#The EdWin chaos that they will become

[weatheringtea]

Here we go. Time for some self-indulgent nonsense as a new fic from my favourite headcanon :>

East City Shindig - AO3 Summary:

Seven months after coming back from the other side of the Gate, and living a life that had been more or less calm in Resembool, Winry asks Ed if he wants to join her on a business trip to East City.  Just the two of them.  It wasn't the first time they'd travelled alone together, but seven months had passed since their last adventure and things were different this time.

[bi-bard]

If I Could Hold You for a Minute, I'd Go Through It Again - Charles Rowland Imagine [Dead Boy Detectives]

Title: If I Could Hold You for a Minute, I'd Go Through It Again

Pairing: Charles Rowland X Witch!Reader

Based On: Francesca

Word Count: 3,361 words

Warning(s): physical attack, mentions of family trauma/death/injury

Summary: Whoever claimed that risking your life was only for the living had never seen the true devotion of a ghost before.

Author's Note: Wow, Kyli liked another project that was inspired by Neil Gaiman's work... what a surprise. If you have any characters that you want to see, let me know.

Also, I'M HOME! I MADE IT BACK TO YOU GUYS!

**written in third person p.o.v for sake of storytelling**

UNREAL UNEARTH - HOZIER WRITING CHALLENGE MASTERLIST

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If there was one word that was always used in tandem with (Y/n)'s name, it was chaos.

Or messy.

Or clumsy.

Or wild.

Or any other word that could possibly mean the same thing.

Early on, (Y/n) could excuse it as inexperience. Maybe age would tame whatever beast seemed to be roaring in their brain and their chest. Maybe someone would explain the best way to leash an animal that was so much larger than you.

No one ever did.

Instead, (Y/n) ended up alone. Alone, terrified, and as out of control as ever. A cruel hand had been dealt to them when they were far too young. And now, the teenager was left coping with things that most adults could not handle.

Meeting Edwin and Charles had been the first good thing to happen to (Y/n) ever.

(Y/n)'s isolated life was interrupted quite abruptly by the ghosts. A case had brought the detectives to (Y/n)'s doorstep. They had been wearing disguises at the time, but those were quickly put away when they learned that (Y/n) was a witch.

A partnership of sorts formed between the three of them. With Edwin, it was more sternly a working relationship. He rarely found himself in (Y/n)'s home, especially when there was no case that required their assistance.

With Charles, it was very different. Charles would visit whenever he wanted to. He would usually be the first to ask for help, popping in through a mirror in the main room. He'd take the time to look around the small living space. And when there wasn't a case, he would pop in whenever. It was commonly just as (Y/n) was sitting down to eat or read or do anything.

Charles and (Y/n) developed an interesting friendship. A friendship that was resting precariously on held tongues. Anyone could see how close the two had gotten to crossing the line between friendship and whatever was on the other side. Anyone other than the pair. They were both trapped in a state of denial. Maybe that was for the best for a time.

(Y/n)'s chaos had been largely hidden away from the detectives. Some would call it careful. (Y/n) called it lucky. Incredibly lucky.

And then there was the case of Rory.

Rory was a young spirit. A young but troubled spirit. The boys had been contacted by a friend saying that Rory was becoming violent. The goal was to find what was tying the spirit to this plane and to send them to the other side.

It had all been going well. All things considered, anyway.

The only problem was time. There was this terrifying ticking clock between the trio knowing about the case and the risk of Rory attempting to hurt someone.

(Y/n) had only been there to help find what had been keeping Rory tied to this plane.

It had been going fine. Absolutely fine.

And then, (Y/n) lost control.

There was an intense moment where Edwin and Charles ended up being thrown in different directions. (Y/n) had tried to help. To get the spirit to stop for just long enough for the detectives to recover.

It didn't work.

Something else had overwhelmed (Y/n)'s efforts.

Whatever it had been had hit the spirit straight on. It had angered it... a lot. It ran at a terrified and confused (Y/n), causing the young witch to hit the ground, the scrape of the road below them causing a hiss to escape.

"(Y/n)!" Charles ran over first. "You alright?"

(Y/n) nodded as they pushed themselves up.

"What was that," Edwin asked as he walked over. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I... I don't know," (Y/n) said quietly. "It just... It just happened."

"It was reckless! You could have gotten yourself hurt and now we have to worry about the spirit being angry enough to hurt someone else!"

"Edwin-" Charles tried to get his friend to relax.

"What is wrong with you?" Edwin snapped before Charles could even try to stop him from asking.

"I... I don't know," (Y/n) murmured. "I don't know."

"Maybe it's best if you removed yourself from this case."

"Edwin!" Charles scolded.

"They're a risk!" Edwin insisted.

"He's right," (Y/n) turned to Charles. "I'll go home. Good luck."

Charles followed (Y/n) down the street. (Y/n)'s car sat alone on the street. Not much in terms of subtlety, but (Y/n) also hadn't been graced with the ability of travelling by mirror.

"(Y/n)," Charles said as he jogged to keep up with their quick steps. "Will you wait for a second?"

"Go back to the case, Charles," (Y/n) replied, not even looking at him.

"No," he stepped in front of them, attempting to block the path to the car. "Not until I know you're alright."

"I'm fine," (Y/n) insisted. "Edwin's right."

"No, he's not," he shook his head.

"Yes, he is. I am a risk. I always have been. I've hidden it well, but this was bound to happen at some point."

"What," he asked.

"A long time ago, when I was still with my family, I had issues like that happen all the time," (Y/n) explained. "I would... Something would overwhelm me, and I'd end up doing something dangerous or destructive. No one ever helped me with it. They expected me to sort it out on my own. And then... I hurt someone. Someone I cared about. I... I ended up being forced to leave. I still never truly learned to control anything. Tonight was proof of that!"

"We can help you-"

"That's not your job!" (Y/n) ran their hands over their face. "It's not worth the risk. I could get someone hurt, I could get myself, I could put you both in danger- none of it is worth it!"

"That's not your choice to make," Charles replied. "Any risk or danger is fine with me. I'm not leaving you alone, (Y/n)."

"You should."

(Y/n) moved around him and got in the car. Charles stepped back and watched the car drive off. He turned to see that Edwin had watched the interaction. Charles glared at him.

"It's for the best-"

"Let's just finish the case," Charles muttered, cutting Edwin off.

The case went by slowly and tensely. Charles was gruffer than Edwin had ever seen him. And Edwin had no right to question him about it. It was his comment that had caused this tension and anger. How was he meant to poke at it as if he had no idea what was going on inside the head of his best friend?

Charles didn't stick around the office once the case was done. Instead, he immediately went to the mirror, climbing through to try and see (Y/n) as soon as possible.

He ended up walking into (Y/n)'s room. He was somewhat expecting them to be there.

"(Y/n)!" Charles called out as he walked through the doorway. He stopped for a moment at the chaos that had taken over the living room.

It had been clear that some kind of fight had broken out. Between whom or what, Charles had no real idea. There were smaller objects thrown, furniture shifted, garbage scattered.

"(Y/n)," Charles called again as he walked around some of the mess. And then, he saw (Y/n) lying on the floor on the far side of the sofa. "(Y/n)!"

He ran over, rolling them on their back. They seemed to be breathing, but they were completely non-responsive.

"Shit!"

He shifted and carried (Y/n) to their room, leaving them on top of the bed's covers before he ran back through the mirror.

"Edwin!" Charles shouted even though Edwin was in the same room as him. "Something's wrong with (Y/n). I... I went to check on them and they were unconscious, and their living room was just destroyed. I don't know what happened."

"They're alive?"

"For now!"

"Come on," Edwin pushed Charles toward the mirror again.

Edwin let out a sigh as he walked over to (Y/n). He carefully lifted their eyelid to see if their eyes were responsive. However, all that was there was complete redness that had taken over. As if the eye had been filled with blood, but none of it was running out or swelling.

"Witchcraft," Edwin muttered. "I think I've read about this. Give me a moment to find the book in the office."

"(Y/n) was attacked by a witch?" Charles asked. Edwin was already through the mirror.

It was a suffocating matter of minutes before Edwin made it back to (Y/n)'s place.

"What is it?"

"If I am correct, then (Y/n) is currently trapped in a dream-like state," Edwin explained. "This dream-like state is keeping (Y/n) in a state of calmness while their brain slowly swells and presses against the skull. If we do not cure it fast enough, the swelling will kill them."

"How do we cure it?"

"We have to find a way to delicately wake (Y/n) from their dream-state. There is a cure that we can make, but it will take time."

"Is there another way? Something faster?"

"In theory," Edwin relented. "One of us could possess them and find a way to manually ease them out of the dream. The cure is our best option. Less risk."

"We don't have the time! We don't know how long (Y/n)'s been like this!"

"Charles, if either one of us chooses to possess them, then we set off alarms in the afterlife. We cannot take this risk."

Charles clenched his jaw.

"I will go get the cure started. Keep an eye on (Y/n)."

Charles did try to listen. He stood by and made sure that (Y/n) was breathing. He made sure that they were comfortable and that they were not suffering too immensely.

But then, he panicked.

He saw (Y/n)'s breaths becoming shallower and shallower. He heard nothing from Edwin. He was too worried to think of the consequences of his actions critically in any capacity.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was in a field.

He did a circle, trying to find some sign of something or someone. This was (Y/n)'s dream after all. They had to be there somewhere.

He saw something in the distance.

Approaching it, Charles could see a clearly outlined garden with a wooden fence around it. On one end was a gate, on the other end a cabin. A small cabin. The garden was beautiful. Full of flowers in full bloom with a swinging bench seat.

Charles almost chuckled at the vision. Something felt so fitting about something so peaceful being what (Y/n) pictured in a dream. Almost as far from their current life as they could get.

(Y/n) walked out of the cabin a moment later. Their clothes matched the garden. Soft, almost pastel colors. Very perfect, very organized.

He stepped forward, going to get their attention but stopped when he saw himself walking out of the cabin soon after. Well, some dream version of him. The other version of him was dressed exactly the same as he was, but it wasn't him. It couldn't have been him.

He watched as this alternate version of him pulled (Y/n) closer and kissed their head. The pair walked to the swinging bench seat, sitting together. (Y/n) relaxed into the fake Charles's side.

The view made the real Charles freeze where he was.

It felt wrong. Invasive.

He had kept his feelings private for as long as he had known (Y/n). He had been convinced that whatever connection the pair of them had was going to stay stuck in whatever form it was already in. Seeing this was a sign of something different. And he didn't know how to feel about that.

"(Y/n)!" he called from where he stood.

(Y/n) seemed to hear something. They paused and looked around but didn't seem to notice Charles. He could've sworn that they looked directly at him, but their eyes seemed to go right through him. As if he was never there.

(Y/n) leaned back into the seat, smiling as the fake Charles laid a kiss on their cheek as they did so.

The real Charles continued walking forward. He tried to think of a way to "delicately" get (Y/n) out of the dream.

"(Y/n)," he repeated, now standing just outside the gate.

Again, (Y/n) looked around but couldn't seem to spot him and was pulled back into the fake Charles's side.

He opened the gate and walked inside.

Neither (Y/n) nor the fake Charles seemed to acknowledge him in the slightest.

"(Y/n)," he said yet again.

(Y/n) again seemed surprised to hear anything, sitting up straight and going to look around until their eyes landed on Charles. They froze, eyes going wide at the sight of him.

"Hi," he grinned.

(Y/n) looked between him and the fake Charles, who was only looking at (Y/n).

"I'm sorry but I need you to come with me," Charles pressed, holding out his hand.

"What," they asked. "Sorry, but there are two of you. What's going on?"

"That's not me," he explained. "I... I don't know what he is, but he's not me."

(Y/n) stood up, stepping away from the bench. Once they were a few steps away from the real and fake Charles, they turned to look at them. The fake Charles didn't move, as if he were simply a mannequin that had to be moved around. He was staring at the space beside him as if (Y/n) was still there.

"You're in a dream," the real Charles explained. "This whole thing is fake."

(Y/n) ran their hands over their face.

"Do you remember how you got here at all," he asked.

"Yeah, I... I...," they trailed off, finding a blank space where some kind of memory definitely should have been.

"You were attacked," he continued. "Another witch found you and attacked you. You aren't standing outside some cabin in a field. You're lying in bed, unconscious."

There was a long pause before (Y/n) spoke up again, "I remember... I remember getting home. I remember someone being in my living room. It was an old friend..."

"You don't have to explain," Charles stopped them. He drew enough of a conclusion from those few sentences. It was some connection to whoever (Y/n) had hurt. Frankly, he didn't care about that. "We need to go."

He held his hand out to them. They finally took it.

He led them back to the gate to the garden. He didn't have any proof that this plan would work, but he didn't have anything else to go on. He just wanted to make sure (Y/n) had a chance at being okay.

Once (Y/n) stepped through the gate, it felt as if Charles was thrown out of (Y/n)'s mind. Like some explosion had happened.

Charles blinked a few times and spun around as he found himself back in (Y/n)'s room.

He heard (Y/n) grumbling. He grinned.

"Hey," he said quietly, going to sit next to them. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I guess," (Y/n) muttered. "My head hurts."

"I'll grab some water-"

"Wait, wait," (Y/n) reached for him as he stood up. He somehow managed to get halfway to the door by the time (Y/n) said anything. "I was... I was stuck in my head."

"And now, you're out."

"You... You popped up. You showed up there. You helped me."

"Yup."

"How?"

He paused for a moment.

"Charles..."

"I... possessed you."

(Y/n) sighed, standing up and placing their head in their hands. "Charles."

"It was to save you-"

"Oh my god!"

"I was trying to help-"

"You possessed me!"

"You need to relax-"

"No!" (Y/n) slapped Charles's hands away as he tried to guide them back to bed. "You possessed me!"

"I know that it's an invasion and it probably feels like you had some privacy violated-"

"My privacy isn't my concern," (Y/n) cut him off. "My concern is that you and Edwin have told me over and over again that possessing people sets off alarms in the afterlife. I don't care how close to death I am; you don't get to take that kind of risk for me."

"That's not just your choice," Charles replied. "I told you before, any risk that I take is my choice. I just saved your life!"

(Y/n) ran their hands over their face as they walked to the window. It was dark out. The moon perched itself perfectly to shine into (Y/n)'s room. There had been countless nights where (Y/n) spent ages just staring up at the sky, somehow feeling less alone when it was in sight.

(Y/n) could hear Charles walking to the window. They saw him out of the corner of their eye.

"I would do it again," he admitted. "No matter how much danger I put myself in. I'll do what I have to in order to save you."

"Why?"

"Because if you died, you wouldn't know how to get away from Death. I'd never see you again," Charles turned to (Y/n), who was still staring out the window. "I can run for eternity. I can escape anything and anyone. And I would do that as long as I knew you were at the end of whatever path I was running. I can't risk not seeing you again. You... You mean too much to me."

Finally, (Y/n) looked over at him.

"I... I love you, (Y/n)," he murmured.

(Y/n) loved him back. They knew that. They had for a long time now. But they couldn't bring themself to say it out loud. It was strange. Charles had seen the dream that (Y/n) had been stuck in. Surely, he knew how (Y/n) felt. So why could they still not admit it to him? Maybe it was they were merely scared of confessing it to themself.

"I'm sorry," Charles said after a few moments of silence. "I shouldn't have said that-"

Charles was cut off when (Y/n) stepped over and kissed him. It was as awkward as one would assume that it would be. It wasn't some perfect, fairytale-like kiss. It was an awkward kiss shared between a person who hadn't been kissed in decades and another who had never been kissed before. And it was short. It lasted a matter of moments before (Y/n) pulled back again. They stared at Charles with wide eyes, as if they had been just as surprised by their actions as he was.

He slowly grinned at them.

(Y/n) looked down for a moment, face becoming warm. "We should... We should get Edwin-"

"In a minute," he muttered.

"Charles-"

He leaned over and kissed them again. When he pulled back, there was a smug smile on his face. "You haven't said it back yet."

"What- oh," (Y/n) felt their face get even warmer as they realized what he meant. "I love you too."

It was quiet. As if it was still some kind of secret that no one other than Charles was allowed to know. Maybe (Y/n) meant for it to be that way.

It was then that Edwin climbed back through the mirror with some jars cradled in his arms.

"Alright, I found some things in the office that should be able to help- oh," Edwin muttered as he saw (Y/n) standing there. "You went through with the possession, I see... Even though I told you not to."

"I panicked," Charles explained.

"I already told him off for it," (Y/n) added.

"I think that (Y/n) should stay at the office for a while. Until we know there's not a threat."

Edwin looked between the pair. "Very well."

"I'll meet you guys there," (Y/n) promised.

(Y/n) felt a kiss get pressed to their head before Charles stepped away. They looked at Edwin, who gave them a shocked look in return.

"Well... I'll see you in a bit," (Y/n) said, trying to ignore the look that they had received.

The ghost boys went to the nearest mirror and climbed through. (Y/n) could hear the two of them muttering to each other. It was going to be a very long visit, (Y/n) could tell.

But (Y/n) couldn't find it in themself to mind much.

It was all worth it to be able to still hear them at all.

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[sonofhelios2005]

Dead Boy Detectives AU, Redemption. Edwin and Charles are both genuinely good people who got dealt a bad hand but still try to do good. What if their lives took different turns?

Instead of taking Edwin to hell, Sa'al instead senses Edwin's potential for magic and offers him a deal, If Edwin becomes a witch and enters the service of hell, he would be spared any torture. Edwin, a terrified 16 year old facing a terrible fate, agrees. Edwin returns to his bed and pretends not to know what happened to Simon and the other boys. As part of his deal, Edwin begins studying magic and finds he has a genuine talent for it. He also enjoys the challenge that comes with trying to master spells. After a few years, Edwin realises he's immortal as he hasn't aged since he made his deal.

Over the next few years, Edwin occasionally gets orders from hell to place a curse on certain people or to summon demons to Earth. As the years pass, the acts he commits on behalf of the demons become worse. He kills or arranges deals between demons and mortals for their souls. Over the years, Edwin becomes detached from humanity, not particularly caring about his victims. His life wasn't fair. Why would anybodies be?. Then one day in the 1950 he crosses another witch who is far older and more powerful than him, she curses him to endure the suffering of anyone he had wronged, this lead to Edwin being comatose for a year before he wakes, now fully understanding what he's done Edwin is filled with remorse.

Edwin considers what to do, and eventually, he decides to try and help others. He uses his magic to cloak himself from hell. He then travels helping people when he can and takes special interest in banishing demons back to hell. He becomes well known as a powerful but dangerous individual who can be contacted for help with supernatural issues. He operates alone until he encounters Charles Rowland in 1989.

Charles, in this reality, was born in 1950. His dad hates him and is as viciously abusive as the show. Charles attended St. Hilarion's School for Boys until 1966, he stepped in to save a Pakistani boy from his friends only to become the target of their assault. However, instead of running into an attic to hide, Charles runs and is chased into the forest. In the forest is a group of vampires who are basically the British Lost Boys or BLB. The BLB kill everyone chasing Charles and are about to kill him until the leader sensing Charles's potential, offers a choice, die or become a vampire. Charles a terrified 16 year old accepts.

From here, Charles lives as a member of the BLB hunting and killing without remorse driven by the bloodlust of a vampire and the encouragement of the others. The BLB are outcasts among vampires as, despite their reputation, most vampires simply want to live their immortal lives in peace, unlike the BLB who cause chaos for the thrills. Charles enjoys the freedom that comes with being a vampire, and the BLB are more of a family to him than his own parents ever where. Charles grows into an incredibly powerful vampire who, along with his formidable physical prowess, also has numerous common and rare vampire abilities.

In early 1989, after 23 years of being a vampire, Charles unexpectedly encounters his aged father whilst he was out hunting. Seeing his father causes Charles to have an epiphany, he had always sworn to never be like Paul Rowland, but now he realises he is far worse. Charles horrified at own his actions over the last few decades begins pulling away from the BLB who noticed. Knowing the others would kill him if they knew he was going to leave Charles manages to fake his death and informs other vampires about the BLBs location. The BLB are banished from the UK, and Charles is left to his own devices. Charles spends the next several months lost in guilt and even contemplates ending his existence until he encounters a witch called Edwin Payne who had been looking for a base of operations in London and had walked into the abandoned building Charles was inhabiting. (The DBDA office)

The two begin talking, and Edwin seeing himself in Charles encourages him to begin helping others if he truly wants to make ammends. Charles starts helping Edwin in his jobs using his strength and near invulnerability to protect Edwin as he casts his magic. Soon, they become friends, neither having had true friendship for decades. Together, they are able to make a genuine difference and help many people, and after 30 years, start to believe they have started to find true redemption. In the 2020s, they are joined by a young psychic who they found abusing her powers to lie, cheat, steal, and even murder. Unfortunately, this is also when their pasts finally catch up with them, and they once again encounter hell and the BLB.

This won't actually be a story as I have no ability to write fanfiction. it's just my mad ramblings. I changed the year Charles was born because I thought it made sense if he did evil stuff for a long time, I also wanted him and Edwin to be together for the same amount of time as the show. Also, if Charles was born in the 50s, then he could be part of a vampire biker gang.

[the-office-of-avery-j-harpe]

Knowing that the boys are allowed on Earth so long as they are helpful, one of their past enemies gives the boys a poison that causes them to act on all the impulses they have been repressing and amplifies them so Charles becomes incredibly violent and angry and possessive and Edwin becomes mind bogglingly horny and run off to cause chaos. Crystal and Jenny have to track them down before they can do real damage while the Night Nurse is on strict orders not to watch so she doesn't see something she will have to report them for.

[dear-lucrow]

Finally starting my new fic! Here is the first chapter of

Devil on my Shoulder

Rating: Explicit (mostly for violence and angst reasons right now, although it might become a tiny bit smutty in the future)

Pairing: Payneland!

POV: Multi

Most important tags: angst, hurt/comfort, evil doppelgangers in their Bonnie and Clyde era, falling in love

Triggers: canon trauma, violence, depiction of a toxic relationship (not the main romance!)

Length: who the fuck knows, but this one is gonna be long!

First sentence:

The jaws of Hell are armed with iron teeth.

Summary:

Despite himself, Charles was mesmerized by this strange version of Edwin Payne that had something of Hellfire to him. And he was so very close … “His eyes are decidedly less honest than yours. Intriguing... Never pegged Charles Rowland for a liar.”

“Careful, luv.” The voice was a sing-song drawl, accompanied by the same scraping sound drawing ever closer. “You know I get jealous.” There, lit faintly by moonlight, was Charles Rowland – face pale, grin wide and eyes cast in shadows, twirling a cricket bat that had been studded with nails glinting wickedly like iron stars. “What you think, Win? I say there can only be one.”

***

A string of mysterious grave robbings leads the Dead Boy Detectives to stumble into a ritual, summoning strange versions of themselves, who have experienced a very different afterlife. Not only is there a pack of hellhounds hot on their heels, they also won’t stop at chaos nor bloodshed to carve out their place in the world – and remove their superfluous doppelgangers in the process.

As Crystal desperately tries to master her powers and keep the fragile fabric of reality from unraveling, the boys need to stop their nefarious doubles.

But to make matters infinitely more confusing, the two delinquents are obsessively, madly in love...

[thepiedsniper]

Dead Boy Detectives as the Seven Deadly Sins

Pride: Edwin. Pretty obvious, but Edwin has been conditioned to trust his own judgement above others by default, and must learn to temper his hubris with humility and greater reliance on others.

Envy: Monty. Wants to be a real boy™, always resenting his role on the edge, slighted by Edwin and used by Ester. 

Wrath: Charles. Explored pretty overtly in the show, but his rage issues. Bottling angry feelings until they become destructive instead of processing them in healthier ways.

Sloth: Niko. Her general hesitance to get involved with the more dangerous aspects of the DBD and hiding from problems in her room instead of trying to resolve them.

Gluttony: Crystal. (Self-)destructively seeks extreme sensations and creates discord just to satisfy her own hunger for chaos and revenge. Even when she’s missing her memories, there are times when she prioritises her own needs and desires over the greater good. 

Lust: Cat King. Pretty self-explanatory.

Greed: Ester. Wants to possess more than she needs. More magic, more youth. Takes everything from others and leaves them nothing.

[coloursflyaway]

Won't Fear Love (4/6)

Pairing: Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland

Rating: T

Word Count: 1.500

Read on AO3

„We should go a date“, Charles says on a perfectly bland Tuesday, looking up at Edwin from whatever he is doing at the moment.

If Edwin wasn’t dead already, he would suspect that Charles is trying to kill him.

or:

Five times Charles takes Edwin on a date to figure out if he could fall in love with him, and one time when he has an answer.

tagging all the lovely people who wanted to give this fic a read: @itsablueberrycow @piristephes @assignedpeanutallergyatbirth @mylu @oneweirdbean @lifeinvirtualreality

There is a crowd outside of the next location.

At least it isn’t teenagers, Edwin reasons with himself, while he lets Charles drag him there, hand in unenthusiastic hand. It seems more like an adult event, with middle-aged men and women laughing and mingling, which elevates his worries just slightly. “Where are we going, Charles?”, Edwin asks, and the smirk Charles shoots back at him is definitely disconcerting.

“Well, the last thing we did, that was for you”, Charles explains and it seems to Edwin that he is far too excited about this. “This one’s for me. But I promise, you’ll like it.” It’s only because he has the utmost trust in Charles that Edwin sets a foot inside the establishment. And maybe the hand that is still holding his.

It is a concert.

Edwin should have known, after all, this is where Charles usually goes to if he spends an evening alone. On several occasions in the past, he had asked Edwin to join him, but he had always declined, preferring the quiet of their agency and a good book to the chaos of live music. Especially the kind that Charles seems to enjoy most.

However, he has to admit that there is something about watching Charles here that is… captivating. Intriguing. Beautiful in its own way. Because Charles is happy here.

He weaves through the crowd with practised ease, glowing with excitement as he takes in their surroundings, mouthing along to the song that is playing through the stereo. Edwin can hardly make out the words, yet Charles seems to know them by heart.

Eventually, Charles stops at the back of the room, a few metres away from the bar, and turns around to face Edwin. “We don’t want to go up the front, there’s gonna be a lot of people once the band starts”, he tells Edwin, “And I hate it when they phase through me during a song, really takes me out of the whole thing. Also, we’ve a bit more privacy here, yeah?”

Edwin isn’t certain why they would need privacy, seeing as they are not visible to anyone around, but he still appreciates the sentiment – people phasing through them is quite unpleasant and proximity to the stage isn’t anything Edwin is keen on in the first place. So, he nods, and Charles smiles, and then does something cruel, heartless, unthinkable.

He drops Edwin’s hand.

It is strange how used to it Edwin has become in such a comparatively short time, holding Charles hand, to the point where he feels the lack of it now, because they are on a date and Charles is supposed to hold his hand.

Yet, instead he is rummaging through his backpack, letting out a tiny Ah! when he finally finds what he has been looking for. He’s smiling, almost a little shyly, and reaches out to grasp Edwin’s lapel, fixing something on it.

“I got you a pin”, he explains; his hand finds Edwin’s again and all is fine in the world. “Little bit like mine. So you won’t look so out of place in here with your fancy suit and your perfect hair. See?” And he points to the pin, a little circle in black and white. It really does resemble the chequered one Charles is wearing, only that the lines are less crisp and more of a wave, that there are little pink and yellow stars scattered between them.

It looks ridiculous against the blue tweed. Edwin never wants to take it off.

“Where did you even get this from?”, he asks, feeling almost dazed, and Charles grins, even as he rubs the back of his neck, indicating an answer Edwin might not be happy with. “Stole it”, Charles admits, and yes, Edwin should be cross with him, but it is very difficult to remember that than when Charles stole it for him. “From a Primark a couple of blocks down from the office. But don’t worry about it, it was maybe a quid. They won’t miss it.”

He’s right, and much more importantly, Edwin just cannot bring himself to care.

“Thank you”, he says softly, putting his hand across the pin and almost, just almost feeling the cool, smooth plastic against his skin. “I love it.”

The band starts playing only a little later, and Charles is so happy that Edwin forgets that he doesn’t particularly likes crowds, that this isn’t music he would listen to if he could choose, not even that Charles at some point in his dancing drops his hand. Because there is joy in every motion, every word he sings along with, loud and inaudible to anyone but Edwin, and watching him, Edwin thinks he might never have loved him more. He’ll go to a thousand concerts, listen to a million songs that don’t make sense to him, if he only gets to see Charles like this again.

The song changes, a piano playing, and it’s more mellow than what has come before, and Edwin expects Charles’ movements to become slower; what he doesn’t expect is for Charles to turn around to him, his hair framing his face in wild curls and hold out his hand. “Wanna dance? I think we should dance.”

“Dance?”, Edwin repeats, still too dazed by Charles’s joy to make sense of the words, and he doesn’t get to think about it for a minute longer, because Charles grasps his hand and pulls him in.

Edwin has danced before, but not like this: it had been stuffy classes his mother made him go to in the summer before he died, taught by a stern woman with a hazel switch that she would use to flick at her students’ feet if they missed a step. He had hated every second of it.

This, however, is so different it should not even be allowed to carry the same name.

Charles’ hand settles on Edwin’s hip, gently pulling and pushing him with the rhythm until Edwin gets the hang of it, smiling so wide that Edwin’s cheeks hurt in sympathy. The light is dim, yet his eyes sparkle, and although the music is so loud, Edwin can hear Charles’ laughter when he raises their hands to spin around, before returning to Edwin’s arms.

He moves like it’s as easy as breathing and Edwin is captivated, smitten, unable to look away. And they are so close, close enough that Edwin could count each of Charles’ lashes, close enough that he can make out every excited twitch of his lips. It would be the easiest, and the scariest, thing in the world to just lean in and…

The song changes.

“I never thought I'd miss you half as much as I do”, the singer croons and Edwin is close enough that he can see that Charles’ eyes go wide, his smile falter for a split-second, before he starts laughing.

“What is the matter?”, Edwin asks, confused by the sudden shift of atmosphere. The music is still playing, sounding almost the same, they are still dancing, but Charles is looking at him with an expression Edwin cannot describe, let alone understand.

“Just listen”, Charles tells him, and Edwin does.

The melody is quite pleasant, upbeat and maybe a little bit longing, and Charles is watching him listen; eager, maybe, interested, definitely.

“Every night, every day, I know that it's you I need to take the blues away“, the singer continues, and Charles ducks his head a little, then „It must be love, love, love…“

And Charles looks back up at him, and suddenly it feels like Edwin hadn’t been aware how close they are after all, even if he spent the last minutes thinking about nothing else. But they are so close, and this is a love song and they are dancing and Charles still isn’t moving away.

Instead, he is holding Edwin’s hand and watching him, his eyes curious and dark, and Edwin wants to kiss him so much it hurts.

“How can it be that we can say so much without words?”, the singer asks and Edwin thinks, yes. Thinks, please. Thinks, I would do anything for you. Thinks, I love you the most.

It’s only when Charles makes a little sound at the back of his throat that Edwin realises they have stopped moving, but before he can formulate a single thought, Charles is dragging him close. Slender arms wrap around Edwin’s shoulders, and Charles is hugging him so fiercely that Edwin can feel it, their astral bodies so close he can hardly tell where he ends and Charles begins. Without thinking, Edwin hugs him back, and Charles buries his face in the crook of his neck, and Edwin holds him, eyes slipping shut.

“It must be love, love, love”, the music still plays, “Nothing more, nothing less, love is the best.”

It’s no kiss, but it’s enough, more than that, even.

It’s love, and the kind really doesn’t matter.

[tansyuduri]

Merlin Loregasm Rewatch S1E1

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my rewatch of Merlin focusing on the lore. I am a giant nerd so pretty excited about this. Time for THE DRAGON'S CALL

Okay so by the looks of it Merlin walked all the way to Camalot. Every other person we ever see walking on the roads and many who ride get ambushed by bandits. So it seems Merlin either managed to remarkably avoid trouble once in his life. Or he took down a lot of enemies. Unless he just killed them all you would think someone would have noticed Magic unless he hid it. So it is possible Merlin already had a good deal of practice using sneaky magic in fights BEFORE arriving in Camalot.

It could also just be that the Road from Ealdor to Camalot is VERY safe because later in the season Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, And Morgana get there without incident, AND Gwen gets there fine in season 4. OF course, she might have had the skill to just fight off enemies. Another thing to think about that is funny is the possibility they were safe later partly because Merlin just managed to atract every possible danger and totally destroy it on his way to camalot in Merlin fashion. (And it kept happening if he ever visited home the times we do not see.) I could just be overthinking everything too. That will be a common theme.

OKAY! this is interesting, This is pretty much one of almost no one we see with a last name let alone a middle one. At this time in history last names were HIGHLY uncommon and usually belong to nobles. SO this brings up a question I find really interesting. Is it possible that the Collins family were once nobles? What happened to magic-practicing nobles when Uther took charge? Were they killed and then had their family stripped of their titles? If so it would explain the random last name (And how his mom knows how to move in a fancy dress perfectly later) HOWEVER in To Cure All Ills, Edwin Muirden has a last name. And one would think Uther would recognize it if THEY were a noble family. So this could just be a random fluke thing.

Full line from Uther here is: " When I came to this Land, this kingdom was mired in Chaos. But with the People's help Magic was driven from the realm, So I declare a festival to celebrate 20 years since the great dragon was captured. And camalot freed from the evil of Sorcery."

THIS tells us a ton. First of all, Uther did not grow up in Camalot. It's possible he was either a ward of some other person if he was from an ancient bloodline of Kings of Camalot. OR he became king purely by Right of Conquest! A magic mention just after 'mired in chaos' is interesting because it could imply there was more bad magic than just the death of his wife going on. This is supported by the mention that the people helped! It is also possible it is independent of magic if so WHAT CHAOS? I NEED TO KNOW. But either way, it becomes clear that the people supported enforcing the magic ban big time. Let's move onto 20 years. If the popular headcannon that Arthur turns 21 on his birthday in the first season is true, it means Arthur was born and then Magic was purged in about a year. Or at least the great dragon was captured about a year into the purge. The first seems more possible because of the "And Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery."

Does this look like an OH SHIT I knew this woman. She was a noble! face or not? He also lets her monoluge a while before the "Seize her" and looks kinda haunted.

Okay, Seriously what does it take to do this teleport spell. We only see her and Morgouse do it. MERLIN WHY DID YOU NOT LEARN THIS?

Gaius is very big on Magic must be studied and learned in this episode but later will mention Uther "drowned children for magic they were born with" We also see other people born with magic (Mordred, Morgana) So my thought is that people can be born with magic and sometimes do some random things and have random outbursts. BUT they need to study to learn any big spells or use it purposely. There are also people NOT born with magic who study it and learn. (Gaius seems to hint at this.) (or perhaps they have to be born with the ability too in which case Gaius was born with the ability but had to study a LOT) I'm a strong believer in "Magic is an Allegory for things you are born with that makes you fundamentally different from most people." So I prefer the later version) This hints that like MANY things magic ability is part talent and part study.

This just in! There is an estimated time to get from Ealdor to Camalot by walking. Perhaps Merlin did NOT clean out every possible threat along the way? ALSO RANDOM THOUGHT was Merlin's room once Alices? Or just a bed he let patients lay on? Like Merlin tends to do?

OKAY first mention of religion. The word "God" is used. I will be keeping track of these since its one of the things I wanna figure out with this rewatch.

Morgana: To whom! He practiced some magic. he didn't Hurt Anyone Uther: You were not around 20 years ago. You have no Idea what it was like.

Morgana: How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then? Uther: Until they realize there is no room for magic in my kingdom OKAY interesting this seems to possibly hint that once again more than Ygraines's death went on. It also seems to show that the magic ban is not universal "MY Kingdom" Yet Uther doesn't seem like the type to ally with magic-using kingdoms. We'll keep an eye on this

This starts the reflective surfaces reveal Ilusion magic rule. We will be keeping an eye for exceptions to see if I can find any but the rule seems pretty universal (Except for cups at the dinner scene. so puddles and mirrors.)

Okay those are for sure Tomatos which TOTALLY were only in the new world. I love this because it implies some great sorcerer like Sigan was like "you know what we need more crops. I want a more varied breakfast *summons crops from half a world away* PLANT THESE PEASANTS."

Funfact! Gwen's family/ancestor most likely came to Albion with the Romans during their invasion! This is one a reason it's ridiculous when people try to say there were not black people in Britain at this time.

Gaius: The likes of which I've never seen before

Merlin: What do you mean?"

Gaius: Well magic requires incantations, spells; it takes years to study. What I saw you do what elemental Instinctive

EXEPT is does not always require incantations, and we know for a fact that gaius talks about children born with magic later. So I think he means controled magic here.

Gaius: Uther banned all such wrk 20 Years Ago.

Merlin: Why?

Gaius: "People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural Order into Chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons. Ok this seems much more likely to just refer to Ygraine. We also get a mention of Uther destroying Dragons. A freind of mine on a discord brought up that they think the dragon lords must have actually helped Uther because HOW ELSE DID HE KILL DRAGONS (let alone get a chain to hold one!)

GAH! No spell was recited here! WHY Merlin WHY! Was this done on accident?

We've got another God Used!

[itsthenovelteafactor]

dead boy detectives and lockwood and co crossover

they’re besties because i refuse to let netflix’s poor decisions make me put two bad bitches against each other

okay charles and lockwood are instantly friends, they are trading fencing techniques and lockwood almost breaks a table with charles’ cricket bat

edwin and george do NOT get along immediately but are begrudgingly impressed with each others’ libraries and then they realize they have a lot of the same opinions about extremely niche occult writers and are complaining about poor cataloging in random extremely exclusive archives

it was a very, very bad idea to introduce the skull to the dandelion sprites he knows swears now lucy’s life is going to be unbearable

crystal and lucy forming a “my psychic abilities make me extremely empathetic but make no mistake i am judging you harshly” club and everyone is a bit nervous.

jenny: *looking at the dbd* when did this become my life?

holly: *points to lockwood and lucy* do you see this heterosexual nonsense i have to deal with?

they are commiserating

nico gets very investing in drawing on the thinking cloth

edwin is very excited about lockwood’s parents’ collection of artifacts and has actually read a bunch of their anthropological papers.

charles: yeah we had to fight this witch who used dark magic to extend her lifespan and stay looking young for decades

lockwood: US TOO!!

george: we’re a small outfit operating under our own supervision since the overall system is overly bureaucratic and impersonal and we don’t trust them to make the right decisions

crystal: will drink to that. we did end up kind of adopting one of the bureaucrats into our group after she helped us out of a number of tricky situations, though

george: you’ll never believe this

kipps and the night nurse: WE WERE NOT ADOPTED

holly and edwin definitely become “people that sideeye their messy colleagues” together

niko tells kipps his goggles are very cool and genuinely means it. they’re friends now, and he lets her try them on.

basically they are very similar kinda of chaos and end up teaming up to solve cases and also to just hang out between them

[pejite]

In just four years, their home had become a bustling haven of little ones. Wilhelmina found herself grappling with the unexpected rigors of motherhood. The twins demanded constant attention, and Thomas and Rosemary's playful antics added to the chaos, creating a continuous cycle of noise and activity. Sleep became a rare luxury for Wilhelmina, and on most days, her only respite was to bring all four little ones to her bed, attempting to find solace in shared slumber.

On the flip side, Edwin's worry deepened with each passing day. The crops showed no signs of improvement, and he grappled with the mystery of their ailing condition. While the weather had been drier than usual, it didn't account for the extent of crop distress. The anticipated meager earnings from this harvest left Edwin contemplating strategies to sustain their expanding family.

[acircusfullofdemons]

GARNET - Are there gods? -🐺👑

[ ASK GAME ] || Eternal Labyrinth is FULL of Gods/Deities! Arcadia has the most by default, obviously, but Earth I & Earth IV have a handful, too. Warning, this got...a lot longer than I thought it would 😅

Earth I

Theia Mortimer — goddess of death

Vitalus Zoticus — god of life

Eloise Jekyll — first angel

Ketrill Hyde — first demon

Josephine "Fifi" Allaway — goddess of time

Emory Warwick — god of space & knowledge

Lucien Jekyll — goddess of order/harmony

Vincent Hyde — god of chaos

Earth IV

Prism — mother of the 7 Emotional Deities, encompasses all emotions

Ares — deity of anger

Hermes — deity of greed

Phobos — deity of fear (+ Harvest aka Harlow Spade, who becomes the new goddess of fear at...some point)

Hercules — deity of determination

Pandora — deity of hope

Eleos — deity of compassion

Aphrodite — deity of love

There's also the 7's first followers & partners:

Orion Guerrero aka The Butcher

Edwin Kramer aka The Merchant

Aurelia Crowley aka The Witch

Cleo Barsotti aka The Hero

Silas Roux aka The Hopeful

Grace Lovatt aka The Merciful

Amanda Lovatt aka The Lover

Arcadia

Alcus (al•cuss) — god of the ocean, rivers, water.

Alia (al•e•ah) — goddess of puzzles, riddles. wife of zagreus. mother of elythia.

Bruma — god of winter, cold. sister of rythsti.

Bytris (bye•tris) — god of technology. often confused for or replaced by vyris.

Calypso — would-be god of imagination, theater. associated with music, dance. son of illulia and joylena. brother of reverie.

Cletho (cle•though) — god of darkness, the void. associated with leadership, fatherhood. father of viktoria and deimos.

Deimos — god of destruction. associated with fear, nightmares. son of cletho. brother of viktoria.

Delphi — goddess of intelligence, wisdom.

Direna — goddess of magic. associated with purple, demons, wolves.

Elliott — goddess of space. also referred to as Mother of the Galaxy, Keeper of Constellations.

Elythia (el•ih•thiea) — goddess of the dead / ghosts, ensures spirits travel to their respective afterlife. daughter of zagreus and alia. caretaker of emrits. commonly goes by “theia (mortimer)”.

Fifi — goddess of time. also referred to as Father Time, Josephine Allaway. has an apprentice, toby reynolds, who is often referred to/confused as the actual god of time. he is most well-known in Earth I/Wonderland and Neverland, mainly for never working properly.

Ignius (ig•nus) — god of battle, strategy. associated with fire, summer.

Ilullia (ill•oo•leah) — goddess of slumber, dreams, nightmares. mother of reverie and calypso. wife of joylena.

Joylena — goddess of holidays, celebrations, marriage. associated with trickery, music, bells. wife of illulia. mother of calypso and reverie.

Lullaby — god of lullabies. son of reverie.

Nynx — god of the moon, dusklight (nighttime). serves as solar's right hand, technically king of the gods but has more respect of a prince than anything else. brother of sola.

Reverie — goddess of daydreams, imagination. daughter of ilullia. sister of calypso. mother of lullaby.

Rythsti (ry•th•st•ee) — goddess of nature. also referred to as Mother Nature. associated with motherhood. mother to zagreus. sister to bruma.

Sola — goddess of the sun, dawnrise (daytime). queen of the gods. sister to nynx.

Viktoria — former goddess of space. see: elliott.

Vyris — goddess of reality. associated with fate, prophecy. often confused for or replaces byrtis in some myths.

Zagreus — god of death. son of rythsti. husband of alia. father of elythia.

Zerlo — god of the weather. associated with storms.

There's other mythological figures & deities but this is just about the Gods + this post is long enough lmao

[emotionallydistraughtchickenboy]

1300 to 1310, the Langley Family

Winfred and Hilda Langley were married in 1279 and had their first child, Edwin, soon after. In 1284 they had their first daughter, Annice, and Lillen followed in 1287.

They all lived together in a small farm, barely able to make ends meet and having gruel for every meal. This is until 1300 came around, Winfred died from malnutrition and his wife Hilda followed soon after, a sudden death, probably from heartbreak.

Not all were ill news that year, however, as that was also the year Edwin wed the love of his life, Iria, the daughter of a nearby butcher.

She helped take care of the house and the farm, and with his two sisters now teens they all managed to get the farm to produce some profits by the end of the year.

Now eating something other than gruel the couple wasted no time in their attempts to produce an heir, however despite their prayers God was clearly not on their side, as they had a stillborn near the end of 1301, a girl they named Blythe and buried next to her grandparents behind their barn, now home to the cow Myrtle. In 1302 Iria had a miscarriage, and it wasn't until the very end of 1303 that she gave birth to the triplets.

Fergus, Wendy, and Shirley were home; however, Wendy was another stillborn.

More joyous news came that same year, as they managed to scrape together enough money to give Annice a dowry of 500 simoleons, and so she was married to Edgar Hathewaye that same year.

Barely a year from their wedding they had Devon Hathewaye, a beautiful baby girl, but God is clearly not fond of this family, as Annice died in childbirth.

Edgar mourned no more than a month and wasted no time in looking for a replacement. In 1305 he attempted to court young Lillen, then 17 and looking for a husband herself, but as he was on his way to the barn to swindle her of what should only be given to her husband (And in a bed, preferably), God himself struck him in anger, causing him to die in an attack of hysterics.

Devon was taken in by her aunts and uncle, who were themselves already dealing with 2 infants and Iria's fourth pregnancy, so the home was chaos for the next couple of months.

Thankfully Lillen didn't mourn long, and she had another proposal soon enough. She wed the knight Casey Herring by the end of 1305 and took sweet Devon with them.

Iria's fourth and fifth pregnancies went by without any complications, and she had Gail Langley in 1306, followed by Audrey in 1308, two beautiful and healthy girls.

Lillen, as it's custom in this family, waited no time, and in 1306 gave birth to her first child, Brook Herring, and in 1308 gave her husband a son to continue on the Herring name, Dallin.

With his sisters gone and his farm thriving Edwin had a new objective in mind, to give his children the best life he could. The triplets (Now twins?) were old enough to help in the farm, and with the extra time he started raising bees, and making mead with their honey.

At first he sold the mead at the market, but soon he had enough money to expand his small farmhouse into a two floor home, with his family sleeping upstairs, and the first floor was turned into a tavern.

As the children grew the cries and laughter of babies never stopped, in the search for a second son Iria got pregnant twice more, from the first pregnancy nothing came to be, as she soon miscarried, but from the second was born, finally, another healthy boy, Charles Langley.

And with that the first decade of the challenge is over, the Langley family is large and prospering, and hopefully it will only become more so...

Although... There is a famine looming on the horizon.

[once-was-muses]

anonymous | Misc. Asks

do you have any ships youre more inclined to?

[ I will admit that I do have some favorites for certain muses, that doesn't mean I subscribe any less to the "shipping with chemistry" philosophy. Even if one of my mutuals is a character I really like with one of mine, I'm more inclined to sit and think on it and run a few interactions before approaching the subject- or accepting if I was approached first. ]

[ Now, with my wee disclaimer out of the way, here's my list of an answer (minus OCs because. Everyone except Jackdaw is original fiction, and even then Irene doesn't have any ships at the moment.) ]

Abe: I am very attached to both the idea of Abe Has Two Hands (for Hellboy and Liz), and B.P.R.D. Agent Found Family Siblings- but the former has been growing on me lately. I don't particularly like Abe with Kate, I see them more as explicitly close friends, but I could be persuaded otherwise.

Bro'Dee: my first big ship for him was an itty bitty rarepair with Martian Manhunter. That's still near and dear to me, but Arkillo, Hal, and Kilowog have entered my multi-shipper heart. The idea of Bro'Dee and Sinestro or Iroque/Indigo-1 has crossed my mind a few times now, but those are harder to explain, lmao. Bro'Dee's Mentor-Slash-Adopted-Dad relationships with Kyle and Razer are So Important to me, thus unsurprisingly no-gos as far as romantic ships.

Dedan: I don't really ship him with anyone. He absolutely has feelings for Queen Vader, not just protective/loyalty but romantic- however he knows better than to ever admit so allowed. He and Enoch are a big no for me, same with Japhet. Dedan and Hugo Found Family is all I really care about dhhsks-

Edwin: besides (obviously) Jon, I really like the idea of. Not necessarily a romance (not at first) but he and Eddie. I like ships with Nygma that go from "I hate you so much you're so stupid" to "okay maybe you're not THAT stupid but I STILL HATE YOU" so on and so forth. Also love the idea of Winnie and Selina being little shit kleptomaniac friends.

Harriet: hello yes I think Harrie and Steph Brown would be so good. Not for anyone else in a five mile radius, but they would be the perfect Chaos Lesbians. (There's a joke about Steph liking people with caffeine addictions to be made here.)

Harvey and Harv: Bruce Wayne or Oswald Cobblepot are who I almost always think of for romantic ships for the Dents. I think them and Selina and/or Eddie could be interesting as well. A really inexplicable pairing I like is them and Jon of all people, I have no clue why, lol. (I also think it'd be interesting to see what a Two-Face/Batman/Riddler relationship would look like òvó)

Jon: again excluding the obvious answer (Edwin), I'm not opposed to he and Riddler but it's not my favorite. I'm more partial to Batman, Catwoman, Bane, or even Two-Face or Croc as a partner(s) for Jon. Harley, Ivy, and Hatter are hard nos for different reasons (found family, usually found family's girlfiend and/or lesbian, and Very Bad History respectively.)

Linda: another I don't really ship with anyone. She's not aromantic, but. In terms of like practice, Yes She Is. Linda isn't that concerned about a partner (and refuses to tell me what her type is beyond "people I can use.")

Salaak: Guy. Or Kilowog. It's inevitable that Salaak is the "long suffering" in the "jackass and long suffering partner" dynamic, and name two bigger jackasses in the Corps (that aren't Hal or Kyle.)

Sameer: also zero ships. The only Squad member he has even close to a positive opinion of is Harley, and even then it's more "you didn't plot to kill me, leave me to die, or try and force me into shit so. You're cool I guess" than anything.

Thoth (really straddling the line between "canon" and "OC"): I've mentioned this on my sideblog for EoK but. I didn't intend to pair either god with anyone (and still don't, not in the main story at least), but Set and Thoth have become my number 1 pairing for that project (tied with a pair of goddesses that do actually get together in main story.) I also like the idea of Thoth hanging out with other wisdom gods and psychopomps, not necessarily as a romantic thing but a fun dynamic.

[anistarrose]

Seeing some requests to cite my sources now that this is blowing up, which I will do gladly, because I think we'd all love a quick refresher on Bill Cipher lore to pre-game for the new book!

"His backstory is basically the novel 'Flatland' from 1884 with more arson": For those who don't know, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions is a novel of satire/social commentary from Victorian England, and deals with a Square protagonist living in a 2-D realm before eventually becoming aware of a third dimension after meeting a Sphere.

Bill, in Weirdmageddon 3, calls his home dimension "the second dimension" and describes its inhabitants as "flat minds in a flat world with flat dreams."

[ID: Bill in the aforementioned scene, with his eye showing a flattened 2-D version of a planet. End ID.]

Additionally, in the official Bill Cipher Reddit AMA (get ready for several references to this), we were told:

[ID: a reddit user asks: "Do you know what spawned your existence?" and Bill replies, in all caps, "Edwin Abbot Abbot has a decent idea". End ID.]

Edwin Abbot Abbot is the author of Flatland. What's more, in Journal 3, Ford describes a similar 2-D dimension called "Exwhylia" that's inhabited by shapes, and that he initially believed to be Bill's homeworld.

[ID: a drawing of Ford from Journal 3 with a two-dimensional plane bisecting his head, and miscellaneous shapes moving about in that plane. End ID.]

Of course, Ford later learns that this dimension only resembles Bill's homeworld — and that Bill's actual home has long since been destroyed. In his words, he "liberated" his dimension, and in the words of the Axolotl from the Time Pirates' Treasure book, well...

Saw his own dimension burn. Misses home and can't return. Says he's happy. He's a liar. Blame the arson for the fire.

His dimension was "burned," which tracks with the fiery visual Bill provides when explaining this to Ford, and some explicit intentional arson was involved.

Interestingly, the Axolotl poem uses a very passive voice when describing his role in this ("saw" it burn rather than "made" it burn), so I've seen some people make very compelling theories that Bill is taking credit here for arson he didn't do, maybe even as a way to compartmentalize his pain about it, convince himself that he wanted to see his dimension destroyed — but I digress.

(Regarding a very different interpretation of Bill's guilt, but still very much pertaining to Flatland, go read Flat Dreams by PengyChan if you haven't already. It's so so good. Just do it.)

"He projects his family issues onto a 12-year old girl and subsequently tries to murder her": This is a bit more "extrapolation from character analysis" than it is "canon trait," but I hope to convince you of it regardless.

First off, in the AMA, a fan asked Bill if he had a family, and he replied: "Not anymore." Moreover, at a Comic Con panel in 2015, Alex Hirsch revealed: "If you Stan’s relationship with his family is bad, Bill’s is worse."

This brings us to his relationship with Mabel, and in particular...

"I mean, who would sacrifice everything they've worked for just for their dumb sibling?"

[ID: Bipper threatening Mabel in Sock Opera while saying the above line. End ID.]

This line is very pointed and specific, and Alex Hirsch talks about it more in the DVD commentaries:

“My concept is that Bill genuinely believes that Mabel’s kind of like him. He sees Mabel as a chaos agent… she’s a little bit selfish, she likes to have fun at whatever cost. And Bill is all those things times a billion.

So he thinks when he lays it all out for her, like ‘How about, instead of being lame, you do something fun! And crush whoever you want in the process!’ He thinks that’s going to go over. And, uh, he’s not wrong in seeing that side in Mabel, but — but Mabel is a better person that Bill Cipher.”

This is one of many moments of Bill seeing himself in Mabel — hell, in the Guide to Mystery and Non-Stop Fun, he admits he genuinely likes her ("fun is just another way of saying chaos!"). There's also a strong argument to be made that Bill is afraid of growing up, and that he projects that onto Mabel, too — the point is, though, that this interaction becomes a lot more meaningful once you realize just how bad Bill's relationship with his (now dead) family is/was.

"He's a fan of Dr. Strangelove": The film ends with nuclear bombs falling — ie, the apocalypse — while "We'll Meet Again" plays. Also directed by Stanley Kubrick, whom Bill helped fake the moon landing, according to the blacklight Journal 3 (though they did later have a falling out).

"He's questioning his sexual orientation": When asked in the AMA:

[ID: a Bill reddit comment reading, in all caps: "My dimension has 14 billion different genders. It's very confusing. I'm honestly not sure. It would take years of paperwork to sort it all out." End ID.]

"He was defeated by kittens, then tickles, then by a senior citizen in his underwear": Probably speaks for itself, but this was Dreamscaperers, then Sock Opera, then Weird 3.

"He's utterly terrifying. He's pathetic and cringefail": I editorialized a bit here, but like. C'mon. You get me.

"He lies about being happy 'for courtesy.' He lies until he's not lying anymore": We know he lies about being happy according to the Axolotl poem, mentioned above ("misses home and can't return" / "says he's happy, he's a liar"). And in this charity stream, Alex responds to a chat question with:

"Alex, why is Bill lying about being happy? Um, you know. For courtesy."

The other half is from the AMA, once again:

[ID: a reddit comment from Bill reading: "Little tip from someone who's been around the block- 'truth' is a tattletale with no friends. 'Truth' is your annoying uncle who spoils the movie. 'Truth' is a concept invented by powerful liars to guilt you into giving them more power. Dont fall for the trap. Lie until what you want to be true becomes true. Lie until you cant remember whats a lie and what isnt. Lie until you arent lying anymore." End ID.]

As I alluded to in the post above, "says he's happy, he's a liar" and "lie until you aren't lying anymore" are two lines, that, together, just absolutely fucking destroy me. Are you hearing this shit? This equilateral menace has such severe depression. I want to put him in a jar and shake him. God. Fuck.

"He refuses to grow up and mature": Alluded to earlier, but the tl;dr is best contained in this quote from Alex (source):

"Bill is a character who has been around for countless billions of eons, but he hasn’t grown up in that time. He’s a character who has accumulated many frustrations, many moments of destruction like that, and they’ve built up over time. Now he’s decided that he wants a world where there is no homework, where there is no bedtime—where you can eat any candy you want, and you can do anything you want. But because he is such a crazy guy, when he does anything he wants, it turns out to be terrifying. So I think little frustrations over thousands of years have built him into a sort of spoiled brat. And he takes it out on the world, and it’s up to our heroes to finally teach him some rules."

"He once fell down a flight of stairs on purpose": And this is just Sock Opera!

So there you have it! This was supposed to be a short follow-up, but immediately turned into an essay — the Gravity Falls (hyperfixation) is real and will never die, etc etc, even though tracking down the sources probably took me a little longer in 2023 than they would've back at the height of my obsession. Now you now it all (or at least the highlights), so go forth and overanalyze this triangle with me!

It's so nice to get a reminder in 2023 that Bill Cipher was/is THE villain of all time. He's the worst thing that ever happened to a random town in Oregon. He's a triangle. His backstory is basically the novel "Flatland" from 1884 but with more arson. He projects his family issues onto a 12-year old girl and subsequently tries to murder her. He's a fan of Dr. Strangelove. He's questioning his sexual orientation. He was defeated by kittens, then tickles, then by a senior citizen in his underwear. He's utterly terrifying. He's pathetic and cringefail. He lies about being happy "for courtesy." He lies until he's not lying anymore. He refuses to grow up and mature. He once fell down a flight of stairs on purpose. No one will ever do it like he did

[rajasthantourtaxi2]

Delhi Sightseeing Tour by Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company.

Overview of Delhi’s Sightseeing tour

The bustling metropolis of Delhi’s Sightseeing tour, the capital of India, combines modernity with a rich cultural heritage. An holistic experience of the city's prominent sites and diverse heritage may be had with a sightseeing tour of Delhi with Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company.

Investigating Historical Monuments

The Historical Significance and Architecture of Red Fort An iconic example of Mughal architecture, the Red Fort was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan and housed the Mughal monarchs for almost 200 years. Enclosed behind its walls of red sandstone are palaces, audience halls, and exquisite gardens that evoke the magnificence of a bygone era.

Experience a Light and Music Show An enthralling light and sound performance that chronicles Delhi's history and its significance throughout many eras brings the Red Fort to life in the evening. It's a fascinating approach to become acquainted with the diverse cultural fabric of the city.

World Heritage Site Qutub Minar, UNESCO Delhi's mastery in architecture during the Delhi Sultanate is exemplified by Qutub Minar, the world's tallest brick tower. Indo-Islamic architecture at its best can be found in the complex surrounding the minaret, which also has ancient ruins and the finely carved Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.

Stories and Details about Architecture Through its elaborate inscriptions and carvings, each tier of Qutub Minar recounts a story that sheds light on the history and cross-cultural exchanges that built Delhi over centuries.

Religious and Cultural Sites

The largest mosque in India, Jama Masjid The greatest mosque in Delhi and a masterpiece of Mughal design is Jama Masjid, which was built on an order from Emperor Shah Jahan. Thousands of worshippers can fit in its courtyard, which provides a window into Old Delhi's spiritual core.

The Minarets' Perspective For sweeping views of Old Delhi, where busy markets and winding streets weave a colorful tapestry of daily life against the backdrop of the city skyline, climb the minarets of Jama Masjid.

Temple of Lotus Faith House of the Bahá'ís People of all faiths are welcome to sit and pray in the tranquil settings of the Lotus Temple, which is renowned for its distinctive lotus-shaped architecture. It provides a tranquil haven within the chaos of Delhi, surrounded by verdant gardens.

Elegant Architecture and a Calm Setting Enter the Lotus Temple to witness its exquisite fusion of spirituality and architectural style, which represents the coexistence of many cultures and religions.

Highlights of Modern Delhi

The historical significance of the India Gate War Memorial A well-known landmark in Delhi, India Gate pays tribute to the men who gave their lives fighting in World War I. It is a moving reminder of India's military past and sense of pride in the country, surrounded by verdant lawns and canopies on all sides.

Evening Atmosphere and Events India Gate comes alive with excitement in the evenings as residents congregate for ice cream cones, street cuisine, and strolls along the lit paths. It's a popular location for both tourists and families to experience Delhi's lively environment.

The Parliament House and Rajpath India's political core Rajpath, often known as "King's Way," is a stately boulevard that links Parliament House, the Presidential Palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan), and India Gate. Embodying the democratic ethos of India, it serves as the focal point for national events and parades.

Architectural Perspectives Admire the magnificence of the British architect Edwin Lutyens' Parliament House, which is home to the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). India's democratic ideals are reflected in its round shape and fine craftsmanship.

Experience with a Guided Tour

The Function of Expert Guides Professional advisors knowledgeable about Delhi's history, culture, and architectural treasures are offered by Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company. They provide perceptive commentary, address inquiries, and guarantee a seamless and educational tour experience.

Personalized Routes according to Interests Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company offers bespoke itineraries catered to your interests, be it history, architecture, or local culture. To better meet your preferences, they can recommend extra stops or change the tour's pace.

Secrets for Getting About Delhi Because of its size and busy streets, Delhi can be difficult to navigate. Insightful advice on managing traffic, locating the greatest street food, and optimizing your time at each location will be provided by your guide.

Client Evaluations and Testimonials

Good Reactions from Past Visitors The professionalism, expertise, and commitment of Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company to offering travelers unforgettable experiences in Delhi are frequently praised by travelers. Numerous people emphasize how convenient it is to have a guided tour that efficiently covers the main sights.

Visitors' Reminiscent Experiences Tourists describe the trips as illuminating and engaging, and they frequently relate tales of their breathtaking experiences at sites like the Red Fort and Qutub Minar. Whether exploring undiscovered treasures or photographing breathtaking vistas, Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company guarantees that every guest departs with priceless memories.

In conclusion

Delhi provides an engaging and interesting sightseeing experience with its eclectic mix of historical sites, cultural icons, and contemporary attractions. You will have a greater understanding of India's capital after taking a sightseeing tour of Delhi with Rajasthan Tour Taxi Company, which claims to reveal the city's many features.

Also Read :-

Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness

Millions of people refer to Ozzy Osbourne as the “Prince of Darkness,” and he is a rock legend with a huge impact on pop culture and music. Over the course of a career spanning more than 50 years, Osbourne has irrevocably impacted the heavy metal subgenre and beyond. From his early Black Sabbath days to his lucrative solo career and celebrity on reality TV, Ozzy’s life is a tribute to tenacity, imagination, and the raw energy of rock ’n’ roll.

The Origins and Development of Black Sabbath Birmingham, England was the place of John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne’s birth on December 3, 1948. Osbourne was raised in a working-class home and found comfort in music, especially The Beatles’ sound track, which encouraged him to go into the rock industry.

Black Sabbath was created in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and guitarist Tony Iommi. Many people consider the band’s 1970 self-titled debut album to be the beginning of heavy metal. Compared to the more psychedelic and pop-oriented rock of the day, Black Sabbath’s music was characterized by a dark, powerful sound and lyrics with occult themes.

How Black Sabbath Became Famous Black Sabbath’s avant-garde sound helped them acquire popularity fast. Records like “Master of Reality” (1971), “Vol. 4” (1972), and “Paranoid” (1970) became classics and included some of the band’s most well-known songs, such as “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” Osbourne’s unique voice and enchanting onstage persona were major factors in the band’s popularity.

Notwithstanding their achievements, Black Sabbath encountered many difficulties, such as internal strife and drug misuse problems. These problems ultimately led to Osbourne’s dismissal from the band in 1979. Although it appeared to be a significant setback, Ozzy’s career actually began with this new chapter.

Career Independence and Reimagining The release of “Blizzard of Ozz” in 1980 marked the start of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career. With singles like “Mr. Crowley” and “Crazy Train,” the album was well-received both critically and commercially. The record also included guitarist Randy Rhoads, whose skill was instrumental in creating Osbourne’s new sound.

Ozzy continued to put out hit albums in the 1980s and 1990s, such as “Diary of a Madman” (1981), “Bark at the Moon” (1983), and “No More Tears” (1991). His solo endeavors cemented his position as a prominent heavy metal figure, gaining him the moniker “Godfather of Heavy Metal.”

Private Life and Stardom on Reality TV Like his musical career, Ozzy’s personal life has been chaotic. He’s been transparent about his battles with addiction and his attempts to stay sober. His life has revolved around his marriage to Sharon Osbourne, who has been instrumental in overseeing his professional life.

When “The Osbournes” debuted on MTV in 2002, the Osbourne family shot to fame as reality TV stars. Unprecedented access to their dysfunctional and frequently humorous family life was provided by the show, which introduced Ozzy to a new generation of fans. Ozzy’s reputation as a pop culture figure was further cemented by the four-season smash hit show.

Health Issues and Adaptability Ozzy Osbourne has had a lot of health issues lately, including being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020. He hasn’t wavered in his will to carry on writing songs and giving performances. His tenacity and dedication to his work have motivated admirers all around the world.

With collaborations with musicians like Elton John and Post Malone, Ozzy’s 2020 album “Ordinary Man” was well-received by critics and demonstrated his adaptability to the ever-evolving music industry.

History and Significance There is no denying Ozzy Osbourne’s influence on music and culture. He contributed to the creation and definition of the heavy metal genre as Black Sabbath’s leader. His solo work produced some of the most enduring and unforgettable songs in rock history, significantly extending his influence.

Beyond just his music, Ozzy is a lovable and sympathetic figure due to his large-than-life persona and honesty about his personal troubles. Numerous honors and distinctions have been given to him in recognition of his contributions to rock ’n’ roll, including his admission as a member of Black Sabbath into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

In summary The history of Ozzy Osbourne, who rose from a working-class boy in Birmingham to become a worldwide rock star, is one of skill, tenacity, and the healing power of music. Throughout the course of a career spanning more than fifty years, he has irrevocably altered the landscape of rock and heavy metal. Rock ’n’ roll and Ozzy Osbourne’s enduring appeal have ensured his legacy as the “Prince of Darkness” as long as he keeps making songs and engaging with fans.

[sarcasticdolphin]

Smrtolf (Canon) "Chaos (and ducks)"

For the amazing @adridoesstuff as all the Smrtolf drabbles are.

This one is kind of cracky and not very serious. Cut is for length.

The window is wide open as Aemilia flutters to it, the light outer curtains dancing in the faint breeze. Truly, the scene is almost out of a painting, one of a paradisial meadow. Inside Rudolf’s hunting lodge, on the other hand, there is only chaos.

Rudolf and Smrt are sitting in the corner of the room that serves as Rudolf’s studio, both on painting stools. Rudolf seems to be painting yet another picture of Smrt, this one tinged with bits of blue and green. Regardless, he’s totally ensconced in his task, and Smrt is totally ensconced watching him. So much so that neither of them seem to have noticed that Rudolf’s two helpers have deserted them.

The young angels - both crows - do so still have their brushes and don’t appear to have gotten paint everywhere, but they are both standing together on the ground, attentively watching what most of the room’s denizens seem to think is the true spectacle.

Said denizens are more varied than Aemilia had expected - three young wild crows, all sitting together, the leucistic raven, perched high on one of Rudolf’s bedposts, and half a dozen angels perched on the chair that Smrt usually preferred, eyes all glued on what could only be described as a game of tug of war.

Not a very fair game - Edwin might be rather ferocious, but he was a crow. And Anna, dainty as she was, was a raven. Really it was more of Edwin desperately pulling while Anna gave only the occasional tug, pulling him ever closer to her without even the smallest hint of effort on her part.

Aemilia glances at Rudolf and Smrt again. Rudolf is staring into Smrt’s eyes, slightly sticking his tongue out as he goes to mix the colors. He must be trying to match Smrt’s eyes to the paint again. For all Rudolf is a very skilled painter, this is usually the single most difficult - and longest part of any painting of Smrt. 

There is a noise and Aemilia turns back to Edwin and Anna’s little game to see Edwin toppled over and Anna clearly victorious. Her sister in turn has noticed Aemilia and gives a very soft little noise, as if saying that she would never be responsible for such chaos. And Aemilia can’t help but to smile as she takes her more human form. Anna is fluttering up to her arms a moment later, and Aemilia gives her favorite sister a few scratches before surviving the scene once more. The various angels seem to be looking everywhere but at her, while Edwin is taking out any frustration at having been defeated on the unfortunate shirt that had served as the rope in their makeshift tug of war contest.

But as her eyes take in the scene, there is one bird that she hadn’t noticed before. Smaller than the others, and sitting somewhat awkwardly on the floor, looking more confused than contrite.

Aemilia delicately picks her way over to the bird and kneels.

“Hello.”

The bird - a young crow - gives a soft noise and opens his wings a little, as if to try and flutter into Aemilia’s arms, and the problem becomes apparent immediately. The angel is so young that his flight feathers haven’t fully come in yet and he can’t really fly. Aemilia gently places Anna down to pick him up, though he is quite unsteady.

She steadies the young angel, cradling him close, before glaring over at Smrt. For his part Smrt was still totally ensconced with Rudolf and Aemilia almost wanted to roll her eyes. As much as Smrt and Rudolf tend to be so very sweet together, supervising young members of the flock - especially ones so new that they can’t really fly - should take priority.

But before she informs Smrt of his folly, she needs to get the angel something comfortable. He’s not really got at balancing yet, or used to being held while he’s in his bird form.

The nearest convenient object is one of a pair of red slippers that must be Rudolf’s. They look new - bright red with ducks embroidered on them - and feel soft as she gently coaxes the young crow into one before placing him on the bed, picking up the other and Smrt’s discarded whip as she did.

“Smrt.” Neither Smrt nor Rudolf notice her words, though the angels that had been looking anywhere but at her earlier now seem keenly interested in the head of the flock.

“Smrt.” Still nothing. Aemilia debates throwing the slipper at Smrt, but settles for poking his knee with the whip. 

“Smrt.” 

After a long moment he does turn, eyes wide a moment later and hair feathers ruffling momentarily from surprise. “Aemilia?”

She gestures to the little angel tucked in the slipper, raising her eyebrow. A pointed question despite the lack of words.

His confusion only seems to deepen at that. “How did you follow me? Your flight feathers aren’t in yet.”

The young crow gives a little chirp. “Not all of them.” 

Smrt winces at that, glancing to Aemilia and then to Rudolf. The prince has finally noticed that his two painting assistants have left him, and is glancing around, looking for the brushes.

“Behind the easel.” Smrt nods to the location of the two little rascals, both now perched in the framing of the easel behind the painting that Rudolf is working on. Out of the prince’s sight, but with a perfect view of what had been the tug of war match.

To their credit, the angels both do willingly give Rudolf back the brushes when he holds his hand out, and there is not any more paint in areas that it shouldn’t be. The pair even looks somewhat contrite, both glancing at each other and down before giving Rudolf softly pleading looks. They’ll probably be painting assistants once more in a week or so. Rudolf is so soft-hearted when it comes to the flock, especially if they don’t get paint into any ridiculous locations.

A noise that is perhaps the crow equivalent of a growl comes from the floor, followed by a weight on the end of the whip. Aemilia glances down to see Edwin, his beak shaking slightly as he dangled from the whip, before passing the whip to Smrt without missing a beat. Considering he evidently isn’t the best at supervising the angels who ought to be supervised, he ought to be the one to get Edwin off his whip.