure Andre will gladly tell us what’s fashionable this season,” he chuckled. “Bloody hell, he’s gonna be so annoying now…” He changed his voice a bit to mimic their friend. “No, Charlie, you’re not wearing red and gold. You won’t be so dull to pick your House colours. I don’t care that’s how Chinese Fireball looks like, you won’t dress like a dragon either!”

Helena laughed. “Are you actually considering a dragon outfit?”

“No,” he said innocently. “Maybe… Would you mind that?”

“Not at all.” The girl noticed she’s definitely warmer. “Just let me know earlier, so I could find something matching, all right?”

“Deal,” Charlie promised. “Now wait here. I should have my scarf in the locker for you on the way back to the castle.”

[starwarsstreettalk]

Kylo Ren is Building a Mystery

Kylo Ren is still a mysterious character after two movies. Is he evil?  Is he just misunderstood?   Was he brainwashed by Snoke?  Will he be able to “snap out of it” in time to reconcile with his mother and not destroy the Resistance?  Will he every reconcile with Lando or Chewie, or his mother?

You come out at night That's when the energy comes And the dark side's light And the vampires roam ... (song by Sarah McLaughlan)

Kylo Ren, you’re building a mystery!

The Background Story we need in Episode IX

Ben Solo as a child

I happen to think that we could use at least one flashback of an innocent boy being “seduced” to the dark side by Snoke during Ben’s childhood to remind us of what Leia said to Han in the Force Awakens as the driving force for Ben to become lost and join the Dark Side.   We need to sew the seed that was planted in the first movie of the series.    

Young Ben Solo screams “Come Back!”

I also think we could there be a flashback of Ben of calling out “Come back!” the same way young Rey did on Jakku when he is being dropped off with Luke by his mother and father at the Jedi temple.   The common childhood trauma and sense of abandonment became the common bond between Kylo Ren and Rey.  When Kylo Ren looked into Rey’s mind, he saw a kindred spirit, someone he could actual relate to and actually felt sorry for.  I suspect that they will both realize eventually that their parents didn’t abandon them, at least not out of a lack of love, but to protect them.     

Lor San Tekka Easter Egg?

Will Richard E Grant play a younger Lor San Tekka in flashback?  Kylo Ren tells Lor San Tekka -  “You’ve become so old!”   Wouldn’t it be great if we went back to a scene in the past where they interacted and this somehow had something to do with the overall storyline?

What Really REALLY happened the night of the destruction of the temple

Sometimes, I get this feeling like nobody is giving Kylo Ren a chance to explain himself, like things are never really what they seem.  Like when Luke and Kylo had different memories of what happened in Ben’s hut the night of their falling out. Could it be that the slaughter of innocent Jedi trainees isn’t the only thing Luke got wrong? Luke was trapped in the hut.  Does he really know what happened play by play?  Was it a slaughter or was Ben in the fight for his life?

Will we see another flashback to the night of the destruction at the temple?  Maybe when Ben comes out of the hutt, some of the other students try to avenge Luke and kill Ben and he has to defend himself?  Or maybe the other students (potentially the Knights of Ren) killed them and Ben only burned down the temple?  Does it matter?

Episode IX Predictions

1) How Kylo Ren will “finish what his grandfather started”, as he alluded to in his chambers in the Force Awakens.

possible options:

a.  Destroy the last of the Jedi    (This was Darth Vader’s orders. Why would this be a goal of his if he didn’t even know there were other Jedi at the beginning of the Force Awakens)

b.  Bring balance to the force   (This was a prophecy about Anakin, not his goal)

c.   Defeat the Rebellion and bring order to the galaxy (maybe this is why Kylo thinks his grandfather was after... this may be where he is going in the beginning of the story.  But what did he really know about his grandfather?  Does Kylo Ren see Dark Vader as his grandfather or Anakin Skywalker?  Does he understand the difference?)

d.   Save the ones that he loves   (Sentimentally, this seems like it could end up being the way he ACTUALLY finishes what his grandfather started.   Anakin couldn’t save his mother, he couldn’t save his father, and ultimately he couldn’t save himself.  An appearance by Anakin Skywalker’s ghost or vision, if only to knock some sense into his grandson, could provide Kylo Ren the true meaning of what his destiny was meant to be.  d. is my vote.

2) The Kessel Run less than 12 parsecs

I have this great image in my mind of Kylo Ren/Ben being on the Milennium Falcon again.  They deleted a scene from the Force Awakens where he was on the Falcon.  Could the last movie be a better moment for Kylo Ren to make peace with his relationship with father by flying the Falcon?   Instead of destroying the Falcon, will he use the Falcon to save the day?  I, personally, would love to see Ben actually hold the dice again for real.  We know from one of the novels that Ben played with as a child.   There are happy memories in his past. I also had this idea that he would beat or almost his father’s record of making the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. The Kessel Run escape was the most famous and epic accomplishment for the Falcon and Han Solo in his flying career.  Something like this would have driven his father crazy but also made him proud.

3) We see an encounter or reconciliation between Ben and Lando

Lando has been Han’s very good friend.  Ben thinks of Lando as an  “Uncle” in one of the Solo novels. Wouldn’t it be neat to see these two come face to face after so much water under the bridge with Han’s Death?  Maybe Lando pulls Kylo by the ear and gives him a bit of a talking to, asking him “Why, Ben???  Why did you DO IT?”  I can just hear Billy Dee Williams giving him quite the talking to.

4) We can see an encounter or reconciliation between Kylo/Ben and Chewie  

I’m sure Chewie is still pissed off with Kylo/Ben. But let’s think. Chewbacca was Han’s buddy.  He was like an uncle or godfather to Ben, and he is a protector of the Solo family.  He would have been there all throughout Ben’s childhood, bouncing the little baby on his knee when he was a toddler, before he started show signs of coming under Snoke’s spell and being sent to be trained by Luke in the ways of the Force. Maybe there will be a scene where Kylo/Ben is almost going to die and Chewie sacrifices himself for Ben in the end.   This is his best friend’s SON!!   Chewie will not try to kill Ben/Kylo again unless he is about to hurt Leia or Rey. Family is family.  The Star Wars story is about family.

Speaking of Rey, Chewie really likes her and he will protect her too, even to the death if necessary. If Kylo and Rey end up on the same side, will Chewie accept Ben back into the family?   I can almost imagine Ben breaking down in sorrow to Chewbacca and somehow they embrace at the very end.   I can see Ben, Rey and Chewie also together in some scene in this movie.

5) Kylo Ren tries to save his mother

Anakin did not save his mother in time. He consequently slaughtered the Tusken Raiders, women and children included, starting him down the path to the dark side.  What if Kylo Ren is also faced with the same challenge of deciding whether or not he will or can save his mother from some First Order attack?   What if Hux is about to execute some rogue mission and Leia is the target?  Kylo Ren gets to her location just as an explosion goes off and he rescues her in time!  And in this act, he begins his path in the opposite direction, towards the light?

Alternatively, not being able to save his mother could be the catalyst needed to turn Kylo Ren into someone who would turn on the First Order after seeing excessive show of force and death.   I can see Kylo Ren holding his mother in his arms as she dies and touches his cheek and says “I love you” and he says “I know.”  Her death could cause Kylo to rethink his future and also end up in the comforting arms of Rey.

Kylo Ren as Big Bad Dark Villain - a red herring?

Before the Force Awakens even came out, we knew he would be the villain.  The merchandising, the costume, the menacing voice and killing someone in the first few minutes of the movie - before we find out he is THE ONLY SON of Han and Leia.  Is this a trick by the story writers to get us to fall for false stereotypes?  Are we all this gullible to fall for the oldest trick in the book?   Didn’t Professor Snape end up being a good guy in the Harry Potter series?  

More Screen Time for Kylo

I also think we’ll get more Kylo Ren in this movie (= more minutes of screentime) and also the story will be equal focus on him and Rey, maybe even more on Kylo.   We have not seen HIS point of view yet.  We have only see Kylo Ren through Rey and Luke’s eyes.

Summary

I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts on this character but without really knowing anything about the main plot of the movie, the fate of Kylo Ren is still nebulous.   But I do think there will be a redemption in the end.  My only question is whether or not he survives.  But if we don’t want to see an exact copy of Return of the Jedi - he will hopefully survive, save the day, get the girl, and come back into the Light side of the Force.

[justadadonthenet]

Loser’s Club as camp half blood kids hc

(These are terribly organized I’m so sorry, all under the cut)

Stan: deffo an Athena kid, look at that little logic man and tell me he’s not Athena. He would be extremely talented on the battle field but would rarely want to fight (besides, why do that when he could command his battalion in capture the flag) and he somehow befriended an owl in his third year at camp and it’ll do whatever he wants (including keeping richie in check)

Ben: also in the Athena cabin, but one of the softer of them. Always wins when they’re tasked with a building competition cause he actually reads up on what types of structures work best,,he would develop and design all of the Athena cabin weaponry and would specially design stuff for stanley. Their cabin is the coolest one because Ben is always reconstructing as needed, and it’s never too full because he has somehow developed a building that expands as needed, but only on the inside. This kid is fucking gifted.

Mike: Jesus imagine my boy mike as a Persephone kid that’s the cutest shit I’ve ever seen,,,persephone kids are almost as rare (if not more) than big three kids, so he lives in the Demeter cabin. the whole camp would adore him and the wood nymphs would love talking to this ~one~ boy because he has major respect for all parts of nature,, he would grow lil flowers to give to everyone and would make flower crowns for bev,,and although he is a little flower child he takes capture the flag VERY seriously if he’s up against his Losers. (The wood nymphs love doing favors for him such as tripping richie and taking bev’s sword right out of her hand)

Richie: holy fuck he would definitely end up head of the Hermes cabin (somehow) and he would be worse than the Stoll brothers combined,,,don’t ask how he managed to acquire a dildo tree or get a Trojan horse to camp without anyone noticing, he’s also ~conveniently~ part messenger god, which makes sending pranks to people even easier (also imagine the first time he tries to use the winged converse y i k e s there was definitely a face plant in there)

Bill: listen,,,,he would definitely be a Zeus kid if he wasn’t such an angery piece of shit,,, so you better believe he is one of the softest Hades kids to ever enter that camp,,,when he got bored he’d summon cool rocks and shit. As soon as he hears of Nico being able to summon the dead he pesters him into teaching him, learning extremely quickly how to summon spirits. Every once in a while the losers cant find bill, cause he’s sitting in a hidden cave he managed to create, talking to Georgie

Bev: listen my fiery girl would obviously be an Ares kid. She may be the nicest in the cabin, but you’re dead wrong if you think for a second she wouldn’t beat your ass if provoked. Her and Stan definitely have a friendly rivalry in capture the flag (or any battle-related activity, for that matter.) she loves her bf Ben but she can’t help but coaxing the latest Athena cabin weaponry plans out of him. Ben goes to mush as soon as Bev talks to him, and every thought he had of keeping the developments to the cabin goes out the door with one look into those eyes. Coincidentally, next week’s capture the flag battle is between Ares and Athena, and Ben is completely lost as to how the Ares cabin somehow had counter measures for all of their weaponry,, he’d been planning them for months, and had picked through all of the Ares cabin’s tactics previous to this, how did they know? Let’s just say stan was HEATED

Eddie: okay with an idiot of a boyfriend like richie (who constantly forgets where he sets up traps during capture the flag) eddie needs to be able to fix his boy. He may not seem like an Apollo boy other than the fact that he’s wicked good at being camp medic, but he’s getting pretty dialed in on his foresight (even though it only consistently reaches about an hour into the future.) still, this makes fixing up his idiots easier, as he knows exactly what to pack in his magic fanny pack (think Leo’s tool belt) before every capture the flag (even though he no longer needs it, after realizing that it wasn’t his drugs healing him but his own abilities). After LOTS of practice, Eds walks up to richie, touches his forehead, and richie fucking loses his shit because h o l y s h i t why is everything so blurry??? Before taking his glasses off and crying because everything is in focus

Also:

-bill and mike always help in developing the area for the capture the flag games and make sure it’s aesthetically pleasing, interesting, and different from the last time

-SHIT AND MIKE AND THE DEMETER CABIN MAKE CORN MAZE CAPTURE THE FLAG FOR FALL (complete with spooky scares from the grain nymphs)

-most of the hades kids come and go, so billiam is alone a lot in his cabin, making the hades cabin basically the loser’s cabin for sleepovers

-(bill also sleeps in the Athena cabin a lot cause of the immense space and his bf)

-Eds discovers his poetic abilities when sitting with Ben and trying to think of what to say to ask rich out

-Eds definitely also helps richie write songs

-richie is a large lanky boy but somehow kicks ass when they have track events (its one of the only places he doesn’t trip)

-his biggest threat? Billiam, aka lanky boy #2

-“it’s not fair, he can literally influence the track and make my lane turn into sand!” “S-step up your p-prank game, tozier”

-richie replaces bill’s shoes with some winged ones and Jesus Christ he’s never laughed as hard as he did when bill hit the side of the big house as soon as the race started

-eddie never really pursues his artistic abilities but one time rich has a bad night and sends Eds a message to meet him at the hades cabin (bill is with Stan) and he finds richie panicking over a nightmare so he starts singing to richie and holy shit richie was crying but not cause of his nightmare

-mike always brings flowers to the medics tent and brings some of each patients’ favorites to put at their bedside

-mr d cannot stand richies existence sometimes but all of that is forgotten when richie somehow gets him some ancient bottle of wine that d hasn’t seen in millennia

-whenever eddie sees richie’s laugh or smile the camp gets a lil brighter for a second

-sometimes mike goes and sits with bill while he’s talking to Georgie. He helped him with hiding bill’s little spot, can also (to an extent) contact the dead, and bill trusts him immensely. Bill loves the losers but most of the time he just wants to talk to Georgie alone. When he does invite the losers to come talk, they don’t go to bill’s spot

-I can’t help but imagining mike making all of the losers little flower crowns made of assorted flowers and all of them match the person

-richie has so many laurel wreaths from mike due to his immense list of track records

-they think bill was conceived while the gods were battling with their second self, because he was claimed by hades but has the ability to conjure metals and jewels like Pluto (which is super uncommon when you’re Greek)

-(of course he gets his bf’s cabin some of the best metals for weapons)

-richie somehow gets all of the Good Shit from the outside world into the camp. Nintendo switch? Stan buys it off of him the first day rich has it (along with all the Mario games that comes with it.) cigarettes? Him and Bev share those. Books from libraries across the world? Ben is still amazed as to how richie gets a hold of some of the Ancient Greek texts he sells him but he’s not complaining.

-Eds sometimes misses his boyfriends stupid glasses, so richie finds some hipster glasses and wears them sometimes

-sometimes Eds wishes he had better luck with curses bc sometimes his boyfriend needs to shut the fuck up

-richie and Bev live at camp year round, while bill and Ben often return home, eddie has to go home every break (no matter how short), and mike and stan only goes home on the really long ones

-mike also helps Eddie with finding certain medicinal herbs (richie of course finds the medical marijuana eddie is keeping hidden in his fanny pack)

-instead of “your mom” jokes richie now makes jokes relating to Percy (with only the occasional jokes about mrs k) because come on he’s now the camp mom

-“wait eddie this is so gross that we’re dating cause we’re related” “fuck off richie” “gives me more of a reason to date your mom”

-eddie always makes sure Bill gets enough sunlight,,,that kids depressed enough he needs some vitamin d

-Stan’s owl friend always watches the cabins during the night, and when he sees richie setting trip wires and such on the playing ground, alerts stan

-eddie teaches richie guitar, which he picks up on quickly. It’s one of the only things his Hermes dexterity applies to, and his lankiness gives him a little bit of an advantage

-reddie is the musical power couple that everyone loves during campfires, although Eddie objects every time until richie literally pulls him to the middle of the circle with Eddie on one knee and his guitar on the other

-they have WiFi thanks to richie

-richie sets up sensors on all the cabin doors on April first and the first door to be opened (bill’s) sets off speakers in all the cabins, blasting Africa by Toto at full bass and full volume

-let’s just say eddie didn’t talk to him for four days because WHY WOULD TOU DO TJAT RICHARD

-“wait bill can you have blue fire hair like hades in Hercules??” “Richie I s-swear to god”

-eddie purposely makes it sunny all the time cause he loves the way the sun shines in Rich’s hair and gives him lil freckles :,,,,)

-Ben appreciates the sun too because bev’s hair looks like fire and she gets so many freckles

-Percy stays at camp during breaks cause he knows how lonely it can get and it always helps for richie to have one more friend while most of his are gone

-he adopts richie cause he sees a little bit of himself in that little shithead (and he may use him to long-distance pester Jason with letters rigged to spew water at him as soon as he opens the envelope before pulling out a soggy piece of blue paper that says “hope you’re not missing us too much in California”)

-Annabeth ADORES Ben and Stanley, she basically adopts them as her kids cause Ben is an intelligent little softie and stan is equally intelligent (although in battle strategy rather than crafting)

-Ben loves it when annabeth visits cause he has someone to show his architectural plans to and help him revise them

-Ben gets SUPER good at architecture, so good in fact that he’s literally hired at age sixteen to help in construction in Olympus

-Hermes learned from his mistakes of neglecting his kids, and is sure as hell to visit and talk to richie and the others as often as he can, especially Richie because of his family history

-after the Athena cabin’s plan backfire, stan gets richie’s assistance in payback (he gets the Hephaestus cabin to create weapons that look exactly like the Ares cabins’, but turn into a mini metal figurine of richie doing finger guns as soon as the capture the flag buzzers go off)

-Bev has a rage in her eyes that hasn’t been seen since they defeated IT, and sweet sweet Ben has to hold her back and (try) to calm her down until bill can come in and make her pass out

-she wakes up kicking and screaming with her entire cabin giving up at blocking her from the door and parting like the Red Sea as soon as they see a red glow surrounding her

-this is the one time bill allows a third loser into his cave hiding place, as nobody knows where it is (he made richie pass out as well before taking him into the cave to protect him from the Wrath of Beverly)

-Bev finally calms down (eddie may have put that medical marijuana to use in some special tea he’s formulated)

-mike sometimes just goes and sits in the forest if he can’t sleep. He loves how it looks at night, and how many odd creatures are roaming around

-he meets Grover one night, and they instantly become great friends

-Grover figures out that one of the wood nymphs has a crush on mike, and plays match maker

-the losers notice mike going to the forest more frequently, and while walking back into camp, little patches of flowers grow in his footprints

-when they start dating, mike likes to make his girlfriend’s tree bloom, and changes the color and type of flower each time

-they’re adorable and everyone loves them

-he protects her tree with all costs, as its life is tied to hers

-mr d has definitely found richie in his underwear and a camp Jupiter shirt passed out on the steps of the big house at 6 in the morning, with Richie holding a bottle of fireball

-richie was put on pegasus shit duty for a week, and Eddie refused to rid him of his immense hangover

-somehow richie gets a cat into the camp, its the camp pet and rich always brings it into the med tent to cheer up injured and sickly kids

-the cat mainly lives there, but it goes to bill’s cabin a lot for peace and quiet

-listen,,, the cat would totally have some horrible name that richie makes up like mr noodles and mr d would be so confused as to who mr noodles could be

-Ben my sweet boy and Stanley sometimes sit with mike in the forest during the day. Mike and stan watch the birds, and Ben reads more of the books rich has smuggled in

-richie tozier makes it his goal to get as many aphrodite kids after him as possible (eddie acts like he hates it but knows his idiot would never leave him)

-literally half the Aphrodite cabin is in love with him, and the other half isn’t interested in guys

-richie gets mike to give him assortments of flowers, and brings them to Eddie in the medics tent every morning

-it’s basically like an alarm cause every day, without fail, the sun will shine a little too brightly at 8 am

If you took the time to read all this you’re a Saint and I appreciate you

[tiny-smallest]

life’s lessons

Rating: G Characters: Henry, Bendy, mention of Joey and various others Warnings: character death (offscreen) Description: The death of a loved one is always a hard thing to cope with. The sudden death of a loved one you would unquestionably outlive and have to spend eternity without once they’re gone is even harder. Unfortunately, it looks like Bendy's going to have to find a way, anyway.

But first he has to learn to accept it happened at all.

Also on AO3!

Because the Hell’s Studio death drabbles weren’t sad enough without adding my own take on the idea of the toons (Ben specifically) being rudely confronted with human mortality.

Hell’s Studio AU was made by @doodledrawsthings​ buckle up and enjoy my attempt at writing Emotions.

Funerals were supposed to be for old people.

Well, dead old people, but old people nonetheless. People who’d lived seventy, eighty, ninety, a hundred years. Maybe more. And that notion was juuuust fine with Bendy. The studio that brought him to life both in the 2D world and the real world was full of healthy, young adults. Death was a concept he’d only seriously considered after the dog incident, and it wasn’t anything he wanted to imagine his humans experiencing. The fact that there would be, bare minimum, forty years between almost everyone he’d come to know and never seeing them again eased the tightness he’d felt after realizing how definite death was for humans. Forty years was a long time. Plenty of time to forget, and maybe, just maybe, enough time to eventually learn how to say goodbye.

For a while, though, it would be out of sight and out of mind. He was a busy toon, after all. There were deadlines to meet, pranks to pull, slacking workers to yell at, younger staff members to critique and bolster and celebrate the success of. Not to mention the children who would sometimes come to visit! Life was busy enough without thinking of death, and there were going to be at least forty years.

So then why didn’t that car stop?

Why couldn’t the doctors save him?

Why was there a funeral going on downstairs for a man in his mid-thirties, who he’d just said goodnight to the night before?

It’d been a Tuesday. They played piano. He’d sucked. Par for the course. Joey had laughed and said he was getting better; he was just mad that he wasn’t immediately great at it, that’s all, and hey, no need to make that face Bendy, you’ll get better. We’ll have another lesson on Thursday, yeah?

Okay Joey, fine, whatever. Don’t see why you keep insistin’ on this but whatever. If I gotta learn how to play this thing then someday I’ll play circles around you, just you wait; I hope you’re prepared!

I bet you will, Ben. But it’s getting late and I gotta skedaddle.

Yeah, I gotta get to bed, too. Okay, goodnight.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight; it was supposed to be goodnight, not goodbye.

He hadn’t learned how to do that yet.

Had he said anything other than goodnight? Said anything besides the normal at all? He couldn’t remember; that two minute conversation blurred together, words fading and slurring. He’d stayed up working on storyboards instead of sleeping like he was supposed to; that he remembered with crystal clarity, right down to that stupid pose that wouldn’t stop coming out as rigid as rigorm- a board.

Somehow there was guilt over that. Going to bed wouldn’t have made a difference, so why did he feel so bad about it?

Why hadn’t he said anything other than goodnight?

That was Tuesday. Wednesday, Henry was waiting for him outside his room when he left it. He didn’t remember much of that day, either.

(If he tried really hard, Bendy could remember a lot of half-hearted laughing and ‘very funny Henry’ and ‘okay you know I love a good prank but really it’s time to stop.’ He remembered mournful howling and soft sobs. He remembered a tight embrace and the feeling that the entire world was coming down around him, and all he could do was stand there, that the hug wasn’t anchoring him at all. He remembered, after he managed to slip away from his mourning friends, and, failing to find the yellow ink, finding the white ink and drinking, drinking, drinking because maybe, the more he drank, the longer the effects would last; that’s how it worked, right?

The colored ink was quickly locked up after that.)

Thursday he sat at the piano all day.

Friday he didn’t bother leaving his drawer.

Today was Saturday.

Sitting in his office without Joey in it was weird. Sure, the idea that Joey lived in his office was a joke, not reality, but there was no denying the fact that if you wanted to find the man, he was probably in his office. And he made the room, not in the way a piece of furniture does, but as an inherent part of the room, like its spirit. The place just felt warmer with him in it, more full, more alive. It was very weird to be in here while Joey wasn’t, especially with Bendy in his chair like he was, but if he stayed up here, kept the door closed, and stared long enough, maybe Joey would come walking through it. Any minute now. With coffee. For both of them, Bendy noted, adding a second mug to Joey’s hands in his daydream. He hoped Joey put extra cream in his.

The door creaked and Bendy almost screamed, scrambling frantically in Joey’s chair and falling out of it as gracelessly as he possibly could have as the door squeaked open, light from the hallway flooding the room. Grabbing the edge of the desk, he hauled himself somewhat upright, any sputtering thought of seeing Joey’s stupid mustache and accompanying smile stomped flat by the sight of Henry’s much stockier frame. He was wearing a tired expression that had no right, absolutely none, to be on his face.

And no coffee.

Clearing his throat, Bendy pulled himself back upright, sitting in the chair and folding his hands on the desk, giving Henry his best smile. “Howdy, Henry! What brings you around here?”

Henry looked like he was trying really hard not to grimace and was being, if Bendy was feeling generous, only half successful.

Then he sighed, the grimace melting off his face, an uneasy smile taking its place. “... I’ve got a brand new sketchbook that needs filling, and you’re one page away from finishing your current one. Wanna draw?”

“Wait, now?” Of all the stuff he was expecting out of Henry’s mouth, that was not it.

He shrugged. “Why not?”

Why not indeed? Bendy frowned in contemplation for a moment before nodding. Henry passed him his sketchbook and sat on the couch against the wall to the right of the desk, opening his book. Bendy reached into Joey’s desk, finding his pencils without even needing to really look for them, flipping open his own book.

For a while there was soft skritching and occasional mutters of disapproval or grunts of satisfaction. From Henry, at least. Bendy reached for the eraser more than he ever had in his life, scrubbing at the paper with fervor, growls of frustration growing louder each time.

After twenty minutes Henry jumped at the TWAP of Bendy slamming the sketchbook to the desk.

“Why won’t you come out right!? Why isn’t this working!?” He threw the eraser to the desk. It bounced and fell right off. “Why is this going wrong!? Why is everything going wrong!?” He was melting now, breath coming in soft hitching gulps as he vented his anger on the desk, pounding his fists on its surface. “Why’s this happening, why is everythin’ so wrong, why couldn’t- why-”

His throat had gotten too tight for words.

“Sometimes I think that’s why we make cartoons.”

Bendy’s head snapped over to look at him. “What?”

“Life is messy, Ben.” Henry squinted at his drawing and added another line. “It’s crazy, it’s chaotic, and sometimes, it doesn’t make sense. Sometimes it’s- ” He sucked in a breath and set the pencil down. “Painful. Sometimes it’s over far- far too soon. Humans have been making stories since the time we came into being, and it’s always been to explain stuff to themselves. Work through it. Find a way to express what they’re feeling. You’re no cave painting or some wise elder dramatically telling a tall tale over a campfire, but you’re the same concept. Man’s attempt to explain and express everything around us and inside us. To share that with the world.”

Bendy’s ink had long since been running, but still, he remained silent. Henry set his sketchbook aside and stood up, slowly making his way over to his friend.

“This isn’t gonna be easy. It- it never is. We all have our coping mechanisms, and yours isn’t any less right then anyone downstairs sobbing their eyes out. Now that being said... it’s not good for you to shut yourself away, okay?” Bendy opened his mouth and was silenced by Henry’s lifting a placating hand. “I don’t mean that it’s bad of you. I mean it’s bad for you. The more you bottle this up, the worse the flood will be when the cork pops. We don’t want that for you, Ben.”

Henry averted his eyes for a moment to wipe them. “... We love you. There’s nothing any of us can do for each other to take the pain away, but we can share it, you know? We can bear it together. And we don’t want to watch you struggling with it all alone.” His eyes flicked back to Bendy’s, holding his gaze as ink dripped down the toon’s face. “I promised Joey if anything ever happened to him, I’d look after you three. It’s not just for his sake that I intend to follow through on that promise.”

“I c-can’t- I can’t-” Bendy half choked, half gulped.

“You can. I promise. You can.” For the second time that week, Henry leaned over and hugged him. “It won’t feel like you’re drowning forever, I promise.”

Suddenly feeling very afraid, Bendy latched onto him.

“But you’re allowed to feel like you’re drowning. You’re allowed. You’re allowed to- to fall apart, to cry, and you should, you should let it happen. Don’t hide from us. Don’t hide from reality. Please Ben.” His grip tightened and Bendy whimpered. “Your friends need you. I need you. We need you to face this, not destroy yourself over it. Please.”

The last of his resistance crumbled away.

He buried his face in Henry’s shoulder, goopy shoulders shaking as he sobbed harder then he even thought he could. His friend held onto him as he clung like Henry was a lifeline, waiting out the storm for as long as it would last. With each sob it felt like something inside his chest loosened just a tiny bit, let him breathe just a small bit easier, and when at last he’d been wrung dry and he hung limply in Henry’s embrace, he didn’t feel anywhere near as numb as he’d expected to feel.

Henry gave his back a pat and moved back to hold him at arm’s length to look at him properly, his voice low. “You wanna just sit awhile?”

Bendy’s eyes looked over at the door. Still partially open, yellow light leaked into the dark room, blue with evening, he could hear sounds from downstairs. It sounded like...

Laughter?

“Why’re they laughin’?” Jeez, he sounded more tired than he wanted to, despite the flare of anger he felt.

Henry glanced over at the door as if he could see right through it and downstairs. “... Well, I imagine they’re probably swapping Joey stories.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Joey stories?”

“Yeah. Funerals are... there’s no one formula for ‘em but sometimes, after all the crying, people like to talk about the happier times. Remembering the person who died and all the crazy shit they might’ve done together.”

“Like summonin’ a demon?”

He smiled. “Yeah. Like summoning a demon.”

Something weird and unidentifiable was starting to bubble up, and there was no stopping it, so he may as well take after Henry’s example and just go with it. “And forcing piano lessons?”

“Yea- wait, what?” He blinked in surprise as Bendy leaped up and away from him, dashing over to the desk and snatching up his sketchbook. “What are you-”

But Bendy was already gone, throwing open the door and sliding down the banister, because the stairs would just slow him down. He could hear Henry’s heavy footsteps behind him, struggling to try to keep up, but Henry was never a fast runner and the little devil quickly left him in his dust.

The room they’d chosen for the ceremony was big, which made sense. The studio had a lot of people who’d want to attend, as well as the few bits of Joey’s family that were left. The podium was in an easy place to spot; up on the little stage, in the front and center of it. People were giving him some funny looks as he ran by them, and he was fairly sure he heard Boris’s voice calling him, but he ignored all of it, climbing up onto the stage and pulling over a nearby chair someone had left on the stage to reach the podium.

“Hello? Howdy? This thing work-” The microphone gave a hideous screech. “Eugh. Well, I guess it is, kinda.” He set the sketchbook down on the podium. “Howdy everyone! So- so Henry tells me that now is the time that we- we all talk about Joey, right? Well-” He held up the sketchbook. A man and a toon, sitting at a piano together. “Let me tell you- lemme tell you about this garbage he decided was necessary—so like, one day after work is over, and I’m kinda steamed because some mook decided to not do his end of the work and all the backgrounds are gonna be late, Joey decides to pull me aside and give me a piano lesson. A piano lesson, can you imagine!? Like that would make any difference about the backgrounds being late! But he sat me down at the bench with him and started plinkin’ away on that silly thing and y’know it was kinda pretty, so to shut him up I decided to try it, and I was terrible! Godawful! You never heard a worse sound in your life! And he laughed so I decided, hey old man, I’m gonna do it again and I’m gonna be better, and I tried again and- still awful. But he showed me how the technique actually works and I got a little better. Still terrible at it. And I remember we were laughing by the end, and he never let that go, like, ever; anytime I complained about him dragging me off for piano lessons, he reminded me we were always laughing by the end. An’- an’ I promised him, every time, that someday I’d play circles around him and guess what, Joey!”

He looked up at the ceiling and shook his fist at it. Some were still gawking at him, but others looked at each other with quiet, knowing eyes.

“Ya don’t get out of that promise just ‘cause you’re dead! I’m gonna be a better piano player than you ever were an’... an’ play for my friends and laugh whenever- whenever I try and it comes out bad, because I know that someday I’ll be the best! So- so...” His fist lowered.

“Thank you, Joey. For somehow usually knowing exactly what I needed, an’ trying hard to figure it out when ya didn’t. Thanks for- the laughs and the lessons an’... everythin’.” His face colored at all the eyes on him. He cleared his throat again with a mumble of ‘that’s all, folks’ and moved to get down from the chair, but as he grabbed his sketchbook, he spotted a large, stocky frame in the doorway of the room.

Henry’s eyes were red, but he was smiling, and so were the two toons on either side of him, leaning against the wall. Their eyes met, and the corner of Bendy’s mouth quirked up a bit.

Yeah. Thanks, Joey.

And all’a you guys, too.

He got down from the podium and ran to his friends’ arms.

There was an attempt. Some of this came really easily and other pieces fought me the entire damn way so hopefully it ended up cohesive and halfway decent.

I almost titled this “Thanks, Joey” and I hope it’s even halfway clear that I figured Joey dragged him into piano to help him loosen up whenever he got too stressed because laughter is the best medicine and sometimes the stressed toon seems to forget that.

[justatiredghost]

Unsolved Academy Ch1

It was hard fought, but the apocalypse had been stopped, they’d won. But life goes on and now they have to figure out how to actually live their lives. Dave (saved and brought to the future) and Klaus in particular really struggle until they find what could be the perfect job: hosts of a ghost hunting series. AKA: I’ve been watching too much Umbrella Academy and Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural and this is the result. AO3

Klaus wouldn’t really consider himself a functional adult. He was used to living on the streets after all, barely scraping by, spending whatever cash he had on drugs, but things were different now. They’d saved the world, Klaus had somehow managed to clean up his act (well, mostly), and he had a boyfriend. He of course could have continued to crash at the Academy, but he found he actually wanted to try to provide for himself as well as for Dave. Beyond stealing of course. Besides, the idea of having a place with the love of his life was very enticing.

Unfortunately actually finding and holding down a job was proving to be very difficult. Famous or no, very few people were willing to hire a former junkie who’d never had a fulltime job and Dave was from the 60s with no actual record. It made adapting to normal life pretty tricky. They were both a mess of traumas along with their unique histories and sometimes just existing was hard enough.

Dave was the first to get a job, a part time position as a night janitor at a nearby gym. He had been so excited and Klaus was so incredibly proud of him. After holding the job down for a week Klaus thought it might be a nice way to celebrate if he stopped by for a visit. Technically Dave’s boss hadn’t said he couldn’t let anyone in, he didn’t seem to particularly care what he did so long as the place was clean by the end of his shift, and that alone left very little time for messing around unfortunately, but at least Klaus could keep him company.

That wasn’t exactly the only reason he wanted to stop by, though. He’d gotten so used to sharing a bed even after only a few months of Dave being here and now having to face the night alone felt terrifying. Klaus never had liked sleeping, it was too easy for the ghosts to invade his dreams. This past week he hadn’t been able to bring himself to even close his eyes no matter how tired, not when the ghosts were so loud and there was no one there to ground him, to remind him what was real.

And Klaus had been doing so good, he’d been sober for longer than he ever had, and he didn’t want to risk losing that by letting the ghosts overwhelm him. He’d rather wait until Dave got home so they could nap together. Times like this he really missed Ben.

Sure, he was relieved that Ben was alive again, he deserved it and Klaus wouldn’t have it any other way, but he had a life now, he needed to sleep, and while his room was just across the hall and he was almost always willing to drop whatever he was doing if asked, Klaus knew they couldn’t hang out constantly anymore and he needed to get used to it. Besides, Klaus had always been terrible at asking for help.

So he had been occupying himself in other ways. Tonight he’d been digging through old belongings packed away in forgotten drawers and boxes and he’d found something he wanted to show Dave. Thankfully he didn’t have to run around to too many windows before he found him, waving his arms to get his attention.

“What are you doing here?” Dave said as he let him in, careful to lock up again behind them.

“What, a guy can’t stop by to keep his boyfriend company during his very long and boring shift?”

“Couldn’t sleep?” Dave guessed with that knowing grin of his.

“Well, yes, but that’s beside the point,” Klaus said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek by way of greeting. “You’ve had your first future-job for, like, a week now, that seemed like a good reason to come down and thank you for your service. I know we can’t get up to much mischief, but the least I can do is keep you company.”

“Okay. What the hell is that?”

“Video camera!” Klaus said, holding it up and hitting record as he trained it on Dave.

“Oh shit, they make them that small now?” Dave said, looking absolutely enchanted. With a laugh Klaus let him take it. “Far out!”

“They make them a lot smaller, actually. Even phones can record video now,” Klaus said, smiling as he watched Dave look around the room through the camera, recording nothing in particular. “That one’s ancient, I found it buried in my room. Not as ancient as you, apparently.”

“Oh this is so rad,” Dave said, voice hushed with awe.

“God you’re adorable,” Klaus said, standing back to watch him have his fun. When the ghost of an older gentleman with a towel wrapped around his waist walked through the wall in front of him in nearly gave Klaus a heart attack. “Christ,” Klaus exclaimed, clutching at his chest. “Why do you guys always gotta do that? You’re all too sneaky.”

“You don’t belong here, get out,” the ghost said because of course he did.

“Hey, you push off, we were here first.”

“Whoops, did we wake up a ghost?” Dave said. He’d gone back to mopping the floors, but he’d set the camera on a counter pointing at Klaus.

“Yes, but he’s very rude so I wouldn’t feel bad if I were you. What is it with ghosts, do we all just become super dramatic and cryptic when we die?”

“As if you aren’t already dramatic,” Dave said fondly.

“Oh you love it.”

“I said get out!” the ghost said, voice raised. Apparently he didn’t appreciate being ignored like this. “You are intruding in this place!”

“Hey! Dave works here, so we aren’t intruding!”

“Sorry love, but I think technically you’re trespassing,” Dave said with a laugh.

“Fair point, fair point.”

The ghost roared at him which, honestly, was kind of amusing. It took a swing at Klaus which he knew would go right through him but he still jumped back anyway, more out of reflex than anything.

“Woah, we’ve got a live one here,” Klaus said with a laugh. “Try to use your words, dear.”

“Hey now, are things getting physical?” Dave asked, stepping forward, and he actually looked a little concerned, broom held the way he used to hold his rifle, instincts kicking in at potential danger.

Klaus realized that Dave had never actually been around when a ghost had tried to physically hurt him before. Maybe it had happened in Vietnam, but there were plenty of other things to flinch away from there so even Dave wouldn’t have known the true cause.

Either way it wasn’t something Dave could protect him from, no matter how much he might have wanted to. Not that Klaus wanted Dave getting in the middle of this shit show. Besides, it was old hat for Klaus, he’d been confronted with much worse, honestly the attempt was more amusing than anything. He didn’t want Dave to worry, as sweet as it was.

“My hero,” Klaus said, hands clasped together, grinning at him.

“Shut up,” Dave said, embarrassed but smiling now at least.

“Some definitions of the word physical I suppose, but it’s fine,” Klaus admitted. “As funny as it would be to see you try to hit a ghost, not right now.”

“Just let me know, I’m always ready to throw down,” Dave said, grinning as Klaus laughed.

Usually Klaus did his best to ignore the ghosts. It rarely did any good to encourage them and he was too tired right now, feeling frayed too at the edges to attempt any sort of banishment, something he’d never actually done successfully in the best of circumstances. But right now he didn’t think there would be anything more fun than messing with a particularly grumpy spirit. It wasn’t like it could actually hurt them. What was it going to do, join the never-ending throng already keeping Klaus up at night? Why not, might be nice to actually see a familiar face.

“Hey Dave,” Klaus said after a moment. “What do you think you’d miss most if you were a ghost?”

“Oh, food for sure,” Dave said. “The pancakes Grace made us for breakfast? To die for. Er, live for? Whatever.”

“Mmm, yes,” Klaus agreed. He sat beside the front desk, tearing up bits of paper and flicking them through the ghost. “I think I’d miss clothes. This poor sap is stuck for all eternity in a towel.”

“At least when I was alive, I owned shirts that fit,” the ghost snapped at Klaus.

“You’re just jealous. I look amazing in a crop top. Now let’s talk in great detail about all the wonderful food and clothes out there.”

This went on much longer than it really should have with Klaus egging the ghost on, teasing relentlessly, but at least it made Dave’s shift more fun. But then, everything was more fun with Klaus. They messed around most of the night, and they brought the camera with, using it until it ran out of batteries.

-

Dave and Klaus where talking and laughing on the floor of Klaus’ old room, half leaning against each other. It was how they spent most of their days, just enjoying any sort of casual touch, completely content in each other’s presence, never running out of things to talk about. A knock on the door pulled them out of their own little world and they looked up to see Ben standing there in the doorway, video camera in one hand.

“You really should keep better track of your things.”

“Oh yeah, hey, I was wondering where that went,” Dave said.

“You left it by the door. Where did you get it anyway?”

“Found it,” Klaus said. “How did you know it was ours?”

“I watched the tape. Here I was expecting a ransom video or crime or something, not you idiots. It was actually pretty funny though.”

“Hilarious,” Klaus said, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the camera.

“Why would someone leave the entire camera as a ransom note and not just the tape?” Dave wondered.

“Who even owns a VCR anymore? But seriously, it’s good. You should upload it,” Ben suggested.

“I know you’re saying words right now but I have no idea what any of that means,” Dave said.

“You know how I showed you Wikipedia?” Ben replied. “There’s other websites too, some host videos. Upload this and anyone can watch it. People have actually made a living sharing videos.”

“Are you serious?” Dave said, looking absolutely enchanted in that adorable way he always did when learning something new about the future. He sat up causing Klaus to almost fall over which was less cute but Klaus decided he’d let it slide. ��The future is wild. How does that even work?”

Explaining hits and monetization to Dave turned out to be the hardest part, but in the end they managed to get it uploaded. They were skeptical at first, unsure why anyone would want to watch them talk to something that didn’t even appear to be there, but it was almost an immediate hit.

Maybe it was because of the Umbrella Academy, maybe it was because it was just dumb fun, but either way they realized that they might actually be able to make some extra cash doing this.

(Read the next chapter)