#To Answer The Call

[ivebeensetonfire]

Strength. Why is it, that I am at my strongest when it is in service of another? Why, when alone, do I struggle to bring my tenacity, my will, and my power to bear? Why is it so easy, when I know another can benefit? When I am exhausted, beaten down, fatigued, and broken, I know I have nothing left. But a single request, a hint that my little brothers may need my help, and a well is tapped deep within me. In a wink, my weakness flees, like a faint mist before the blazing sun. A flood of power, of strength, of vitality surges through my veins. I come to aid, a thunderous presence, bringing all my strength to them. Whatever opposes them, be it small, nigh insignificant, or large, seeming indomitable, I am behind them, and will do all I can to see them succeed. When it is over, the strength retreats, like a dragon taking flight back to its hoard. The exhaustion returns once more, sweeping over me as I seek my rest. Why when I need that strength to care for myself, is it inaccessible? Where does it go? And why is it only awoken by the plaintive cry of another? No greater joy have I had than this: to bring my full might to bear in service of another. So may we all, one day.

[lavalampelfchild]

To Answer the Call (Wardens at Ostagar), Ch. 8

Summary: The time has come for the Joining, and the recruits gather with Duncan and the other Wardens to undergo the mysterious ritual.  No one can predict what will happen, only that it will change their lives irrevocably...

AO3: Here.

A/N: As a heads-up to any tumblr-readers I have here; I renamed the ao3 version of this fic because I’m going to be breaking up my huge DAO narrative into individual stories that deal with each arc of the narrative.  All of these mini-stories will go in one single series, which is going to be what keeps the title To Answer the Call.  I am also going to start posting just previews here on tumblr, while linking to the ao3 version of the story because these chapters are getting longer, and I don’t have scripts that help me format everything quicker… xD Apologies for any inconvenience!

-----

Preview: 

They didn’t have long to rest.  As soon as everyone was able to stand on their own, Duncan herded them to a secluded corner of the camp and bade them wait.  Richu and Grigor had gone to the healing tents to fetch Velyn.  Alistair and Rondall were left to stay with the recruits and guard the Joining site.  

The night was dark enough, at least, that no curious onlookers from the king’s camp would see them.

Always find a silver lining, Alistair thought darkly.

The unease was palpable. The recruits were wary and tense. Ser Jory was the only one moving, pacing back and forth, face tight, gait stiff.

“This damned Joining,” he muttered. “The more I hear of it, the less I like it.”

Beside him, Daveth groaned, “Enough with your blubbering, ser knight.  It’s already happening, isn’t it?  Might as well shut up.”

Ser Jory made a frustrated noise.  “Of course you’d say that, you don’t—”  He broke off and exhaled carefully, hands twitching at his side.  His face was a twisted scowl of pain and frustration.  Alistair exchanged a wary look with Rondall.

“Look, Ser Jory,” he began in what he hoped was a sufficiently calm voice. “It’s going to be—”

“Have I not earned my place?” Ser Jory demanded, barreling through Alistair’s attempt at reassurance. “These damned tests, I—What is the purpose of lying to us about it all?”

“You’re going to be fine, Ser Jory—” Alistair tried again.  Daveth’s sharp scoff cut him off.

“Who gives a damn?” he sneered.  His eyes were hard, gaze locked firmly on Ser Jory.  “Maybe it’s tradition.  Or maybe they’re just trying to annoy you.  Damned easy thing to do, isn’t it?”

That got Ser Jory’s hackles up.  “Lying to us is tradition, then?”  His voice was rising.  Alistair shot another look Rondall’s way.  Could use a little help here.

Rondall stepped forward, “Alright, that’s enough—”

“All these secrets, all these tests, and what purpose do they serve!?  There is no honor in it—”

“Honor?”  Daveth marched forward to meet Ser Jory in challenge. “What would you know of honor?  The way you’re griping about it.”

“I know more of the matter than you, clearly—”

“Clearly!  Clearly, you’re talking out your arse.  You’d cut and run at the smallest thing, not even thought about why they might be having us go through all this—”

“To sacrifice us without our knowledge—”

“Because you wouldn’t be here if they’d told you what you’d be doing, and someone has to stop this damned Blight!  You saw those darkspawn out there, same as I!  You want to talk about honor?  What about that pretty wife of yours you keep going on about?  Isn’t it the honorable thing to want to protect her? Wouldn’t you die if it meant keeping her safe?”

Ser Jory’s face was ashen. “Of course, I—”

“Maybe you’ll die,” Daveth snarled through gritted teeth. “Maybe we’ll all die.  If nobody stops the darkspawn, then we’ll all die for sure.”

“They still should have told us.  My wife—” Ser Jory’s eyes were bright, wet with tears, the pupils dark and small.  Fearful.  “If I’d have known, I—I wouldn’t have left—”

“That’s enough!”

End Preview.

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[singdreamchild]

To Answer The Call || Sofie & Cassius

Timing: Early morning Setting: Sofie’s Apartment Summary: Sofie runs home after a run in with a slayer and reaches out to Cassius for comfort. 

She had sprinted away the moment the slayer had let her go. Sofie was not a fan of being held hostage on the sidewalk with the sun creeping up onto the horizon. Ragged breaths wheezed out of her, as her bare feet pushed her forward. I need to stop wearing stilettos if hunters are going to keep finding me. The thought passed through her mind absently, as she drew in air that she didn’t need.  It was a comforting force of habit, and at that particular moment, she’d take all the comfort she could get. 

Especially since the sun had risen fifteen minutes ago. 

Sofie had taken a twisted path home, convinced that the slayer would follow her. Unless he already knew where she lived… The vampire cursed, the feeling of the sunlight against her skin causing her  to flinch.  Maybe even if they’d let her go, she was dead anyway. She could burn up in the sun, or they could be there waiting for her when she got home. Or maybe they had a friend to do their dirty work. Another few minutes that felt like ages, and her apartment was in view. 

Another five minutes, and she was running up the steps into her apartment, and tucking herself inside, locking the door tight behind her. She went through every inch of her apartment once, twice, three times. Sofie felt as though she were somewhere outside her body, watching herself walk about from somewhere on the ceiling. Sofie walked to the kitchen, snatching up a knife. Metzli was right about keeping a knife. Sofie dropped the cold metal onto her bedside table. She sat down on the edge of her bed, tugging a quilt up over her shoulders. Her lip wobbled as she let the tight control she had over herself go. A thump sounded as her upstairs neighbor began their day. Sofie nearly leapt out of her skin. She didn’t want to be alone right now. Frantic fingers dug through her purse until she found her phone in the depths of her bag. 

Her fingers flew over the screen as she typed in a message. She deleted and rewrote the last two words three times before she finally hit send. 

I know the sun is up, but can you come over? I’m scared. 

______

He didn’t do much of anything on the weekends. Sure, he went out to the club on Saturday nights, but other than that, he kept to himself. The four stone walls of the crypt had begun to prove uncomfortably quiet lately, as if something in him had changed. At that moment, Cassius found himself reading Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, a collection of poems he found himself enveloped in. So involved in his book, he almost didn’t hear his phone vibrate (he never kept the ringer on). 

I’m scared.

That’s all it took for Cassius to spring up from the stone bench he sat on, quickly pulling on his wide brim hat and black trench coat that he kept on hand specifically to go out in the daylight. Pulling on a pair of gloves to cover his hands, he quickly exited the crypt and into the cemetery. He parked his car close by, nothing he couldn’t get to quickly with his enhanced speed. Usually he was more careful than this, but he knew that she wouldn’t send him something without it being truly important. 

I’m on my way, he sent her in response.

Once he got into his car, the rest of it was a blur. Cursing every time he hit a red light, speeding a bit too fast to get where he needed to be. As soon as he reached her apartment building, he made quick work of parking and unfastening his seatbelt. He pulled out his phone and quickly sent another text, letting her know that he had made it. He lowered his head toward the sun, trying to get as much shade onto his face as possible. 

_____

Her phone had barely gone dark before it lit back up with a response. It was a strange mix of relief and guilt that washed over her. Relief that she wouldn’t be alone in her apartment when a hunter could very well have rethought his decision to let her know and be on his way to finish what he’d started. Guilt that she was putting him at risk. The sun was up. If the slayer had known who Sofie was, it was possible he’d kept tabs on anyone she’d been close to since coming to town. If something happened to Cassius on the way over, she’d never forgive herself. 

She paced back and forth as the minutes ticked by. What if he was too far away? What if something had happened. What if, what if, what if. Her phone lit up again, and she practically flew across her apartment to snatch it up. Her lip wobbled as relief flooded through her. She dropped the phone and ran out her apartment door and down the stairs to the entrance. She pushed open the door, and stopped for a moment, realizing she still didn’t have anything to protect her from the sun. Sofie realized she didn’t give a damn. She’d made it twenty minutes in the sun, one more wouldn’t kill her. She launched herself at Cassius, holding onto him as tightly as she could. 

_______

He may have only known her for a short period of time, but Cassius knew that Sofie didn’t scare easily. Anyone who lived for as long as they had, had seen things. They had seen horrible things and wonderful things. They may be vampires, but that didn’t mean they were heartless monsters. Quite the opposite, he had met vampires that had bleeding hearts. His sire had been one of them, not able to watch a friend die. That’s why he had been so quick to respond, he knew something had to have happened to warrant this response. 

He had no time to look her over as she opened the door open and threw herself at him, and he quickly wrapped his arms around her, worrying for her as she ignored the morning sun beating down on her. He took off his hat and placed it on her head. “Let’s get inside, you can tell me what’s happened.” He spoke in a soft voice, pulling himself away enough to look down at her, brows knitted together in worry. “You’ve been out in the sun enough, it seems.” He commented, finally noticing the sunburn on her cheeks, angry and red. 

_________

She felt a hat plop down on her head, a a sound burbled out of her that vaguely resembled a laugh. It was a bit too big for her head, and slipped down on her brow. Sofie tipped her head back to see his face crinkled in concern. His mentioning the sun brought her attention back to the warmth on her skin. A monster burning away in the sun. She thought absently. “Alright,” her voice was distant, but she unwrapped herself from around Cassius, picking up his hand as she drifted out of the sun and into the comfortable shade of the apartment. She led him back up the stairs, and locked the door behind them once the door was shut. 

It occurred to her that someone could have gotten into her home in the few minutes she’d been outside, so she quickly scanned the space to be certain nothing was out of place. Once she was sure, she deflated like a balloon that had made its acquaintance with a pin. “I know the sun is up, but thank you.” She looked at him with an attempt at a smile. “Do you want anything? Tea?” Sofie knew she was avoiding the topic, but she couldn’t bring herself to talk about what had happened with the slayer, and the things she hadn’t known.  Not yet. 

______

Cassius frowned at how absent-minded she seemed, which only increased his worry. Still, it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it. His worry only increased, but he knew better than to push someone on something that was clearly still very raw. As they walked up to her apartment, he noticed how she looked around as if waiting to find something… or rather someone. 

He was now certain that something had happened to her now that she was combing her apartment to make sure nothing was wrong, and he stood there, watching with that same worried expression. He had never seen her like this before, so paranoid and filled with worry. He wished he could do something to make it go away, but knew his presence alone would have to do for now. “Sofie,” he said softly, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he murmured, continuing to hold her. “But you don’t have to pretend, not with me.”

______

Sofie stilled, allowing herself to feel the weight of his arms around her. She leaned into his chest, tucking her head under his chin. She let out a long shaky breath. “You deserve to know. If they tracked me down, they might track you down for being associated with me. And I won’t have you caught off guard.”

Another sigh, and she pulled back a little so she could talk. “A slayer tracked me down. A few years back I was in Mexico selling a piece, and I stayed with a clan there that I knew of for a few days while I sealed the deal. Apparently they-“ her voice was horse, and she shook her head, determined to get through it. “They killed the hunters family. All of them. And he wanted to see if I had anything to do with it. I don’t know how he tracked me down, but if you’re implicated by association I am so, so sorry.” Panic took Sofie’s voice up an octave as she looked up at him. “I promise, I didn’t know. I didn’t know that they were going to do that.”

_______

As she told him what had happened, Cassius found himself shaking his head as she spoke. How dare he. This hunter, accusing her of a horrible crime. But in the same breath, how could she be careless to stay with a whole clan of other vampires that she didn’t know that much about? This is why he stuck to himself, the whole idea of more vampires made it dangerous. How a group could go and kill an entire family, that was something else entirely. That was… that was evil. Any way he looked at the situation, it made him angry. 

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, knowing there was nothing he could do about it, as much as he’d like to. “You have nothing to be sorry about. If he comes after me, so be it. I know I’m innocent.” Cassius replied, placing a hand under her chin. “It wasn’t… he’s not associated with the person who hunted down yours, is he?” He felt like he had to ask, if someone was on her tail that wanted her dead, he knew he’d have to find a way out, somewhere she could be safe. 

_______

His words were meant to calm but the panic still burned in her chest, and it stoked the fire. “I don’t want anyone after you.” Sofie’s eyes snapped up to his. She worried her lower lip between her teeth as she looked back down with a scowl and realized only then that her fangs were still out. Her eyes must have still been red as well. She hadn’t noticed they were still red. They had been since she’d let them shift colors during the confrontation, and her time in the sun hadn’t helped matters much. But she hadn’t seen her reflection in a mirror in over three hundred years- perhaps that was why. So the monsters couldn’t see how monstrous they’d become. 

She shook her head at his question. “No, I don’t think so.” Sofie thought back to the ‘conversation’, if standing on a street frozen with fear counted as that. He’d pointed out that he could have just killed her but he’d been looking for answers. He’d pointed out that her clan, no matter how civilized they pretended to be, still drank blood. “He’s too young to be the one who did it. And even if he was connected, he wouldn’t have let me go.” I wouldn’t have seen sunrise she thought to herself. Or Cassius. The thought made the frown on her face deepen, and she leaned her head back against his chest, letting the fabric of his shirt block out the world for a few moments. When she pulled back, she felt the whisper of his hand against her face and she leaned into the touch like a flower stretching to greet the sun.  “I think he’s someone different entirely.”

________

“I could try and tell you that you don’t need to worry, but we’re vampires. Unfortunately just existing is a red flag for hunters. But I can say that I know how to defend myself.” He patted his pocket where he always kept his switch blade, always a little bit prepared if the situation called for it. “He didn’t try to fight you, did he? The only injuries you have are from the sun,” he noted as he gave her another once over. He couldn’t help but wonder what the true purpose of this hunter was, usually they’re kill first and ask questions later, in his own experience. He’d only been seriously hunted once, and that was because he was young and a little too sloppy with his food. That was centuries ago, though. What Sofie was facing was fresh and raw, and Cassius wasn’t sure how to help. 

Cassius let out a sigh as she explained that the hunter was too young to be involved, feeling a little better. Surely if it were that hunter, she’d be in a lot rougher of shape than just being burned by the sun. “I’m sorry this happened to you, love.” His tone was gentle, he wasn’t really sure how to comfort her. “Whatever you want to do to distract yourself, I’m all for it.” In his experience, the best thing to do in situations such as these was a distraction. Wasn’t much to do if the hunter didn’t want her dead. Only to get over the fear, and that took time. “I wish I knew what to do,” he confessed, pressing his lips together.

_______

She watched as he patted his pocket. Maybe she should carry something… He was the second person she knew of who kept a knife on him, after Metzli. And knowing Metzli, Sofie wouldn’t have been surprised if the other vampire walked around with a veritable artillery strapped to them at all times. She supposed she’d have to start following both of their leads. Wicked’s Rest, while being full of people like them, was also full of people who wanted them gone. “He had a stake, but it was used for leverage… I wouldn’t run or attack him, and he wouldn’t use the stake.” Sofie shook her head. “Just a little sunburnt.” She shrugged. 

A shadow of a smile ghosted over her features for a moment. “You don’t have to do anything, you’ve already done enough.” Knowing that she had someone who would come if she called was a comfort Sofie hadn’t known in quite some time. She thought for a moment, her mind starting to work as it normally did. A distraction… She looked back up at him. “Tell me something. Anything. Tell me about something good.” Tell me about something that doesn’t remind me I’m the monster in someone else’s story.

______

Cassius’s brows furrowed as he thought of what he could possibly need from her. He didn’t attack her, nor did she attack him. The whole situation perplexed him, but he didn’t push any further, it was clear that Sofie wasn’t able to handle talking about it too much, not more than she already had, anyway. He took the folded switchblade out of his pocket, handing it to her. “Keep it on you. You never know when you’re going to need it.” His tone was serious, as if he wasn’t about to take ‘no’ for an answer. “I have another, so don’t worry about taking this one.” If not for herself, he hoped she would take it for his own piece of mind. 

Tell her something good, now there was something that he didn’t have an immediate answer to. He thought back to the book of poems he had been reading before coming to her apartment, remembering the poem that had stuck out to him, so he recited it

“I do not have you to fill the empty parts of me, I want to be full on my own. I want to be so complete, I could light a whole city and then I want to have you, cause the two of us combined could set it on fire.” He looked down to her, giving a soft smile. “Rupi Kaur, a poet I like.” He then explained, not wanting to take the credit for something he hadn’t written. “Poetry has always been soothing to me,” he explained with a shrug of his shoulder. “Something that helps me ground myself when I find life to be particularly difficult.”

______

The blade wasn’t very large, but it would definitely do the trick if she needed to use it. Sofie blinked, examining the knife in Cassius’s hand. Her eyes flicked up to his face a moment, and seeing that he was serious, Sofie slowly reached out and took the knife. She felt the weight of it in her hand a minute, before tucking it away. It would serve her better than the clunky kitchen knife sat on her bedside table, all but forgotten since Cassius had arrived. 

There was something soothing in the cadence of his voice as he recited the poem. She had been as tight as a bowstring since he’d gotten there, but the longer she stayed in his arms listening to the rise and fall of his voice, the more she allowed herself to let go. The safer she felt. A poem. She had asked for something good, and he had recited a poem. There was something terribly old fashioned about it, and she started to smile. It was a slow smile, like some part of her still worried the world would crash back down around her. But he’d just said the two of them together could set the city ablaze, and she wasn’t inclined to disagree with him. “I think it’s beautiful.” She wasn’t entirely sure of what else to say, so instead she rose on the tips of her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for coming when I called.”

________________

Cassius pressed a hand to Sofie’s cheek and looked down at her, expression one of earnest. “I will always come when you call, this I promise.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, a gentle kiss, one that spoke of promise and care. He pulled away, hoping that he hadn’t made the wrong move, but didn’t let it show on his face. “And don’t you ever apologize for needing me. That’s what I’m here for. We help each other, lift each other up when needed.” He tilted his head, lost in thought for a brief moment, then voiced them aloud. “I suppose that’s what a relationship is.” He realized they hadn’t defined what they were to each other before that moment, but knew that someone would have to say it sooner or later. 

He knew that Sofie meant more to him than just a fling, that their connection had been deep and true from the moment they first met. And he knew he didn’t want that to leave either. He knew more than anything that she was meant for him, as he was meant for her. “I won’t ever leave you when things get tough. That I promise you.”

__________

Certain things had a miraculous simplicity to them. The stars twinkling in the night sky, or the feeling of seeing the ocean for the first time. A feeling of being so small  in the grand scheme of things, and yet so utterly whole and important enough to exist in that moment. Living for so long, it was so easy to forget that feeling, and yet Cassius leaning down to kiss her sent that feeling skittering through her. Sofie didn’t realize her eyes had closed until she opened them to see his face. Her eyes scanned over his every feature as he spoke, searching for confirmation. The more he spoke, the more she realized she didn’t need to look for answers in his eyes- it was written plainly on his face.

That was the other feeling that came from those miraculous little moments. A feeling of being so completely overwhelmed at the beauty of it. Of the universe working in just the right way to ensure the stars shone bright, to ensure the tides rose and fell. To ensure that two people born lifetimes apart would one day meet so that they could both come to that precise moment, to exist together so completely that they could light a city on fire with the light of it. Sofie’s hands twisted in the fabric of his shirt, content to keep him right there until the world burned down around them. If it did, she probably wouldn’t have noticed. She was too busy taking in the sight of him, wondering why the fates had taken so long to put Cassius Hawthorne in her path. The hands twined into his shirt latched onto his collar and she towed him back down into a kiss. It was the best way she could think of to answer him. A slow, gentle moment in which they could be as bright as the stars. “I think you’ll have a terribly hard time getting rid of me now,” Her voice was a low teasing sound, much more herself than she had been since he’d arrived. “Because I think I mean to keep you, Cassius Hawthorne.”

[its-f4nf4n-again]

Finished the slow burn longfic I started 4+ years ago.

Now what?

[luthienne]

i wake up thirsty and i think of palestine. i go to the doctor’s office and i think of palestine. a sign in the corner of the waiting room says ‘this is a place of healing, disruptive behavior will not be tolerated’ and i think of palestine. they probably weren’t thinking of bombs and snipers and mass graves in parking lots. i call my parents and i think of palestine. i drive to the grocery store and i think of palestine. i look at the clear blue sky and i think of palestine. i put the dishes away and i think of palestine. i feed my cat and i think of palestine. i listen to music and i think of palestine. i read poetry and i think of palestine. i text my friends and i think of palestine. i think of palestine and i think of palestine and i think of palestine

[ideas-ideasideasideas]

Batman gives each of his Robins a different code to use when they’re in trouble and need immediate extraction. He promises that when they call, he’ll drop everything just to get to them, come hell or high water.

Jason, during his time with the League, shares his code with Damian, to be used “only in the direst of circumstances, when you have exhausted all other options.” He doesn’t know if Bruce will answer, given how fractured their relationship was before he died, but it is better than nothing. Every tool counts when they live such dangerous lives.

Damian uses it exactly once, and Bruce, who still feels the loss of his son like a yawning chasm in his chest, responds to it even though he knows it can’t be Jason because Jason’s dead. What he finds, instead of Jason, is a boy in League garbs, drenched in blood from the tips of his midnight-black hair to his too-small feet, with a face that Bruce sees himself and Talia in, requesting asylum from a grandfather who wishes to possess his body. Bruce doesn’t question how this boy who is so clearly his son knew the code. Talia al Ghul is resourceful and places family above all; the code is not beyond her abilities to discover, and she is not above using Bruce’s desperate love for his dead son to ensure that hers does not meet the same fate.

Bruce takes Damian in, because of course he does, and since Jason is dead he allows Damian to keep using the code. After all, it’s not like Jason is alive to use it, right? If someone uses the code, there’s no one it could be but Damian, right?

The next time the code is used, Bruce traces the location to Gotham even though Damian was supposed to be in Bludhaven visiting Dick. But whatever happened that resulted in Damian being in Gotham can wait, because he has already failed one son and he will not fail another, his son is in trouble and he needs to get to him, he needs to—

What he finds, instead of Damian, is a boy (just eighteen, too young, but also too old, but also he will always be a boy to him) in League garbs, drenched in blood from the tips of his midnight-black hair to his too-large feet (when had he gotten so big), wearing the face of his dead son.

(Who, maybe, just maybe, may no longer be so dead.)

[bixels]

Baffled.

[3liza]

hot autistic adult women are always saying they're doing fine really and everyone is nice to them and they just need to figure out a few little things and then everything will be perfect

[samble-moved]

post itself

false flags

trans/adjacent tags

accessibility features

tumblr live post (thanks for the link, @problemnyatic)

flashing / strobing / lights

unblockable flashing ad

buying ad free

staff @/macmanx guilt trip

list of staff + more issues

[heymurada]

CoD Baseball AU: Ghost and Soap relationship speedrun edition, featuring respective hairstyle criticism and exasperated teammates

[snakeredbirdbatkatana]

Batkids calling Bruce when they need him.

Dick gets arrested for underage drinking call my dad now he's not in the slightest scared but he wants his dad. Bruce who already got bail done and is wrapping Dick in a blanket.

Jason crashes a car already on the phone with Bruce who is speeding to him.

Tim is falling asleep at the office and wants to go home dad please pick me up. Waking up tucked in Bruce's bed.

Damian gets in a fight at school you call my father right now. He suspended but Bruce hugs him on the way out.

Cass standing face to face with David Cain the man who should have been her father but isn't but before she can scream for Bruce she's wrapped in his cape.

Duke calling Bruce because the kids at school have never been nice to a kid from the wrong side of the tracks and getting ice cream just because.

Stephanie just calling Bruce to talk knowing no matter how busy he is there will be time for her.

Babs who even though Jim Gordon is a great man after a nightmare about the joker only wants one man. Bruce running in the middle of the night to her door. Wrapping his batgirl in his arms.

Kids who aren't afraid to call Dad. He wont be mad he wants them to call. To know he will drop everything to get to his boys, or his girls. Scared birds shouting for the big bad bat and he comes running.

[cuntmand]

there is only one person who can save louis, claudia and madeleine now…

[sakuravalelp]

Phantom letters - DPXDC PROMPT

The bats wake up one day to the internet going crazy; people around the world were getting letters from they're diseased loved ones. The reactions are mixed, from people being outraged for the "prank" to people crying in melancholy at getting closure.

All the letters have something in common: They're closed with a green sealing wax that had an stylize DP and the name Phantom beneath it. Posts about the cards were using the # Phantom Letters.

The bats are discussing the viral posts in the cave when Alfred comes holding a basket filled with letters, announcing they were left at the doors. The letters had the sealing wax that they recognize from the posts. Checking the cameras they can see how they glitch before the basket appears.

Alfred starts to distribute the letters that had only one destinatary. Letters from each Thomas and Martha to both Bruce and Alfred. Letters from each John and Mary to Dick. A letter from Catherine to Jason. A letter from the Drake's to Tim, and another one to Bruce.

Once they had calmed down enough from the shock, Alfred proceeded to read the shared recipients. From Thomas and Martha to "The grandchildren we never got to meet." From John and Mary to "the family that took our little Robin in." Letters from Catherine to "My little boys family." The letters were directed to people the deceased didn't get to meet.

As much as the mere existence of the letters tugged at their hearts, they decided to not read them until they verified that the handwriting actually belong to the ones it claimed. They checked each letter, and in the end confirmed the letters were in fact from they're lost love ones.

After much discussion, each person makes the decision to read they're own letters later in private, and they proceed to read the ones that shared recipients out loud. The letter mentioned specifics like names and events that the deceased shouldn't have been able to know, including they're vigilante abilities, which had them pause each time to panic a bit. But what was more interested were certain pieces of the letters that mentioned a Prince Phantom.

"Prince Phantom said to don't mention things past our death, but it wasn't a command, so we're hoping this won't be much of a problem." - John and Mary

"I still can't believe Prince Phantom is letting us do this, but I'm so glad." - Catherine

It finally paints the mystery in a more concerning light when at the end of Thomas and Martha's letter there is a call for help.

"We're sorry for ending the letter on a serious tone, but seeing the kind of job you all get involved in, we wanted to ask: Could you please help Prince Phantom? Phantom had asked us to not give information about this, but he's so young, and has already been hurt so much. Please, check on Amity Park, Illinois."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Meanwhile, team Phantom has decided that they needed to get the news about the GIW out of Amity and ask for help. Two problems:

the GIW blocks any technological attempt made.

People might be afraid to learn that ghosts exist and side with the GIW.

As a way to deal with the public image, Phantom opens a possibility that the death have never had:

"All afterlives are open to write letters to their love ones that are still alive today. Nothing that includes threats, and don't go talking about the anti-ecto acts or Amity Park yet, we're trying to ease people into our existence first. Also, I know you all check on your love ones when the veil is thin, but please keep the things you shouldn't know out of the letters if possible. If you want your letter to be sent in the first batch, make sure to deliver your letter before the week ends."

Letters are a good way to reconnect people with the death, they aren't digital, and the GIW won't be able to intercept letters if they're send through inter-dimensional portals. Two birds in one shot.

[its-f4nf4n-again]

Four years of posting this fic & if I keep to my schedule, I’ll be done by May. Wild.

[wishfulsketching]

My fav thing about Zaundads is the idea that it's Vander who's basically a pet dog but REALLY,,,it's Silco whom has the fanciest lil collar and leash, has the prettiest muzzle and tastiest treats to help encourage him to be a good boy for Vander. Local barman's prized miniature Italian greyhound <3

I think this ask was about something more than just Silco in a collar and a leash but I blacked out after that and drew this

Someone take him out, he needs some fresh air. He's eating the wallpaper out of boredom

[theartingace]

So on my recent revisit of centaur bodyplan challenges on my Centaur Wheelchairs post there was some talk of how centaurs would be stretching to make up for the decompression horses usually get in their backs when they graze, and also I've just seen a few tags and other notes curious about centaurs stretching and folding so.. here ya go! Some new stretches focused on stretching more like how horses do with their necks, and then just a collection of all my wibbly wobbly Big Stretch! and general range of motion doodles