#There may or may not be a chance there's an army of characters lying in wait for marshmallow-roasting goodness...

[asheanon]

It was a lovely evening. Simply sublime.

For those who may fancy themselves a night under the stars, it was perhaps the perfect night for camping... However, for those who didn't want to go through the motions of needlessly sleeping out in the wilderness when you could easily still enjoy the stars, then go into the comfort of a nice, warm, bug-free room at a nearby inn - complete with an actual bed and bathroom safe from the elements... It was a perfect night for that too!

In the fading light of day, around an oddly sizeable campfire, there sat four figures. At a glance, it would seem they were doing little more than most in a social gathering involving fire would do: just hanging out around it. The talkers would talk, the listeners would listen and those who wished to partake of the large, homemade puffs of fluffy confectionery could do so however they saw fit, which...

Really is just to say all four of them were roasting said sugary puffs and having a jolly good time while doing so!

Chit-chatting away about some pleasant memories and experiences of yore, Mina seemed even more buoyant and bubbly than usual (never underestimate the power of giving lots of sugar to a tiny newt lady.) Lorien offered a similar caliber of enthusiasm whenever the opportunity presented itself as well. Quietly, Branson and Sal listened to the two, playing the part of captive audience with relative ease.

Despite all the scintillating stimulus that may meet the senses here, however, it was at that very moment that Sal felt an unfamiliar presence... the sound of leaves rustling in a nearby bush or something of the like seemed to follow.

". . ."

Branson seemed to pick up on the sound as well. The violinist and the newt seemed unaware of it. Neither of them said a word.

It wasn't until another soft, suspicious addition to the ambience of the night revealed itself that one of the two finally spoke up.

"There is room for one more, should you wish to join us."

Though she did not look in their direction, the invite was cast out for whoever lurked in the shadows...

Briefly, there was silence. Having missed out on the auditory cues, if Mina or Lorien didn't know any better, they would think this was the makings of a ghost story in the works! Who better to tell such a tale than the ghost-of-sorts among them, after all.

Unbeknownst to all four of these friendly fellows, however, it could be noted that there was a chance - and only a chance - that whatever phantasms may linger among the nearby brush were of a distinctly @royaldeceit and/or @danthekickingman design...

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

Let’s Talk Galadriel Heartbreak in Season 2

Am I the only one who thinks her whole vibe about “Halbrand is Sauron” in Season 2 was way too over the top for the interactions we were shown back in Season 1 and for something merely platonic?

First, we can’t analyze Galadriel and Halbrand’s interactions with “shipper goggles” on. We have to be unbiased, here. And the truth is: we have enormous plot holes, and many things that just don’t add up. This makes us wonder/theorize what happened off-screen between Galadriel and Halbrand back in Season 1.

Not to upset my fellow shippers (you know how passionate I am about Galadriel x Sauron to the point I was accused of being delusional), but we didn’t see any interaction between Galadriel and Halbrand in Season 1 that could explain the seven stages of grief that Galadriel went through in Season 2.

They flirted, shared stares and the “I’ve felt it too” scene, and then Halbrand was revealed to be Sauron. And that’s it. We saw him as friends, basically. The argument that “Elves feel everything more deeply” is kind of weak when we look at the full picture.

Galadriel behavior in Season 2 wasn’t “I fell in love with him and he lied”. Like at all. We saw her heartbroken, angry, desperate and tormented by her memories of Halbrand, and by being deceived. It was personal but was no longer about getting revenge for her brother’s death; she wanted revenge because she got played.

1) Galadriel tried, at all costs, to keep Halbrand’s true identity hidden from everyone else

First, she allowed the Three Elven rings of power to be made. She tells Celebrimbor not to deal with Halbrand anymore, but provides no explanation (endangering him in the process). And clearly Celebrimbor himself doesn’t take her warning seriously, because he allows Halbrand to return to Eregion forge.

Then, she literally hunted down Elrond all the way back to Lindon. Why? Probably because she didn’t want Gil-galad and Elrond himself to find out that Halbrand was actually Sauron. And the question here is: why?

Was it only because she was humiliated and her pride was wounded for not “being strong enough” and allowed herself to be deceived (like she tells Celebrimbor in 2x07)? Or is there another reason for this behavior? Because we did see Galadriel lying left and right in Season 2, to hide the truth of her connection to Sauron. He promised you an army? Not even Adar believed that.

Besides, Sauron is known as “the great deceiver”, after all. Gil-galad is pissed but he doesn’t hold it against Galadriel, too much. I think he’s more upset by her disobeying his order to return to Valinor than anything else. Sure he doesn’t allow her to command the mission to Eregion, but he is concerned she might be susceptible to deception, again, after all. And that’s the reason why he appointed Elrond as the commander. No one holds Celebrimbor accountable because he got deceived by Sauron. So; what does Galadriel have to hide?

2) Galadriel was obsessed in meeting and fighting Sauron alone

This was Galadriel’s main drive in Season 2: find Sauron and kill him. All by herself. She bitterly joins Elrond & co, but goes rogue when she gets the chance.

However, she is worried about what may happened if she does meet Sauron alone, but that fear doesn’t stop her, anyway. Which makes me ask, again: why? What does she have to hide?

3) Galadriel and Adar: the meeting of the exes

Galadriel is unwilling to face Sauron alongside her Elf companions. However, she is prepared to do it alongside Adar, in 2x08. Which is interesting, because Adar himself was also played by Sauron, his revenge is also personal, and they already overshared with each other in 2x06.

Adar and Galadriel share a mutual understanding of Sauron and his seductive ways. In a way, Adar is the only character with whom Galadriel can relate in this matter. And that’s probably why she’s willing to actually join him to destroy Sauron.

Galadriel and Adar's “wine and dine” in 2x06 was, pretty much, them being the bitter exes crying at each other’s shoulder because they got played by the same fuckboy (Sauron). That was the subtext of that scene. Adar was clearly in love with Sauron, too.

This makes me wonder: why is Galadriel saying life without Halbrand has been a “dull gray”, exactly? Because, back in Season 1, Halbrand was always pretty moody and angsty, except when he was at the forges working (both in Númenor and Eregion, with Celebrimbor). Him smithing was the happiest we saw him, then.

4) Galadriel's reactions in her fight with Sauron

When Sauron arrives and says her name, Galadriel is absolutely terrified. To the point she actually freezes on the spot and is unable to move. Why? We know she’s not afraid of Sauron, come on. She is so scared because she’s afraid he might still be on Halbrand form. And she doesn’t know how she would react to that.

Luckily for her, he isn’t. He is on Annatar form, and she doesn’t have a connection to it. Still, she’s only able to attack him when he had his back turn on her, and she is not able to see his face, anymore.

This point is made clear when Sauron shapeshifts into Halbrand, and she’s unable to continue the fight:

This is clearly a reaction of “oh, look, the friend I was in love with platonically”. That’s why she’s crying, and hurt and with this look of betrayal on her face, I guess.

Does Elrond know something we don’t?

Elrond was at Eregion the entire time, and he was the one who found Galadriel on the Glanduin, and she's a wreck:

Elrond later finds the scroll with the Southlands bloodline and puts two and two together (Halbrand lied about his identity), however, it was only in 2x01 that he discovers that he was actually Sauron in disguise, when Galadriel is forced to reveal it to him, and to Gil-galad.

And his first reaction is odd: “How could you?” And he’s pissed. Not “Gil-galad pissed”. But actually, outraged by the whole thing, which again, is strange because Sauron is the “great deceiver”, after all. Everyone knows this: Sauron deceives, that’s his deal. Why is Elrond so vexed at Galadriel?

And he’ll keep on rubbing it on her face, throughout the first episodes of Season 2, and all of this seems to have some sort of double meaning:

Galadriel: Sauron used me. And under his hand, I was played like a harp to a melody not of my choosing. Elrond: It was entirely of your choosing. Sauron looked inside you, plucked the very song of your soul, note by note, making himself out to be exactly what you needed. "The Lost King" who could ride you to victory. You gave him everything he wanted and then thanked him for it. Rings of Power, 2x02

How did Galadriel “thank” Sauron for giving her everything he wanted? What does this mean? What does Elrond know? 

When did Galadriel ever “let Sauron in”, exactly? Because in Season 1 they were merely friends and she resisted his offer at the end. Because she “felt it too”? But we didn’t see her acting on feelings, right? So this doesn’t make any sense.

I know many in our fandom have this headcanon of a kiss (or more) happening in Númenor, but I don’t think so. If any kissing happened off-screen it had to be after the “I’ve felt it too” scene, and not before. This leaves their time together in Eregion as the only possible option, here.

We don’t know for how long Galadriel and Halbrand were there together in Eregion; only that Gil-galad gave Celebrimbor “three weeks” to test his theory (craft an object that could save the Elves on Middle-earth), and that Sauron worked there “for weeks” (according to Elrond in 2x01).

The only argument against this possibility is that Galadriel started to suspect Halbrand could be Sauron. Which leads me to the next point:

The Halbrand = Sauron reveal in 1x08

Everyone assumes that Galadriel starts to suspect that Halbrand might be Sauron in disguise after she hears Celebrimbor saying “a power over flesh”. But is this true?

The episode itself framed it this way because they wanted to build up the big “he is Sauron” reveal, however we have clues in the episode itself that contradict this. Namely how shocked Galadriel was when Halbrand revealed to be Sauron himself.

She was in denial when Halbrand said “I told you I found it on a dead man.”, and tried to racionalize everything that went down between them, like him saving her on the raft, him fighting beside her against Adar, etc. She couldn’t bring herself to believe it, at first. Odd if she was so certain he was Sauron all along.

Galadriel started to suspect Halbrand was hiding his true identity (he might not be the heir to the throne of the Southlands) and that he could have a hidden motive in Eregion, yes. But why does this immediately equals her suspecting him to be Sauron in “fair form”, exactly?

Sauron is ancient and known for being a powerful sorcerer, cunning and cruel, yes. But he was also Morgoth’s chief lieutenant and sucessor, and Galadriel herself believed he was still out there, gathering strength, and followers to raise to power, again. Would Galadriel actually believe that a powerful and mighty being (super villain level) like Sauron would ever present himself as a mere “low man” (heir to a throne or not)? I don’t think so. Sauron is way too vain and arrogant to allow himself to be humiliated at every turn, and this could have been Galadriel’s way of thinking, as well.

My interpretation is that Galadriel suspected that Halbrand could be a Sauron loyalist (like Waldreg), and even working for Sauron (double agent), and not that he was Sauron himself. Why?

1) Sauron is Morgoth’s sucessor, and the Southlanders made blood oaths to Morgoth in the past.

This would make sense with the entire Southlands plot in Season 1, actually; we’ve seen how the Elves were so against the Southlanders because they sided with Morgoth, that they had to keep an eye on them for centuries. We saw this in Arondir scenes from 1x01: But the Men who live here have not [changed]. The blood of those who stood with Morgoth still darkens their veins.

2) Everyone loves to bring up Galadriel’s pride and royal lineage except in this case. Deep down Galadriel could have a intuition that “Halbrand = Sauron”, but I don’t think her pride would allow her to believe she had romantic feelings for Sauron himself (at that point), and she had two-three weeks time to racionalize her options. Besides, this was her main conflict in Season 2, not in 1x08.

This would also make sense with what Elrond said in 2x01:

However, and even if she had her suspicions, she also had time to brush it off, especially because she was in love with him. In 1x06, Halbrand shows up when Galadriel is about to kill Adar. This was after the scene where Adar talks about Sauron’s plans of “a power over flesh”. Meaning: Halbrand was nearby and could overheard Adar saying it. Maybe he talked about it with Celebrimbor for some reason. When people are trying to cope with unpleasant truths and are in denial, they come up with every sort of weird excuses.

This would also make sense with her scene with Celebrimbor in 2x07:

Galadriel is agreeing with everything Celebrimbor is saying here. “I blinded myself to what he was”. When did Galadriel “blinded” herself to what Halbrand was? Because this scene connects with Elrond’s in 2x01 (“you were blind”). The whole “King of the Southlands” plot was Galadriel’s idea, in the first place, and Halbrand reluctantly agreed to it: so that’s not the “being blind” bit. Again, a lot doesn’t add up here.

Galadriel could only have, truly, blinded herself to what Halbrand was while they were at Eregion, and she started to suspect him.  

And this line makes Galadriel extremely angry and explosive:

What is Sauron talking about here, exactly? The power of his gaze? Their stare competition? Because that’s all we saw back in Season 1. 

“The door is shut” is Galadriel saying: “f*ck you, you lying piece of sh*t, scumbag! You used me and deceived me (“Sauron used me. And under his hand, I was played like a harp to a melody not of my choosing.”)!”

Are you familiar with Fleetwood Mac hit song “Dreams”? “Players only love you when they're playing”? Yeah, that’s the vibe I’m getting from this scene.  

In short: there is no way all of this is because “Elves emotions are very strong”, or Haladriel was platonic, or the interactions we saw in Season 1 was all that happened between Galadriel and Halbrand/Sauron. Something physical (a kiss or else) did happened between these two off-screen: that’s the only rational explanation for all of this.

[laismoura-art]

Heya, folks! Who's ready for a new AU?👀

Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel, founded 5 days ago by Cetrion's ✨️delusional✨️ daughter, Harumi Shirai :D

Now, this is a Scorpion!Harumi AU... AU! So I'll be using the Scorpion!Harumi Crew and their dynamics as reference to parallel the characters. With that in mind, let's meet the hotel staff!👀

THE PRINCESS, HARUMI SHIRAI:

She has a dream! She wishes to tell! It's certainly laughable, but hey kid, what the hell? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Harumi is heir to the throne of hell, but she doesn't think much of it. Her focus lately has been solely towards this one thing:

The Hazbin Hotel!✨️🌈🌸💕 Where she will guide Sinner towards a path to salvation and away from Heaven's annual Extermination!

Hopefully...

THE BODYGUARD (AND GF), LISA LIANG:

At first glance, Lisa Liang may seem rather scary, but when you get to know her... she's still pretty scary!

But underneath all that anger (obvious unresolved trauma), mean attitude and secrets beats a lovingly and devoted heart!

Devoted to Harumi and Harumi only!

Seriously, DON'T mess with Harumi!

After being terribly injured during an Extermination, Lisa was rescued by Harumi, and from that day on, Lisa made it her life mission to protect that beautiful soul at all cost, do everything in her power to assure her dreams were fulfilled!

Even the seemingly impossible ones...

THE (ONLY) PATRON, KUAI LIANG:

The Hazbin Hotel's first (and only) guest. Don't mind him. He's only staying here for the free rent!

Or is he?

Kuai may not seem much at first glance, but stick around, and the demon will certainly surprise you!

Take the information as you will...

THE BARTENDER, HANZO HASASHI:

Need to vent? Then talk to the bartender! He may look like he's not interested, but trust me, he is the shoulder to lean on!

But don't push your luck! He's not here because he wants to be. He's here because his damned boss decided to play hotel manager and needed a doll to play with (ugh! Such an insufferable guy)!

But despite his boss's antics, Harumi's incessant singing, Lisa's constant scolding, and Kuai's insistent flirting. They weren't the worst lot to be around.

He could get used to it. Yeah... he could.

THE MAID, FROST:

She kills bugs!

That's all you need to know.

Seriously.

Move on. (ಠ_ಠ)

THE MANAGER, (DARK) RAIDEN:

The damned boss.

He's been here since day... he's been here a week. But is faithful as a nun! Or something...

And he wants to help!

Why, you ask?

SHEER. ABSOLUTE. BOREDOM :D

Probably... ig... who knows? I don't!

And neither do you :)

THE QUEEN OF HELL, CETRION:

Absent awkward, mother. She's trying, but she's usually busy.

She was once an angel, you know? Helped create stars and gardens!

That cool plant you like? She probably made that one!

Nowadays, she makes plants mostly for herself...

She has a garden of her own and all! She grows her very own flowers, unlike anything heaven's limitated ass could ever think of!

I mean, could heaven ever make

✨️The Magi-tastic Backwards Lily Flower?✨️

✨️THAT SPITS F I R E??✨️

Yeah, didn't think so😌

THE FIRST (SECOND) GUEST, BI-HAN:

Pretty sure he once had a big army, maybe he was even a leader or something. But nowadays? He's just a bit silly!

He came to the hotel as a spy, sent to keep an eye on Raiden.

But the "super villain" started to grow a bit too comfortable in the hotel and too accustomed to the compliments.

He got sloppy and was caught embarrassingly fast!

But with a simple sorry spoken straight from his core, he was given a second chance! Not that it will mean much-- H*LY SHIT HE [MAJOR SPOILERS]!!

THE HEAD SERAPHIM, ASHRAH:

Look, she's not evil! Just misguided...

She wants to protect her home and her sister and is willing to do whatever it takes!

But maybe she will calm down once she meets Heaven's newest resident...

THE OTHER SERAPHIM, SAREENA:

You can call her Sareena, Reen, Sa, Ena, whatever!

She's usually very sweet and bubbly, but she's not feeling particularly bubbly at the moment. She's learned some stuff, you know?

Maybe a new friend may help her raise her spirits?

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

BONUS CHARACTERS:

THE LEADER OF CANNIBAL TOWN, DELIA:

I want to start including Delia in more on my stories, she seems like an interesting character who totally deserves more attention! Plus, I like the idea of her and Raiden bonding as (not elder) gods!

Plus imagine Delia using a big hat like Rosie's to cover her eyes!👀

THE WEAPONS' DEALER, SINDEL:

Fierce mom of two girls who would do whatever it takes to protect them.

We all know I don't need to elaborate

KUAI LIANG'S TWIN, TOMAS VRBADA:

Congratulations to Tomas for being the only one of Kuai's siblings who managed to remain his sibling on this AU, lol!

THE YET TO BE RESIDENT, CYRAX:

As Kuai's friend, I think she would fit as Cherry Bomb! It's not like Cyrax is not familiar with bombs, am I right?👀

Now, there are a couple characters that I'm still figuring out, Adam and Lute for once, have been particularly tricking!

I'm also still pondering The Vees and Lilith...

Regarding who I already choose, I know some of the choices may seem odd (Raiden, Cetrion and Bi-Han most likely) but I had my reasons for them, if you're interested in hearing them, feel free to ask, I'll gladly elaborate!

Also, please, if you have ideas to who may be the other characters, do share! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A bit of a disclaimer before I wrap this all up!

Crimson Shadow (Bireena) is one of my main ships and is a thing in here, too! So Angel!Bi-Han will date Seraphim!Sareena. But that DOES NOT mean I ship Emily and Sir Pentious! This ship is for the AU ONLY!

That's all folks! Hope you enjoy my crazy AU!

Tagging the AU Squad:

@mikka-minns @madamealtruist (fellow Hazbin girlies)

@thedragonholder (cause you like AUs)

@running-with-the-feels (my not so discreet way of tempting you into watching Hazbin Hotel, lol)

[actual-exhusbands]

The Emmerdale writing team are taking the monkey's biscuits this time!

Are they just going to steal every single Robron scene that has ever existed or what? They have got to be doing it deliberately, surely?

Maybe they are intentionally following the Robron affair storyline and are hiding an alternative story within and we just don't know it yet? Like, Fauxbert and Aaron's "love story" is just a set up for another plot point.

*cough* character return *cough*

What if they re-enact the log cabin scene?

Fauxbert's ptsd from the army kicks in during a weekend break away in the country and he thinks Aaron is someone else. Maybe he still carries his gun or because he could feel his paranoia creeping up on him beforehand he instinctively buys a gun from somewhere for protection. Fauxbert might get panicky or have a panic attack as the night goes on and as tensions rise he lashes out at Aaron.

Initially, Aaron tries to calm Fauxbert down but nothing works it just upsets him further. Tempers begin to rise between the two. Aaron eventually grows tired and goes to leave the cabin but Fauxbert shoves him back and knocks him clean out. Aaron comes back round to find himself tied to a radiator and Fauxbert rocking himself in the corner of the living room.

Aaron, now in fear for his own life, attempts to play along with Fauxbert's delusions but his effort is in vain as Fauxbert is too far lost in his own mind - muttering away to himself - cradling his head with his gun behind it in one hand.

At this point, a shadowed figure is seen in the foreground peering in through the cabin's window observing the scene unfolding. By this time, perhaps the mystery character has made various appearances throughout the village but no one knows (or at least to the audience's knowledge) who this person is.

Returning to the scene in the cabin, Fauxbert's aggravation is only worsening. He drives himself forward to his feet forcing the gun to Aaron's face. His voice sizzling with rage spews poison through Aaron. None of his vile words are necessarily directed towards Aaron personally but aimed at the character whom Fauxbert believes Aaron to be at this time.

Nevertheless, the words leave Aaron - and the hooded stranger - shaken. The gun lingered mere inches from his nose. Tears fall down his face as Aaron starts thinking of the worst case scenario. He starts to plead with his life to Fauxbert but it falls on deaf ears.

Suddenly, just moments before Fauxbert has the chance to pull the trigger, the unknown character storms in and forces himself between Aaron and the gun. The surprise startles Fauxbert and causes him to pull the trigger. Victoria hurries in to find the mystery man lying face down holding his arm. Shortly after the police race in to arrest Fauxbert who appears less manic and more bewildered as he is led into the back of a police car.

Aaron, who is still tied to the radiator, stares at his hero. Watching Victoria worry and pander to their whimpering. Slowly, she helps them to sit up. Aaron's in complete awe of the presence sitting in front of him. The figure may have his back to Aaron but he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that his knight in shining armour is none other than his estranged husband, Robert.

.

.

.

Or maybe something along those lines, you know?

[shmaptainwrites]

[CH. 5] New Doctor on the Block

Chapter 5: The Truth Always Comes Out

Pairings: Hawkeye Pierce x fem!Reader

Characters: Hawkeye Pierce, B.J. Hunnicutt, Father Mulcahy, Frank Burns

Summary: Reader's secret makes its way around the camp, but it only leads to a newfound friendship

Warnings: gambling, drinking, general tomfoolery, series title reference

Note: sorry for the late post! i’m in a different time zone so my schedule is screwed

Series Masterlist - NDotB Masterlist

Stepping into the mess sent on Saturday morning you felt like you were right back in your high school cafeteria. 

Everyone was staring at you like you were wearing something funny, or not wearing anything at all. You looked down to make sure your clothes were fine and that wasn’t the issue. 

Slowly, you made your way to the food line, grabbed whatever surplus mush was for breakfast and sat alone at one of the empty tables. 

After a while, Father Mulcahy came in and asked if he could sit next to you. You nodded your head and made a bit more room for him to join you. 

“Do you by any chance know what all of this commotion is about Father?” you asked. “Everyone won’t stop staring at me.”

“I try to avoid gossip,” he said, “but I believe someone may have been informed of your husband.” 

“Oh,” you raised your brows, eyes wide. “Wow, okay so they’re pitiful stares then.” 

The priest didn’t make a comment and you decided that would be the end of the conversation on the subject until B.J. came and sat across from you. 

He looked like he wanted to ask you something, but also didn’t want to cross a boundary. Considering how welcoming he’d been since the beginning of your time with the 4077 you decided you’d save him the moral dilemma. 

“You can ask me,” you said simply. 

He chuckled a little at how you could see right through him but nodded trying to figure out how to word it now. 

“You told me your husband was home with your kids. I just-why would they draft a single mother here?” he asked. 

That wasn’t as bad a question as you were expecting. 

“They didn’t…I lied about that too,” you admitted. “I enlisted to serve as an army doctor so no one would have to endure the pain I felt after losing my husband.” 

“And your kids?” 

“With my dad,” you sighed. 

There was silence as B.J. started to eat and sipped his coffee. 

“You’re not mad at me?” you asked. “For lying to you?” 

“No,” he shook his head. “I can’t imagine the pain you went through. I wouldn’t want to go through that, I wouldn’t want my wife to go through it, or anyone for that matter. Who am I to judge if it brought you a little comfort?” 

You smiled, “Thanks B.J.” 

The next few days were painful, to say the least, but you knew things would fade as soon as the next emergency came up, then it wouldn’t matter anymore. 

As you were walking back to your tent from a shift in post-op you heard your name being called and you looked around trying to see where it was coming from only to see Pierce running towards you. 

You sighed wondering what he was trying to pull this time, but you waited for him anyway. 

“Pierce, what’s up?” you asked, crossing your arms across your chest. 

“I um… I heard about your husband,” 

“Oh so now you think I don’t have any excuse to go to bed with you?” 

Pierce chuckled and shook his head, 

“No, but after all the teasing I can see why you might think that,” he remarked. “I just got back from Seoul and I thought your kids probably missed you a lot and you’d look pretty good if you sent some special gifts from Korea so I got this for Grant, right?” 

You nodded. 

“And this doll for Julia,” 

He pulled out the two gifts, already nicely wrapped, and handed them to you. 

You laughed a little, not having expected this from him. It was strange, to say the least. 

“I-I don’t know what to say. Thanks, Pierce.” 

“You think we can lay off the last name? Makes me sound army and you know-,” 

“How much you hate the army, right,” you chuckled. “Well, there’s no way I’m calling you Hawkeye.” 

“Why not?” he laughed. 

“Well first off what kind of dad gives his kid a nickname from The Last of the Mohicans and second I think I like your first name better,” you shrugged. “I’ll call you Ben.” 

“I can see I’m not going to win this, so you’ve got yourself a deal,” he nodded and held out his hand for you to shake which you did. 

“I’ll see you around…Ben,” 

He bit back a smile and shook his head, “I can tell you for a fact that’s the first time anyone’s called me that.” 

“Not even your mother?” you asked curiously. 

“No, for her it was Hawkeye, or Benjamin Franklin Pierce when she was mad. I only got one of two extremes with her.”

“Alright, well I’m happy to be the first.” 

You waved goodbye and headed back to your tent with the two gifts in hand, a small smile ghosting the corner of your lips. 

—

“Oh, but I’ve already seen this week’s VD movie. I don't want to go again,” you sighed. “When you’re not operating there really isn’t anything to do here, is there?” 

“You still haven’t come by to the swamp for a drink,” B.J. noted, “maybe we ought to do that tonight.” 

“I’ll make up a special batch, gin and wine,” Hawkeye suggested. 

“And then what, do we drink in silence?” 

“Or play poker,” Radar added.

“It has been a while since we’ve played a game, you know how?” Hawkeye asked. 

“A little,” you bluffed. That was part of your father-daughter bonding time growing up. 

“Great, we’ll get the gang and have some drinks then play some poker.” 

Later that evening, you made your way to the swamp as planned. You wore your regular army pants but paired them with a bright yellow shirt instead of the usual beige. 

“Ah semi-civvies, you got the dress code,” B.J. teased as he opened the door for you to come in. 

“Yeah, looks like we all had the same idea,” you looked around seeing Hawkeye in a touristy-looking shirt and B.J. in a polo. 

“Can I offer you a martini, olives came in today?” Hawkeye asked. 

“Sure, I’ll take a martini,” you held out your hand and he passed you the drink. As soon as it went down your throat you began to cough. “Oh my God, are you trying to poison me?” you asked. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph,”

“You called?” The tent door opened and Father Mulcahy walked inside and the group chuckled. 

“Sorry Father, I think these two have a plot to get rid of me. Maybe I should try the wine instead,” you passed the glass back to Hawkeye and grabbed a bottle with some wine in it and poured you a glass of that instead. 

When you took a sip of that, a similar thing happened as when you drank the martini. 

“Ben, this is the same drink you gave me, just red!” 

“That’s what wine is here, no one told you?” he tossed you a bottle of food colouring and you gave him a playful glare. 

You chatted and waited for the rest of the poker group to show up before sitting down around the table and starting to deal. 

You went easy on the first few hands, knowing you’d have no trouble lulling the men into a false sense of security. You knew exactly the right time to strike, your hand was virtually unbeatable and you’d come to see when some of the others were bluffing. 

“What?! I thought you said you didn’t know how to play poker,” B.J. looked at you in disbelief. 

“Actually I said I’ve played a little poker. I meant to say I played a lot of poker when I was little, but that’s all in the details really, but don’t worry the money will be put to good use, it’s going straight into the kids’ college fund.” 

“Good at poker, responsible with money, man your husband musta loved ya,” the sergeant commented and you smiled. Truthfully your husband hated playing cards with you because you always won, but it kept him humble so in the end he didn’t really mind. 

“Can’t hold her gin though,” Hawkeye teased. 

“That was rat poison, not gin,” you retorted. 

The tent door opened and Frank entered the swamp and looked disgusted at the sight before himself. 

“You degenerates! Gambling is prohibited in this unit, where did you get the idea that you could be playing poker?” 

“Poker, Frank we’re playing go fish,” you lied. “Ben, you got any sevens?” 

“Damn it, got me again,” he shook his head and played along with the bit, tossing you a card while everyone looked up at Frank. 

You thought he had quite a nerve calling you a bunch of degenerates considering a priest was amongst you and he was most definitely committing adultery. You weren’t sure if he knew how many times you’d caught him sneaking in and out of Major Houlihan’s tent when you shared the space and even when you didn’t. You were sure they thought they were being discreet, but it was the least well-kept secret in all of the unit. 

“Well, that’s it for me, I think I’m going to quit while I’m ahead,” you placed your cards face down, happy you’d hidden your winnings in a place Major Burns wouldn’t dare look for them. 

“Can I walk you to your tent?”

“Sure,” you nodded.

You didn’t really pay attention to where the voice was coming from but cursed yourself when you realized it was Hawkeye. Either he’d try to swindle you out of a few bucks or find a way to go to bed with you. Or both. 

Everyone made their way out of the tent sooner or later and you walked side by side with Hawkeye down the compound. 

“I hope you don’t expect a tip for your travels.”

“I do actually, it’s payable in dollars or kisses,” he commented and you rolled your eyes. 

“Don’t you ever get tired of it?” 

“Tired of what? I get tired of a lot of things.” 

“Your antics,” you crossed your arms over your chest. 

“Those, no not really,” he shook his head. “Do you?” 

“Yes,” you answered immediately and he eyed you. “Alright not when I’m at the receiving end.” 

“See I’ve got to have a little something for everyone.” 

“I will say you’ve become slightly more tolerable the longer I’ve been here,” you admitted. “But only slightly.” 

“I’m sure that’s mostly B.J.’s doing,” he nodded as you stood outside your tent. 

“No, I can think of a moment or two when Ben Pierce saved the day. Saved my day,” you said. “I don’t know if I ever really thanked you for that night with the boy. The one who called me mom.” 

“You didn’t need to. We’ve got to have each other’s backs in there, plus you were the selfless one.” 

“I don’t know if I’d call it that,” you shook your head. “But either way you knew I didn’t want to be alone, so thank you.” 

“Anytime,” he nodded. 

You turned to go inside your tent but paused a moment before turning around and standing on your toes and pressing a kiss to his cheek. 

“Your tip, kind sir,” 

He chuckled and leaned in to kiss your other cheek. 

“Your change, madame.” 

“Goodnight, Ben.” 

“Night,” he gave you a three-fingered wave and you retreated into your tent waiting a moment before watching him slowly walk away. 

Tags: @montyfandomlove

[thebindingofpillo]

Phone working now!! :D already wrote this out in Notes so I just stuck with this, but sidenote: if you do a fourth part of the ask event (you don’t gotta if you don’t wanna) then may I suggest an ask event about the familiars? I ❤️ tboi familiars.

Hiiiiii technically it was against the rules of the event (the familiars weren’t mentioned in the characters available) BUT I’m still gonna talk about some Lore and uuuuuh it’s not going to be pretty. Sorry. Warning for implied child abuse and neglect and abandonment I guess?

Okay so. I’d be lying if I said I thought about the tboi familiars. My AU doesn’t take place in the Basement, so I guess the closest thing they can be here is baby demons. You can learn more about demons (here), but as far as children go, I haven’t really thought about how demons are born and grow up. I guess it depends on the demon? There’s an insane amount of variety in Hell, and this doesn’t even take into consideration humans-turned-demons.

Sooooo baby demons right? I’m sorry to say there’s no nursery in Hell. Or caretakers. Or anything.

Children are seen as a liability at worst and as an asset at best. Unions between demons are never out of love, and two demons ending up together is usually a matter of convenience, or to secure an alliance. Any children resulting from these types of unions are usually a bargaining tool, new soldiers for Satan’s army, or just discarded completely. Or even eaten. I’m sure that happens too, it’s hell after all. Demons in general are horrible parents, and it’s not uncommon for baby demons to be completely abandoned, even right after birth. If they’re not found in time by Big Horn, they usually die, or worse, they can be brought to Satan.

The only other one who values children is ironically Satan himself, as he sees kids as a way to grow his personal army to eventually take down God. Some demons looking for his favour might offer their children to him, but to say he actually cares about them would be a stretch. Satan basically turns them into soldiers the moment they’re able to stand and fight.

Not every demon gives away their children to Satan tho, since most demons and fallen angels fucking hate the guy. Semjaza himself has been devising a way to take him down and rule hell in his place, but that doesn’t really involve children since he can’t stand them. The usual course of action for a demon mom is to leave her children somewhere after birth and never think about them again. Sorry :(

Big Horn is the only one in Hell who actually cares for children for the sake of children, and when he’s not working as a spy for Heaven, he spends his time combing through Hell to look for discarded babies and give them a home. He has a couple of safe spots where he can leave the kids, but he usually keeps them on his person at all times, to protect them better. Leaving them alone for any amount of time can be extremely dangerous, and since Big Horn is a very big guy, nobody comes close enough to him to bother or notice he’s hiding a secret stash of kids. BUT he’s not the biggest guy around, and if Satan found out he’s been keeping children from him, he’s gonna rip the guy in half himself.

But wait! I hear you cry, What about Lilith? She must love children, right? Why doesn’t she help? Well…….. Lilith does love children! That much is true but, she hates Hell and everything in it, so she got out of there the first chance she got. (You can read her backstory here). Incubus is not one of her children (I don’t even know if she had any while she was under Satan) he’s just a lesser demon who latched onto her and they became friends. (You can read about him here).

Ough man, this got way longer than I thought skdjshgsdfkjh Sorryyyyy I know it was just a simple question but It was another great opportunity to loredump, and I never pass up on those. Have some babies as compensation

[ahaura]

paranormal activity, alien & scream for the ask game!!! <3 <3

alien: what character do u relate to a lot? lisa reisert from red eye (2007) always and forever <3

scream: what’s ur favorite movie? not sure if i have a singular favorite movie & the top contenders are always rotating but some that i rly love are:

the slumber party massacre ii (1987)

moonstruck (1987)

drop dead fred (1991)

army of darkness (1992)

death machine (1994)

screamers (1995)

much ado about nothing (2011) dir. josie rourke

creep 2 (2017)

destination wedding (2018)

little forest (2018) dir. yim soon-rye

paranormal activity: do u believe in ghosts/demons/aliens/magic/anything paranormal?'

the short answer: it's real if it's real and it's not if it's not <3

the long answer:

in my adult life i have never personally experienced anything that i would classify without a doubt as paranormal or adjacent. the one or two strange experiences when i was younger are always blurred between "well it could have been something" or, more often (now, as an adult), "i had so much shit going on that was compounded by other shit that it's difficult not to attribute almost anything that was or seemed to be to a combination of stress, trauma, and a desperate attempt to cope with all of it."

that being said, it's a general rule that just because you haven't experienced something personally, it doesn't mean it doesn't or can't exist. i feel like it would be pigheaded and close-minded to assume that nothing beyond our/my/human understanding or ability to be measured exists.

when my friends, people i care about and trust, tell me about paranormal things they have experienced, i don't assume they are lying or making it up or imagining things. i may not be able to understand or relate but that doesn't give me the authority to dismiss it. i'm argumentative and contrarian by default; my skepticism stems not from any real non-belief but rather a deeply-rooted need for that which is intangible to be made tangible. to be made concrete, something that can be put in no uncertain terms, something i can hold in my hands and know, without needing to have faith, without having to take a chance, without simply letting things be, that it's real.

also i won't lie it's a little scary to think about what all could be out there

[iamnmbr3]

Also, while again I understand that "Albus Dumbledore is running a death cult" is a completely against-the-grain reading that does not reflect authorial or narrative intent at all, I will point out that a lot of the problems listed above are not present to this extent in the other (admittedly also quite flawed) organizations in the books that engage in combat. Like, Dumbledore really is markedly worse at this (or his goals and interests don't align with safeguarding people's lives).

The other three organizations that take part in combat during the series (the Ministry, the Death Eaters, and the student organization Dumbledore's Army) genuinely do a better job of addressing these issues. Again totally unintentional and more just JKR not thinking thru her choices and also the characters maybe kind of "going off and doing their own thing" a bit. I get that. But it is entertaining to contemplate.

I mean, Dumbledore is kind of a messed up guy. He lies to himself nearly as much as to others I think. Even if he's not admitting to himself what he's doing, he really places great value on the idea of sacrifice. And he also has a great need to be involved in things and to control and to manipulate (but to also justify those acts). I can see him wanting to create these elaborate scenarios and kind of play with people, but not admitting to that.

Though I do think "Dumbledore is secretly using the deaths of his people to fuel blood magic rituals" would be a highly entertaining AU, I think something more middle of the road that involves him lying to himself and still being utterly convinced he's not doing anything ghoulish is actually scarier and more interesting. (It's funny that imho Dumbledore actually has more potential to be an interesting 'irrational villain' than Tom).

Anyway, let's look at the other players here:

The Death Eaters

Obviously Voldemort is not a great boss to work for given his unpleasant habit of regularly brutally torturing his followers and the fact that he doesn't seem to like them or value their lives that much.

Still, we know the Death Eaters do receive some training. They all know the Levicorpus spell for example - presumably taught to them by Snape with Tom's knowledge and permission. Similarly they are all taught the incantation to conjure a Dark Mark. We know Tom also rewards followers by sharing magical knowledge with them - for example teaching Snape unaided magical flight. He has probably doled out similar knowledge to others as well at various points as rewards for good service. Obviously ideally everyone would receive equal training. But it's still better than the Order. Other than teaching Order members to communicate with their Patronuses we never see Dumbledore teach any of his followers anything.

The Death Eaters also often come from families where they would have had access to and likely training in the use of dark magic that would be beneficial in combat situations. And all that despite the fact that Tom is probably not that invested in whether most of his people live or die. Indeed, sending Lucius to the Department of the Mysteries might not have been a reward or chance to earn forgiveness after the diary fiasco, but rather an attempt to destroy him. Tom can't explain why he is so enraged about the diary since he can't say what it actually was so he may be understating how angry at Lucius he actually is. (Plus, even diary aside, given his background I think there are other reasons he takes such great pleasure in the utter downfall of the Malfoys - a powerful and old pureblood family).

Furthermore, at the Ministry we see that someone has been put in charge of the operation. Lucius doesn't do a great job of it, but he is as least running things. And he then breaks down his group into small subgroups tasked with specific objectives. Is he super effective at it? No. But at least there was an effort.

Dumbledore's Army

This is a student organization not a true paramilitary group. Nonetheless, the whole thing centers on Harry doing his best to give his classmates defensive/offensive training. He is of course limited by what he himself knows, but he's totally up front about that. And it's once again better than the zero formal training that Order Members receive. Under Neville's leadership in book 7 a priority is placed on evacuating and hiding at-risk students. Harry also actively tries to discourage members from dying for him which...Dumbledore certainly never does. When members carry out operations in books 5, 6 and 7 there appear to be clear pre-planned operational objectives. In book 5 Harry directs fit individuals to remain with injured comrades and render assistance and tries to keep them away from fighting and danger (though with limited success). Yeah they don't do a great job but this organization is run by kids and is really only meant to be a training organization not the informal resistance group it morphs into. The Order has no such excuse.

The Ministry

Potential Auror trainees must go through a rigorous battery of tests, including psychological assessment to be admitted into the program. They then receive several further years of highly intensive and specialized training. Afterwards, more junior colleagues appear to be subordinate to/mentored by more seasoned colleagues (as we see with Tonks and Moody). Their training appears to healing and basic first aid skills. Unsurprisingly, Aurors appear to have a lower death rate than any of the paramilitary groups we see.

Ughhh, that ask about Dumbledore telling Tom he’s incapable of love just really sets me off cause that such a fucked up thing to say to a kid.

Like, Dumbledore is such a dick to Tom about the whole “you can’t feel love thing”. Even if Tom went the ‘traditional’ life route and got a wife and had five children with her and by all appearances seemed extremely happy and fulfilled with his family and life, Dumbledore would be in the corner muttering to himself about how Tom is using that poor woman and children and he couldn’t even possibly like, let alone love, them.

To be fair, Dumbledore's canon hobby is saying fucked up things to children.

He does it all the time to Harry too.

[kaseyskat]

this is soooo stupidly self indulgent and out of character but. the hiatus is getting to me okay. 

~~~

it’s common, when all is settled and buried in the dust, for anne or sasha or both of them to hold marcy for extended periods of time. 

she never asks why. 

she doesn’t need to ask why; she knows, deep down, that they feared for her safety more than they blamed her for the events of amphibia. somehow, they both kept choosing her despite everything, and marcy may not completely understand why, she understands the intense desire to keep them close. she’s too selfish to push them away. 

she can’t complain. not when it means that sometimes, without warning, she’ll be engulfed in warm arms, pulled into a tight embrace. their hugs have always been tight and clingy, like they had been afraid of losing her from the very beginning, but they’ve only grown in intensity since then, becoming something that marcy couldn’t escape even if she wanted to.  

today, she is sitting in front of the tv, controller in hand. she could be sitting on the couch, but instead she’s sitting cross-legged, close enough to the tv that she can read the dialogue. she needs glasses, her sight has only gotten worse since coming home. sitting on the floor like this puts a ton of pressure on her back, but it’s a pain she’s learning to deal with for the sake of her game. 

she’s sitting in front of the tv when arms curl around her back, carefully avoiding the raised, lumpy skin that goes in a mostly-straight line down the middle of her spine to instead wrap around her shoulders. “you’ve been playing for awhile,” sasha murmurs, and she rests her head on marcy’s shoulder, draped across her. “what’s that game even about, anyways?” 

“it’s fire emblem,” marcy explains. “turn-based jrpg slash dating simulator. you’d probably like it, you get to be a commander of armies in this one.” 

“army commander,” sasha muses, “i do like the sound of that.” and now she’s lightly kissing at marcy’s neck, nuzzling into the joint where her neck meets her shoulders, and marcy shivers at the touch. it’s feather-light, because no matter how many times marcy says otherwise, sasha and anne both still treat her like she’s going to shatter into pieces if they aren’t careful with her– they aren’t wrong, but it still stings nonetheless. 

“sash-a,” she whines, squirming as sasha keeps pressing little kisses to her neck and the underside of her jaw, languid and slow. “do you want something? did i miss something here?” 

“what? i can’t kiss my partner when i want?” sasha teases. 

“no,” marcy deadpans. “you’re distracting me.” 

sasha groans, loud and dramatic and fake. “the despair,” she bemoans, clutching onto marcy’s shoulders a little tighter. “my girlfriend, betraying me for a video game. whatever will i do?” 

“dramatic,” marcy teases. “you can just ask me for attention, you know.” 

“oh, but this way is more fun.” sasha kisses her neck again, and marcy shudders at the feeling. “you’ve been playing for so long, today. come on, sweetheart, don’t you wanna stop now?” 

“oh my frog, you’re so needy.” marcy squirms, and she yelps when sasha nips at the exposed skin. “okay, okay, let me save, sashy-” 

sasha hardly relents, not until marcy’s saved her game and pressed the home button. as soon as the controller is set down, she’s being tugged backwards until she’s sitting directly in sasha’s lap, and sasha’s peppering her face with kisses, and marcy misses her game but she’d never trade this for the world. 

“are you two being gay without me?” anne’s voice comes from somewhere in the kitchen, and marcy tries to look over sasha’s shoulder but sasha tugs her down before she has the chance. 

“anne,” she does manage to call out, though, giggling when sasha kisses her nose. “anne, help, i’m under attack, anne-” 

“there’s no stopping sasha when she wants attention,” anne calls back, and she sounds fondly amused. “sorry marbles, you’re on your own.” 

marcy groans, but sasha’s arms tighten around her, and marcy would be lying if she said she didn’t feel safe here. safe and loved. she twists her body around so she can tuck her head into sasha’s chest, hiding away in her arms with flushed red skin as sasha just laughs and nuzzles into her hair. 

“yeah marshmallow,” sasha says into marcy’s hair, “you’re all mine now.” 

“what a terrible fate,” marcy whispers. 

eventually, anne does join them on the floor, with a plate of steaming cookies to boot. she curls around them, and adds her own kisses to the ones that sasha had left, and marcy has never felt so loved. 

[railleriee]

Genshin Men If They Had Playlists

Characters included: Childe, Zhongli, Diluc, Itto, Kaeya, Kazuha, Xiao, Venti.

Summary: Music that I think would be in these Genshin men's playlists! ( These are my opinions, it is completely okay if you disagree! )

Warnings: None

Childe: 

Definitely into more upbeat songs. Doesn’t listen often but when he does it is mostly when he’s traveling. His favorite is on his trips to and from Snezhnaya. 

Dear maria, count me in - All Time Low

“There's a story at the bottom of this bottle And I'm the pen” 

Check yes, Juliet - We The Kings 

“Don't ever look back. They'll tear us apart if you give them the chance”

Kilby girl - The Backseat Lovers 

“She's playing it cool but she's lying, better than I do”

Zhongli: 

Again, not one to listen to a lot of music. He wouldn’t really have a variety of music in his playlists. He’d rather stick to the same 20 songs he knows. 

Little Dark Age - MGMT 

“Just know that if you hide, it doesn't go away” 

Rhinestone Eyes - Gorillaz 

“Now that light is so I can take. This storm brings strange loyalties and skies” 

Arsonist's Lullaby - Hozier  

“I knew that something would always rule me, I knew the scent was mine alone” 

Diluc: 

Definitely puts a playlist on while cleaning up after late night shifts at the tavern. Kaeya once convinces him to play during business hours. Venti made fun of his music taste so he never did it again. 

King For A Day - Pierce the Veil 

“You told me think about it, well I did. Now I don't wanna feel a thing anymore. I'm tired of begging for the things that I want” 

Can You Feel My Heart - Bring me The Horizon 

“I'm scared to get close, and I hate being alone. I long for that feeling to not feel at all” 

ARE WE STILL FRIENDS? - Tyler, The Creator 

“I can't stop you, I can't rock too, I've been back there and I can not die too. But I've got to know. Are we still friends? Can we be friends?” 

Kaeya: 

 Enjoy’s listening on an everyday basis. He definitely imagines himself in songs. He’ll listen to recommended songs but refuses to recommend any songs to you. He’s a gatekeeper. 

Ghosting - Mother Mother 

“I've been ghosting, I've been ghosting along. Ghost in the world, ghost with no home” 

What Do They Know? - Mindless Self Indulgence 

“On the fence, The consequence. What do they know about that?” 

Crucified - Army Of Lovers 

“I saw eternal light. Best of vocal fighters. Beyond human sight. Where thorns are a teaser”

Kazuha: 

Very wide variety of music. He’d listen to almost anything. Definitely has a smoking playlist that’s amazing. 

Don’t talk to strangers - TV Girl 

“You should've listened to your mother. Don't ever talk to strangers” 

Come as you are - Nirvana 

“As I want you to be. As a friend, as a friend. As an old enemy” 

Hotel California -  Eagles 

“Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door. I had to find the passage back to the place I was before” 

Xiao: 

Rarely ever listens to anything. If he is making a long journey he may decide to put a playlist on, barely gets through two songs before turning it off. He enjoys listening to others music interests. 

The Other Side of Paradise - Glass Animals 

“Bye bye baby blue. I wish you could see the wicked truth. Caught up in a rush, it's killing you” 

Creep - Radiohead 

“I don't care if it hurts. I wanna have control” 

Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen 

“Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy. What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy? Set my alarm, turn on my charm. That's because I'm a good old-fashioned loverboy” 

Itto: 

Very upbeat/fast pace songs. Mostly listen while working out/training. Him and the rest of the Arataki Gang have competitions of who has better music taste. 

Televised - HUNNY 

“I don't care to be or be caught without sweet misery by my side” 

Teenagers - My Chemical Romance 

“They could care less as long as someone'll bleed. So darken your clothes, or strike a violent pose. Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me” 

Kiwi - Harry Styles 

“Hard candy drippin' on me 'til my feet are wet, and now she's all over me, it's like I paid for it. It's like I paid for it, I'm gonna pay for this” 

Venti: 

Most of his playlists consist of very sweet songs, with a few slower/sadder ones. Has music playing quietly in the backgrounds of picnics. Would listen to anything once but usually sticks to the songs he likes and knows. 

Hey Lover - Daughters of Eve 

“Hey, hey, hey, lover (hey-hey), You don't have to have a thing. For I'll be satisfied” 

This Side of Paradise - Coyote Theory 

“You seem so lonely (are you lonely?) I'll be the only dream you seek. So if you're lonely, no need to show me. If you're lonely, come be lonely with me” 

My Alcoholic friends - The Dresden Dolls 

“I'm trying hard, not to be ashamed, not to know the name of who is waking up beside me. Or the date, the season or the city”

[greensaplinggrace]

do you have any darklina fic recs?

I certainly have a few! But first I want to clarify that I don’t really read fic when I’m writing it, and since I have so many fics in the works right now, I haven’t really been reading a lot of fanfiction. So this list probably won’t be as extensive as it could be.

Here are some other great fic recommendation posts, however:

DARKLINA FIC RECS by @vicioux

DARKLINA FIC RECS // part ii by @vicioux

Darklina Ruling the World Together Fic Recs by @clubofthestarlesssaint

Tumblr Ficlets

Aleksander’s First Memory by @kestrafagnor

Fivan Talk About Darklina by @jomiddlemarch

a little light in the great, big dark by @valkyrhys

Alina tells Mal she’s with Aleksander by @lorsanbitch

Darklina week day 5: intimacy & touch by @starlesscne

AO3 Fanfiction

if it ain’t me by larry_hystereks (Incomplete - 10/13 Chapters)

alina’s in her second year at Yale when she meets aleksander at one of his frat parties.

a hookup with the potential for more, only if alina wasn’t still struggling to piece herself together from last year’s breakup.

or: alina, zoya, their trust issues, and the men that fall for them

---

I’m only at about chapter 6 of this fic currently, but so far it’s one of my all time favorite Modern AUs. The characterization for Alina and Aleksander is incredibly well done, and the entire fic itself is so feminist and queer in such a refreshing way. Aleksander and Alina are bisexual as fuck, both with their own separate complex lives, and much of Alina’s own traumas and relationships are explored outside of Aleksander.

There’s some Zoyalina, with Nikolina friendship and endgame Zoyalai. There’s some mystery and some tension, but nothing too extreme, and a lot of the fic is merely an exploration in growth and overcoming one’s history and learning how to move on in healthy ways. I love it.

She Wears a Collar (With My Name) by Ceris_Malfoy (Complete)

She is immortal, and whatever lingering hints of humanity she may have once had have long been bleached from her heart.

I will grant you one wish, boy, if it is in my power to do so. What does a Shadow Smith most want?

"You," he answers.

Written for Darklina Week 2021 - Day 2: Role Reversal

---

This piece is just exquisite. This author’s writing style is one that I particularly enjoy. Their stuff is always so uniquely composed and crafted, and this one especially is a work of art. The way Darklina as a relationship is portrayed in particular is fascinating to me because it’s a role reversal but it’s still so complex. Aleksander’s character is nailed.

the bright sun was extinguish’d by athousandwinds (Complete)

Somewhere, deep in the dark forests of Ravka, a boy grows up on stories of Sankta Alina of the Wastes, the Sun-Scorched Saint.

---

This fic is just straight up magnificent. It’s so engaging and I love love love the way a role reversed Aleksander who joins the army is portrayed. He reminds me so much of Demon in the Woods Aleksander, as if he’s exactly what a grown version of that young boy would be. When I say I adore his characterization in this I’m not lying.

If I wanted any completed fic I’ve read to have a second chapter, it would be this one.

Winter in the Little Palace by redisxwing (Complete)

Written for Yuletide 2020.

Baghra and Alina's wildly different perspectives on the Darkling, and how things could have gone if nobody listened to Baghra.

Warning: Baghra is written as a harsh and arguably abusive parent, and this is darkfic about that relationship, with a side of shipping. Everything is terrible (except the parts that are pretty much okay).

Canon divergence pretty much as soon as Alina gets lessons in summoning.

This fic is likely not compatible with King of Scars (or any subsequent work).

---

As is said in the summary, this one makes Baghra a bit more extreme. If you’re a fan of Baghra, this fic probably isn’t for you. But since I’m not a fan of Baghra, I had no problems with it.

My biggest praise for this fic is in regards to the character interactions and the POVs. There’s a brilliant grasp of unique perspective and how to convey it, and that talent is carried over into the way character interactions are brought to life in the text. Also, there’s a scene where Alina gets kind of protective of the Darkling, which is one of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to Darklina.

Good Ideas by FelixRivers (Complete)

Alina Starkov had a very good idea. Aleksander Morozova would definitely agree. (or: Alina wants to go camping and Aleksander won't complain)

---

This fic is just straight up adorable and hilarious. They’re such a cute couple and Alina’s POV is great. It’s just pure fluff and humor 💕

I’m not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you by SanktaJenya - @sankta-arya (Complete)

Winter had been hard on Old Baghra and Ana Kuya was worried about her, so she decided that Alina should make the trip to her cottage on the other side of the woods to bring her some food and kvas. On her way there, Alina meets a stranger...

Darklina Red Riding Hood/Company of Wolves AU

Darklina Week, Day 4, Fairytales

---

This fic has a splendid grasp of tension and atmosphere. It’s very enchanting and dark and intriguing, and it nails those aspects with absolute precision. I love the style and the way the fairytale is incorporated into the narrative. It’s truly a masterpiece.

The Wretched by @aceofnowhere (Complete)

“We are strangers, but I want to help.” He growls at her, mocking and mistrustful. “I understand,” she said. “You think I am one of them. I certainly look like one of them. But I want to help you. Will you let me?” Prompt: fairytale. Alina saves a dragon.

---

Okay so I’ve mentioned this one before as one of my Top 5 fics of all time and I still stand by that. I can’t even describe why I love this fic so much except that the pacing is amazing and the prose is stunning and the story is beautiful. Aleksander is a dragon and Alina is a witch, and their relationship is just so...interesting and fascinating and lovely. I would literally kill for this fic. There’s such a softness to it as well. Such a tenderness. Idk, I just really love it.

Show Me Who You Are (I Want To Know) by Ceris_Malfoy (Incomplete - 12/?)

Alina takes her future in her own hands and makes her own decisions.

---

This is a great “what if Alina had stuck around after the reveal” rewrite. It doesn’t have Mal bashing and in fact still writes them as close friends, which is something I’m fond of in Darklina fics. Aleksander is allowed to be soft and Alina is allowed to be powerful, and I really enjoyed the take on their dynamics as a power couple wherein Alina is given a lot of control.

There’s something to be said for the way Aleksander is written in the scenes where he must be honest and earnest with Alina. I really enjoy the way they both come to equal ground, and I’m even more fond of the way Alina is allowed to grow darker without losing her light. She also engages a lot with quite a few other characters, developing tons of friendships and alliances on her own that help strengthen her as an individual character.

on this bridge between starshine and clay by @rhea-imagined (Complete)

"His breath narrows for a moment, his fist clenched tight before he forces himself to loosen it. She is his only opportunity for salvation, but vulnerability is not a cape he wears easily. “In those days, there was less prejudice against Shadow Summoners. But everyone fears the dark, in one way or another.” He does not look at her as he waits for the penny to drop, half-hoping it stays suspended in the air."

In which Alexander comes clean to Alina and tells her about his true identity in hopes that this will help convince her to take down the Fold.

A rewrite of the fountain scene in episode four, with a good!Darkling that is trying to make amends.

---

This is my all-time favorite good!Aleksander AU. He’s kept in character despite the major changes made to his motivations, and Alina is given a lot more agency in her own story. It’s the first fic in what might become a series, but it can stand alone beautifully.

I love how Aleksander and Alina’s relationship is allowed to grow tense without breaking, and how it’s a clear sign of change but not abandonment. I love how both characters are able to think for themselves and become self-aware and are given the chance to think critically. I love the character interaction so much because it’s honest and fresh and engaging. Everything from the smallest action to the most off-hand thought is in character and meaningful and incorporated with an amazing style of writing. It’s a very refreshing piece, and the writing only makes it that much better.

Bunnies of a Feather Stitch Together by Ill_Ratte (Complete)

"Just as Alina called to the light, gathering and twisting it into a ball in her hands, the door swung open.

Kirigan blacked out the door frame. His appearance enough would have surprised Alina, but there was something clutched in his arm, something dark and floppy. It almost looked like the stuffed toys that had been passed around to the younger Orphans." - Alina and The Darkling bond over a love of soft things

---

Soft stuffed animal shenanigans. Bits of trans!Aleksander, which I’m very fond of, as well as just a lot of fluff with a bit of something bittersweet and sad in a good way.

Half Lie by Ill_Ratte (Complete)

"Baghra always talked of the demon that had stolen her daughter." Or, Alina learns the hard way that the Darkling isn't the only one who deals in half-truths

---

This one is trans!Aleksander, and it handles it in a very interesting way. It’s quite sad, and deals a lot with Baghra & Aleksander’s relationship through Alina’s POV. I want to give a warning for transphobia, because it does center around that a lot as the premise, but it really is worth the read if that isn’t a trigger for you. This is one of my favorite trans!Aleksander fics, and the way it handles emotion and grief and pain is quite extraordinary.

The CEO and Helioseismologist by mrthology (Complete)

Aleksander Morozova doesn't get sick. He's the CEO of one of the most successful companies in the world, one that he had built from the ground up with blood, sweat, and tears. He exercised daily (usually), maintained a healthy diet, and kept himself fit.

He wasn’t sick.

Too bad no one believed him. And too bad Genya decided to call Ivan to take him home before also calling Alina to take care of him.

Maybe, just maybe, being sick wasn't so bad. Especially not when he has such a wonderful girlfriend.

---

Both of the fics in this series are great, but I love this one in particular because I’m an absolute sucker for hurt/comfort. Anyone who’s been on my blog for a while knows that it’s my all time favorite trope to read, and this fic fits the hurt/comfort trope to a T in the best of ways. It’s very tender and in character, and Aleksander and Alina are so soft with each other. It’s adorable and really makes you feel for Aleksander, and the caretaking is done perfectly.

All the different layers of dark (thousand little suns) by Anuna (Complete)

One month after the Winter Fete, Aleksander returns to the Little Palace, and Alina has been missing him.

Or

Episode five canon divergence in which Alina had never left Os Alta.

---

This one is soft emotional hurt/comfort smut. They’re both so open and vulnerable with each other, and it’s so beautiful to read. I love the writing style and the emotion in this one. It makes my heart ache in the best way.

An Honourable Man by liviy695 (Complete)

A reimagining of the scene after the winter fete. Alina catches a glimpse of a caring Darkling after he returns from integrating the Conductor. Plus, no Baghra interference.

---

This one is what it says on the tin, in that Baghra doesn’t interfere and they’re allowed to talk after the Darkling interrogates the Conductor. But more than that, it’s a great imagining of how a scene where Aleksander reveals Marie’s death would have gone. There’s a sort of quiet to it that I appreciate, with grief and solemnity weighed against care and vulnerability.

I see the real you (even if you don’t, I do) by Anonymous (Incomplete - 8/?)

A series of questionable decisions lead Alina to meet the Black General a bit earlier. Butterfly effect ensues.

---

I’ve only read half so far (I hadn’t realized it had updated!! 👀👀) but I’m already in love with this fic. Alina’s dialogue and perspective is perfect, her relationship with Mal and the other cartographers is great, and I really enjoy how much personality she has. Aleksander is so smitten, but more than that, his characterization is soft but not weak. It feels almost as if he’s swept up by Alina, instead of the other way around, and I quite like that.

Of parenting by Anuna (Complete)

Alina finds out how her husband handled yet another parenting situation.

---

This is pure adorable Darklina parenting fluff and I live for it. Yet it doesn’t lack depth and in fact explored Alina and Aleksander’s relationship with parenting quite well.

i have a longing by LRCee - @ladylyannastark (Complete)

“So, Alina Starkov, risk-taker, how did you end up being editing’s newest wunderkind?”

Alina Starkov is rising in the publishing world. Singlehandedly responsible for editing (see: rewriting) the hottest book of the year, she lands a coveted spot at Morovoz Publishers. It's the position she's always wanted, at the biggest publishing house in the country. Life is perfect. That crush on her boss though, that's gotta go.

---

OKAY! I LOVE THIS ONE SO MUCH!! Let me tell you, as someone who is not too fond of Boss/Employee dynamics, I was very wary going into this fic. But boy did it deliver in a way that was perfect for me.

The relationship that develops between Aleksander and Alina is complex but healthy, and it never feels as if there’s too much of a power imbalance or anything that would make Alina feel forced or unhappy. The tension lies purely in how she fears others will perceive her, and not in how unhealthy her relationship with Aleksander is. For somebody who’s often attracted to unhealthy ships, I have to say that my favorite fics are usually ones that don’t have that type of dynamic between the characters. This fic delivers on that.

Also, Aleksander’s POV surrounding his struggle with his Russian heritage and his feelings for Alina is amazing, and has some of the best writing and characterization I’ve seen.

You receive: an evil demon; I receive: human souls by @aceofnowhere (Complete)

The next morning while she tried to tell herself it was a dream, that of course there wasn’t a fucking demon in her house, she found a note taped to her fridge.

“You might eat this shit,” it had written, “but I would like some fucking souls please.”

Darkling Week Prompt 7: free choice. Alina has a demon in her house.

This is absolute crack, and I have no idea what the fuck is wrong with me.

---

May I just say that this is the most fun I’ve ever had when reading a fic. It’s interesting with a bit of mystery, and Aleksander as a little shit of a demon is hilarious. Alina in this fic is great too. It’s such a unique take on her POV, especially when you reread it after knowing the ending. 10000/10, this fic is brilliant in every way and I love it.

I had been lost to you, Sunlight by BrytteMystere (Complete)

A Girl became a Woman, became a Sankta, became a Goddess.

Or: An Immortal Alina calls upon merzost to reunite with the Prince of Shadows she lost long ago. She may have lost herself in the process.

But then again, maybe time and endless wars did that instead.

---

You really just have to read this one to get it. It is utterly haunting and fascinating in the best of ways. The writing style is strange and novel and fits so well with the story being told. The composition of the fic as a whole is genius.

I Look Inside Myself (And See My Heart Is Black) by Ceris_Malfoy (Complete)

"When is a monster not a monster? Why, when you love it, of course."

Written for Darklina Week 2021 - Day 6: Favorite Quote • King & Queen • Monster

---

Once more, this author comes through with an absolutely breathtaking writing style and story. The imagery is elegant yet brutal, simultaneously horrifying and glorious. There’s a certain way these stories are written, like fairytales, where the beautiful becomes the macabre and becomes ever more stunning because of it. It’s very dark but in a good way - an almost bewitching way.

Afterlife by @aceofnowhere (Complete)

“You are asking me to leave?”

“Not asking, shadow,” she said. “Telling. Time to get unlost, loser.”

Day 3 Darklina Week prompt: Modern AU (I mean, barely)

Alina expels ghosts from purgatory.

---

@aceofnowhere once again bringing the best of the paranormal to the Grishaverse. Literally everything you write is amazing idk why I’m even pointing out individual fics when I could just rec your whole page. But anyways!! This is fun and interesting and Alina is a badass. Aleksander is, of course, compelling and dark and kind of a little shit, and it’s all incorporated seamlessly into an existential paranormal narrative.

Once Upon a Shooting Star by Ceris_Malfoy (Complete)

"But most of all, she was drawn to a vast darkness that reached out above all of them, a void so hungry for companionship that she knew she could fulfill."

---

Let. Alina. Be. Feral!! Anyways, I clearly have a type when it comes to storytelling, and it’s whatever the fuck this person has got going on. Feral!Star!Alina is literally the light of my life. Her interactions with not only other people but the world in general are so well done, but my favorite parts about this fic are the numerous ways her relationship with Aleksander is described and depicted.

I love the dark and light imagery, especially with how it’s portrayed as them filling in the gaps of each other’s lives and supporting each other instead of trying to block each other out. There’s such clear passion and joy and love and devotion between them. The central focus of this fic is on her and Aleksander’s relationship, the interplay between them and their powers and the way her light fills his loneliness, the passing of adoration and trust and reliance between them. It’s very beautiful and I love it.

A Blaze of Light by Keira_63 (Complete)

They discover the Sun Summoner in the burnt-out remains of the Shu laboratory in which she has spent the last seven years of her life.

Or, the Darkling finds himself with a Sun Summoner whose greatest wish is to burn Shu Han to the ground. He is happy to oblige her.

---

👀👀 Badass Alina and Badass Aleksander. The ultimate power couple, and Alina burning a path through Shu Han before they both burn a path through the world together. The darkness and rage in this one are handled very well, and the way that rage turns to coldness and then resolve is done so well. This fic is very cathartic and also very furious, and reading it is certainly a trip down emotion lane.

One more for the Road by Rist (Complete)

He returns to the war room shaken, and finds an Alina that cannot leave without at least having tried.

---

This one hurts so much but its soooo gooood!!! Very smutty but also very tender and very bittersweet. Sad and soft all at once. I just... love the way Alina and Aleksander are written so much, and Alina’s complicated feelings for him are explored in such detail and depth. This one is truly worth the read.

[vynegar]

marius desert card summary/long synopsis

so this isn’t even a summary because i like the card so much that i ended up go through and pretty much writing down everything that happened, and near the end i just started paraphrasing lmfao.

disclaimers: fan interpretation and i’m not fluent in Chinese, so there may be mistakes.

note: i think there are some suspenseful/shocking moments in this card that would be experienced better via a video/full translation, but i’m still posting the long synopsis under the cut if you need to satisfy your curiosity

here’s a short blurb that gives the card background but avoids major spoilers in the card story:

For the past two months, MC has been the personal servant to the young Pharaoh, Marius. Secretly, she’s a member of the rebel army intent on overthrowing the corrupt rulers who’ve allowed the citizens to starve as they live in luxury, and she’s so close to getting them the information they need to complete their rebellion. Things are complicated, however, because Marius isn’t as shallow and uncaring as his reputation suggests, and he seems so similar to the young man who saved MC two years ago in the desert...

here’s a video of the card! it’s not mine, it’s by Hikari Sherry Gaming on youtube, so please go like/comment/thank them!

It opens in a palace; MC is the personal servant to Marius, the young Pharaoh, and his birthday banquet is soon. She pretends to be happy in the luxurious palace, but really she’s an undercover member of the rebel army tasked with getting information about the security of the palace. The current rulers are living in luxury as the citizens can barely feed themselves, but it’s clear it’s due to the influence of people like the scummy prince regent (said prince regent is about to harrass MC, but Marius distracts him with a compliment).

Reflecting on Marius, MC thinks about how similar he seems to someone who saved her two years ago. Back then, she had been bitten by a venomous snake, and a young man happened to come upon her. She offers her bracelet in exchange for help, then passes out. When she wakes up, she’s been treated at the best hospital available and her treatment was already paid for. (end flashback)

At the Pharaoh’s birthday celebration (this is where the animation is where he’s lying down), he teases MC to make her directly feed him wine (as in... mouth-to-mouth...) but he squeezes her lips too hard and the wine just spills from her mouth lol. Then the prince regent is furious that there’s no more wine, even though it’s because the country is suffering. Marius once again calms the prince regent and diverts attention away so a kindhearted government official can be saved.

Marius feels tired, and MC tells him a story, taking the opportunity to talk about the incident two years ago to see if it was really Marius. He doesn’t show signs of recognition (but he does seem surprised that the girl still wants to thank the man), but at least that means MC’s savior is not her current enemy.

Finally Marius rests, which gives MC the chance to go outside and to drop off the information about security and guard patrol in the palace. Just as she’s hesitating if she should include a message explaining that Marius is only a powerless figurehead, the prince regent is the main corrupt one, he shows up right behind her.

He doesn’t plan on ratting her out. He’s suspected her from the start; she seemed familiar, and then her acting as a normal person was good, but actually too good; he expected someone like her to be more power hungry and always try to approach the most powerful figures. He shows actual surprise at her positive assessment of his character, and thinks she’s either too naive or morally upright, just like two years before (it was he who saved her).

He offers a deal where he gives info to help them kill the prince regent since he’d likely be killed (eventually) by either regime, so if he makes a deal then they might at least spare his life. The best opportunity to act will be the coronation ceremony from Pharaoh to the prince regent one month later.

The rebel leader orders MC to outwardly accept the deal, but they plan to kill Marius anyway; moreover, he orders MC to personally kill Marius if he shows signs of suspicion. When MC tells him, Marius is surprised it was that easy and there’s a choice to keep hiding the truth or give him a tiny hint.

MC asks if he’ll miss the luxury of his Pharaoh life, but actually, Marius sees his life as a constant struggle. He always wakes from nightmares, he faces threats from everyone close to him, all he can do is survive... He has no interest in power, and he doesn’t even have any real power right now -- the country deserves peace, and the rebels can give them that. MC promises that the country will have peace and that Marius will be able to live a happy, ordinary life; she resolves to repay him.

Now it’s the day of the coronation ceremony in the temple; rebel plans are underway to take over, and MC has her own intentions to disobey orders and help Marius escape, even though she’ll be punished (probably by death) if she’s found out.

The rebels have entered the palace; a guard tries to let the prince regent escape through the back door; MC pulls out a dagger and fights to stop them. Just as she’s losing a fight with the guard and about to impaled on a statue, she turns and sees the prince regent killed with a sword through his chest.

That was Marius’s doing. He’s completely cold and calm in the situation, nothing like how MC’s seen him before. He sends the guard away to fight the rebels in the palace, but the priests refuse to leave his side. MC nervously thanks him for saving her, but he asks “Isn’t it my turn now?” and approaches her, holding her close to him by the waist and bringing her hand near his neck. (this is the second card animation)

He had long since guessed that the rebel leader didn’t intend on sparing him; and the MC realizes that Marius had prepared for it because he had stashed a weapon and the priests were in on it too. MC is like, great :) i know you don’t want to kill me or else i’d be dead already, and i wasn’t planning on killing you anyway, which he doesn’t understand; he had been deceiving her, but she still plans on upholding her promise to help him. MC says it’s not just because he saved her before, but also because his attitude -- he resists the life of excess, he protects the officials who are benevolent, he only wants peace for the country, just like her. (Also she promises to personally kill him if he makes moves to start another battle for power.)

The other rebels are approaching, and Marius needs to escape soon. MC mentions the secret passageway outside, but Marius worries what will happen to MC, since she would be defying orders by not killing Marius.Then she takes Marius’s sword and stabs it into her own shoulder to make it look like Marius injured her and escaped. And she says, after all, she only has her life because Marius had saved it back then...

Marius is shocked, then sighs and says he can’t let someone who’s treated him so well to be put in a terrible situation, “I won’t escape... You don’t need to repay me in this way...” as MC passes out.

MC wakes up to the rebel leader; they’ve won thanks to her info. When she mentions Marius, the leader takes her to the shrine... where he asks her to identify if a body is Marius. The temple priests told the leader that the Pharaoh took his own life.

On his hand, there are the bite marks of a snake, and they had found a venomous cobra in the palace. Marius did this so MC wouldn’t be blamed for his escape; in the end, he once again protected her. Now, MC realizes she doesn’t only feel gratitude towards him...

After MC’s injury has healed, she gives herself an extended vacation and heads to an artistic small town that Marius once told her about. She’s reminded about how Marius wanted to experience that kind of ordinary happiness.

Right as she’s thinking about him, she thinks she sees him in the crowd. He smiles at her, then disappears. She chases after him but loses him in the narrow streets. She murmurs how it wouldn’t be the first time her eyes played tricks on her, until a voice from behind her --

???: “Is that so? Do you always mistake other people for me?”

“From the looks of it, I seem quite important to you.”

MC is frozen in place, so joyous that she’s scared to to turn around and check in case it’s a dream.

She starts sobbing. Marius wipes her tears and explains that he faked his death with drugs, and the snake bite on his hand was from a non-venomous snake; the priests were in on it and helped him escape. He originally considered using the secret passage method MC offered, but he changed his mind when she stabbed herself.

MC is upset that Marius will be falsely remembered as a shallow, corrupt Pharaoh who cowardly took his own life. Marius is unbothered because other people’s opinions about him don’t matter, his own judgment is what’s important; and the rebels were the force necessary to breathe life back into the country, and the quickest, thereby avoiding more suffering.

MC’s confused about what Marius’s “true” self is, but he tells her that every version of him that she’s seen is a part of him: his mischievous side, his benevolent side, his cold and ruthless side when facing an enemy -- they’re all him. He’s long since gotten used to adapting himself to confront different people because that’s how he survived (but MC saw through every layer of that).

He thought about MC often since his fake death, and she’s very special to him.. There’s more Marius teasing as she gets flustered, he points out that she was overjoyed when he “came back to life”, and he laments how, oh, she must think he’s not good enough for her since he’s just a lowly criminal now ): ... Anyway Marius invites her to travel the world with him and she agrees. <3

in the after-story, you can see that they share a modest house (which marius got accustomed to easily, to mc’s surprise); marius teases her again about feeding him wine, and he’s wearing that bracelet she gave him in the desert for saving her (he urges her to wear the other matching bracelet~)

[cr0wbonezz-wr1ting-inc]

Avatar: The Last Airbender x Dream SMP AU

i wrote this because i recently rewatched A:TLA for the millionth time and my brain just ran with it. so, here it is!

you can send in blurbs/imagines/hedcanons/questions if you want to! this is all just for fun. if my requests are open, however, you can request fics set in this AU!

please bare in mind that this is my first time doing an AU, so please be patient with me.

note: this takes place outside the A:TLA canon, so characters like Aang, Katara, Sokka or otherwise are not present!

~

water tribe;

head: philza

- a calm and thoughtful man. phil is like the embodiment of the water element. he's flexible and lets the waves take him anywhere, yet he can drown cities in an instant if he so pleases. he's a master waterbender, even teaching self-defense, but phil has never been a fighter. he'd much rather settle conflict with words than violence, but if he's on the battlefield you better have an entire army ready.

- he's a warm-hearted man, but don't think you can take advantage of his hospitality. phil is a wise man, he can tell when you're lying to him. he can read people like books, some even go as far as to say he can read minds.

- many people of the tribes see phil as a father figure. he makes it a point to always have his palace open for his people, and even lets them stay the night if they please. he loves to read to the children that reside within his home while their parents rest up from their day.

fire nation;

head: technoblade

- techno is a brave warrior that has turned the tides in many wars. he has passion that can't be matched and a strong sense of justice. he is the most agressive out of the 4 leaders, but he is extremely loyal and protective to his alliances.

- he wears his scars like trophies, he barely covers them up. he only ever covers up when he is going to battle, wearing a pig's skull on his head. his brute force and agressive fighting style can make even the bravest hearts tremble. there are people claimed to have seen him get crushed by boulders, eaten by monsters or stabbed right in the heart and survived, earning him quite the title; immortal.

- many people outside of the fire nation fear technoblade, known as a merciless fighter. but the people within the nation know him as a kind and giving ruler, regularly visiting the poorer side of the towns.

earth kingdom;

head: dream

- dream is known to be very decieving. his personality varies depending who he talks to. if he's talking to people within the kingdom he's friendly, playing with the children and having lively conversations with the townsfolk.

- to his alliances he's a smart and calculating man, a sight only few people get to see. he's cold in his actions yet warm with his words, which is why he's so terrifying to his enemies.

- dream's face is always hidden. no one's ever seen it and lived to tell the tale. though, there have been rumours among the maids in the palace that he's quite handsome.

air nomads;

head: georgenotfound

- at first glance people see him as a young man who simply got his power handed to him on a silver platter, but that couldn't be further from the truth. george is an extremely intelligent fighter, only making steps that are necessary to preserve energy. no one can match his dedication to the art of airbending.

- outside the nomads he's known as a lazy ad unmotivated leader that simply sits in his home all day, but inside the temples you can find him wandering the plaza with a book in hand, reading to whoever may listen.

- george likes to look at conflict very objectively, always lookig for a practical way to get a favorable endresult. he's a quick thinker and sees opportunities and chances in places many would give up hope. he has never lead his people into battles and came back with less than promised.

~

thank you all for 1k followers <3

i'll also be writing about the other characters, which i will link here vv

- water tribe

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi Steph! Would you happen to have any fic recs that involve John meeting the Holmes family? I always think that's such an interesting dynamic to see! Also, I think this goes without saying but I love your blog and appreciate your contributions to the fandom! Thanks!

Hey Nonny!

Ah, thank you! I’m glad you enjoy my blog!

Oooo! Yes, I love that dynamic too!! ANNNNND!!! You’re giving me the chance to make a part 2 for a REALLY OLD LIST!!! So YAY!!! I found a bunch on a text doc I haven’t posted yet, so HERE WE GO! Hope you enjoy, and as always, everyone please add your own!

PARENTS AND FAMILIES Pt. 2

See also: 

Parents & Family

Meeting the Family With a Fake Relationship

Do You Love Me? by whitchry9 (K, 641 w., 1 Ch. || Friendship, Family, Epic Bromance) – John asks Sherlock perhaps the most important question.

Once Upon A Time by ProfessorSquirrell (T, 908 w., 1 Ch. || Family, Snippets of Life, Romance, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Implied Drug Use, Angst with Happy Ending) – There is a room in Sherlock's mind palace where nothing gets deleted. And it looks like this...

Crisis Averted by Spartangal22 (T, 2,188 w., 1 Ch. || HLV Fic, Missing Scene After Confronting Mary, Canon Compliant, Sherlock Whump / Mary Shot Sherlock, Family / Friendship, Hospitalization, Sherlock POV, Holmes Brothers) – Lying in the hospital, Sherlock receives some surprising visitors, and manages to deal with two problems he's been having lately. A missing scene from HLV about a formal introduction that was never made and a visit that was never shown.

The Only Available Transportation by blueink3 (T, 5,379 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Fluff and Angst, Insecure Sherlock, Caring John, Parentlock, Sherlock’s Birthday, Family, Misunderstandings) – It’s possibly the desperation that’s seeped into his voice despite his best intentions, or perhaps it’s just a mother’s intuition, but she knows that whatever he’s calling about is Serious, hangover be damned. “What’s happened?” she asks, tone soft and as comforting as a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s night. “Mummy,” he begins, voice catching. “I think John may be moving out.”

On the Steadfast Approach of an Oncoming Darkness by 2bee (T, 7,772 w., 1 Ch. || Apocalypse, Minor Character Death, Sort of Parentlock) – The world is ending. Not fast, but slowly, like falling asleep with a fever.

The Name Game by ItsClydeBitches221B (K, 8,958 w., 1 Ch. || Humour, Family, Platonics / Friendship, Sort-of Parentlock, John/Mary, Mary is Nice, Five and Ones, Baby Watson, Mycroft Loves Baby Watson) – The names that baby girl Watson comes up with for her extended family. Or: how everyone—Watsons, Holmes, and others alike— just learned to give up and embrace their weirdness.

The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3 (M, 15,915 w., 3 Ch. || Post S4, Angst, Reichenbach, Parentlock, Past Jolto, Idiot John, Sherlock’s a Mess, Puppies, Fluff, Possessive / Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Matchmaker Sholto, Melancholic Feelings, Emotional Sherlock, Domesticity, Love Confessions in the Rain, Kissing in the Rain, Pet Names) – After the events of series 4, Major Sholto invites John and Sherlock to lunch one day. It nearly proves to be too much for their tenuous relationship as the past haunts the present, putting the future that Sherlock so desperately wants at risk.

Permanent Fixture by vitruvianwatson (E, 18,836 w., 9 Ch. || Post-S4, Parentlock, Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, They’re Good Parents, Blushing Sherlock, First Kiss/Time, Explicit Consent, Sexual Content, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Big Feelings, Crying, First Kiss, Fluff, Anxious Sherlock, Inexperienced Sherlock, Emotional Communication, Love Confessions) – Now, as Rosie sat curled up against Sherlock’s side, John watched and wondered exactly how he had ended up here. Domesticity had never suited him before, not at any point in his life. His disastrous marriage had been proof of that. But somehow, here in the warmth and safety of 221B Baker Street, here with Sherlock Holmes reading medical jargon to his daughter, Sherlock’s bony feet nudging against his leg, John couldn’t imagine anyplace that would make him happier.

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w., 10 Ch. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a "normal" family. It's easy enough to pretend when all you're doing is dropping the act.

An Acquired Taste by kinklock (E, 31,059 w., 4 Ch. || Vampires AU || Vampire Sherlock, Misunderstandings, Bat!Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Humour, Magical Realism, Fluff and Angst, Blood Drinking, Holmes Family, Slow Burn) – At Montague Street when Sherlock was forced to sate his body’s needs, he was at least able to wander about the flat as much as he pleased. At Baker Street, it was mini-bags in a mini-fridge and bedroom confinement.

Chaperones by MissDavis (T, 34,114 w., 7 Ch. || 11 Years Post-S4, Fake Relationship, Parentlock, Disney World, Bed / Room Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss, Obsessive Sherlock, Insecure John) – Right. Of course. Everyone assumed they were a couple and no one would question it. John put his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head in his hands. "You want to pretend to be a couple so we can chaperone a trip to Disney World with Rosie's class and you won't have to share a room with a stranger?" "Exactly." Sherlock beamed at him. "Don't worry about the cost. The Birmingham case last month paid more than enough to cover expenses for all three of us."

Where The Ghosts Have Voices by HappyJuicyfruit (M, 37,691 w., 12 Ch. || Supernatural AU || Ghosts, Magical Realism, Light Horror, Fluff and Smut, John Can See Ghosts, John Whump, Emotional Manipulation, Dark Magic, Coma, Injury Recovery, Blow Jobs, Anal, Happy Ending, John’s Past, Mr Holmes, Powerful John, Holmes Brothers, Sherlock’s Past, Past Viclock, Drug Abuse, Hair Pulling) – John has lived his whole life as an outcast. It is only when he meets Sherlock, that be realizes being a freak might not be such a bad thing, and that the curse he has lived with his whole life may be a gift after all. (TO READ)

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock's closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don't need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

The Hollow Woman by ScopesMonkey (M, 51,335 w., 22 Ch. || Post-TRF, Major Character Death, Mystery, Romance, Friendship, Family, Angst, Crime, Reunion, First Kiss / Time, Nightmares, Doctor John, Jealous Sherlock, Jealous John, BAMF John, Angry John, Dub-Con, Rough Sex, Bottomlock, Possessive John, Villain Mary, Open Ending) – Forced to return to London sooner than expected, Sherlock falls into a case too close to home. Part 1 of the Hollowverse series

Repairing the Broken Things by BakerTumblings (M, 75,252 w., 15 Ch. || S4 Compliant, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Medical Trauma, Hospitals, Big Brother Mycroft, Misunderstandings, Realizations, Severe Accident, John Whump, Pneumonia, Medical Procedures, Bed Sharing, First Time, Healing, Happy Ending) – "I'm calling today to notify you that there's been an accident."

Points by lifeonmars (E, 53,791 w., 42 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || HLV Rewrite / Canon Divergence, Married Life, Pregnancy / Baby Watson, Drinking to Cope, Boxing / Fisticuffs, Clueless John, Angst, Minor Medical Drama, Tattoos, Christmas, First Kiss/Time, Eventual Happy Ending, Love Confessions, Doctor John, Sexuality Crisis, Slow Burn, Case Fic, Drugging, Blow/Hand Job, Emotional Love Making, Parenthood, Passage of Time) – What if His Last Vow never happened? This fic picks up a few months after John and Mary's wedding, in an alternate universe where Magnussen doesn't exist, but Mary is still pregnant. Life continues -- just in a different direction. And slowly, Sherlock and John find their way to each other.

The Monument of Memory by J_Baillier (M, 79,663 w., 14 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It Fic / S4 is Canon, Angst, Family Drama, Guilt, Case Fic, John Loves Sherlock, Complicated Feelings, Mentalism / Hypnosis, Murder, Grieving John, Sherlock is a Bit Not Good, Team Work, Trust Issues, BAMF John, Psychological Trauma, Protective John, Autistic-Spectrum Sherlock, Parentlock, John POV) –  A genius traumatised by a past he's only beginning to recall. The psychopath sister that time forgot. A missing woman and a mentalist who may or may not be a murderer. And, in the middle of it all, stands John Watson.

Kintsukuroi by sussexbound (E, 91,823 w., 20 Ch. || S4 Compliant / Post-TLD, Grief / Mourning, PTSD, Internalized Homophobia, Therapy, Past Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Nightmares, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Depression, Anxiety, Bed Sharing, Love Confessions, Cuddling, Suicidal Ideation, Masturbation, Minor Character Death, Sexting, Frottage, Inexperienced Sherlock, Rimming / Anal / BJ’s, Emotional Turmoil, Finding Each Other) – “I love you.” Sherlock sees the words hit John with almost physical force. He reels back a little, jaw twitching and eyes filling. “I love you,” he repeats, a little softer, a little more gentle, as earnest as he possibly can. Because they’ve been teetering on the brink of this thing for years, and it had become painfully obvious over the last few months that they were at a tipping point. This had to happen. Now it has. Now they can see where they end up. The tears in John’s eyes spill over, and he wipes at them angrily. “Do you even know what that means?”  

The Summer Boy by khorazir (T, 94,706 w., 6 Ch. || Post S3/Post TAB/Alternate S4, Friends to Lovers, Asexual Sherlock, POV Sherlock, Flashbacks, Bullying, 1980′s Kid Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Inexperienced Sherlock, Grief/Mourning, Pining Sherlock, Case Fic, Sherlock’s Past, Awkward Conversations, Anxious Sherlock) – About half a year after the fateful events at Appledore, Sherlock and John embark on a private case in Sussex. For Sherlock, it’s a journey into his past, bringing up memories both happy and sad that he has locked away for almost thirty years. For John, it means coming to terms with the present – and a potential future with Sherlock. Part 1 of the The Summer Boy series

The Wedding Garments by cwb (E, 105,390 w., 36 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate Future AU || Alternate First Meeting, Dating / Arranged Marriages, Romance, First Kiss/Time, Heavy Petting, Cuddles, POV Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Dev. Rel., Nervous/Anxious Sherlock, Jealous/Cranky, Hiking, Vacation Homes / Honeymoon, Sherlock’s Family, Horny John/Sherlock, Patient John, Massages, Hand Jobs, Assassination Plots, Hand Jobs / Oral Sex, Case Fic, Emotional Love Making, Bath Time Fun) – This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It's 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn't need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w., 37 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel., Possessive/Obsessive Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Body Appreciation, Depression, Closeted Sexuality, Family, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Ogling Each Other, Anxious Sherlock, Panic Attack, Drunkenness, Talk of Forever, Big Feelings™) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it's a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

The Lost Special: Family Matters (As Do Relationships) by ShirleyCarlton  (M, 144,688 w., 40 Ch. || S4 Fix It Fic, Unreliable Narrator, John’s Mind Bungalow, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending) – Sherrinford is not really the name of some high security prison. That was just a figment of John’s frantic coma dream. And Eurus is not actually Sherlock’s sister. That’s just something random she said to John before shooting him. Sherlock and John were never actually estranged. That was just their act to cover up what really happened to Mary – or Rosamund Moran, as her real name has turned out to be. Sherlock does have a secret sibling, though, and his name is Sherrinford. After finally eliminating Moran – though in a rather dramatically different way than they had envisioned – and exposing the truth about Eurus, John encourages Sherlock to delve into his past and to find out whether the reasons to keep Sherrinford away from Sherlock were the right ones, and to discover what really happened in 1981. Along the way, Sherlock and John gradually, finally, stop keeping each other at a distance, and eventually become a proper family of their own.

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court.

[vampiretickles]

HIHIHI OMG UR SO SWEET THANK YOU FOR REBLOGING MY POST SOBS/pos I WAS WONDERING!! DO YOU HAVE ANY SWEET LITTLE INSIDE JOB TICKLE HEADCANONS YOURSELF?? LITERALLY ANYTHING BC WE ARE ALL STARVED FOR CONTENT BAHAHA (ur girl rly loves brett but no pressure I’d just love to see him either get wrecked or wreck someone ❤️❤️) BAHABAHA BUT WHATEVER YOU DO OR IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IS PERFECT!! SENDING YOU GOOD VIBES AND AGAIN THANK YOUUU

INSIDE JOB TKL HEADCANONS

I binge watched basically the whole thing in one sitting, I am in love!!!

Ofc as soon as i watched it i rushed to google the classic “*insert fandom here* tickle fics”. Thanqu sm for the ask, i'm so glad i could find something /pos lol, i feel u with the content starve aahh

also very sorry for the length of this lmao

(Ok so i've come to the sudden realisation that someone who works on the show could like… technically see this, so if you have anything to do with inside job… kindly wipe ur memory of this <333)

As usual, first one here & then the rest under the cut!

Ok so I’ll start with the mc and leave best to last, bc i need to contain myself somewhat, having said that: here is the main cast!

Reagan:

Ok this amazing(ly stressed) woman is probably super sensitive due to not being used to physical contact

I feel like at one point Bearo definitely had/has a tickle setting

*queue more trauma for reagan*

Ok so I can't tell if this is better or worse than hugging, but I think there is a chance she may not attack someone that tries to tickle her, IF they are very close

Like Brett or someone like that

I think her sides are her worst spot, and if anyone attempts to tickle them she r u n s

Her neck is also ticklish, but she can tolerate it a bit more

I don't think she is massively ticklish, but as I said, she definitely has a few sensitive spots

If you take her by surprise, be prepared to eat fist. Sorry lol

Her laughter is probably slightly strained, that slowly turns into cackles, and eventually choking lol

Maybe giggling

Swears a lottt

She will get payback. She will be deadly.

Goes straight for the worst spot, which she figures out extremely quickly

She probably has a math to figuring out someone's worst spot without fail every time

If it comes to be a common occurrence, she will create a bot for it

Will mean tease you

THE BOT WILL TEASE YOU

Tickles ppl who piss her off lol

Gigi:

Ok so i have like, not much for Gigi Luigi??

But I do know she does NOT like being messed with

Like 95% ler ok

She tickles Dr Andre a lot

Ok she tickles everyone, just for fun

She most likely has sensitive feet

CACKLES

She has her nails done and kinda long, which are super scratchy and definitely good to wreck ppl with lol

Yeah thats about it sorry lol

Hopefully she’ll get more screen time and more abt her character next season tho

Glenn:

Fucking. Dolphin man

LETS GO

So like… hes a dolphin? But hes still ticklish? Can dolphins be ticklish?

My first thought are his armpits, and tummy, like they’ve gotta be super bad

I think maybe his tail as well? Or is that too odd? Lol

I’m sorry but the first thing that came to mind is that it like.. A fetish for him. Ok im sorry that was just a bad thought, not an actual headcanon lol

Dkgjgkjdgndkjndfj im so sorry lets not dwell on that

Rougher tickles work on him a lot more than softer ones do

Ok so i also think he has a ticklish back ok

He's not suuppperrr ticklish, but he’s still really ticklish

Once you really get him laughing, he starts making dolphin noises

He has sharp scratchy claws. Get fucked. Lmao

So yeah he can definitely be a deadly ler if he wants to be

He probably doesn’t get too caught up in any of the gangs tickly shenanigans

But sometimes he will partake in the occasional tickle fight

He will win

His teases are definitely very.. Army like

Like “is that all you got, soldier? Not gonna fight back?”

Stuff like that

Ok if we are ignoring what has been,, previously stated, I think he’s neutral about the subject/ being tickled

Magic Myc:

Ok I have noo idea how he works but he definitely likes fucking around with people

So yes he likes tickling people/ engages a lot of tickle fights

I mean… look at him. He’s perfect

6 arms to tickle with and hold people down with

Oh god y’all better watch out

Since he can read minds, if he knows/meets anyone in the tkl community, he will KNOW

And he will not be afraid to let you know/ embarrass the shit out of you

Lmao have fun

Knowing him, he would probably assume its a sex thing

But either way he wouldn't rlly care

He definitely enjoys tickling ppl so yk

Mega tease

Is he ticklish? Maybe

His tummy thing is definitely ticklish

His tentacle… dicks are all a little ticklish

His laughter is very chaotic and silly

Definitely the giggler

Also makes high pitched, guttural cackles

Basically all the laughter lol

I think he likes it a little, depends on who it is tbh

He’s basically just a silly guy thing. He’s a little shit who likes to annoy ppl and have fun so he’s always up to tickling. Lee or ler.

Dr Andre:

OK so this guy. Likes to have fun

Very much ler energy, but also massive lee oh god oh fuck

His giggles throughout the series <333333

Definitely has tickle monster energy

He enjoys having tickle fights and playing a lot when he’s high, but being tickled gives him a small high lol

Snorts a lot

He’s super teasy but he’s not very good at it??

When he tickles someone he’s all over the place, he never stays in one spot for more than a second

This is very effective

Him and Myc would team up a LOT

And they make an amazing team lol

Andre is like one huge tickle spot ngl

Death by raspberry.

His ribs and armpits are definitely his worst spots

Also his feet will make him scream

He probably screeches a lot

He likes back tickles tho

Definitely likes being held down while tickled

I'm trying not to get too sexual here but… yk its Dr. Andre

He has definitely met a few ppl who are into it that way. He has done many things.

I’ll keep it at that I think lol

Brett:

My boy. My baby boy.

Touch starved and craving familial love

So he definitely likes tickling

Major lee.

Sdjfhsghsakjflsfjowbgwjingwgjwr <33333333333

Like idk if there would be tickling scenes in the growing years but like, he is definitely aware that kids get tickled by their older siblings/ parents, and would be jealous of those who experienced it as a child

Also just craving any touch he can get

If you wiggle your fingers at his tummy but don’t actually touch him. So many giggles.

HE IS SO CUTE

He has little snorts. His laughter is raspy and high pitched and especially whiny. Literally angels laughter

Hiccupy giggles

Enjoyer of tickly neck kisses.

His tummy is super duper ticklish

Even the lightest tickles will get him laughing like crazy

Especially if you kiss his tummy. Like he will go insane with laughter, also bc he feels so loved and he never wants it to stop.

Definitely cries. Like no overwhelmed but it’s just his reaction

Ok get ready for this one its revolutionary:

SUPER TICKLISH INNER THIGHS/ HIPS

Like that whole area just makes him scream, especially if you dig in

Okay but his thighs are super thicc

His armpits r super bad as well

Raspberries kill this man. Absolutely destroy him.

If you tease him, call him cute, stuff like that, he’ll go bright red and giggle even more. He also genuinely takes the compliments to heart and will be thinking about it months later

Loves cuddles <3

Ok ler time lol

He’s surprisingly super gentle and loving

HE WILL STILL WRECK YOU THO DON’T BE FOOLED

He’s super sweet and compliments ur smile

Definitely gives cheer up tickles

Literally “where’s that smile??!?!?”

Gives deadly raspberries

Likes tickle fights

He just likes making people happy

Tickling is definitely like another love language for him

He just. Likes tickling.

Laughs along with you

Definite tickle monster

He likes playing games and loves cute reactions

Ok just imagine his laugh some more. Ok good.

He cannot stay still tho lol

The gang love tickling him sm, especially when Myc drops that Brett likes it and missed out on those experiences as a kid

Omg myc stfu but also brett secretly thanking him bc now he gets tickles lol

Okkk that’s all I’ve got for now. Feel free to send more asks tho :))

[the-badger-mole]

Let's say you're on the writing team for Avatar when it was just an idea Bryke had. They've stepped back, letting the writers do what they do best. While Bryke certainly offer suggestions, they don't try shoehorning in their ideas.

What aspects of canon would you change and keep the same??

Would you have elements of a one-sided Kat@@ng, with Aang learning to let Katara go, or not have it at all??

If you were to write Aang as a character you actually liked, how would you do it??

Oh! I like this ask. Bet! Get a snack, because this is a long one.

In Book 1, I would keep Aang pretty much the same, but I would frame certain things he did the way they should have been framed. Like his whole deal on Kyoshi, leaving Katara to do all the work so he could flirt. That would have much more of an impact on his friendship with her. Subtle at first, but it would be the first blow against Kataang. Katara would gradually over the course of that first season have to confront the fact that she's pinned all her hopes of ending the war on a child. I think that making her face that reality would open the door to more conversations about how he felt about what the world expected him to do, and that would in turn lead to Katara helping Aang to face what happened at the siege on the NWT, and what he was being trained to do honestly.

Book 2 would be where Aang is confronted with his duty as the Avatar and what "ending the war" would mean. By this point, he knows in no uncertain terms that he's expected to kill Ozai at the very least, and his crisis of conscience happens here, and this is where he would start trying to figure out alternatives. At the same time, the people he's meeting talk to Aang and his friends honestly about what they've experienced in the war- famine; disease; loss of homes; seeing loved ones suffer and die brutally.

It all has an effect on Aang, and makes him cling tighter to Katara. Katara interprets it as platonic and doubles down on mothering Aang, even trying to shield him from the worst of the realities of the war as much as she can. When Aang tells his friends once again that he isn't sure if he can kill Ozai, someone snaps at him- Sokka I think- and tells him how the war has affected all of his friends personally, and that they don't have the luxury of feeling bad about Ozai dying, and what did Aang really think the army they were trying to gather was going to do on the battlefield, have a tickle fight (yeah...this feels like a Sokka moment). Here is where Aang finds out about Kya, I think.

Aang still goes to (the much less racist version of) Guru Pathik, and still fails to let go of his attachment to Katara. Zuko and Katara still have that moment in the caves. I haven't decided if Zuko still turns on them- on the one hand, I do think him joining the Gaang here could work. on the other hand, I think he needed to go home and see how much it doesn't fit him anymore. I could go either way. Aang still gets shot by the lightning and Katara still saves him.

As Aang and his friends travel through the Fire Nation, they spend more time with the poorest citizens. They find out how much they've suffered because of the war, and how much they also want it to end. Katara's stint as the Painted Lady lasts much longer, and she becomes a sort of urban legend, which may or may not get back to Caldera. If Zuko is on their side at this point, they start planting the seeds of rebellion on the promise of ending the war (none of the FN citizens know who he is of course). The Footloose episode doesn't happen. It's stupid and adds nothing. Instead, there's more focus on the propaganda and fear the FN leaders are spreading and finding out that there's already a rebellion brewing among certain pockets of the people. Piando plays a much bigger role in this season. He knows who they are, and helps connect them with a growing resistance movement.

Aang is still hung up on Katara, and still hasn't told them that he can't enter the AS or why. On the DoBS, he figures it won't matter since neither he nor Ozai can use firebending anyway. He keeps it too himself, and lies to his friends about being prepared to kill Ozai (well...not so much lying as telling them he's going to do what he has to and letting them assume). He still kisses Katara. They still lose this battle. The adults still sacrifice themselves for the kids to getaway.

When they get to the Air Temple, things get heated with Aang and Katara. Aang tries to run off and go play immediately, but this time, Katara lets him have it. She reminds him that she just lost her father again because he and so many other people surrendered to give them the chance to escape. She lays into him about his laziness and disregard for the people around him and tells him that he needs to shape up, or he'd get everyone killed. She becomes a lot stricter with his training at this point. Not cruel, but she's a lot less likely to tell Toph or Zuko to go easy on him, and she raises her expectations for his waterbending.

Aang gets his feelings hurt and he goes off by himself deep into the temple. He finds writings on AN culture and philosophy and actually begins learning about his people. He learns about airbending techniques he never learned. Some of it is clearly meant for battle. Aang learns that his people's views on the sanctity of life and killing aren't as black and white as he'd believed. This is also where he gets a hint of energy bending.

The Firebending Masters, Boiling Rock, and TSR still happen. Mai does not rescue Zuko and Co- that was something that never made sense to me. But then, most of Mai's characterization after CoD makes no sense to me. She's a character that needs a redo, too.

Katara and Zuko get closer during this time. Same as they do in the show. It's not quite yet a crush on either of their sides, but a lot more focus is given to the development of their friendship. They quickly become each other's go-to person in the group for support and to just hang out. Aang sees this and does not like it. It also makes his reaction to the play make a lot more sense, because he's already starting to suspect there's something between them. He confronts Katara about his feelings for her, her feelings for Zuko, and the kiss they never talk about. Katara says she doesn't really know how she feels about any of it, and she doesn't think this is the time or place to talk about it. Aang kisses her again. It's bad. Katara probably hit him this time. They don't talk alone again.

Aang is once again confronted with the expectation that he's going to kill Ozai. He has to this time, because Ozai is going to be at the height of his power, and won't hesitate to cancel Aang's subscription to Life. His friends finally realize he never actually intended to kill Ozai on DoBS, and demand to know what his plan is now. He still hasn't got one. He still hasn't told his friends about the AN philosophy scrolls he found at the air temple. He still insists that he can't in good conscience kill Ozai. Then his friends point out that millions more people will die if he doesn't. Aang goes off, gets kidnapped by the lionturtle and has the conversation with the past Avatars. They tell him he not only should kill Ozai, but he also has to let Katara go so he can use the Avatar State. Aang doesn't want to do either. Then the lionturtle gives him another way. Energy bending

The lionturle's way has consequences, though, and Aang is informed upfront that energy bending would bind him to whoever he used it on, and that it's influence was corrupting. If Aang wasn't careful, he could become as big a threat to the balance of the world as any Fire Lord had ever been. Aang doesn't understand that warning. He chooses energy bending and goes off to face Ozai.

It does not go well. There is no Rock of Destiny to magically give Aang access to the AS. There is just hyperpowered Ozai- with his decades of experience bending, and Aang, whose firebending is also strengthened, but who can't control his power as well as his opponent. He tries some of the battle techniques he read about in his scrolls. He hasn't got them down either, and some of them just feed Ozai's flames, but he manages to trap Ozai in a ball of air and suffocate him and the fire. He doesn't kill Ozai. He just leaves him disoriented long enough to energy bend him. Battle's over.

Aang brings Ozai back to Caldera, expecting to be hailed as a hero. He isn't at first, but then Iroh, Hakoda and other older and wiser people agree that it's better that Ozai gets to stand trial for his crimes. He ends up being sentenced to die anyway. Aang is furious, and then he discovers that some of his anger is Ozai's. He's bound to Ozai and now Aang has to work really hard not to let that bit of Ozai influence his personality. It's difficult, because Aang is genuinely angry enough that he can't tell what's his feelings and what is Ozai. Aang is now dealing with the fact that despite being the Avatar, people aren't willing to take him seriously, and won't not kill Ozai. He also has still not gotten over his crush on Katara and can't control the AS. On top of that Katara tells him that she doesn't feel the same way about him, and later he finds out that she's fallen for Zuko. Hard. Stupid hard. Like, they've already decided to get married in a few years, hard.

It's a bad time to be Aang. Book 3 would end with him being overwhelmed by his hurt, disappointment, and anger. Roku comes to him and suggests that he go back to Guru Pathik and learn from him. And so the last scene is Aang slipping away without telling anyone he's leaving. Toph may or may not join him. IDK.