#This gets more into the darker aspects of the au for sure

[celtrist]

Oh! Oh!

What would happen in the obsession AU if Alastor ever reunited with his mother with the curse? No romantic attraction, of course, but just knowing it is affecting his (probably angel) mother as well. Or maybe it doesn't affect angels and his mom is able to love him unconditionally as she did on Earth.

It would be such a nice reprieve for Alastor if the latter, since he has been described as a mamas boy. This would likely be the one person he allowed himself to love and be loved by on earth.

His one fear would then be to hide his mother and his affection for her from every other denizen of hell. After all, who wouldn't be jealous of this one person who has stolen all of Al's love and attention?

-N

So the curse wouldn't care if they're related, so his mother would be affected like everyone else and be romantically obsessed with him. For the most part, anything with sentience is affected: humans, sinners, winners, hellborn, heavenborn, and animals. Animals are more give or take if it's necessarily "romantic" because Animals don't really have that sort of intelligence of knowing what dating is. The most "romantic" it gets is sort of like mate Courting or something like dogs humping Alastor’s legs. But for the most part, Animals just like Alastor and rub against his legs like a cat or just being near him, nothing more than that. Animals are where I personally draw the line with stuff, but I do acknowledge that it would feasibly affect them as well, at least to some degree. This is why Keekee is actually unaffected by the curse! She's considered more of an object than an animal in this as her natural form does seem to be that of a key, not a cat!

Anything human-like though, the attraction is pretty much always romantic. The more "sentient" or I guess better put "intelligent" something is, the more affected for wanting romance it is. So his mother is unfortunately no exception to this and would be romantically inclined towards him. At the least, it'd be like Rosie where the affections can get between romantic and platonic. But romance is pretty much on the table for everyone, no exceptions.

Angels have been a bit of a weird topic for me as I was stuck between them being affected or not. At the end of the day though, because the curse is by proximity and angelic beings like Lucifer and Vaggie are affected, angels being immune didn't feel like it made sense. Angels just are affected slower as the angelic power would dull the curse's affect due to it being demonic by nature, but would creep up the longer the angel is around Alastor. This is something I think happened to Lucifer and Vaggie as well! They weren't immediately affected but, since they live in hell, fallen, and are just in Alastor's wide curse proximity 24/7, it wasn't too long before they WERE affected by it.

So Alastor’s mother, going off the idea she's an angel, would feel something when first meeting her son, a dull sense of obsession. But it wouldn't be crazy overt until the more time she spends with him and really be just a matter of time before the curse affects her close to completely. And because she's a winner and not naturally angelic born, the curse would affect her more easily than say a seraphim or someone like Lute. Maybe the more time she's away from Alastor the curse would calm down and "reset", but even if she only kept visiting and went back to heaven everyday, the curse would still creep up and not "reset" upon returning to Hell to visit Alastor if that makes sense.

[leavemebetosleep]

do you have any good fluttercord fic recs?

OH BOY DO I. In no particular order (except of when I thought of them):

1: Non-Entity by Captain Wuzz: An AU in which, instead of being turned to stone, Discord was shot in the head with a magic arrow that takes away his sentience and magic for a 1,000 years. Fluttershy mistakes him for a wounded animal and brings him home. I loved it so much.

2: Chaotic Neutral by C-Puff: The magic is starting to fade from Equestria, and the Main 6 and Discord go on an adventure to find out why, and reverse it. A bit of AU, in the sense it was written before the show was done, so it diverts in some places because of that. Super sweet, and I love the character development here.

3: Time is Taller than Space is Wide by Dott. Can also be read on Ao3 if you prefer. Soulmate AU (?) fic with a Groundhog Day style twist. I rarely see fics play with the idea of what if Fluttershy and Discord's friendship had started when they first met, so this is fun.

4 & 5: Blank and it's sequel Reconnection by @geekcat. Can also be read on fanfic.net. AU in which, before Discord can choose friendship over ruling Equestria, Twilight remembers a "reformation" spell. He is stripped of his free will, and Fluttershy does her best to bring him back. If you don't like the idea of Twilight being a villain, you might not like this one, but I think her villain arc in this is done in a perfect way for her character. It's super heart wrenching in many places, but in a good way.

6: Our Fair Lady of the Chaos Lord, also by GeekCat Can also be read on fanfic.net. Fairy tale inspired AU in which Fluttershy is a princess who's father is pressuring her to marry noble knight Sir Big Mac. Wanting to be sure he's a good person, she makes a deal with the Chaos Lord, letting herself be "kidnapped" so she can test his character. You can guess who she falls for instead. Honestly I've enjoyed all of GeekCat's fics, so they're getting an extra mention. Check out the rest of their fluttercord fics if you like any of these.

7: The Draconequus with the Dragon Tattoo by A M Shark This is a major case of, strange premise, kick ass results. Basically an AU based off Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson, with Discord as Lisbeth, and Fluttershy as an amalgamation of Mikael and several other characters, but focusing more on the murder mystery aspect of that book, and less on the...everything else. If you're familiar with GwtDT, don't worry, there's no rape scenes. Again, it's more about the murder mystery part. If you're not familiar with GwtDT, then don't worry again, because you don't need to know the original to enjoy it. It's just Discord and Fluttershy playing detective and solving a murder together. It has two sequels, but I haven't read them yet, and it didn't feel right to rec something I haven't read.

8: The Corpse Bride by Bad Horse. Dark fic. No relation to the Burton movie. Fluttershy dies in a tragic accident, and Discord brings her back from the dead as his zombie wife. Her friends (sans Pinkie) are horrified. Has a fantastic twist ending. If you like some of the darker stuff, def worth a read.

Bonus: Comic rec: The Last Adventure by Eveeka. Taking place after the final defeat of Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis, Discord gets into a depressive funk after shouldering the hatred from Ponyville citizens for his latest actions, but also because his friends seem to never be available anymore. He starts to think maybe Equestria would be better off without him, as he can't seem to exist with out making everyone miserable, and decides to hide away in the Everfree forest. Fluttershy, worried when he doesn't show up for tea, asks her friends for help, only to discover there's a monster running lose there he and the rest of Equestria might be in danger from. This fic has two endings, so keep reading even when it seems like it's over. You've got one more ending left. This one nearly made me cry.

[mint-yooxgi]

Impatient - Yandere!Pup Hybrid!Seungmin

Yandere AU & Hybrid AU - First Person POV

Genre: Mature, Smutty Themes, Internal Monologue

Pairing: Seungmin X Implied Chubby!Reader

Words: 1,627

Warnings: Implied masturbation and dirty thoughts. This is a Yandere story, it will contain themes such as stalking, violence, obsession, possessive natures, and just general overall creepiness and swearing. You have been warned.

A/n: This one's a little darker than the first, but still pretty tame on the feral aspect imo. I'm still testing the waters a bit, but I'm still really happy with the way it turned out! As always, please let me know what you think! Feedback is greatly appreciated! Enjoy!~

The Second of The Feral Drabbles

You’re mine.

You may not know it yet, but it’s true.

Poor little kitty cat, soon to be caught by the big bad wolf, and you’ll be none the wiser.

It’s okay, I’ll take care of you. Really, I promise I’m not as bad as I seem at first. I can come across pretty cold and guarded at first, maybe even a bit judgemental, but I promise it’s not directed at you. 

No, never you. 

I just have to get over the initial territorial state of needing to constantly be near you, and marking you as my own. It’ll be a little rough at first, but once I know you want me as badly as I need you, I think things will be okay. Though, now that I think about it, I don’t really want to hide anything…

Why shouldn’t everyone know that I’m yours and you’re mine? It’s always been meant to be this way. I can tell just from your scent alone that you were made to be mine. You’re just so addictive, I don’t know what to do with myself.

Well… I do know what to do, but I’ll admit I’m a very impatient man. I want you now, not after I’ve spent precious time that could be used loving you, and keeping you by my side instead of building said relationship from the ground up. That’s going to take forever, and I’m not that good of an actor. Your friends are bound to piss me off with how close they already are with you, especially that one guy friend of yours who can’t seem to stop leaving his scent all over you. Right now, he’s on pretty fucking thin ice, and one more provocation and I might just snap.

No matter, I’ll take care of him in due time. He’s a threat to our relationship already. Bastard doesn’t understand that you’re mine.

I’ve already started laying out the foundations of our first meeting, too. Sure, I may be impatient, but perhaps it’ll make the reward all the more sweeter from the everlasting buildup. Maybe, just maybe, the tension will be so thick at that point that it cannot help but to snap while we’re with each other, losing ourselves to the throes of passion like I’ve constantly dreamed about.

Fuck, I can’t wait for that day - the day where I can show you in every and any physical way I know how just how deep my love for you goes. I want to build you up until you’re begging for me to touch you - until I’m the only one who you let touch that gorgeous body of yours. 

I’m the only one worthy of you, anyways…

I bet no one’s ever been fully able to satisfy you before. Assholes probably didn’t care enough to learn your body like I will. By the time I’m done with you, I’ll be able to play the most intimate of pleasures over you just with my fingertips alone.

Oh, you poor thing. You’ve just been desperately waiting for me to come along and please you to your heart’s content, haven’t you? You know what you want, and you won’t be afraid to take it all from me, won’t you, Darling?

It’s okay. I won’t mind at all. 

In fact, I want you to take my all. I’ll make your head spin and your legs tremble. I’ll run your voice hoarse from how raw your cries of ecstasy will be. I’ll make it so that pussy of yours trembles from a single glance from my heated stare, positively weeping with endless nectar for me to drink up to my heart’s content. Me, and only me.

With me, you’ll never have to worry about another half-assed attempt to please you again.

I want to become the only one you think about. No, I will become the only one you think about. I’ll make sure of it, even if it’s the last thing I ever do.

I want to make you so cockdrunk on me, that you’re practically begging for me to breed you every time I walk into the room. I want to make it so you cannot help but want to spread your legs for me every time you see that lustful look take over my features, pleading for me to make you mine in every way imaginable. 

I want to make you so desperate for me that you ache for my touch when I’m not around, and when you so much as attempt to relieve that throbbing from between those plush thighs of yours, you’ll soon come to realize that it’s not enough. It will never be enough. Only my touch can satiate that need deep within your core. Only my cock can fill you up like you always deserve.

Let me treat you right, Darling. Let me love you like you’ve always wanted. Let me live to serve you, and then you can thank me by doing the exact same for me. I wish to consume you. I wish to ruin you in the best of ways, just as I want you to do for me. 

You won’t even have to try very hard. I’m already weak for you. Your smile, your laugh, your scent, your face, your body, your personality: everything about you drives me crazy. 

I won’t lie and say that I can never think straight around you. No, it’s more like my world shifts more into focus whenever I think about you. You make me finally understand what this life is all about. It’s always been about meeting each other, and belonging to one another. I only wish that it didn’t take me so long to realize that it’s been you that I’ve been searching for this entire time.

And another thing! I can’t believe I haven’t said this before yet, but you’re perfect. In every conceivable way, you are perfect for me, just as I am perfect for you. We have so many of the same interests and hobbies: you enjoy a lot of the same music and movies as I do, and we have very similar ways of thinking from what I’ve observed of you so far. Every detail I learn only makes me fall harder for you, Darling, and when the time comes, I only hope the same can be said for you.

You are perfect because you are mine. I am yours because you are perfect.

Nothing will change that. Nothing will ever change that.

I cannot help but wonder, though… will you think about me as much as I always dream about you? Will you also spend hours fantasizing about the life we’re going to have? About raising a family together, even if it’s just a fish, or a turtle? 

Whatever you want, really. I’m not fussy. 

How about how my hand will feel in your own as we walk through the park? Or perhaps you’re also like me when you let your thoughts roam, thinking about how good our hands would feel on each other’s bodies, mapping our own paths of pleasure over one another’s skin.

Would you be shy at first when you learn of all of my desires? Would you attempt to hide that soft and supple flesh of yours from me, brushing me off because you think I won’t love every dip and curve that I see? Or would you surprise me by taking control? Will you take everything that you want from me, and then some, once you know that I want you more than anything I’ve ever longed for in my entire life? Either way, I’ll make you confident in your ability to turn me on. All it will ever take is one look. Even just a simple touch will be enough.

I am desperate for you, and I’m not afraid to prove it.

I’ll admit, Darling, I’ve already torn through several pillows pretending that they were you spread out beneath me. It’s not the same. They could never imitate the warmth your plush body could provide for me. They’ll never let me know what your whimpers as you beg for ‘more' sound like, or how delightful I’m sure my name will be falling from your lips. They could never actually tell me what you enjoy, or how to please you in the best of ways.

No. Only you can do that. All in due time.

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. I just wish it was sooner, rather than later.

Impatient, remember?

Alas, I suppose I’ll have to sweep the feathers from my floor again after tearing into this last pillow with my teeth. 

I cannot wait for the day when I finally get to mark you as my own. The pillow, it seems, just isn’t cutting it anymore, but it will have to suffice for now. 

I want to get all of this pent up frustration out before I meet you, though. The last thing I want is to pop a boner the moment you speak my name for the first time, or scare you away because of some other effect your mere presence affords me. I swear, I turn back into my younger, hormonal teenage self whenever I think of you. 

I guess that’s just the effect you have on me.

Oh, well. It’s a good thing that I’ve planned everything out already, up to and including our retirement together. Now, all that’s left to do is start. 

Hopefully though, I can make it through the long haul. I really hate waiting, especially when it comes to you.

I know that you’re already mine, and I’m already yours. All that’s left now to do is convince you. 

If I’m lucky, maybe you’re just as impatient as me.

[simplymarr]

Chapter three.

warnings: none. just some angst at the end.

Since that very first day, everything just flowed naturally.

I saw Vincent two days a week for weekly classes; tuesdays and thursdays. Two-hour classes in which it felt like a convesation between the two of us. He seemed excited about my enthusiasm and i was astonished about his intelligence. The way he carried himself, the ideas and visions he had just resonated with me.

Then after class and almost religiously, he waited for me inside his car with a cigarette on his mouth and drove me to the bus stop. We never spoke explicitly about this agreement, nor we questioned it. It just felt natural, like gasping for air or falling in love.

We both knew these rides were just an excuse to keep talking about everything we couldn't inside the classroom. Not only about my thesis and his corrections, but book recommendations, law philosophy, even music and art.

And we laughed. We laughed a lot.

"So, is it really as difficult as it seems?" I asked, gasping for air between laughs and taking more of a serene tone.

He turned his head and looked at me. Both hands on the steering wheel.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, being a lawyer. How do you know you're doing the right thing? That you're not fucking it all up?"

The question lingered in the air for a moment. Perhaps it wasn't just about being a lawyer.

He took a breath before answering.

"Well, that's the thing, non? you never know." He said. His gaze meeting the pavement in front of him as he drove. "Like all aspects of life, sometimes you need to guess". This last line pronounced as he looked at me softly, like someone who's hiding a secret.

Silence between the both of us until he broke it again.

"Well, of course it gets easier once your fucking thesis is done" He joked to lighten up the mood and we laughed once again.

The bus stop made it's presence again, and each time we arrived i still felt like it wasn't supposed to be there that quickly.

I looked at him with a strange nostalgia; like something else was supposed to happen, like i wanted him to give me an answer to a question i hadn't yet made.

I smiled at him weakly and he reciprocated, but his smile was filled with kindness, with mercy. His blue eyes pierced into mine for what i thought it was an eternity, but it didn't felt awkward at all. It seemed like he, also, didn't want me to leave the car.

Suddenly a loud horn from the street broke the tension and he quickly lowered his gaze. I stepped out of the car and waved at him as he looked at me through the window.

"Goodbye, y/n".

"Au revoir, Vincent".

-------------------

From there, that one final interaction, the river that made our chemistry started to get motionless. My innocent question became something darker, premonitory.

As the next week arrived and found me, once again, in the classroom i noticed something strange in Vincent. Although i was standing quite far away from him it was the first time he didn't look at me, not even once. Maybe an occasional glance that he amended by looking away almost instantly, like he was just trying to make sure i was still there.

His hands moved with more fervor than usual, his tone quite hessitant. He asked a question and, as usually, i raised my hand, trying to ignore the now awkward tension between us. He looked at me quickly but then pointed at someone else to answer.

Strange, i thought to myself. I mean, it was okay. After all there was a room full of people, i wasn't the only one, wasn't i? Besides, we could discuss everything we wanted later in the car. I didn't have to worry about anything.

The class ended a couple of minutes earlier. I waited until everyone left so i could reach to him. I wanted to ask him a couple of questions about the remarks he emailed me last week, and maybe we could talk. To be honest, perhaps i just wanted to talk to him about anything.

"Vincent, hi. I hope you don't mind me asking about the remarks but-"

He stopped me mid sentence.

"We can discuss about it on Thursday, during class schedule". He said, with a firm voice, almost trying to sound convincing.

"Oh, i'm sorry, i thought there was no problem".

"If you're concerned about something you can email it to me and i will answer you whenever i can". He barely looked at me and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear as he turned away to reach his books.

I hessitated and left in silence. My face pale and a total confusion on my mind.

We still had the car. Right?

The world, as it was used to, once again proved me wrong. When i stepped out of the big, cold building no one was there. Well, at least no one waiting for me. I looked at the empty parking lot where the dark-green chevy was missing, and even if he never agreed explicitly to wait for me, i found myself feeling betrayed.

"Oh, for fucks sake, he's just your professor. Nothing else." I thought to myself, trying to make sense.

The walk home, for the first time in weeks, felt incredibly lonely. I looked at the bus stop from far away and i felt like it was laughing at me.

Head resting in the dirty window and my earphones on, i wondered:

"Was it something i said?"

"Did i just fucked it all up?"

next chapter soon

[euphoric-dramione]

April Dramione fanfic wrap-up *with links*

Amor Vincit Omnia by Twin_Flame_Blues: a cute second-chance healing romance. i’m not usualully very much into these tropes, but i really enjoyed reading this. it was very long, considering that not that much was actually happening, but it was still easy to read and i always wanted to come back to it when i had to put it down.

Rosemary for Remembrance by rubber_soul02: a beatiful healing fic with a found family trope where draco is abit angsty but worthy of redepmtion and hermione is a bit darker because of her trauma that she cannot easily move on from.

Timeless by alexandra_emerson: i liked the idea of this fic, the complexity of time and relationships in that complex time, but the more it went on, the more it just became a bore. it was really repetitive too.

A Season For Setting Fires by mighbewriting: i feel like this fic was the perfect lenght - i didn’t get bored of it and it kept my attention throughout the whole story. i liked the idea very much, the writing was brilliant and the plot really hooked me. i feel like for a wartime fic it was a bit too sappy but i still really enjoyed it. the ending, i feel, was sort of the weakest poitn, otherwise i would’ve given this fic the highest grade.

Soft As It Began by rubber_soul02: i definitely did not read this fic because of the mystery aspect, but i loved that it was actually entertaining and i really wanted to find out what happened to harry. the chemistry between our ship was also really good.

Lumos & Lattes by magicalmolly: i liked this fic and was hooked on from the beginning, but i think it didn’t know what genre it wanted to be: a fluffy coffee shop au, a smutty fic, a healing and redemption fic, a dark murder fic, an angsty fic, a fluffy fic? by the end, i still don’t know. i don’t think the author is entirely sure either.

Love & Other Historical Accidents by PacificRimbaud: i wasn’t impressed by this. found it really dull and boring and repetitive. not that i’m a big fan of regency, but i thought i was a fan of time travel. maybe i’m not?

Break Her by BareWithMeHoney: dark and twisted, ust how i love it, alhtough very much out of character and many of the decisions h and d made really did not make sense. i also feel like thif fic explained more and showed little, but i still really enjoyed it.

Things We Say In The Dark by rubber_soul02: this was such a beautiful academic fic, although i wouldn’t say it was dark acdemia, but it definitely had academic vibes. i loved the characterization of draco and hermione, as well as their interactions and relationship. also, the side pairing of theo and harry hit me hard in the best way possible.

Ten out of Ten by morriganmercy: a fun marriage law smutty fic that i read in one sitting.

On The Nature Of Daylight by ikorous: i ate this fic up in 20 hours because i was obsessed with it. this type of smut and toxic draco was all i ever needed. although i have to admit this fic is not the best written and there are plot holes, but the plot just absolutely doesn’t matter here. this is the type of bad boy x good girl dynamic i’m talking about. the ending though, i have to say, was not very satisfactory, but i also don’t see any other way this could’ve ended.

Things We're All Too Young To Know by eevans: the first half of this fic was absolutely brilliant, but right after draco found out that hermione was preteding to be daphne, it seems like the whole ansgt and chemistry simply evaporated and i was left with nothing. overall, a quite fun fic, although i found the second hafl to be boring.

ONE-SHOTS:

Paris by Twin_Flame_Blues

A Bit of a Mess by slytherindiaries

Amortentia by LadyMidnight87

DNFs:

The Binding by Curly_Kay

Hot for Teacher by MotherofBulls

[somefanficrecomendations]

2023 BEST READS

A few days late but hey, better late than never! This is a non-comprehensive list of my favorite fics that I’ve read in 2023! Criteria for a fic to be included on this list are:

I read the fic in 2023

I reread the fic at least once

I can rate 5/5 stars without hesitation

The fics are organized by fandom but otherwise are in no particular order.

BATMAN

New Wave by yellow_caballero Batman (gen), 103k, Reverse Robins, Stephanie Brown is Robin Some lunatic in a bat costume is running around Gotham clowning on fools, but local delinquent Stephanie Brown has way bigger problems. When her father and friends start joining mob wars Steph knows she has to do something about it before Gotham collapses. If that means joining up with rich dudes playing dress up, pasty nerds with hacking and photography habits, and throwing on a costume herself, then that’s just what she’ll have to do. Even if Batman works alone. She’s convincing. In which Stephanie Brown rocks the radical nineties and becomes the first Robin, ruining Batman’s life and giving Tim Drake a hobby.

birdsong by ScarlettSwordMoon Nightwing (gen), 22k, Dick Grayson-Centric After getting a face full of Scarecrow’s newest toxin, Dick isn’t haunted by his typical nightmares. No. This one has little green pixie boots. AKA Batman: Ego but make it Robin. Nightwing 60th Anniversary Bingo: Drugs & Toxins

Keep Your Head, Your Backbone, and Your Heart by MrMich Batman (gen) 54k, Dimension Travel, Duke Thomas-centric The last thing that Duke expected on what was supposed to be just a regular patrol was being suddenly thrown five years into the past, coming face to face with a darker, more violent Batman than the one he knew, a broken family, and a Tim who was a foot shorter than Duke, and not even Robin yet.

Loading and Aspect Ratio by JUBE514 Batman (Superbat), 45k, Wings AU A world where nobody has wings, but people think they do, and that changes everything.

Our Bodies & Other Fine Machines by SilverSkiesAtMidnight Batman (gen), 13k, Starvation He has never argued with a punishment, not since he was a toddler, if then. Surely she’ll listen, surely she’ll see this is too harsh, that he wouldn’t be disrespecting her like this if he was simply sulking over not getting his way. He needs that food, needs to be able to eat enough if he wants to be Robin. He’s been hungry before, but back then, it never mattered if he was a little weak or dizzy. It never risked his life or the life of his partner when he was a kid. She turns, sighing softly and pursing her lips. She reaches out to pat his cheek, and for a moment his heart soars hopefully, and he barely restrains himself from leaning into the rare bit of contact and soaking up his mother’s touch. “Oh, Timothy,” she tuts. “This is for the best. And honestly, I think it’s wise for you to cut down a bit on the snacks. I’d hate to have to listen to anyone tittering at the next gala that you’re getting chubby.” And without another backwards glance, she turns and heads upstairs, leaving Tim alone and frozen at the bottom of the steps.

You, Me, and the Humanity in Between by JUBE514 Batman (gen), 65k, Non-Human Robins Bruce is trying his best to protect the city that he loves. He doesn't know how exactly his Robins came to be- they're not fully human, not even at all. All he knows is that he wants to keep them safe.

Little Red by destiny919 Batman: Under the Red Hood (gen), 39k, Series, Jason is Tim’s Parent AU where Tim is younger and has been illegally adopted by his hero, the Red Hood.

A Different Game by Hinn_Raven Batman (multi), 62k, Red Hood!Stephanie Brown, Role Reversal Stephanie Brown died with a mouth full of blood and her eyes wide open, staring at the locked door, hoping still for a miracle, for a rescue. She died in a hidden place, still hanging from the ceiling by her wrists, bleeding out from a wound in her stomach, and no one was with her when her heart gave its last beat. AU where Stephanie Brown dies as Robin and becomes the Red Hood.

bad news, this place is magic as fuck by mikkal Batman (gen), 28k, All-Caste Jason Todd, Magic Jason Jason's on the trail of a killer who's targeting kids in Crime Alley for an unknown magical ritual. Between that and his family who insists on butting in, he's got his work cut out for him. But, as they say, nothing is as it seems.

Wings over Gotham by icarus_chained Batman, DC (gen), 190k, No Man’s Land, Independent Gotham An AU where an altered version of No Man’s Land happened while Bruce was in his late teens/early twenties, and Batman was born in the hellish crucible of a trapped city that was left for dead and then violently retaken. Gotham may pretend to run by mainlander rules for the sake of those who would have died otherwise, but under the surface, Bruce, Jim, Leslie, Ivy and Oswald and their pack keep their own council, and look with jaundiced eyes on the mainland.

A Meditation on Railroading by eggmacguffin Batman (gen), 24k, Hurt/Comfort When he ends up ditched in Atlanta after a fight with his dad, Tim decides to do the only sensible thing: Tell no one and make the 800 mile journey back to Gotham on his own. Because the "call Batman when you're in trouble" rule only applies when he's Robin, right?

THE BATMAN (2022)

I’m a Good Pretender by shipNslash The Batman (2022) (gen), 40k, Dick Grayson-Centric Dick’s mother raised her son to be a star. Dick’s father raised his son to be an athlete. Bruce's new ward is charming (manipulative), dedicated (obsessive), and way, way too smart for either of their own good.

In This or Any Other Universe by wildsofmarch The Batman (2022) (gen), 33k, Dimension Travel There was a new vigilante in his city: a man who smiled too much and talked too loud and knew his way around a fight a little too well. Bruce wasn't bothered by his antics. Except the man also seemed to know a little too much about him. Who was this Nightwing, anyway? OR: Dick Grayson (DCU) accidentally lands himself in Battinson’s Gotham.

DC LEGENDS OF TOMORRW

Countless Roads by nirejseki Arrowverse, DC Legends of Tomorrow (Mick Rory/Leonard Snart), 231k, Medium Leonard Snart, AU-Ghosts Due to a family curse (which some call a gift), Leonard Snart has more life than he knows what to do with – and that gives him the ability to see, speak to, and even share with the various ghosts that are always surrounding him. Sure, said curse also means he’s going to die sooner rather than later, just like his mother, but in the meantime Len has no intention of letting superheroes, time travelers, a surprisingly charming pyromaniac, and a lot of ghosts get in the way of him having a nice, successful career as a professional thief.

Straight On Till Morning by nirejeski Arrowverse, DC Legends of Tomorrow (Sara Lance/Mick Rory/Leonard Snart), 17k, Time Pirates Left alone in the Refuge, Mick and Sara decide they're going to be proactive about their fate. They end up becoming time pirates. Because of course they do.

THE WITCHER

A Beginners Guide to Exploiting the Kaedweni Tax Code For Fun and Profit by Heronfem The Witcher (Aiden/Lambert), 190k, WIP, AU-Modern Setting, AU-College/University Aiden Kett and Lambert Wilkson accidentally get married, and this is honestly probably the least of their problems.

By the Broken Lock That Freed Me by inexplicifics The Witcher, (muti), 46k, AU-Daemons, Accidental Warlord Series Aiden takes a contract on the Duke of Velen. He's not expecting the most interesting part of the whole affair to be meeting the duke's betrothed. His daemon thinks they should keep her. Aiden's not sure how that will work, given that he's already got a Wolf and doesn't know how Lambert and his daemon might feel about adding someone else to their little pack, but it's awfully tempting. And Cats aren't very good at resisting temptation.

Intent by tnico The Witcher (Aiden/Lambert), 18k, Non-Traditional A/B/O, 5+1 "You think I don't know what you're after?" Lambert accuses. "Well, I'd certainly hope you do, by this point in the evening," Aiden (so he says) agrees in a convincingly genial tone. It'd probably be enough to fool someone else on the matter of genuine interest.

SPIDERVERSE

gonna crack a rib (when i get home) by eneliii Spiderverse (gen), 40k, Cannon Divergence Miles Morales, recently landed in Earth 42, has had enough of everyone’s shit and he’s going to save his dad or so help him he’ll lose his mind. Miles Morales 42, just wants to know what the /hell/ is up with his doppelgänger.

MCU

The Hero's Journey; or: What Jasper Sitwell Did Last Summer by pagination MCU, Welcome to Night Vale (multi), 23k, Crossover The thing is, when an agent reaches clearance level five, it’s because they’re valuable, capable of something an exponentially diminishing few can offer in the ranks of SHIELD. Clint Barton, his personal issues notwithstanding, is unstoppable behind a scope. Jim Woo is an analyst and extractor par excellence. Melinda May has infiltrated half the presidential offices of Asia, and Phil Coulson has an instinct for the unusual that could be the basis of an entire TV show. Jasper’s less certain what he brings to the party.

If I Knew You Were Coming I'd've Baked a Cake by OddityBoddity MCU, Hawkeye (gen), 27k, Baking They’re the broken ones. That’s what Clint figures the rest think about him and Barnes. Clint with his eardrums trashed, Barnes with a regiment’s worth of trauma and a psychotic cybernetic arm, put in the same room and told to make nice while the others get to go on missions and do important things and save the world. Well they're not broken. So of course they got bored and tired of being sidelined and decided to entertain themselves. And of course they ended up wanted, running through the streets of Paris with bananas down their pants and gendarmes in pursuit. Of course they did.

[neevblanc]

„curious” ♡

a/n —hey all! hope ur doin' well, drink water if you haven't! have this as a treat. it's 2k and some more but i cant be bothered to check for specifics. (p.s sorry if the tarot aspects of this are wonky! i did my best to research and i pulled reference from my sister's experience with tarot cards/reading.)

૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡

-ˋˏ’✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Dazai Osamu x GN!reader

Tags— 22/ada dazai, flirting?, pre-slash, don't question why reader's given a key, reader works under ango but he's also they're dad figure, it's a whole thing, mentions of sskk though not explicitly platonic or romantic, take that as you wish, dazai's infuriating habit of burying feelings and then one day he'll die

CW/TW— dazai. (/j, none i can think of.)

note — reader's ability in this is based on one that my friend chose for our self-ship au. "Teacher of Truth by Saneatsu Mushanokoji: The user can employ tarot cards to gain insight into the past, current, and possible future situations. The user needs to know what each of the cards mean in order to properly interpret what they say." it's from a post on tumblr, but I couldn't find it for the life of me! i'll credit if i can. anyway, it's been tweaked a little so i'm here to explain. in this, reader can choose to use their ability during a reading or not, but the tarot cards are always personal to them. people they know will sometimes show in the cards if they're important to them.

The next time Dazai sees you, it’s well before the ADA opens for the day. He’d admittedly had a rough night—sleep evaded him like always, and he hadn’t had dinner because of his own laziness. His futon was impossibly comfy. How was he meant to part with its loving warmth?

The Door to the agency creaks open, the sound not unlike the groan of the cafe floorboards only steps away. One of Dazai’s favorite activities was purposely seeking out the creaky floorboards and dancing on them so loud Kunikida would have to berate him, of course. He was intimately familiar with the annoying sounds this old building could make.

The office is darker than during working hours, but he notices the meager amount of lights still switched on. Distantly, he knows Kunikida would’ve blown a gasket about the electric bill if he had found them still on. He takes a step into the room-

Something rustles. Downstairs, an old radio plays a song he does not recognize. Pigeons flutter and coo from outside the window.

Somebody was in the agency, and had it been any of his fellow detectives, he’d have known.

“Hmmm, what’s this,” he mutters absently, volume low enough to alert whoever it was had decided to trespass.

”Dazai-san?” a soft voice calls, and Dazai pauses for a moment. A short, hollow sound follows—cards shuffling. He bites the inside of his cheek. How curious.

”Last I checked, you don’t clock in with the rest of us measly agents. Surely Ango’s fuming by now?” He hums, stepping into view of you. you’re sat at Atsushi’s desk, bag perched on top of Atsushi’s empty report trays. Dazai almost smirks at the sight— silly Atsushi, always rushing to complete everything in a timely manner. One day, he’d get him to turn them in later, hopefully months later- like he did.

”Hm, no. I clocked in earlier, but Ango wanted me over here early. Something about a mission I have to hand over to Fukuzawa-dono. I got a key from him last time, so I just let myself in.” you explained. Dazai pulled his own chair out and collapsed into it, peering down at what your hands were busying themselves with.

He realizes they’re tarot cards. Thick and sturdy under your fingers, you set them up neatly in front of yourself. The backs are a matte purple, decorated with silver details that glint as the sunrise light hits them for just a fraction of a second. The illustrations seem to flicker with movement, almost like snapshots of time shifting through an old camera, frame after frame.

”What’s got you so busy?” he asks, exaggeratingly leaning over to look at the cards. You laugh and smile, expression wobbly. He notes the change. You briefly shake out the bracelet laying on your wrist, almost nervously. You lay the last card on the desk’s surface. Atsushi’s cute cat clock ticks from where it’s placed near his report trays.

“I do readings for the day early in the morning, just in case. Sometimes, I don’t even use my ability.” You explain, keeping your voice low so as not to break the morning peace. Dazai glances at the cat clock. Soon, the secretaries and Kunikida will clock in and begin their work day. He focuses back on you and grins, intrigued.

“Anxious, then? I guess the ability to see the future will do that to ‘ya.” Dazai sighed, crossing his legs and resting his chin on his hand. He was content to watch you finish setting the cards down in a formation he admittedly did not understand.

” What does that one mean?” he says, pointing to one of the cards. Its flickering surface shows a woman with mint-colored hair pulled up into a bun. Behind her, there’s a black mass, and she seems to be standing in a graveyard. There are two Xs at the top of the card. You redirect your attention to the card he’s hovering his finger over and smile.

”That’s Judgment—renewal, reflection, awakening, or reckoning. For a personal reading, it would mean going through a period of self-evaluation or maybe even trying to understand the people around you and your situation more.” You explain, seemingly done with the spread and setting down the other cards nearby. Dazai purses his lips.

”Sounds gloomy. Lame!” He huffs, upset by his choice. you gasp and narrow your eyes.

”Don’t call them lame! You’ll piss them off, Dazai.” You hiss, smacking him on the arm. Dazai grins and leans closer, smile growing coy.

”Really now? And how exactly does one do that?” Dazai prods. You stick your tongue out and cross your arms.

“Not telling. Now shut up and let me do my reading.” You grumble, eyes flicking over the cards. Dazai whines and throws himself forward, almost shoving you off of Atsushi’s chair.

”Dude!” You yelp, hands scrambling to grasp his coat as he rights himself. Dazai grabs you by the shoulders and shakes, intent on being the biggest possible nuisance.

”That’s boring! Do your reading laterrrr; it won’t matter, right? Ne- do a reading for me! I wanna know my future,” He begs, grinning. You blink and scowl, pushing him away.

”First off, it would matter. Doing a reading later would be a completely different outcome. Just wait. All I have to do is interpret these. I’ll do yours after.” You grumble, adjusting their sleeves and settling back into the chair. Dazai harrumphs but settles into his own chair to watch you silently read the cards.

You focus back on the cards, and Dazai settles himself by watching you idly. You’re dressed in what you always wear to work, but it’s casual enough to know doubt have been breaking the dress code had you not been working under Ango for so long.  There’s a small scrunch to your nose as you focus on your task, and Dazai can spot how you run your tongue over your teeth in thought. Dazai looks away pointedly. Taking a few breaths, he forcibly clears his mind. How odd.

”Okay, done.” You hum, straightening and starting to pick up the cards. He shifts so his whole body is faced toward you. You take gentle care of the cards, putting them back into the deck.

”Why do they flicker like that? You aren’t using your ability,” he asks, curious about the shifting images on the cards. You shrug.

”Don’t know. It happens no matter what deck I use, though I prefer using this one. The images just shift into the same ones most of the time, though some have changed over time.” You explain, shuffling the cards. Dazai reaches out and hovers over your hand before poking the back of it gently. You let him despite knowing the outcome.

The images on the cards still lying on the table flicker, completely uninterrupted, even as Dazai feels the shiver of his ability eating away at yours. He hums and pulls away. He hadn’t been paying attention when he jostled you earlier, but you were right- they were unaffected.

”Strange, but not unheard of. Some ability effects aren’t considered active enough for my ability to erase.” Dazai says, allowing you to continue. you finish and present him with the deck, pulling away when he goes to take them.

”Don’t be mean to them. They’ll be mean to you. You can’t even think anything negative; they’ll know. You’re gonna cut the deck in 3, okay? We’ll do a simple reading.” you explain, and only once Dazai agrees (crosses his heart and hopes to die!) is he gently handed the cards.

”What do you want to read? We can focus on love, or money, or your career, things like that.” You say. Dazai ponders for a moment before sniffing, mouth settled into a pompous pout.

”I want to know if someone will finally be interested in a double suicide with me.” He huffs. You scoff.

”You’re insane. Okay, so love. Think about that while you cut them.” You nod, giving him the go-ahead. He runs his fingers over the well-loved edges and slots his thumbs through the deck where it feels right, setting the individual cuts down on the desk before them. He tries to take it as seriously as possible, though thinking about love has always made him squirm and itch beneath his skin.

You reach over once he’s done and clear your throat, carefully picking the top cards on each deck and laying them out in front of him. On the left, the first card flipped is a wheel, seemingly in the sky and surrounded by clouds. The clouds float by calmly, though Dazai can’t find anything particularly personal to you the way some of the other cards would show.

It’s made a little more difficult considering the card’s orientation- upside down.

You hum at it before moving on. The card in the middle is revealed, and this one piques his interest. He grins a little at the image. Two figures hold goblets in their hands, strings of power rising from the cups and meeting above their heads to form a Yin and Yang sign. The figures are startingly familiar- one dark-haired, the other light-haired. Accents in their hair match each other, silver and black clashing and melding nicely. This one’s facing right-side up. The image flickers to show the energy that swirls around, occasionally circling their respective holders.

The last one flicks onto the wooden desk with a hollow sound. The image is soft, not unlike the first one with the blue sky. A sun takes up the upper half, rays pronounced against the sky. Ttheire’s a little kid in the illustration, their beaming face scrunched up in happiness. There’s a flag clutched in one hand, with the other gripping onto the mane of the white horse they’re perched upon. Sunflowers frame them, peaking over the illustrated garden wall behind them.

It’s an endlessly endearing picture, and from the smile, he has a feeling he knows who it is. Like the last one, it’s right-side up.

You settle your chin against your palm, leaning on the table with a hum.

”That’s….a really nice reading, actually.” You move to point at the cards. Dazai sits patiently with his hands on his lap. Nothing more fascinating than seeing someone in their element, he supposed.

”That first one is The Wheel of Fortune. Upside down, it’s a little darker. It represents your past,” you pause, looking at him for a moment. “I think for you, it’s focused on the feeling of helplessness—lack of power or control…like you had love but couldn’t control how and when you lost it,” you say, your voice soft. Dazai fights to ignore the discomfort building in his throat.

”Well, what can I say? My dark past haunts me,” he bemoans, and you huff a soft laugh. You move on to the next card- the cups. You look a little embarrassed by this one.

”This one is the present. Two cups represent…well, partnership. More specifically, the realization of a new partnership. This one can be pretty romantic. I guess you’ve got something to look forward to soon,” you say, pointedly ignoring the images of his two kohais. He grins, sparing you of the teasing. He didn’t know how well you even knew Akutagawa- but it was amusing to see everyone could see what those two denied vehemently.

”The last one is the future. You got The Sun, which is actually really sweet.” Through your embarrassment, Dazai watches a sweet smile grow on your face. He matches it easily.

“It means joy and success, for you in particular. It means…whatever or whoever your two cups is for, you’ll be very happy together.” You say, and Dazai sighs wistfully.

”Maybe someone will finally want to commit suicide with me! This news might keep me alive a day longer just yet,” Dazai coos. You groan and take a deep breath, seemingly ignoring him as you duck your head down and then start to put the cards back.

”You better hope you didn’t piss this deck off, Dazai.” you huff, glaring. Dazai pouts, cradling his face in his hands.

“What?! I followed all your rules; I would never,” he whines. You flip him off and busily tuck the cards into a soft leather pouch. He lets his hands drop and watches for a moment.

”Thanks for the reading,” Dazai says, his voice back to normal. You glance at him and smile.

”Yeah, no problem. It’s nice to read without my ability once in a while,” you admit, expression soft. He grins. Something stirs in his chest.

”You can read me whenever you want, lovely.” He purrs jokingly. You startle, flushing. You glare and kick him with your foot.

”Don’t say shit like that,” you mutter. Dazai whines out a laugh, having settled on teasing you until he could see the smoke coming out your ears.

Before he could continue, the door creaks open, and the overhead lights flick on. Multiple people come shuffling in, and Dazai can hear Kunikida conversing lowly with Fukuzawa. The secretaries also file in, chattering contently amongst themselves. Fukuzawa and Kunkida pause only to greet them both. you wave politely, and Dazai salutes them both.

you blink your eyes to adjust to the light now flooding the room. Dazai huffs and stands with a groan.

”Alright, I’ve got five minutes to get out of here. You’ll be going in to see Shachou, right?” He asks, stretching. you stand and nod, giving him a look.

”Where are you going?” you ask, picking up your bag. He groans at the way his back pops as he rights himself from his stretching.

”Home. I only came here 'cause I was bored. But in the long run, it’ll be a lot funnier if Kunikida’s mad all morning when I don’t show up~” He snickers. you shake your head, a smile pulling at your mouth.

“You’re so lame. See you, then.” You sighed, heading down the hall Kunikida and Fukuzawa had disappeared down.

”And yet you love me. ‘Till we meet again,” he calls, pointedly ignoring the yell you let out.

”Whatever!” you yelped, and Dazai let the agency door click closed behind him.

He grins. Curious indeed.

note — can you tell i love brothers! atsushi and dazai? also, the woman in Judgement is Mizuki Tsujimura, who I headcanon is pretty good friends with reader in this one. :) please let me know if there are any pronoun inconsistencies! this was originally written with she/her pronouns, and i did my best to fix it to match the gender neutral style i like to use for tumblr stuffs.

©neevblanc 2024 // do not plagiarize or repost

[renegade-diamonds]

The au with billy is so painful but I do love darker stories so I am soo up for knowing more of it

I love seeing my favourite characters going through it and taking their experiences to the extreme bc it makes the comfort after so much sweeter.

Please gimme more whump robin in that au🙏🏼

Ok, so we're going to go into some darker territory so keep reading under the cut, and please mind the tags people...

First off, I want to address the whole 'non-consensual' aspect of their relationship. It's a very complicated situation, where Robin is trying to actually 'date' him, but that's only because she knows what will happen if she doesn't. There's a lot of coercion going on, and Robin's stuck in a loop of-sorts, because she doesn't necessarily want to be with Billy, but he's saying that he can fix her and he's spewing off all this hatred about LGBTQ+ people. It gets so bad that Robin basically starts to believe him when he tells her there's something wrong with her, when he tells her that she has a disease.

He acts so caring sometimes, so loving and doting- but it's always after a huge fight, after he makes her cry, after he threatens her into doing what he wants by punching a wall or throwing shit around in his room. Robin knows what's going on, she knows it's not real- she knows he doesn't love her, and that she doesn't love him, but she's so desperate to be treated right that the moments where he does act normal almost outshine all the bad things he's done.

Almost.

The physical side of their 'relationship' is a bit more tricky to explain. Obviously the stuff going on is pretty blatantly in the territory of SA, but I don't see him as physically forcing her to have sex. I think that comes into the coercion aspect of Billy's abusive tendencies. She'll tell him no, that she doesn't want to, that she's not in the mood or on her period, but Billy keeps pushing and pushing. He tells her this is what 'normal' couples do, that this is how she'll be 'fixed.' He convinces her she'll eventually end up liking it, that he has needs too, and if she wants to keep her 'secret' from getting out, then she needs to make sure she acts like a real girlfriend to him.

And be that as it may, I don't see him caring all that much about her comfort during the actual act. I think it would be painful for her in some instances, but Robin never says anything because she knows he'll get mad. It's even worse when her body reacts 'positively' to him- it's not what she wants, but there's things she can't control- things that he seems to know will make her unconsciously react to his stimulation of her. It makes Robin feel so dirty- so used and unclean afterwards.

The first time Billy coerces her into having sex with him is the night that Max finds her crying in the bathroom. It was Robin's first time, and she's so uncomfortable and so heart-broken that it happened in such a way. Billy told her it would hurt at first, but she didn't expect it to feel so bad. And it was like he didn't even care- the fact that she nearly started crying seemed to excite him, and Robin can't get over how helpless she felt. Something sacred and treasured was taken away from her, and Robin doesn't know if she'll ever get that spark back.

Max doesn't know exactly how bad it was. Robin only really opens up to her about it after Vecna's rampage. She doesn't necessarily want to ruin Max's view of Billy after he sacrificed himself at Starcourt, although Max knew there was always something more that Robin was hiding. Her age has a lot to do with it too. Robin thinks she's too young to deal with such issues, and she doesn't want to put more on Max's shoulders. Max deserves to have a worry-free life for once, and Robin doesn't want to do anything that will threaten that. I imagine Max is still targeted by Vecna here, but he uses her guilt over Billy's death and Max's feeling of helplessness at not being able to protect Robin from him. When she gets 'caught' by him during Vol2, he torments her with what Billy actually did to Robin, and it's after this that Max asks Robin if what Vecna said was true. (El came in and whooped Vecna's ass in this verse, so Max only breaks a leg and an arm- no dying and no coma).

Robin, on the other hand, has a lot of her own healing to do. She becomes close with the Party after Starcourt, and she gets to know Steve, Dustin, and Erica in the weeks leading up to it. Her and Steve are still platonic soulmates, and when he confesses his feelings to her in the bathroom, Robin tells him the truth- the entire truth. He's horrified when he finds out, and he goes out of his way to tell Nancy not to feel bad about shooting at Billy when he was flayed. In his mind, Billy deserves it for what he did to Robin. 'King Steve' may have been a player in high school before meeting Nancy, but he never would have done the things that Billy did. All his sexual liaisons were 100% consensual; I imagine Steve's mother isn't the most active in his life, but she'd definitely make sure he understood the meaning of consent as soon as he started showing interest in dating.

Robin and Nancy slowly start to hang out as well. Robin never gets her crush on Vickie in this verse, because Robin's walls are so built up that she extinguishes any flare of interest she gets in other girls. She's terrified of someone finding out like Billy did- she's terrified of going through it again. Her PTSD shapes the way she allows herself to love, and it exists in such a way within her that Robin barely understands that it's a trauma-response. Nancy's persistent in their friendship, however. Max tells her when she's hanging out at the Wheeler house that Robin's a lot like her, that she thinks they'd be good friends. Jonathan's moved away, and Nancy's feeling pretty lonely at this time. She decides to give it a shot, even though she hasn't had a close female friend since Barb. To her delight, she actually has a lot in common with Robin. She's impressed by Robin's academic knowledge, by her work-ethic, by her devotion to band and other school extra-curriculars. She invites Robin to help out at the school paper every now and then, and they grow close pretty fast.

It's one day over Thanksgiving break that Nancy finally asks about Billy. Their conversation starts out pretty normal; Robin tells her about her 'relationship' with him without letting the abusive aspects slip through. She's hesitant to open up to people about that, and it's bad enough that Max knows to some degree. Somehow, they get onto the topic of their first-times. Nancy tells her about how Steve was really caring and gentle with her- how she expected it to hurt, but how it really wasn't that bad.

Listening to Nancy describe a totally different experience than what Robin had causes something to break inside her. Robin can't stop herself from crying- she can't stop herself from breaking down. It brings up every memory she's tried so hard to forget- it reminds her how she had something precious stolen from her because of Billy.

Nancy watches the light fade from Robin's eyes as they talk about it, seeing the confusion and hurt in her gaze. It's not aimed at her, but it's like Robin's realized something terrible- like she's stuck in a nightmare inside her own head. When Robin starts sobbing, Nancy doesn't know what to do besides just holding her, letting the girl cry herself to sleep in her arms. Nancy doesn't know exactly what Robin's relationship with Billy was like, but she now knows for sure that it wasn't healthy, safe, or sane in any way. No girl would react like that if it was.

Later, when Robin awakes after a much-needed cry fueled nap, she opens up to Nancy about Billy's abuse. She alludes to being blackmailed, but she can't bring herself to say about what.

In the end, it doesn't matter to Nancy. The only thought Nancy has in her head is that Billy's lucky the mind-flayer took him out when it did, because she would have done so much worse.

There's a lot that Nancy knows she can forgive, but hurting her friend- hurting Robin- is one thing that's become unforgivable in her eyes.

[vampirecatprince]

I'm staring at my Reincarnated Bill AU and I have to admit that I'm really struggling with getting Ford and Bill back on at least a neutral footing?

My gut feeling is, after the Axolotl explains the situation, Ford would just cut him off and Stan would ban him from the Mystery Shack. And Dipper and Mabel are being intentionally kept out of the loop with this because they're literally going home tomorrow and the last thing the Grunkles really need right now is two over zealous 12-year-olds deciding to avenge Grunkle Ford.

And the only reason the Axolotl had to jump in and explain things the way they did is because Ford reacted so negatively and violently to realizing Bill was still around in some way.

So... How the hell do I actually get them back together again?

The only way I can see it starting to happen is Ford just kinda.... Following Human!Bill around to make sure he's not up to anything and just realizing he's basically stalking a dude eventually... but even then I'm not sure? Like- Ford is obsessive enough to not realize he's stalking him, especially if it's under the guise of investigating whatever he could be up to? But I also just... don't know if I want that vibe in this AU? That's a weird vibe that I'd be okay with in a darker AU, but.... for all of the weird identity-based existential horror I'm putting my human Bill through, this is not supposed to be a super dark AU.

Like- this is supposed to be a redemption arc fix-it style thing. And this version of Human Bill is definitely such less sadistic than canon Bill, if just through virtue of the Post-Thereprism Reincarnation process? Like- I'll admit he veers a lil bit into OOC territory with this aspect, but Reincarnated!Bill wouldn't be abusive quite like his past life version was. He's definitely still a chaotic and attention starved shitheel who's bad at making people like him, but if anything this version of Bill doesn't want power and is more terrified of it's implied responsibility.

... idk- I'm just a bit lost on that transitionary step between "I Want Absolutely Nothing To Do With You" and "... You're On Thin Ice, Buddy..."

[stonefall-wc]

Thoughts on firetiger? Any specific headcannons or aus you wanna share?

Oh I am a very big fan of FireTiger! One might consider it Old Reliable, even, haha. There are a lot of different ways one could take the idea, and I enjoy darker themes as well as more casual and light ones, but angst is always important with FireTiger!

One of my favorite fics is @mallowstep's break me like a promise, which I won't link but will note content warnings for the age gap inherent to the relationship, as well as depictions of grooming. The reason this is one of my favorites is because of the perspective being offered on how easily things could have been changed in the context of the story (which is what we as writers do with a lot of our aus, right?). It's a very compelling read.

Like with some of the other "taboo" ships I like, I enjoy the cultural inspection of the situation the parties would find themselves in. Tigerclaw is not a young warrior (weird timelines aside) and Fireheart was made a warrior early. Looking at how they get close and why, what circumstances allow it, how things look when their relationship gets more cemented--how does the clan respond, how does Goldenflower respond, etc.

Other fun aspects to include: is Fireheart involved in the upbringing of Tawny and Bramble? Is Cloud still brought into the Clan, and where is he in relation to this?

All of that lends to more serious prose, theoretically, but also there can be things like "that darn Fireheart sure does wriggle a lot in his sleep, better wake him up at midnight-thirty to get some of that energy out--oops he's very pretty in the moonlight, I wonder what kind of prey he likes" gay panic Tigerclaw. Similarly, one could try a "that Tigerclaw sure is big and scary and imposing and confident and reliable and I wonder if I could get him to teach me some moves so I can be a better warrior" take. Let us not forget Fireheart's narration refers to him as Big and Handsome quite often, lmao.

[onceuponaloonatic]

misahyo update time! if you haven't caught up on this au, i updated the masterlist for this one (here) so please try to read it in the order it was posted in (at least the misahyo stuff)

tw: anxiety, bullying, anxiety in children

Jihyo sighed as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket again. While she normally tried to be on top of answering her phone, now was absolutely not the time.

“These are our main components of aspects and form when considering sustainable designs, now as you may remember from the assigned reading last night, we have many other considerations in architectural design…” Jihyo willed the persistent buzzing in her pocket. She never really considered herself an overly anxious person, but she could feel her impatience and irritation slowly raising while she lectured. What if her father was hurt? What if Nico had an asthma attack at school? What if Mina was having a bad day? What if Sana was having an anxiety attack? All these thoughts swirled around Jihyo’s mind as she scribbled on the board. Truthfully, lecturing to a class of thirty completely checked out students was about the last place she wanted to be. But, this was her job. And she had to stay on track with her lesson plans.

She just wished the time would go by faster.

Eventually, the buzzing stopped. At first Jihyo was relieved, but that quickly turned to stress as her thoughts got increasingly darker. What if Nico was in the hospital? Her asthma could be quite severe, especially when she was sick. What if her dad was in the hospital? He had no one else to look out for him, and being more than an hour drive away meant that Jihyo wasn’t able to check in on him as much as she would like. What if Mina was pushed to a breaking point? What if Sana was?

Jihyo just wished the words would come out faster, and wished the time would tick by faster. She just wished to be out in the hallway, lecture done for the day, and checking her caller id for whoever was blowing up her phone with calls.

She holds it together through the rest of her lecture, answering questions as best, and as quickly, as she could. The minute Jihyo answers the last question, she starts gathering her stuff. She immediately grabs her phone out of her pocket, and her heart sinks when she notices the calls have all been from Nico’s school. The thought of Nico getting sick, or hurt, or worse just made her feel even worse. Thankfully, she didn’t have any panicked texts from Mina or Sana, but considering they also had classes at the moment, she expected they also hadn’t had the chance to check their phones.

As she’s processing her call history, another call comes through. She immediately answers it, her anxiety peaking as the line connects.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Mrs. Park Jihyo?”

“Yes.”

“Hi, I’m Lee Seungmin from Sunshine preschool, and I’m calling about an incident your daughter Nico was involved in today.” Nico wasn’t normally the type to act out, so Jihyo was confused at the call. “We would like for you or another parent or guardian to come by as soon as possible to come speak about her behavior and to come pick her up.”

“I can come now, but it should take me about twenty minutes to get there.” Jihyo checked her watch. It was almost one in the afternoon, which meant she had another two hours before her next class. She could cancel it, but she did worry about keeping to the course schedule.

“Okay, perfect. Could you also possibly bring Nico a change of clothes?” Jihyo became even more confused with the question, but given Nico’s age, she chalked it up to a simple spill or mess. Thankfully, she kept a spare outfit for Nico in her car. It had come in handy more than once, and keeping extra clothes around was one of those parenting tips she refused to thank Nayeon for.

“Sure. Talk to you later.” After a pleasant greeting from the other end, Jihyo settled her stuff and set out. It was a bit of a hike to get back to her car, and her mind spent the entire time coming up with possible reasons Nico would be in trouble. While normally a little angel, Nico could get quite grumpy when she was woken up too early in the morning or from a nap. She could also get a little grumpy when she wasn’t allowed to play outside. She could also be a bit antisocial if Jihyo was honest. Her teacher had expressed concern over Nico multiple times, saying she was struggling to form friendships in her class, and that she was quite shy for her age. But, Jihyo’s dad told her that her teachers said the same thing about her at Nico’s age, so she tried not to worry about it too much.

The entire drive to Nico’s school, Jihyo thinks about all the scenarios Nico could have gotten herself into. Nico seemed normal that morning, so that ruled out the sick possibility. Nico had never gotten into any fights before, but Jihyo supposed there was a first time for everything. It could be another child's fault, and Nico could have just gotten caught in the crossfire. Jihyo really hoped that was the case.

When she got there, Jihyo's finds anxiety weighing heavier on her than usual. She always tried to be the calm one in these kinds of situations, tried to be the one Mina and Sana could rely on. But truthfully, she was just happy they weren't here to see her at the moment. She was barely holding herself together, and that was a terrifying feeling.

Jihyo gets quickly ushered into Nico’s classroom the minute she gets there. Nico’s teacher is there, but her daughter, and all the other kids for that matter, are suspiciously absent.

“Hello Mrs. Park, please take a seat.” Jihyo nodded at the instruction, sitting at the only other adult sized chair in the room. “I’m sorry to have to call you like this, but unfortunately, there was a bit of an, incident, today.”

“An incident?”

“Well… It all started when Minji took Nico’s stuffed polar bear she brings from home during playtime.” Jihyo immediately knows this story is not going to have a good ending. “And well, Nico did not take kindly to that. So she asked for it back, and when Minji said no, she tried to take it back. I was dealing with another student at the time, so I didn't notice it until it had already escalated a bit, but they got into a bit of a physical altercation. I could tell Nico wasn't the aggressor, well at least she was being less violent than Minji, but she was trying to fight back and she did push Minji to the ground. This led to Minji retaliating and she got a pretty good scratch before I could separate the two of them. After, I had a talk with both girls to see what happened and while I was talking to the office about calling their parents, Nico somehow ended up in the little pool of water we set out for the demo one of the teachers was going to do for the kids today.” Well, at least that explained the extra clothes. “Anyway, I wasn't personally there to witness what happened, and Minji said she didn't do it. Nico didn't say anything either, but she’s been quiet since the incident earlier.”

“Thank you for letting me know. I’m sorry she acted that way, she’s never done anything like that before.”

“I tried to explain to her that pushing people wasn't nice, and if someone was doing something she didn't like it was best to ask an adult for help, but I think in this particular case, Nico just felt cornered.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well Minji has always been a bit… Mean to Nico.” Oh no, Jihyo thinks, did her three and a half year old already have a bully? “It's never been physical before, and I’ve tried to step in when I see it happening, but I’m not watching every single child all the time, so there could be incidents that happen behind my back.”

“Wow okay, she's never mentioned anything about it at home.” Jihyo sighed.

“It's been a somewhat recent shift. Minji is fairly new to the school.” The teacher explained. “I have talked with her one on one about being mean to Nico, but she had never done anything. to warrant parent involvement until today. Even then, the school's policy states that any child that hurts another must be disciplined. And since Nico pushed Minji…”

“Yeah, I understand.” Jihyo sighed. “So I need to take her home?”

“Yes, that's the policy. She can return tomorrow, but please bring her in a little early so I can have a discussion with her and Minji about today.”

“Sure.” Jihyo nodded.

“I would like to talk to her with your present a little bit before you leave. I had her wait in the hallway, all the other kids are at recess at the current moment. Let me go get her.”

“Of course.”

Jihyo was not prepared for how absolutely wrecked Nico appeared when the teacher brought her in. Her clothes were soaked, and she had a little towel wrapped around herself to keep her from dripping all over the ground. Her arm had a large bandage around it, and she refused to even look at Jihyo. Once the teacher sat her down next to Jihyo, Nico buried her face in her towel, absolutely refusing to look up at either adult.

“Nico, can you please tell your mama what you did today?”

“Was bad.” Nico muttered it so quietly, Jihyo was surprised she was able to hear it. Her teacher certainly didn't.

“Nico, can you please look at adults when they are talking to you?” Nico nodded, burying herself further into her towel. Jihyo wasn't sure if it was her mom senses, or just a general understanding of how people act when they are upset, but she was immediately alarmed with Nico’s behavior. Nico had never acted like that, even when she was mad or upset, she never refused to look at them. “Nico…”

“Hey buddy.” Jihyo rested one hand on Nico’s back, whispering to her daughter. Nico was trembling under her hand. Jihyo felt the alarm bells get even louder. “Nico, sweetie, it's okay. We just want to talk.” Nico’s shaking got worse, and Jihyo could hear barely contained sobs from her daughter. “I think it's best if I take her home right now.” Jihyo addressed Nico’s teacher, who seemed to have noticed Nico’s distress.

“Yes, I… Do think that's a good idea.” The teacher nodded. “Nico, we can talk tomorrow.” Nico stayed in her little cocoon while Jihyo went to collect her stuff. Once she had Nico’s belongings, she addressed her daughter.

“Nico, it's time to go home.”

“Don't wanna.” Nico mumbled.

“You don't want to?”

“M’ gonna be in trouble.”

“Well maybe a little bit, but not until you are feeling a little bit better.” Jihyo knew she could just pick Nico up and carry her home, but she was scared that would cause Nico to get even worse. “Right now, I promise you won't be in trouble.” Nico didn't say anything, but opened herself up enough to take Jihyo's hand. Jihyo led her first to the bathroom, changing Nico out of her wet clothes as quickly as possible. She left the towel with the other dirty ones, and when she turned back to Nico she had pulled her sweater over her face. Jihyo didn't say anything more, taking Nico’s hand again and guiding her out of the school. Once they are in the car, Nico curls into her car seat, her sweater still on her face as Jihyo starts off home.

Truthfully, she has no idea how to handle this. Nico being unresponsive was new, and she seemed genuinely terrified of something. Whether that was punishment, or her parents, or Minji, Jihyo wasn't sure.

What she was sure of was that something was very very wrong.

When she gets home, Sana and Mina’s cars are both there. She's surprised to say the least, but she guessed they had also gotten calls from Nico’s school.

“Alright buddy, we're home.” Jihyo unbuckled Nico as best she could, gently picking her up to carry her inside. Nico didn't seem angry about it, but she didn't say anything to Jihyo as she carried her inside.

Mina and Sana are both on the couch, worry spelled across their faces. It only intensifies when they see Jihyo.

“Nico?” Sana ran up to them the minute she spotted them. Jihyo could tell she also sensed something was wrong. Mina was right behind her, her beautiful face marred with worry and dark circles. “What happened? Is she hurt? Why is there a bandage on her arm?”

Nico started shaking again as Sana talked. Jihyo’s heart sinks when she realizes they are at least a partial cause in Nico’s distress.

“She’s going to be okay. There was a little incident at school today.” Jihyo made a mental note to explain the situation more later, when Nico wasn't shaking in her arms. “Nico, you aren't in trouble. You can come out now.”

“No!” Nico buried herself further in her sweater.

“Sweetie, are you scared we are going to be mad at you? Cause we’re not, I promise.” Sana gently rubbed Nico’s arm.

“Nico, we just want to help you feel better.” Jihyo added to Sana’s comment.

“I was a bad girl.” Nico muttered. “I was bad and now mommy mama and ka-san and going to get rid of me.”

“What?” Jihyo feels her heart shatter at Nico’s statement. She absolutely never wanted Nico to feel unwanted, and the fact it was coming from them made it even worse. She watched Sana’s face fall, and she could feel Mina tense next to her. “Nico, we are never going to get rid of you.”

“Yes you are.” Nico muttered. “Mommy, mama, and ka-san have a lot, Auntie Momo told me that you guys are busy and I have to be good, and I wasn’t good. I was bad. So I have to go away.” Nico cried. Jihyo heard her breathing get shallower, and immediately handed Nico’s backpack hanging on her arm to Mina. Mina immediately understood, digging into Nico’s backpack for her inhaler.

“Nico, please take a deep breath. We are not going to get rid of you.” Jihyo gently pulled on Nico’s sweater, trying to get her to pop her head out so she could get more air, but Nico resisted.

“Nico please, just look at us.” Sana rested one hand on Nico’s arm, just trying to comfort her. “We would never get rid of you.” Sana’s tone was extremely serious. Jihyo rarely heard her wife that serious, and she was sure Nico wasn't used to it either.

“Even when I’m bad.”

“Yes Nico, even when you are bad.” Jihyo responded.

“We’ve never even thought about it.” Mina added, holding Nico’s inhaler in one hand, tensing when Nico started coughing. When Jihyo tried to pull Nico’s sweater down a second time, she didn't resist. Her face was a mess of tears, and her breathing was shallow, but Jihyo, and she suspected her wives as well, poured all of their love towards Nico.

“We will never ever in one million years get rid of you.” Sana whispered, gently kissing Nico’s forehead. “We love you so much, we will always, always be here for you.”

“Take some deep breaths okay?” Jihyo whispered as Mina moved closer, Nico’s inhaler in one hand. Nico struggled with her breath, tears trickling down her cheeks. Mina moved Nico’s inhaler closer, and the little girl immediately opened her mouth.

“In.” Mina whispered. Nico did as instructed as Mina used her inhaler. None of them could speak as Nico slowly got a better grip on her breathing. Jihyo didn’t know what to say, what to do. All she really felt like was a failure. As a parent, her main job was making sure Nico was safe, healthy, and knew how loved she was. Jihyo felt like she had failed at that. Here her daughter was, panicking that they were going to get rid of her over some minor dispute.

They were all silent as Nico slowly became even again. Jihyo moved them all over to the couch, rubbing a hand on Nico’s back as she slowly calmed down. Once Nico was calm, she laid against Jihyo, utter exhaustion written all over her face.

“Baby, I know your tired, but we just want to know so we can tell them how wrong they were, who told you we would get rid of you?” Sana whispered as she gently drew circles on Nico’s back.

“Minji was telling us that her brother was bad, so her parents had to get rid of him. And she told me that if I was bad, mommy, mama, and ka-san would want to get rid of me too.” Nico explained. “And since mommy, mama, and ka-san are busy, they don't have time to punish me so they are gonna get rid of me if I’m bad.”

“Oh baby.” Sana had a heartbroken look on her face as she tried to comfort Nico. Jihyo felt just about the same. “We are never ever going to be too busy for you. And we would never want to get rid of you.”

“Never ever?”

“Never ever.” Sana confirmed. Nico nodded, seemingly comforted by the reassurance and she settled into Jihyo’s arm. “Why don't you take a little nap, and we can have katsu curry when you wake up.” Nico nodded, her head resting against Jihyo’s shoulder as her eyes closed. It wasn't long until she was asleep, and Jihyo carefully carried her to her bed. Once Nico was settled into bed, Jihyo gave her a kiss to the forehead before leaving to go talk to her wives.

“That was rough.” Sana was the first one to speak up, her head curled into Jihyo’s side as Jihyo wrapped one of her arms around Sana and the other around Mina.

“Your telling me.” Jihyo muttered.

“I-I had no idea she felt like that.” Mina muttered. “Did we do something wrong to make her feel that way.” Jihyo knew Mina well enough to know the unspoken follow up question to that. Did I do something wrong?

“No, I think this Minji girl was the one who got the idea into her head.” Jihyo reassured.

“It does expose some greater issues though…” Sana trailed off. “Well, first, I think we need to take Nico to a therapist. Her reaction was, rough to say the least. It was like she was terrified of us. And while she's always been a sweet girl, I think she has a fear of punishment in general, like worse than most kids. The second is, we need to spend more time with her. Maybe she would have told us about Minji before if we had been around her more often.” That is easier said than done Jihyo internally added to Sana’s statement. She had spent plenty of time with Nico, and she had never mentioned Minji. But, then spending more time with their child was always going to be a good thing. She just hoped Mina and Sana don't start forcing themselves to spend time with Nico when they aren't emotionally ready.

“I do agree about the therapy.” Jihyo left her thought about spending time with Nico out for the time being. Her feelings were too complicated to talk about that at the current moment. “I can ask Nayeon Unnie who they sent the twins and Zumi to. I know they had a lot of success, especially with Jae. I know they were all around Nico’s age when they started.”

“Sounds good.” Sana cuddled closer to Nico. “And Mitang?” Mina looked at Sana at the question. “You did absolutely nothing wrong. Do not blame yourself for this.” Sana spoke before Jihyo could, and all she did was gently squeeze Mina to show her agreement. Tears came to Mina’s eyes as she cuddled closer to Jihyo. “Thank you…” Mina muttered.

“We love you Mitang.” Sana kissed Mina’s hand, holding it across Jihyo’s stomach.

“I love you too Satang, Hyo.” Jihyo smiled, kissing Mina’s head before Sana whined. Jihyo tried to give her the same, but Sana jerked her head up for a kiss on the lips, though it landed more on her cheek. Sana giggled, before moving for a proper kiss. Jihyo pulled away before she could get her tongue in.

“Hornball.” Jihyo teased. “Nico could wake up at any minute and here you are, trying to slip some tongue into an innocent kiss.”

“Guilty as charged.” Sana had a devilish grin on her face. “You know I can't help myself when you are all dressed up for work.”

“Well, save your horiness for later.” Jihyo gently pinched Sana’s nose, causing Mina to erupt into laughs beside her at the interaction. “We have a special dinner to make for a special girl.”

“Boo, you know I’m banned from the kitchen.” Sana poured. “Mitang you want to come upstairs to help me grab… Something?”

“Nope. Not falling for that one.” Mina grinned at Sana, giggling even more as Sana’s kisses started trailing up her arm. “Hey, come on. I’ll temporarily lift your kitchen ban.”

“Really?” Sana asked excitedly. “I get to help Mitang and HyoHyo cook?”

“As long as you don't call me HyoHyo.” Jihyo muttered. “Come on, we have to hurry if we want to be done by the time she gets up.”

xx

After a nice dinner, and a long night of reassuring Nico how loved she was, Jihyo finds herself alone on the balcony. For all Sana’s bravado earlier, she fell asleep quite quickly after Nico is asleep. Mina wasn't far behind her, and while Jihyo had laid with them as they fell asleep, she found herself unable to join them. It was already late, almost midnight as she sat on the freezing cold balcony bundled in her parka, but looking at the night sky was calming her mind, at least a little bit. She was also calmed by the single can of beer she had brought with. She wasn't one for drinking her sorrows away, but she did enjoy a nice drink from time to time.

Jihyo knew the alcohol was the only chance she had at getting to sleep.

She honestly wasn't sure what possessed her to pick up her phone, but she finds herself holding her phone to her ear while the other line rings. She can feel her nerves building, and half of her is tempted to hang up before the other had a chance to answer, but instead she found herself stuck listening to the ringing sound.

Just as she was about to give up, the line connected.

“Jihyo?” Nayeon's voice was quiet, Jihyo’s guessing she was in bed already. “What could possibly need right now?”

“Hey Unnie, could we possibly meet up tomorrow, to… Talk?” Jihyo tried to convey the seriousness of her tone. Nayeon would understand her. She knew she would.

“Is something wrong?” Nayeon’s voice took on a concerned tone. “Do you need me to come over now?”

“No.” Jihyo sighed. “No, we can do this tomorrow with Jeongyeon Unnie.”

“Okay.” Nayeon seemed reassuring. “Yeah, how about lunch tomorrow? I’ll get Jeongyeon to come.”

“Sounds great.” Jihyo nodded. “I’ll see you then?”

“See you.” As the line disconnected, Jihyo stared at the night sky. She had no idea how much longer they could all last like this, but it seemed like the cracks were already starting to show.

[merv606]

“First of all have to say I love your puritan au!! It reminds me a lot of the Handmaidens tale I’m not sure if i already seen that au with them and Idk if you’ve ever seen that show but it fits. Like maybe Danny gets sent to bare children for Master silver and Terry is just smitten by the boy he has to claim his as his own…”

Bless this anon but i’m also a huge fan of your puritan verse! (having a small medical kink helps) and the fill was so so filthy and so damn hot 🥵 omg really love when you write anything with Danny feeding their pups and how that gets Terry going ….. 

I beg you for this fill but terri Dani style. 

Okay so, not quite sure how to approach medical kink unless it’s just sort of how the procedures are described 🤔 as I’m don’t think I have even written medical roleplay so I sort of played that up - the procedures - and went heavy on the feeding the pup aspect

I hope this is what you were looking for!

Terri never thought she’s ever step foot in an omega breeding centre, never having a desire to have a pup or be tied to an omega, because no matter what society said, alphas were just as beholden to their omega as omegas were to their alphas, sometimes more so, but she needs a nanny for her recently orphaned niece, for whom she was trusted to raise, and omegas are always the best option for such manners.

She’s hoping to find one recently widowed, with grown pups of their own, so they have experience yet no outside responsibilities.

However, that all evaporates the moment Terri lays her eyes on her.

A slender little thing, holding up an exceptionally well fed pup on a non-existent hip.

A mop of thick brown hair that, while it looks unruly, only needs a good brushing, frames big brown eyes, the biggest Terri has seen, a perfect heart shaped pout, and a small button nose. Her skin is darker, olive toned, but the girl obviously loves the sun, and it returns her feelings quite beautifully.

“What an equiste creature,” Terri remarks. “Why has no one scooped the girl up,” she wonders to herself.

A bit thin obviously, she can see her collarbones, and Terri’s hand could easier wrap around her arm at any point, and quite flat chested is probably the reason, she supposes. Some alphas can be such dull creatures - to not see such a treasure.

Pregnancy would fill her out quite easily anyway.

“We cannot confirm her purity,” one of the doctors answers, thinking the statement more a question to be answered.

Terri rolls her eyes.

Dull creatures indeed.

Even if it was a requirement, there are ways around it. Ways to fake it when the compulsory check is required before the wedding and then when wedding night came around and the omega was bedded, with the required check after. To make sure the omega received the omega and the alpha came inside them.

Terri, as it were, has never desired pups or to be tied to an omega. Even if she did, it would be that gorgeous little omega she’d put her pup in and it wouldn’t matter if she had not been the first alpha to stake their claim. After Terri thoroughly staked her claim was she would be the only one - she found that being the last was always better than being the first.

She’s thinking about that now, the girl underneath her crying out as her teeth sank into her neck, filling Terri’s mouth with her blood, and her cock filling the omega’s pussy with seed.

The need to hits her and she has to take a steadying breathe.

Yes, she takes a long look at the girl, and thinks she may be in trouble.

The smart thing would be to leave her here.

The smart thing would be to choose an older omega, one who had pups, as was her original intent.

That should be what Terri does.

Yet, the thought of not leaving here with the girl - the very thought that someone else - someone inferior - could claim her as their own has her alpha absolutely foaming at the month, and a low growl emanates before she realizes herself, getting herself quickly under control.

That girl is theirs.

Oh yes, the smart thing would be to do anything but take the girl home.

She takes her girl home.

Terri does not ride with her, needing to give her alpha time to calm itself, and because for once, she does not trust her control. Something she has not experienced since she was a young alpha herself.

The girl is brought to what will be her rooms to rest upon arriving home. It just so happens it is next door to Terri’s, and they connect via a concealed door.

Today is a day of unwise decisions it seems.

After, she is introduced to the staff, and given a tour, ending with the nursery where she is introduced to the pup she will be minding.

The pup who is wailing, none of the staff able to calm her, which seems to be the norm as of late.

She is also formally introduced to the alpha here, not having seen Terri at the centre. There was no point, Terri would have the girl regardless and wished to meet one on one. Although here now, Terri notices the girl is incapable of keeping eye contact, barely able to look the alpha in the eyes.

She chalks it up to the distressed pup, omega’s more prone to react to that than an alpha.

“This is your pup,” Terri explains, then, as if catching herself, she amends. “Your charge, Tory.”

Dani looks from the red faced pup, with her head of blond fluff to Terri’s sleek and straight dark hair.

“She’s my niece. She takes after her mother, my brother’s omega.”

Dani was told her new job was to look after a recently orphaned pup. She was expecting that Terri had lost her omega. She did not realize the babe had lost both parents.

“Hello Tory,” Dani says, picking the young pup up from her crib, unable to take her distress for even a second longer and the pup goes suddenly silent as she regards Dani.

Dani murmurs to her, indecipherable to Terri but, to the alpha’s surprise, Tori snuggles in, falling asleep against the omega almost instantly.

The smell of sun warm air as it cools on a summer’s eve, of cherries and vanilla, sweet but not cloying fills the air. The girl’s scent, her alpha recognizes, mixing in with the pup; pure contentment wafting off the omega, off them both.

Maybe a good decision was made. Terri can hold herself in check. Once the alpha is used to the omega it will be easy; the infatuation will have quieted down because that’s all it is.

Everything is going well. Better than Terri had anticipated, until the girl tries to put Tory back in the crib, and she throws an unholy fit when they try to leave.

“Maybe a bassinet in my room, Ma’am,” the little omega says, glancing at Terri as she quiets the pup.

“Terri is fine,” she explains, although her alpha likes that honorific very, very much. Wants it whimpered in her ear as she … Terri clears her throat, “and of course, whatever you think is best. Whatever you or the pup needs, just let Margaret know and you shall have it.”

The weeks fly by and before Terri knows it, a month has passed and a solid routine established.

Dani seems just as taken with Tory as Tory has to her.

Terri’s alpha is also just as taken, although Terri has the alpha’s need for the girl under control. She ignores the growing feel that the alpha is always prickling under her skin, that the alpha senses something within the omega. Something Terri refuses to acknowledge.

She tries not to be in contained spaces with Dani, which luckily most rooms are quite large, trying also not to touch the girl too much, avoiding skin to skin. Anything to avoid even more temptation. That she starts to spend more time at home and not at work she blames on her own growing bond with the pup, now that she is more tolerable due to omega’s influence.

One day, they are out to lunch, Terri’s idea; she knows how much the girls loves these outings. Dani is attending to the pup, when the waitress, new to the area, as everyone in Terri’s circles would know the circumstances of her situation, remarks on how cute their pup is and what a gorgeous mate Terri has. “I’m sure more pups are to come,” she says brightly, a common remark people make, but she clearly looks the girl up and down. She’s a beta and Terri’s alpha also senses no challenge, as if it would any challenge at all; there is only her aloha preening with pride at having how good their omega is recognized and at having something they consider theirs coveted.

Dani looks to the alpha, as she would, as it is the alpha which would speak in such a situation, not her, but Terri says nothing, not even correcting the beta like Dani thought she would.

“Thank you,” Dani answers, eyes downcast, glancing to Terri, who simply takes the dessert that had been boxed up for them, one of Dani’s favourites, from the waitress.

Terri is presented the bill, leaving the waitress a generous tip.

Everything is going well, until, a month or so after that, when Dani starts to leak.

She tries to hide it, but at a late lunch one afternoon, Tory’s wails can be heard throughout the house and Dani bolts up, muttering something.

Terri assumes she’s going to get the pup and return, but the wails don’t quiet down, which is odd. She also does not return, which, is equally as odd.

Terri wonders to the nursery, not finding Dani there. One of the staff enters and Terri asks if they have seen the omega, and when they answer in the negative, Terri requests that they try and calm the child until she can locate her and find out what’s going on. It is not like Dani to remiss in her duty; the pup’s distress is something that deeply affects the little omega.

She scents the air, and follows that smell she normally tires to block out, the scent she would know anywhere, but the smell is tainted with something - not quite distress but worry.

Whatever is troubling her little omega, she thinks.

She easily finds her in her bedroom. More specifically the ensuite.

A small noise of discomfort and the scent of … milk.

Terri walks in, not bothering to announce herself and she sees the girl with her shirt up, small breast in her hand, plump nipple leaking what can only be milk.

The girl hasn’t noticed her and Terri watches as she squeezes, some droplets dripping down her chest. It’s not much, the amount, but her eyes close as a look of relief crosses her face.

It is clearly something she is used to but the movement don’t belay it as being of long born practise.

The alpha clears her throat, alerting the girl to her presence. Their eyes meet in the mirror, her face colouring as she quickly lets the shirt fall, covering her chest from the alpha’s eyes but Terri can see the two small wet patches where her breasts are.

Her alpha longs to bury it’s face there, to both scent and taste.

“Let me see,” Terri commands, lifting the shirt back up.

A large hand gently cups a small breast, more filled out than normal, rolling the plush nipple between her fingers, the girl whimpering. Terri’s cock stirs at the delicious noise, wondering what other ones she could elicit.

Milk spills out onto Terri’s finger and she puts it in her mouth, to sample what’s on offer. It’s sweet, like the scent of it implied, and the alpha would very much like to sample it directly - put her mouth over the thick nub and suck.

“When did this start?”

“The day before last. I won’t let it effect my duties, I swear. I haven’t,” she assures.

Is this really why her scent was soured with worry, because Terri isn’t worried about that. She’d simply hire a nanny. As long as there is an omega in the house, as long as Tory knows Dani is around, she could hire as many beta nannies are needed to help.

The girl isn’t going anywhere.

“I swear, I don’t know why. I’m not with child …”

Terri snorts.

There’s no way the girl is which child. A test was given before she started working - as was protocol - both urine and blood.

There was no way she had fallen with child since then - she’s hardly out of Terri’s sight and she is not allowed to associate with another alpha unless Terri is present.

Maybe it’s to do with the pup and Dani being the only omega in a house, caring for an orphaned pup on top of that but, there is only one way to know for certain,

Terri calls for the doctor, shutting down Dani’s protests.

——————

Dani changes into the gown, nothing on underneath as instructed. She’s nervous but doesn’t know why. Terri is there, waiting from her to come out from the little room she was directed to change in.

The doctor takes her pulse and temperature, checking her blood pressure and her weight, frowning at the number.

“Is there any possibility you may be with child?” The doctor asks.

“No,” she shakes her head glancing at Terri. “I’ve never been active,” she explains.

A blood sample is taken and she is handed a cup to pee in regardless.

When she returns with the cup, she is directed to the exam table, Terri helping her up. She sits on the edge, legs dangling down.

Then her gown is undone, falling to her waist, and her breasts examined.

“Everything feels fine,” the doctor confirms, Dani quickly fixing the gown back into place. “Nothing out of the ordinary, besides the lactation.”

“There was no pain, you said correct.”

“No, just a heaviness and an ache when the pup cries.”

“When was your last monthly courses?”

Dani answers, the doctor noting it on the clipboard in her hand.

“I need you to lie back now, and put your feet there.”

Then the doctor is between her legs, examining her.

She stands, putting a swab into a bottle, removing her gloves after.

“She shows no signs of pregnancy. The tests will confirm that though.”

She is speaking to Terri.

“Her cervix and uterus are healthy, so there are no concerns there. Even if she were to fall with child in the future, which, I think she would have no issues with, there is nothing I would be concerned with. Except her weight. It would be advisable for her to gain some to provide for the pup.”

She indicates the bottle, the water having turned a bright purple, indicating she is at a fertile time in her cycle.

“She’s not on birth control, is she?”

“No,” Terri answers.

“It is common in some omegas, when their body senses a babe with no other nursing omega around to fill in that roll.”

Terri nods, not surprised. She had thought it was something to do with that.

“It could also be that her omega recognizes your alpha as a suitable mate, and in an attempt to entice you into breeding her, it is showing you what a good provider she would be for your pups.”

The alpha is roaring in pride. The omega recognizes what a good mate Terri would be.

Her girl fidgets, still lying there with her legs open, and Terri looks to her, making sure she is okay.

“The depth of her cervix, and the softness would indicate she is close to ovulation, which matches to when her course were, and that could add to that response.”

“I wouldn’t … I mean I …” the girl stutters, her face scarlet, her hands lying on her stomach.

“Shush now,” Terri says, her hand on her knee, thumb rubbing the inside comforting, before turning to the doctor.

“If there are no issues, and her body is simply producing the milk to provide for the pup, should I simply have her fed the pup?”

“That would be my suggestion. There is no point in wasting it.”

She notes a few more things on the clipboard. “A midwife will be in momentarily to consult you on the next steps.”

Terri nods, helping the girl to sit up on the edge of the examination table.

The midwife comes in, introducing herself.

“May I?” she asks Terri, gesturing to Dani.

“Yes, of course,” Terri answers.

Once more, her gown is undone, gathering at her waist, leaving her exposed from the waist up.

“She’s not producing enough yet,” the midwife explains as soon as she looks at her, “but this is a good start. You plan to have her fed the pup, which is good. The more she feeds, the more stimulation she receives, the more her body will produce.” She’s examined her chest, much like the doctor did as she continues to talk to Terri. “Now, extra stimulation can come from you as well. Between feedings, simple skin to skin contact for pheromones and various manual stimulation of her breasts.”

“Which type is best?”

“Preference really. Some alphas prefer to use their hands and some their mouth. Mouth will mimic more closely though.”

Terri nods.

“It will feel much different though,” she says, finally turning to address the omega. “It is not uncommon for omegas to become aroused when their alphas help them in this manner.”

One of the staff arrives with the pup, who is wailing, handing her off to the midwife.

Dani had tried to have some decorum, pulling her gown back up when the midwife had stepped away, but she can feel herself leaking in response to the babe’s cries, two wet patches appear and Terri slips it off a shoulder, exposing the right side of her chest.

She can feel her breast ache, the all too familiar pressure and all consuming need to alleviate that pressure.

“Let down respond,” she hears the midwife explain, indicating to the milk collecting on her breast.

“The pup’s cries cause the leaking so they can scent the smell of milk. It helps them find the breast while their eyesight isn’t the best. Your nipples also darken from the same reason,” she explains.

Tory starts wailing harder, smelling the the milk but denied it.

Terri is behind Dani, observing as the midwife shows her how to hold her breast and nipple for the baby to latch on properly, who does do greedily.

“You’re a natural,” she remarks.

She quickly drinks all available and the midwife advises to switch sides.

“Once you start producing more, make sure you try to feed for each breast evenly so one doesn’t become engorged. You can pump the excess and, like the stimulation, some alphas prefer to help their omegas, either by hand or mouth.”

They leave with phamplets of information, the midwife advising she will come by in a few days to check in, but to call if there are any issues before then.

————

Back at home, the girl has been making herself scare, which Terri sincerely hopes isn’t due to her body doing what it was designed to do. It’s natural after all.

Although designed for pups, not all omegas were suited to them but her girl was. She was made for motherhood; this clearly confirming it.

She lets her be, for now, but by evening, she finally corners the girl, who is in the nursery feeding the babe.

“Alpha, Ms, I will be done soon,” she says, using Terri’s title, not meeting the alpha’s eyes while also trying, discreetly, to cover herself.

A fondness overtakes Terri.

As if she hasn’t seen it all earlier. All of it. As if she did not have a small breast in her large hand earlier making sure she knew how to help the omega, which she plans to.

Help her now and when their pups come.

Because there is no point in denying herself any longer - in trying to twist the truth to anything but what it is - this omega is hers and all that entails. Even if the girl does not realize that yet, she will.

“Do not cover yourself from your alpha,” she reprimands gently and the girl mumbles an apology and really, Terri thinks.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Terri?”

“What is bothering you,” she tilts the girl’s chin up so she’s looking directly at her. “I know something is, little one, so don’t try to deny it.”

She looks away guiltily.

“Do not be embarrassed by what your body is doing, it’s natural. It’s also good for the pup ….”

“It’s not that, I …. “

She waits for the babe to finish, glancing at Terri as she fixes her shirt back into place, placing the now slumbering pup into her crib before turning to the alpha.

Terri stands waiting and when Dani tries to take a step back, a hand around a thin wrist stops her.

“I was not trying to entice you. I promise. I know my duty is to the pup and you were not looking for an omega for yourself ….”

Terry sits, bemused at the girl’s clumsy attempt to explain that she wasn’t trying to actively seduce Terri - even if it would the omega acting on a subconscious level - beyond besotted - she could not love this girl any more.

“You think you were not enticing before?! I assure you, you were.”

“Oh I ,.. really?” She squeaks.

“I changed the contract.”

A lie - Terri hasn’t not yet - YET - but she is going to - the lawyers have already been contacted. There should be no issue, Terri always gets what she wants, and even if there is was well, they can do nothing to stop Terri taking what is hers and the girl is hers, of that there was never a doubt, even if she had been denying it. “I fully intend to mate and breed you as is my right,” and there has never been a more truthful statement

The next day Dani is taken out and measured, the wedding dress Terri has made for her a surprise until it is presented to her on the morning of their vows.

Colours are picked, the flowers, Tory’s outfit as the flower girl, and the rest is a blur to Dani.

The day itself is a whirlwind, and before she knows it, it’s their wedding night and she’s laid out on their marital bed like a long awaited feast for the alpha. Her alpha is looking at her like it too.

She’s still in her wedding dress, Terri not able to let her out of her sight to change into the lingerie she had bought the girl to wear.

Some other time. For now, her alpha has been denied for too long.

Kissing up her thighs, starting at the ankles.

The dress so tight she can’t spread her legs.

“I … I was not lying,” she gasps as Terri kisses over her mound, covered by her wedding dress.

“Hmmm?”

“I have not lain with anyone before.”

Terri stops. She knew this - but the girl looks nervous now.

“You do know what happens here now, do you not?”

Most omega breeding centres do have an education system for the omegas and their role in the alpha omega dynamic including comprehensive sexual education.

“Yes,” she blushes to the roots of her hair. “You are to fill me with …” she gestures.

“I am,” Terri laughs, “and I will.” Several times by the night is out. Her little omega won’t be closing those legs until Terri says so. Terri won’t be satisfied until her pup is inside her little mate.

Hands smoothing up the outer thighs, disappearing up the dress, pushing up the material as she went, each creamy inch of inner thigh exposed.

Until the fabric ruches up too tight, preventing it from going up further, Terri’s eyes prevented from what its goal is.

Dani hears a rip and she gasps as Terri pushes the ruined wedding dress up to her waist, gathering it there, surrounding her like a ruined halo - also far from the only thing being ruined here tonight.

“You know me filling you here, with my seed is what will place a babe inside here,” she lays a hand flat to her taunt tummy.

“Yes,” she moans, Terri’s finger teases along where her panties cover her, pushing them to the side.

“To get you ready for me then.”

Her wife buries her face in her pussy and okay that was never covered in any of the omega literature.

Thighs shaking, a finger carefully inserted, Dani squirting as she comes, pussy clamping down on the now fingers still fucking her through her orgasm.

Pushing the small handful together, fucking her cock between them, thick nipples on display. Terri ends up feeding Dani her cock, the omega only only able to fit a few inches in her mouth, her hand wrapping around the rest.

Smoothly fucking in and out; lips plump and shiny with spit.

She could come down the girl’s throat …. She’d certainly still be able to fuck her after but right now, until a babe is growing inside her, Terri coming anywhere but inside her pussy would be a waste.

She has just finished her month courses so she’s not at an overly fertile peak but Terri will have no problems filling her every day until it takes, and even after.

She will never want for Terri’s hands on her, or her cock in her.

Rubbing the hard cock over her clit, through the wet puffy folds of her aroused sex, she spreads her girl’s slick seam, cock head teasing the entrance it had been hiding.

“Now to claim you as my omega,” she says.

Dani’s eyes widen in realization. Her wife is well endowed, much more than the pictures at the centre would have them believe.

“It will fit. Trust me. You were made for this. For me.”

And it does, her body giving in, opening to the Alpha’s length as she slowly but surely presses inside, unrelenting in her conquest, until Terri’s cock is in so deep inside her wife’s body she can go not further.

Moving back the skin that protects her wife’s clit, flicking at it, just to feel how her already tight pussy tightens even more, before licking her thumb, rubbing it gently in apology.

The pressure eases up, the girl’s body adjusting to the alpha’s cock inside it, and she withdraws slightly, thrusting back in. Getting her used to the feel of something moving inside her.

Small breasts on display, watching the way they move slightly which each thrust.

Terri takes one in her mouth, and the girl seems shocked almost, like they haven’t done this what feels like a thousand times before, even if each time is just as thrilling.

The first thing Terri did was peel the girl’s shirt down, and take a plump nipple in her mouth, under the guise of helping to stimulate more.

Although, she can still taste the girl’s cunt in her mouth, and it makes her breast taste that much sweeter.

“Not,” Dani gasps, hand griping the bedsheets.“Not like this.”

“Not when my cock is buried deep in your pussy?”

Legs over her shoulder, bend almost in half she fucks the girl, causing her own orgasm deep in her body, wanting to spend inside her, as is her very right.

Not the best position for conception but, she wanted to see her girl’s face when she took her cock for the first time.

If she’s not too sore, Terri will put her on her hands and knees next, face down ass up for her, so she can fill her womb.

Made to come again, so Terri can feel her pussy around her cock, by her wife’s fingers on her throbbing clit her thighs twitching as slick leaks from her pussy.

“Alpha please … need it,” she begs, so sensitive and overwhelmed, her body overstimulated, and that does it; Terri helpless to do anything but come, her pussy filling with seed, hips still working her, fucking out more than what she’s fucking in.

When Terri finally finishes, she pulls out with a wet pop.

As Dani’s purity could not be verified, there is no need for a check, and truth is Terri does not wish anyone to see this but her - every

Dani lies there, thoroughly ruined and satisfied. Pretty little cunt fucked open leaking her alpha’s come, as it should be. Yes, this for Dani’s eyes only.

————

The next day it feels like nothing has changed even if everything has.

They’re finishes breakfast when Tory is brought in.

“Apologies Alpha Silver, but the babe won’t quiet nor take her bottle,” and he is clearly hungry. Terri gestures to Dani is already unbuttoning her shirt, and she watches Dani as she feeds.

“Don’t bother,” Terri tells her when Dani goes to fix her shirt back in place.

Knowing what the alpha wants she rises from her chair before she’s even told to “come here.”

“You’re going to be a good little omega for your alpha and put that pretty wet pussy on my cock and sit on it until I come.”

Impaled on her cock, Terri’s mouth on her breast, rocking back and forth, her body already craving the alpha inside her.

When warmth fills her, she sits, keeping the alpha inside her, hoping it will increase their chances.

“I hope the pup has your eyes,” Dani says, tracing a hand down her alpha’s face.

“We will have many attempts to get you your wish,” she says, kissing her hand before grasping the narrow waist.

Of this, Terri has no doubt.

[tealmoth]

also "darkfic au that got out of control" is such a funny description to me 😭 im curious as to why you think so personally i thought it was pretty balanced in heavy and lighthearted moments and considering the themes like the effects of imperialism i dont see why it wouldnt be handled as such. havent watched in a while tho idk

oooohh okay so this’ll be a fun thing to answer because i’ve been desperate to ramble about ‘03 plot points to anyone who will listen all week. so for me, honestly, the darkfic vibes come more from how deeply it dredges into the dark aspects, if that makes any sense?? most of what’s “dark” in ‘03 already exists and is explored in brotherhood, like the imperialism aspects as you mentioned, as well as grief and trauma and everything else that comes prepackaged with fma’s core story. but brotherhood handled these in a very shonen way (which is to be expected, of course). the darkness pushes the characters forward, makes them fight on. even when they’re at the brink, they’re called back by a loved one, or by their own convictions, and it retains an overall positive feel.

meanwhile in ‘03, i get the specific vibe that the writers looked at the story they already had, and asked themselves “how can this be worse??”

(inserting a read more because i’m about to go on a MASSIVE tangent, sorry.)

and so, here are some of the specific darker aspects that stood out the most to me:

the build-up to nina is given far more screentime and its place in the timeline is totally different. not only are the elrics so much younger here, but they’re also essentially a part of the tucker family for the better part of several months iirc. they also witness the direct aftermath of her death at the hands of scar (which is also implied to be FAR more gruesome here), whereas in brotherhood they find out from riza the morning after it happens.

there’s the whole barry ordeal which afaik doesn’t serve much purpose other than it, well, being kinda neat to see pre-armor barry. and i could totally be misremembering here and/or missing something important but the whole episode just stands out to me as “hey, i don’t think that ed’s had enough trauma yet. let’s sprinkle in some attempted murder.”

everything with the laboratory, holy shit. tucker’s reappearance, the attempts at recreating nina, the prisoners, everything with kimblee, the way ed almost activates the array, ALL OF IT is insane in this version.

al’s doubts about his memories and his origins is a longer arc and leads to more conflict with ed in this version.

mustang and winry’s parents. mustang’s suicide attempt. everything with mustang that’s not comic relief (which there’s still plenty of).

as stated in the tags of my first ‘03 post, the utilization of rose’s character is a really intense departure (while interesting!!) that completely took me aback.

the entirely different lore surrounding the homunculi is both incredibly fascinating and a lot to take in, and it leads to them being far more mentally vulnerable and tormented characters than they are in brotherhood. the contrast alone between the development greed gets in brotherhood (using him as an example since he effectively has the most character growth out of the homunculi there) and the development that lust, wrath, and sloth get in ‘03 stands out the most to me.

sloth in general. it’s a wildly fascinating take and, in addition to REALLY hammering in the themes surrounding their mother’s transmutation, also stands to provide even more trauma for the elrics.

and on that subject, the adults are far less present for the boys in this version. that’s not to say that they’re like “parents” or anything in brotherhood, but they’re a lot more openly concerned for them in a personal, affectionate way in that show. whereas here, especially in the early segments, i’m pretty sure that ed could have died in a ditch somewhere and they wouldn’t have noticed for at least a week.

scar’s characterization is more vulnerable here and both his death and the events leading up to it are insane.

and that’s not even getting into everything with dante, which deserves its own post.

with all that said, i’m also not even done with this show yet. i still have four eps left!!

but, all rambling aside, that’s what specifically gave me the darkfic sort of vibe. not to demean the show or reduce it to fanfic terms, or anything; it’s still very interesting and competent writing. but it just gives me so much whiplash when compared to brotherhood’s overarching feelings of hope and the ability to fight back and change the future for the better. it feels soul-nourishing to me, in a way. meanwhile, ‘03 is like a cavalcade of trauma, all provoked by the question “you know what’d be really fucked up??”

[toushindai]

same anon as before. This time, I'm curious about your thoughts on Rauru having descendants in order to Zelda having his and Sonia's powers. Do you think Rauru's a good father? How do you think his child/children would look like? ☕

Hello again anon! I’ve made very few decisions about this matter given the absolute dearth of information we’re given (does Nintendo realize that to have descendants, you need to have children before you die of backstory?). There must be at least one child, unmentioned anywhere in the memories; given what other games say about how we get Zeldas, probably a daughter. Because there is absolutely no mention made of any children, I tend to assume there’s just the one. And I’ve decided that she’s pretty much infant age. I make a brief mention of her in “A Certain Nobility of Character,” but I’ll be honest, that mention was really an obligatory “I know that Rauru has a child who should factor into his life somehow, even if Nintendo doesn’t.”

Rauru strikes me as the type to be a very doting father. From the stone tablets we know that he occasionally snuck away from official business to hunt; I think he would also be the type to sneak away from official business to go play with his daughter, if he were to be around when she made it to toddlerhood. He is a good father, I think, but also he is a king and has a king’s responsibilities, so he’s probably not able to spend as much time with her as he’d like. Even so, I think he generally makes time to spend with her each day. He’s a bit awed by her and her very existence, like wow!! That’s a whole new little person!! I have a responsibility to build a happy world for her!!

As for what she looks like—I have this headcanon that when a Zonai has a child with a non-Zonai, that child will typically be born without their first eye (how the Zonai refer to what we would call their third eye). This first eye is so crucial to their cultural identity that Zonai tend to think of those children as belonging more to the other parent’s species than their own, even if that child’s appearance otherwise leans heavily towards Zonai features. This is the case with Rauru and Sonia’s daughter: no first eye, but darker, grayer skin than Sonia’s; very fine fur especially on her ears, jawline, and torso; ears longer than Sonia’s (whose ears already already a great deal longer than Zelda’s) and very, very expressive. She read as so Zonai to Sonia’s Hylian eyes that she was confused by Rauru’s initial habit (and Mineru’s as well) of referring to her as Hylian instead of half-Hylian, half-Zonai. Rauru and Mineru have since come around to Sonia’s way of thought, but it was initially a point of strange, uncomfortable tension.

(I feel like I should say something about the Ancient Hero’s Aspect here. Well, “Something.” You cannot get me on the record saying that I am absolutely certain that the Ancient Hero is a Zonai-Hylian (or Zonai-Gerudo????) hybrid. Why do they have a tail. The Zonai we see do not have tails. For completing all the BOTW shrines you receive your Green Clothes; for completing all the TOTK shrines you receive One Billion Questions Which The Devs Will Not Be Answering. Thanks. I feel more equipped to say for sure that “it’s interesting that Zonai culture (reflected in the AH wearing what is essentially the Zonaite Set) is preserved, or at least kept familiar enough to be alluded to, until the time of ten thousand years before BOTW, through presumably several rounds of Calamity Ganon” than to say anything definitive about what species or mix of species the Ancient Hero is. Why the tail. Why…)

By the way, the first chapter of skittykitty’s AU The Price of Peace goes into Rauru’s thoughts on his daughter and how thoughts of her inform his actions in a way I really enjoyed. You should check it out!

[dragongutsixofficial]

Me again!!!!

What do you think of a roleswap AU with Edeleth? Byleth, being the emperor/empress who was tortured and has big plans that would tear Fodlan apart, and Edelgard, an emotionless mercenary who travels with Jeralt (or her actual father if you wanna go that far LOL).

I'm thinking of writing it! I just need to plan it out LOL

Mmmmh it sounds really interesting !^^ What do you envision yourself ? Would Byleth be the daughter of Ionius then ?

I think the way I see it, and that's just because I think there's a lot of potential regarding Byleth's struggle with their identity and how that can appeal to darker, more desperate aspects of Rhea, is that instead of having them be the future Emperor of Adrestia, Jeralt would have failed to run away from Rhea with them. Maybe she would have even pulled a reverse Uno on him and make him think his baby was dead when she discovered his plans to set the monastery on fire to make an escape. That would, in turn, leave her to mold the future reincarnation of the Goddess according to her wishes.

Now, Rhea is morally grey, but I don't see her physically torturing a child just like that, especially with how much she cared about Sitri (although very, very misguidedly. Keeping someone's cadaver in your basement is not a sign of a healthy bond). That being said, the depths of her longing for her mother might lead her to progressively start denying Byleth their individuality and freedom, which is its own kind of psychological torture in itself. Byleth pushing back, in turn, might lead her to more abuse to assert her dominance and narrative over them.

Eventually, like a lot of abused kids, Byleth would learn to play the long game. They would become an actor, and hide their true feelings. They would struggle with spontaneity in particular, because everything would be a careful calculation not to let anyone see through them. They would appear subdued and content with their fate and Rhea's guardianship, but they would just be buying their time and planning their escape- and downfall of the Church.

Jeralt, meanwhile, devastated by the loss of his child, would have still left the Knights of Seiros. As to how he would've met Edelgard, I'm not quite sure ! Maybe Ionius would've tried a last-ditch attempt at having his children escape from TWSTID instead of being the disagreeable, incapable pussy he actually is. Edelgard would be fucking traumatized because who wouldn't. But Jeralt would feel a sense of duty and attachment to this child after failing his first kiddo and raise her as his own- though it's never clear whether she reciprocates his filial affection.

The rest of the story would go on as it does in Hopes- Byleth would convince Rhea to let them learn how to fight at the Academy, and hire some bandits to scare off/kill off Claude and Dimitri: Jeralt's mercenaries would save the day, and Edelgard's scars and Crest would catch Rhea's attention. She would probably suspect that she's a victim of TWSTID, and maybe even who she truly is- and appoint her as the teacher in Byleth's class.

As to how TWSTID would tie into all this, I'm not quite sure. Though Byleth could reach out to them, they wouldn't have their hand forced like Edelgard did when she accepted their help, and TWSTID would probably just want to kill them to death or kidnap them for some more twisted experiments. Not to mention Byleth cares so much, they probably wouldn't see the appeal of getting them on their side without being coerced into it. So, I dunno !^^

[borrowedtimeandspace]

Fate Is Kind

4. Stargazing

From this list of gt prompts

AU: To The Nines (Nine AU); set after The Vanishing Box, immediately after Zepheera agrees to travel with the Doctor.

~~~

"Right, then! Your choice, Zepheera: where do you want to go?"

Zepheera was at a loss. While she and the Doctor had decided to put the time aspect of their travels second, since at nearly 80 years old she had spent quite a lot of her life watching the world around her change. She was also fully aware that she had only inhabited a small corner of the wider world, well-traveled as she was for a borrower. She hardly knew where to begin.

"I… we can go anywhere in the whole world?" Zepheera reiterated.

The Doctor's patient smile widened to a proper grin as he clarified, "Anywhere at all in the universe."

"Universe…" Zepheera breathed. She knew the word, having lived alongside humans for so long, but this was the first time she'd been made to grapple with its meaning.

Sensing this, the Doctor held out a hand for the tiny woman to step onto from her perch on the console. "Come here. I'll show you."

Zepheera complied, intrigued. The Time Lord deposited her into his shoulder to free up his hands, and then Zepheera had to cling to the leather lapel of his jacket as he began piloting the TARDIS. The console room rattled only for a moment before going still; he didn't need to fly far to get his point across. 

"Deep breath," he said as he walked down to the TARDIS doors, his tone light enough to give Zepheera the impression that it wasn't so much a warning of danger. More of a reminder that she had no idea what she was about to witness, and to prepare herself as best as she could.

She breathed in slow, and out slow. "I'm ready."

That might have felt true when she said it, but nothing could have made her ready to see what was on the other side of those doors.

Zepheera, all four and a half inches of her, had to look down to find the Earth. She felt her stomach flip to find it so far below. It took her a moment of recovery to make the connection of what she was looking at, to images and models of the globe that she'd seen in passing throughout her life. Oceans. Landmasses. Storms. Ice caps.

The world.

If that wasn't enough, the rest wasn't any less overwhelming. It was like the night sky, deeper and darker than she could ever have imagined, and yet shimmering with thousands upon thousands of stars. So many more than Zepheera had ever seen before. 

All previous vertigo faded away, replaced with a vivid memory that Zepheera hadn't thought about in ages. Back when she was just a kid, barely into her teenage years, and her uncle… her surrogate father, Boston, took her up to see the night sky for the first time.

“Which star am I supposed to wish on?” she’d asked him.

Perking up, Zepheera tugged excitedly on the Doctor’s lapel. “Where’s home?”

“Eh?”

“I know where I want to go, but I need to find it. Where did we come from?”

Zepheera clung once again as the Doctor leaned slightly out of the doors, pointing down toward the globe below. “Northern hemisphere, see that little island glowing in the dark?”

Hoping for a better look, Zepheera skirted around the back of the Doctor’s collar to the opposite shoulder, and had started to follow the path his arm made when walking very suddenly became quite difficult. Like someone cut an invisible tether that made sure she could stay grounded in each step.

“Oi! Careful!” the Doctor chided, reaching out his other hand to cup around the borrower to keep her from floating off. “I’ve extended the air shell, but just because you’re protected from the vacuum of space doesn’t mean you won’t float off!”

When Zepheera glanced back at him with a rather apprehensive look, the Doctor realized that she didn’t have a clue about the dangers of space. “Oh. Right, well… just don’t run ‘round like that for a while, not til you’re used to all this.”

She nodded, steadying herself against the Doctor’s hand as she once again found the island he’d indicated, then turned to search the neverending expanse of stars for just the right one. Zepheera tried to find the right angle, see which stars she would have been looking toward all those years ago.

“There!” Zepheera pointed to a cluster of stars that were unmistakably the same ones, albeit from a different angle than she was used to. When she was a kid, it looked like a fishhook to her, and right at the bottom of it, where a line would be tied if it were a real one… There was the star that she had made a wish on. A wish that was finally coming true after 65 years.

Please take me far away from here…

Zepheera’s hopeful violet gaze turned to meet the Doctor’s. “Can we go there?”

Following her finger, the Doctor’s smile began to return as he recognized that particular star. “The heart of the lion,” he mused. “Oh, I know exactly where to take you.”

“The what?” Zepheera wondered, clinging to one of the Doctor’s fingers as he leaned back into the TARDIS. It was a bizarre sensation to feel weight return to her body once they crossed the threshold.

“Humans call shapes in star systems constellations,” he explained while he deposited Zepheera back to the shoulder she started out on. “They called that one Leo, because it’s sort of shaped like a lion…”

The doors of the TARDIS creaked shut as the pair of travelers disappeared inside, and before long it began to vanish in time with the most wonderful sound in the universe.