#I didn't really intend to even share this dream at first but with my track record of prophetic dreams?

[katyspersonal]

Posting about it like 18 hours late after waking up, but I also had such a strange dream tonight?

In it two of my enemies that worked together against me in reality actually became enemies to one another, and for what reason they did..... One of them crafted some very intricate plan to trick me into thinking I'd get full help for my countless mental troubles, including financial, if I only signed certain papers I got, and the other one disrupted her plan by simply telling me to "trust no one" over a balcony of their.... "house"? Dreams that turn the online into "reality" make little sense but I feel like most people here have them sometimes so you get it probably?

Ironically, I trusted them, and seeing how I clearly was welcomed all of a sudden, went to their place wanting elaboration. (Their house looked exactly like if their blog became a house and it was hysterical) Turned out the other one's plan was to actually not only take all money meant to support my sorry existence away from me forever, but also keep me unemployable since legally I was "helped" or mad shit like that (basically slow, hungry death). And this person turned against their long term "ally" in MY favor because, I quote, "genocide of disabled people is not a joke" gfhtjgugjj We even continued talking a lot about world and people and all other things the other one tried, all while avoiding to as much as address our own grudge.

I really don't know why I'd have a dream like this, it felt so random? It doesn't feel like wishful thinking either. 😕 But it better not be a sign that I've misdiagnosed which one of those two became more malicious in the end, or so help me

[thatwritterbeach]

one messed up bat .6

Dc masterlist

batfam x reader x jason

Summary: a relapse, some comforting words and breakfast that doesn't go to plan

Warnings: sa, talk of assault, self harm, self hate, semi-comfort, dissociation kind of a long episode, self harm during said episode, mention of vomit vague, anxiety attack, panic, blood, eating disorder (none, restrictive or compulsive, meal tracking)

A/N: I do not own dc boo hoo

It was their fault really. I mean they were supposed to be watching her, Jason was supposed to be sharing a bed with her. It's hardly her fault that upon waking up alone from one of the worst nightmares she'd ever had her first thought was an old comfortable habit. And that my dear friend is how she found herself curled up on the bathroom floor, the door locked, and a pocket knife she didn't remember stashing clutched in a shaky hand. She should call for help, should put in the minimal effort of simply sending an sos text. Two words, sos bathroom, not that hard. Certainly easier than standing and walking through the halls in search of somebody. She figured a few of them were out on patrol and had hoped at least Jason would be home, but she knew he could only be cooped up for so long and he probably assumed one of the others would stay with her. Maybe they expected Damian to keep her company. No matter, there wasn't anybody here and if she didn't do something she was gonna pass out from a panic attack so oh well.

"Just one," she promised herself quietly before fumbling to get her pants off while she was still sitting. (hard to write angsty y'all with why'd you only call me when you're high playing)

Blade clean and legs clean and the floor not so clean and breathes coming so fast she was shaking she slashed once at her inner thigh, high up enough all her shorts would cover it. The relief was a flood, all consuming and as beautiful as crashing waves to the point it brought her to tears. She'd missed it, missed the rush, and the high, and calm.

Yeah one wasn't gonna cut it, pun intended.

Guilt was tickling the back of her hazy mind but she could worry about that later. Finally after fifteen or so shallow cuts she was cool as a cucumber. There was hardly any blood, all of them barely bubbling up from her careful and light pressure. She stood up to clean herself off and nearly fell back down when someone knocked.

"Hey, you alive in there. My shift," came Dick's voice.

"Just a sec." Well crap.

"Sorry I'm late, Jay didn't tell me he wasn't here until like twenty minutes ago and I have no idea how long he's been gone but I was out and-"

"It's fine Dickie, I'm not gonna blow up or nothin'."

"Don't joke."

She opened the door after cleaning up her mess with a quick eye roll where he could see then she was showing him her arms and the tops on her thighs with and easily forced bored expression.

"What about your ribs?"

Another eyroll while she held up her shirt.

"Wanna see more ya gotta buy me dinner."

"Eww, don't joke like that I'm your brother."

"I gotta be uncomfy you gotta be," she said with a shrug and slid past him to get her bed.

"So dramatic," he said flopping himself down on the mattress.

"Looks who's talking," she snarked grabbing the throw blanket at the end to toss over him.

"No cuddles," he said with a pout.

"Had a bad dream, don't feel all that cuddly."

"Sorry."

"Didn't know you were sand man," she snorted climbing under the covers putting a good amount of space between them.

"I got promoted, or demoted depending on how you look at it."

"Demoted," she agreed laying down and facing away from him. He lasted all of two minutes before she heard him shift and just knew she wasn't gonna like it.

"We used to talk," he said softly.

"Dick don't-"

"I know I've slacked off, ok, I moved away and stopped checking in, and then I only heard from you once a month and I tried even less with Tim. And I went back through and you were the one to start the conversation, every time, and I feel like shit about that, I know that's on me. Then you tried to reach out for help and I was an ass." He scrubbed a hand down his face and through his hair and she knew has was consciously stopping himself from hugging her, he was touchy person.

"Is there a point to this?'

"Before I was an ass, back when we talked once a week why didn't you tell me. I would have helped, would have let you move in or convinced B you needed your own place or-"

"Dick, I've been doing this for so long I stopped caring about getting better. I only called you because...pinkie swear you won't repeat this," she said holding her arm behind her in the general direction of his. His pinkie found hers in seconds.

"Being, benched, grounded if you will...it made me feel small, like a kid being scolded for touching a hot stove or... I don't know but it was jarring and I forgot that I was an adult. And I just remember us being so close when I was younger, and you always gave the best hugs, and I kept thinking...maybe if I told you, you could fix it, my big brother. I knew you were upset about what happened but you've never held onto anything too long and I thought you'd be cooled off. Sorry." His hand enveloped hers.

"I'm such a bitch." She snorted.

"Not gonna argue with that."

"I know nothing I say is gonna make it better. I was criminally neglectful-"

"You're not my parent."

"No, but I am your big brother and I shouldn't have snapped at you. You should feel like you can always talk to me, always. Even if you got a hangnail and wanna complain about it-"

"Not doing that."

"You should! You should snap me or dm me or hell send me an email with a picture of your nail with the caption 'this bitch' and I should respond with a 'yeah can't believe that what a ho' and we should be able to have easy fun and flowing conversation again. But you should also feel ok bringing me the heavier stuff. You should know that if you sent me an sos I would be there. Or if you have a nightmare," he gave her hand a pointed squeeze," you should be able to call me and we can talk until the sun comes up and hate ourselves for the drousyness the next day-"

"Dick I'm not calling you for a -"

"You should! Damnit You're my little sister and I love you. I shouldn't have, fuck I shouldn't have let you go so long without making you know you could turn to me. I know it's tense between me and B but that has nothing to do with you or the others. If you need, if you or Tim or the others," he amended," need me to come to the manor I will. If you need to come stay the night or an ice cream run or a fucking pen you call me, text me, send a carrier pigeon." He was getting louder with each sentence and she half expecting him to start yelling and shaking her shoulders. She'll blame the nostalgia of having her brother there for what comes out of her mouth.

"I relapsed," she said simply, quietly.

"I'm proud of you for telling me." No lecture, no demanding to see them, just acceptance for who she was and where she was at. It made her throat tight.

"Say sike right now," she joked, finally rolling over to look at him. The soft smile on his face hardly visible in the dark but it made her insides churn. She didn't deserve it damnit. She didn't deserve his dismissal over the years but she couldn't handle him like this.

"Did you clean them?"

"No," she admitted trying to take her hand back from his but he used it to pull her towards him instead. His arms were like chains, she knew from experience, there was no escaping a Grayson hugtm.

"Are they deep?"

"No."

"then we can handle it later, or Jay can, or Tim, or Alfred, or whoever you want to. Hell you can clean them and I'll take your word for it."

"Why," she asked into his chest.

"What do you mean?"

"I've been keeping secrets for years and am notably a good liar so why?"

"Because you are a good liar, you could have easily kept your relapse to yourself, but you didn't. It would be ideal to know before you try something but I'm proud of you for being honest after the fact," he said before she felt a slight pressure on her scalp and if she felt a few tears she wasn't gonna bring it up.

___

When she woke up a green eyed Jason was watching her from the floor where he sat with his chin on the mattress.

"Do you need to punch something," she asked pointing to her own eyes. he blinked the pit fueled haze left. "You're getting better at that. 'M proud."

"Need me to hit him," he asked using his eyes to gesture to Dick who was passed out sideways on the bed his arms wrapped around her waist and his head on the bed next to her. It looked like he was gonna have a neck ache and she couldn't remember him getting into the position but oh well not her problem.

"Neh, we were up kinda late talking, just help me escape."

"Anytime princess." He grabbed a pillow to ease under Dick's arm over her stomach and pried up so she could roll out before Dick clamped down onto the pillow and let out a sigh.

"M up."

"Well why didn't you let go, I've had to pee for like an hour," she hissed at his flicking his shoulder.

"You coulda' said 'at."

"Yeah whatever, for my ailment I require at least two pancakes and," she paused to tap her chin even though only Jay could see," you get to hold the apple when I next throw knives circus boy."

"Nope, no knives nice try though," Jason tisked at her tossing her over his shoulder and walking the few steps to her bathroom. He plunked her down on the floor, pecked her on the nose and promptly closed the door in her face. The shock had her blinking at the wood before she shrugged and handled her business. She could hear them talking but not what was being said and they weren't beating down the door yet so she opted to clean and bandage her cuts. They weren't bad and had no risk of infection, she wasn't stupid, so she just used and alcohol wipe and slapped a large bandaid on the area then used a sports wrap for good measure before sliding her (Jason's) boxers back on and washing her hands. There was no longer talking in the other room. She opened the door and pumped some lotion onto her dry hands, she hated touching door handles with anything on her hands, and headed into the room while she rubbed the lemon scented lovelyness in.

"So, my pancakes," she asked with a head tilt and a few toe taps. Both men were on the bed and looked at her with slightly unequal fondness. Jason with heart eyes and Dick with older brother love. Jason made grabby hands at her.

"Hugs first," he demanded with a pout," Dickibird had you all night." She rolled her eyes but allowed herself to be pulled down onto his leg his arms coming around her and his face getting buried into her neck. He sniffed before pulling her hand up to his face and inhaling deeply.

"Weirdo, it's just lemon," she chided but didn't take her hand back.

"Smells like sugar."

"Dick tell your brother to stop sniffing me."

"Uh uh, nope, he's your responsibility now, remember to feed and water him," Dick said hopping off the bed and ditching.

"That true," she asked Jay carding her free hand through his hair," or can you feed and water yourself." The tone was light with an underlying seriousness. He could have gotten hurt on patrol of wherever the hell he had gone and he wouldn't ever tell her, the hypocrite.

"Might need some water every once in a while," he said softly.

"Need some now?"

"Yeah," he said on a sigh.

"Where?"

"Ma shoulder." She hummed and gently rolled the sleeve of his t-shirt up to examine his left. Nothing. On to the right and yep there was brushing.

"D'ya pop it back in?"

"Didn' pop out, just hit a wall too hard swingin'."

Not taking his word for it she gently poked and prodded to be sure and was sickened when he didn't so much as shudder in pain. She crossed her fingers it was the pit healing and he hadn't taken too much of something. Satisfied it was only really bad bruising she gave the area a kiss and rolled his sleeve back down.

"All better," he said with a smile. And so was born the code water, not the best but it was more an inside joke than anything.

"I uh, got my own water but you can check if you want," she said tapping her own thigh.

"Dickie check 'em?"

"No, said he trusted me to clean them."

"Good 'nough for me."

"Are you using your accent more on purpose?"

"Why, don't like it?"

"Love it," she said getting a fist full of his hair to guide his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and slow even with her fingers tangled in his scalp and his own on her back and hip. The dreamy eyed look he gave her when she ran out of air had her stomach rolling with guilt from her relapse and she dropped her head to his chest unable to maintain eye contact.

"Can I have my pancakes now?" It was a small request, one she didn't even truly mean but he saw it for what it was, she wanted out of her room on her terms, not dragged out and forced to socialize against her will.

"Yeah, 'm sure Dick told Alf." He went to stand with her in his arms but she squeaked and wiggled to floor before he could.

"Your shoulder," she tisked at him gently, opting to hold his hand instead and lead him out of the room.

"Yes mom."

"Want me to bend you over my knee," she asked looking at him with the most innocent eyes. He shuddered and she smirked.

"None of that for a long time," he said bumping his hip into her.

"Thanks," she said bumping him back. She could tease all day but they'd already agreed to wait, she got sick just thinking about taking her clothes off for someone and he said that was fine. Of course her brain didn't believe that. the dude lied and went off to kill the joker without her. She knew he's had...relations, since coming back from the dead. Knew he was familiar with his body and how to use it in a way she envied. She wasn't blind, he was hot, pitfire hot, and he was a drug lord and he frequented bars and she really shouldn't have been surprised the first time she saw him leave with girl way prettier than her, and it shouldn't have hurt the second time. The third sent her sprinting for a place to empty her stomach and she couldn't eat for two days after, picturing the girls trim waist and ignoring her own which was well muscled and she would have loved on anyone but herself. The fourth time she watched him take a girl home she laid into her flesh with a blade like she hadn't in years and-

"-oll, sweetheart, babydoll, honeypumpkin, Y/n!" Oh that was Jason.

"Huh," she asked dumbly her eyes unfocused and breathing painful now that she thought about it.

"Deep breath, we got pancaked to eat," he demanded holding her hand to his chest and taking overly dramatic breaths. She blinked at him and realized with complete and all consuming self hatred they were in the kitchen and their were too many eyes on her and she was too hot and her skin itched and her eyes burned and head hurt and she needed out. Out of her own skin and away from them and-

"-p, stop, please be careful." It was Jason again that much she knew, but she wasn't sure what he wanted her to stop doing, she was just scratching her arms in panic and...oh, she realized her fingers felt cool and a glance down showed blood.

"Huh," she mummbled again, still blinking too fast, or was it too slow?

He was holding both her hands to his chest again and she could feel the rise and fall it felt the same as he own so she couldn't understand why he was talking about deep breaths. She was breathing which she apparently said out loud because a reply came from behind her.

"No you're not, kid come on in and out." The new voice pulled her back tight against a firm chest and the smell of lavender made her head hurt more. Dick.

"C'n't, m head. Sm'l, s'too strong," the last word the clearest as she forced it past her aching lungs and huh guess she wasn't breathing. He vision swam as Dick was replaced with someone not wearing too much lavender hair gel but this someone was shorter. Her height ish but the chest was still firm and the arms around her toned.

"You're gonna pass out." Oh, that was Tim.

"T'm?"

"Yep, that's me I'm here, come on you nerd just breathe, if you pass out I'm eating every pancake and waffle."

Right pancakes. She could smell them now, along with different versions of sugary syrup and fruit. She focused on the smell of fake strawberries, and pictured the red syrup-nope, nope, nothing red, that makes her vision swim more. Blueberries, she could think of blueberries, not her favorite syrup flavor but doable, if Damian didn't eat it all, he loved his fruit. She hoped he wasn't here to see this. The smells got stronger as she was moved further into the room and she tried to reach for the bottles she could see to her left. She was in Bruce's lap, she realized Jason crouched in front of her and her wrists still in his grasp. Damnit, she wanted the syrup. She wanted her pancakes. At least she could see them now, her vision returning and ears not ringing as loud. Her chest hurt but she was taking easier breathes and she looked around to get her bearings. Dick was on the other side of the kitchen washing his hair out in the sink while Alfred helped. She was still sitting in Bruce's lap, Tim was gently wiping her forearms, Jason was sitting now, still holding her hands but less from. Damian was crying two seats over, and-wait, Damian was crying two seats over!

"Dami," she croaked clearing her throat to try again. "Dami, I'm ok now, promise." She knew she looked like shit and it made the statement all but useless. He ran from the room followed quickly by Alfred. Dick took the seat next to her.

"That sucked," she said head drooping onto her adopted father's shoulder against her will. She was still pissed at him, but she was so tired.

"What triggered it," Jason asked with concealed panic. Right she'd probably made him blame himself. And given him a heart attack. She didn't answer just closed her eyes and took gloriously easy breathes.

"Sorry, I forgot you don't like lavender," Dick said. He had a dish towel around his shoulders catching the water droplets from his sink bath.

"Gives me a headache,' she supplied giving him a thumbs up.

"I'll toss it."

She gave another less stable thumbs up and forced herself to sit up straight.

"Can I have my pancakes now?" They all jumped to say no, afraid she might not keep them down but Bruce beat them to it readjusting her like she was still a kid and fed her from his plate. He got syrup on her shirt, just a drop, but she hated being dirty in her pj's and her hands clenched and un-clenched nervously at her side making the next few bites hard to swallow. Half a pancake later she felt human, aside from the syrup drop taunting her, the other had moved away to their seats to taking slow bites of their own food. Jason looked like hell and she knew she couldn't explain why she'd had her freak out.

"Has this happened before," Bruce asked, eating after she'd shook her head at another bite.

"I don't think so, but it could have. Sometimes I space out, but it's never lasted so long. Never in the field," she was quick to say.

"What brought it on," Jason tried again, and the look in his made the pancakes roll in the stomach.

"Can I have some water," she asked in reply. He looked torn, but grabbed a bottle from the fridge and set it in front of his chair. She tilted her head at him but he ignored the look and took her from Bruce to have in his own lap. She flinched when he sat and her mind started up again calling her overweight, saying she would hurt his leg. He held her to one side and grabbed the water before she could reach for it. She took it from him and tried to twist the cap, but her hands weren't working yet, the girl strength in her fingers gone. She grew frustrated the longer she tried. Her jaw ticked and she was seconds from throwing it in a fit when Jason took pity and opened it, going so far as to hold it to her lips. Her family treating her like a child and passing her around the table was pissing her off but she didn't fight him and took slow sips until he seemed pleased and set it on the table. She didn't dare pick it up, she'd probably spill it.

She fished her phone out of Jason's pocket where she knew it to be so she could check the time but he snatched it back before she could even push the button.

"Hey," she grumbled. He slid it to Dick who pocketed the device.

"Not till you talk, what made you-"

"Freak out like a weirdo?"

"Have a physical reaction to a mental problem you need help with." She snorted at his phrasing. She was fading into sleep again, the sugar keeping her lucid this long, but she fought to keep her eyes open and on his.

"Wanna tell me and not these losers," Tim asked over his cup of coffee. "It's decaf," he lied when she squinted at the mug.

"I...think I wanna talk to Alfred," she said gently, testing the waters.

"Ok, that's ok, s'long as you talk to somebody," Jason said grabbing one of her hands where she'd started to pick her cuticles.

"But not till he's done with Damian, poor kid shouldn't have to keep seeing what a fuck up I am."

"Don't say that," Bruce chided.

"The kid found me in a pink tub."

"Which is fucked, I'll agree but it made us pay attention to something we should have seen long ago. Some detectives we are," Dick said still shoving his face with pancakes. She wondered not for the first time where he put it, dude was fit, and ate like a horse. She couldn't so much as smell sugar without feeling it go to her waist.

"How do you do that," she said then smacked her free hand over her mouth. Oops, that was an inside thought, guess a tired y/n is an honest one.

"Do what," he asked, tilting his head like the massive puppy he is. Jason gently pried her hand down.

"Eat so much and not get fat?"

"So much. Kid I've done the calculations, with what I burn nearly every night I eat perfectly if not under what I should." His head tilted the other way, stupid puppy eyes.

"But..." She couldn't think of a way to phrase it to make them understand, stupid men and their stupid better metabolism.

"Sweetheart, how many calories do you eat in a day?"

"Two-thousand-one-hundred. Ten carbs, no less than a hundred grams of protein, and whatever fiber is in my protein shake," she said automatically. She didn't have a problem, she ate fine, she ate just right for her job. She was careful. Didn't stop the voices in her head from shouting every time she passed a mirror though.

"That's...specific," Dick said with uncertainty.

"Do you keep a journal," Bruce asked clearing plates.

"A feeling journal, no."

"I meant a food journal."

"Oh, yeah, nothing weird about that plenty of people have one," she jumped to defend herself. She was so tired and they just wouldn't let her be, she wanted to curl into her boyfriend, heh boyfriend, and sleep for days. Distantly she knew that wasn't a good thought.

"Yes they do, and there's nothing wrong with it just wondered if you would mind sharing it."

"No," she said without hesitation.

"We just wanna make sure you're ok," Tim said gently.

"I just wanna go to sleep. I'm tired from my freak out, please can I take a nap in the library or something," she whined using her own puppy eyes on Jason. He sighed and finished his coffee like a shot then eased her off his lap to stand.

'Want me to carry you," Dick asked, knowing about his brothers bruised shoulder.

"I've been tossed around like a toddler enough for now, thank you."

10-16-24

@stormz369

[stargazeraldroth]

Okay okay okay, so- Hear me out. I’ve got an AU (…AM? Alternate Multiverse?) idea that could go the way or horror, humor, or both, spawned by your mention of the evil team in your Pokémon AU. I’m never gonna do anything with this, but it made me laugh and I wanted to share it and see where you’d go with it (your AUs/AMs are fun sue me!!!).

So. Consider this, if you will- Dream and Blue decide to try and be a lil silly with Ink for whatever reason. Payback for a prank? April Fool’s? The reason isn’t important, what’s important is that they decide “go big or go home” and enlist a few AUs to pretend to worship Ink as a god in some weird, Ink-oriented cult. Why a cult? Who knows, maybe they got drunk and ran with it. Maybe they were feeling chaotic. The idea is that Ink will go to these AUs, find the “fake cult,” and try to figure out what the hell happened, this isn’t in the script??? Before Dream and Blue eventually reveal their Dastardly Prank (and they intend to reveal it, they abide by the confuse don’t abuse rule!) and have a good laugh together!

Except there’s one teeny tiny… Itsy bitsy little problem with that.

Somehow, someway, the AUs didn’t get the memo that the cult was meant to be pretend, and now there’s a real, actual Ink Cult spanning the goddamn multiverse that’s rapidly growing. There are rituals and prayers going around, they’ve heard whispers about sacrifices (of what, they aren’t sure- art supplies???), someone started a goddamn holiday, it’s all a mess, really.

Depending on how you take it, you could go a humorous route and have Blue and Dream frantically trying to hide this from Ink while fixing the entire mess, or at least mitigating it somewhat (stop trying to sacrifice actual people- they don’t care that it’s willing, use cupcakes or paints or something!!!), to varying degrees of success… Or you could go a more horror oriented route of Dream and Blue frantically trying to keep their friend out of the grasp of his rapidly growing worshippers, all while wondering how everything went so damn wrong and stars, they’re so sorry, Ink-

Anyways yeah, Accidental Cult AU/AM go brrr.

Ah, splendid. I just call all of my alternate multiverses AUs, it helps me with consistency and everyone knows what it means. I don't know which idea I like better, the funnier one or the more horror-oriented one. So! I'm going to address both of them separately!

Also I'm glad to hear you find my AUs fun to read about, making AUs is one of my biggest hobbies rn-

~Funny Version~

For once, Ink's not the one who caused the problem. This is already going wonderfully, my baby's innocent

The idea of the cults trying to sacrifice actual people to Ink is hilarious. I can picture Dream and Blue trying to discourage it by saying that Ink doesn't condone this kind of behavior, which is true, but with varying degrees of effectiveness. Ink will, however, accept food and art supplies any day of the week

They have to enlist CORE's help in tracking the cults' activities, much to CORE's displeasure. How did they let the situation get so out of hand? They're sorry, CORE! They didn't think this would happen!

I can't tell what would be funnier: Ink being painfully oblivious of their involvement (how did the AUs even find out about him? He keeps himself well-hidden, he thinks!) or Ink being entirely aware, but pretending to be dumb. He wants to see if they can handle it on their own, first

Just the image of Dream and Blue trying to keep the cults hidden from Ink is golden. Especially if they eventually cave and tell Ink about it, expecting him to freak out... only for him to either wonder how they did it or him laugh and tell them he already knew about them

Imagine the cults have like, shrines dedicated to Ink. Little Ink statues

What if, in this version, the cults aren't even all that dangerous? Their rituals are more along the lines of "We must pray to the Protector and give him offerings, so that he may ward the Destroyer off from our world!" Just silly things like that

~Horror Version~

Dream and Blue's efforts to stop the cults from using live sacrifices are less successful here

You mentioned they're trying to keep Ink away from the cults, so let's take a look at what might happen if they were to get him

They wouldn't do anything bad to him, of course, but it's a very... odd situation. Ink's being surrounded by these cloaked figures showering him with praises and worship. And when he tries to leave, they won't let him, so he kinda... has to resort to extremes

Maybe the cults start treating Dream and Blue as Ink's messengers or heralds, of sorts. Not just to "deliver his words", but to also relay the cults' prayers and wishes

Alternatively, maybe some cults start going even more rogue and scheme ways to capture Ink and use him to change things about their world. Surely, if anyone would have the power to change things, it would be their lord? They didn't get the memo that Ink doesn't create or control AUs, only protects them (like half of the fandom)

Maybe a cult tries to force Ink out of "hiding" and answering their summons by capturing Dream or Blue and preparing to sacrifice them

I wonder how they might react to PJ and Gradient...? Being the children of Ink, surely they'd be respected. But being Error's children, too... maybe some groups don't take too kindly to their existences

[faunastanza]

TALwire's Egg Change Dream Exchange

TALwire's Egg Change Dream Exchange, by TALwire, Decateranomy, Maya, Art, Stolas, Phesund, Levee, Kain, and others

Been a while, huh? About six months went between the last update and this one, if you're keeping track. The Althar RP ended in the meantime, so we got some closure on all those characters and plot threads that have been introduced over the past year PSYCHE YOU GET NOTHING!!! Just another new parade of inexplicable badly designed characters with no context or continuity that I have to catalogue because a cruel and unfeeling God (my brain) has made this my eternal task.

In terms of real-life drama that may or may not work its way into the comic, the most recent one is Glip being upset about people using or drawing their characters in ways they don't like. Which is an understandable sentiment, except that Floraverse is under the  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License and states this prominently in several places. This license specifically says that any thing you submit to this 'verse can be used by someone else writing/drawing in the 'verse for whatever purposes they want. I assume Glip intended to use this to use characters people submitted however they wanted (as their rage meltdown in Circlet of the Sun implies) and didn't expect people to use their characters in the same way. Anyway they're real mad about it.

They've also talked recently about how someone kept drawing porn of Andre a while back, as mystifying a concept as that sounds, and they got so upset and disgusted by this that they decided to revamp Andre into Phesund, which is why he sucks now. Given how Lily and Neon also got killed off out of spite, I suspected something like that was the case for Andre/Phesund/Stolas. I'm pretty sure Amdusias/Orobas/Cress/Min also got shuffled off-stage for similar reasons and Glip doesn't have the guts to kill them off. Funny how it's always the only likeable characters that keep getting replaced...

This update is focused on an RP event in the discord where you had to make a dream for someone else's character. For this, Glip made a dream for Sunbe, who is the player for a character named Maya. They say that the VN features some things that happened in RPs and some that didn't, so not only is this about a dream in an RP, it's a dream about things that maybe didn't even happen and there's no way to know the difference since I wasn't in the RP. This comic was made to torture me personally.

The opening shot has what looks like a Deca/TAL amalgam with a stupid heart chest and a cat that looks a lot like Papaya (this is Maya).

 maya, papaya, this should be easy to keep straight

We start on Rath 1/1, traversing Chlorospace. There's a shot of a five-petaled flower in blue. Two white points appear on it where the petals touch the bud, and then we get a shot of Maya's crying face under it. Stolas in his stupid crown outfit asks "Why is that stupid dog in here? Get out. You. White dog." which really sounds like an upcoming Undertale reference but it's not. He's actually talking to an extremely tired looking white uniqorn thing which we saw a LONG time ago in the Stolas First Speech VN. I actually wondered if maybe everyone just forgot those guys existed because they were never even mentioned until this point. I have no idea what any of them were doing this whole time.

do i LOOK like a dog

Stolas has one of his trademark baby fits and screams for them to get out over and over. We get a shot of Stolas holding that one rabbit from earlier, Clement, in one of his tentacles. Clement shouts at him to "Leave him alone" while Stolas says "Okay", looking kind of red and ominous. It cuts to a shot of Maya tearily shouting at someone to Stop.

We cut to YET ANOTHER variant of Phesund, they seem endless, that has a more Andre-shape to his neck and seems to be dripping paint from the end of his "nose". This Phesund says that if he'd known, he wouldn't- and then cuts himself off, and then says he would have wanted to ask "you" first. Maya, now looking rather happy, asks him to tell her about it if he'd like to.

Phesund then says that it felt kind of creepy to "paint a child" without them knowing. He says it wasn't on purpose and he didn't know either (know what, exactly?) and that it wasn't ill-intentioned, it was just "adventures", and that he liked that. That he didn't get to do a lot of that as a child, and couldn't have a pet either.

This is very weird coming from a Glipsert, given the sheer amount of times Glip has been accused of showing porn to minors, or of turning a blind eye when minors get abused around them. Given how often children getting exposed to things they shouldn't shows up in this comic, this just reads very suspiciously.

maybe this is supposed to be meta with andre as artist and maya as a drawing, but i think that's overly generous

Phesund says he's sorry that it made Maya "uncomfortable to learn" (that he did this, one assumes), and that he'd understand. Maya asks if it's okay to ask some things, and then asks when Phesund found out she was "somebody". Phesund says that it was shortly before his students left the Art Pyramid, but he doesn't remember how he learned.

Maya asks if Phesund knows if the things he made were things that happened to her, then if it made things happen to her. Phesund says he doesn't know. He thought it was a window into something that already existed, but now that she's said that, he doesn't know for sure.

Maya starts crying, saying she has a really big feeling but it's "all messy". Phesund says that's fine. Weeping, Maya says that she feels like Phesund used her.

For some background context on this, there's a VN that someone (let's call them, "Woz") wrote that Glip hosts on their porn sidesite that features child-on-child sexual abuse that was inspired by a girl that Woz was grooming who had the same cocsa experience in real life. Said girl has asked for the VN to be taken down since she feels like it's about her sexual assault but Glip refuses to do so because they say it's actually about them and not her. If this sounds bizarre and complicated I am actually simplifying the entire fracas, you can't go two steps without falling down a rabbit hole with this comic. You can go look up more about it elsewhere if you're really curious, Glip has been posting about it frequently. This whole exchange definitely brings all that to mind at any rate.

Anyway we then cut abruptly to some other thing who asks "which apology this is for". Yet ANOTHER version of Phesund/Andre looks hesitant and says he didn't like the murder attempt dream-that-wasn't-a-dream.

so... a murder attempt then?

Phesund continues saying that he wants to do the opposite of that, which is something that can help save the rabbat's life. Clement, since I think this rabbat is Clement, says "Oh, I was wondering if it was to me," and that was why they felt silly asking. Clement then says they really appreciate this. They say they were struggling to decide if they could forgive Phesund, and now they feel even more conflicted now that they don't know if they can hold Phesund entirely at fault. We get a pull out shot and it turns out Clement is talking to AndrePhesund as painted on the wall.

hey he has the burning wand he used to kill beleth

Phesund says he's also trying to understand what happened, which, join the club!! He's trying to understand that sometimes people don't accept your apology, saying someone named Revere told him that.

Clement says that they don't know if they can accept the apology, because they're still healing. They say something inside of them broke that night, and while they're putting it back together, things aren't the same as they used to be. They say they appreciate what Phesund is doing though. Phesund, looking weepy, asks what healing is like, and if it's okay to ask.

Clement says it feels like finding new pieces of yourself and cutting yourself on them on occasion, and finding out unconscious rules that you follow, but sometimes the pieces are pretty, and so on. Phesund asks what kindness is like in a blatant ploy for pity and attention, given that he's the one who's supposed to be apologizing for hurting Clement. Clement describes it in this odd detached way like most of the people talk on the discord.

and something about being... nice? no, that can't be right

Phesund asks if everyone's connected like that, seemingly puzzled by the thought. He then tentatively asks if Clement is showing kindness to him right now.

We get another shot of the flower from the beginning, with two dots marking the outside of a petal that then form a loop, then TALcat appears. She looks different yet AGAIN.

and THIS iteration of TALcat has RED stripes that go UP

This TALcat has a slightly fluffier tail and is talking to Deca, I think. Deca wonders at how ideas can be intrepreted so vastly, and TAL agrees that they can be. Deca asks how "this" can be worked with, and whether or not it can be changed now that it's already happened, or if it's a guaranteed cycle that must be processed now.

TALcat says that you can modify the cycle but it's already moving, so while you can't stop the movement, you can alter its trajectory and meaning.

i'm thinking of getting some cool lip piercings next, maybe a mohawk

Deca says the good thing about a cycle is that you can see it over and over and figure out how to change it and what it means. TALcat then says that everyone who was in the Art Pyramid while it was sealed (when did this happen and why? oh, right in the RP we never got to see), is a part of "this" cycle currently, even if they aren't in the Pyramid, so their actions can still change the cycle.

Deca asks if that means that everyone who was in contact with Andre in the past is a part of the cycle now, even if they aren't around Andre right now, and TALcat says yes. Deca says this is quite complex, to which TAL agrees. Deca says it sounds like TAL is trying to solve for cycles with unresolved errors as a whole, starting with Andre. TAL confirms this. We get a whole lot of overlays of various TAL shapes, with TAL saying that she's trying to induce free movement in time and space and creation itself.

>:3

One of the shapes kind of looks like Dog on the Floor from the World Egg, so that might have been TAL all along I suppose? Another one kind of looks like that bizarre looking flowery prism thing that showed up in Shizukan's Test last time, and another one kind of looks like Catmoon Andre. So all of those things might have happened in different frequencies? Or TAL is just screwing around with different bodies in this frequency to see what happens. Or maybe this is aLL JUST A DREAM AAAAAAAAAAA

We cut to Phesund and Maya standing on a tree branch. Phesund says he loved the energy that Maya put into her art, and that it could reach him when he felt like nothing else could and he'd forgotten everything else. Maya is crying, again. Phesund says he wants to impart a few things before he goes. He says that who you show your art to and when and why is important, basically.

maya spends a lot of time crying

We cut to some weird pixie thing that says they want to paint Maya. Meanwhile Phesund is on the floor drawing. Phesund goes to show his picture to his mom, who says it's nice. Phesund is upset by this, saying that the picture isn't supposed to be nice. His mom says that he drew a cagroo and a cat, and Phesund protests that it's a FLOWERcat, and that the flowercat's flower means she can feel when her cagroo is hurt, so she bandaged its tail, and it's supposed to be SAD because the cagroo got HURT!! This is the first we've heard of flowers having empathetic powers but it does put Cress's flower in a new light.

Phesund's mom refers to him as Pella and says that she looked at it and thought it was nice, and she doesn't know what more he wants from her. Meanwhile, the pixie thing wearing a TALcat hat is running off while Maya chases after them.

Some weird looking thing I can't parse starts talking about how to re-establish contact with Owel, and that the first thing they need to acknowledge is that it exists. They say it's important to start with the baseline that all life is connected, presumably so no one just starts blasting when they walk in there.

isn't there a neopet that looks like this

The little pixie thing says that it knows about Owel, since that's where its dreamer is. It holds up a picture of Maya, saying that sometimes when it goes to sleep, it talks to her, and it says that Maya is really kind to it. The thing reveals itself a bit more, and I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be TAL in yet another bizarre guise, saying that that's wonderful and that she hopes it'll continue to have nice encounters in its dreams.

now if you'll excuse me, i have to go excavate dirt

And then it just ends. WELL, FINE.

So given this is a dream about things that did or didn't happen in an RP that's over and will never get explained, is there anything to be learned from that? Flowercat flowers connecting people is kind of relevant for Cress. And TAL was apparently meddling with a lot of stuff, but she's kind of always done that. I'm assuming that sequence in Shizukan's Test where Stolas tortured some thing that kind of looked like Clement is what Clement wants an apology for now, but who knows?? None of that was ever explained, and I don't even know if that was Clement anyway.

What was the bit about drawing pictures of Maya being a child, what did that mean?? TAL wants to "solve" for errors in cycles that involve Andre, does that just mean in this frequency or in all frequencies? All of these questions will definitely not be answered in the next update of Floraverse!

[puellafuriadarkmagica]

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Tree in the Storm Like the Breath of a Child

I remember this title is from something by the Bee Gees, but honestly I don't care about them enough to remind myself which track it actually is. My very own father attests that the Bee Gees are the greatest disco band of all time, and frankly, I think he's nuts for it.

"Beauty endures only for as long as it can be seen; / Goodness, beautiful today, will remain so tomorrow." - Sappho of Lesbos

This was about Thalia, obviously, but now I'm not even sure if I'd call her strictly "good" either. If I had to sum up where she's at in a word, it would probably be more like "bewildered".

I'm getting into reading the chapter proper now, and it feels a little strange to do so. I want to stress that I consider chapters 1-3 one "episode" of PFDM, if you will, so to do this days apart from when I read the first two feels quite unlike the intended experience. Yes, I released it weeks after chapters 1 and 2 in real time as well, but that's because (as I hope is obvious by now) PFDM really has a target audience of one, and that one is me. Your collective experience doesn't matter to me at all, and in fact, doesn't exist.

That's the sickest twist of all! PFDM is stored entirely on my computer! I never at any point actually published any of this, and you're all just vividly dreaming up what I would have posted. Your dream sucks, by the way. You think that's the best I could write? I promise you, the real PFDM, which you will never see, is actually much better.

wait where was i going with this

Right, so chapters 1-3 are one whole sort of thingy to me, and I actually wrote all three simultaneously. I would have roped chapter 4 into the mix, but this was the best I could do before New Year's/ In a sense, this was the pilot. So I really had to refine the tone and style. I think I missed on some of the finer details, but there were a lot of jokes these chapters had originally that ended up cut because I didn't think they really felt like PFDM, you know?

Thalia winced beneath the hood of her jacket as yet another firework let out a deafening flash too directly overhead for her liking. She wasn't the type to fit in.

Completely forgot how long I kept her physical appearance under wraps for. Not long in the grand scheme of things, mind you, but back when the chapter count was still knocking single digits it felt like an eternity. I guess you had to be there. Now every chapter individually feels pretty minor, all things being what they are. Well, in hindsight. When it comes to forthcoming chapters I'm kind of raving madly at how to arrange them, especially since part 3 is nearly [REDACTED] of the way done, and there are only [REDACTED] chapters left after that!

Thalia shivered when she locked eyes (or eye, in her own case) with the girl who had just tapped her shoulder.

I've gradually come to imagine Hope as a fair way shorter than I originally did, which makes this more difficult to imagine. Is Thalia slouching? Are they going down some stairs? Is Hope actually tall? I don't know. Send your answers to 4 Mianga Avenue, Engadine, New South Wales, C/O puellafuriadarkmagica.tumblr.com.

The Incubator took this as an opportunity to butt in with an explanation. "Phoebe stepped in to stop two enemy magical girls from killing each other. She wanted them to understand each other's point of view. To make a long story short, all three girls share the same body, gem, and for the sake of convenience, name now." "…Wow. What's that like?" Phoebe laughed. "I suppose it depends on which one of me you ask!"

So I'm pretty sure I plural-coded a character here without actually intending to do that, understanding that this was what I was doing, or being aware of the ramifications of doing so. If she comes across as pretty two-dimensional rep for that, I apologise. That straight-up wasn't even my plan.

"It's cool, it's so cool you could hold it on a swollen eye and numb it,"

This line I can mark up to the fact that I think I was showing my partner Hitchhiker's at the time, and it ended up coming out like one of Zaphod's chronically uncool quips. That's probably good, actually. I don't think Phoebe is very cool very often.

I also want to point out that the name Deckard is an obvious hat-tip to Do Androids Dream and Blade Runner. The Attendants all calling each other by last name but the citadel residents being on a first name basis is also very Blade Runner-y, but I don't remember the book well enough to be able to say that they do that in there too.

Though it was growing late and he found himself accosted by the looming inevitability of sleep, Bill stayed as awake as he could. He was an artist, as it happened, and though she couldn't muster a single cent, the attentive looming of his biggest fan spurred him on to make manifest the visual abstractions of his thoughts and feelings he had set out to make. This, he believed, was his duty as an artist. This was his raison d'être, and even if he was only doing it for a penniless, quiet teenage girl with a tattered coat and a face only a mother who was looking at something else could love, then he was doing it nonetheless!

No joke, Bill Campbell was introduced here because I originally planned for him to have a part in a climactic moment in part 4. I've since decided that that's pretty fucking stupid. He might be another one-off character, I'm afraid.

Unbeknownst to Bill, this was the second time a complete stranger had shouted this at his sole fan in the last twenty minutes, and the second time that stranger had been a magical girl. It was, perhaps, just as well that he didn't know, because learning this would have had no bearing on his life whatsoever and completely wasted his time.

Where did the early-game jokes like this go? I kind of miss them. They don't feel like they're around so often anymore. Maybe they are and I just don't notice.

"Her?" He spluttered. "She wouldn't hurt a fly!" "I'd be impressed if she could, though." "How's that?" "Insects don't feel pain, sir."

Genuine contender for a top ten spot in a list of PFDM jokes, I think.

I don't think Phoebe's transformation sequence is very strong, because I hadn't got my bearings yet. I'm glad if anyone got the dud one, it was her.

Thalia crept out from behind a concrete pillar. She wished she knew some curses so that she could whisper them to herself. She had been hunting the collector witch, and along came these happy-go-lucky hotshots and claimed the battle for themselves? How despicable.

Once all this is over, I might post all the witch names and titles somewhere. They probably won't all fit in the story (the important ones still have so far, and will continue to, however).

I've said it before, but the labyrinth sequences are based on the mid- and late-career works of the playwright Sarah Kane. Those are definitely worth a read if you've got the fortitude for them, but they get heavy like nothing else I've seen. Particularly 4:48, for reasons which I hope are obvious.

Now that I think about it, I guess I can't let that one sequence from Evangelion episode 22 not crack a mention. Best episode of the show, quite frankly. One of my beta readers is going to very very strongly disagree with me for this, but it's better than End of Evangelion. But what would they know? They're not writing PFDM.

Crucial addendum: I am being tormented.

A smile on her face and the usual dose of nightmare fuel in her mind, Marie turned and left at what happened to be precisely 11:59:50 P.M.

This sequence is a bit cliché, but it's still a personal favourite of mine. It was really meant to be one big sign off to this kinda-sorta pilot, and I wanted that to be a grand cross-section of where PFDM has the potential to go. I hope it works?

Ruth sat forward in her armchair, as if sheer force of will could clear the picture quality on her television. She cast her mind back to this day twenty-two years prior, before Sarah had wound up in that fight that left her in her current state. Before Graham - the right proper piece of shit - had announced that he couldn't love his own daughter anymore and run away. For sixteen years, New Year's Day had cemented itself in her mind as a family occasion, and it had never quite stopped feeling that way. Then again, her daughter sitting silently by her side had always been the only family she ever needed.

Take for instance our first look at Ruth here. You get next to nothing about her, and were it not for the narration's mention of her in chapter 2, you might be forgiven for thinking she has nothing to do with the rest of this story. But I've established that (very tenuous) link already, so it should be pretty obvious that all of these are interconnected. Again, I don't know how effective this actually is, because I already know everything that's going to happen. But I remember being pretty shitting pleased with myself at the time, and I pretty much still am.

Lara stood up the back of the crowd by the Harbour Bridge, still grinning with relief. The countdown had been timed perfectly. Her sister had just asked her why the back of the jacket had said what it did, and she was mortified by the possibility - the All-Permeating Abyss in all its infinite dark majesty forbid! - that she would have had to provide an answer! Life wasn't about answers, in her opinion. Life was about a black leather jacket with "Do Not Resuscitate" stitched on the back. Life was also all about flirting with Madeleine, she supposed, but at least Sisyphus took breaks to let his boulder roll down the hill. She could wait.

I'm really rapid-firing these nods to characters you haven't met yet, and there's so much for you to chew on. You already get mentions of Lara's thoughts falling to Sinead Macquarie and Madeleine Whitman, without - and this is crucial - ever once exposing the fact that Lara is the Macquarie that Marie was thinking about in chapter 1. Then I go ahead and name drop the Abyss for funsies. I'm on a roll here.

Hours later, on the other side of the world, Margaret leaned back in her diner chair whose creak in response suggested that it was the elder of the two. The look on the face of the girl across from her said she would really rather be anywhere else, but if she had any intention of speaking as much aloud, it was cancelled out by her embarrassment at the absurdity of her situation. Besides, the two of them had a very important job in the days ahead, and work only became more pressing in the festive season. "You could at least get your feet off the table," she telepathized. Margaret pretended not to hear.

I don't think anyone picked up on the fact that this scene probably takes place in the United States as given by the fact that it uses American spelling rules, but it was there. Wait maybe Americans say "canceled"? I don't understand how they treat double Ls.

Wai-Fong braced herself a mere fraction of a second before she burst shoulder-first through the seventh-storey window and hurtled toward the street below in a shower of glass and blood (mostly not even hers!). Time slowed in freefall, and a jet of flame from the explosion spewed forth from her impromptu escape, very narrowly missing her head. As she turned to look, three enormous, bony arms clawed their way out of the building's exit wound. She winced. No doubt the witch that used to be the girl she was just fighting. As she readied her weapon, she felt a small degree miffed at forgetting until now that she said she would be studying for her finals tonight.

And back to British spelling rules! Plus a character with a Cantonese name. I really don't think guessing where this one was set was anything resembling a challenge. Also Wai-Fong was a character I really didn't have any direction for at this stage: I kind of winged her early chapters. Which honestly surprised me, because now she is, in my opinion, one of the characters with the biggest personality in the story.

Hüriye's eyes snapped open. She stumbled backward into her turntables and stopped them silent. Instantly, all eyes in the room were upon her. She grinned. Her mind swam with the infinite possibilities self-realization brought. She knew the way to a joyous and fulfilling life. She loved herself, and she knew that the corner of the universe she called a self loved her back. She knew that when she woke up tomorrow, it would be to the first dawn on a perfect life, one where she could- Huh? Oh, shit. The music.

I think Hüriye's pronouns here versus in the rest of the story serve as a pretty big hint for what their realisation might have entailed before they outright say it soon after their proper introduction. Honestly, if I were you and I hadn't figured this out, I'd be kicking myself a little. Just saying. Not even to be rude or anything, I'm just saying.

The youngest daughter of an eons-ancient force of destruction stirred from her sleep, woken by the counting down of the humans ignorant enough to believe themselves her parents. For a moment, she thought she saw a shadow by her doorway - poised like a cat, but with longer ears and a bigger tail - but when she rubbed her eyes and blinked, it was gone. She was hungry. Hungry in a way she didn't know other people weren't. She didn't understand what the urge really meant she wanted. This feeling was normal to her, but she had never quite satisfied it, and she assumed it was something that would come and go as a standard part of growing up. In a sense, it was. Every child on the path to becoming a teenager wanted to destroy the universe. What made her so special was that she could actually pull it off.

Now you're probably wondering, "Hey, DARKMAGIC313, why are we seeing this kid whose relevance still hasn't come into play, and not a character I actually care about, like Adia Musyoki?" Well, first of all, that's not my real name, but it would be sick as hell if it was (were?). Second, patience. You'll like this kid, I promise. Third, as I hope is obvious by now BUT IF IT ISN'T DON'T READ THIS BIT, STOP READING THIS PARAGRAPH AND SKIP AHEAD TO THE NEXT ONE, countdown numbers six through three are all showcasing a tangentially relevant character introduced in parts one through four respectively. And fourth, and perhaps most embarrassingly, I hadn't come up with Adia at the time. Yeah, go ahead and laugh. This is a self-parodying, over-the-top political thriller, and I didn't even plan for it to have a hacker character from the very beginning. Shame on mother fucking me.

Beyond the limits of the universe as all of the above understand it, untouched by the white lies called time and space, a brilliant deity draped in a flowing black cloak writes by the deep blue light of her soul gem. Her words are inert as she pens them, but their meaning is alive and dynamic, shifting into the shape of a cosmos. This cosmos, too, is filled with life where she wills it - or does it will her to write? Which one informs the other? - life which understands itself through the words she builds them from. She is the speaker-god, and her words and the universe are one and the same. And she's mighty humble, too.

I do like how quickly we dropped the title of speaker-god. I've been doing a lot of this thing where the narration strips a character of their titles when it becomes apparent that they're undeserved. Maybe I'm not doing that as much as I think I am, actually. I can't think of any other example except for the bit in the most recent chapter where the narration takes to calling Whitman "Madeleine" when Marie starts humiliating her. Still, even if that's only two points of data, that's something.

PART 1: UNTIL THE DARK

The part names are also lyrical quotations, and in fact, all are connected to the titles of their first chapters - part 1 shares an artist, part 2 an album, and part 3 an actual song. The logical conclusion is that part 4 would be exactly the same as the title of the first chapter in it, but for some reason I'm a little doubtful I want to do that. I have a much better name for it in my head anyway. Maybe even a few much better names.

PRETTY OBLIQUE SPOILER ALERT: I also want to point out something I deliberately kept hidden in my part retrospectives - PFDM actually draws a lot of parallels to Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon (for more or less the same reason PMMM proper draws a lot of parallels to Goethe's Faust - it's pretty emblematic of an entire artistic movement whose vibes PMMM is jacking). The first that I make apparent (to my recollection, anyway - I may have missed something) is the part titles loosely paralleling those of Gravity's Rainbow. Until the Dark : Beyond the Zero The Champs-Élysées is a Busy Street : Une Perm au Casino Hermann Goering (really naming a location in French is the only connection here, but I only had so much to work with to keep the part title-chapter title connection working. I did say the connections were loose.) A World of Twenty Thousand Girls : In the Zone (this one pretty much only makes sense on top of how otherworldly Gravity's Rainbow's Zone actually actually is.) I feel like me telling you all this is maybe a pretty hefty giveaway about the trajectory of certain narrative threads and framing devices, but I don't know how much you guys actually investigate this kind of thing. Maybe I can say all this and get away with it just fine. Maybe I was overly cautious in neglecting to point any of this out in the part writeups, and/or maybe where this plot differentiates from that one is enough to keep you thrown off the tail, and/or(!) maybe even if I give you this hint, theorising about where I'm taking things will be no less, or maybe even more rewarding! Again, the curse of actually writing this is I have no way of knowing for sure how the audience feels.

Dark magic has been a phenomenon observed among magical girls since before the evolution of the modern magical girl (Puella Furia)

I am pretty sure that this was a hell of a bombshell to drop though. I think we're still dealing with the ramifications of these magical girls being further along the evolutionary chain than their counterparts in the source material.

Dark magic, true to its name, does not interact electromagnetically, and thus cannot be observed by an individual who is incapable of perceiving their surroundings without a body's sensory organs. Typically, this restricts observation to magical girls (in the various stages of their life cycle) and those similarly aware of their souls as in, for instance, the Incubator.

I deliberately avoided also saying wraiths here, even though I'm pretty sure that this early on I knew that they were going to be showing up in part 2.

As advances in the understanding of dark magic continue, the phenomenon's discovery is misattributed to significant contributors to the study of magic. These include Penelope of Skyros (310 BCE - 291 BCE), for her use of it in elaborating on the Aristotelian conception of a "fifth element", Aisha bint Hassan (703 - 739), the first person to write the equations for dark magic stability and its relation to emotional energy usage when her trail of thought became derailed while she was trying to figure out how to fit a rolled-up rug through the front door of her house, Anneliese Holzknecht (1828 - 1871), whose extensive writing on the matter had resulted in the SI unit for dark magic being named the Holzknecht (abbreviated as Hk), and who had invented both the time paradox and being found dead 7000 kilometres from the last place you were seen, and Rachel R. Parker (1981 - 2002), who had actually coined the term.

The saddest part of writing PFDM is how short I have to make everyone's lifespans. Except Anneliese Holzknecht, who I hope is pretty obviously a pet favourite of mine at this point. Actually, a very VERY early version of the story plan (i.e. before Macquarie and all that) was going to have her be part of the main gang, and also immortal. I since decided that was patently ridiculous, and that I ended up finding her more interesting long-dead than alive (although she did live for quite some time!), so I kinda-sorta moved her immortality across to Whitman, and changed it more to an immunity-type power. More recently, I've started reading You Bright and Risen Angels by William T. Vollmann, which incorporates centuries-old immortals into its main cast much funnier than I would have anyway.

Parker's coinage of the phrase came about in 1998, in response to the discovery of "dark energy" named to suit the nomenclature established by dark matter. She had come up with it during a game of table tennis, wherein she had joked that if the name ended up sticking, the entities whose bodies were comprised of dark magic would have to be renamed to "witches" and "familiars" and was shocked to discover the following week that this was exactly what had happened. What she was not shocked to discover, however, since neither she nor anybody else ever knew this, was that mere days after she made this joke, a woman in another country altogether was giving birth to an immaculately conceived child. Had she known, her entire understanding of consciousness and free will would have been thrown into question and it's entirely possible that this would have made her feel less bad about the joke in comparison.

I have no doubt in my mind that the name "witch" only being a decade old has caused hella plot holes in the historical sections. If it has, I'll probably patch these up. Not entirely sure if I care enough to, though? We'll see.

Anyway, that's all for now. See you next time for chapter 4, the first chapter I wrote live as we were updating!

[we-dragons]

I'm from a different dimension actually Chapter 6 Damian x reader

Professor X sat in his wheelchair glancing around the room he hums his eyes pouring over all that there was finally landing on Robin. He gives me a look gesturing over at him.

"He informed me about The Crows sir, apparently they have gone under the radar, they've killed three people and the system didn't go off. At first, I thought we still had time, I treated a wound he had it he had come in contact with one and fought it. You know like how Wolverine did, I treated the cut and it's gone, but I was sure they were still in the dream state. But he got injured saving those left how survived probably not far from here, but the fact we didn't even receive the ring can only mean...they've returned under complete control again."

Concern fills the face of professor X, he turns to Robin, who shifts uncomfortably by the entrance of my kitchen. "Who are you then?"

"Robin."

The professor nods not even turning from his spot, he looks over Robin as if completing an inspection.

"How much does this Robin Know Dreki, about you, and The Crows?"

"I told him about the Jal-sein, the old race before the collective mind sharing, and he knows about my box of scales." Professor sighs.

"How did you meet him."

"When he broke through my window last week, infected."

"You gave him some scales to purge poison."

"Yes sir."

"Very good," He moves back to his original spot in the middle of the room. "You have been permitted to stop them at all costs if you must. Your uncle will be here soon to help you kill whatever has brought them back, in the meantime try not to use the stones. We don't want to attract more trouble than what has already been done."

"You're allowing me to put my powers to use?"

"As long as you don't wear it out, vibranium is not easy to turn into clothing."

"What a minute!" Robin's voice carried out through the room. "Just what's going on?"

"Robin," Professor X starts. "your world is being invaded by the Crow so that you become one of the many planets they have drained of life. And to do it they need a vessel that can contain the leader of the Jal-sein, Hok'mor." Professor X looks at him, his use

"And?" Robin says his face remaining unreadable

"I was the vessel, I escaped, destroyed the flagship and the army they had." I shiver moving out from my room to the box still lying on the kitchen table. "They were after the life of my home, so then I became a weapon for my planet." I pull out a bag of coins from the box.

"And what do you intend to do now (Y/N), destroy them yourself." Robin stands in the entryway, professor X stands behind him.

"Yes," I turn to him a chakram and the bag of coins in hand. "so unless you know how to obliterate a bird in 15 seconds or less you need to forget this ever happened and never come back."

"So, why tell me any of this, why tell me about anything why expose yourself?"

"So you can tell your family and friends and hopefully, just maybe you can survive. Because knowing them keeps them out of your head, but too much knowing allows them to enter." I pick up Nightmare, he crawls up to my shoulder and I head out of the kitchen, Robin makes room for me but just barely. I open my closet and pull out the last thing I have, two letters one written in my mother's signature ink and the other in my own handwriting, I hold them out to the professor.

"You know there is nowhere left for me to run professor if I end out getting caught...I just want him to have this. In my letter, papers are containing the custody terms for my brother to Uncle. I just need you to grab them to complete the transfer." Professor X slowly takes the letters where they rematerialize on his side.

"Good-bye Dreki, I will see that these get to your Brother."

Professor fades out of the com, and it clicks turning off, I pick it off the floor and slip it into the pocket of my sweatpants. I pulled out the chakram ready to leave a mark on my hand, I only needed a little bit of blood to completely transform when Robin coughs gaining my attention. He leans against the wall to the left of me now glaring at my form, Nightmare growls at the boy from the corner of my eye I see his fangs getting slightly bigger.

"Are you making it a habit to ignore me while I'm here?"

"No, But I do need you to leave, you can't stay here anymore." I begin to push him out the door in the kitchen, he slaps my hands away confusion leaving his face replacing it's with anger. He open's his mouth and I put a magic orange circle on his head.

"You Robin son of batman, found this information interrogating one of the monsters. It spoke in a language that was foreign but somehow understood all of it. You have made no such connection to the girl Y/N M/N, you did not see a man from another dimension, you came back to thank her for her help you had some tea and you were just leaving." I flick my hand and the circle vanishes, his head lowers for a moment as the information in his head readjusts. He moves to the balcony edge turning to face me the scowl returned to his face.

"Thank you for the tea." he pulls out a grappling hook and leaves without another word. I sigh moving to the same device I used to contact the professor. Picking it up I hold it to my mouth.

"Find me the closest thing to a sorcerer supreme, name and whereabouts contact them when you get there."

I toss it back onto the floor and it roars to life to give me a purple image of the earth and orange magic circles to tracking and moving. I move to my couch and fall asleep waiting for this day to take me.

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I wake the next day with the globe still searching for my request I sigh and get ready for work. I thank god that it's just the coffee shop below me, I work on the weekends mostly unless they need an extra member of staff then it's just me and the older lady and her husband. They both owned the building and the shop they helped me get the apartment set up and showed me how to work the coffee machines. I don't really drink coffee though after seeing what a raving maniac my dad became without it, also it was just so bitter no matter how much sugar I put into it. I partially blame my heightened scenes that came with my abilities, so I got free white hot chocolates and any extra flavors I wanted as long as I did my job and chatted with them for a while.

I asked them personally to stay away while I was sick, so they wouldn't be affected. When I get down the stairs Martha, the elderly lady beams thankful that I'm feeling better.

"I so glad you are doing well dear, I know the acidity in our rain makes you sick so Glenn and I got you this umbrella." She hands me a purple umbrella that still has a tag on it, it reads for sun and rain.

"You didn't have to do this Martha, I told you I'm not good with gifts, you already let me stay here on the government's program and gave me a job here, you and Glenn have already done so much." She pushes the umbrella farther into my chest.

"No you do so much for us, you work without complaint, you've also taken care of us and our granddaughter when she came over. When you were sick we were so worried about you so you going to take it or I can give you more gifts."

"Thank you very much."I smile brightly. She pats my shoulder and gestures to the counter to start the machines.

Once all the machines are started, the desserts are placed and the base coffees are made I open shop. Customers come in and some lounge around in the chairs or couches drinking coffees and either studying or chatting with their friends. Molly usually comes on Sunday as one of our regulars, so I would see her then. A few of our regulars are happy to see I'm back at work one of the other tenants gave me a green bean casserole and a hug. It's 5 O'clock and I make a cappuccino as I finish I hear the door open and the bell ring on the counter.

The black-haired blue-eyed male I had gotten to know as detective Richard Grayson, came in every other day at 5, he normally talks often while I tried to take his order. So I memorized what he usually gets so he doesn't block the register so I can still make the register.

"Hey Y/N I'll take the usual."

"I thought so," I hand him his drink " one cappuccino."

He takes his coffee and moves to the bar we have set up if you wanted to watch the process and it's only then I see the other people behind him, one pissed-off looking male with a cigarette in his mouth, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne. I look back to Richard he smiles at me leaning onto the bar.

"They came with me this time, It's family bonding time."

"You mean you dragged us out of the house to grab a coffee from this place cause you have a schedule."

"It's bonding Jason! Bonding!"

The two began arguing in the shop, I return my attention to the other two boys. Tim as at the counter puts a ten-dollar bill on the counter, while Damian does the same.

"Give me a regular coffee, black, large cup."

"Tea, no sugar, regular size."

Their voices crowed each other but since this happens frequently it was easy enough to at least get their orders down.

"Sure here's your change." I look back to the two arguing and I see Jason didn't put out his cigarette. He taps it and the ash of his drug falls to the floor.

Sighing I move out of the workspace gabbing a tong and a wastebasket, I take out the cigarette and throw it in the bin now gaining the full attention of Jason. I give him a stern look he seemed to freeze, bitting back any words he might have prepared to say before.

"Sir, I am not sure if I made we've previously made It but there is a strict no smoking policy. As you see we have many elderly, and young children in our establishment." I smile but I know my face is full of malice. "But please enjoy your stay at our cozy corner of our fine and fair city." I move back behind the counter start on some of my orders, I look at Jason again the smile still on my face.

"Would you like anything?" He gives me an odd look.

"White hot chocolate, Large," he nods his head over at Richard. "Put it on his tab."

"We don't have a tabs sir, he works for the police."

"So?"

"He gets Free coffee." He gawks at me as if I told him the sky was black, and I see Richard trying to contain his laughter.

"You give that guy free coffee?"

"It's a store policy." I pass out the coffee and the tea and I see from the corner of my eye he pulls out a flask. I grab the tongs again and clap them together, Jason looks at me then grumbles putting the flask back in his jacket, and instead pulls out a five and hands it to me. I take it from him gingerly and head straight to work on his order. I hand him both his spare change and his drink, and the complimentary cookie bag that came with it. He gives me another look.

"They come with a drink." I leave and continued my chores around the shop.

"You are doing much better (m/n)." I whip my head around and look at Damian who's behind me on the other side of the counter. His companions seemed to be in deep conversation amongst themselves.

"Yes, I'm doing just fine, it happens occasionally but nothing like a good cup of tea and a few nights rest couldn't fix." I go back to cleaning the counter.

"You were sick for much longer than that."

"Yeah...it happens." I change the topic to "Did you think of anything for the project?"

"Why not make a model, there is not really much to do with it anyway." I gasp dramatically.

"Not much to do with an astrolabe! You clearly didn't read the whole paper!" By now I have caught the attention of his group. Damian frowns.

"No, your paper was written very well, I just don't think we need to dwell too much on this project seeing as how we really are not presenting." I had heard that bit from Molly.

"I suppose your right." I put away the cleaning supplies and turn back to him. "I'll get started on a model right away!"

"You will do no such thing." His voice is stern. "I will come back later and work on it with you," He moves his chair back and heads out the door.

His companions follow quickly after him and they say their goodbyes.

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As promised, he came a few hours later right as my shift ended and another person came for the second half of the day. I moved the glowing tracker to my room so it wouldn't gather any extra attention.

"I have supplies, what is all of that?" my brows furrow staring at the bulging plastic bag in his hand while I turn the keys in my locks. opening the door.

"I wasn't sure if you were prepared." He moves to the door, my arm shoots in his way stopping him.

"I wouldn't go in quite yet."

"What?"

I put a finger to my lips and crouch slowly to the floor, I shake the key in my hand then slid them across the floor. A ball of black attacks the object just as it crosses the doorway. Nightmare attacks the keys rolling around and bitting.

"Ah yes, observe the feral kitten in his natural habitat." I walk inside the door beckoning Damian to follow. "I would beware he is an ankle bitter. You can set up in the living room I'll just drop this guy off in my room."

"Does he attack all the time?"

"He's been like that since I picked him up, I don't blame him he was born in a rough neighborhood." I set Nightmare on the bed next to the floating version of earth. "Watch it make sure it finishes." then head to the living room. Damian has all his stuff set out on the table. There was veneer, paper, paint, some nails, an Exacto knife, a hammer, and a bag of pipe cleaners.

"This looks like stuff to make a birdhouse," I try and pick up some of the wood that was on the table." you realize cardboard, scissors, and a sharpie would have been enough."

"And here I thought you like polished and neat projects."

"yeah, but even with cheap materials you can still create a masterpiece."

"You don't do anything nice for yourself self do you?"

"Dude the most expensive thing I own is a cat who attacks me." I sigh, I sketch out a design for the astrolabe. "Well, why don't you start on the Mater, I'll get to work on the plate for our side of America."

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"3 hours of hard work and I got to say it's not bad." I hold the fished product, It's attached to a string of green yarn. "The calculations are down to point." I put it down, I clean up the mess that's on the floor of the living room.

"About the last time we saw each other, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, you probably knew about me from the news already, the big myste#wayne#scifi#damian#bruce#bats#fanfiction#xreader#characterxreader#jason todd#tim drake#character x reader#mxf#fxm#batboys#batboys x reader#Damianxreader#X reader#DC#Marvel#MarvelxReader#DCxreader#batfam#mutants#Damian Wayne x reader ry of the missing journals. So many interviews." I dump the trash in the kitchen, saying that last part mostly to my self.

"You forgive too easily."

"I'm not as forgiving as you think, honestly you view me too highly it that's what you believe. Would you like something before you leave?"

"No, but I have something for you before I go." I open the door to my room and let Nightmare out.

"Oh?" He's already at the door and pulls a shiny gold card from his pocket, he hands it to me.

"Father thought it would be good to meet you."

"Because I'm the daughter of a famous dead professor, is he going to ask about the journals too?"

"No, this is to apologize for my previous behavior."

"Oh," I take the card looking at it uneasily. "I don't think I can go to this, I don't do well at parties."

"Not a very good excuse." He smirks.

"I'll think about it." I push him out the door and give him the Astrolabe, closing the door slowly. " I'll see you at school."

I look at the card again, It's like the parties mom went to I knew them well. While some were nice, others were nice only in their face. I laugh slightly to myself, Molly already called me earlier telling me I was her plus one to the same thing. This was already suspicious enough as it is. I look at Nightmare who cocks his head at me.

"You think I should go, don't you?" the furball nods

"Fine. I was going to be forced into this anyway."

[discojupiters]

Another Lonely Night in New York

Casually uploading Bee Gees fanfic as if I haven't had this account for almost five years and I'm just now using it to post stuff because I am upset at the lack of Bee Gees fanfic that exists and I need to change that also cuz I haven't posted on any form of social media in literal ages and I just really want an excuse to post classic rock shitposts and whatnot. :D

Ao3 link to the fanfic if you'd prefer to read it there

Another Lonely Night in New York

Robin/Fluff

The rain had been predominantly worse at night than it had been in the morning. Dense raindrops splattered onto Robin's hotel room window as he sat near the window, flinching every now and then at the speed at which the pellets of rain struck the window. The weather had been like this for almost the entirety of Robin's stay in Manhattan, which made it difficult for him to see many of sights that he originally intended to see. He stayed for nearly 4 days straight cooped up in his hotel room and if he forced himself to stay in there a minute longer, he was about to go mentally insane; he had to get out and go outside for a stroll. Despite the brutal showers and the absence of an umbrella, he put on his coat and made his way down to the lobby and out the door. He knew not where his first stop would be nor how long he'd be out, all he knew was that he needed fresh air, whether the air was battling fierce weather or not. Robin trekked out east in hopes to find something worthy of his time.

Robin had originally desired to head to New York in order to find inspiration for new music for his solo album that he was working on. After the Bee Gees decided to take a break for a bit following the release of Living Eyes, Robin found himself in a great opportunity to release more solo albums and expand his talent as a songwriter. His intentions were unfortunately tampered with as the climate in New York at this time was not the best. Little to no inspiration had crossed through his mind for the entirety of his trip and he only had one more day before he needed to be back in London to begin recording sessions.

Robin's mind was as blank as a fresh piece of paper as he strolled through the streets of midtown Manhattan. Bright and colorful lights guided him to Times Square in what felt like no time. Robin had only prayed that something in those lively, radiant billboards and lights would make a light bulb go off in his head and give him enough material to write a perfect song.

The rain showed no signs of stopping any time soon, and it wasn't until now that Robin realized how foolish he looked sopping wet with his hair sticking to his face and neck while everyone else were as dry as bones under their umbrellas. Robin reached for the hood of his coat to hide his drenched hair only to notice he brought the coat without a hood instead of the other one he had in his room that did have a hood. He thought for a moment about heading back to the hotel to spare the rest of his embarrassment but he kept walking, tenacious to find even the smallest bit of inspiration for a new song.

The stop at a crosswalk was the first break Robin had given his legs in God knows how long the amount of time he had been walking for. They ached almost enough for Robin's knees to buckle and give out on him. He could feel people staring at him, businessmen coming home late from their office jobs, young fools in love heading to various restaurants and clubs downtown, rebellious teens on their way to their secret hideouts. All these people nice and dry under their umbrellas while they stared at the lonely freak in New York who couldn't have even bothered to bring the correct coat in order to save his head from the rainfall.

'Another lonely night in New York'

Eagerly waiting for the crosswalk light to flash white, at this point he couldn't wait until it was time to go back home to London. This trip had been nothing but disappointing to him. No benefits to his song writing or even his own well being what so ever. The only thing he'd catch from this trip now would be a cold from the rainwater coating his entire body, making his pants stick to his legs, seeping into his sneakers and making his socks damp, that he'd have to deal with once he got back home. On the bright side if he did catch a cold then he would be able to delay the recording sessions until his voice got better which would give him more time to write some more material for the album.

'The city of dreams just keeps on getting me down'

In the midst of all the dismay washing over him, he almost didn't notice that the rain had suddenly begun to repel him. He could still see the rain in front of him, yet none of it was touching him anymore. Puzzled, he looked above his head to see what had happened, but all he spotted was a black, dome shaped piece of nylon; the canopy of an umbrella above his head. The misty scent of perfume filled his nostrils. He glanced over to the right of him to find a woman holding the umbrella over his head for him. Her resting face was nonchalant as she peered across the street, also waiting for the crosswalk light to turn white, but she gave a coy smile to Robin when she noticed him staring at her.

Robin wanted to speak up, wanted to thank the winsome young lady for sharing her umbrella with him, but the words wouldn't come to him. As the crosswalk light finally changed, everyone made their way across the street. New Yorkers were fast walkers, it was strenuous to keep up with the woman. Her strut was self-assured, even in the six inch stilettos that she wore; it was like she injected confidence into her veins every morning. Robin was mesmerized by her. He was still thinking about the smile she gave him when they were on the other side of the crosswalk, trying his best to hide a cheeky, daydreaming smile.

As the walk with the woman continued, Robin couldn't help but wonder: Was he going to be following this woman around until she reached her destination? Did they both have the same destination? Robin didn't even know where he would end up, he wracked his brain wondering if this woman was gonna lead him somewhere or if she was just doing a quick favor and wanted him to leave now. The woman hadn't spoke the whole time. Her nonchalant expression turned into a gentle smile yet she refused to look at Robin anymore than that one glance she shot at him when he noticed her.

Robin and the woman were now exiting Times Square, the high-spirited lights merely staining the background now as the woman continued to head for the subway. Robin knew right then and there that it was time for him to head back, as much as he adored this woman, he couldn't take a chance. He didn't know her and God forbid he let himself get killed tonight all because he had love fogging up his brain just for a woman who did a single kind deed for him. Again, Robin's mouth couldn't open to say a goodbye. It was like his throat was frozen every time he was near this woman. After an extensive fight to make the words come out, he gave up and instead stayed put in his spot on the sidewalk, waiting for the woman to notice and hopefully say goodbye first. After the woman reached a few paces noticing Robin had left her side, she worriedly glanced around, holding onto her hair to make sure the rain didn't touch it. She glimpsed behind her to find Robin slowly sauntering backwards in order to give her the indication that he was leaving. She relaxed her arms as her gloved hands waved goodbye to Robin, granting him the same kittenish smile she had given him earlier that night. Robin waved back and finally turned around to make his way back to the hotel.

Robin tried hard not to glance back every few seconds to get one last look at the woman, but failed miserably; he couldn't help it. After fully losing sight of the woman, he ran back to his hotel. He was grateful that she helped him, yet suddenly glum now that he was aware that he may never see that woman again. He didn't know anything about her, not her name, not her voice, not her story, but that didn't stop him from falling head over heels for her. He knew that feeling wouldn't last long, it would probably be gone by the time he'd step foot on the plane back to London, but it was a nice thought to occupy his mind with for the time being. It fascinated him at times that he could be so in love with a woman that he knew absolutely nothing about all because she noticed him and did something good for him.

'Cause my baby's no longer around and my feelings can never be found'

Robin made it back to the hotel, tracking puddles of the water all the way up to his room. The first thing he did upon entering his room was remove all of his drenched clothes and head for the shower. Once he dried himself off, he frantically searched the room for a pencil and paper, heading to his window when he finally had one. Before he could even write down a single lyric, he found her. The woman who had helped him. She was making her way down the street of the hotel as if she had been walking in circles this entire time. Was she actually trying to reach a certain destination? Or was she just out and about looking for men to swoon over her through her acts of kindness? It didn't matter to Robin, because at least he got to take one last look at her that night. That was all he needed for inspiration. If that woman was enough to give a songwriter with writer's block inspiration for a new song, than in Robin's book that woman was enough to make the world go 'round. Robin wrote down lyrics as swiftly as they came to him.

'Another lonely night in New York, and my sorry eyes are looking out on the world'

[madstermojo2000]

Seventeen were actually really important both in getting me into K-pop, and just my life in general and I do still really love their music, even though I wouldn't put them on my top 6 groups anymore. I was lukewarm to starting to get interested in K-pop (and also it was another difficult time in my life. I'm just realizing now that I've been responding to difficult times by getting into new K-pop groups for about four years now) and I'd heard a couple of their songs, and was neutral towards them (I've never really been one for the "cute/bright concepts), but then my brother showed me Healing and everything changed. I just sat down and started crying. That one song from a group I was neutral towards was exactly what I needed to hear at that part of my life. (on a personal note, this is how I realized I needed therapy)

Wow. uh. Yeah that was a little personal, but I want to share my own experience with the artists you like! I guess my relationship with Seventeen is just something special and personal. Anyway. TXT. I knew about TXT from debut, and I thought Crown was interesting, if not the kind of music or concept I'd listen to regularly (and the Nap of a Star m/v was fascinating and completely unexpected), and I guess I was looking somewhere else when Runaway happened? Anyway, then there was Dream Chapter: Eternity. And wow. That was something else entirely. I loved every song from that album. Then I was originally ambivalent toward Blue Hour (with the exception of We Lost The Summer, that song really hit me in the face), and with the Chaos Chapter: Freeze, I decided to start actively following and looking into them. I think that right now, the only reason they're not among my ults is that I'm not familiar enough with them, and I intend to change that in the near future.

As I said in an earlier ask, I'm not really familiar with Sam Kim. I kind of know him by reputation? I know a lot of people like him, and he does seem like a solid artist, but I just haven't really looked into him.

I went into this thinking I would mention Onewe, Purple Kiss, and E'Last all at once, but this ask has already gotten really long just from talking about my relationship with Seventeen and TXT, so I'll just cover Onewe for now, and talk about Purple Kiss and E'Last later.

I first found Onewe through their Parting m/v, around when it came out in mid-late 2020 and wow. The emotional impact was incredible, I loved their voices, and I have a nostalgic soft spot for rock anyway, so it was the perfect song! (also they released a "Halloween version" of Parting, and even that was beautiful) Unfortunately, I didn't really feel like getting into another group when they were first on my mind, so I put off looking deeper for a while, but I did come back to Parting every so often. But then earlier this year, well, if you actively stan Oneus or Onewe, there's a good chance you'll end up at least knowing something about the other (Not only are they under the same company, but they promoted together before debut, and Xion, Oneus's maknae, and Dongmyeong, Onewe's keyboardist are twins! They still show up to each other's activities to support each other, which I just find super sweet). They started showing up in my recommendations more, I listened to all their songs and watched everything with subs from their channel, looked up Oneus and Onewe's debut project, and they were just ult material. They don't have as many songs as other artists who've been around for the same amount of time, but every one of their songs is solid and distinctive, although they do have a consistent sound and some recurring lyrical themes (space and memories take center stage in two title tracks each), but that's to be expected when they write their own songs, with the same few instruments in mind.

I totally understand music helping you through things and I'm glad that you feel comfortable enough to tell me about it. I know it's not always easy to share things that personal but I really appreciate it. It's nice that seventeen was able to help you through that time and that healing could be a bit healing for you. (sorry bad joke) I also appreciate you mentioning your relationship with my groups as well!! It's nice to hear others stories about my favorite groups!!

You mentioned not being one for "bright/cute concepts" and that's mostly what I enjoy lol. I think it really shows how music can be subjective and people can enjoy different songs from artists regardless of their main concept or theme, especially for kpop.

I knew about Oneus and Onewe having twins!! That was one of the facts about the groups that I remembered from the little research I did when Oneus debuted. It's cool that Onewe has a recurring lyrical theme! It makes it feel like they put a lot of effort into their music!! It's always cool when groups write their own music and are able to direct the message their music is giving to people. I guess I like seventeen for the same reason since they make their own music as well.

In order to keep my response relatively short (and so we can have more to talk about over later messages) I'll talk about how I found verivery and onf and save treasure and lucy for later!! These two groups are kinda related because I found them at the same time. As I mentioned in my last response, I was really into trying to keep up with debuts for a while and it just so happened that during that time both verivery and onf debuted. I had seen their debuts and liked them both (they fit the bright concepts) but never got super into either of them. They both fell off my radar after awhile until they participated in Road to Kingdom!!! I was stunned by onf's stages on the show!! You mentioned liking dramatic music and theatrics well that's exactly what their performances were!!! I was blown away and wanted to give their music another listen and I can honestly say, they are BY FAR the kpop group with THE BEST DISCOGRAPHY!! At least in my opinion. None of their songs are a skip for me, I love every single one!! And verivery was more on the softer side but I really like that so I enjoyed their performances, especially in contrast to the other groups who were doing darker themes. Again, I gave their music a second chance and fell in love with it as well. I ended up buying both groups entire album collection in one go and now I'm following their new releases!! By the way, onf is having a comeback next month and I'm SOOOO excited!!! (so is txt)

I'm excited to hear about your other favorite artists!!!

[lighkoda]

For the prompt thingy, can you do 26 - i didn't intend to kiss you? Nozoeli, please? Thanks in advance ~ Also, I love your writing style. :3

Hey, thank you so much for requesting!! I hadn’t been writing much lately ;w; But I’m really thankful for your support despite that I’m like this. I’m on mobile, though, so I can’t do any formatting really… Hope the original formatting didn’t get screwed up from pasting it here. Everyone, feel free to request! I can’t put the link here because I am on mobile, though… I probably won’t mind if you make your own prompt either, though. After all, I think this is the first request I’ve gotten! Sadly, I realized that this is not as good as I thought… I think I’ll write another Nozoeli and see if I can make it up, but we’ll see. It probably won’t be from a prompt unless you’d like? Anyways, here it is. You’re always supporting me, so I tried my best more than usual (*´∀`)♪

Title: BloomShip: NozoEli (it kind of became EliNozo, though…)Prompt: “I didn’t intend to kiss you.”Rating: PGWord count: 1.1k (roughly)

3rd POV

“I didn’t intend to kiss you.”The usually serious, mature blonde began to blush like a young girl that’s been teased by the person she likes. She lifts her hand, putting her fingertips to her lips gently, wondering if that had really just occurred. The whole situation felt so surreal, she felt as though she were dreaming. She then realizes that she’s averted her eyes as she slowly became a blushing mess, reduced to such from a simple kiss from whom she’s always considered her best friend. She mutters quietly as she lifts her eyes to take a glance at the purple-haired girl in front of her.“N-Nozomi…?”Big mistake. In the shining, large eyes of her best friend, a turquoise that resembles the sea, Eli sees her own sky blue eyes reflected. But it’s not just that. Eli sees a desperate hastiness, a throbbing want—no, love. “I didn’t intend to kiss you,” Nozomi says subduedly, almost detachedly. But there is a hint of despair in her voice. Her eyes continue to overflow with emotion, and her voice quickly becomes evermore passionate. “I didn’t intend to kiss you! But,” she holds her hand to her chest tightly, shutting her eyes agonizingly, “when you’re always running off with our underclassmen, satiating their wishes, when you’ve always been as popular as you are, when I might not be the most important person to you anymore, do you know how that makes me feel?” Nozomi opens her eyes slowly, but avoids the gaze of the girl in front of her. The only girl she’s ever cared for. “I know these are just my own selfish feelings, but when I can’t always be by your side, I can only wonder where you are, who you’re with, and I can only think that I want to keep you all to myself.” She isn’t speaking loudly at all, but Eli feels every pang of Nozomi’s vulnerable, miserable words. Both of their faces are red, and the usually cheerful, flippant girl’s eyes are wet, seemingly on the verge of tears, her voice becoming nasal. “Elichi, you’re the most important person to me, and the person I love the most,” she says as she looks into the blonde’s eyes woefully, tilting her head slightly. “But it hurts, not knowing whether you feel the same or not.” She looks at the floor as she continues. “I always thought I could just bear it for the sake of being together. Just to be by your side was enough—I tried so hard to think that way. But I can’t control how I feel!” Tears starts to slip out and roll down Nozomi’s cheeks. Staring at Eli, she hiccups slightly, distressed. “I know…it isn’t fair to be crying when I say this. I know, but…I can’t stop myself, either.” She covers her face with her surprisingly delicate hands, fragilely, as if she were afraid she might break at any given moment.“D-Don’t look at me,” Nozomi’s voice cracks. “I feel so shameful right now,” she chuckles self-deprecatingly. “Forget I even said anything, we can just go back to normal, we can just be frien-”“Don’t say that!” Eli cries out, stopping the crying girl’s words in their tracks and embracing her tightly. “Don’t say that… Enough, don’t say anymore,” she nuzzles Nozomi warmly. “But-” “No buts!” Eli says fiercely. “I didn’t know you felt that way. I wish you’d told me earlier. I thought you didn’t care. I thought,” she gritted her teeth, “that whatever I did, going around with whoever I did, you were okay with it because you only saw us as friends, and that that was the way it’d always be.” Nozomi is surprised to feel spots of warm wetness seep through her sweater, and for a moment, there is a hard silence. Eli pulls back and holds Nozomi at arms-length, her eyes swirling, damp. “I’m sorry, Nozomi. I’m sorry, because I gave up on you.” She proceeds to go down one knee, taking Nozomi’s hands from her face and holding Nozomi’s hands with both of hers, kissing them as though they were the most precious things she’d ever held in her entire life. Because to Eli, they were. “I’ll never give up on you again,” her chest swells with love. “I love only you the most. To me, you are my world. You found me, you cared for me, and you understand me the most.” Her eyes glisten like the cool water of the lake on a hot summer day. “And I’d like to think that it’s mutual.”Eli declares her next words unbudgingly. “You don’t have to worry about being selfish. If anything, it’s always been me—asking you for more and more, and yet you’re always here for me.” Eli musters up her strength for her next words. “Nozomi, will you be with me?” The purple haired girl now looks like her usual self, cheery and mischievous. Her eyes no longer water, and she lets her eyelashes flutter slightly as she blinks sensuously.“You’re a little vague, Elichi. Can you say it more clearly?” she hums gently. Eli stops, speechless, and her cheeks turn from pink to red within an instant. “Ah, I should’ve remembered that you never change, always teasing me like this,” she says, narrowing her eyes in embarrassment. “Well?” Nozomi prompts, a small smile playing on her lips. Eli takes a deep breath, and proceeds to look Nozomi straight in the eyes once again. “Will you go out with me, Nozomi Toujou? Will you be my girlfriend? Will you stay with me forever, and past our mortal lives?”For a moment, Nozomi’s breath is swept away by Eli’s strength and fervor. “…Yes!” She pulls the blonde up to her feet, placing a small kiss on Eli’s forehead as Eli straightens up. “You had to think about it?” Eli half-smiles at Nozomi. “Elichi is like a prince.” Nozomi puts a finger to her pink lips, giggling. “Before I knew it, my breath was gone.” “If you say so, princess,” Eli grins, placing a gentle kiss on Nozomi’s nose. They share a light-hearted laugh, putting their foreheads together and holding each other’s hands warmly, firmly.“Just one thing to correct,” Nozomi pulls away for a moment, looking into Eli’s surprised face, whose plump lips parted slightly. “You never did give up on me, did you?” She smiled lightly, but the impact of her words hit Eli like a hammer, rendering her breathless. Eli smiles again, her heart skipping a beat as she attempts to mask her dancing emotions, unaware of how useless that valiant effort was. “I guess you’re right. I was probably just…restraining my feelings and watching from afar. I was pretending I already gave up, when really my feelings for you had just bloomed.”

[ranami68]

The things i didn't expect at first in Enstars

WARNING! THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS SO PLEASE CONSIDER BEFORE READING IT! Lol XD

Anyway, this post is only about the things i totally didn’t expect before playing or when i played enstars at first. It’s about the characters’ personalities and their relationships. Not about the game itself.

Just my personal thoughts and i want to share it. Enjoy reading ~

By the way, it’s pretty long so prepare yourself or your eyes might get hurt later ;)

• Tsukasa refers to himself with “watashi”. I thought he’s the using “boku” type

• Tomoya’s fanboying side I would never have dreamt about that side of him. It’s cute tho. Poor him all cuz of Wataru’s pranks 😂

“Uhyaa, you look super imposing and dignified! It’s perfect, Hokuto-senpai! Come give me a hug~☆ You’re like the star of a Kung Fu movie. Or actually, you could be one of those top-tier Chinese assassins you see in Hollywood movies! Aa~ah, stab a needle through my heart! Beat me silly with your nunchucksss.” -Tomoya Mashiro

• Izumi is able to cook, knit, and extremely careful with his skin and outside appearance. Gosh, his mother power is perfect if i have to say.

• Izumi’s a tsundere Cuz he gives the yandere aura at first right 😂 he’s yandere only to Makoto and being tsundere with anything and anyone besides him lol

• The fact that Mao can be flirty sometimes Haha at first Mao gives the feeling of a character that absolutely hate brothersome things and totally serious. But he’s actually friendly, and enjoys work (lol).

Mao : If it’s fine with you, wanna go look around the shops together? It’d be fun, and we can have dinner too..

Tori : Ahahah Saru ~ Anzu’s saying “i’m being hit on by stranger!” you know? Don’t worry, i’ll protect you!

Mao : What? Don’t call me a stranger ~ i’m hurt ~

• Mao supports Makoto and only openly shows or gives hints that he likes Anzu in front of Subaru It’s not just my feeling right? Not because i just love Mao so much i feel so right? I mean, in Summer Lesson, Mao totally supports Makoto to get Anzu’s heart. But only when he’s with Subaru he can kinda shows he likes Anzu. There are a lot of those moments so i can’t get to details since it’ll definitely be long lol

• Yuzuru is a butler. I didn’t predict him to be a servant you see 😂 not to mention he’s much more of the mother type than Izumi. Cooking, laundry, cleaning, and his specialty is martial arts. And he’s so handsome with that beauty mark lol

• Mika’s a cinnamon roll Since his outlook appearance screams the ore-sama type 😂 don’t blame me lol

• I can’t find the right word to express it but Souma’s personality. I mean, at first glance he looked so cool and totally the serious type but in reality he’s one of the bunches of cinnamon rolls in the game who maybe would commit seppuku if you don’t look at him properly.

• The fact that Subaru and Tetora can’t really handle Chiaki. Because i thought that both Subaru and Tetora are the same “species” as Chiaki you know. The loud, cheerful and hot-blooded type. But even Subaru and Tetora were beaten by Chiaki 😂 what a guy lol

• Natsume calls the protagonist “Koneko-chan” or little kitten. But i like it.

• Natsume and Tsumugi’s relationship. Seriouly theirs are funny alright!

Tsumugi : Natsume-kun is so advanced, always adopting new techniques like this.

Natsume : Die.

Tsumugi : I’ve been cursed at so frankly!? And you didn’t pronounce the ending strangely, that means those are your true feelings!

• Arashi is… the okama type character Well you can be fooled cause he looked so cool and damn hot and handsome. Right?

• Yuta’s a pure and cinnamon roll kid. Since mostly brother twins have this mischievous synchron with them in anime world. But in Aoi twins’ case, only Hinata is the one like that.

• Hinata’s true feelings. Ouch. I’m so hurt when i read the Christmas Live story and Setsubun Festival story.

• Chiaki suffers low blood pressure. OF COURSE I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT! Well, he did mention he used to be sickly kid but still >

• Chiaki likes Subaru. Yes, he does. I mean, Subaru said that Chiaki has been inviting him to join Ryuseitai and Chiaki clearly stated that Subaru is his sun XD (i’m not lying lol)

• Shu is Kuro’s childhood friend. Beside their ability in sewing and their age, they really don’t have anything in common right? Especially their personality.

• Kuro is Akatsuki’s member. Since his first appearance in the main story is participating in B1 match. Who would have guessed he would be the member of one of the student council’s unit?

• Kanata’s a member of Ryuseitai Yeah.. with that personality, i don’t understand why he would join the superhero unit. Although it seemed like he and Chiaki’s past is a little… sad maybe? With their promises to each other. Still not clear but i hope to know the whole story :v

• Leo’s personality Yeah sure. He’s super hot on the picts i’ve seen before playing enstars. Especially from the cover of Knights 2016’s CD. But he’s actually fun, childish, and cute. He has gone through a lot too. Hhhh i love him (lol)

• Leo’s faster than Arashi and much better in archery than Keito. I was like “wut?” When i read that. Seriously? This guy? Damn genius 😂

“Really, you know! If the King joined the track and field club, it wouldn’t be a dream to conquer the nationals!” -Arashi Narukami

“You’re much more skilled than me. I’m sure we’d be able to go far if you actually showed up for tournaments.” -Keito Hasumi

• (Oh, almost forgot) Leo and Keito’s friendship Hey, they’re bestfriends in the club activities you know! Seriously that was a fun fact.

• Eichi has long fallen in love with Wataru //stabbed Seriously. He has long adored Wataru even before the five oddballs were existed.

“Wow, he noticed me? And he’s waving at me too? Even though there’s quiet distance between us… even though i’m so far away from him right now. But one day.. i’ll definitely close in this gap between us. I’ll come to see you, no matter what methods i’ll have to use.” -Eichi Tenshouin

• Wataru lost purposely in the match between him and Eichi Gosh, really Wataru? Good for you, Eichi. The feeling is mutual 😂//slapped//

• The Five Oddballs’ friendship. Okay, they seriously love each other as a friend you know! They treasure each other!

“Rei, Wataru, Shu, Magician-san… Is my song reaching you? Can you hear it? I want to hear your songs too. In the water, it’s difficult for sound to travel so… Even if it’s painful, even if it’s difficult, i will live on the land. I will sing forever. And so, please you guys do so too.” -Kanata Shinkai

• The BroCon squad Okay, i never thought that there would be many Brother Complex in this game 😂 for example, Izumi to Makoto, Rei to Ritsu, and Hinata to Yuta.

• The fact that Eichi and Tsumugi intended to make Subaru and Hokuto one of the five oddballs before Natsume’s name came up. Like seriously, i can’t stop laughing reading that part.

Tsumugi : But considering those who were the topic o f discussion when they enrolled, how about Hidaka Hokuto-kun?

Eichi : On that note, i suppose we should put Akehoshi Subaru-kun on hold as well.

—

That’s all? Well, there might be more later lol. And it’s not like i don’t like it okay? I just didn’t expect it and i want to see if there are other people who have the same feelings as me. No offense. I really like stories that are hard to predict.

I really love Ensemble Stars and the characters ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡