#a winter echo crossover

[sing-geronimo]

listen ik it should be the dior turtleneck and nordstrom designer overcoat but tbh his re1 outfit is just better

[bluelotuswrites]

2024 fic rec list :)

So here's a list of fics/authors that I read in 2024! A lot of them are Batman-related, and Jason-centered :P

Six Degrees of Separation by @oliocelottafanfics. It's a Criminal Minds crossover with Batman, where Penelope Garcia is the one to find Jason after his resurrection and adopts him. This is one of those fics where I didn't know I needed it until I saw it, and now it's stuck in my brain.

The Right Substitution is Key by Addicted Apple. A fun what-if story where Batman and Nightwing go missing, so Robin recruits Red Hood to fill in as Batman while completely oblivious to the fact that Red Hood is Jason Todd.

Five Reactions to Pepper's New PA by @gladdecease. Short, but Bucky ends up becoming Pepper Potts' personal assistant. It's very funny and wholesome.

@cdelphiki's Three Terrors Cinematic Universe is a top fic that many probably already know. Talia tried to escape the League with Jason, Damian, Anathasia, and Mara al Ghul. She didn't make it, leaving Jason to be the one to protect them.

Along with that is cdelphiki's The Time Before. Jason got sent back to the past by Black Mask, who wanted to kill him before he became Red Hood. Jason goes to Bruce for help and ends up healing and learning more about Bruce.

A League of Her Own by @comebackolivia. Immediately after the UtRH, Talia finds Jason in the rubble, kills to Joker, and takes him back to the League, where they try to take over and rebuild it with Nyssa. Jason becomes one of her generals. You might recognize them for their work on Not-So-Outlaw :)

VermillionFlame is another more recent author that has been working on Arkhamverse Jason. For Want of a Savior and Hold Fast (Don't Let Go) are two of my favorites.

For Want of a Savior has comic Jason wind up in Arkhamverse, and saves AK!Jason. He then helps him heal and the Batfam is in a panic after realizing Jason may be alive.

Hold Fast (Don't Let Go) is another AU where Jason shot Deathstroke while working on his revenge plan that would be seen in Arkham Knight. He then shows up at Wayne Manor for protection, throwing the family's peace into chaos as so many things come to light and people butt heads.

Echoes of Future Past by orangesky37 on AO3/ @kindlingkeen. Immediately after Jason's throat got slit in UtRH comic, he gets yeeted back to the past and is found by authorities. James Gordon brings Batman onto the case, not realizing Batman is Bruce Wayne. He gets protective of Jason when he tells Gordon that 'his dad did it.'

Going Down Like the Titanic by @sunnylighter A shortish Arkhamverse AU where Joker succeeds in getting Bruce to succumb to the Titan virus by showing Jason still alive in Arkham Asylum.

Bruce Wayne Must Die by @reginalusus. Jason wants to kill Bruce, only to find out that he's missing. He teams up with Harvey Dent to find him, and there's father-son bonding vibes between Harvey and Jason.

Do Unto Others by @romiress. Arkhamverse again (listen, I'm a sucker for that storyline when it comes to Jason. It's maximum angst potential). Khalid Nassour (Doctor Fate in DC comics) worked at Arkham Asylum under the payroll of Joker, albeit reluctantly. He was brought on to fix up Jason, and eventually he sneaks him out to help him heal.

Don't Let Them See You Cry by @daisyapples. Oh my god, you guys. Let me tell you. This series is vibrates in my brain to an insane degree. Shortly after Bucky breaks free from his Winter Soldier programming, he finds Jason and adopts him. It's so good, y'all. I literally drop everything to read this whenever it updates.

The Glue by sleepynarwhal. Daredevil is the one to mentor Spiderman instead in the MCU and it's very adorable how much Matt goes from reluctant mentor to embracing it, as well introducing him to the other Defenders.

the road home by @drakefeathers. Jason is homesick during his Lost Days Era world murder-tour and ends up returning home.

I'll Catch a Break Someday by @victory-in-the-skye. Fullmetal Alchemist crosses over with the MCU. It has Fem!Ed, which might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it definitely contributes to the story in a way that makes it interesting. The author does a fantastic job of capturing Ed's voice, even in first person! It's a series, but it hasn't been updated in a while and I hope the author is doing okay!

Arkham Compendium by @lananiscorner. If you're a fan of Arkhamverse, I cannot recommend this series enough. Focusing on Jason before, during, and after Arkham Knight, the author does a fantastic job of delving into Jason's psyche during the course of his life. Ill Weeds Grow Apace is my favorite of the series, focusing on Jason healing after Arkham Knight, and slowly reconnecting with his siblings. Lanani also has many other fantastic fics in DC, especially with Jason. While the author might not be in the fandom anymore, I will always be grateful for the fics that were written because they are masterpieces.

(If you're one of these authors on the list and I missed your tumblr @, let me know and I'll edit them in!)

[marshmellohi]

Links Meet AUs List

A lot of AUs get lumped together with Linked Universe, so I wanted to make a list comprising any and all original Links Meet AUs I could find! Please let me know if I’m missing something, you want your AU to be removed, a link is broken, or if you know an AU’s status so it can be moved to the correct dedicated category.

DISCLAIMER: Please pay attention to the content warnings on some of these AUs! I haven’t personally read every AU so I don’t know what some contain, but if an AU has something you don’t vibe with, there are more than plenty of others that you will love on this list! Please be respectful and kind to everyone! This list is both for archival purposes and to appreciate the creativity of the community!

Additional Notes: Some AUs have dedicated Tumblrs, some can be found through original tags, some are only on ff.net or ao3, etc. I have a separate list for AUs limited to Discord/DMs that I have not included here unless I receive permission to do so! Also, if something is separated by ||, that means that theyre 2(+) separate AUs by the same creator in the same tumblr… if that makes sense LOL. This list is Always Updating so be sure to keep an eye out for any new AUs!

PUBLIC

• A Link to the Present

• Across the Galaxy

• Ageless Soul

• Bonus Links

• Branching Timelines

• Chain as Cryptids

• Chained Spirits

• Chains of Time

• Courage of Ages

• Culture Shock

• Deuy’s Links Meet

• Dimensional Links

• Dreamverse AU || Identity Fraud AU

• Echoes of Courage

• Exodus

• Fallen Heroes

• Garden of Heroes

• GodLinks

• Hearts Linked Together

• Heroes Spirit

• House of Heroes

• Kings Comic

• Limited Hero

• Link and the Links || Soldier Poet King

• Link Between Links

• Link Rejoin

• Linked Across Dimensions

• Linked Arena

• Linked By Illustrations

• Linked Dreamscape

• Linked End

• Linked History

• Linked Keys

• Linked Maze

• Linked Spirit

• Linked Through the Centuries

• Linked Universe

• Linked World

• Link’s Fun Road Trip

• Little Links

• Magic’s Wake

• Meowmix’s Linked-verse Journey

• Minas Linkverse

• Monstrous Fusion

• Names of Courage

• Realms of Hylia

• Recalled

• Rifts in Time

• Sister’s Linked Meets

• Suncaster

• Tangled Chains [Lou]

• Team Timeless

• That Broken Promise

• The Hyrulian Valhalla Saga

• The Links We Share

• The Phantom Timeline

• The Sacred Realm

• Too Many Links [Zee]

• Train Whistles and Wedding Bells

• Unchained AU

• Winter Links AU

PRIVATE

AUs where the info is limited to Discord, DMs, and/or friends. Not typically published/shared publicly. Permission is asked to acknowledge these AUs here before posting.

• A Linked Week

• Fractured Timelines

NON-LINK BUT THEY STILL MEET

Crossovers with Zeldas, Ravios, Ganons… pretty much the exact same thing but with other characters.

• Lots of Ravios

• LU Ravioverse

• Strangers Across Eras

• Voice of Wisdom

• Wielders of Wisdom

LINKMEET LITE

Links meet, but it’s not the focus of the story/in the background (example: a world where all the links exist at the same time but the focus is on one specific character/the others dont come up much)

• Father of Time

• Royal Reads

INACTIVE/DEAD

An AU qualifies for the inactive category when: 1.) its been 2+ years since an update and 2.) it’s unfinished; or, 3.) the creator explicitly stated that they were discontinuing it. LMK if one still has a pulse!

• Into the Zeldaverse

• Link and the Links

• Linked By Time

• Linking Together

• Misfortunate Monsters

• Tangled Chains

• Zelda in the Multiverse

UNSURE/MIA

AUs where I am unsure of the status and thus need to contact the creator, the creator’s deciding where to go with it, or I can’t locate the original page. This is mostly for me- consider this kind of like a ‘to do’ list. Any insight is welcome!

• Bagel’s AU (N/C)

• Birdo’s AU (U)

• Cotty’s Linkverse (N/C)

• Chain Reaction AU (Nuked)

• Factorial’s AU (N/C)

• Fortu’s AU (N/C)

• Hyrule Bound (N/C ; Iirc there was a fanfiction but I can’t find it anywhere)

• Link Madness’ AU (N/C)

• Minty’s Linkverse (U)

• Missing Links in Time (U)

[caplanbuckybarnes]

Thunder & Vibranium (MK & MCU X-over)

Summary: When Bucky walks through a portal thinking it was one of Stephen Strange's doing, he meets with the Thunder god, Raiden in the Outworld.

Warnings: none :)

WC: 820ish

A/N: i've been thinking about doing this crossover for a lONG time now. I couldn't figure out how to do it until a few days ago. I d hope this makes sense to y'all. lol. Also, idk who to tag??? So i'm just tagging bucky & marvel & MK forever tags.

Read on AO3!

--

Bucky Barnes had faced many enemies—soldiers, HYDRA agents, and even himself. But as he stood in the middle of an unfamiliar, storm-torn battlefield, it was clear he was far from home as he glanced around him, slain bodies of all types. Some creatures held numerous limbs, others had bled green, purple, or even blue..

The sky above rumbled, thick clouds swirling with electric energy. The last thing he remembered was a portal opening up during his mission, a golden rift tearing through the air, something he’d assumed Stephen Strange had opened up. Now, he was somewhere else—definitely not Earth as he knew it. His metal arm buzzed in the charged atmosphere as if it could sense something, someone, watching him.

“Where the hell am I?” Bucky muttered, scanning his surroundings trying to find a person or creature who he could speak with..

"Earthrealm," a voice echoed, deep and booming.

Bucky spun around, coming face to face with a man cloaked in blue and white robes, eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Lightning flickered around him, the energy crackling along his fingers as if it obeyed his command.

Raiden.

“I’m guessing you’re the one responsible for dragging me here?” Bucky’s voice was sharp, his stance tense, ready for a fight. He had heard of gods in myths but had never expected to meet one—let alone someone who looked like he could turn him into a pile of dust with a flick of his wrist.

Where the hell was this place?

Raiden stepped forward. His face was calm, though his presence demanded respect. “You were brought here for a reason, James Buchanan Barnes. Earthrealm is under threat, and your skills are needed.”

Bucky’s eyes narrowed. He had been manipulated before, used as a weapon by forces much stronger than him. He wasn’t going to fall for it again. “Why should I care about this ‘Earthrealm’? I’m not one of your soldiers. And i refuse to be soemone else’s pet for pleasure.”

Raiden’s eyes flashed as a streak of lightning split the sky. “Because Earthrealm’s destruction would mean the end of all realms—including yours. There is no choice, Winter Soldier.”

Bucky clenched his jaw. His metal fist curled into a ball, but he knew better than to fight against something this powerful. "Alright, Thunder God," he growled. "What's the plan?"

--

They were at the heart of the chaos, Raiden and Bucky side by side. The ground shook as monstrous foes from Outworld charged at them—creatures with tusks, claws, and powers that rivalled any Bucky had faced before. The Winter Soldier fired off rounds from his rifle, precision perfect as always, while Raiden summoned lightning, striking enemies with the wrath of a storm.

As another wave of foes came crashing down on them, Bucky found himself thrown to the ground. His weapon skidded out of reach, and his mind flashed back to countless battles, each moment forcing him to fight for his life. He couldn’t understand what he was fighting. And he fought aliens from space, which was saying something.

But before his enemy could strike, Raiden appeared in a blur of blue, lightning fast. With a shout, the Thunder God unleashed a bolt of pure electricity, frying the attacker before turning to help Bucky to his feet.

“You fight well, James,” Raiden said, his tone as calm as ever despite the battlefield around them. “But in this realm, power must be balanced with wisdom.”

Bucky grunted, wiping blood from his lip. “Wisdom won’t do much if you're dead.”

Raiden’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “Perhaps. But I believe there’s more to you than just the soldier. Your past does not define you here.”

Bucky looked at him, surprised by the words. No one had ever spoken to him like that—as they saw beyond the Winter Soldier, beyond the killer.

The battle raged on, but Bucky felt something shift inside him. Raiden wasn’t just a god wielding lightning—he was someone who understood the weight of responsibility, of carrying the burdens of an entire realm on his shoulders. In a way, it reminded Bucky of his own journey, trying to break free from the chains of his past while fighting for a better future.

Together, they were an unstoppable force. Raiden's lightning complemented Bucky's ruthless efficiency, each move calculated and lethal. They tore through the enemies like a storm sweeping across the battlefield, unrelenting and unyielding.

As the dust settled and the last of the Outworld warriors fell, Bucky stood beside Raiden, breathing heavily but alive.

“So, what happens now?” Bucky asked, looking at the destruction around them. “We just keep fighting? Forever?”

Raiden turned to him, his glowing eyes softening. “There will always be battles to fight, James Barnes. But it is up to us to choose which ones are worth it.”

For the first time in a long time, Bucky felt like maybe he had found a cause worth fighting for.

[fizzyxcustard]

Knife's Edge

Currently on AO3 here

Fandom(s): The Hobbit crossover with Legend (1985)

Pairings: Thorin Oakenshield x Fem!Reader & Darkness x Fem!Reader

Summary: You are living in Erebor. Thorin decides to admit his feelings to you after speaking with Dis, his sister and your best friend. However, you are having dreams of a creature from another world. He is becoming more powerful, trying to lure you into his world where you can be his Queen. When the lust and pull toward the creature become too much, you step into his world and meet Darkness. You have already promised yourself to Thorin. Will Darkness' seduction be enough to overthrow it all? Or will you still have enough strength inside you to follow your heart?

Warnings: Smut, graphic sexual themes, insecurity, anxiety, sex dreams, monster and human sexual encounters, violence, language, breeding kink mention, power/lust/greed themes.

(This fic is very sexually explicit and has a lot of lust/power/greed themes, while also working on the monster/human sexual references. If this is not to your liking then please do not read. You have been warned)

Comments: Currently on AO3 here / Part 2 is in the works.

Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed from any tag lists.

The dreams had begun one night in the middle of winter, when the stone hallways of Erebor were bitter cold. And you woke in the witching hours, dripping in sweat, despite having wrapped yourself up tightly in the furs. The figure had visited you from the shadows, beckoning you to his palace in which all light had fled from. His voice stirred something from deep within your core, a need and a desire of which you have never felt before.

As you opened your eyes, the pulsing between your legs becoming duller, you reached for a glass of water which was beside your bed. Your hand fumbled around, almost knocking the candle off the wooden surface. Your breathing was still hitched, and your heart was racing.

The figure’s voice echoed in your mind, although his words seem to have become jumbled. All you could keep hold of was the feel of velvet and delectable pleasure which had raged through you upon hearing the voice.

***

At breakfast, which you shared with Dis, King Thorin’s younger sister, you were quiet. Her blue eyes searched for any hint as to if you were ill, or perhaps were in a melancholy mood. Humans had always been unusual beings, she thought. Not as forthright as Dwarves. But still, she loved you like family, welcoming you to Erebor when you had arrived after journeying with Thorin and his Company to re-claim the kingdom of Erebor. In fact, your very existence to everyone was a mystery. You had claimed to have come from a land only known as ‘Earth’, having appeared out on the road very suddenly.

“We have visitors from Dale this morning, and Thorin has asked we be present to welcome them,” Dis announced. Her eyes were still watching you, as you pushed a piece of bread around your plate, not having had the appetite to eat it, or any of the two boiled eggs that had been prepared for you.

Something about the dream had felt so real, and you couldn’t shake the way it had burrowed into your mind.

“Are you alright?” Dis asked, her voice sharp. “You are extremely distracted this morning. Are you ill?”

“No,” you said softly, straightening your back. “I’m sorry. I had a rough night; bad dreams and didn’t sleep well.”

***

Meanwhile, Thorin was sat in his private study. For the last week and all he had thought about was the question that he wished to raise with you. For most of the time that Thorin had known you, he had been in love with you. At first, he felt fear at the fact that his heart was yearning for one who was not of his race and from another world entirely. The idea that you were merely a novelty had crossed his mind early on, but had soon been discarded. The way his chest compressed when he saw you, and his stomach clenched, and all he could do was smile when your gaze reached him. That said it all. You were always in his thoughts. When Erebor had been close to attack from orcs at the Battle of Five Armies, and Thorin had succumb to madness, his mind was still focused on you. He wanted the gold so he could be worthy of you.

Thorin stood from his desk, straightened his robe and picked up his crown, placing it against his raven locks, which were touched with silver streaks. Even the crown upon his head didn’t feel enough for you.

A gentle knock at Thorin’s door broke him from his reverie. “Yes, come!” he called.

Dis slipped into the room and approached her brother, offering him a smile. She said your name and watched as Thorin’s head immediately turned to face her. “I’m worried about her. At breakfast she was quiet, too quiet. Her mind was away elsewhere, and while she denied being ill and blamed her mood on a bad night sleep, I’m not convinced. Have you spoken with her about your proposal?”

A doubt had snuck into Thorin’s heart at Dis’ words. “I wished to ask her to dinner tonight and pose the question, but to hear that she is like this, should I?”

“Maybe such a dinner will raise her spirits.”

Thorin sighed and closed his eyes.

“You doubt her love for you, don’t you?” Dis asked.

“How can I be so certain of it?”

“I see the way she looks as you, Thorin. There is no denying that.”

“I do not feel even this crown is enough for her,” Thorin said, his voice becoming tinged with pain and sadness.

Dis sat down on the opposite side of the desk. “You overcame the self-doubt of re-claiming Erebor from Smaug. How can you not overcome this? She is but one person…”

“Who holds my heart, Dis,” Thorin sighed. “I do not know if I could face rejection from her. If there is part of me that is cowardly, it is this. I would rather fight a thousand orcs than have to declare my love to her, only for it to be unrequited.”

***

Once the visitors from Dale had dispersed to the guest wing, you remained in your seat at the council table. The sight of Thorin had pulled you from the dreams. He raised the flutter in your stomach, the heat in your chest and a smile upon your lips.

Thorin glanced across at you and met your gaze. Breath caught in his throat at the sight of your smile, and he reciprocated that smile.

Dis smirked to herself from her seat beside you. In her mind, the two of you were complete idiots. The self-doubt was astounding, and it was the one thing that made you so alike, along with your loyalty and kindness. However, that was where your similarities ended.

One by one, everyone left the room, leaving only you and Thorin behind.

You got up, ready to leave, when he ushered you back. “May I have a moment with you?” he asked.

Thorin’s heart was pounding, but he was going to do this one way or the other. He would overcome the cowardice that was taking hold of him.

You stepped closer to him, and couldn’t help but smile again. He was incredibly handsome, and you had once dreamed of what his kiss would feel like, of what it would feel like to be one with him, and carry his child. This future you yearned for so ardently. But to be married to a king? It was a ridiculous notion.

“W…would you have dinner with me tonight?” Thorin asked.

This was the first time you had ever heard him stumble over his words. You could sense the uncertainty in his voice and posture. His blue eyes had now dropped to the floor. Reassurance was what he needed in those moments, to show him that you cared for him above everyone else. You took his hand in yours. “I would be honoured, my king,” you said.

Thorin’s gaze then locked with yours and he smiled, on the brink of a chuckle, as if relieved.

There were unsaid words lingering between you both, and the electricity was gathering momentum. Something had to break. “What troubles you?” you asked. On impulse, your free hand reached up and brushed a stray hair from his face. Your other hand was still in his.

“I…I have wanted you for so long,” Thorin whispered. His eyes were ablaze with fear and doubt. “You consume me.”

Sighing, you pressed your forehead to his. “I am not worthy of you, my king. I never was.”

Thorin reached up and removed the crown from his head, placing it down on the table, and then cupped your cheeks. His gaze sank into yours, and then the two of you kissed.

***

“I would raise you up!” the figure snarled from your peripheral vision.

It was the witching hour once more and your dreams had pulled you back to the palace of shadows. The voice now had audible words.

“I will raise you up as a queen!” the voice came again. “He will always treat you as being beneath him.”

You swept through the dark corridors, chasing the voice. The only light was a fire burning in the distance, beckoning you on.

“He took off his crown for you. I would give you a crown, my queen. I would give you the world to do with as you please. Come to me.”

Heat furled in your stomach, spreading outward, causing that pulsing to begin again at the juncture of your thighs. “Where are you?” you called.

You entered a room where the back wall was brightly lit by the fire burning opposite. A huge bed dominated the centre of the room, filled with furs and black velvet sheets. A musky and earthy scent filled the room, and immediately you sensed eyes watching you.

Fear gripped you, mingled with arousal. And suddenly you felt a hand rest on your shoulder and then move downward, ghosting over your breasts, which were now bare. Your whole body was naked, open to whoever this creature was. The hand had long, black claws and the skin was crimson. The creature’s touch caused intense heat to spark beneath your skin as it kept moving, towards your navel. Electricity was surging around you and the pulsing got more intense, making a deep groan to erupt from you.

“He will never let you ascend to the place you should be,” the voice came again. The creature’s breath was hot on your neck. You felt something wet and hot slip up your neck to the point at which your earlobe connected to your cheek. “That is not love. I would worship you as my queen and my mate. Give you everything you’ve ever wanted; give you power.”

Your eyes shot open and you gasped. Realisation hit you: you were in bed, in Erebor. Next to the bed, on your table, was a red rose which Thorin had left you. The red petals reminded you of the creature’s skin, and it made you shiver.

Since your kiss with Thorin after the council meeting, and you had had dinner with him. The two of you shared in your memories of the quest, laughing and holding hands across the table. Then Thorin had shared a glass of wine with you, his silver blue eyes gazing at you in adoration and disbelief that you felt the same way as he. The two of you had walked slowly down the hallway, with your arm curled around his. “Goodnight, my love,” he whispered to you, placing a gentle kiss on your lips. A blush flourished on his cheeks as you moved away.

In all the time you had known Thorin and you had always been attracted to him; his voice, eyes, presence. Everything about him made your chest ache, and cause a yearning for a deeper connection. Your heart was frantically beating, wanting him.

And now you were sat upon the edge of your bed, thinking of the caresses of a creature of the shadows. Whenever you were in the company of Thorin, all memory of the creature disappeared. And now that you were thinking upon the creature, Thorin’s face had faded.

***

After you had dressed, a knock came to your door.

You walked to the door and as you opened it, a huge smile curled your lips upward at the sight of Thorin.

The king reached for you, twirling you around, as if dancing. “I have requested breakfast be brought for us,” he said softly, pulling you in close and winding his arm around your waist.

You leaned to him and kissed him, feeling him immediately respond. Your tongues met in a pent up frustration that the two of you had held at bay for many months. All you could feel was sheer joy, delight and love radiating from your chest.

Thorin’s hands cupped your cheeks, his fingers caressing downward towards your jaw, tickling your earlobes.

A sudden flash of memory shot into your mind. The creature’s tongue leaving a trail of wet heat down your neck. The flash of memory made you jump.

“Are you alright?” Thorin asked, his eyes growing concerned.

For the first time and the creature was breaking through into your time with Thorin, beckoning you into the shadows. “Yes, I’m sorry,” you replied, holding your head in shame and disgust.

Thorin rested his finger against your chin and lifted your gaze to meet his. “You are not alright, dear one. Dis told me yesterday that you had not slept well. What bothers you? All of your cares and worries are also mine.”

“You wouldn’t understand, Thorin,” you replied, stepping back from him.

“Why do you feel I would not?” he snapped.

You sighed and closed your eyes, knowing you had deeply offended him.

I will raise you up. I will give you power beyond your wildest imaginations. 

 The voice was so real, yet still felt distant. It curled around you, making that arousal snake its way down your spine and between your legs. Your breathing sped up and you sat back down on the edge of the bed. “I can’t,” you gasped.

Thorin’s eyes were dark in anger and rejection, your words hitting him square in the chest so painfully. “If you cannot bare your all to me as I would do for you, then…”

“Thorin,” you said again. “Please. Don’t put this between us.”

“No, you are putting it between us.”

You could see the pain and despair sitting in his eyes, making his shoulders droop in defeat. With a sigh, you began to speak again. “I’ve been having dreams. A demonic creature is somehow connected to me and won’t leave me alone.”

Thorin fell to his knee in front of you and cupped your cheek again. “My love? Look at me.”

You looked into those eyes you loved so dearly.

“The creature cannot hurt you,” he said. “I promise you that while I breathe, I will always protect you.”

Once your breakfast had arrived, you began to eat, temporarily forgetting the creature. Thorin was sat in a chair beside your bed as you remained on the edge of your bed. He watched you eat and as you ate the last mouthful, he reached into the inside pocket of his robe, pulling out a velvet pouch.

“I know that our customs are different, but I wish to indulge the Dwarf custom and ask for your hand in courtship, as is right. And with that, I offer you this ring,” he said, taking a gold ring from the velvet bag.

You looked at the bright gold band which was adorned with amethyst stones, seven of them forming a circle in the gold. “You remembered when I told you that purple is my favourite colour,” you whispered.

Thorin smiled, and that blush rose on his cheeks again. He reached for your hand and slipped the gold band onto your ring finger on your right hand, knowing the left would be kept for engagement and marriage, as was your custom.

***

Thorin wished you a goodnight, and as he did, he kissed your cheek. “If you have any unwelcome dreams again, my love, please come to my chambers.”

The two of you parted ways and you placed another red rose in a vase on your bedside table.

My queen. 

The voice swept around you again. This time it was more powerful, sounding as though it were in the room with you.

Sleep and come to me. 

 You lost all control and slipped away, all consciousness leaving you. But as your conscious mind drifted away, your body rose from the bed and stepped toward the full length mirror at the bottom of your bed. Your eyes remained closed, yet your body knew where to tread. The surface of the mirror looked like silver water, and with one step, you disappeared into it.

***

Were you awake or still dreaming? Everything around you was dark, with only the light from the end of a hallway. You blinked hard and sat up. Everything around you felt so real; the cold surface of the stone beneath your legs and the chatter that you could hear. Distant voices whispered.

She is here. Finally she is here. The Lord of Darkness has finally found his mate and one true queen. 

 Darkness? Was that his name? The red creature.

You got to your feet and looked around, everything still so dark. Your heart was thumping hard in your chest, in both fear and anticipation. The glow of light beckoned you down the hallway, just as it had in your dream.

As you reached the end of the hallway, you turned the corner and found yourself in a large room with a bed in the centre, and opposite was an open fire. Everything was as it was in your dream the night before. Even the black velvet sheets and furs on the bed.

Suddenly you sensed a presence behind you and for a few seconds you were glued to the spot in fear.

“My queen,” a voice came. That deep, velvet voice. Just the sound of it made liquid fire burn in your belly.

A hand brushed around your neck and that all too familiar scent of musk and earth hit your nose. Even his smell was beckoning you, pulling at your very core, that most primal part of you.

Slowly you turned, and there before you was a creature who towered above you. His skin was crimson, with bright yellow eyes gazing at you in lust and amusement. His face was pointed, with angular features. Huge, black horns grew from his head. His upper torso was muscular, being the body of a man. As your gaze slipped down, you saw that from his waist down was the body of what appeared to be a goat. His waist and legs were covered in black fur. Considering that his form was one that would normally make terror rise in those that looked upon it, you felt fascinated.

“You are not disappointed by what you see, my lady?” Darkness asked.

Your gaze finally met his, and you felt an intense shiver race down the entirety of your body.

Darkness reached for you and picked up your hand, placing it against his chest. It was red hot. He closed his eyes upon your touch. “I have yearned for touch for centuries.” His voice was on the edge of a groan.

You gasped at the feel of him and the pleasure which radiated from his voice. Your hand slipped up his chest, toward his neck. Suddenly Darkness grabbed your hips and lifted you, and on instinct, you locked your legs around his waist.

He walked with you to the bed, his gaze never leaving yours. And as he stopped, hovering above the bed, he took your lips against his. The kiss was hot, heavy, demanding. His long tongue caressed the inside of your mouth, beckoning you forth.

As you parted from the kiss, he chuckled at you. “I will give you everything you’ve ever wanted. Pleasure beyond anything you have ever felt, power, riches. Ask and it will be yours. Never would I keep a crown from you as he does. He would see you without that power.”

Thorin. His face was so far away again, and you shook your head, trying to bring his handsome face back to the forefront of your memory but he would not come. “He knows that I do not feel worthy of him.”

“You are worthy of everything,” Darkness snarled. He lowered you to the edge of the bed and then reached for two glasses which were on a nearby table, pouring two glasses of wine. “The Dwarf would happily keep you beneath him to maintain his own ego.”

“You don’t know Thorin like I do,” you shot back.

“He thinks he can buy you with jewels.”

“And you can buy me with promises of pleasure and power.”

Darkness growled, his eyes locked on your ring. “Remove that ring and be mine; I would love you, worship you.”

You sipped the wine, feeling your body begin to scream for him once again. The intensity of his need of you, and his desperation.

You rose to your feet, placed the glass down on the table and then approached Darkness who had seated himself on the edge of the bed. For a couple of seconds, you studied his face. It was somehow handsome to you, in a way that you couldn’t fathom. You slid into his lap, straddling him and kissed him again. Within seconds and he was sucking your neck, his hands caressing your breasts, and the tips of his claws brushing over the fabric of your clothing.

Darkness’ breath was rising, that animal side of him also breaking out. His hands ripped your clothes and flung them to the far side of the room. “I will make you feel things you have never felt before,” he moaned against you as you rose up onto your knees, still resting on his thighs. Your arms were tight around is neck. “Fuck you until you are numb.”

The words spurred you on and you kissed him again, hard and ferocious. He picked you up  in his muscular arms and slipped you around, lowering you to the bed so he was now in control.

Darkness kissed down your body, his long tongue sliding across your flesh. He could taste the first hints of sweat on you, and he revelled in the salty flavour. Your breasts, down your stomach and into the space between your thighs.

“I have never known someone so wanton,” Darkness grinned. “I can smell you. The intensity of it is enough to send me to the brink. And, even better, you are ovulating. I will keep going until you bear my child, no matter how long it takes. If I have to keep you locked in here for days, so be it. I may even call the goblins in to watch.”

The words made your whole head swarm with a haze of euphoria. The pulsing between your legs was so intense now that you locked your legs around his waist again, dragging him in closer.

Darkness laced his hand in yours and eased your ring from your finger. It fell to the stone floor and rolled away. “I will bring you so much more than he could!” Darkness chuckled.

***

Thorin had remained awake that night, unable to rest at the thought of you being haunted by the demon creature. All he could think of was holding you to his chest, fighting away all of those disturbing night visions.

He rose from his bed, pulling a robe on and began his walk down the main hallway toward your chamber. Torches lit his way and as he got to your room, he opened the door, knowing you would probably be asleep. However, as he trailed the darkness, following the gentle glow of the candle at your bedside, he saw you were nowhere to be seen.

Terror rose in his chest at the thought of you having disappeared from him. He gazed around the room, noticing a blue glow coming from the mirror at the end of your bed. The surface was moving, reminding him of liquid silver.

Thorin stepped towards the mirror, confused and shocked.

***

Your whole body was on fire and you writhed on the bed as Darkness’ hands roamed you. The tips of his claws gently scratched your breasts and stomach, drawing a loud groan from you.

“Give yourself to me and seal it, be my mate and queen,” Darkness said, his hot breath wafting across your belly.

You groaned again and arched off the bed, your body needing him.

Darkness may have held the rationale of humans, but he was more animal. That need to possess you and impregnate you was becoming unbearable, and the more you groaned and writhed, the closer he was to forcing himself upon you. His member had risen and was visible through his thick, black fur.

“Will you accept me?” he asked, his tongue licking your earlobe. The palm of his hand was cupping the mound at the juncture of your thighs, and his fingers tickled, circling the aroused flesh.

All you could do was groan again. Your hands were gripping the sheets so tight that it felt you were about to fall off the knife’s edge there and then, and completely succumb. An image flashed through your mind, a picture of you standing before a mirror, clothed entirely in black. Beneath your dress was a huge belly, showing your ability to conceive Darkness’ child. The reflection you only just recognised as yourself; your eyes were completely black, overtaken by evil and the desire for power. And there, behind your reflection, was Thorin. “My love?” he whispered, his voice cracking.

“THORIN!’ you screamed suddenly, jerking away from Darkness.

Darkness growled, his whole face turning livid. “Useless bitch!” he shouted. His hand swung outwards and slapped your face, knocking you off the bed.

Terror took over as you scrambled backwards, edging away from him as he circled the bed.

“You DARE raise a hand to her!” a voice came from the room’s entrance.

Your head snapped in the direction of the voice. It was Thorin. He must have been able to slip through the mirror and had followed the corridor.

Darkness chuckled. “I’m going to enjoy this, Dwarf. I’ll make her watch every single moment of me ripping your heart out of your chest. Then I’ll eat it in front of her.”

Thorin’s face remained darkened by anger and hatred towards this filthy beast before him. He looked down to you, and in those moments, the hatred melted as he smiled at you. “Leave when you can,” he told you. “Make for the corridor.” Then his silver blue eyes turned back to the demon who was slowly approaching him.

“You think you can defeat me?” Darkness laughed. “I have lived for millennia, feeding off the pain, hate and need for pleasures. I cannot think you believe I can be defeated so easily.”

Something touched your hand, a cold metal. It was your ring. You slipped it back onto your hand quickly, and as you did, your clothing magically returned to your body, appearing around you.

Thorin was defenceless, without a weapon. His eyes scanned the room, until Darkness was upon him.

A red hand reached out and grabbed Thorin by the throat, pushing him against the wall.

A shriek erupted from your mouth and you lunged at the two glasses on the table, smashing one against the floor. As quick as a flash, adrenaline pumping through you, you slashed at Darkness’ chest, you only just being able to reach. Then as he howled and turned, you aimed for his neck. Blood began to spurt out of the wound, making him drop Thorin to the ground. The creature continued howling, twisting in pain and anger.

Thorin grabbed your hand and the two of you began your race back through the corridor, hearing Darkness’ loud stamps behind you.

Terror gripped you in your chest and you continued running, both you and Thorin keeping at each other’s pace.

“I’ll kill the fucking pair of you!” Darkness howled.

At the end of the corridor was the same silver shine from the mirror, which had covered the entire wall. Without even thinking, the two of you jumped through, landing back on the stone floor of your chamber in Erebor.

Thorin dashed around and grabbed the edge of the mirror just as a red arm reached through. But the demon could not win. With a flash of blue light and an animalistic howl, the mirror was thrown to the floor and smashed.

Shards of mirror sprayed across the floor, spreading the entire width of the room.

You stood still, your heart pounding so hard in your chest and felt tears spill down your cheeks. Shame and guilt hit you so hard that you placed your hands on the edge of the bed and wretched, bringing back a mouthful of red wine mixed with bile.

Thorin heard your wretch and raced to your side, curling his arm around your waist. “My love…”

“Don’t,” you whispered. “Don’t call me that, please.” All you could do was weep, your shoulders juddering in your throes of anguish. “I’m sorry…” you sobbed. “I was so close to being taken from you forever. I know you’ll never forgive me.” You shifted away from Thorin. “Don’t touch me.”

He whispered your name. “Please…”

“I can’t.”

Thorin took your hand, his thumb rubbing across your knuckles. “I promised you that I would always protect you, and I will never stop. That beast attempted to seduce you, my love. The promise of pleasures and wealth can be easy to fall prey to. I know that all too well, yet you seem to forget that.”

“Thorin, don’t talk about that. What happened with the gold…”

“Was a seduction. Mine was of the mind and yours was of the body, but our hearts are what guides us. I heard you call my name, and it was you that called me back from the edge of being completely lost to madness.”

Tears still run down your cheeks and you turned away from Thorin, closing your eyes. You felt nothing but guilt and shame, dragging you down to the lowest you had ever felt. “I can’t do this. I can’t…”

Without another word, Thorin pulled you in to himself and kissed you. It was slow at first, warm and wanting, and then it became deeper. Your whole chest was now alight with such joy and delight; that was how you wanted to feel, not ashamed and at odds with your body. Kissing Thorin was where your whole body became synced and aligned. Your heart was beating with joy, your body was aroused by him, and your mind knew that this was true love.

“That’s how love feels,” you whispered. “It’s at the core of everything.”

Thorin pressed his brow to yours. “Forgive yourself, dear one. Let tonight pass from your memory, and in its place, we shall forge a new life together where our love and lust can exist in equal measure.”

“I cannot believe you can forgive me,” you said, kissing his temple. “I betrayed you physically.”

Thorin sighed. “My love, there have been stories told through time regarding the dark powers that can easily seduce the weakest willed of people. You fought that; this was no ordinary seduction. That beast had power. I could feel it as soon as I entered his domain. You said that he had been coming to you in dreams, beckoning you. Dream walkers have been spoke about for many years.”

“I hope he’s gone now, but I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t the end. He’ll come for me again. He wanted me to give myself to him and even removed my ring.”

“Because that is a symbol of our love. Even without it, that love we share saved you.”

You brushed your fingers idly through Thorin’s hair. “You have no idea how beautiful you are,” you told him, feeling nothing but awe for him. “And to think that you want me as I want you.”

“Shh, come now,” Thorin cooed. He took your hand and pulled you up from the bedside. “I will have a bath drawn for us.”

“It’s the middle of the night,” you giggled.

“I wish to pamper you and surely there is no time limit on that.”

Thorin did as proposed and requested that a bath be drawn for you both. As the hot water poured into the tiled bath, fresh towels and soaps were brought to you both. Two serving girls smiled at you in amusement as they dashed back and forth, preparing everything.

By the time everything was ready, Thorin stepped across to you and stood behind you, kissing the base of your neck. “I can feel the tension in your shoulders, my love. Come and relax.”

You both disrobed, neither of you feeling an ounce of shame, considering this was the first time you had seen each other naked.

The bath was large with two steps that led down, it reminding you of a small swimming pool. Steam rose from the water and your first step in stung slightly as the hot water met your cool skin.

Thorin stepped in after you and you couldn’t help but keep your gaze locked on his broad shoulders. He was muscular, toned by years of activity from combat and working as a blacksmith. That also meant that he was littered with small scars. As you had imagined, he was well endowed, showing off quite an impressive girth.

For a second you thought back on your feelings that had been uncovered by your time with Darkness. Everything had been pure attraction and arousal, like molten lava coursing through you. But looking upon Thorin was different; every part of you was awakened. All of your body was ignited in your love for him.

He gazed at you, his silver blue depths bright with love and admiration. There was a contentment in his eyes that you had never seen before his revelation of love. Before that and he had always held sadness in his face. It had always been your belief that behind a lot of Thorin’s frustrations was sadness and hurt. You wanted to heal him.

The two of you embraced and then kissed. Thorin’s hands were slow to move, starting off in your hair and then moving down to your neck, your shoulders, breasts. There was no force or rush like there had been with Darkness.

Thorin washed you slowly, massaging the sponge covered in soap over the skin of your upper back. “You are quiet,” he said.

“I’m just enjoying your presence, and contemplating how you make me feel.”

“Oh? Do you wish to indulge me?”

You giggled. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yes,” Thorin whispered to your ear.

You turned around to face him. “I want to give myself to you, now.”

“There is no rush, my love. Considering what you have been through tonight…”

“That doesn’t matter. I want you, Thorin. Every part of you. If you’ll let me have it.”

Thorin never answered and pressed his lips to yours hungrily, letting you know his answer. It would only ever be a resounding yes.

The two of you slipped out of the bath, drew towels around your waist and made your way back to your chamber. Once inside, you stood before Thorin and let your towel drop to the floor. He rushed at you again, drawing his hands up your cheeks and groaning at the impact.

You leaned back on the bed, him following you.

Thorin’s lips trailed down your body slowly, his beard tickling the hot skin. That arousal was surging again, only this time it was mingled with something far deeper: love. This time you wanted to bond with Thorin, connect with him in every way that was possible.

You felt his fingers delve into the curls at the juncture of your thighs and immediately you felt your inner core begin to want more, so much more. A groan escaped your lips and slowly Thorin’s fingers circled your sweet nub and then delved into your womanhood.

Thorin kissed your neck as he began a rhythmic movement inside you.

You clutched his shoulders, feeling the waves begin to ascend. That all too familiar sensation of wanting to get as high as you could to feel that powerful burst. His name fell off your lips, feeling so right and such an integral part of your soul.

“My love,” he whispered in your ear. He kissed down your cheek, wanting you to feel his love radiating through his hands to you.

“Stop,” you told him, pulling his hand away. “I want you.”

Thorin swallowed deeply and felt a sliver of arousal shoot down his spine upon your words. He’d imagined this so many times over the last few months, unable to let the fantasy go. The elation in his chest made him smile at you.

His smile was the most beautiful sight to behold. “I love you,” you told him.

You kissed again, and this time, Thorin took your hands in his while his member rested between your legs.

That intense pulsing was beckoning him in, wanting him to ride you towards heaven. You nudged yourself forwards, reassuring Thorin that this was all you wanted in those moments.

As you joined, you groaned into his neck and wrapped your legs around his waist. You remembered Darkness’ words about you ovulating. And as Thorin rocked against you, you saw a vision flash before your eyes. It was you in a wedding gown, with a circlet upon your head. The circlet matched the design of Thorin’s crown. Your gown was midnight blue, matching Thorin’s signature colour of choice. And there, beneath your resting hands, on your stomach, was a bump. This was the future you wanted, you needed, and which was destined.

You and Thorin continued your thrusts against each other, wanting to reach the pinnacle of physical pleasure together, and topple off hand in hand, hopefully creating that precious life you had just envisioned.

The waves of euphoria kept on building as Thorin maintained his rhythm, until the final wave crashed out, pouring heat and electricity outward from the pit of your stomach.

Thorin felt you shake and contract around him, and your moans of pleasure caused his peak to also come. He kept his lips against yours, groaning into the kiss.

Panting, the two of you embraced as Thorin withdrew from you.

Thorin didn’t have to keep reminding you of being a queen, you already knew that in your heart. All that mattered was you knowing that he loved you far more than anything else in his life.

***

The defeated Lord of Darkness sat upon his throne, a mirror in his hand. He had watched the whole spectacle unfold before his eyes; you had given yourself to the Dwarf King of Erebor, and there had been no persuasion on his part. Everything had been so freely given.

Darkness had already kicked one goblin across the room, as one gawked over his shoulder, enjoying the show inside the mirror. He enjoyed it so much that he had started masturbating behind the throne, hiding away so his master couldn’t see him.

“You cannot outrun me,” Darkness growled, watching as you and Thorin lay together in each other’s arms. “I can wait and when the times comes, I will strike again.

**

Follow Forever tag list: @lathalea @middleearthpixie @linasofia @xxbyimm @asgardianhobbit98 @knittastically @meganlpie @luna-xial @rachel1959 @quiall321 @mrsdurin @evenstaredits @missihart23 @lemond57 @glassgulls @catthefearless @aliasauthor @solairewisteria @littlebird-99 @court-jobi @heilith @absentmindeduniverse @albionscastle @for-fuck-sake-im-alive @bookworm-with-coffee @danzalladaggers @ourlonelymountain @phantomessangel @estethell @windb3ll

Thorin Oakenshield tag list: @braidedheart @emmyspov @dumbassunderthemountain @aloneinthebigempty @littlesweetdressmaker

Middle-earth tag list: @valkyrie-of-the-light @deadlymistletoe

The Hobbit: @flowerniche @kryshopes

[moths-in-the-attic]

Welcome Sailor Scouts, to Crystal Tokyo

AN: SINCE TUMBLR HAS DECIDED THAT I CAN NO LONGER BACK-POST ANYTHING, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT HERE. INSTEAD, PLEASE REFER TO MY BLOGGER AS THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY PLACE I CAN KEEP MY PAST LOGS DONE TO COMPLETION. I'M REALLY BUMMED ABOUT THIS FYI.

Here, I will try to preserve my Sailor Moon Blog for your enjoyment.

In this little corner of the web, I will be archiving some of the Sailor Moon fandom from days gone by (1997-early 00s). Here you will find hilarious old rumors and my own personal fan-fiction that I penned years ago, as well as other's fanfics as well. 

I hope you enjoy what this space has to offer and please check dates for when things were posted. Some of the rumors were products of their time, and since we are no longer in the 00's I ask you to bear that in mind before making any comments.

Be sure to check back often as I am trying to archive as fast as possible and if you are following a certain story, you'll see the updates sooner.

Cheers,

Malta Aino

(Sailor Universe)

Fanfiction Directory:

*Completed

Together Once More by Andre Garde (8)

Christmas Time Blues - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

Deck the Menorah with Rows of Cranberries - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

Santa's Little Helpers - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

Silver Bells - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

The Fire is So Delightful - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

The Nightmare Before Christmas - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

Winter Wonderland - by Andrea Readwolf and Kate Butler

Angel for Earth - by Angel of Earth (P, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

The Millennium of the Planet Princesses - by Malto Aino (Sailor Universe) (1, 2)

Unfinished Sailor Moon/DBZ Crossover - by Malta Aino (Sailor Universe)

OC Sailor Senshi List

Golden Knight (Jeffrey, Mercury's son, my OC)

Sailor Aqua (Elemental Senshi)

Sailor Bunny (Chibimoon's granddaughter, my best friend's OC)

Sailor Constellation (Josalyn, Saturn's daughter, my OC RETIRED)

Sailor Deimos (my OC)

Sailor Earth

Sailor Eclipse (Becky now Kirstin, Saturn's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Flame (Elemental Senshi)

Sailor Galaxy (Taylor now Tessa, Venus's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Gold (Amy now Heather, Mercury's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Gothic (Pluto's granddaughter, my OC)

Sailor Iceberg (Mercury's granddaughter, my OC)

Sailor M

Sailor Meteor (April now Deirdre, Jupiter's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Millennium (Chibimoon's daughter, my best friend's OC)

Sailor Orbit (ZB then Serenade, Mars's daughter, my OC RETIRED)

Sailor Silver (Crystal, then Annie, then Alika, now Emily, Mercury's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Spirit (Elemental Senshi)

Sailor Taurus (Kitten, Pluto's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Triton (my OC)

Sailor Universe (me, Venus's daughter, my OC)

Sailor Underworld (Saturn's granddaughter, my OC)

Sailor Waterfall (Mercury's granddaughter, my OC)

Sailor Wind (Elemental Senshi)

Solar Flare

Sailor Usako

The Links

www.ainominako.net   

Crescent Moon Crystal Tokyo

Crystal Moon Palace

Dark Echo Grounds of Thunder Senshi

www.eternalmoon.org

www.hamena.org

Hikawa Jinja

Ice Senshi: Lake of Illusion

A wonderful site for everything Sailor Moon archive related: Miss Dream

Mizuno Ami's Corner

www.moonchronicals.com

Neko-chan's Kawaii Anime Page

www.odangoatama.org  

www.outlawstar.org

Sailor Mercury's Ice Domain

The best resource for music to all the Sailor Moon media: SailorMusic 

This wasn't a site I frequented, but I guess it was very important to other people in the fandom: Sailor Orion.

SailorPluto.net

Sailor Pluto's Penthouse

www.sailoruniverse.com

www.sailorv.com

Another great Sailor Moon resource that seems to be for the TV series: Sea of Serenity  

www.selenity.com

www.senshi.net

www.serenitatis.com 

Silver Moonlight 

www.supersailormoon.com

The Beautiful World of Sailor Moon

The Gateway to the Silver Millennium

Troublemakers and All Things Naughty 

www.tuxedomask.com

[blackboxtheater]

Wolf Birds

The Mumza/DL!Scarlet Pearl crossover no one asked for, based on the actual symbiotic relationship between ravens and wolves and a fantastic misunderstanding of mumpearl’s ship name

“Means the wolves are nearby,” the scout huffs into the cold air.

“The….what?” The warrior stammers, blinking at the scout still looking to the sky.

It’s his first Raid. His time outside his village. The warrior knows he has a lot to learn, there’s a lot training didn’t teach him about a real Raid, but he’s not prepared for the way the scout looks to the sky as if that held more meaning than the battle plans their wave discussed this morning.

“Do you see those black spots against the sky?”

The warrior nods to where the scout points, watching the looping dark shapes against the vast expanse of cold grey winter skies.

“Those are crows,” the scout continues. “Crows and wolves hunt together. Killers and scavengers, intertwined by the Goddess of Death herself.”

“Do they always hunt like that? Should we worry about the wolves? Are wolves normal here? Or is that a sign from the gods? A good sign? Is this an omen?” The questions all tumble too quickly from the warrior’s mouth. He’s not sure if the jitters are from nerves or the cold that bites through his coat to make all his muscles twitch and spasm. He’s from the jungle. From the warm humid air and dense green landscape. He’s unfamiliar with the gods of the tundra. The Goddess of Death spares no one, but those in the cold speak of her differently than his people. Revere her differently.

“It’s not necessarily good. It means we are cared for and watched over by the Goddess through her love,” the scout finally gives as an answer with a hesitation that doesn’t help the chill working its way into the warrior’s bones.

“But is she is the Goddess of Death. And even her love cannot dispute that fate and death are intertwined.”

—————

She does not tamper with the Watcher’s worlds.

The universe is vast. Mortal lives are merely tiny and delicate flashes against the endless dark expanses of time and space that she encompasses. If new gods still drunk on power want to act as rulers of a small sliver of that endlessness, she will not intervene.

Death welcomes everyone in the end: the pigs raised for slaughter, the villagers felled in raids, the hardcore players still reeling from a single mistake, and the creatives finally ready for her embrace. And even, one day, the Watchers.

But just because mortal lives are fleeting, does not mean she doesn’t pay attention.

She is the Goddess of Death after all, so when the Watcher’s tether souls together, she can feel it. She can feel the death doubling, echoing across bodies that should not have to bear it.

She can feel the girl alone in a tower, dying deaths that are not hers. Suffering and causing suffering because the tethers forced upon her and the tethers she chose caused her nothing but pain.

The Godess of Death looks to her lover, a mortal who never feared death, and considers all the other things that can be shared through a link, a tether, a bond.

The Goddess of Death will not intervene in the Watcher’s worlds.

The Goddess of Death cannot go against her nature and prevent the inevitable.

But the Goddess of Death can show that tethers to those around her do not only create suffering. That suffering and death are not synonyms.

The Goddess looks to her lover and crafts a bird from the endless darkness around her.

——————

Pearl wakes to the sound of a bird cawing.

It’s early, the first rays of dawn just starting to break through the darkness. But it doesn’t matter that it disturbed her. She hasn’t slept well. Hasn’t slept well in days.

When she looks out, there’s a single bird perched on the snow covered window sill in her tower.

Maybe it’s the early morning darkness, but the bird isn’t a brightly covered parrot. There aren’t parrots here anyway. This bird looks black.

When she goes towards the window to investigate it flies off, sailing high into the sky and Pearl thinks nothing of it as her dogs start to clamber behind her for breakfast.

But on the morning hunt she sees the bird again, trailing along above her pack. She watches the bird dive at the sheep the wolf are taking down, sharp talons unlike any bird she’s ever seen before digging into the flesh just like the wolf’s teeth and claws. She watches it tear apart the bloody flesh the same way her wolves do.

The Watchers have done many cruel and strange things to this world, so a new deadly bird that kills just like her wolves fits alongside the other horrors they created. This is a world of cold and death and suffering, she should have expected nothing less.

She watches a bird fly up with a rib bone, picked almost clean of flesh, and wonders why it would bother scavenging that. The bird can extract no value from it. It’s useless.

Then it drops the bone just outside the edge of the pack, where a young wolf pup jumps in the air to grab it before it lands. She watches the pup tip at the sky, dropping the bone in the process as it calls up to the bird. The bird drives to snatch the bone again, repeating the process. Pearl would call this torment cruel if the pup’s tail wasn’t wagging so much its back side shook.

The pup and the bird are playing, she realizes, thinking of the sticks she tosses to the dogs to play fetch with around the base of the tower.

They may play with corpse bones, but they are playing.

And for the first time in many many days, Pearl smiles.

[mercy-mercie-mercymorn]

unhinged crossover skin concept because i feel like being cringe on main

overwatch x the lunar chronicles!!!!!!

brigitte as cinder (girls with wrenches and self-esteem that is far too low for how girlboss they are)

ashe as scarlet (wolf bob, obv. making southern characters french/vice versa hits right)

mei as cress (anxious queens who love earth and recognize its beauty)

echo as winter (i think we need more overwatch characters with some goddamn whimsy.)

widowmaker as levana (i had a really vivid mental image of levana!widow doing the Medusa highlight intro and i like it)

d.va as iko (mech is the rampion, complete with the naked lady on the side)

the boys don't get any skins of their own because frankly they're like ken dolls. to me. except thorne but that's because he's the stupidest man alive <3

[thesweetsvillainshowdown]

ALRIGHT FUCKERS TIME FOR SOME DIMENTIO PROPAGANDA

FIRST ON THE DOCKET. THIS GUY’S STYLE. LOOK AT HIM. POINTY AND PURPLE AND GOLD AND A SHIT EATING GRIN THAT NEVER FADES

SECOND. HE WAS MANIPULATING YOU THE ENTIRE GAME. HE WAS IN THE BACKGROUND EVERYTHING HE DID WAS PLANNED PRECISE AND CALCULATED. EVERYTHING.

THIRD. HIS SIMILES. THE ONE HE GREETS PEACH WITH AT THAT TREE PLACE GOES ALONG THE LINES OF “Ah, Princess peach! Your beauty is as refreshing as a slap to the face on a crisp winter day!” AND I’M LIKE 90% SURE THAT’S AN INSULT IN DISGUISE. OTHER NOTEWORTHY MENTIONS: “And so we shall duel, like two banjos on a moonlit stoop!” “And so I strike, like an unseen dodgeball in an echoing gymnasium!” “And so I arrive, like an sudden gust of wind at a kindergartner’s picnic!” 

FOURTH. MAN ON THE INTERNET’S COVERS FOR HIS THEMES. IM LINKING THEM ALL INCLUDING THE CROSSOVER ONE BETWEEN JEVIL AND MARX

…Or I was. Until Tumblr decided to not show links.

All you gotta do to look at em tho is to search the following on Youtube:

It’s Showtime Man on the internet

the ultimate show Man on the internet

charming magician man on the internet

the ultimate world spun man on the internet

AND THERE YA FUCKING GO. I’ll be taking questions as i’m here all night

-Doodlez, fan of Dimentio since late 2019

AND SO THE INTERNET PERSON HAS SPOKEN. HERE LAY MERELY A FEW REASONS TO VOTE FOR DIMENTIO.

I didn't know what I expected but a mini essay in my asks was definitely not it (/pos). And yes, this is what my ask box is meant for - propaganda (and character suggestions). Anyone wanna spread any more the button is right there for ya :)

[extraordinarilyextreme]

Twenty Questions for Fic Writers!

tagged by @bbcphile～ thank you my dear 🫶

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

30 right now～ what a nice number!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

363,479!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

so many, lol. right now, i'm actively writing for LHL and YRZX (and a bit LZTJ), but i previously wrote a lot for QYJ, CHSSN, and DMBJ.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

may we tie our hearts together again ⚫️⚪️ QingYa

9k, red string AU, canon + post-canon

NOTICE: Seeking Marriage Partner 💙💚 PingXie

5k, post-canon

青山仍在 | as long as the green hills remain 🪷🐕 HuaFang

7k, post-canon fix-it

but ask for no regrets 💙💚 PingXie

5k, canon-compliant N+1 things

a ghost walks into a soldier's house 💙🤍 SuiTang | 🖤💚 WeiLan

16k, crossover + crack treated seriously

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

i try my best to, but for various reasons comments will accumulate in my inbox and i might not respond to them until even a year later. but please believe me, i do read every single one.

6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i write a lot of HEs... perhaps only an echo, since the entire premise of that (unfinished) series is an AU where Wu Xie isn't there to fulfill his ten-year promise with Xiaoge. rather than angsty endings, i write more angsty stories? in which case, the angstiest might be 千里自同风 | no distance too great as a canon-compliant post-canon fic that follows Fang Duobing's journey of grief. (but i don't think the ending of that is sad, tbh.) alternatively, 飞蛾扑火 | for you, i'll gladly burn is another contender given Shen Yi's big reveal in the last chapter (but also don't think the ending is sad). 红尘似水，万事入歌 | the world becomes song is pretty sad too if only because we the readers know the characters' fates in canon.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

honestly, i think most of my fics are HEs. or if not "happy," comforting for sure. most of my fics end with a promise to be together, to spend an ordinary life together, to have the chance to be in the moment together. it might not be super, like, grand or dramatic or anything - but i genuinely think all my fics have peaceful endings. so take your pick, peruse my works～

8. Do you get hate on fics?

rarely, and the few times that i have, i've simply deleted them.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

nope. i don't know how to, LOL

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

i have a guilty pleasure of writing crossovers, lol. i think they're all kinda wild:

a ghost walks into a soldier's house

镇魂 Guardian & 成化十四年 The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty

do not speak as loud as my heart

盗墓笔记 The Grave Robbers' Chronicles & 镇魂 Guardian

红尘似水，万事入歌 | the world becomes song

鬓边不是海棠红 Winter Begonia & 老九门 Mystic Nine

懷月夢 | on the summit, sun and snow

三生三世枕上书 Eternal Love of Dream & 封神演义 The Investiture of The Gods

照猫画狐 | tracing a cat to draw a fox

猎罪图鉴 Under the Skin & 无眠之境 Desire Catcher

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i know of. don't steal my fics.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

yes! 此生如梦 | this life, a dream was tl'ed into Russian～

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

yes～ @naiwong-bao and i somehow churned out the 111k monster that was 懷月夢 | on the summit, sun and snow. to this day, i have no idea how we did that, LOL

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

impossible for me to choose～ recency bias will suggest 🦊🐼 青也, 🪷🐕 花方, and ��🔍 城心城翊 though～

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

my 往前走 莫回呀头 | go forward and don't look back series 🥹 i had two more parts planned originally after Xiuxiu's POV... one was Liu Sang, the other was Xiaoge. (there was an undetermined Bai Haotian POV fic too.) i also definitely won't be finishing the sound of snowfall (and don't want to LOL)

16. What are your writing strengths?

atmosphere and rhythm, i think. maybe because i used to write a lot of poetry? i also have faith in my world-building (bc i do a LOT of research) and dialogue. in terms of tropes, it must undoubtedly be hurt/comfort.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

i'm not good at writing fight/action scenes (probably another reason why i literally cannot write smut). i also don't think i'm super great at description, but i think i've been improving.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

this is an interesting question because i actually write all my dialogue in Chinese first and then tl it to English since i pretty exclusively write for c-media now 😆 i like that a lot bc i think it helps me to more accurately characterize these ppl - but also it sucks tremendously when English is just the ugliest-sounding language in the world, LOL. (i always think my original Chinese dialogue is prettier and has more depth～)

19. First fandom you wrote for?

the first fandom i posted fic on AO3 for was Good Omens: i love(d) you. but in my life, it was probably like... Warriors (yes, the cats) or Shugo Chara..? idk, or maybe Case Closed (still love that series despite how insufferably long it's gotten).

20. Favorite fic you've written?

only children need to choose; adults can have everything～

tagging: @rongzhi, @elenothar, @difeisheng, @asterdust, @willowcatkinblossom, @starlitwishforu, @tunnelofdusk

[lunaryarn]

Fanfic Archive Masterpost

Included in this list: Afterlife/ALSMP, Empires SMP S1 and S2, 3rd Life SMP (under Flower Husbands Week), and Origins SMP (still just one, sorry). Updated as I complete more works!

Latest updates:

25th of November 2024: Added Chapter Four of A Garden's Path!

Note: Stories with only one chapter will be linked by their title.

Afterlife SMP

Soul Liminality series: (a.k.a. Scott and Sausage fight each other)

Bloodfall

Witherrise

Fatemirrored

Heavensent

HellBent [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ]

(Artwork by Khyann: The Fall of Myth ) (A commission of Myth done by E!)

Soul Liminality 2: I Would Die For You series: (a.k.a. Scott and Sausage are in love with each other)

Echoing Through to You (With Artwork by Khyann!)

When the Skies Cry [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ]

Until the Blood Moon Descends [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] (With Artwork by Khyann!)

Then We’ll Rewrite the Stars [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] (With Artwork by Khyann!) 

Wherever These Flowers May Grow [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] [ Chapter Four ] (With Artwork by Khyann!)

Along the Roads to Sanctuary [ Chapter One ][ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] [ Chapter Four ]

The Reality Entanglement crossovers:

Mirror Mirror, Break Our Fall (SL meets SL2) [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ]

Who’s The Unfairest of Us All (SL meets SL2 again)

Mirror Tenfold, Beyond the Wall (SL meets x10 plus bonus!) [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ]

Which Fate’s Fairest To Us All (SL meets New Life meets Empires S2!) [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] [ Chapter Four ] [ Chapter Five ] [ Chapter Six + Epilogue ]

Thou, O Kings, Fair Be You All (throw together ALL the AUs!) [ Part One ] [ Part Two ] (Artwork by Khyann: Chibi Sausage chaos!])

A standalone fic:

In Light and In Darkness [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] [ Chapter Four ]

---

Empires SMP

The Past Unmasked/The Future Foretold Saga:

The Past Unmasked (Artwork by Khyann that inspired this fic) (Bonus related artwork by Khyann)

Phantom Solitude [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ]

Glimpses of Fate [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ]

The Future Foretold [ Chapter One ][ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] (With Artwork by Khyann!)

Champion of Exor AU: A Garden’s Path with side stories:

A Garden’s Path [ Prologue ] [ Chapter One ] [ Chapter Two ] [ Chapter Three ] [ Chapter Four ] NEW!

A Small Introduction to The Children of Mythland

See How Our Garden Grows (mini fic that goes with [ this concept artwork ] by Khyann)

Chibis! Introducing: Liana by Khyann

Also set in this AU: [ Artwork by Khyann with fic blurb ]

Azahar and his violin by Khyann

Once Around the Empires [ Part One ] [ Part Two - currently WIP ]

Night of the Winter Stars (Collab Artwork by Khyann!)

---

Other

Flower Husbands Week 2022: [ Day 1 ] [ Day 2 ] [ Day 3 ] [ Day 5 ] [ Day 6 ] [ Day 7 ]

Origins SMP: Star Sign

[hiyaluronic]

Web of Immortality: An Old Guard's Embrace

Working on my Old Guard and Spiderman Crossover again. Think I might leave it as a one shot though. Will most likely touch this up later this week and post it to AO3.

When he first struck out with nothing more than a cotton sweatsuit and a pair of stupid goggles to his name, he’d had this aspiration - this spark of eagerness - that Spider-man would be a symbol of hope for his borough. 

Someone that the average person could look up to.

Someone that the people of Queens could rely on in times of need and know someone gave a damn about their well-being.

Someone who cared about them.

And now…

And now, the people that once cheered for him, once saw Spider-man as this fantastical being that cared for the little man and not about governments and global crises jeered for his arrest.

So he’d disappeared. 

Or tried to.

Turns out when the entirety of your perceived world knew your identity, disappearing from the public eye was near impossible. The last safe house he’d found for himself - a small attic tucked away in the remnants of an old church - had been raided by the FBI after a local had called in a tip. He’d barely had time to gather his suit and meager belongings before the cops had descended on the place. 

Peter sniffed and shot out another line. He swung up to the safety of a small high rise. The early winter chill mixed with the deep orange of the morning sun to create a beautiful low dense fog across the city below that seemed almost otherworldly in its ethereal glow. A shout from somewhere below followed by the loud echo of a car backfiring had him cringing. He quickly shot another line out to latch against the apartment building across the street and swung.

He knew his Aunt and Happy would never allow him to completely disappear. Aunt May was too persistent, and Happy? Well, Happy worked for Pepper and had the entirety of Stark Industries at his disposal. So Peter knew he would never be able to stop moving until he found a way to clear his name. He couldn’t risk that the fallout of his mistakes would lead back to the people he cared for. 

This was his burden to carry and he wouldn’t pass the weight off to anyone else.

His actions had created this whole mess, so it was his responsibility to fix it.

Wasn’t it?

It had to be.

His decisions had led to the death of Quinton Beck. Regardless of the fact he’d been working to stop Beck from destroying London and very literally trying to kill him and his friends. None of this would have happened if he’d just had more faith in himself. If he’d just honored Mr. Stark’s last wishes and kept those stupid glasses and not handed them over like a child avoiding their responsibilities, then maybe... 

Peter blinked against the blur of tears to try and clear his vision, his hands tightening on his webs as he continued to swing across Manhattan; the low rise apartment buildings and the old fashioned homes passed by below so quickly that he had to focus on the building his webs were attached to or risk slipping when his stomach rebelled at the motion.

His stomach clenched and his head throbbed in a low ache. His spidey-sense hummed down his spine, a shiver that had him shaking. The constant faint thrum of danger kept his nerves on edge with the irrational fear that everyone was a danger to him. The feeling settled like a pit in his stomach and fueled the nausea he felt. 

Peter shot another web out and swung. His mind on constant alert and working to assess each new corner he turned, afraid that someone could be lying in wait anytime he allowed himself a second to rest. 

He landed on a fire escape and took a breath. His body was exhausted and his mind worn from the constant sensory input from the world around him and his own body working against him. Peter hated the fearful feeling that overcame him when he looked down at the clouded alley, the muddied shadows stretching out of the fog like tendrils ready to pull him in and never let go. 

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, the orange rays of the sun dulling as clouds began to overtake the sky above. A warning to those below of the coming winter storm.

He had to keep moving. He’d need shelter before the rain started to fall. 

Peter groaned and shuffled to the edge of the fire escape. His skin felt too tight and his muscles throbbed from being overworked. He couldn’t help the way his hand shook when he cast another web and jumped. He honestly couldn’t remember what it felt like to relax. He had to be on alert.

It was exhausting. 

And he was just so damned tired. 

Peter cleared the lump he felt forming in his throat and shot another web out to swing down to the inner workings of Hell’s Kitchen. The sound of thunder rumbled somewhere off in the distance and reminded him again that he needed to seek shelter soon while the grumbling of his stomach begged for attention as well. He couldn’t honestly remember the last time he’d eaten enough to satisfy his enhanced metabolism. 

Peter grabbed at the webbing and swung forward only to realize his web had ended short and missed the connection point.

With a stuttering breath, Peter tried to right the floundering downward spiral of flips and spins he found himself in but couldn’t seem to find purchase on any given surface. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe through the sick feeling that was surging up his esophagus - his head screaming, or maybe that was him? - from the continuous change in position. Peter fumbled for the release of his wingsuit to help give him some sort of lift in the updraft of air but slammed into the side of a building, his head ringing from the impact and one of his lenses cracking from the blunt force, the HUD of his suit going dark and leaving him blind as he continued to fall. 

Peter cursed and ripped his mask off, blinking against the harsh burn of the early-winter wind and found himself gasping when the rush of air made it hard to breath - a fiery ache settling like kindling in his lungs and burning up his airway.

A rough cough tore through him when he slammed into another window, his head cracking against the smooth glass and sending shockwaves of undulating pain down his neck. Between one blink and the next Peter fell into a tailspin, he tried to twist his body, tried to grasp the balcony that was passing by quickly only to end up screaming when the weight of his body pulled at his shoulder. A scream ripped from him when his shoulder tore from its socket, his fingers slipping useless from the railing, arm worthless and numb. 

The next balcony clipped his temple and sent the world spiraling into a gritty static and by the time an empty car parked in some dingy back alley came upon him to break his fall he was lost to the waking world, the screech of a car alarm following him down into darkness.

o~Oo~O~oO~o

“Nile sent me a picture of the world’s largest ball of yarn. She says Quynh is making plans to steal it and Andy is a grumpy grandma who doesn’t get the appeal.”

Nicky looked up from his book, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips at Joe’s disheveled hair and sleep rumpled pajama bottoms hanging loosely about his hips, abs on full display. Nicky cleared his throat, “Quynh always liked grand displays and Andy is, well, Andy. Though I’m glad to hear Nile is enjoying herself.”

Joe smirked and ran a hand over his curls while shuffling further into the kitchen, headed towards the coffee pot, “And how about us, my life? What should we do to entertain ourselves today?”

“There is a new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. I thought we could be tourists today, if you wish?”

The coffee smelled amazing as Joe poured himself a cup, eyes peering through their kitchen window, the rays of the early morning hidden behind the gray of the coming storm. He shivered at the imagined bitter cold of the cityscape outside, the frost framing the window adding to the perceived chill of outside. “Perhaps, or we could…”

The sound of shattering glass and the crunch of steel from outside their window stole the rest of Joe’s words with a flinch when the car parked outside their residence crumpled from the blunt force of some unknown object.

“What in the…” Joe set his coffee cup down and headed towards the door, Nicky right behind him. 

The early morning air, crisp with the bite of winter, stole Joe’s breath from him, his toes curling against the frigid pavement of their street, hands rubbing at his bare arms while he made his way forward. Nicky by-passed him - having stopped to slip shoes on - and made his way to the car, the garbled shout of someone in the distance was lost over the loud and distorted chirping of the car alarm. 

“Nicky?” The rigidness of Nicky’s shoulders had him on edge. “What is it?”

Wide eyes turned to stare at him, his heart falling to his feet when Nicky shook his head at him, a sick feeling roiling through him when Nicky quietly said, “It is a child.”

He had to ask, even though he knew the answer to the question before it left the safety of his tongue, he had to hear it. “Alive?”

Joe watched Nicky lean over crumbled metal and shattered glass to reach for a pulse point, Nicky’s eyes fluttering shut and forehead wrinkling in concentration, his love’s lips moving in quiet prayer.

A beat passed, then two, three - the seconds slowing and allowing a tiny spark of hope to ignite within him before Nicky’s eyes opened once more with the gentle shake of head. 

Joe sighed and turned to head back into the apartment to call the authorities, disheartened with the knowledge that an innocent had been taken from this world. His hand had barely touched the door handle when a shout from Nicky had him turning. His gaze fell to the wide eyes of Nicky, whose arms were wrapped around the gasping and gurgling form of some tiny wisp of a kid.

Joe gaped, mind reeling at the knowledge that this kid should be dead, and yet… “Bring him inside quickly, Nico.”

Joe winced at the anguished cry the kid made when Nicky hefted the smaller form up and out of the wreckage of the vehicle. 

Joe held the door open while Nicky maneuvered through the narrowed door of their apartment, his mind trying to understand how the child was still alive. The only answer was one that did not sit well within his soul. Surely the gods above would not be so cruel as to bestow immortality to someone so young?

___________

“Joe, the first aid kit if you please.” Nicky quickly settled the shivering body onto the kitchen table, mind already assessing the torn and ripped skin and wincing when he noticed the sizable dent in the poor kid's head on the left side.  “The field kit, Joe!”

There was a shout of understanding from deeper in the apartment, Nicky frowned while he tried to find the zipper to the suit but saw nothing. He moved quickly to grab a steak knife from the butcher's block when the kid woke with a strangled gasp, arms flailing and a shrill cry of pain tearing itself from boy’s throat. 

Nicky forgot about the knife and worked quickly to grab the kid’s hands, struggling against the strength when a foot caught him in his chest and sent him crashing into the kitchen wall with a groan, he could feel his ribs snap from the force of the kick. 

“Nicky!” Joe rounded the hallway, eyes wide with worry and mouth agape as he stared from Nicky to their injured charge.

“I am fine.” And he was, his ribs were already shifting beneath his touch and righting themselves. He groaned as he stood, “Strong little bambini.” 

Joe started forward towards Nicky when the mewling of the child on their kitchen table stopped him. He turned just in time to see the kid fall from the table with a strangled cry. Joe started forwards but stopped short when he noticed the boy was trying his best to crawl away from him, the poor kid's eyes blown wide and body trembling, overworked lungs heaving with stuttering breaths. 

“Stia tranquillo, va tutto bene.” (Don’t panic, it’s alright.)

Joe turned to see Nicky come up beside him, arms outstretched in supplication, posture as non-threatening as it could be in a situation such as this. The timbre of the words Nicky spoke soft and meant to reassure the skittish and wounded boy in front of them. 

Joe shook his head, “Nicky, I don’t think…”

Nicky just shushed him with a small smile and knelt in front of the kid, “Qui siete al sicuro da qualsiasi pericolo.” (Here you are safe from whatever danger.)

The boy's brow furrowed at the words and Joe watched the bone shift under the kid's skull, tearing a scream from somewhere deep within Peter. 

Both Joe and Nicky moved quickly to help leverage the boy to the ground, more screams tearing from the kid when bones shifted and popped back into place. Joe did his best to keep their unknown charge from injuring himself further in a desperate attempt to break free from their hands, confusion and fear fueling most likely fueling the kids actions. 

“We mean no harm, please, let us help you.” Nicky whispered, watching in grotesque fascination as the kid's skull began to round itself out, skin closing and leaving nothing but ruddy locks of hair behind.

Nicky’s gentle reassurance seemed to have some effect as the young boy’s panicked struggles began to subside; His rapid breathing had slowed, and he stared at Nicky and Joe with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Eyes, once wide with terror, now held a spark of clarity, as if starting to comprehend that the two men before him weren’t a threat. Weren’t there to cause him further harm.

Joe stood and made his way back towards the first aid kit, still keeping a watchful eye on Nicky and their charge. 

“Siamo amici. Vogliamo ferirti.” (We are friends. We don't want to hurt you.) Nicky continued softly, his voice a calming presence in the otherwise tense atmosphere of the small apartment. He slowly sat beside the kid with a hopeful smile. 

Peter blinked heavily at the soothing tone and seemed to relax, his breathing evening out and gaze flickering from Nicky to Joe – who had grabbed gauze and medical tape from the first aid kit and was now making his way back towards the two. Peter watched as Joe knelt beside Nicky.

“Hey there Kid,” Joe started in English, hoping to communicate more directly with the boy. “We’re just trying to help you. My name’s Joe, this is Nicky. Do you have a name?”

Joe watched the kid hesitate, lips trembling before quietly answering, “Peter.”

Nicky and Joe shared a look, relief washing over them at having a name to call their newfound charge. 

“Peter.” Nicky whispered softly, reaching to gently grip Peter’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Peter. You are safe here.”

Joe nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Peter. We won’t hurt you. But you’re injured, and we need to take care of you. Do you understand?”

Peter nodded with a wince, “Y-yes.”

Nicky glanced towards Joe with a nod. “We’ll need the pain relievers as well, Joe.”

Peter’s eyes welled up with tears. In that moment, after weeks of being on the run; after having the people he once fought to protect ready to turn on him it was too much to be in the company of two kind-hearted strangers who were willing to offer him shelter, care, and a sense of belonging that he had been desperately in need of the past few days. He couldn’t help the sob that escaped him. The gentle squeeze to his hand from Nicky had him sniffing against the burn of tears.  

As Joe retrieved the pain relievers from the first aid kit, Nicky continued to speak to Peter softly, an oddly comforting mix of Italian and English; the older man’s hands gently rubbing soothing circles across Peter's shoulder and arm. The bonds of trust and a beginning of a unique family were forming in that small, cozy kitchen, and Peter’s journey to healing, both physically and emotionally had just begun. 

Perhaps the universe wasn’t as against him as he thought.

[aecholapis]

OCs

Transformers & Brave/Yuusha:

All characters have been adapted into both franchises, but their personalities, designations and designs can vary to some extent. To simplify things, only their Cybertronian designation is stated, the Brave equivalent and all aliases, as well as their combiner names, will not be mentioned here. If any of the names sound hilarious (cringe-worthy) or you recognize a reference, chances are high they were named like this on purpose.

Helios

Nightjet

Railjet

Acidsplicer

Snowblast

Viridian

Azurian

Ironwing

Firecry

Anvil

Dataduct

Cryoslope

Carbonlight

Azimuth

Altitude

Zenith

Jinx

Jargon

Swan Song

Resonitas

Sparkattack

Monochromator

Exopulse

Venator

Magnanima

Triator

Dynamo

Duneblight

Polarfront

Permafrost

Avalanche

Parallax

Armortrap

Anchorpoint

Cascade

Crescent

Pythonguard

Scyre

Axicon

Seventeen

Strayshot

Fardive

Cryonios

Mutagen

Artecust

Sonar

Munchy

Chomper

Torqueris

Nightshift

Scintilla

Cinderclaw

Sunburst

Brave Police J Decker:

These two are illegally constructed mecha made from Deckerd's stolen blueprints in another secret daughter-company that was founded by Victim O'Rand. After his second death, the company dissolved and most of its employees went to work for another underground organization that had accumulated all the data they needed to make more robots with Super A.I. The two mecha were left behind, but the Scotland Yard Braves found them and took them in.

Point Rue

Sir Lockhart

Super Giant Robot Brothers:

Pointy is one of the failed G.R.I.T.S. contestants. An alien from the Empire finds his discarded frame on the scrap yard and steals it to gather more information about the EDF. The Empire starts building their own robots and deploys them during their battles against the Resistance in outer space, but they are too ineffective and faulty to last long. After Overlord Master is defeated and the his spaceship docks, a surge goes through the entire ship, activating the brothers Pointy, Crusader and Splendor and granting them sentience. They flee and join the Resistance in search for the imperial mother ship's location and fighting their other imperial siblings who could not escape Overlord Master's influence.

Pointy

Crusader

Splendor

Wave Breaker

Manta

E.M.P. Error

Iron Leaguer:

A bunch of Leaguers who take part in winter sports (skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, etc.)

Glacier Jet

Frost Burn

Frost Gale

Frost Core

Echo Location

Snow Drift

Light of Aether - Original Story:

This story does not exist yet. Not outside of a large document, that is. It is about the life and struggle of a society of alien cyborgs, inspired by five different franchises (Metroid, Transformers, Astral Chain, Tron, Warrior Cats). The original idea was actually a Transformers x Sailor Moon crossover my cousin and I came up with, and then we just took the parts we contributed to it and made it our own thing. She created a magical girl story, I wrote about cyborgs and space and war.

In the end, I might never publish anything about it, but my OCs still exist and bits of them they carry over to all the other franchises as well, such as their names, their personality, their concept and more. And I intended for the main character to have an over-the-top name, because I found it funny and I really don't want to change it. It is ridiculous, but I love it.

Expugnatrix

Estian

Om

Rhiza

Polarfront

Searchmark

Keyland

Avalanche

Hytac

Sophagon

Icador

Scyre

A. Vion

Carina

Echo Volta

Bravo Volta

Cryo Volta

Amber Varnice

Hybris

Scratch

Ranger

Malfunction

Artecust

Flamaclam

Valentine

Lucerna

Ancoralux

Etra

Sorceress

Tvorus

Nameless (Light of Aether - personification)

Sonar

Tinnitus

Redox

Halogen

Varion

Locher

Tacker

Syntax

Eros

Metroid:

Alien OCs that are part of the Space Pirates.

Scyre

Artecust

V. Rita Jocea

Iupo

Talo

Venryll

[overthinkingtaleblr]

My brain has been going Slugcat, so why not mash my current fixation and my revived fixation? Rain World × Talebr crossover!

I've currently only got the Achechalla Family down (butchered the name) so I might send another one for PIE and Misc. Characters

Papa (Gourmand) - chonk! Since his children have black hair, I'm assuming that his hair was black (before he went bald), so he's a black Gourmand.

Gertrude (Rivulet) - how a blue cat became orange and non of her children got her ginger, no-one knows.

Sally and Billy (Rivulet) - Fraternal Twins baby! Since they look near identical, it's easy to mix the two at a distance. Other than personality, the difference between them is the frills and eyes (Billy: Green eyes, lighter frills, Sally: Blue eyes, magenta frills)

Spencer (Artificer) - noone knows how he got here, but he keeps the scavengers and lizards out so he stays.

Freddie (Red lizard) - when Sally was just a slugpup, she had somehow managed to tame the most dangerous lizard without dieing and kept it a secret for cycles. They found him out when he followed her home, and got attacked by Spencer. He's now the family pet, and a great intimidation tool.

Maxwell (Echo) - he doesn't like how ascension screwed him over (read: someone screwed him over), so he looms over his descendants, waiting for one of them to get enough karma to hear him so he can... influence them to get them on the right path.

My YouTube recommended has been 110% Rainworld for all of May, but I’ve been trying to dodge spoilers so idk much about the actual cats and story (this is fine tho, i just won’t be able to add much ^^)

It’s interesting to see the family to be somewhat related here, minus Spencer and Sue ofc, and I do think it’s a little funny that they’re all axolotl cats but Papa. (For people who don’t know what Rivulets look like, they look like absolute baybes and I do see the Spencer in the artificer:)

Echoes are enemies with a vague connection to the slugpups that i don’t fully understand yet, so Maxwell being an Echo makes sense, it would also make sense if PIE’s job here was to put them out of their misery. I do however feel like this is incomplete without Sue, Freddio, and Hurricane, so I’m gonna try my hand at them!

Sue ( Saint ) - There are many things about Sue that make me lean to this one, with or without considering colors. For start, their world is one of the most dangerous to wake up in and instead of rain, it’s full of snow. That gets me because of her backstory: Sue’s original world was consumed by a nuclear winter. Saint is also the most frail character, and even with the tongue it doesn’t really… change that. Idk the whole thing but STILL.

Freddio ( Strawberry Lizard ) - Being the younger brother of Freddy, making them a different type of red-ish lizard would be cute to me. I know that Strawberry lizards only REALLY spawn in Saint’s campaign, but the legacy system thing MAY allow for it? Maybe? Idk. In canon Freddio is smaller than Freddy and somewhat more aggressive, so maybe it would make more sense if they swapped, but idk things.

Hurricane ( Giant Jellyfish ) - Giant Turtle? GIANT JELLYFISH! Slow-moving, not really a threat to Papa but otherwise deadly and especially prevalent to Sue… Just like canon!

Also here’s saint and gourmand for anyone wondering bc I forgot to add them earlier

[yashekarma]

The Artistry of Basketball: A Symphony of Skill, Strategy, and Teamwork

Basketball, a sport that transcends boundaries and cultures, has become a global phenomenon, captivating the hearts of millions with its fast-paced action, breathtaking athleticism, and strategic brilliance. As the squeak of sneakers echoes on the hardwood and the rhythmic bounce of the ball creates a melodic backdrop, the court transforms into a stage where the artistry of basketball unfolds. In this essay, we will explore the multifaceted nature of basketball, delving into its origins, the evolution of the game, the key elements that make it unique, and the profound impact it has on players and fans alike.

Origins and Evolution:

Basketball's journey began in the winter of 1891 when Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor, sought to create a new indoor game to keep his students physically active during the cold months. Little did he know that his invention would blossom into one of the most popular and widely played sports in the world. The early version of basketball involved peach baskets and a soccer ball, and the primary objective was to score points by throwing the ball into the opponent's basket.

Over the decades, basketball underwent significant transformations, evolving into a sophisticated and dynamic sport. The introduction of the dribble, the three-point line, and the shot clock added layers of complexity, enhancing both the strategic and artistic dimensions of the game. Today, professional basketball leagues, such as the NBA (National Basketball Association), showcase the pinnacle of the sport, featuring the world's most talented athletes and strategic masterminds.

Fundamental Elements:

At its core, basketball is a game that combines athleticism, skill, and teamwork in a seamless fusion. One of the defining features is the fluidity of motion – players gliding across the court with grace and power, executing intricate dribbles, passes, and shots. The court becomes a canvas, and the players, artists, each contributing to the masterpiece with their unique styles and abilities.

Dribbling, an art form in itself, allows players to navigate the court with finesse. The ability to control the ball with precision and creativity distinguishes great ball handlers from the rest, adding an element of individual flair to the game. Crossovers, spins, and behind-the-back dribbles are the brushstrokes that create the mesmerizing patterns on the hardwood.

Shooting, perhaps the most celebrated skill in basketball, demands a delicate touch and a keen understanding of geometry. From mid-range jumpers to three-pointers, each shot is a calculated decision, requiring a combination of muscle memory, focus, and spatial awareness. The arc of the ball as it sails through the air is a testament to the shooter's mastery, and the swish of the net is the sweet symphony that follows.

Passing, the silent orchestrator of offensive plays, embodies the essence of teamwork. Precision passes that thread the needle between defenders, alley-oops that defy gravity, and no-look passes that catch opponents off guard – these are the collaborative brushstrokes that transform a group of individuals into a cohesive unit. In basketball, the beauty lies not only in individual brilliance but also in the harmonious collaboration of the entire team.

Strategic Brilliance:

Beyond the physicality and skill, basketball is a game of strategy and intellect. Coaches meticulously craft game plans, analyzing opponents' strengths and weaknesses, and devising plays that exploit vulnerabilities. The chess match between coaches, the strategic timeouts, and the in-game adjustments add layers of depth to the narrative unfolding on the court.

The ebb and flow of a basketball game create a captivating drama, with momentum swinging like a pendulum. A well-timed steal, a crucial block, or a momentum-shifting three-pointer can alter the course of the game, turning athletes into heroes and underdogs into giants. The psychological aspect of basketball, from managing pressure to maintaining composure in crunch time, adds a thrilling dimension that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.

[ao3feed-petermj]

A moose on the loose

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/c4IG3CT by Bacner Peter Parker is having a bad time. It's the fault of a moose. Words: 449, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 29 of A better universe. Fandoms: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV), Spider-Man - All Media Types, Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, MCU Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: Gen Characters: Peter Parker, Michelle Jones (Marvel), Other Characters, Echo (MCU) Relationships: Peter Parker/Michelle Jones (minor) Additional Tags: Winter, December - Freeform, Moose, owl - Freeform, Spider-Man - Freeform, Drabble, dialogue and description driven, Alternate Universe, Crossover read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/c4IG3CT