#Not tagging Cass out of fear

[dclegacytournament]

I cant wait for finals, fingers crossed wally wins

Lmaoo me too. Love you Cass but Wally deserves this

[kiaradaughterofselene]

Open starter

(may or may not become canon im using this to help figure out the plot) (pretend you at least kind of know her by now) (tw for gore kinda, being abused and otherwise really hurt, transphobia, being misgendered, gender dysphoria, being held captive, all that fun stuff)

You, for whatever reason, were on the search team trying to find Kiara, along with Amaia and some other Hunters of Artemis. There had finally been a solid lead as to where exactly she was being kept.

And so you found her finally, in one of the few moments where there wasn't someone— something near her. She was barely recognizable from when you last saw her. She was injured and bruised all over, and that look in her eyes... the fear. She didn't often have an expression like that.

Tag list:

@the-gods-abandoned-us

@arisdaughter

@mache-of-greece

@demigod-jack-hearth

@unhinged-waterlilly

@kaiaalwayswins

@amaiahunterofartemis

@daredevil-shit

@yourlocalfallenstar

@son-of-the-moonlight

@luci-likes-dinoss

@elixs-mythology-corner

@bast-the-best26

@emdabitchass

@if-chaos-was-a-boy

@luck-is-crucial

@elionandaerith

@love-lightning-forethought @the-prince-telemachus @pink-koi-lovejoy @apollos-favorite-child @ariathemortal @cass-sees-the-future @reyna4ever

[xxvalkyriesxx]

The Blood on Your Hands

Summary: Cassian's had enough of Rhysand threatening his mate. He's decided to show his High Lord what happens when he threatens her for a second time.

This is pure smut. The first half is somewhat violet as a heads up. Also warning, there's slight HOFAS spoilers but I made it vague enough that it doesn't go into much detail. This isn't an anti Rhys train, I was just mad at his reaction.

Additional Tags: I was mad once again at HOFAS / Mainly the BAM bonus chapter / Cassian is crazy in this / 1000% alphahole / But I love him / Possessive Cassian / Mating bonds / Its pure filth in the second half / Smut / Praise kink /Not really blood play but blood is kinda there 

Read on AO3 or below

Tag list: @separatist-apologist

There was so much red, Cassian couldn’t see his siphons anymore. His hands were coated in blood, his blood. The male who was his brother, his friend, his High Lord.

Rhys would heal.

That was his only reassurance as he punched his face again. His fist connected to Rhys’ mouth once more. From the hit, he spit out the mixture of saliva and blood and tears.

“We’re Ilyrian. So today we will follow their laws.” Cassian growled, his teeth baring at Rhysand. Rhysand was smart not to say anything. His breathing was heavy as he gasped for air.

Rhysand was high lord but he was no Lord of Bloodshed. He could fight his way through a battle with strategy, but when it came down to physical strength, that’s where Cassian had him. But Cassian had another factor in his anger. Something ancient and holy that not even the Illyrians would deny.

His hazel eyes met her silvery blue ones. Her face remained stoic, not a single wince of fear in sight. Yanking the High Lord by his hair, Cassian dragged Rhysand to Nesta’s boots. She wore Illyrian leathers, just like the two of them. An Illyrian in mind and soul.

“Apologize.” Cassian demanded. Rhysand mumbled something but Cassian decided that wasn’t good enough. He pulled on Rhysand’s hair, making him look up at Nesta.

“Apologize to her. Now. Be clear with your words. I will not ask again.” The High Lord gulped as more blood left his mouth. His entire face was bruised in shades of blues and purple. Ironically it complimented his violet irises.

“I’m…I’m sorry.” Rhysand spoke. Cassian sneered. “For what?” Rhysand coughed more of his blood.

“For threatening to kill you, Nesta…For a second time.” Cassian roared at the apology, his hand finally letting go of Rhysand’s head. He marched forward until he stood behind Nesta, his mate.

Silence from Nesta amplified Rhysand’s gasps and coughing fits. Still standing without so much of any emotion. The queen of queens her mother projected her to be, and today she was.

“Rhysand.” Nesta spoke. Her voice firm with her silver flame eyes.

“You will never threaten me, or my loved ones again. I did what anyone with a human heart would have done. That includes my sister. The very sister you’re mated too. There are concepts that even century old fae like yourself cannot understand. I hope after this, you understand my actions. You do not have to agree, but respect is something of mutual value.”

She offered her hand to him. “You’re high lord, which is why Cassian decided to do this in the training yard and not in Illyria. We need to be strong and unified against the ones who cause unjust rebellions. So let this be a one time moment. A learning moment if you will.”

Rhys looked up at Nesta. “Never fuck with Cassian’s mate again?” Nesta smirked. “You’re a fast learner.”

She grabbed his hand and helped him up. Together they brought him inside where Feyre was sipping her tea. Looking up, she grimaced.

“Jeez Cass, did you have to go that far?” Cassian glared at her in reply. She rolled her eyes.

“Has everyone learned their lessons?” Feyre asked. Rhys and Nesta looked at each other then nodded.

“Good. Cassian, put him down over there. I’m going to make his favorite tea and then I’ll start healing.” Cassian did as the High Lady instructed. He graciously placed the High Lord down on the sofa. All three of them heard her mumble about ‘big Ilyrian babies’ as she walked to the kitchen.

“Brother.” Cassian said, firm but gently. Rhys kept his eyes closed, but he spoke softly. “I would’ve done the same thing to you, you piece of shit.” And for the first time that evening, Cassian laughed. He bumped his fist on Rhys’ shoulder who hissed in pain. “You did that on purpose.” “Just a love tap, brother.”

Cassian walked over to Nesta who stood with her arms crossed, watching the whole scene. “Ready, Sweetheart?” A crack in Nesta’s steel armor appeared. A soft smile welcomed his question. “Always.”

The General of the Night Court swooped his mate into his arms and disappeared to their room.

The second Cassian closed their bedroom door, Nesta quietly asked the House for a sound barrier under her breath. The House created a barrier as asked, keeping everything inside their room private. Cassian looked over to Nesta and as he started to approach her, she backed him up against the door.

His eyes widened for a split second before he could smell it. Her yearning. Her need. Her desire. She placed a hand on his cock, feeling it grow hard through the leathers. A breath left him as her lips connected to his neck. She nipped and sucked at him, their desire growing.

“Never have I ever been turned on by a brutish fight.” She mumbled into his skin. “Good to know what gets you off, Sweetheart.” Cassian replied.

Her hands ran to his leathers, slowly undoing the armor letting it fall to the floor. Eventually as she reached his pants, they dropped down along with her knees. Nesta didn’t even flinch at the impact, as it just made her more turned on. His cock, thick, long, and throbbing to be inside sprung out. Quickly she took her hand and started to pump. Her lips found his head, licking his slit before putting his length in her mouth.

Cassian moaned, grabbing Nesta’s hair, pushing his cock deep inside her throat. She gagged as tears sprang into her eyes. A throbbing need matched at the apex of her thighs.

“Look at you. Taking my cock so well, Sweetheart. You didn’t let me clean up first. Does beating the shit out of someone do it for you? Do you want me to fuck you with their blood on my hands?” In response Nesta moaned, picturing the thought in her head.

“You’re filthy, Sweetheart.” The humiliation burned her desire great as she squeezed his cock harder. Cassian hissed, fucking her throat. He pulled her mouth almost fully off before entering her mouth again, letting a slip of air come in.

“If you don’t stop, Sweetheart, I’m going to cum down your throat. You want that? You want my cum everywhere, don’t you?” Nesta’s tears splattered on her face as Cassian yelled, his hot finish releasing. Nesta pulled her lips off, drooling.

“Your beauty will end me and all our enemies. They will fall to their knees looking upon you.” Cassian fell to his own knees, pushing Nesta down on the wooden floor. He quickly removed her leathers, wanting every piece of her. In seconds Nesta was bare before him, her arousal coating her inner thighs. A smirk fell to his lips.

“All of this, for me?” Nesta whimpered, her hips bucking wanting to be touched.

“Answer me, Nes.” Cassian ordered. “All of it. All of this. It’s for you, Cassian. Now please fuck me!”

“Or do I have to get your other brother involved to finish the job?” Nesta taunted.

Immediately Cassian wrapped a hand around her throat squeezing. His teeth bared as he growled. “You will involve no one else but me inside you, Nesta.” He squeezed harder. “Understand?”

Nesta’s eyes fluttered, air being trivial at this point. But she nodded to his command. Gently his hand left her neck. And right as she gasped for her air, Cassian put his mouth on her clit. Nesta swore so loudly as she saw stars appear in her vision. He sucked on her before his lips left, dragging his tongue everywhere. The taste of her consuming him to no end.

His mouth traveled from there to her inner thighs, biting the soft skin, claiming every part of her. Nesta gasped as her hands pulled at his hair. His lips found her clit again and with a tiny nip of his teeth, she came. He pulled away, keeping her legs spread apart, watching her cunt clutch at nothing.

“Please, Cassian. I want your hands, your cock. Please. Please fill me until your cum is slipping out of my cunt.” Her face flushed at her own words.

Cassian growled and let go of her legs before grabbing her cheeks. “Get on the bed. Choose whatever position you want, Sweetheart.” He let go and watched her scramble to their bed. Her arms down on the blankets with her ass up. Mother above he could die just by that view.

“I’m going to wash my hands and then I’ll be back, Sweetheart.” Nesta whined, stomping her feet the best she could in that position. Cassian strolled over, yanking her hair so her upper body came up. “I would rather chew my hand off, then have another male’s blood inside you, Nesta.” The way he growled her name made her desire leak onto the bed.

He slapped her ass hard, catching Nesta off guard. She gasped at the impact, the upper half of her body dropping back down when he let go of her hair. The red handprint on her ass was divine as he walked away. As he got into the bathroom connected to their room, he kept an eye on her.

“Touch yourself, Nes. I want you to get yourself ready for me.” Cassian called out.

Slowly Nesta brought her arm in between her legs immediately sinking three fingers inside herself. Cassian and Nesta moaned in unison. Quickly Cassian washed his hands, the blood leaving a pink faded trail behind. In mere seconds he walked out to the bed, putting two of his own fingers inside Nesta, joining her own. She squealed at the tightness of having five fingers inside her.

“You can take it, Sweetheart. You take my cock and my whole fist. You were made for me. Just as I was made for you.” He whispered into her ear. The action of their hands thrusting faster and faster made Nesta gasp as she came. Cassian licked his lips.

“I love it when you do that.” Nesta huffed a breath. “I could have gotten myself off three times by now.” “You sure you want to be a brat today?” Nesta shaked her ass in response. Cassian growled. He took her hips into his hands and thrusted his cock into her. They moaned at the sensation as it been days since they last fucked.

“I don’t have the patience for discipline tonight. So you’ll get it rough and learn your lesson later.” Cassian shouted, his hips slamming into her. His cock thrusted in her cunt as Nesta held onto the bedspread for deer life. He grabbed a hold of her neck again, pushed her body flat against his, her back on his chest.

“What do you want? Tell me, Nesta.” “Want you. Fuck me. Make me cum.” “Not what I’m looking for, Nes.”

She screamed as his pace slowed into a taunt. So slow that his cock left her except for his tip.

“What. Do. You. Want?” Nesta screamed in agony. “Please, Cassian. Fuck me. MATE. My Mate. PLEASE.” Then he found himself back inside her, pounding into her. They moaned and screamed as their desires finished, coating her walls. They breathed heavily as she dropped back down to the bed, his cock leaving her.

Cassian watched the cum leave only for it to be pushed back in. Nesta moaned at the sensitivity of the area. She gasped for him to be gentle. He noticed the bloody fingerprints over her thighs making he purr at the sight.

“I will mate. Now before we take a bath, let me clean you up.” He flipped her onto her back before he walked off and wetted a clean washcloth with warm water. He came back and gently began cleaning her thighs and in between.

“Should I beat up more people around you, Nes?” Cassian looked down at her. “Maybe I should join you and Azriel in your interrogations.” A feline grin on her face. “Perhaps, if you’re good.” He teased before he threw the cloth into the hamper. He picked her up in his arms, and off the two went to bathe.

[danikamariewrites]

hey, how are you?

I wanted to ask Azriel something, where maybe the reader has a phobia of spiders (something serious, like, she freaks out, screams, gets short of breath...) and then cass makes a prank on the reader, where he puts a spider fake in her room with Az...

then maybe Azriel was working and feels her distress or hears her screams

at the end Az threatens Cass 😅

Spiders

Azriel x reader

A/n: Hi anon! Thank you for the request I loved this

Warnings: none

You hum to yourself as you tidy up the living room of the House of Wind. After you lay out a comfy blanket on the couch you set your mug of hot cocoa and your book down on the table. You planned on reading and watching the snowfall while Azriel worked for a few hours.

You loved watching the snow from up here. Velaris looked like it was trapped in a snow globe, you could stare at the enchanting view forever.

You left the living room to go get more marshmallows from the kitchen. As you turn the corner you completely miss Cassian’s poor attempt at hiding behind a plant. He snickers to himself as he quietly makes his way into the room to hide a very real looking fake spider. You two are in the middle of your best prank war yet and Cassian was determined to win.

He had found the fake spider at Amren’s, instantly knowing it would be perfect. Cassian had waited weeks for the perfect opportunity and it had finally arrived. After placing the spider under your blanket, Cassian rushed out and up to Azriel’s office. He was late for their meeting but totally worth it.

Coming back, you drop the marshmallows in your mug. Looking over your set up you smile to yourself. This was the perfect way to spend your day before your and Az’s dinner date later.

Pulling the blanket back you let out an ear piercing scream. Spiders are your biggest fear. No matter how big or small they make your body lock up and shake uncontrollably. You press your back into the wall farthest from the couch. Your body is shaking, you squeeze your eyes shut. Letting out a whimper, Azriel comes barreling into the room. He whips his head around looking for you. Cassian follows, looking guilty as his eyes land on you.

Azriel comes to stand in front of you. He gently runs his fingers over your cheeks, cupping your jaw to tilt your head to look at him. “Hey, baby what’s wrong? What is it?” You gasp out, “Spider.” And point to the couch with a shaking hand.

“Ok, it’s ok, I’ll stay with you and Cassian will get rid of it.” He looks to Cassian who nods and strides over to the couch, picking up the fake creature. “It’s gone.” Cassian announces holding it behind his back.

You bring your hand up to grasp at Azriel’s shirt. Closing your eyes Azriel guides you through deep breaths, running his fingers through your hair. It helped you start to feel normal again. Opening your eyes you look around for Cassian.

“Where’s Cass?” It was Azriel’s turn to look for his brother. Confusion sets in on his face. Cassian comes back, looking a little nervous. He scratches the back of his neck, staring at the floor. “So…err, that was fake and supposed to be a prank. I’m so sorry y/n. I had no idea you were afraid of spiders.”

Azriel gives his brother a death glare. “Cassian! Are you serious.” “It’s ok Cass,” you say before it gets physical between the two Illyrians, “Az, he didn’t know it’s ok.” Azriel scoffs and pulls you into his chest tightly. “Come on, your sitting with me in my office.”

You giggle, “To keep me safe from fake spiders?” He rolls his eyes, “obviously.” Passing Cassian, Azriel points a finger at him. “I will deal with you later, brother.” Cassian puts his hands up in surrender. He was going to do his best to avoid Azriel for a few days.

tags: @nyotamalfoy @auggiesolovey @bubybubsters @baybay123455 @msiecrane @twsssmlmaa

[celestiamour]

ft. cassandra nova x f! reader — marvel

╰₊✧ “how come your fingers are in everyone but me?”┊0.7k words

contains: smut!! dom cassandra & sub reader┊master/pet dynamic, fingering

➤ author's note: sapphics, come get your food (i need her so bad)

₊˚ʚ 💌₊˚✧ tagging some people i saw in the "cassandra nova x reader" tag: @cyber-harpie @ilovecookies12

even if her long, dexterous fingers have always been an object of your fascination, you swear it was only a joke, never expecting her to do anything of this nature with you when she’s everything and you’re just one of the many variant minions running around, something you laughed about after seeing her hands go through another’s mind for the thousandth time. 

although, you wouldn’t complain about the compromising position you found yourself in when night fell and she called you to enter her room, in fact, it made you wish you had asked her that question earlier. the power exuding from her tone when she told you to strip and sit on her bed was a massive turn-on, which isn’t something she needed her telepathy powers to figure out.

“what a dirty girl you are,” cassandra cooed, “so wet, and i haven’t even done anything yet.” her attention was locked on your nude form with a focus on your bare heat, a little smirk on her face and a sparkle in her piercing eyes that loved what she was seeing. she remained fully clothed, reminding you of the imbalance in power, leaning your back onto her chest and resting her chin on the crook of your shoulder. “such a slut.”

her breath ghosted the shell of your ear and made you shiver. “don’t tease me, please…” you whined at her middle finger gently running along your folds trying to buck your hips into her touch yet only making her move away and booping you on the nose with the index finger instead. it’s such a silly little gesture in such a sexually charged situation, showing how much she loved to toy with you. it’s her favorite thing ever, even up there on the list with entering people’s minds, she just never had the chance to do it in such an intimate manner before.

“how desperate,” she tutted as if disappointed when she really relished in how needy you were for her. you’re so soaked that the first two digits slipped in with ease, but not without a soft gasp at the intrusion, starting her pace lazily before slowly picking up speed. 

pathetic pitched moans slip from your lips, music to her ears, rolling your hips to push her further into you and clutching onto her other arm that kept your thighs parted for dear life. the unfamiliar buzzing warmth of pleasure pricked your skin, unable to remember the last time you felt so good ever since entering the void as your own touch and random one-night stands couldn’t compare.

the way her talented fingers quickly located and started curling up to bully your sweet spot had you breathless, occasionally scissoring you apart and causing white sparks to flicker in your vision. you didn’t last very long, shuddering and tearing up as your climax washed over you like a wave and you writhed in her grasp, gushing all over her hand.

you were too immersed in lust to realize how intensely cass was admiring your beauty, her first time really noticing the physical features of your face when before you would always look away from her gaze when you met your eyes. she was never sure if it was embarrassment or fear, but she can now see it was the former given the obvious crush you had. “what a cute little thing you are…” 

even though you were already spent from your first real orgasm in ages, she wasn’t done with you yet as a wicked idea formed in her mind. her fingers continued to plunge into you, making you yelp from overstimulation and trying to shrink back into her because you didn’t think you could handle taking her again so soon.

she chuckled darkly seeing you squirm, “don’t try to run from me, isn’t this what you asked for? besides, I decided you don’t need to be my minion anymore, you can be my pet instead!” she retracted for a moment to show you the sleeve of her trench coat, particularly the dark stain on the fabric (although, your sex-hazed mind was hardly able to process what she was doing). “after all, i need to punish you for getting my coat dirty, don’t i? the night is far from over, pet~ i want to see more of those beautiful reactions…”

[batbusiness-schooldropout]

Unfortunately, I'm low on inspiration for our Girl's Night adventure. I shall leave off with what Bruce thinks is happening and what is actually happening. Feel free to take the story and do whatever you want with it, just tag me or something.

Bruce's Idea:

Conner ran afoul of some magic and is now up the duff with Tim's kid. Tim, being a paranoid gremlin, has called in a favor with Barbara and she is having a facility built for the purpose of caring for mother and child (Yes, Bruce does get a new gray hair everytime he thinks about what Tim and Conner have done).

Phantom is mostly likely hired muscle and a go-fer for the group. After the information about the pregnancy gets out, Tim receives a phone call, most likely about a health concern given his behavior and leaves. Probably to resolve whatever issues arose before returning and bold faced denying anything to do with the plot outside of threatening to explain in great detail how Conner's condition came to be

What is actually happening:

Someone was able to get a message to Oracle asking for help for 2 metas, one being very sick and the other injured. They said that they were being hunted by the government and that they needed to keep a low profile. (Ellie could also be heard shouting that if they were bringing a pity party, to not come at all) Oracle calls up her most trusted enforcers, Steph and Cass, who decide to disguise the mission as a Girl's Night that just took too long. Dick was invited because the "cruiser but secretly a bruiser" is a stick shift and only hipsters and old people know how to drive those.

After picking up Selina and the Fentons, they split into 2 teams with members coming and going to keep any one person from having a clear idea of what's going on.

One team is working on turning an abandoned building of some kind into a one room hospital. (Not important but they had to go out of their way to get old equipment because no one wants to risk any ectoplasm or magic mixing with new technology in unexpected ways. You wouldn't want the bed to start raising itself after all)

The other team is working on gathering intel on the GIW and sneaking any ghosts out that they can. The goal is to have everything ready to execute a raid within hours, if not minutes of the Anti-Ecto Acts being repealed.

Out of fear that the Justice League and its members might be traced back to the operation and jeopardize everyone's safety (if Vlad finds out what's happening, there's no telling if he'll possess a hero or not) Oracle tasks Tim with the civilian side of things. Some concerned reporters happen upon the Acts and write about them, and some equally concerned billionaires throw their opinions (and money) into the conversation, and public concern grows, and you know how this song and dance goes.

For better or worse, she also tasks Tim with ensuring that everyone, including the man himself, is too distracted to notice Bruce's finances. Since he's bank rolling the whole operation, even if he doesn't know yet. Tim decides to call Conner to unleash their greatest distraction plan. The old-fashioned "Teen Pregnancy Scare" tactic. The fact that they are both male barely slows them down or convinces anyone that they're lying.

Everyone looking at them is like, "I'm pretty sure you're lying, but with all the shit you all get into, I can't rule out honesty"

(Also maybe Ellie has to revert to a core and she needs someone to "carry" her. Before anyone else can process the information, Conner sees an opportunity for more chaos and volunteers. The absolute flabbergasted look on Clark's face when he sees a medical record detailing his progress was priceless)

[manjjiros]

okay but sweet post-juvie kazutora who goes to weekly therapy seeing you for the first time and giving in to his repressed darker impulses. idk i can just see yandere!kazutora so vividly !! stalking and kidnapping you bc he wants you all to himself <3

GROUP THERAPY

kazutora hanemiya x fem!reader

warnings: dark content, yan!kazu, stalker!kazu, implied sex, inaccurate representation of group therapy, manipulation, kidnapping, lying about condom usage, ask to tag

notes: cass this has been in my brain ever since you sent it. about 2.3k.

from the ASM: [he bumps into you as he passes by you in the casino, jumping in fear and dropping a file that had been confiscated from kazutora’s desk. the photos that scattered all over the floor were all… you. they were all of you. the ASM apologizes profusely and scrambles to pick them up.]

the smell of burnt coffee and donuts.

the low hum of old overhead lights, one of them flickering, making it a little hard to see very clearly in the damp basement of the church.

two, then one, then two, then three, then one; people filtered into the basement and sat at each of the chairs that were placed in a circle, though it became more of an oblong shape as one by one people pulled them back to be able to sit in them.

kazutora had gotten there a half hour early, dropped off by his parole officer who told him he would be back to pick him up at seven thirty, sharp. he sat in the stiff chair, hands folded between his knees, eyes drifting dazedly over each person that arrived and took a seat in the circle.

group therapy would help, the parole officer had grunted to him from the driver’s seat, give you a chance to talk to other kids like you. i’ve seen it help others. 

the therapist took a seat two chairs away from kazutora, dragging his attention away from the door for a split second to study him. the guy looked like he was just under thirty, some stereotypically upbeat type. he let out a breath, certain that this place would make him rip his hair out and have another breakdown, until…

you.

you came in in a flurry, worried about the possibility of being late. you carried yourself with the confidence of a small dog, shaking and nervous as you gently closed the heavy doors behind yourself to try and stay under the radar.

it was too late for that. kazutora’s cold, intense gaze followed every tiny step you took towards the circle of people in the center of the room.

your lamblike gaze shifted around nervously for an empty seat, finding none outside of the one directly next to kazutora. he was new to the group, unknown to all of the regular members, and no one wanted to try their luck with a guy who looked like he could be part of a gang. you didn’t have a choice, though, and hurried around the edge of the circle before pulling the chair back to sit with a breath. “sorry, i hope you don’t mind,” you murmured to him.

it felt like his chest was being squeezed. he wanted to eat you alive.

“it’s fine,” he smiled lightly at you, shrugging his shoulders.

you smelled like freshly cut flowers and the summer sun. he wanted to brush that lock of hair over your shoulder to reveal the column of your throat and sink his teeth into your soft skin. what did you taste like? sugar, maybe? were you as sweet as you seemed?

what was your name?

he opened his mouth to ask, but got cut off by the therapist clasping his hands together to get everyone’s attention. he said his name, but kazutora didn’t hear it, nor did he want to. any voice that wasn’t yours should be silenced.

he shook his head to himself and slumped back into his chair. he shouldn’t be thinking like that. those thought processes are what landed him in this shithole anyway, and now he was being forced to sit through these hour-long group sessions to listen to other people complain and whine.

it did bring him to you, though. he supposed it wouldn’t be so bad.

“... and we have a newcomer today, just registered this morning. do you want to introduce yourself?”

kazutora blinked slightly, rejoining the conversation and glancing around. “kazutora hanemiya,” he gave a curt wave, eyes darting over to yours to watch you smile.

“hi kazutora,” everyone in the circle replied, as if it were some kind of alcoholics’ anonymous meeting. maybe it was. maybe he was in the wrong place, it would explain the coffee and the gorgeous girl sitting next to him that he wanted to devour.

“so, kazutora, what brings you in to join us?” the therapist tilted his head, a mild smile on his face.

kazutora hummed softly, shifting in his seat. “i was part of a gang. i’m not anymore. i got caught doing gang stuff.” it was a complete bluff – shinichiro’s blood was still on his hands. it’d been years, but the blood never came off. “theft, mostly.”

he felt himself smile back at the therapist, calm and collected, before turning his sights back on you. you looked timid, shrinking slightly under his gaze before smiling back at him. 

“we’ll get you to open up soon enough. let’s get started, shall we?” the therapist was quick to move on, clearly wanting kazutora to not feel pressured at his first visit, but he didn’t care. he wasn’t impressed or even vaguely interested in what these other pitiful people had to say. it only mattered when you told a recent story of how you held yourself back from stealing an expensive purse when you realized it was missing a security tag.

a kleptomaniac, it seemed that was your only crime. well, technically, it was grand theft, but hey, it was nothing in the long run. something that would be sealed up because you were a kid when you did it. 

kazutora listened to your story as if you were a siren, and he was a lost man at sea, swimming closer and closer to you. he could feel the corners of his mind start to warp as he watched the way your lips curled around your words, enticing him closer. he wanted to feel you, to hold you, to get you that fucking bag you’re talking nonstop about-

the session finished with your story, and it would be a short five minutes until his parole officer would arrive to take him back to his tiny apartment on the outskirts of the district, where no one could reasonably get to him without at least a bike and a semblance of direction.

he watched you stand and make your way to the refreshments, your fingers dancing over the donuts before scooping up a donut hole to take a bite out of it. 

his feet moved before he could stop himself, and soon enough he was at your side, grabbing a tasty, albeit chalky, treat for himself. “good thing they give us some sugar after making us spill our guts like that, right?”

“huh?” you turned to lift your head and look up at him, blinking in surprise at his sudden presence next to you. “oh, yeah, i guess so. today wasn’t so bad. sometimes miki cries, and then we all really need the sugar.”

“that doesn’t sound fun at all.” kazutora stuck his bottom lip out as he chewed on the tasteless donut in his hand. you shrugged. 

“it’s the way of the sessions. helps to make everyone feel seen, or something…” you trailed off before throwing him a smile that made his head spin. “you’re… kazutora, right? sorry, i listened when you said it, but the session felt really long today.”

“that’s right. and you’re y/n.” he pointed at you with his half eaten donut, sprinkles caught on his lips, and you felt yourself start to giggle.

“right. it’s nice to meet you. will you come back next week?”

“have to. it’s part of my-” he thought briefly, mind scrambling. he probably shouldn’t mention juvie, his recent release at eighteen, his real crimes. “-deal with my parents. they told me i had to keep coming if i wanted a roof, y’know?”

“oh, right,” you believed him, falling easily into the idea that he was also just a kleptomaniac, just like you. “my parents were really upset when i got arrested. they got me out on bail, but enrolled me in this program. it’s helped, it’s a good thing.”

kazutora watched the twitch of your lips as you bit down on the rest of the donut hole between your fingers. you weren’t sure.

you shrugged and reached for a napkin to wipe at your lips, the residue of your lip gloss staining it pink as you headed for the stairs leading back up to the main lobby of the church. “well, we’re glad you’ve joined us. we should probably go, they like to give us the coffee and stuff, but if we hang out for too long, they shut the lights off.”

“right,” kazutora nodded his head and followed you out, watching the way your form blended into the shadowy corridors of the stairwell. 

before he knew it, you were gone, disappearing into the back of the church to exit into the back parking lot, and he was sliding easily into the back seat of his parole officer’s car. 

the interaction was brief. far too brief to have even been a hit on your radar. but for kazutora, you had suddenly become a beacon of light, untainted by the blood on his hands. 

he needed to know everything. he needed you.

in two month’s time, kazutora had worked himself into a point of almost-high status amongst the other delinquents in the group. he could play into his charm, he could play into being just a petty little thief who got caught up in the wrong crowd. the tokyo manji gang made me do it, he would say, crocodile tears dripping down his cheeks, i wanted to be just like mikey, but… he was someone no one else should be like. 

you had rubbed his back that day, and it felt like his entire body had been lit on fire. he pumped his cock holding his shirt to his nose that night in bed, convincing himself he could still smell your lavender lotion on the fabric as he imagined it was you on top of him. 

in two month’s time, kazutora had learned every single thing he possibly could about you. your name, age, your childhood home, how you walked to your college campus, the routes you alternated between to be safe. he loved to watch you browse in the high-end stores between classes, walking into the luxury districts and perusing the items you knew you could pocket but told yourself not to. he knew that soon enough he would be the one using blood soaked sticky fingers to get you whatever your little heart craved.

you wanted luxury? he could get luxury. you wanted someone stable, someone loving, someone to fill the void your dear old dad left? he knew about that too, of course, and he could fix it all.

in his head, you had become an angel, someone he craved to corrupt and ruin only for himself. the longer you kept yourself away from your human depravities, the more kazutora craved you.

two months was more than enough time to get in your good graces, to be considered a friend, someone to rely on, someone to trust. and trust him you did, giving him your phone number and letting him start to infiltrate your life outside of therapy sessions together.

you put your faith into the reformed criminal who had barely washed his hands after the crime, the blood and grime still caked under his fingernails as he rode up to you on his bike and offered you a lift to a nearby cafe after your last class. 

“funny seeing you around here, kazu! i didn’t know you liked to ride around here.” you giggled as you climbed onto the back, wrapping your arms around him.

“normally i don’t, but i guess it was just fate to bump into you here.” he smiled at you over his shoulder before bringing you to the cafe he knew you liked, the one where he got his favorite photo of you chewing on a strawberry pastry with the cutest smile on your lips.

he wouldn’t sleep unless he saw that smile on your face up close and in person, and as he offered to get you whatever you wanted and you asked for just that pastry, he knew his wish would come true. 

your little excursion with kazutora was fun. he was so sweet, so kind to you, reaching across the table with a napkin to dab at your cheek when some of the flaky pastry stuck to your skin. it made your cheeks feel warm, your eyes linger on his mouth. 

it didn’t take him long to offer you a ride back to his place, to check out his new living quarters that his ‘parents’ were helping him pay for. 

you accepted, like a lamb to the slaughterhouse, consenting to your own kidnapping as he drove you both home for the very first time.

he led you upstairs and into the small apartment, letting you in first before closing and locking the door behind himself. the place was small, well-kept, tidy. it was just a small one-bedroom, but enough for two people. 

kazutora was charming. kazutora was kind. kazutora had eyes that turned into deep black pools when he looked at you, when his hands landed on your waist and his teeth sunk into your skin. kazutora was a gentleman, getting you off on his tongue before sinking his cock into your tight heat.

kazutora cared about you. he definitely had a condom on, you heard him fumble with the wrapper. kazutora didn’t make your shoulder bleed when he bit you too hard, you had been overwhelmed with pleasure and had gotten confused.

kazutora. kazutora. kazutora. 

you thought only of him as you drifted to sleep in his bed, just for a short nap, you had murmured. you thought only of him as you felt something cold and a bit heavy snap around your ankle.

you had stepped on a bear trap without even knowing it, and now it had its rusty, bloodied teeth sunk deep into your flesh and muscle and bone. 

kazutora would be your everything, whether you liked it or not. he had made sure of that. at least you would have the best bags his fingers could grab, right?

[willalove75]

Alcina's New Maid Pt. 20 Lady Dimitrescu x Reader

Summary: After recovering from the chaos of the meeting, Alcina shows you the dungeon and distillery. Honoring the agreement the two of you made of not keeping secrets, she also shows you the thing she fears the most.

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI.

Tags: Pure unadulterated fluff

Notes: Part 20! So sorry this is late! To make up for it it's extra long at over 8k words! Enjoy💕

Click here for the rest of the series

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For the first time since the meeting you woke up alone. Reaching over to the other side of the bed you were a little surprised to find it empty and the sheets cold. Technically, you woke up alone one other time, but the sheets were still warm and as you woke up Alcina was walking out of the bathroom making her way back to bed. She promptly crawled under the covers and pulled you into her arms and the two of you fell back asleep for a few more hours. Feeling how cold the sheets next to you were was a good indication that Alcina left the bed a few hours ago and hasn’t returned yet. You can’t help but feel a little sad, but you push the feeling aside knowing that she probably has a lot of work to catch up on since she was keeping such a close eye on you for the last week.

As you were getting dressed the breakfast bell rang. The second one rang just as you were finishing getting ready so you hurried downstairs so you weren’t too late.

“Good morning draga mea.” Alcina says as you walk into the dining room. “How did you sleep?”

“I slept like a rock. How about you?”

“I slept wonderfully.” She says with a smile.

Looking around the table, you notice Cassandra’s chair is empty.

“Where’s Cass?” You ask.

The mood around the table shifts and you immediately regret asking. She’s probably still mad at Alcina for what happened at the meeting.

“She hasn’t been to a meal all week.” Bela says, looking at Alcina out of the corner of her eye.

You look over at Alcina and see that her eyes are downturned towards her plate. Right away you notice the sadness in them and the somber mood she was put in.

“Oh. I’m sorry, I had no idea.” 

Alcina reaches across and places her large hand over yours. “Don’t fret about it draga, you didn’t know.”

“Where is she? I can try and talk to her after breakfast.”

“The dungeon.” Bela and Daniela say in unison.

“Oh.”

“I can bring you down there this afternoon.” Alcina says. Bela and Daniela’s heads snap towards their mother in surprise.

“But mom-” Daniela says.

“I know, draga. It’s time we stop keeping secrets. It’s unfair to not give her the whole picture.” She says before turning towards you. “If you want to, that is. You are not obligated to go down there if you don’t want to.”

“It’s okay, we can go down there later. I already know there’s going to be things I don’t want to see. But it’s important to know.”

“There certainly will be. Girls, can you please go down after breakfast to see if your sister has gone on a cleaning rampage or a destruction one? I would hate for y/n to go down there to see it in a worse state than it is normally in.”

“Of course, mother.” Bela says.

“If Cass destroyed it or if there’s guts everywhere we’ll clean it up before you go down!”

“Wonderful, thank you dragele mele.”

(My darlings.)

The rest of breakfast was relatively quiet with some small talk sprinkled in throughout. When the girls were finished they swarmed off to the basement and Alcina sat back in her chair and dabbed at the corners of her lips with her napkin.

“Do you have plans for the day, draga mea?” Alcina asks.

“Not really, how about you? I’m guessing you have work to catch up on, right?”

“Actually I was able to catch up with most of it last night, which was why you awoke alone this morning. Which I apologize for, I tried to finish up before the breakfast bell rang but I wasn’t quite able to make it happen.”

“It’s okay, I get it. I figured you were working, especially since you’ve been keeping such a close eye on me this week. I had a feeling you had a lot to catch up on.”

“Yes, luckily it wasn’t as much as I anticipated but I wanted to get as much done as possible when you were asleep so I could spend the day with you, if that’s alright with you that is.”

“Alcina, if I ever say no to that, take me to the hospital because I’m probably having a stroke.”

Alcina laughs and cups your jaw, her thumb caressing your skin. “Of course, my love.”

She stands from her seat and as she does, a few maids emerge from the shadows and begin to clear the table. “Come, my love. We have much to discuss.” She says, extending a gloved hand out to you.

Taking her hand in yours, you stand up and let Alcina lead you outside towards the courtyard.

“What do we have to talk about?” You ask.

“I believe I owe you answers to any questions you may have. I promised you when Karl was here that after the meeting I would answer any and every question you have for me, regarding anything.”

“Oh right, I totally forgot about that.”

“Yes. So tell me, draga, what is it you want to know?” She asks as she takes a seat on one of the benches and you sit next to her.

“I don’t know, what else haven’t you told me?” Alcina gives you a look and you chuckle and shake your head at her. “Okay, okay. Let’s start with the basement. What really goes on down there?”

“The basement is rather large. The dungeon and distillery are where your questions lie, I’m sure. The dungeon is where the cells are, where maids who have misbehaved or those who have trespassed are held.”

“How many cells are there?”

“Roughly a dozen.”

“Are all of them filled with people right now?”

“No, there are only a few that are holding some maids. We haven’t had any trespassers in a few months so there’s none in there.”

“So the other cells are just empty?”

Alcina’s eyes shift away from you and she takes a hesitant breath before answering.

“No.”

“What’s in there?” You ask and her eyes meet yours for a moment. Guilt fills her eyes and she looks away again. “Alcina, what is it?”

“Before I answer I need to say that what I am about to tell you is something you are not going to like or approve of. It’s one of those things that makes me fearful it will be the last straw for you and you will leave.”

You take her hand in both of yours and squeeze it. “Whatever it is, I won’t leave. I promise.” She nods and takes a deep breath,

“As I’m sure you’ve heard, when maids misbehave they are punished. There are several instruments and devices that are used in punishments, but they are quite brutal.”

“So they’re torture devices?”

Alcina hesitates for a moment before breathing a “yes.”

“Why do you seem so ashamed? I thought it was something you enjoyed?”

“Because I am, talking about these things with you makes me feel ashamed because I know you don’t approve. And I do enjoy it, the screams, the blood, the terror in their eyes, it’s exhilarating. I’ve never felt ashamed of it, at least not in decades, until you came to the castle.”

“I don’t want you to feel ashamed. Of course I don’t approve, and it feels so wrong for me to tell you not to be ashamed, but I love you so much that no matter what it is, I never want you to feel ashamed of it.”

Alcina smiles at you and wraps her arm around your shoulder and pulls you into her.

“The distillery is in the other part of the basement. That is where maids and trespassers are bled into barrels for the Sanguis Virginis.”

“So it’s not just ‘maidens blood’ in the wine? It’s anyones?”

“Precisely. Decades ago it was only the blood of virgin women because it was said to be more pure, but that was a fallacy. Your blood does not in fact change in any way after the loss of virginity.” She says and smirks down at you.

“Well thank god. I would have been screwed if that were the case.” You joke.

Alcina laughs and kisses you on the head. Placing a finger underneath your chin, she lifts your gaze to meet hers. “Even if it were the case, I was not letting you anywhere near the dungeon. I had much better plans for you, my dear.” She says before leaning down and placing a kiss on your lips.

“Well that’s good.” You say after your lips part. “Anything else about down there?”

“Yes, there is one more thing. I believe I’ve told you of the Moroaică, the maidens that turn after receiving the cadou? They live in the dungeons and distillery. But they will not come near you, especially if the girls or myself are accompanying you. Usually when we are around they migrate to different areas of the basement,”

“What if you’re not with me?”

“You should smell enough like us for them to leave you alone, but still I would prefer if you didn’t venture down there alone.”

“I don’t think I want to, honestly.”

“Good.” She says with a smile. “What other questions do you have?”

“Well I’m guessing one of the secrets you were keeping from me was the dragon, right?”

“Yes, that was certainly one of the bigger ones.”

“Will you ever show me its full form?”

“Not until I am certain I can control it without harming you. It is massive and it is difficult enough to control just when I am partially transformed, when I am fully transformed it’s even more difficult. I don’t want to risk it - I can’t.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to if you don’t feel comfortable. I just want you to know that no matter what it looks like, it’s not going to scare me away.”

‘It’s quite horrid.”

“You’re about to show me a fully-functioning torture room. I can’t imagine the dragon is that much worse.”

“I don’t know about that draga mea. But thank you for always reassuring me anyway.”

“Of course, it’s part of my job.” You say as you lean your head against her. “Oh!” You say, popping back up. “I remember what I wanted to ask you a few weeks ago. You had said that Mother Miranda wasn’t the only thing you were afraid of, what else is there?”

“That I feel is best if I show you.”

“Okay.” You say with an unsure tone in your voice.

“Don’t fret, it’s not a creature or something that can hurt you. Well, it can, but it's more of a weapon.”

“There’s a weapon that can hurt you?”

“Yes. I will explain everything when I show you. But first, let's see if the girls have cleaned up the basement. There is something in one of the rooms I need to get before I show you what it is I’m truly afraid of, anyway.”

You nod and Alcina calls for the girls. Bela and Daniela arrive in a swarm and emerge in front of the both of you.

“How are things in the dungeon?”

“Not as bad as I would have thought.” Bela says.

“Cass went on a cleaning rampage but then caught a maid trying to sneak into her bedroom so you wouldn’t have known she cleaned down there.”

Alcina shakes her head. “They never learn, do they?”

“Well that one certainly isn’t going to do that ever again.” Bela says.

“Or anything ever again for that matter.” Daniela adds.

“Thank you girls, I appreciate your help.”

“Of course, Mamă.” Daniela says before kissing Alcina on the cheek.

“Anytime, mother.” Bela says, kissing Alcina on her other cheek.

The girls swarm off and Alcina stands up and you follow her inside. She leads you to a door you’re unfamiliar with and unlocks it. Immediately the musty smell hits you and your anxiety starts to kick in.

“Quiet your heart, draga. I will be with you the entire time, there is nothing to fear.” She kneels down to your height and runs her gloved fingers through your hair. “I won’t leave your side, or let go of your hand the entire time we’re down there if you don’t want me to, okay? And I promise I won’t leave you in here.” She says with a smirk.

“Okay.” You say. She nods and leans in and kisses you before standing back up.

“Pull the door closed behind you, please. The last thing I need is for a Moroaică to get loose in my castle. I will lead the way down.” You nod at her and she starts to descend the stairs. Closing the door behind you, you follow Alcina down the spiral steps into the basement.

“These stairs will lead us down to where the storage rooms are, I will lead you through the safer areas first before taking you to the dungeon and distillery.”

The winding staircase is dark despite the torches that line the walls. The lower you descend, the cooler and damper the air around you gets. Finally reaching the bottom of the stairs, Alcina reaches out her hand and you take it in yours as you climb down the last few steps. She takes you through some of the storage rooms. Where extra dried goods and spices are kept for the kitchen, where extra fabrics are stored for the seamstress that takes care of the maids' uniforms. As you walk further into the basement you notice just how damp and gross it is.

“I apologize for the environment. The full basement is nearly the size of the castle and it is impossible to keep every area dry.”

“It’s okay, I get it.”

Walking up to a wooden door, Alcina knocks before opening it.

“Cassandra? Are you in here?”

“What do you want?” An aggravated voice calls from somewhere in the room.

Alcina’s eyes fill with sadness and she closes them before taking a breath and grounding herself.

“I am showing Y/N the dungeon and distillery. May we come in?”

“Whatever.”

She nods at you to follow her and she ducks through the door. The second you enter the room you’re hit in the face with the smell of blood and death. It’s a horrible smell and you instinctively cover your mouth and nose.

“I’m sorry, I forgot how unpleasant the smell can be.”

“It’s okay.”

“This is the dungeon.”

Looking around, you see cells lining the brick walls. The iron bars are rusted and some are jagged. As you walk closer it looks like there are slash marks against the cells and you examine them for a moment.

“The Moroaică don’t have the best eyesight, but they have a phenomenal sense of hearing and smell. When they smell people in the cells they try to attack the cages with their swords and sickles. Obviously, they don’t do nearly enough damage to break in but they do a wonderful job at keeping the prisoners in line and frightened. They also act as a deterrent so whoever is in the cells think twice about trying to escape.” She says as she walks past a cell and stops and stares into it. “Isn’t that right?” She asks into the cell and a wicked smile crosses her face.

Walking up to the cell you see a maid cowering in the corner. She must have been down here for weeks. Her dress and skin are filthy and she’s covered in cuts, bite marks and blood.

“Y-y-yes, m-m-mistress.” She stammers as she trembles.

“Now, now,  what have you done to land yourself here, little one?” Alcina asks in almost a sweet voice but the edge she has makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

“I-I accidentally made the bath water too c-cold for Miss Daniela. It was an accident, I swear. B-but Miss Daniela was angry - a-as she s-should be. I-I know the cold c-can be painful for the l-l-ladies of the castle. S-so she b-brought me down here. She said i-if s-she can’t enjoy a bath, neither can I. I-I fully a-accept my punishment, m-my Lady. I-I am at the mercy of y-you and y-your daughters.”

Alcina stares at the girl for a moment before tilting her head at her.

“Pity.” She says as she shrugs her shoulders and continues her tour.

Looking back at the girl once more, you can see the fear in her eyes. She’s been down here for a very long time. It’s not often that maids who are kept down in the dungeon for a long period of time like that are ever let out. At first you were surprised that Daniela had brought the girl down to the dungeon for something so small but then again when you first met her, she was almost too eager to take a bite out of you. So maybe it wasn’t that surprising at all. She’s pretty sadistic, not as sadistic as Cassandra, but still.

Alcina stops in front of one of the open cells and you hear something inside of it. When you look in you see Cassandra cleaning what looks like a medieval torture device. It was a large plank of wood with metal spikes sticking out of it. There were five leather straps hanging from it, you could only imagine that their purpose was for keeping the head, arms and legs of whatever unfortunate soul that was strapped to that still.

The sight made your stomach churn as you looked around the cell. There were buckets of gore and blood scattered about, one was knocked over and whatever spilled out of it was some kind of internal organ you couldn’t pinpoint. Alcina puts her arm around your shoulder to reassure you and you lean into her a little.

“What are you doing, bug?” She asks Cassandra.

“I’m not talking to you.” She says.

“Cassandra-”

“Just finish giving her the tour and leave.”

Alcina sighs and you can tell she feels defeated. It’s been a week since the meeting and Cassandra is still angry at her. You understand why she was angry, but her anger is misplaced.

“Come, draga. Let's continue.” Alcina says, gently tugging at your hand.

Alcina ducks through another door and the smell of blood only gets stronger. Right away you notice multiple, things, wrapped in tarps hanging from the ceiling. You can only imagine what was wrapped in them given what Alcina had said earlier and because there were gigantic barrels of blood underneath each strung-up tarp.

“This is the distillery. I’m sure you can imagine what goes on in here.”

As she walks further into the room you hear a moan and turn around to see something walking out of the shadows in the corner. Freezing, you watch as the creature comes into the light. It’s scraggly with gray-purple skin. It was covered in scraps of cloth and a hood. A Moroaicǎ. Its head turns towards you and it hisses. Inside its mouth you see rotted teeth and it begins to limp in your direction. The Moroaicǎ is dragging a massive sword behind it. As it walks closer it begins to raise its sword as if it’s going to attack you. You feel your nerves picking up and you think to yourself “it won’t hurt me. Alcina said it won’t.”  It gets closer and closer and it looks like it’s about to swing.

Alcina growls and you hear her claws unsheath before she steps in front of you and slashes at it. The Moroaicǎ falls to the floor into pieces.

“Absolutely useless.” She mumbles. “I apologize draga, they are not supposed to come after you but not all of them are as intelligent. This is precisely why I don’t want you coming down here by yourself.”

“That thing is terrifying.”

“They are rather unpleasant. But they are good guards. That is what happens when the maids don’t react well with the cadou but don’t outright die.”

“So if I got it and didn’t react well…”

Alcina sighs and places her arm on your shoulder.

“Yes. You could turn into that. Or worse.”

“What’s worse?”

“It doesn’t happen often, but the cadou can cause maids to uncontrollably mutate. The ones that are unfortunate enough to experience that are quickly euthanized.”

Alcina brings you around the distillery for a little longer before you’ve seen enough and ask to head back. Making your way back to the dungeon, Cassandra is mopping the blood-stained floor. As you walk past, Cassandra looks up and sees the scar on your neck and her eyes grow wide.

“Where are we going next?” You ask Alcina.

“I need to grab something from one of the nearby rooms, the Room of Sorrow.”

“Room of Sorrow?”

“Yes, there’s something I have to get in there before I take you to our next stop.”

“Okay, can I stay here and talk to Cass?”

“Of course, draga.” She says, cupping your face with her hand. “Cassandra, can you please lead her back upstairs?”

“Whatever.”

Alcina nods at you and walks out. You take a seat on one of the stools near Cassandra as she mops.

“What do you want?” She asks.

“I wanted to see how you are. I heard you haven’t been to a meal all week.”

“So what?”

“I just wanted to see if you’re okay.”

“Peachy.”

“Cass.”

“What? Why do you even care?”

“Because I care about you, stupid! What’s going on? Why are you giving your mom the third degree?”

“Because she almost killed you! I can’t believe you’re walking around with her as if she didn’t almost fucking kill you a week ago.”

“Cass, it wasn’t her fault.”

“Bullshit.”

“It really wasn’t. She’s not in control when she’s in that state. She told me that she was screaming, trying to get the dragon to stop but she couldn’t do anything. It wouldn’t stop.”

“I don’t believe that she can’t control it and I don’t believe that she can’t say no to Mother Miranda.”

“Why? What makes you so sure that she’s doing all of this on purpose?”

“Because I can control my flies, I can say no to Mother Miranda. If I can there’s no reason she can’t!”

“Cass, I don’t think any of it works like that. Her dragon and your flies are so different. You’ve seen her wings, according to her that’s not even a quarter of her full transformation. Your flies are a part of you, your mother’s dragon is an entirely different being that coexists within her. And the relationship between you and Miranda is so much different than your mom and Miranda. Miranda saved your moms life. You know she was dying before she met Miranda, right? That she promised her eternal life, power and beauty?”

“Yeah, and Miranda fucking lied to her and she still went along with it.”

“She didn’t have a choice! Miranda put a cognition control device into her once she realized your mom didn’t immediately die.”

“What?”

“She never told you?”

“No?”

“Oh, shit. I didn’t know she never told you. Please don’t repeat this, but yes. She did. When your mom first turned it was really hard for her to disobey Miranda’s control. But luckily your mother retained enough of her own cognition so after some time she was able to control how much influence Miranda really had over her. But in the beginning it was really difficult.”

“So she shouldn’t have an excuse now!”

“That’s not how that works and you know it. Listen, yes, your mother can disobey the influence Miranda has over her, but that doesn’t mean she can tell her to go to hell. She’s still a Lord of the village and Miranda still has full control of it. Even though she doesn’t want to, she still has to obey her to a certain extent.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“But it’s reality. She can’t, and I think deep down you know she can’t but you don’t want to imagine Miranda having that much control over your mother. And listen, I get it. I hate it that she does. And yes, I’m sure your mom was blind to a lot of the abuse Miranda subjected her to, hell she still might be, but I think now she’s seeing more clearly than ever. You just need to be patient Cass. Give her some slack, she’s trying. And it’s really upsetting her that you haven’t spoken to her or been at dinner.”

“She told you that?”

“She didn’t have to. Just look at her when you speak to her the way you have been, it’s breaking her heart. She doesn’t want to push you because you’re not as forthcoming with your emotions as Dani is, but she loves you and it’s making her sad.”

Cass looks down at her feet and you can tell that it upset her knowing that she was the cause of her mother’s sadness.

“I didn’t want to make her sad.”

“I know. But you need to give her more slack. I get that you’re angry about what happened at the meeting but she really wasn’t in control. Miranda coaxed the dragon out to take control because Miranda wanted your mom to kill me in her arms while she knew your mother was helpless and couldn’t do anything to stop it. She wanted your mom to watch me die as her dragon killed me. It was Miranda’s fault, not your moms. And it really upset and pissed your mom off that Miranda did that. She’s not as happy and smitten with her as you think, Cass. Your mom is sick of Miranda. But you said it yourself, Miranda is strong, crazy strong, so your mom can’t just go after her. She has to be careful and strategic.”

“Miranda really wanted to torture mother that badly? To make the dragon kill you in mother’s arms so mother couldn’t do anything about it?”

“Yes.”

“She’s fucking evil.”

“She definitely is. But you understand, at least more now, right? That it wasn’t all your moms fault? She really did try to save me and I was able to get the dragon to stop.”

“How? How did you get it to stop?”

“I remembered you said that blood tastes sweeter when the person you’re feeding from is frightened, so I relaxed and gently asked it to stop. I had no idea if it was going to work but I got lucky. According to your mother, the dragon only ever responded to Miranda before. But when it noticed what it did to me, it rejected Miranda. It growled and snarled at her and protected me from her.”

“Did it really?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. Mom doesn’t talk much about her dragon, she fucking hates it honestly.”

“I know, and I’m working on getting her to be kinder to it. It’s going to take some time, but I think it’s possible.”

“You’re fucking insane.”

“Probably. So, are you still angry with your mom?”

“Not as much, I didn’t realize Miranda brainwashed her for so long. I’m still mad that it happened, but I guess I’m not as mad at mom anymore.”

“Well, that’s a good start. Wanna head back upstairs? I can’t go by myself, one of the Moroaicǎ tried to come after me in the distillery so your mom really doesn't want me walking around here alone.”

Cassandra shakes her head and chuckles. “Man, they are the dumbest creatures. They’re worse than lycans.”

“I believe it.” You say with a laugh.

Cassandra leads you through the basement and up a different set of stairs than the ones you and Alcina came down. When she opens the door, you realize you’re near the main hall.

“I’m in here, girls.” You hear Alcina call from the main hall.

You and Cassandra walk into the hall to find Alcina sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine in her hand.

Cassandra sits next to her mother and leans her head on her arm. Alcina looks down at her daughter with a warm smile on her face.

“I’m sorry mom.” Cassandra mumbles.

“It’s alright, draga mea. Just please, next time you’re upset, please come and speak with me. Okay?”

“I will. I promise. Te iubesc, mamă.”

(I love you, mom.)

“Și eu te iubesc, fiica mea.” Alcina says as she wraps her arm around Cassandra and kisses her on the head.

(I love you too, my daughter.)

The two of them sit like that for a minute before Cassandra wiggles out of her mothers grasp. She kisses her on the cheek and swarms back down into the basement. Alcina watches Cassandra until she’s out of sight and her gaze lingers there for a few more moments. Her eyes shift towards you and she smiles.

“I don’t know how you do it, draga mea. No one has ever been able to get through to her the way you are able to.”

“I don’t know, I just talk to her. I meet her where she’s at and try not to push her too much.She’s a good kid. She’s so fiercely protective of you Alcina. She loves you so much.” You say as you sit next to her.

“I know, I know.” Alcina says with a sigh as she wraps her around you and kisses you on the top of your head. She sighs into you and you cuddle into her. When you open your eyes, you see masks sitting on the end table next to the couch.

“What are those?”

“Ah,” Alcina says, reaching for the masks. “These are the keys to get into the Tower of Worship.”

“The Tower of Worship?”

“Yes, there’s something in there I want to show you. Shall we?”

“Sure!”

Alcina stands up and leads you through a set of double doors and you enter the Hall of Four. She walks around the faceless statues, placing a mask on each one. When she places the last mask on the final statue you hear gears turning and the door behind the statues swings open. Alcina takes your hand in hers and the two of you walk through the short hall and through the second door.

The second set of doors opens up to the outside, a large stone bridge leading to a set of stairs that takes you up to what you can only assume is the Tower of Worship. The view from the bridge is stunning. On either side you can see the vast, mountainous Romanian landscape. Walking up to the ledge, you take in your surroundings with Alcina at your side. The two of you sit in a comfortable silence as you admire the scenery around you.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s absolutely stunning.”

“One day I will show you the view from the castle roof. If you think this is beautiful, that will truly take your breath away.” She says before smiling down at you.

“I’d love to see it.” You say as you smile back up at her.

“Then it shall be done. Come, my love. We mustn't dawdle any longer.”

You give her a nod and walk with Alcina up the stairs. When the two of you reach the top she opens the doors to the tower and you walk in. The inside of the Tower of Worship looks like what was once a small church, now abandoned. The pews are scattered and covered in a thick layer of dust. The altar is pushed to the side and the stained glass windows are filthy but the sunlight still manages to peek through the dirt. In the back of the room against the three main window’s sits a coffin.

The closer the two of you get to the coffin, the tighter Alcina holds your hand. She’s nervous in a way you’ve never seen before, it’s like she grows more frightened with each step you take.

When you finally get up to it you notice the Dimitrescu coat of arms decorating the lid. Alcina traces her fingers over the emblem before taking a deep breath and looking down at you.

“Who’s in there?” You ask.

“I don’t know his name, truthfully, I never cared to learn it. But this man entered the castle decades ago with a weapon, the only weapon of its kind and the only weapon that could really hurt or kill me. It was his goal, like many others before and after him, to rid the village and the world of a monster like me.”

“What was the weapon?”

Alcina looks down at the coffin and her breath shakes. In one swift motion she turns the lid of the stone coffin, revealing a rotting corpse inside. The smell of rotting flesh immediately hits you and you turn away for a second, trying to waft the rancid scent away. When you turned back you noticed that Alcina had taken a few steps back, as if she’s afraid to get too close to it. Looking down into the coffin, you see the corpse clutching a curved dagger.

“It’s called the Dagger of Death’s Flowers.” She says behind you. “It was forged in the Middle Ages, roughly a thousand years ago. It’s said the dagger has been infused with poisons and toxins found throughout Europe. It was created to kill monsters and demons like myself.”

You look down at the dagger in awe and caution, you don’t dare to reach out and touch it. Leaning over the coffin, you try and get a closer look at it.

“Is that, is that your coat of arms on the hilt?”

“Yes. I believe each symbol carved into it belongs to each demon or monster that was killed by the dagger. This man, the one who tried to kill me with it, engraved the Dimitrescu coat of arms prematurely.”

“Is it true? The rumors that it was laced with poison?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I was stupid and curious and pricked my finger with the tip of the blade after I killed the man. The pain that spread through my body felt like lightning. It was the worst pain I had ever felt in my entire life, only second to when Miranda implanted the cadou inside of me. And the blade just barely pierced my skin. If I were to be stabbed with it I cannot imagine what would happen.”

“Why do you still have it? Why didn’t you destroy it?”

“Because it is still a threat to me. I wasn’t able to destroy it without interacting with it in some way and just pressing the blade against my skin without piercing it is incredibly painful. I couldn’t hide it in the mountain or throw it away without risking someone else finding it and using it against me. So I locked it up in here, with the man both brave and ignorant enough to think he was able to use it against me.”

“Who else knows about its existence?”

“Only myself, the girls, Mother Miranda and the Duke, I believe.”

“The Duke?” You ask, turning to face her.

“Yes.”

“Who is that?”

“Oh, that’s right. He was here when you,” Alcina pauses and looks to the side before looking back at you with guilt in her eyes. “A few weeks ago.”

“When I locked myself in my room?”

“Precisely. He is a merchant, one of the, if not the best, that comes through town every few weeks. He’s actually due for a visit soon. Anyway,” she says, shaking her head. “The dagger is what I am truly afraid of. May I close it up?”

“Oh, yeah, definitely.”

Alcina strides towards the casket and slides the lid back into place. She makes it look effortless but you know if you tried to move that by yourself there’s a good chance you wouldn’t even be able to get it to budge.

“So what would happen if you were to actually get stabbed with it? Would it instantly kill you?”

“I don’t believe so. But it will halt my regeneration abilities, making me susceptible to any attacks. When I pricked my finger with the tip of it it took days for my regeneration abilities to return to normal. They didn’t cease, but they were significantly slowed. It also affected my ability to control the dragon inside of me. The dagger not only hurt myself but hurt it as well and I felt it thrashing against its cage trying to get out. I needed a significant amount of blood to restore myself. If I were to be penetrated with the full blade, or perhaps even half of it, it would be devastating to me and render me extremely vulnerable.”

“So if your regeneration abilities stopped, you could die?”

“Exactly. Essentially, the reason for my immortality is my regeneration abilities. If it was stopped or hindered in any way, I could die from an attack. I would still be able to take more damage than an average human would due to my size, but yes, enough stab wounds, gunshots or other attacks could certainly kill me.”

A shiver runs up your spine and you shake it off. You hate the fact that Alcina isn’t as immortal as you really thought. It terrifies you knowing that something so simple could be her downfall.

“I hate that that thing exists.” You say as you look away from the casket.

“So do I, draga. But it is locked away and is safe.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I promise.” She says, running her gloved fingers through your hair. “Some have tried to get the dagger but only one person out of the near dozen was able to collect just one of the masks to unlock the door before being caught.” She tucks a strand behind your ear and cups your face, guiding it up towards her.

“Okay.”

Alcina smiles and bends down to your level. 

“It is locked away and I am safe from it, iubirea mea.”

With your face still in your hand, she pulls you in for a kiss. The moment your lips meet hers all of the anxiety you had melts away. Sighing into her touch, you wrap your arms around her neck and deepen the kiss. Her tongue brushes across your lips and you part them, allowing her entrance into your mouth. As your tongues intertwine a small moan emerges from the back of your throat and into her mouth. Alcina lowers herself to the ground more so both of her knees are on the stone floor. With her free hand she pulls at the back of your leg and you follow her lead, wrapping your legs around her waist. Her hand leaves your leg and cups your ass, holding you tightly against her.

The kiss grows more passionate, more intense and Alcina bites down on your bottom lip. She doesn’t draw blood but you still let out a moan as she pulls your lip between her teeth. You dive back into the kiss, tangling your fingers into her hair and you give the hair on the back of her head a small pull. Alcina growls into your mouth and she tightens her grip on you.

The two of you break apart to catch your breath and your lips trail down her jaw and to her neck. You start kissing and sucking the column of her neck, biting down at her pulse point. To your pleasant surprise, Alcina lets out a moan when you do that and you continue to suck and kiss at the spot.

Alcina throws her head back as you mark up her neck, she can feel her chest heaving and an ache in her core begins to grow. When you bite down on her pulse point again she lets out a louder moan and her eyes roll into the back of her head. She’s about to push you to the ground and take you here and now until she opens her eyes and remembers the two of you are still in the Tower of Worship. Rolling her eyes, she lifts her head and cups your face, guiding you away from her neck to face her.

You follow Alcina’s hands as they guide you back up and your kiss-swollen lips meet hers once more. This kiss was softer, still passionate, but less intense. She pulls away a bit but stays close enough where her lips are still brushing against your as she speaks.

“I would want nothing more than to take you right here on this floor, draga mea. However I feel this tower is less than ideal to do so in.”

You didn’t even realize you were clenching around nothing until this minute. You can feel the wetness in between your legs and you too would want nothing more than to have her fuck you here and now, but she’s right. You nod your head in agreement and Alcina takes in a breath through her nose and slowly exhales. Her warm breath on your face is soothing but also just makes you want her more.

“Mmm, you smell delightful iubirea mea.” She whispers.

You smile in response and rub your nose against hers. She rests her forehead against yours and the two of you sit in a comfortable silence for a minute, just enjoying being in each other's arms.

“I missed you.” You whisper, breaking the silence.

“I missed you so much, iubirea mea. I am so sorry you keep getting hurt and we keep losing time together. I will make it up to you, I promise.”

“It’s not your fault, Alcina. It’s okay. But I would love to spend some time with you.” You say.

With one last kiss the two of you part and stare into each other’s eyes. Her gold irises are sparkling in the afternoon sun as if they were made with glitter. What you wouldn’t give to be able to spend the rest of your life looking into them.

Alcina bites her bottom lip and looks away. She has a bashful look on her face and you can’t help but chuckle.

“What?”

She doesn’t look up at you as she chews on her bottom lip for a moment. You can see the wheels turning in her head. She releases her lip from her teeth and she takes a breath before adjusting her posture and sitting up straight. Her eyes meet yours once more. There’s a vulnerable look in her eyes that you don’t get to see all that often but it makes your heart melt every time.

“Would you,” she begins to say before her eyes flicker down and back up to yours. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

The small smile you were sporting grows into a full grin.

“I would love to.”

Alcina releases a breath as if she was relieved and smiles back at you. You don’t dare to point it out, even though you want to. It’s not easy for her to be vulnerable with you and you know how hard it can be, even still, for her to express her vulnerability. If anything, you find it absolutely adorable that she thought for even a second you would say no. There’s a part of you that worries that maybe she doubted it because you haven’t shown her enough love, but the more realistic side of you knows she’s just traumatized from her past and hasn’t done something like this - and wasn’t rejected by someone - in a long, long time.

“Wonderful. I shall plan a lovely evening for us.”

“I am very excited. Have we been on a proper date before?”

Alcina thinks for a moment before furrowing her brows and tilting her head.

“Truthfully, draga. I’m not sure. But whatever happened, or didn’t happen then, was then. This date will mark a new chapter of our newly rekindled love.”

“That sounds perfect.” You say before kissing her.

When the kiss ends she lets go of you and your feet slide back down to the ground. Alcina stands up, brushes off her dress and reaches out for your hand. Taking her large hand in yours, the two of you walk out of the Tower of Worship and back into the castle.

Alcina closes the doors and begins to remove the masks from the statues.

“So when are we going to go on this date?” You ask.

“Hm, well, I would like some time to plan something perfect, which shouldn’t take very long. And tomorrow night I have to go out and search for the hunters. I’ve put it off for long enough and it cannot wait any longer.”

A knot forms in the pit of your stomach and Alcina notices the worried look plastered across your face.

“Do not fret, draga mea. I will not engage with any hunters I come across unless I absolutely have to.”

“What if they have weapons that are made of the same thing as that dagger?”

“Oh, iubirea mea.” She says before walking over to you and bending down to your height. “I promise you, that dagger is the only one of its kind in existence. If it weren’t, nearly every intruder who has come here to try and kill me would have one.” She cups your face and caresses your cheek with her thumb. “I promise, none of their weapons can harm me. Even if a grenade were to go off in my hands, it would certainly hurt and do damage, but not nearly enough to stop me. Please don’t fret about it.”

“Okay.” You say as you nod your head.

Alcina kisses your forehead and stands back up. She walks over to the final statue and removes the mask. You can hear the gears shift in the door behind you and after a few seconds you hear it lock.

“So how about two nights from now?”

“Sure, that would be perfect. As long as you’re okay with doing it the night after you go out.”

“That will not be an issue, iubirea mea. Then it’s set. Two nights from now you and I will go on a date.”

“I’m excited to see what you come up with.”

“I have a few ideas I believe you will be more than pleased with.” She says with a smirk and a wink. “I am going to return the masks to their places. I believe lunch will be served soon, I should be back by the time the bells ring.”

“Okay!”

“Te iubesc.” She whispers before bending down to kiss you.

“I love you too.” You whisper back.

“Now please try and keep yourself out of trouble while I’m gone.” She says, shooting you a wink as she walks away.

“I make no promises.” You quip.

Alcina playfully rolls her eyes and tries her best to hide the smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.

Not long after the lunch bell rings. You make your way into the dining room and are met by two swarms. Bela and Daniela appear and sit in their seats. Looking over at Cassandra’s empty chair, you can’t help but feel your heart sink a little. Maybe you didn’t get through to her as much as you thought you did after all.

A minute later Alcina ducks through the door and greets you and the girls. She sees Cassandra’s empty chair and you see a sadness glaze over her eyes before she masks it. Alcina sits in her chair and elegantly places her napkin over her lap. She takes a sip of her wine and just as she’s about to speak, the doors open and a swarm of flies enters the dining room.

Cassandra emerges from it and takes her seat. You look over at Alcina and you see her eyes light up with happiness. Bela and Daniela also have smiles on their faces when they see their sister enter the dining room. For the first time in a while, your whole family is together again. Your heart feels so full it might burst.

“Sorry I’m late, the bells are hard to hear in the dungeon.” Cassandra says.

“It’s alright, draga, no need to fret.” Alcina says with a smile.

Lunch is served and all of you dig into your meals. Bela, Cassandra and Daniela laugh and joke and bother each other as they usually do. Alcina halfheartedly scolds them while trying to hide her smile or her laughter behind her drink. It was the first family meal in a long time where everything finally felt normal and you couldn’t be more grateful for it.

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Searching for a Rainbow

Author: thefastestqueeralive

Artist: morla

Rating: Mature

Pairings: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy, Claire Novak/Kaia Niaves, Jody Mills/Donna Hanscum

Length: 20000

Warnings: No warnings applicable

Tags: Bar AU, Bartender Dean, Depressed Castiel, Dad Castiel, Hurt/comfort, Office sex

Posting Date: October 23, 2024

Summary: Dean Winchester runs a cosy pub in Lebanon, Kansas that welcomes any and every sort of patron. He’s good at his job, he knows he is, and Dean prides himself on how he’s built this bar from the ground up, turning it into the successful business it is. One that can support not only himself but enables him to send money back home to his father to aide in paying the bills. Castiel Novak, looking for a new place to drown his recent sorrows, stumbles in one night and catches the eye of the handsome and charming bartender. When the blonde barkeep won’t take no for an answer, Cass has no choice but to accept the offer of a shoulder to cry on, an audience of one to listen to his pity party. Dean discovers he never needed to fear how his family would react to news that could alter one’s perception of his character. He is presented with opportunities to grow and occasions to celebrate, but before he can fully enjoy himself, he has to accept his truth. He leans on friends before family while he struggles to come to terms with who he truly is, but after he succeeds, Dean is rewarded richly with happy days on the horizon. Castiel learns how to grieve, how to accept loss, how to open himself up to new possibilities and learn to share his life and his love. He is thrust into a life changing situation, one where he is suddenly a parental figure with no prior experience in the field, and worst of all he has to deal with teenage mood swings right off the bat—no cute gurgling and baby babble to soften the coming blows. Set in the perspective of the homely tavern, Rocky’s Bar, witness two grown men and their vast (and complicated) families support one another through good and bad, thick and thin.

Excerpt: “Got this great IPA from Austin—Cosmic Cowboy. You’re gonna love it.” Castiel hears the bartender say when he steps inside. The man listens to the conversation between barkeep and patron as he drips his way over to the bar, footsteps heavy. When he sits himself on the endmost red stained leather stool, the sodden length of his trench coat slaps wetly against the wooden legs of the seating. Castiel grimaces at the noise, heard only by himself beneath the hum of chatter in the public house. The bartender, who’d introduced himself as Dean a few nights back, focuses his attention on Castiel now. “Hey again! What can I getcha?” The man’s chirpy demeanour grates somewhat on Castiel, who silently nods toward the tap in front of him. He’s been coming to this same bar for the past week straight now, ordering the same on tap lager; coincidentally the very one Dean was just selling to his previous patron. Alcohol isn’t a healthy coping mechanism, Castiel knows. It’s just… He’s having a hard time as of late, and this seemed the least destructive way to deal with his problems—at least in the short run. It’s merely something he’s using to help him through some recent issues and then he’ll go back to being a very casual drinker. In his defence, it’s not like he’s getting completely and utterly shitfaced every night—just enough to feel lighter, to feel the weight leave his shoulders and allow him a deep enough sleep that he won’t have nightmares. Castiel doesn’t know how to deal with loss, how to cope with the newly gaping hole in his chest. A few beers a night seemed the easiest and cheapest solution to forgetting his sadness; he worries if Social Services found out he was attending therapy or counselling that they wouldn’t see him fit for the role of parental figure/guardian. A glass slides its way in front of the rain soaked man, snapping him from his musings. “Penny for your thoughts?” comes Dean’s perky voice once more.

DCBB 2024 Posting Schedule

[veryace-ficrecs]

Duke Thomas Fic Recs

This list will include all ratings and tags, so read at your own discretion! :)

Stuck-On Sunshine by zodarii_dae - Rated G

The Signal tends to interact with kids a bit more than his nocturnal coworkers. Even in Gotham, there are more kids out at two pm than two am. Those kids want to show their appreciation for the hero keeping them safe. What better way to show that than with stickers?

A Special Expection? No, A Son by Raccoonwriter - Rated T

Duke was excited to meet the Justice League until they start to ask and talk about things Duke didn't want to here.

breathing down your neck by Batbirdies - Rated G

Duke gets sick on Friday. Joker breaks out of Arkham on Saturday. It’s radio silence, until it’s not. — When Duke is benched with the flu the Joker attacks a small Gotham neighborhood with Joker venom. Duke knows he’s not well enough to help, but with stinging memories of his parents still trapped in their own heads—he has to do something. Bruce has a few things to say about that.

Frightening, But Not Afraid by snackbaskets - Rated G

When the family is hit by a new strain of fear toxin, safety is in numbers. Unfortunately, three members of the flock are still out there, afraid and alone. Bruce may not be the best at comforting his children, but apparently, he can let his wings do the talking. ((aka, the classic fear toxin hurt/comfort but with a splash of the classic wings-make-u-feel-safe hurt/comfort))

birds and brothers and other assorted synonyms by hoebiwan - Rated T

Duke isn’t an idiot. He knows it’s a bad idea to go into the underground tunnels of Gotham where people disappear for years on end and occasionally (if they’re lucky) stumble out coated in cobwebs and madness and blood. So he takes a flashlight and a water bottle and a bag of trail mix and lots and lots of beef jerky whenever he goes. If he ends up trapped down there, wandering in hopeless circles (which Duke thinks is important to note having never happened), at least he’ll have food. Also, the weird little kid dressed up like a miniature Talon likes the M&M’s in Duke’s trail mix.

the scientific method by orphan_account - Rated G

5 stupid ways Duke's siblings discovered how his powers worked, and 1 time he figured it out for himself.

"You have no idea," Dick said. "I had to live through all of their teenage years. They were each independently obsessed with Mythbusters at separate points in their life. I'm pretty sure Cass and Tim have wanted a meta to experiment on since they were 14, but Bruce always said no."

Duke Thomas Hates Bullies by Gemini_00 - Not Rated

Everyone loves that Duke Thomas isn't like all those other crazy Waynes. Everyone loves that the Signal isn't trying to get himself killed. Duke may not see Bruce as his dad, but he is definitely part of the bat family. and nobody is going to bully his family. Or, Duke Thomas Kicks Ass.

Keep Your Head, Your Backbone, and Your Heart by MrMich - Rated T

The last thing that Duke expected on what was supposed to be just a regular patrol was being suddenly thrown five years into the past, coming face to face with a darker, more violent Batman than the one he knew, a broken family, and a Tim who was a foot shorter than Duke, and not even Robin yet.

A silent shadow flitted past him, just barely visible on the cave walls. He went rigid, tracking the shadow in the corner of his vision. And then he dropped to the floor, just in time, as a familiar black gloved fist passed overhead. He just barely missed being hit by the punishing blow that would have landed right on his temple for a sure concussion if he hadn’t dodged. “Batman?” Duke yelled. He somersaulted forward, just barely avoiding another strike. “B, what are you doing?!” “Who are you,” came the growled response. A shiver crawled down Duke’s spine at the grim hostility in Batman’s voice that promised violence, and something tightened in the back of his throat.

WHEN EARTH FINDS STARS. by orpheusaki - Rated G

"Let it be known that I completely detest the implications of what this situation is mirroring," Red Hood grumbles to himself and it's the longest string of words Duke has heard from any so-called Gotham vigilante, let alone the one who's known for shooting more than he is talking. "The fuck?" Duke mutters, because if he's already going to die, he might as well try and make sense of it. "I'm not going to care about whatever sob story you have," is what Red Hood replies with instead of explaining, "Where are your parents?" "Gone," is all Duke says, because it's really none of this guy's business. It's also the truth. Somehow, Red Hood sounds even more anguished about this information than Duke is, "Ah shit." (Duke steals the tires off Red Hood's bike and somehow gains a family.)

Leadership by PepperSoniRoni - Rated G

Nightwing offers Signal a chance to lead a small group for a mission. Duke is wary, but accepts the challenge. He proves to be a rather great leader.

Takes place after Season Two of Young Justice, and ignores Season Three (I still haven’t seen it, unfortunately).

You Would Not Believe Your Eyes by Tiptapricot - Rated G

No metas are allowed in Gotham, so what does that mean for Duke?

Dayshift Shadow Work by IzzyMRDB - Rated G

So, when he realised one day once he looked down that he was missing his shadow, the first thing he checked was to make sure he wasn’t also glowing. Can’t have a shadow if you’re the light source after all. Nope, not glowing. Weird. AKA Duke's shadow works like Peter Pan's and immediately chooses violence

Runs in the Family by motleyfam - Rated G

Duke has a migraine and just wants a bit of peace. Tim understands this better than most.

The League of Assassins: An Indepth Exploration of the World's Most Prolific Group of Assassins by Hint_of_Elation - Rated T

Duke Thomas presents a documentary about the League of Assassins. Warning: Bruce Wayne did not approve this film.

Tequila by Sohotthateveryonedied - Rated T

Bruce steps into Duke’s path, blocking him from venturing further into the house. It takes a moment for Duke to register the new obstacle before him. His mouth drags into a lopsided grin. “Bruce! Wha’s—wassup? How’s your night goin’?” “You’re drunk," Bruce accuses. “Me? No way. No way. I would never do that.” Duke hiccups. “Totally sober.”

Who, Me? by Listentothelittlebird - Rated T

People thought Duke was the responsible one. People often forgot Duke ran with a gang. A gang named after Robin, sure, but a gang nonetheless.

bathtub cookie crumbs by ghostellie - Rated G

Duke finds him in a bathtub on the third floor. It’s an old fashioned thing, a clawfoot porcelain tub settled in an otherwise empty room in a far, abandoned corner of the manor, dusty despite Alfred’s best efforts. Tim’s seated at an awkward angle, sideways in the tub with his head rested on one edge and his knees slung over the other, fully clothed and half covered in dust. A pink box of sugar cookies, no doubt stolen from Jason’s stash, rests on his chest. He meets Duke’s eyes as he enters, shoveling a bat-shaped cookie in his mouth.

Duke Thomas VS The "Good Child" Stereotype by PepperSoniRoni - Rated T

5 Times Duke Tried To Prove To Bruce He Wasn't The Responsible One, and 1 Time His Siblings Knew Better (& used it to their advantage) Because Duke is relatively new, he hasn't opened up completely to the family. He tries to follow Bruce and Alfred's rules, but he doesn't always succeed (nor try to). It's during these times Bruce still manages to pin the blame on someone else. His siblings, of course, see this. And whatever are they supposed to think? Well, Duke's clearly doing it on purpose! (This is really just me being salty about fanon characterization, and an attempt to cram as much Crazy-Totally-Not-Sane-Duke as I can into a single fic)

that which you cannot bear by britishparty - Rated T

There is no backup for the Signal. Duke reminds himself of this regularly, like a prayer through gritted teeth: there's no one to catch him if he slips, to replace him if he stops. So the Signal can't give up. Just can't, like an immutable law, an undeniable truth. He has to win every fight. There isn't any other option. Duke Thomas makes himself invincible. Untouchable. Then he loses.

[starfall-spirit]

Precious Collateral

Read on Ao3 // Fic Masterlist // SJM Omegaverse Masterlist // Dark Feysand Masterlist

Summary: When Rhys set out to collect his dues from the head of the Archeron house, he knew the man would be begging for more time. What he didn’t expect was to be offered the youngest daughter as collateral.

After spending only a day in the temperamental woman’s company, he found himself utterly enthralled with his new guest—and with no intention of letting her father scrape together the funds that would grant her her freedom.

AN: This is going to be the darkest fic I've written so far. Definitely bringing in heavier themes than my CoN!Feysand fics have. The first chapter is short and free of any trigger warnings, but I want to give a list up front of what I have tagged so far on Ao3 for future chapters.

TW/CW: Rape/Non-Con, Underage, Extremely Dubious Consent, Non-Consensual Bondage, Spanking, Orgasm Denial, Dark!Rhys, Breeding Kink, Praise Kink, Dom/Sub Undertones, Power Imbalance, Daddy Kink

That said, enjoy the intro chapter!

Chapter I

Rhysand

“I have tried, I swear. Please, I have nothing to give. If I had more time…”

“I’ve given you time,” Rhys drawled, leaning back in the chair he was offered. “Months beyond the timeframe we agreed on, in fact. And still have nothing to show for it, Archeron. I believe I made the consequences of that quite clear during our original meeting.”

“Y-yes. You did. I haven’t forgotten. I only hoped if I offered you a new deal for the time being you may accept.” He kept his eyes cast down slightly, looking every bit the beta begging to keep his miserable life. “Please, I can not leave my wife and daughters with nothing.”

“One less mouth to feed. I’d say you’d be doing them a favor.”

The man swallowed hard. “My daughters,” he almost whispered. “You can have your pick. Keep one of them in your home until I can gather the money.”

Rhys just managed to catch his sneer, maintaining his mask worn for business matters such as this. One line he never crossed was trading in flesh. He hadn’t touched the trafficking circles so many of the other major players tangled themselves in and no one indebted to him had dared offer up their own child yet.

He would have laughed in the man’s face and put an end to the conversation if it wasn’t for the soft gasp outside the office door. His eyes slid in the direction of the sound before he jerked his head, a silent order to Cassian. “Let me go! You can’t—” The girl’s mouth snapped shut the moment her eyes met Rhys’. “I—”

“Well, well. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that eavesdropping is rude, pet?”

Though her fear practically radiated from her, his demand only made her raise her chin. What a little brat she was. And no wonder, he mused. The youngest Archeron was an omega. A rarity, coming from a beta mother and father. Her older sisters had been just as disappointing in that regard, even if the eldest had a mouth on her.

“It seems I was right to,” the girl snapped back. “If you’re here to tear our family apart.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer audacity. All that rage in such a tiny package. It was refreshing. “My, Abraham. Just where were you hiding this little gem when I visited you before?” Leaning down, he caught a whiff of her scent, the lilac and pear downright intoxicating, setting his alpha instincts reeling. The words to seal the deal with her father were out of his mouth before what remained of his morality could cut through the haze. “I’m going to enjoy training you, darling.”

She drew a deep breath, shuttering softly. Good, that she was just as affected by him. “You can’t do this,” she whispered.

“Can’t I, pet?” He didn’t let himself touch her, instead drawing back to his full height. “Cass, make sure she has a few things for the flight back. The rest can be provided when we’ve made it home.” Glancing back over his shoulder, he addressed her father one last time. “A pleasure doing business, Archeron.”

~~~~~

Feyre

“A hunger strike isn’t going to do you any favors, sweetheart.” She scowled, pushing the plate to the top of her tray before turning her attention back to the window. “And the cold shoulder isn’t going to earn you a ticket home.”

“Tell me what, exactly, Rhysand, would earn me some peace and quiet?” Cassian coughed sharply, clearly trying to cover his amusement. The man seated beside him—still nameless to her—just shook his head. As if Feyre was some bratty child they should never have dragged into this mess. If he was so easily convinced, perhaps his partners could be too, no matter how patient Rhysand seemed.

Turning to the window again, she tucked her knees to her chest. Where was she left now? She was seventeen, not even graduated, and being flown off to God knew where until her father could scrape together whatever the nut jobs needed to pay off the astronomical loan he’d wasted in a matter of a few weekends. Feyre had seen the ledgers. Even if her mother and older sisters refused to greet reality, she knew better.

Now she was stuck. Her family wouldn’t be able to beg or bargain for the kind of money they needed. If she was ever going to be free, she’d have to plot an escape herself.

She spent the rest of the flight studying the three men as subtly as possible. How they moved, spoke, and acted towards one another. The weapons they each carried, even in the safety of their own jet. But what bothered her most, if she was being honest, was the raw confidence each of them exuded. They knew their weapons, knew each other, and laid an unshakable trust in that. She wasn’t going to be able to turn one of Rhysand’s goons to her side. Not the top of his team, at least.

So she would wait. However long it would take, she would best them.

~~~~~

Rhysand

“What game are you playing, Rhys?” 

They were an hour from landing in Manhattan when Feyre finally drifted off, giving his brothers the freedom to truly interrogate him. “We don’t let innocents get tangled in business. It’s the one thing that puts us above the others.”

“I have no intention of selling her off, Cassian. She’s exactly what her father offered her as—collateral.”

“She’s a kid, Rhys.”

“She’s a minor for a few more months, yes, but hardly a child.”

His enforcer scowled. “So, what, December rolls around and you put her to work in the club?”

“No,” he snapped, frustrated with how obvious his investment in the girl was becoming. There was no reason he should be so against the suggestion. They paid the girls dancing in their night club, Velaris, more than most in their profession could dream of. Their clientele was vetted. Feyre would have been just fine if he threw her Mor’s way to train up for the club. “I don’t know yet. She’ll stay at the townhouse under my watch until I’ve decided. No arguments.”

“Rhys.” He met his spymaster’s eyes, loathing the hint of worry there. “Eyes on the prize?”

“Always, brother.”

~~~~~

Just going to use my Dark!Rhys taglist at the moment, but if the trigger warnings are too much please reach out so I can remove you from the taglist.

Taglist: @whatishowedyouinthedark // @ninthcircleofprythian // @sajirah // @acourtofladydeath // @lulling-night-sky // @edgyellie // @shallyne // @the-lonelybarricade // @darling-archeron // @goddess-aelin // @the-lost-changeling // @faeriequeensuriel // @pandavelaris // @s-uppertime // @elentiya-whitethorn // @acotar-fanns // @jealousveronya // @acourtofwips // @reverie-tales // @gwynkyrie // @corcracrow // @thelovelymadone // @rosanna-writer // @toporecall //@popjunkie42-blog

[nocasdatsgay]

From the Shadows, the Beast Will Rise CH. 6

Pairing: Azriel/Eris | Word Count: 2284 | Chapter Rating: T

Warnings: Discussion of what happened to Mor in Autumn

Previous Chapter | Masterpost | Read it Here on A03

Fic Summary: Months after that one encounter, Eris receives demand for a response to his summons to visit the Night Court. He ends up with a warning for the future and a certain shadow singer under his skin

Chapter Summary: Az tells Mor and Cassian. Eris gets his court in order

A/N: I am so sorry this took so long. Also discussion of Mor is done from Az’s POV. Her trauma is her trauma and not being negated. If Italics are missing cause I am tired. Will add links in a min.

Gen Tag List: @hieragalbatorixdottir @mybestfriendmademe

Azriel waited a week to tell Cassian. Even then, it wasn’t because he wanted to. They were in the training ring when it happened. Cassian knew something was wrong and when Az wouldn’t speak, Cass would push until he did. Azriel was thrown onto his ass and Cassian leaning above him. 

“I’m not moving until you talk, brother,” Cassian grinned, forearm pressed on Azriel’s chest so he couldn’t move. 

Azriel didn’t say anything. He stared past Cassian and into the blue skies above. His shadows refused to come to his aid. At least they were alone- Nesta and the others had long left the training ring. Cassian frowned down at him when the silence lapsed between them.

“Az. You know you can talk to me.” Somehow that didn’t reassure him. 

“You’re going to be angry,” he whispered. He still wouldn’t look him in the eyes. 

At that, Cassian moved off of him. He got to his feet and held out his hand to help Azriel up. Shadows curled up the corners of his wings where they hid from the sun. Cassian crossed his arms against his chest and Az decided to get it over with. 

“Erisismymate.” The words came out in a jumble, slurred together from his fear of speaking them aloud. When Cassian just stared, obviously confused, he sighed. “I said Eris is my mate.”

Az could see him stiffen, his body tense. When he dared to look Cassian’s shock was evident. He opened his mouth and closed it once. 

Az brushed his hair back. “I-“ Az swallowed his words, unsure of what else to say. “It snapped when he became high lord.” 

Cassian’s wings twitched as he seemed to relax his body. “So uh, does he know?” 

“Yes.”

Cassian nodded. “Do, you- fuck does Rhys know?” 

Az nodded. “I told him when I came back. I didn’t know how to tell you. I still don’t know how to tell Mor.”

“Do you even want the bond?” 

Yes, his mind screamed immediately but he clenched his jaw tight. He took a deep breath, and looked over at Cassian again. 

“I think- I think we should get Nesta and then I’ll explain.” 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Telling Nesta was somehow harder than telling Cassian. She came up from the library in a hurry with worry. Az watched her sit with her spine stiff and straight like she used to as he relayed the info. He didn’t look her in the eyes when he specifically called Eris his mate.Them the three of them sat on the kitchen benches in silence. Nesta crossed her arms, then broke the tense silence. 

“Well Cassian and I both know what it’s like to be bonded to someone you might not want.”

“Hey,” Cassian glanced at his mate with a scowl. 

“We have worked through it,” she reached over and put her hand on his arm. “But you can’t deny Rhys and Mor specifically weren’t happy about it at first. And neither were you.” 

Cassian bristled but his wings slumped behind him, knowing it was true even if he didn’t like it. Az wasn’t privy to the whole situation, just that they had taken up sessions with a priestess in the library. Neutral talking ground, as Nesta explained once. 

They could say what they needed to say with an unbiased mediator, one who could even get them to understand how and why they felt that way. Az only knew about it because the first session, Cassian was so angry he was sent out of the library  until he could calm down. 

“How do you feel about it?” Nesta pulled him from his thoughts. “This came out of no where. I mean, you can’t even be in the same room together.”

“About that.” Az rubbed the back of his neck. His shadows lazily swirled around him as if to help him stay calm. 

He didn’t go into too much detail about the past year. He did let the shadow thing slip, laughing for the first time that day remembering how Rhys reacted. Cassian choked on air and Nesta was leaning onto her hand, elbow propped on the table, grinning at him. 

“This is better than a Sellyn Drake novel.”

“Nesta!” Cassian scowled at his mate. “This isn’t the time.”

She rolled her eyes and brushed him off. “Please, this is the perfect time. Five hundred years of being enemies, ended by a mating bond. That would make a great novel.” She smirked at Az, “so when are you going to see him again.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him since it snapped. I’ve been trying to work up the nerve to tell you all and he said he didn’t need a mate anyways.” 

“Bullshit. Take me to Autumn, I will knock some sense into him.” 

“Nes, please.” Cassian pinched the bridge of his nose. 

Az couldn’t fight the smile forming. “I want to give him time. Transition of power is always messy.” 

“You’ll have to speak to him eventually.” Nesta’s gaze studied Azriel’s. “Do you have a plan for that?” 

Az shifted on the bench. “I need to tell Mor first.” He did not miss the way Nesta and Cassian glanced at each other. “She has to know. She deserves to know and hear it from me.” 

“Good luck with that,” Nesta muttered. 

He didn’t respond because he knew he was going to need it. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Getting Mor to meet with him was impossible. It took another week and he finally made Rhys call her in. Once she was in Rhys’s office at the River house, Rhys called for him mentally. As soon as he walked in the room, Mor went to get up and leave. 

“Mor, sit,” Rhys said pointedly. 

“What’s wrong?” She froze by the chair but didn’t sit just yet. “Did something happen?”

“I need to speak with you,” Azriel answered for Rhys. “I knew you’d run off so I had Rhys call you in.” 

Her red lined lips pouted and she glared at him. “I wouldn’t run off.” 

“You’re literally standing because you went to leave. Just sit down, I don’t have time for this.” Azriel let his temper show and he felt Rhys glare at him. “You’ve been running from me for five hundred years. I know what it looks like.” 

Her cheeks turned as red as her dress but she sat down in her chair. Rhys got up and excused himself, shooting Az a look to behave. It was only when the door shut that Az relaxed slightly. He took a seat in front of Mor and leaned onto his knees. 

“I’m going to tell you something and you might react poorly.”

“By the cauldron if you tell me you’re still in love with me-“ 

“I came to tell you the exact fucking opposite. Are you serious?” Az stopped and clenched his jaw, the muscle ticking on the right side. “I haven’t been in love with you for a long time.” 

“Why didn’t you say something?”

Az shrugged, his expression cold as he felt about the situation. He wanted to rage at her. All these centuries of this little avoidance game she would play weighed heavy on him- had for years. And the secret she kept from all of them. The one  his shadows whispered to him centuries ago. He scoffed. 

“Why didn’t you say something?”

She scoffed. “Excuse me? I literally hooked up with males to show you I didn’t like you like that.”

“That’s not using your words, Mor.” She looked even more offended. He ran a hand through his hair. “That isn’t why I want to talk to you.” 

“Then why the fuck do you want to talk to me?”

“Eris is my mate.” 

Silence. Mor looked like she stopped breathing, her shoulders slumping as she stared at him. She paled and looked down at the floor. He knew this would happen. 

Az whispered again. “He’s my mate, Mor.”  

Mor stood, heels clicking on the floor as she grabbed a small trash bin and proceeded to vomit into it. Az winced at the sound but didn’t get up, uncertain if going to her would help. The door opened and Rhys rushed in. 

“I’m fine,” she coughed and spit into the bin. She shooed Rhys away. “I’m fine.”

“You threw up in my trash, that’s not fine.” Rhys grumbled, magicking away the mess. 

Mor pushed past Rhys and stopped short of Az. He stood and waited for her response. 

“Will you reject it?” Mor asked and searched his gaze. “You’ll reject it. Right?” 

Az frowned. “You want me to reject my mate?”

“You know what he did to me.” Tears filled her eyes. 

“He knew I was coming, Mor. He knew we would find you. He told me so himself.”

Mor shook her head. “He’s the reason I was there in the first place!” She screamed, more tears falling. “He’s a monster!” 

“Keir was the reason you were in that woods and you fucking know it!” Az glared daggers at her. “You blame Eris because he was an easy target. Your parents you have to see, but Eris is in a whole other court so it’s just easier. And we let you. We let you put the full blame on Eris.” 

“How can you say that to me?” She hissed. 

“Because it’s the truth and you don’t want to face it! What happened to you was horrific, but it’s not Eris’ fault!” 

“So you’ll just forgive him?” Mor threw her hands up. “That easy? After everything he’s done to me? To us? Because he’s your fucking mate?”

He looked her right in the eyes and replied. “Yes.” 

“Don’t ever speak to me again,” Mor clenched her fists by her side and looked at Rhys. “I’m leaving. Don’t invite me over if he’s here.” 

Rhys just stared dumbfounded as she stomped out the room. Az fell back into the chair and put his face in his hands. He knew it was going to be bad with Mor. He didn’t expect it to be like this. 

“Just give her time,” Rhys whispered. 

Something told Azriel no amount of time would fix this. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It took Eris several days to get the court in order. He promised his mother he would not kill his brothers, so he imprisoned them first. 

“It’s nothing personal,” He told them. The three of them glared at him, kneeling and bound in fire cuffs. “You’ll stay in your quarters until I feel I can trust you. Since the three of you decided to be cowards.”

He mended the wards of each of their rooms so they couldn’t leave and only a few could enter. Only Asher wasn’t angry with him; his imprisonment was more for the theatrics. The other two couldn’t know he and Eris made a deal almost a century ago. Their mother wasn’t happy with the arrangements either but she held her tongue. At least to Eris, she did. 

All his hard work over the centuries payed off. Most of the court fell in line with the power change. Only two families loyal to Beron fled. He sent formal notices that they could only return if they pledged their loyalty. Eris knew they thought he’d murder them- that was their problem, not his. 

He sent notice to Lucien. Eris knew his brother may not return right away or ever. But the ability to enter without needing an emissary title was the important part. Particularly for their mother. The relief on her face when he told her about it was worth it. 

Before he knew it, another week passed. He obtained his allegiances of his brothers, buried his bastard of a father, and was formally crowned High Lord of the Autumn Court. His days were busy with drafting new trade agreements and reforming the previous laws. So busy, his mother didn’t ask- she told him to meet her for tea. No sooner had the cups been poured, did the question he’d been avoiding come up. 

“Have you spoken to your mate?” His mother gave him a pointed look, sipping her tea. 

“Have you spoken to yours?” Eris retorted. 

His mother sighed heavily, lowering the cup to the saucer in her lap. It was rude of Eris- he knew that. He didn’t know exactly how they ended things, but he could only assume she didn’t reject the bond. Not with Helion alive and well all these centuries later. 

“I sent him a letter, that night. He sent one back a day ago. I have yet to summon the courage to open it.” 

He nodded. He understood. He didn’t have the courage to acknowledge the rogue shadow following him around since that night. He could only assume the shadow was sent by Azriel to keep an eye on him. However, after learning they have a mind of their own, he wondered if that was true or if it stayed on its own. 

“If you read your letter from Helion, I will write one to Azriel.” He glanced up to see a small smile on his mother’s face. 

“I will agree to those terms.” 

“Good.” Eris took a sip of his own tea. 

A small part of him felt guilty later that night as he penned the letter. He promised he would write it. He had no intentions of sending it. He poured his heart into that paper with ink, things he’d bottled up even before the bond snapped. Then he sealed it and left it on this desk in his chambers. It was a shame he didn’t vocalize his plan. Maybe the rogue shadow would have left it where it lay instead of delivering it directly to Azriel when he shut the door. 

[unwishablestars]

Hey !

Hey !

I'maving a difficult time so I'm wondering if you can write texts where Hanzo or Cass (or both) finding their close friend (no specific gender) being about to kill themself with a gun.

It's ok if the subect is too dark for you.

Thx. ❤️

Stay

Pair(s): Hanzo Shimada x GN!Reader | Cole Cassidy x GN!Reader

Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Tags: Drabble, Headcanons, Multi-Character, "Attempt"

TWs: Sewerslide Attempt, Sh!t/Hopeless Situations, Abus!ve Family (lightly mentioned), injuries (no blood mentioned; no SH scars mentioned), mentions of guns

Summary: you feel alone. miserable. hopeless. he is there to stop you.

A/N: Hi Anon! I'm so sorry this took so long and I hope it's acceptable. I really hope you're feeling better.. truly with love, unwishablestars♡

Hanzo

Hanzo has been friends with you since you were kids, both of you growing up in prestigious families.

Families that forced you to bear heavy responsibilities, high expectations, public facades and no real freedom of your own.

When your whole life had been planned out by anyone but you, you really felt like you had no one.

But you weren’t completely alone, no, not really. Hanzo always understood.

Hanzo understood how it felt to feel trapped and hopeless, like there was nothing else for you out there.

Inevitably you two became friends with a common struggle. You two stuck together, not only just because you had to but because you were there for each other.

To vent, to rant, to cry, for comfort.

Hearing the news of Genji and Hanzo you were distraught and worried.

Your friend had killed his own brother not long after his father had passed too. You were worried for him. He’s alone.

When you went to visit him, the look in his eyes was different. It was if you didn’t recognize him, and he was trying not to recognize you. To stop himself from dragging you any further in this faux and scripted life.

After a couple of years you hear about the fall of the Shimada Clan. How Hanzo had ran and disappeared.

This unintentionally caused your family to be stricter. Not wanting for their lives to fall like the Shimadas.

After Genji had met up with Hanzo, he repressed his fears and regrets and visited your home to see you, to help you.

Standing at your window, he finds you in tears, gun in your hand. He calls for your name gently, not to startle you.

Worry and regret in his eyes, he approached you slowly, and as the tears fall from both of you, he took the gun from your hands and held you close.

“I will get you out of here. I will not leave you again. I promise.”

Cassidy

Both you and Cassidy were forced to join Overwatch after being separated and captured from the Deadlock Gang

Prior to that you two were as thick as thieves(literally)

You felt alone for a while when you first joined the gang but they grew to be your family fairly quickly.

Despite being outlaws, you all seemed to have each other’s backs, no matter what.

But when the two of you were captured you were filled with a roller coaster of emotions

You hated how you were practically given no choice, you hated how they threatened to put you two in prison as if you didn’t work your asses off to try and survive out there.

Now you were forced to leave your found family to work for a bunch of stuck-ups who you believed don’t know what it’s like out there.

Both you and Cassidy were assigned to work with Blackwatch, which made you even more pissed; why did you have to be assigned with the unwelcoming team of the organization,

The team who did the dirty work with barely any recognition. Taken from your family, and forced to work with this? For the first time in so long, you felt alone again.

After a mission that ended in Cassidy losing his arm and you barely able to walk it increased the hopelessness of your life as a pawn; getting even worse as you still got scolded for who knows what.

There you were sat in your room, gun on the table, staring back at you as the tears fell. You felt so alone.. forced to be in a placed where you were barely understood, an organization that let your only family left to lose an arm. No appreciation, no recognition, no family..

Were you really about to die in a place that isn’t home? Family either injured or out of sight..?

Then the door creaked open

Cassidy looked at you with all the emotion in the world. Worry, empathy, love, care, fear, sadness, hopelessness.. everything.

He walked closer. Held you closer.

"I’m still here."

[hochmvt]

𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐔𝐑𝐋

𝐓𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐈: ⠀ 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ⠀ (aka. trying to not fall asleep during a roadtrip)

𝐇eart of Glass (Blondie) ♱ 𝐎n Melancholy Hill (Gorillaz) ♱ 𝐂alifornia Dreamin' (The Mamas & The Papas) ♱ 𝐇ead Over Heels (Tears For Fears) ♱ 𝐌ake Your Own Kind Of Music (Cass Elliot) ♱ 𝐕ienna (Billy Joel) ♱ 𝐓he Spins (Mac Miller)

𝐓𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐈𝐈: ⠀ 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 ⠀ (aka. the actual soundtrack portion of this game)

𝐇ill House (Haunting Of Hill House, 2018) ♱ The 𝐎verlook (Doctor Sleep, 2019) ♱ 𝐂lassroom (Hereditary, 2018) ♱ 𝐇ålsingland (Midsommar, 2019) ♱ 𝐌andy Love Theme (Mandy, 2018) ♱ The 𝐕ault (Evil Dead Rises, 2023) ♱ 𝐓itle (It Follows, 2018) ♱ Bonus: Losers Reunited (It: Chapter II, 2018) and Stranger Things' Season 4 Soundtrack

tagged by:⠀the magnificent @gottesgrauen ♱ @ausgetrieben ♱ @verflcht ♱ @hochglvnz and @nepnthc (much love to all of you! ♥) tagging:⠀@t-hevessel @crimelrd @erinnya @heartofglass-mindofstone (just skip out on this one if you did it already, i'm a liiiiittle late)

(please watch every single one of these movies if you're into horror and tell me what you think, thank you)

[dailycass-cain]

Alright time for my thoughts on the McFarlane Toys Target exclusive DC Multiverse Gold Label Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) action figure.

As I said when the figure was first announced it's a "Frakenstein's monster" of past McFarlane Toys Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) figures.

The top is from the "3 Jokers" Batgirl while the rest (including the belt) is based on the very first Batgirl figure McFarlane Toys released (the Sean Murphy redesign).

It's not the first time Cass has borrowed from a Babs Batgirl figure. Mattel did it. Even Imaginext did a Burnside Batgirl in all of Cass's colors.

So it has all of their articulation.

Comparing the prior McFarlane Toys Cass figure (the Page Puncher from last year). Comparing the two in molding details, paint, and accessories: the left-hand one is exceptional.

However, articulation the right hand Batgirl wipes the floor with the other. The Pagepuncher is quite hard to stand up by itself without the stand and you can only do a few poses with it due to the molded on batskin lower gear and belt.

Even with it being old molds from McFarlane, the new Batgirl figure takes the crown of being the most posable Cass action figure ever. Destroying not only the DC Direct pair.

So what about it and the Mattel (the long-running champ)?

Well, articulation-wise, McFarlane Toys takes Mattel with "newer" action figure tech. What really takes the crown as THE BEST Batgirl action figure is one of its new parts and its "secret weapon": the wired cloth cape.

The fabric ain't Mafex quality (you can see through the cape). However, like a Mafex the wire is in there go with no fear of popping out. Because it is a wired fabric (and not plastic) you can get some pretty AMAZING pictures with this Cass.

The cape and newly sculpted head make this probably THE best Batgirl figure we've gotten (so far) because you can get Cass in some crazy kickass poses.

If there's a big gripe I have with the figure is the accessories we get. They're from the Murphy Batgirl, and while the grapple gun got a HUGE paint makeover, the BIG Batarang (while also repainted) just feels so out of place.

Instead, McFarlane should've just given us alternate fist hands or an unmasked face (either would've made this would've made it even better).

That's where MODDING comes in handy.

Even with the flaws, this figure is something to behold. It's a game-changer. All caped Bat Fam members have to be content with this exceptional figure and now those who came in the past feel "dated" because of it.

On the plus, for Cass to be the one to get this. Yeah, it feels GOOD. Like, years of wait and McFarlane Toys gives us this banger of a figure.

Like, I keep taking either one I own and begin messing with it with crazy posing.

IT'S JUST SOOO GOOD! 🥺🥺🥺

Therein lies the final flaw.

That this figure IS a Target exclusive. Cause with all I've said, I can easily see this figure being IN DEMAND, and like DC Direct Stephanie Batgirl (or Mattel Cass) before her probably eventually carrying a HEAVY price tag in the aftermarket over time.

Unless of course, McFarlane Toys pulls a McFarlane Toys and does variants with this figure over from now and then. I can easily see it given that this figure is called BATGIRLS (Cassandra Cain).

You don't say that and not tease a future Steph figure.

Cause um Stephanie needs one given we only have two (DC Direct and Mattel). It feels… wrong.

So if already don't have this figure, and you see this figure on a Target shelf? BUY ON SIGHT. You won't regret it. This figure is EXCEPTIONAL even with the reuse. The wired cape and Cass's design aesthetic makes her so GOOD.

Dare I say she's the best McFarlane Toys female DC figure?

I dare. I DARE!

So those who have her: what do you think? Do my words add to what you feel? Do they not? I'd love to know.

[ghostytoad]

🎃 ROTTMNT Halloween Headcanons 🎃

Haunted House Edition

Summary: The gang go to a scare attraction/haunted house. Headcanons for: Raph, Donnie, Leo, Mikey, April, Cassandra, & Casey Jr

CW: panic attack/ptsd mention, v mild violence(?), overall spooky vibes

Raph:

is a big baby when it comes to scare attractions/haunted houses

tries to worm his way out of their plans every year

goes anyways bc mikey needs someone big to cling onto & raph can't say no to his baby brother

has all of the exit locations memorized in case he needs to make a quick escape (aka run away)

has never made it to the end

will usually tap out at the halfway point

has the highest pitched scream out of all of them

never admits he's the one screaming tho

accidentally k.o. punched a scare actor one year after they jumped out at him

he cried and apologized to the poor actor for hours after that

still feels bad abt it to this day

Donnie:

is thoroughly unimpressed by all the theatrics

will only tag along to watch & record raph and mikey running away

the only scary thing here is the abundant use of pyrotechnics and the stark lack of fire exits

makes it to the end every times

goes into a long rant about the science of fear and how misused it was afterwards

can predict where every scare actor is/when they'll pop out with scary accuracy

once stayed behind after closing & redid the layout to "improve" the scare factor

he also reprogrammed a few animatronics & amplified the pyrotechnics

things did not go as planned at all

he's now banned from every scare attraction in new york

still sneaks in tho

Leo:

scare attractions? total walk in the park for this guy

sure, he gets scared a few times but he thrives on the adrenaline rush

will tease raph and mikey about their fear stink the entire time

sometimes likes to portal behind a few hiding scare actors and scare the living shit out of them

once snuck into a scare attraction after closing and stole a ms. cuddles prop

hid it under raph's bed (and gave the poor turtle a heart attack)

post-movie: the worst part about scare attractions are the slithery/tentacle monsters

his brothers make sure to cover his eyes & stay on guard for him

he's never backed out once

but he did have a panic attack one year when a kraang-looking monster came out at him

donnie had to carry him the rest of the way after he refused to tap out

Mikey:

is scared easily but loves the thrill of getting scared

has to convince raph that he's old enough to go with them every time they make plans

put on his cockiest brave-face standing when they're waiting in line

will cling to raph as soon as they go in tho

won't admit he's scared until raph (inevitably) runs away without him

taps out usually near the end

not bc he's scared at all, no!

he's just worried abt raph is all

he totally didn't scream and run away

will approach scare actors afterwards and gush about their costumes and makeup

sometimes helps april with her halloween makeup

only made it to the end once; he had his eyes closed the entire time

so it doesn't really count even tho he insists that it so does count

April:

loves scare attractions!! halloween is her holiday, baby!!

usually the first one to make plans to go to a haunted house

works as a scare actor some years

absolutely loves every minute of it

ignores donnie's suggestions on how to improve her scares

not bc they aren't great ideas, some of them just aren't "legal"

knows where all the best scares are & is friends with most of the scare actors in the area so they get "unlimited rides"

was fired one year for stealing a few scare props to bring home

now has leo help portal her in to steal more props

makes it to the end of every attraction with a huge grin on her face and an upbeat attitude

nothing can scare this girl!

except maybe long lines.....

Cass:

haunted house? is that like.... a code word for something?

the gang tried taking her to a haunted house one year

now they all have a lifetime ban there

she wouldn't stop attacking the poor scare actors

"CASS, NONE OF THIS IS REAL! PUT THE TEENAGER DOWN AND LET GO OF THE SCYTHE!!"

she's still new to the concept of haunted houses

but she's trying

she's determined to "beat" the attractions and make it all the way to the end

but she's usually kicked out for beating up another scare actor

she's getting better at it tho

prefers haunted mazes bc they give her a chance to practice her stealth skills

Casey Jr:

the boy grew up in the apocalypse so he's always on edge

scare attractions probably aren't the best for him

has never hit anyone but will dodge and weave all scares like its an obstacle course

usually carries his weapon and is always prepared for an attack just in case

v protective of raph & mikey

he's usually on body guard duty for those two

sometimes the noise and chaos is too much for the poor boy

he tries to tap out before it gets too bad for him

one year, he didn't tap out soon enough & ended up having a bad episode

paramedics had to be called and he had to be rushed to hospital that year

the gang hasn't forgiven themselves since....

leo especially

but he insists he'll be okay every time they ask!