#PARAGONS RETREATING

[yakny]

We've been re-enacting scenes, but which is me? The hero or the cameo?

[did-i-do-this-write]

For a fun WIP question, perhaps discuss your inspirations and how much your stories have diverted from them or in what ways they take from them.

Sarah shared that their original idea was based on Of Monsters and Men's first album, but it was very different. It was only focused on two characters and a lot of the original concepts are gone now. They think the character names might be the only thing that has stayed the same after all this time. Sarah said, and I quote "they've grown up after all this time! They are worse people."

They think this comes from them growing as a writer and being able to get past the "good guy v. bad guy" dichotomy and adding nuance to a character's actions and motivations.

Sarah's series, The Fall, started as one book but is now a 6 book series.

Madie said that her original idea was "Oh, pirates. I wanna make pirate story" 😂 she was inspired by the song Wonderland by ATEEZ. It's changed a lot over the years. Some of the characters have stayed the same at their core, but a lot of the plot has changed. It went from being a stand alone book, but it has also grown into a 6 book series with a sequel series planned.

Mine was actually an off-shoot of an AU fic I wrote when I was 15 in which the characters are transported to all kinds of different dimensions and one of the dimensions was a rough version of the Paragon world. And it grew a lot when I realized I was writing a more interesting story within my story :D

(Sarah is @harps-for-days)

This ask motivated me to write 149 words for Home is Where Your Light Shines Brightest.

Experiment Total: 74,266

[yallthemwitches]

October Country

“Lily, I love you.”

Her eyes go wide. She starts to jerk around in his grasp, a panic setting in.

“Sirius, what are you doing—”

“No, Merlin, that came out wrong—sorry, let me try again— I love you because you have made James finally shut up.”

Written for @jilytoberfest Day 2, Prompt: A: “If anyone does X I’m going to love them forever.” B: Does X.

Rated T

Read Below or on AO3!

“Moony, it’s still October right?”

“I’m not a calendar, mate—but yes.”

“Like October—Quidditch season October?”

“Did it really take you seven years to put that timeline together?”

Sirius turns his head to either side of the room. He is sitting at the same desk as every year, Peter and Remus flanking him like always. Nothing has moved out of place since third, besides that the boys have grown taller with four years passed, hair a bit more wild looking.

“Then why the fuck is it so quiet?”

His answer sits just behind him. Sirius leans his chair back to investigate. Evans has had the same seat for years. In earlier times, she cursed the days she would have to share such close proximity to them, but now as she scribbles notes lightly on to her parchment, she looks like the paragon of happiness. James busies himself with tucking his face into the crook of her neck. Her hair barely shrouds his lips pressing firmly to her pulse point then traveling up behind her ear. A smile curls at her lips and every so often a small squeak bubbles forth, causing James to reappear from the veil of auburn to press his nose against her cheek and say something low under his breath. Her face, perpetually flushed these days, swats at him but with no clear attempt to deter. 

“Oi, Prongs!” Sirius isn’t making an attempt to be subtle. His best mate emerges once more from his girlfriend's neck and flashes his mate a smile that looks drunken and dazed—a look he has been sporting more and more since he and Lily became official a week prior. 

“Isn’t it quidditch season?” 

“Christ Pads, you’d think seven years with me would make you catch on to things like that.”

A muggle swear, another new and interesting development. Lily seems pleased to hear it, halting her notes to poke a finger into James’ cheek, taunting him in a soft, teasing voice. James turns and makes a playful bite at her retreating hand, eliciting another shriek that was fast becoming a new staple in Lily’s vocal repertoire. 

Sirius ignores them. 

“---You just haven’t been talking about it so much.”

“Really? Haven’t noticed, I’m sure I’ve been—” but James takes a reflective silence, then shrugs. 

“Guess I’ve been thinking about other things.”

Out in the corridor, James wastes no time pinning Lily to the stone wall right outside the classroom. The boys hover from afar for a moment, sizing up whether this round would be a quick snog, or one that they would have to abandon their mate for until he resurfaced. 

“Hey Evans—I need a word!”

Peter and Remus might be too timid or modest to ever try to interact with the couple when they were in such a state, but Sirius had an incredible passion for intercepting people’s private time. 

“---’m busy Black.” Lily attempts to make eye contact, but James’ hands are already weaving back through her hair, pulling her face back up to his. 

“Prongs, unhand your girlfriend, I have business to discuss.”

James’ head snaps back to cock an eyebrow. 

“What kind of business do you have with her that doesn’t include me?”

Sirius shrugs. “Well I was hoping to get a full performance report on your snogging capabilities, but I think I’ve already compiled enough unsolicited evidence on my own.”

Lily laughs, using it as leverage to wiggle her way out from under James’ grasp, inciting him to make a disappointed whine and stare pointedly at his mate.

“Fuck Prongs, don’t look at me like that—it was a joke. I’ll return your precious girlfriend to you in a sec, I just need to have a few words.”

He leads Lily out into the side courtyard, leaving James to stare into their retreating backs.

“I still haven’t sorted out if it’s cute or alarming how doting he can be,” Lily says lightly, more to herself than to anyone. 

“Your words.” Sirius snorts.

Once far enough out of earshot, Sirius whips around, startling Lily enough to jump. He places his hands on Lily’s shoulders, lowering his head to look straight into her eyes. He can tell she is uncomfortable but doesn’t pull back.

“Lily, I love you.”

Her eyes go wide. She starts to jerk around in his grasp, a panic setting in.

“Sirius, what are you doing—”

“No, Merlin, that came out wrong—sorry, let me try again— I love you because you have made James finally shut up.”

She stops her struggle. Her eyes search his face, mouth sloped into a frown. Sirius just returns it with a warm grin. 

“You’re mental Black, right fucked in the head, you know that right?”

Sirius snaps his head back in a laugh.

“What else is new.”

“You care to elaborate?”

“It’s quidditch season,” his tone imbues an obviousness that is not there.

“---why is this feeling like I’m back in ancient runes?” 

Sirius huffs, dropping his hands. Lily folds her arms against her chest with her eyebrows disappearing past her fringe. 

“Work with me, Evans. Quidditch season. Quidditch Season. Every year your stupid bloke of a boyfriend spends this time of year never shutting up about the damn sport. The stats, team performance, new strategies… ”

“Of course he does, he’s the captain. So what?”

“That’s my point! Now that he’s too busy snogging you, he doesn’t have time to talk about it.”

Lily blinks, eyes narrowing.

“So you are telling me you love me because I’m a…a distraction.”

Sirius frowns slightly in a moment of thought. “Yeah, reckon I am.”

“Goodbye Black.”

Lily turns on her heels, heading back towards an idle James who had spent the whole interaction pretending not to be spying behind one of the stone arches. 

“All I’m saying is—you can do whatever you want to him as long as you keep it up until the season passes.”

 His scream echoes far enough to turn the heads of lingering students. Even from afar, he can see James’ brow furrow, clearly confused and annoyed. Lily just turns back, her laugh chases the remaining echo of his words. 

“Will do. Thanks for the permission.”

[soup-of-the-daisies]

Controversial Opinion:

Sirius is the most responsible and mature of the marauders

ohhhh look yeah this is an interesting one 👀

so like, do i think that sirius is the most mature and responsible one? yes. but mainly because the bar is on the floor during the canon events, what with peter’s betrayal and constant fear, james being dead, and remus having completely retreated into himself.

i suppose it can be argued that remus is the more mature and responsible one (disapproving of sirius and james bullying severus, telling sirius to sit down in OotP, trying to deescalate fights, disliking the childish hostility between sirius and severus), but his maturity & responsibility is imo more akin to that of a child being obedient to authority figures. it banks on sirius’ and james’ explicit arrogance and loud confidence in SWM, sirius’ depression and mood swings during OotP, and his own position of authority + sirius’ singular focus on revenge and protection during PoA. after sirius dies the sense of maturity and responsibility we get from him lessens, in a way: he’s more “mature” than the trio, but only because he’s older; and he somehow isn’t as responsible, because he keeps running.

his maturity is in his demureness, in how much he turns into himself. the one time he genuinely appears immature and irresponsible is when the idea of “lupin, the authority figure” entirely drops: when harry, 20 years remus’ junior and still a teenager, has to tell remus to get a hold of himself and remain with his growing family, because the damage has already been done and running away is not going to help. it’s the moment remus’ fear and hatred of himself wholly takes hold of him during the events of canon, and it establishes his sense of maturity and responsibility as nothing more than a thin veneer. he doesn’t know what he’s doing just as much as the trio. he just has more life experience.

sirius’ maturity and responsibility is based on how he acts around and towards harry. like for remus, with him it’s a thin veneer: he’s messed up and covers that up with trying to be there for harry, by trying to protect him in the way he deems best, and by being harry’s soundboard. azkaban damaged him beyond repair, but he tries to be responsible rather than appear responsible. he admits he was a massive prick during school, that his arrogance caused him to make horrible mistakes—he tries in any way he can to keep harry safe and prepared, and also relatively happy. and in that case, i think responsibility and maturity go hand in hand: being willing to admit fault is far more mature than, say, admonishing someone for arguing a bit too harshly about a sensitive topic. similarly, judging that the best way to protect an irate teenager in mortal peril is to prepare him by being honest is more mature than trying to keep the wool over said teenager’s eyes. sirius sees the reality of situations and acts accordingly, not always sensitive to the emotions of others, and when that’s in regards to harry’s safety… well, his responsibility and maturity is higher in that way.

i’m not going to pretend that sirius was the paragon of maturity and responsibility at hogwarts, but i think that it’s likely he was the ‘more’ responsible and mature one of the group—purely through his willingness to admit fault. he’s not pretending not to be an aggressor. he’s not scared of his own cruelty and accepts it. he hasn’t been raised in a cushiony environment and was, i think, very quick to absorb and process the gravity of the burgeoning war. even The Prank (which i think is FAR less serious (forgive the pun) than fandom likes to pretend for drama’s sake) is likely to be a small slip-up in the grand scheme of Sirius’ Seven Years At Hogwarts, a situation swiftly rectified by james. remus pretending that he totally disapproved of all the bullying the marauders did but also being an active and trusted participant in their shenanigans doesn’t mean shit on the maturity and responsibility front, nor does him being appointed as prefect.

neither peter nor james were the responsible mature ones, obviously, just based on the way they acted: peter’s obvious adoration (and later, utter betrayal), and james appearing forcibly (and purposefully) oblivious to Not Being Liked. james takes responsibility later, when he and lily start dating, marry, and have harry; when he gives up the cloak temporarily because he knows himself, and knows he’ll be tempted to take it for a spin; when he’s slightly panicked in the photograph about harry’s sudden skill on his first broom and chases after him. at that point, briefly, james would’ve been the most mature and responsible one—but he died too soon to keep and relish in that title.

[kobbers]

Hey there! Since you are a Leo fan I wanted to ask. What’s your opinion on Raph? I mean in general but I will say for 12 07 and 03 since those ass my favs.

In general? I love Raph. His archetypal role tends to be one of my least favorites in ensemble casts: impulsive, moody bad boys tend to get on my nerves. I simply don't find their angst and lack of self control Cool or Relatable, no matter how tragic their past is to justify their antisocial behavior.

Raph's frustration, however, comes from a place I can easily sympathize with - his family is on their own and in constant danger. You often get the feeling that he'd like to be part of society in some way, but he can't and that's stifling! The result is a core drive to protect the small circle of family and friends he does have, no matter the cost.

Though the human world is too dangerous to interact with openly, Raph still sees humans as fellow People, and will readily intervene on their behalf. He leaps boldly into action in part because he worries that indecision and delay will give the enemy more time to cause harm (of course, he also finds combat fun and fulfilling, which may occasionally get him into trouble). He may grumble and complain, but at his core Raph is a helper.

My favorite versions of Raph are the ones where he and Leo are almost too similar underneath their wildly different demeanors. Their conflicts usually come down to how they want to approach their goal, not on which goal to approach.

In fact, there's an argument to be made that in D&D terms, my ideal Raph and Leo could both be cast as paladins, with Leo as Oath of Devotion (focused on honor and protecting the innocent) and Raph as Oath of Vengeance (focused on justice and punishing the wicked). Mirage Raph, on the other hand, is 100% a barbarian. So I mean, there's a range of viable interpretations, and the character can be well-written anywhere within it. It's just that the more selfish Raph is, the less I will connect with him.

2003

I thought Blue Swords Guy was the coolest turtle as a toddler, and when I started watching 2k3 as a teenager, my general preference for straightforward paragon types led me quickly back to Leo. I liked Raph the least almost instinctively, purely based on role. But the show won me over on every single brother, and I couldn't even begin to rank a least favorite anymore. Even at his worst early in the show, Raph is just struggling with impulse control rather than relishing violence or being contrary for its own sake. Sometimes he might enter a fight too early or resist retreat, but he rarely enters a fight unnecessarily. He might hide his squishier emotions, but he clearly still feels them. It lays down that core of Raph-as-protector that softens him from his more troubled, bloodthirsty Mirage counterpart. A good bean, 10/10 favorite Raph, heavily influences what I want to see from the character in general.

2007

The general vibes of this movie are similar to 2k3, which is why it sometimes surprises people that it's supposed to be in the live action film continuity as a sort of TMNT 4.

It's weird as a whole though, because Raph was the director's favorite turtle and it shows - Leo makes a poor foil because he is simply written to be wrong (I HATE his "I'm better than you" line for many reasons, heheh). But in terms of how Raph reacts to everything the story throws at him, it all rings true to character. He's my favorite character in this movie kind of by default, because Leo and Splinter are ~off~ and Mike and Don are mostly just on quip duty. But that doesn't change that Raph's still legitimately solid.

2012

Honestly can't say much about this version - I only made it a season into this show due to general annoyances I had with the writing. I remember liking Sean Astin's vocal performance, at least. And I remember digging the premise of that one episode where Raph tries to be the leader and finds that he's way more comfortable acting on plans than making them.

[dispatchwithlove]

Antagonistic Shakarian 👀

Deserves more eyes 👀👀👀👀

Thanks for the ask 😊

Ok. So I got a bit of an itch for antagonistic relationship dynamics and of course my mind was like "what if shakarian? 👀"

I think it's really fun, but I'm really worried about writing and posting it because I'm so used to writing bestest of friends Jane and Garrus. But I do like this idea because I want to show two people who used to be close and are questioning their beliefs and how the world works bumping heads because they're challenging each other. There will be a lot of contempt, but that's only because they care very much about each other. Maybe Garrus convinces Shepard there's no such thing as a model hero (pure paragon doesn't exist in reality), maybe Shepard reminds Garrus of some of the values he dropped in order to become Archangel. And also it's an excuse to write two people that are disasters having a lot of hot sex 🤭

here's where their issues start. it's still very rough!

“I think you're a good man, one I’m proud to—” “You’ve never lied before, Shepard. Don’t start now. That’s what you used to think of me.” So, that’s how he wanted to play this. No feelings spared. “Fine, I don’t want a vigilante on my ship. I don’t want someone who doesn’t know when to stop—” He scoffed, and a spike of anger shot up her spine. “You wanted the truth. Complaining afterwards is cowardly.” “I’m not complaining. But I used to look up to you—

“Excuse me?” Before she thought to contain her anger, she took two steps towards him, feet pounding against the floor, fists balling. She didn’t want a vigilante, true, but a C-Sec officer turned vigilante she could reform. Insubordinate prick, she wasn’t interested in. Instead of backing down, apologizing, retreating, he fucking smiled like her anger only amused him. “I used to look up to your tactics,” he said. “Best mind for assessing a situation I’ve ever worked with. Seems a suicide mission calls for someone who doesn’t know when to quit. That’s all I’m saying.” “What the fuck happened to you?” Shepard asked.  “Sorry you don’t like me now, people change in two years, though. You, for example—” Having no fucking interest in any more truths for the evening, she threw up a hand. “Yeah, I’m starting to understand that. Bunk here for the night. I’ll figure out what to do with you in the morning.”  She turned to leave, itching to look at something else, to get away from him before she said something she’d regret, or do something she’d regret. She’d never felt like punching a subordinate before, and would have never guessed the shy, do-right Garrus Vakarian, who looked up to her, who wanted to be a Spectre again because of her, who always stood at her six as if the position filled him with pride, would have been the bastard who drove her to that point. His hand caught her wrist, wrapped tight.  “You, for example, have become very touchy,” he said.  She jerked her arm trying to free her wrist, but he held firm, her skin burning from the friction, bones pulling too tight. His eyes held the cool confidence she only saw when he settled his rifle on his shoulder, but there was something more dancing in his gaze, something she couldn't read. She knew she could take him in hand-to-hand, hoped her instinct that he’d never hurt her could be trusted, and yet his hand felt so large, and his intention so murky.  Yes, she could take him. But she’d walk away with at least a broken wrist. And losing a friendship that meant more to her than she’d realized up until that day.  “Unless you want to be escorted off this ship at the next stop, let go.” His eyes blinked once, softened. Holding firm, his thumb stroked her palm. A ripple that – and she knew exactly what it meant – purred from his body and infected her senses. Within a breath her anger turned to confusion, and back to anger.  He’d never expressed anything more than platonic admiration before. Why would he imply something like that in the middle of a relationship breaking argument? And why did she like the sound of that purr so much? Irritation — at him, at her reaction — prickled through her.  “Lonely Garrus? Pretty sure Omega should have satiated whatever need you had.” “Not all.” His hold stayed firm. Whirring machinery and a steady beep from somewhere at the back of the room filled the silence.  He was needling her, playing with her. Knowing that didn’t wash away the desire shimmering deep in the pit of her gut, though.  Tension, heat, and thoughts of the taste of his skin and the strength of his grip on her thighs pulsed through her mind.  Shame rattled her back to her senses.  “I’m not interested in playing games with you. I’ll give you the night, and if you can’t get yourself together by morning…” He released her wrist with care, but the tender touch surprised her even more than the roughness just a moment earlier. Despite the burn on her skin and twist in her tendons, despite the fact that every instinct told her to run, the loss of his touch caused an unfamiliar desperation and loneliness to bubble up right in the center of her. Her ribs felt too small and her heart and lungs too big. “We’ll talk tomorrow,” she said and left, her footsteps pounding in the silence. Doors hissing behind her, she shook the tension from her hands. 

[the-owl-tree]

Actually sorry *pulls over chalkboard* I think warriors should've leaned into the idea of how in a, for a lack of a better word, warrior culture where strength is valued and being a leader of your culture is considered the most honorable thing you can do how living up to your parents legacy is a pressure to conform to that culture.

Arc one sets it up. Fire is new to the clan, he questions the culture, he manages to break some standards, but in the end he is assimilated. This is paralleled by Tiger, who was raised in the clans culture and is the most extreme of "I must be strong I must be a leader like my father and forefather before me".

Arc 2 sets up the consequences of this culture. Bramble feels ostracized from his clan because no matter how hard he tries to be the strong, noble warrior, he always has that shadow of his father looming over him. Meanwhile Hawkfrost shows up put of seemingly nowhere in RiverClan and is the paragon of clan culture virtues: he's a strong, driven warrior who strives to lead his clan. (Not to mention Tawny and Moth, who have both rejected the Tiger legacy and made a bame for themselves). I think for the next part of this what is now an au to work, Bramble also has to reject the Tiger legacy and the trappings of clan culture in general post-fox trap, ultimately stepping down from his deputy position and most warrior duties. In a way, he ends up a kitsitter, healer assistant, and at times advisor.

Arc 3 illustrates how clan culture treats those who reject it, such as Bramble. The 3 are still considered Bramble and Squilfs kits, but Bramble is their primary caretaker and Squilf is more their mother in name. They might also be each others beards. The 3 love Bramble, but see the way the clans treat him for breaking out of clan culture and strive to prove themselves more "worthy" than him. Lion attempts this by being the most battle ready and vicious warrior he can. Jay strives to prove to the clans that a blind cat can be a warrior (and ultimately, realizes that he can find joy in being a healer). Poor Holly, however, falls for the same pitfall that once tempted her father and uncle. She craves power, desires to prove that she can be the perfect warrior, deputy, and leader. When she discovers the truth of her parentage, it breaks her. She's no longer just the daughter of a craven, weak warrior (in her eyes), but now she's the daughter of a half clan, healer love affair. It breaks her, so she reveals the horrid truth and winds up in the tunnels, presumed dead. Her family, (and a pregnant Cinderheart), retreat into themselves and find solace in each other.

Arc 4 finishes up the idea of having to live up to your parents legacy (somehow). Ivy and Dove are born to Cinder and a presumed dead Holly. At this point ThunderClan is daddy issues central. Lion and Jay have a better relationship with Bramble (who did know), but there's still some tension. Following Holly's "death", the Firekin kinda... lost faith. Firestar still needs to hold up the thunderclan ideal, but Sand, their kids, and Bramble Lion and Jay are less inspired to hold up the clan culture ideal and more interested in the softer aspects: caring for their Clan, teaching the youngins, so on and so forth. Dove is more willing to follow this new ideal. Yes, she can be vicious and rude and is still dangerous, but she spent a lot of time with Grandpa Bramble and Uncle Lion and they've rubbed off on her. Ivy was raised as such too and they had the save effect, but apprenticeship changed that. Firestar wanted Bramble to mentor one of them, but he refused, suggesting Lion instead. Lion did mentor Dove, but Ivy ended up with the more traditionalist Thornclaw. This only worsened the influence of Hawk in the dark forest. I'm not entirely sure how this ends, but I know there needs to be some kind of reckoning with holly and her kids, and I think a thunderclan new wave culture exodus ft Moth, Breeze and Nightcloud. I started this ask at like 9:50 and it's 1:15

this RULES!!!!!!!! i'm absolutely eating up cinderholly! dove & ivy

this makes me crave more sort of emphasis on lineage, like lords underneath the king. the books already put emphasis on it but it would be cool if these lineages had power or at least social clout attached to them. they try to make it seem like they do but they never really...actually do it lol very NEAT au i am very interested :3

[valkerieccfinds]

The Paranormal Paths Legacy Challenge

By SilverPhoenix42 aka me & @streetrabbit42

Needed Packs: EP: Life & Death, Island Living, Discover University, Lovestruck, Seasons, Eco Lifestyle, City Living (OPTIONAL) GP: Realm of Magic, Werewolves, Vampires, Outdoor Retreat SP: Paranormal Optional Mods: MC Command Center, Spinning Plumbob’s Expanded Plantsims, Spinning Plumbob’s Expanded Mermaids

Generation 1: Human

As an average hopeless romantic, you are searching for that one special person. The one who will make the relationship feel magical. As it turns out, that person is not human. 

Aspiration: Soulmate OR Romantic Explorer

Traits: Romantic, Outgoing, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Romance, Charisma

Career: Romance Consultant

Rules:

Marry a spellcaster

Have at least 1 child

Generation 2: Spellcaster

Your parents met and fell in love, and with how perfect they seem together, you thought you’d never find that for yourself. Well, you didn’t. But you found someone truly out-of-this-world.

Aspiration: Spellcraft & Sorcery OR Purveyor of Potions

Traits: Bookworm, Goofball, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Herbalism, Logic

Career: Gardener - Botanist Branch OR Education - Professor Branch

Rules:

Must meet and have a baby with an alien

Must have 1 at least somewhat-alien child

Generation 3: Alien

Your parents weren’t quite the picture-perfect romance, but you had your dog. Your new partner gets along great with your furry friend!

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim OR Academic

Traits: Clumsy, Geek, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Handiness, Logic

Career: Freelance Programmer OR Business - Either Branch

Rules:

Must marry a werewolf

Must have at least 1 werewolf child

Must adopt a dog and have one when they meet their spouse

Generation 4: Werewolf

Growing up you always loved bathtime, and it seems your partner does, too. For different reasons.

Aspiration: Emissary of the Collective OR Wildfang Renegade

Traits: Self-Assured, Outgoing, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Charisma, Fitness

Career: Politician - Either Branch OR Criminal - Either Branch (Respectively depending on the aspiration you choose)

Rules:

Date or Marry a Mermaid

Have at least 1 mermaid child

Generation 5: Mermaid

Your romance isn’t as fantastical as your parents’ are, but it’s good enough. You were more like best friends than lovers. That’s why it didn’t quite work out.

Aspiration: Beach Life

Traits: Bro, Loves Outdoors, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Mixology, Wellness

Career: Culinary - Mixology Branch OR Conservationist - Marine Biologist Branch

Rules:

Meet and have a child with a vampire

Break up with Vampire

Must have at least 1 vampire child

Generation 6: Vampire

You never had many relationships, but this one person was always special to you.

Aspiration: Vampire Family, Good Vampire, Master Vampire (Your Choice)

Traits: Genius, Perfectionist, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Robotics, Programming

Career: Engineer - Mechanical Engineer Branch OR Self-Employed Inventor*

Rules:

*Build stuff and sell them off however you want

(HUMAN GEN)

You can’t have relationships higher than acquaintance expect for ONE romantic relationship that they marry

Must have at least ONE child

Either your child must be born human, or you must make a vampire antidote for the child

(OPTIONAL SERVO GEN)

You can’t have relationships higher than acquaintance

Must build a Servo as your heir

(OPTIONAL PLANTSIM GEN)

You can’t have relationships higher than acquaintance, OR you may only have one romantic relationship

Adopt a child or you must make a vampire antidote for your child

Generation 7: Servo (Optional - Requires Discover University)

You were your creator’s pride and joy. They loved you like their child, so you wanted to spread that love.

Aspiration: Serial Romantic OR Paragon Partner

Traits: Lovebug, Neat, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Robotics, Programming AND/OR a musical skill

Career: Business - Either Branch OR Tech Guru - Either Branch

Rules:

Adopt a child or (if you have to partners of the opposite sex) those two can have a child

Depending on the  Aspiration: If Serial Romantic, they can only date. If Paragon Partner, You have to marry one of your partners, but have at least two partners live with you

(PLANTSIM GEN)

Max out the Gardening skill, obtain the magic beans, and get the Fruit of the Plantsim for your child

If you chose Paragon Partner aspiration, one of the partners can take on the gardening challenge

Or cheat, I do not care if you choose to make your life easier.

(HUMAN GEN)

No specific Rules

Generation 8: Plant Sim (Optional)

Your parent(s) always cared for you deeply, doing whatever they could to help you reach your dreams. You wanted to give a child as many opportunities as you had.

Aspiration: Eco Innovator

Traits: Vegetarian, Loyal, [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Gardening, Fishing

Career: Civil Designer - Either Branch OR Gardener - Botanist Branch

Rules:

Marry a Human

Have or Adopt a Human Child

Generation 9: Human

Your parent(s) were always very generous and attentive, but also quite lax, so you could do just about whatever you wanted. You made some interesting choices with your life, and look where it got you.

Aspiration: You Choose

Traits: Chased by Death, [Your Choice], [Your Choice]

Max Skills: Medium and Piano OR Pipe Organ OR Violin

Career: Achieve level 6 of any career

Rules:

Can NOT complete their bucket list

Can only complete up to 2 bucket list objectives before you die

Die as a Young Adult (you can choose how they die)

Either complete your aspiration before dying, or give up on it after death

Generation 10: Ghost

You got to do almost everything you wanted with your life. But there was plenty that was left unfinished. Now as a ghost, you can do more than you could in life, and want to use it to your full advantage.

Aspiration: Ghost Historian

Max Skills: Thanatology, Mischief

Career: Unemployed

Rules:

After dying, you must complete your bucket list (all 8 items)

Play your chosen instrument in the middle of the night

Choose a spirit route and lean into it. Go full on crazy with your choice

If you’re good, be a very helpful and nice ghost

If you’re evil, making their lives hell.

When done with this gen, feel free to Reincarnate and do what-the-fuck-ever you want

If you Reincarnate, feel free to re-play through these Gens and choose the other options!

[camelliagwerm]

AEDUCAN II • DEEP ROADS

for veilguard30 day 5 — deep roads | with jerrik dace | 472 words | full collection here

An eerie giggle echoes through the thaig’s antechamber, making the hairs on their neck stand on end. The squelch of merged flesh dogs every footstep, keeping to shadows cast by flickering lyrium lights, a tail curling around ruins as it watches, waits to see what its new prey might do. Let the feast begin — 

Magni clutches his greatsword tighter, keeping the blade at the ready. His eyes narrow as he taps into the senses bestowed to him by both the Stone and the Joining, and all he hears is quiet. Too much quiet, aside from the echoes and groans of old chains and the thudding of the runic golem behind him. 

In the corner of the chamber, a dwarf drenched in blue light trembles and shakes, whispering and giggling to itself. Jerrik Dace, axes trembling in sweat-slickened hands, approaches, his breathing heavy. Horror sinks into his face, his shoulders as realisation kicks in — the dwarf could be a doppelganger, if just a few years younger. Brogan Dace. 

“What’s wrong with him?” he murmurs to himself as he reaches out to touch him. But his fingers find no purchase in flesh, bathing them in the same blue light. “Whatever this magic, this light is… I can’t touch him. Brogan..?”

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. Listen for shadows. They whisper. They watch. Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

Jerrik frowns. “What is this? Some kind of surfacer curse?”

“The sort of magic I’ve seen topside or even from the emissaries in other parts of the Deep Roads haven’t been like this,” Magni replies. Something crawls its way from underneath rubble, a forked tongue licking non-existent lips, beady eyes training on the dwarves, almost within reach. “We need to move quickly. No point in lingering.”

The spectre twitches, trembles, jerking its head side to side as it tries to shrink away from Jerrik, a fear alight in its eyes, mumbling under its breath again and again about the shadows in between giggles and gasps. 

“But he’s here, Paragon, I can see him. He’s still alive! We have to—”

Magni puts a firm hand on Jerrik’s shoulder, a gauntleted hand digging into the leather duster. “And I said, we need to move on.  He’s beyond help and I can sense something’s watching us.”

“Darkspawn?” 

Magni shakes his head. It is a rare time that any sane person, Warden or no, would want to fight darkspawn, but at least he knows how to fight darkspawn. Whatever it is… an unseen enemy is the most dangerous of them all. “No,  but it’s nothing good. Don’t make me pull rank on you.”

“I’m going to save you, little brother—” The sound of flesh, claws scraping up a wall, teeth baring in a wet hiss interrupts them, and the spectral form of Brogan Dace retreats. “I promise.”

No, no, no, no, run-run-run, pitter-patter, pitter-patter, listen-listen-listen for shadows.

[shamelesstragedyenjoyer]

I just had the most vivid dream where Batman found himself inadvertently ensnared by Ivy's pollen. The situation spiraled into a nightmarish ordeal as, in his altered state, he wielded Kryptonite against Superman in order to have his way with him.

Mind you, Sups wasn't affected by the spores. Ivy's plant based attacks are calqued on human biology so he felt none of the sexual urgue and just had to suffer through the pain of being litteraly split in two.

In the aftermath, Clark was left compounded by a profound disconnect to the reality of what happened. He's got this child-like naivety in the matters of intimacy, and doesn't really understand what went down. Not really. His perception of Batman as a paragon of self-discipline deepens his conviction that what happened couldn't be put on the sole back of the pollen. That he must've had a behavior that pushed the shorter man to believe he wanted it, too. Maybe it's something he said. Corruption always begins in the mouth. The tongue. The first poem in the world was "I Too Want To Eat."

The League is in its nascent stages, barely taking form, and he's reluctant to tell anyone. Tormented by his skewed perception that it was an act he performed with Batman rather than an assault on him, he refrains from disclosing what he thinks is his struggle with infidelity in his relationship with Lois, understanding the potential impact on the others' trust in him. He keeps quiet even as the memory sticks to his fingers like melted ice-cream. Beats inside his ribs like a second heart. Rather, he carries it's body from room to room. Heavier than iron it feels. Stains his hands wine-dark.

Meanwhile, Batman has retreated into the shadows, consumed by self-loathing and remorse. The fact that he became, by the single act of not dominating his lust, the antithesis of the very ideals he fights to uphold is a burden that seems all encompassing. He thought he knew hunger before this day. Found this kind of touch unbearable to witness. To want. Desire has always been ugly. Shaped like two hands wrapped around a throat.

Even so, he devoured someone else. Like a rotten dog, like an angel with teeth falling out it's gums. It's in his bones, aching, this fire. The dog that weeps after it kills is no better than the dog that doesn't. His guilt will not purify him.

It's desperate for redemption that he entertains the myriads of possibilities to right the wrongs of that fateful night, even to the point of contemplating altering the fabric of time itself.

As the days stretch into weeks, his absence raises concerns, and it's only out of the need to maintain his cover that he brings himself to the doors of Wayne Enterprises sporadically.

In the interim, Journalist! Lois and Witty! Jimmy embark into a relentless quest both in the shadows of Gotham and the bustling streets of Metropolis, hunting for the truth behind Clark's erratic behavior.

[yakny]

"As your heir, as the immaculate inheritor of the blood of the Morning Star, Verner the Enlightened, and as your vessel, it is to I that the Order has sworn their absolute loyalties. The Chivalric Order of Knights you've created for peace's sake no longer answers to you, and soon enough, this land will not either."

[did-i-do-this-write]

WIP question: If you could choose ONE au fanfic to be written based on your wip what kind of AU it would be? (@winglesswriter)

We'd all love to see a College AU and Bookstore AU

Madie said she has already started some of her own college AU and she would rather write it herself 😂

Madie also has a modern AU in mind that would become a Coffee Shop AU.

Sarah could make a fucking crazy and super fun road trip AU with their characters.

Madie and Sarah both decided that they could not do a teacher AU because their characters would simply just start fights with each other.

Sarah also said that they would want to rewrite Pride and Prejudice (2005) with their characters.

I actually always wanted the opposite to happen for mine, where instead of AUs of my story, I want Paragon AUs for other fandoms 😂

And we would all have fans who wanted to write "Nothing Bad Happens" AUs which we would all support 😆

(Sarah is @harps-for-days, Madie is our lovely friend with no Tumblr)

This ask motivated me to write 149 words for Home is Where Your Light Shines Brightest.

Experiment Total: 73,967

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

One thing I don't think people noticed is that :"if you never saved me from boredom" and "My boredom's bone deep" from WCS and Guilty As Sin?. Not quite a thought and maybe I'm grasping at straws here but it's a thought.

Oh I saw people mention this a few months ago! But it may have gotten lost in the ~everything~ of it all. 🥴

I think they’re related in the sense that she was searching for something, and the person in each of those songs grasped that and winnowed their way into her life to sell her a fantasy that she clung to as a way of coping with the pressures and constraints put upon her.

In WCS, knowing the lore of it all, I feel like the boredom she’s referring to is the good girl/role model image she projected and in turn was held to. Speak Now is all about that liminal space between teenage and adulthood; 19 is legally an adult but in many ways and for many people still much closer to childhood than even a few years older would feel. She’s got one foot in the door of both worlds, but clearly yearns to be taken more seriously, express herself in ways her peers who aren’t global superstars and idols to girls can, experience milestones people her age do all the time without the pressure or shame of the public eye, etc. To me “if you never saved me from boredom, I could have gone on as I was” meaning she could have maintained the facade of the kind of prim (even though we know she’s always been bawdy/mouthy but her reputation always leaned otherwise), demure, belle of the ball type of girl, the one used as the good example who doesn’t put a foot wrong, upholding this veneer even if it’s all a lie. But in comes this tempting force that feeds into this yearning to be more grown up, more serious, more desirable, and well, Eve bites and gets bitten, as it were. It’s the icky version of “you showed me colors you know I can’t see with anyone else.”

The boredom in Guilty as Sin is kind of similar in theme, even if not in circumstance. Instead of being upheld as the paragon of virtue as in her younger years, it’s the facade of the serious artist, devoted partner, reclusive life that is now causing the “boredom.” Much like how trying to maintain (or quietly rebel against) her role model image as a teenager pressured her into decisions in WCS, trying to maintain a life that was clearly crushing her (retreating into a life so private she misses out on experiences she craves, supporting a relationship with a partner who neglects her and the realization that it may be a dead end) makes her consider alternatives to the weight she now feels in this phase of life.

I think the common thread is that something in her life is deeply unfulfilling or unfulfilled, and the way it manifests is into fantasizing about another course that ultimately ends up being destructive. In the earlier example, it’s like I Can See You is to Guilty As Sin as WCS is to Smallest Man.

Ultimately it comes down to the cages of your own making battling with the cages put around you by others and oof.

[hippolotamus]

10 please and D and P or H and T!!

Hi, friend!!!! I have completely given up on trying to contain my word count for these 😅 While the majority of the song is very David Rose, my brain latched onto the final verse for Tim. Putting it under the cut because 595 words 🫠

send me 1-100 and i'll write you a drabble based on the corresponding song

“I missed you, Skippy.” 

The words are a balm as much as they are a cut. A stabbing reminder of everything Tim can’t have. Could never have, really. Hawk was never his to keep. And as impossible as their love was before, it’s even more so now. Because Hawk belongs to Lucy. He’s a family man, a paragon of virtue within his world. Even if it’s all a lie. 

Tim can’t help but hate himself for the fraction of a second where he gives in to the fantasy that is loving and being loved by Hawkins Z. Fuller. He pretends that this moment is real and yearns to live in it forever, briefly considering bargaining with God if only he could be granted this one thing. This speck of time when Hawk is holding him, cherishing him. When he feels the warm brush of lips against his neck and jaw, the light scrape of stubble against his cheek, the fingers tangling in his hair and the hand at his back, as if Hawk truly wants to keep him. He smells the musky scent of cologne, mixed with Tide and a unique aroma that could only belong to Hawk. 

It takes him back to a rented room in 1952 and a crackling radio playing swoony love songs to cover the sound of their immorality. To stolen moments when they raised their middle fingers to God and loved with abandon. Because that’s what it was – love. Not sin. Not a mistake. Love. At least for Tim. 

And that thought strikes him like lightning, grounding him to the present. To the reality that is. The one where Hawk says he misses Tim, while the family Hawk left him for waits a quarter mile up the road in the main house. Presumably none the wiser. 

He wants to ask Hawk what exactly it is he misses. Is it the sex? The relative safety of someone he didn’t have to hide his secrets from (even though Tim is certain there were many between them)? But he doesn’t do that, because it will accomplish nothing. Instead he talks about Father Lawrence, and the possibility of holding two truths. 

He lets the pain of his words sink in and reflect in Hawk’s eyes, and he hopes they do hurt. Even if it will never be the same, Tim needs some validation in the form of knowing Hawk is in a fraction of the amount of anguish Tim has been carrying in his heart, like a slow-acting poison, for the last fifteen years. 

When Hawk’s inner turmoil – whether it be real or imagined – retreats behind a familiar mask of indifference, Tim accepts the tainted gift for what it is. Possibly the closest he will ever come to hurting the bulletproof Mr. Fuller. 

“Please leave.” Tim doesn’t have to ask twice before Hawk is out the door again, leaving him to the heavy silence of his makeshift sanctuary. 

He kneels in front of the stone fireplace, clasping his hands together, unsure what to think or say. What could he confess or ask forgiveness for? Because how, as he had once disclosed to the Army priest, could love be a sin? This love that blooms eternal in Timothy Laughlin’s heart for one Hawkins Fuller, no matter how he tries to trample it like a pesky weed. This love that he’s certain will taunt him for eternity, perhaps into the afterlife, and never let him go. 

Tim closes his eyes and begins to speak, praying the rest will come of its own accord. “Dear Heavenly Father…”

tagging some other beloveds who might be interested @stereopticons @statueinthestone @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @exhuastedpigeon @watchyourbuck @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @legalgal421

[hell-drabbles]

After the recent companion angst, I just can't help but think about how companion would come back as something that's not quite angel but not quite devil either. I don't have any cool writings just some thoughts..

Since companion was in a friend group of three with Minhyeok and Ra-on. Companion seemingly being the odd one out with Minhyeok liking Ra-on, being a crucial part in giving Ra-on human energy and Ra-on being an important figure to the devils. Despite them being there to get Ra-on the respect he deserves, Ra-on would still be fine without them

So by coming back as an unusual combination, it would place them where they always have been the and will forever be until they die once more, someone who doesn't belong anywhere. Being by themselves, unable to join either side, not even going back to living as a human

I have a whole other section of this thought but I don't think it's what you're going for so I'll pause there

Oh? Please don't pause there, I like hearing people's thoughts and how they would develop the things I've written.

The Companion is 100% the odd one out with Minhyeok and Ra-on basically vanishing off into their own world the longer they stay around one another. But now they're apart and they really are forced to re-examine their own place in the world because of how much one influenced the other.

With the Companion being taken out of the picture, this version of Minhyeok and Ra-on can and will become worse.

Ra-on over here is letting himself dive deeper and deeper into Hell, basically getting so addicted to the indulgence of this place that he will not go back once all is said and done. He will end up struggling to even remember Minhyeok's name if he's there for long enough. This Ra-on has a very avoidant personality when it comes to things that bring him hurt, so, as time goes on, he starts thinking about Earth less and less. And, as such, he starts forgetting about his old home.

Though, this only starts happening when the Companion isn't there to screw his head on straight.

And Minhyeok... ah, oh boy. This version of Minhyeok starts retreating more and more from the outside world. Ppyong is about the only thing keeping his head on straight, but even then, it'll be made pretty obvious that he's still slipping. That he's losing touch with his friends. That he doesn't have any close friendships beyond the one he made with Ra-on. Even his friendship with the Companion has gotten weak when compared to Ra-on.

Rather than trying to move on with his life and simply let things be and get on that road to recovery, Minhyeok heavy dependence on Ra-on takes on a very emotional toll on him. Had the Companion been there, this would not be happening.

That being said, it would be wrong to say that the Companion is a therapist. They are not meant to act as a therapist, they are basically a role model for both Minhyeok and Ra-on. A flawed role model, but it's actually for the best that they are as flawed as they are, because that makes the Companion very human to them. If they were the perfect paragon of a person, the distance would be too wide for the friendship to ever recover from.

Anyways, I ramble like the whole angelification of the Companion was for a deliberate thematic purpose. It wasn't. I went down that path because I remembered that Ra-on and Minhyeok have a connection to the angels, as weak as it may be. Ra-on has been marked by an angel, Minhyeok was killed by an angel.

As such, Companion was transformed by an angel.

That's it. Nothing deeper, other than wanting more angst and suffering all around.

[lottiecrabie]

Can you please write a blurb of TDAB!Matty being jealous of a guy hitting on Alana and being really toxic about it?

Can you please write a tdab blurb where he gets gets jealous because there is someone else being Handys with Alana and it’s angsty because she’s like well you’re not even supposed to care but then he like shows her how he can do anything better than the guy who was flirting with her

my toxic terrible disgusting beloveds<3

alana is high and drunk, barely feeling her face as she dances in the middle of the light-up floor. technicolors drown her face, though she’s barely aware of them behind her eyelids. every particule of her buzzes.

there’s a guy behind her. he’s tall, lanky and with a short buzzcut— she tries to rake her hand in the mane, but finds nothing to grip onto. something in her is annoyed at the fact, holding it against him for a reason she can’t quite place.

he whispers in the crook of her neck. it’s filthy, low, and she barely makes the words out. knows nothing but the feel of them as they press against her skin, plump lips grazing her jaw and kissing it. there’s no teeth to it— again, she holds it against him.

‘do you wanna get out of here?’ he says, suddenly crystal clear. alana frowns. the world sways with her, air moving in tandem with her expert body rolls. she’s one with the crowd, with the bass-heavy music, with the room.

she doesn’t want to fucking get out of here.

alana shakes her head, slack. he sighs behind her. her lips purse. he’s ruining her happy high. ‘i want a drink,’ she declares, hoping to get him lost in the swallowing sea of drinkers.

‘alright,’ he nods, pinching her waist and then leaving. she turns to him, dumbfounded. he didn’t even ask her what.

alana watches his retreating back. he’s waiting by the bar, glued in place alongside the sardine people, when he finds him. matty.

she curses. standing still on the dancefloor, she watches apprehensively as matty talks to him. dancers blur her visions, arms jumping in and out of frame, dark drenching the room then light blooming it back again in vivid pink. she makes sense of them difficultly: matty talks at him more than anything, head bent with a trickster smile, condescending and cruel in the corners. a hand rests on the man’s shoulder, like they’re close, like they’re friends.

she can spot the act even through the daze of the dancefloor. matty takes his phone out, still laughing goodnaturedly as he shows him something on it. ‘shit,’ she mutters, pushing herself out of the crowd.

she’s near enough to hear but not to intervene in the car crash when matty says, ‘see, here she’s taking my cock like my good girl— told you she wasn’t always a brat.’ the man is green and pale, staring at matty with wide eyes.

alana slaps the phone, pushing his arm down to hide the compromising picture of her moaning, eyes rolled back. the man stares at her next, swallowing harshly.

‘alana!’ matty says, though there’s still that cutting edge as he pierces the man with a look. ‘i was just making a friend.’

her eyebrows raise at him, pissed. ‘is that what you call it?’

‘look, sorry, man. i didn’t know she had a guy,’ the man apologizes, holding two hands up to show his innocence.

‘i don’t—‘ she huffs. ‘he’s not—‘

‘i don’t want any trouble,’ he assures again, turning around and fleeing the scene. she watches him go, once again holding it against him.

‘well,’ matty pipes up. ‘i think he was a bit cowardly for you.’

eyes narrowed, alana twists to face him. ‘what is your problem?’

‘i was just letting him know what he was getting himself into,’ matty defends, suddenly a paragon of innocence. ‘you know, i don’t think it’s fair to sleep with a bloke when he doesn’t know the standards i’ve set.’

she snorts meanly. ‘the standards—‘ air huffs out of her nose, but there’s no joy in her laugh. ‘you fucking dream, healy.’

‘right, right,’ he nods, rubbing his lips, taking his phone out. flipping the screen to her, alana is faced with a collection of pictures of her in various states of ecstasy— moaning, giggling, sucking on his finger, wiping cum out of her face. always slack and fucked out, grinning so good for him. ‘my dreams.’

she closes his phone, doubly pissed. ‘you’re jealous,’ alana says, changing tactics now that she’s been counterattacked on her first strategy. matty clenches his jaw, but doesn’t deny it. a smile blooms on her face. ‘oh, my god. you’re jealous.’

‘i’m not—‘ his jaw flexes, an angry huff of hair leaving him. ‘i don’t care.’

she crosses her arms. ‘sure.’

‘fuck who you want.’

‘okay, i will.’

dark eyes lock with hers. she reads him like her favorite book. smirking, she looks around. ‘i think there must be someone here you haven’t showed porn of me yet.’ her gaze settles on a dancing girl, arms flapping mindlessly in an adorable way. ‘there.’

‘whatever,’ matty says, but it comes out choked and angry.

making eye contact with the girl, she waves her fingers, smiling like honey. ‘i think i’ll be very good for her. sugary sweet and all.’ the girl waves back.

‘cause she can’t handle you otherwise?’

she looks at matty. ‘why do you care?’ he licks his teeth, anger radiating off of him. ‘because you do, don’t you?’ he breathes in, tense. ‘admit it.’

‘no.’

‘admit or i’ll leave with her right now.’ her steps start, but matty grabs her wrist, holding her back.

‘don’t leave with her.’

‘why?’

he sighs. ‘you know why.’

she stares at him. ‘why?’

terribly pained, matty mutters, ‘i’m— i don’t like seeing you with other people.’ he spits it out like it tastes awful on his tongue.

this time, there’s no teasing, nothing but a genuine frown as she whispers, ‘why?’

he inhales, breath stuck in his throat. ‘i don’t know.’ his fingers press into her wrist. ‘don’t leave with her. let’s get out of here. i can do it better— you know i can.’

alana smirks, climbing a hand up his arm, settling on his shoulder. she grins, teasing, ‘remind me.’