#also do you remember that death game train thing i was working on a few months ago GUESS WHAT I PICKED IT BACK UP!!!

[starrysharks]

remember that i'm ALIVE but minty isn't unfortunately

[simpingforheros]

Bring Me To Life

Pairing: Arkham Knight!Jason Todd x Female! Reader

Summary: Destroy the Batman and get his companion back? Jason almost didn't believe Slade until... Warnings: Usage of female pronouns, Nudity (NO smut), Swearing, Character Death, Angst, Resurrection, Infantization ( I didn't know how to better describe this), Unhealthy relationship dynamics, Kinda Dark/Obsessive! Jason, Mentions Electroshock therapy, Implied Brainwashing, Slade being a creep, Mentions of Drug Abuse, Mentions of Child Neglect, Mentions of Child Homelessness and unsafe situations, SPOILERS for Death in the Family (Comic 1988) and Arkham Knight.

Author's Note: Hiya Everyone, This is the first fanfic I've written in a while and the christianing fic for this account. I may start a casual little series with this, but I don't know yet. Also any comic and game inaccuracies are either because I forgot or I adjusted it to fit the story.

Also while this post is mostly safe for work, MINORS DNF AND PLEASE READ WARNINGS. I DO NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO STEAL MY WORK OR REPOST IT ON OTHER SITES.

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It was supposed to be him...

Those dark nights he had spent alone on the streets as a child didn't seem so bad looking back on it. Jason understood struggle even when he had lived with his parents who spent grocery money on alcohol and drugs. Living on the streets didn't feel so much worse, especially since he had... "Jason, Mr. Accetta gave me some scraps from dinner rush today! There's even a whole pizza in here!"

Her. His one friend had since he was thrown into this harsh world. She was the only person he knew at the time to never stop smiling or finding a positive outlook on things. He couldn't even remember when they met, but he could hardly remember them being apart.

Whether he was stealing or fighting, she was there as a faithful lookout or a willing accomplice. She taught him how to take tires off of cars like her granddad taught her and he taught her how to throw a punch like his dad used to throw. An unstoppable duo who ran the alley as well as two 11-year-olds could.

The harsh winter nights they spent crowding together were his favorite memories from that time. Even with the bite of Gotham's winds at their toes, his partner would never falter to talk about anything and everything as he listened. She would talk about her dead grandparents a lot and all the stories she had with them before they passed away, but his mind couldn't recall them at all. He just remembers the constant dream that she told him every night.

"One day, Jay, I'm gonna have enough money and get an apartment in Old Gotham..." Jason's nose turns up as he listens to his friend as he bites on his food. "Why Old Gotham? Isn't it just falling apart?"

She giggles as she pulls the oversized coat closer to her shivering body. The jacket was from a relative but the fabric lost those memories as its fibers were now bones. She still had it even after she left the streets...

"Because it's the most beautiful place in the world...I will get an apartment someday and you and I will live there. We can even get like a cat or something."

The familiar burn on Jason's face blooms as he asks, "Why would you want me there?"

"Because it wouldn't be my dream home unless you're there with me."

He wouldn't find out until a few years later that her grandparents used to live in Old Gotham until her grandfather died and her grandmother had to move as she would unknowingly follow her husband not even a year later...

Those nights in the streets melted into nights spent in the warmth of Wayne manor. As the two thieves became kings after a faithful night with the Batmobile, Jason was brought into the world of crime fighting along with his closest friend. As they trained and donned their capes, She would show a new side of herself to Jason. The overly happy young girl from the streets became an anxious teenager as he became angerier.

"Jason..." Her voice woke him up in the darkest of nights. His body ached from the nightly fights from the previous day as he turned to see a familiar sight.

A now 14-year-old Y/N standing in the crack of the door. Her fidgeting figure indicated all he needed to know before he raised his blanket as she scurried to get in the bed. This was a ritual that started when they moved in. Both would grow anxious at night as they went from the open streets to a large, confining manor. Alfred almost had given up on trying to scold the teens as they were found sharing a bed more times than being separated.

As she curled into his side as much as she could without hurting him, he could practically hear her mind tinkering as her E/C eyes stared into his chest.

There wasn't the need to discuss what was on her mind. At least not right now. She was concerned about the growing tension between Bruce and Jason. He was becoming reckless and Bruce was having none of it with her often getting dragged into the middle of the fights.

He hated that he never tried more...

It shouldn't have surprised him when all the conflict had finally caused a break in the family. Especially when Jason began looking for his birth mother. Y/N tried to be supportive of him as he investigated his leads. Those leads eventually led to Jason reuniting with Bruce as he investigated a possible arms trade in Lebanon. The reconciliation and the prospect of finding his mother left him blind to any form of common sense, but what kind of common sense could a fifteen-year-old make in the life they lived?

He should have listened to her concerns when they finally found Sheila Haywood, his real mother. Y/N had a bad feeling from the start but he dismissed her worries. Jason had no clue that the night he was supposed to meet with Sheila was gonna end up being one of the worst nights of his life....

"Jason, maybe you should wait for Bruce to be here so he can come with you." She suggested softly.

His eyes roll as he adjusts his costume. "Because it's none of his business. I'm just meeting with my mom and talking out some stuff..."

He didn't tell her about the blackmailing he witnessed earlier that day between his mother and the Joker. But, he would find out later that she already knew about it through Bruce.

Her hand reaches for his shoulder and pulls him around to face her. "I'm serious. You shouldn't meet with a woman you barely know in some fucking warehouse in the middle of nowhere!"

Jason can remember the hurt he felt when he heard her snap at him, Oh, how angry he got with her when all she wanted was to protect him. He remembers yelling at her the worst thing he thought he could say to her.

Why the fuck did he ever say that to her?

"I'm sorry your parents didn't want anything to fucking do with you, but I'm not gonna let your bitter ass ruin my shot to be with mine."

He remembers the hurt that filled her eyes and the string of regret pooling in his gut. With a fake smile on her face and tears pooling in her eyes, Y/N says softly,

"Okay...I'm sorry," The sharp sting in his neck as she pressed the vial of sedatives Bruce gave her into his veins. "I'm sorry to do this, Jason, but Bruce said you wouldn't go down that easily."

Jason couldn't remember what he said after the spark of betrayal hit him, but he hated himself that the last time he saw those eyes they were clouded with the tears he caused....

"Y/N! Please talk to me!" Jason begs into the coms as he rod on the back of the motorbike with Bruce.

He should have known. Her instincts are never wrong and he doubted her.

When Bruce found him unconscious and told him about how Joker was involved in all of this, Jason should have known that it was all a trap. His mother wasn't a poor blackmailed soul, she was a conniving bitch who profitted.

He also should have known that Y/N was gonna go meet with Sheila instead of him. Where the Joker was waiting for her.

"Y/N, please. Please be okay...." He begged to the coms as he can only think about what he said to her the last time they spoke.

"J...Jason...."

"Y/N!" Relief washed over him like a wave as he heard her voice. Her broken pained moaned of his voice made him sick as he tried to at least rationalized that at least she was alive. "Don't worry, honey. We know where you are and we're coming to help you."

He didn't know that she was laying battered and broken against the locked door as she stared at the bomb that was ticking away on the wall. Her labored breaths blocked out the ticking on the comms as she whispers out.

00:12

"Do you remember the apartment?..."

"What apartment? The one you talked about in the alley? Why are you-?"

She interupts him, he can hear the familiar curl of her smile in her pained voice as she whispered,

"I wanted it to have a window facing the east end...the stars always looked pretty over there..."

00:10

"Y/N, what are you-"

"I wanted one of those Tabby-looking cats like the ones we saw in the alleyway outside of Mr. Accetta's restaurant...Name it Frank after that old Italian fucker...I was hoping we could go back and actually buy dinner in that restaurant someday..."

00:08

"Are you okay? Why are you talking like this? We are almost there. I can see the building! We are almost here. I'M COMING TO SAVE YOU."

Jason's desperation was palpable as he heard his beloved talk like she was on her deathbed. His panic causes Bruce to drive faster as the Batcycle inches closer to the warehouse. "Jason"

00:04

"Jason, I love you...I have since I was 13..." She admits as her voice trembles. "I used to dream we would become the family we always wanted with each other...Thank you for being in my life and I'm sorry I let you down..."

00:03

"Y/N, I -"

00:02

"Wait!"

00:01

"Goodbye, Jason..."

.

.

.

It should have been him who died that night... It was supposed to be him. NOT HER.

Jason blamed himself for her death as soon as he helped pull her broken corpse out of the rubble. He tried to convince himself that it wasn't her. This wasn't his Batgirl. Not his best friend who would run around the manor with him or help him pickpocket pedo freaks on the street. This broken little girl that was in his adoptive father's arms wasn't his first love. She was a bright, kind light who protected her loved ones, not this broken shell who wore her skin...

But, it was her...

He blamed Bruce for it too. He was the one gave her the orders to keep Jason away from the warehouse. He had to have known that she was gonna go instead. Bruce should have known she was because she wanted to be wrong about Sheila so Jason could be happy...

He also blamed the Joker. He wanted that Clown dead... His opportunity presents itself after he tracks Joker down to an abandoned wing of Arkham trying to flee from blowing up a children's hospital.

Blinded by his rage and bloodlust, Jason went in alone and without any communication. Y/N would scold him in her grave as he fell for the trap, sealing him in a cycle of hell for a year.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"What if I could?"

"Do what?"

"Bring her back. Would you be willing to work for Crane if I could bring back the little Batgirl?"

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He knew it was bullshit.

Bringing back someone from the dead was impossible.

Jason would have been satisfied if his pseudo-partner/ prisoner, Deathstroke, just told him that he would be able to kill the Batman and wipe the hell hole that is Gotham off the face of the earth. He already dedicated a full year after his escape from Arkham to building his army.

His only regret during this time was not killing Joker himself. Even after all the torture and pain that clown did to him, he regretted not bashing the Joker's skull in after their last encounter as Slade helped him escape. It wouldn't have mattered to him at the time that Slade would have killed him because it wouldn't have been revenge for his own torture.

it would have been for Y/N. For the hell she faced that night. After a few months in Arkham, Jason almost accepted his torture as punishment for not dying that day for her because he experienced everything she felt. Every day he experienced everything she had to feel those short agonizing hours for an entire year. She must have been so scared and Jason couldn't save her.

The only thing that kept him from giving up was the memories he had of her and the burning hatred for those who caused her light to be snuffed out too soon.

He just wanted to feel that warmth again...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"If you can do that, then I'll burn the whole world to the ground for that fucking lunatic."

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"Please Jason. Let us help you!" Barbara Gordan begged from her cell as Jason snaps at her.

"THERE IS NO HELPING! I CAN FIX IT!"

Jason was manic. His men were being tugged around like dog toys by Batman and Slade had left him hours ago to attend some matter he didn't care to ask about. His time was running thin and he knows he needs to end this soon. It didn't help that those he didn't want involved are here as well like Barbara.

"Sir..." A militia soldier says as he nervously walks into the room. HIs men were already aware how stupid it was to come near him when he's in a crazed anger. Jason's head whipped at him like a feral man as he grits out.

"What is it?"

"Deathstroke is here...and he uh..."

Impatience reaches a boiling point as Jason raises his gun and shoots the militia solider in the head as Barbara shrieks. The red puddle of death fills the sterile room with lead as Deathstroke walts in. Jason turns his back towards him as places his helmet back into place.

"My, what a mess you made." Deathstroke mockingly scolds. The hidden smirk almost causes Jason to snap again.

"Where have you been? Batman is out there taking down my tanks faster than my men can repair them. You told m-!"

The Arkham Knight's monologue was intruppted as he turns to scold Slade by his heart dropping to his stomach at the sight before him. He swore that if he didn't hear Barbara's gasp and the whisper of fate's name, he would have woken up back in that dreaded wing of Arkham Asylum.

Slade chuckles as he rattles the chain in his hand as he says coyly, "What? Am I not allowed to go fetch your payment?"

Standing behind Deathstroke was a naked woman. Her tangled up (H/C) hair ran down her shoulders as her wide innocent eyes shined through the now white tendrils framing her face. Her body seemed more mature but all muscle mass she had was faded. Her face seemed aged but he recognized the curve of her nose and those lips he imagined smiling at him through his darkest moments.

"Y/N?" He helplessly calls out to her as he feels himself pulled towards her like a magnet.

If it wasn't for the stark white streak and gnarly, painful-looking scars on her body, Jason would have thought this was Scarecrow's fear toxin. It couldn't be possible, right? She was dead. He knew she was because he held her body. He felt how cold she was and watched how her lifeless eyes looked up to the ash ridden sky.

Those eyes now looked at him with no familiarity, but a childlike wonder as she naively smiles at him.

"How?" Was all the Arkham Knight could muster as he reaches to grab her. To pull her into his arms and never let her leave.

Deathstroke grabs the collar that was wrapped around her neck and yanks her back behind him as she chokes on her breath. He chuckles as he looks back into Jason's voiceless mask.

"The Lazarus Pit brought back her body." He explains as he hauntingly twirls the chain in his hand. "Of course, after you agreed to work with Crane, I brought her back immediately. Unfortunately, the poor thing suffered from Pit Madness."

A cruel smirk appears on Deathstrokes lips as he pushes the girl's hair back to reveal circular scars on her temples. Jason felt rage bubbling up in his throat as he recognized what those scars were.

Prolonged Electroshock Therapy

"You sick!" Before Jason could throw a punch, Slade places his gun on Y/N's forehead as he chuckles. The woman didn't even sense the danger as she continued to observe everyone with a curious eye. Jason immediately backs off as Slade continues.

"Of course. Her treatment did cause her to be cured of the madness but at the cost of her memories. She barely remembers how to take care of herself so you make it like that. Especially when you want to fuck her."

Jason was thankful for his mask as he would have killed him from his glare. To imply that she was just a potential fucktoy made him itch to bury this man in the deepest bowels of hell. As he quietly glares at him, Slade finally offers him the chain. The Arkham Knight accepts the chain as the assassin warns him,

"Now since you got your payment. You better keep your end of the deal..." His voice becomes threatening as he says.

"Because I can easily kill her just as I brought her back.'"

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AN: I was gonna write more, but I got exhausted so this is all I got. Let me know if it's a vibe or not.

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@simpingforheros fanfic. I DO NOT AUTHORIZE THE COPYING, STEALING, OR REPOSTING OF MY WORKS ON OTHER WEBSITES WITHOUT CREDIT.

[imsogonesposts]

The Odds are Never in Our Favor

|| ao3 || Finnick masterlist || requests are open!! || an: angst angst angst angst ||

summary: Finnick worries that you may be reaped for the Hunger Games during your final year in the reaping bowl. (wc: 1450)

Finnick was used to things not going his way. If things ever were to go his way, then he certainly wouldn't have been forced into the Hunger Games at the age of fourteen- and be one of the youngest to win the games. He also definitely wouldn't have been forced into some of the things that many victors were forced to do after winning their own games. 

Regardless, Finnick was thankful for many things. He had many great friends, his family was still alive and well, and he had an amazing girlfriend. A girlfriend who, thank the heavens, has yet to be reaped for the Hunger Games. 

Finnick wasn't sure what he would do if you were ever to get reaped for the games. He didn't think he could handle being your mentor, helping to train you only to lie awake at night, praying to any god he could think of that you'd make it out of the arena. It was already hard enough leading strangers to their deaths, he couldn't imagine having to do the same with you- the love of his life, the girl of his dreams. 

"Stop worrying so much," you reassured him with a smile, morning of the reaping, "it's my last year in the reaping pile, I doubt they'll pick me." 

Finnick wanted to believe you. He wanted to smile and admit that you were right, the chances of you getting picked were slim to none, and yet, he knew in the back of his head that many kids got reaped during their last year, the girl tribute from his year was eighteen, for example. He remembers her telling him how happy she was to finally have to stop worrying if she was next, only for her to end up getting called up her last year. No matter how much the Capitol wanted to say it, the odds were simply never in the favor of the citizens of Panem. 

"You're right," he replied with a false smile, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "There are other kids with their name in the bowl far more times than you," like Coil, Finnick's childhood best friend. On top of worrying for you, Finnick was also worried for his friend Coil, whose name was in the reaping bowl forty times. Like you, this was his last year in the reaping bowl, and like with you, Finnick was worried that the odds wouldn't be in his favor and that Coil would get reaped. Finnick wished he could rid these thoughts from his brain, but alas, worry got the best of him. 

Just a few more hours until the reaping is over and you can celebrate, he told himself, though he wasn't sure how well the mantra was working for him. He couldn't help but have a knot in his stomach, a small part of him knowing something would go wrong, he just wasn't sure what that something was yet. 

"Exactly," you told him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'm only in there seven times, that's basically nothing." 

Yes, but when Finnick got reaped, his name was only there three times, and he still managed to get picked. 

"Yeah," Finnick whispered, giving you a short but sweet kiss. "Nothing."

***

Through the corner of his eye, Finnick caught you waving at him through the throng of potential tributes. He always liked to think you would always be the first thing he'd spot in a room, no matter what. He gave you a small nod, wishing he could smile back, but he had an image to upkeep for the Capitol. One he hated, but if it kept the people he cared about safe, then he could make do. 

He watched as Coral Steelwater, the District 4 escort, made her way across the stage. As she reached the microphone, she made the same speech she made every year. Speaking of the "importance" of the Hunger Games and talking about the past victors. Truthfully, it was going in one ear and out the other for Finnick. He could only stare at her bright blue wig as he prayed and prayed and prayed that you'd be safe. That you and all his friends would be safe another year, and that none of you would have to worry about the Hunger Games ever again. That none of you would have ever experience what he went through at such a young age. 

"Ladies first," Coral announced, finally breaking Finnick out of his endless trance. He watched as she made her way across the stage, reaching a hand into the big glass bowl as she pulled a name out from the top. 

And suddenly, Finnick felt himself go white as the entire crowd went silent before a hushed whisper fell over the crowd. He began pinching his side as you made your way up to the stage, the color lost on your face. He kept pinching himself, hoping this was all a stupid nightmare and that when he woke up, he could go to your house to see you alive and well. 

But he wasn't waking up. And you were finally on the stage, looking out into the crowd. Finnick felt a knot in his stomach grow. He didn't think he could do this- train you, try his best to get you out of the arena. He couldn't watch you die, he knew that would be the thing to finally break him. Years of pain and torture from the Capitol to keep the people he loved safe, and now you were getting thrown into the lion's den. Nothing about this was fair. Finnick felt like he was going to be sick. 

"And now for our boy tribute!" Coral said in an all too excited tone. Nothing about the Hunger Games was ever exciting, certainly not to him. Not with you in that arena, fighting for your life. But, he knew the people in the Capitol were eating this up. Your and Finnick's relationship was never much of a secret, he knew the Capitol was probably going crazy over a past Victor's girlfriend going into the arena. Especially with the fact that he would have to mentor you. He wasn't sure he had the stomach for this. 

Coral made her way across the other side of the stage, towards the bowl with the boy tribute names, and yet, he could barely keep his eyes off you. He couldn't let you die, he knew that. He just wasn't sure how he could protect you when you were in the arena and he was in the Capitol. 

The name Coral called suddenly pulled Finnick out of his thoughts. He could feel himself get sick all over again as he looked out into the crowd, seeing a look of shock and horror on his friend's face. 

"Coil Oceanway, dear, please come on stage," Coral announced in the microphone as he slowly made his way towards the stage. Finnick wasn't sure how he hadn't managed to throw up all over the stage. Not only was he to mentor you, the girl he had been crushing on since he was a little kid, that he finally got to be with, but he was also to mentor his life-long childhood best friend. And not only that, but the both of you couldn't make it out of the games alive. If he ever wanted to see one of you again, he would have to give up the other. He would have to watch one of you die. 

Finnick tried his best to keep a look of composure as you and Coil shook hands, the tributes of District 4. But he wasn't sure if he was doing a very good job. He wouldn't be too surprised if somehow, President Snow had something to do with the reaping this year. It certainly would make for a great story, it'd help keep people invested in the Hunger Games. "The Capitol Darling forced to mentor his girlfriend and childhood best friend, and watch one of them die!" He felt nauseous. 

The Capitol truly was a sick, cruel place. Finnick watched as the peacekeepers took you and Coil away, to the Justice building so you could say your final goodbyes to your family- they had done the same thing with him when he played his games- and he could hardly find it within himself to move. He didn't know how he could face your family, nor Coil's. He didn't know how he was going to be forced to mentor the two of you. He didn't know how he would be able to stomach watching either of you die. 

One thing was certain though, the odds were never in his favor. 

[m1ndbrand]

"all it took was..." — The new President

WARNINGS: Coriolanus Snow is it's own warning(Snow after the 10thGames, 2 years after to be precise); Mentions of death and corpse(small description, nothing big).

SUMMARY: The 12th Hunger Games winner unfortunately fortunately gets the attention of President Snow.

WORDS: 1.384

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the franchise The Hunger Games characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them. I do claim what I wrote and only that.

A/N: If you know the tragedy of Coriolanus by William Shakespeare some names will be recognizable...Also I'm sorry but this chapter won't be the continuation of their little...encounter— but I promise, it's going to happen!

TAG-LIST: @sorry-mrs-jacobs; @phoward89;

MASTERLIST

He was never someone who believed in the stars and whatever they might mean to some people.

It seemed completely idiotic and beneath someone from the level of education, you would get from the Capitol to have this belief that in his humble opinion, of course — was archaic and beneath him.

Fate and stories written on the stars were all but a way of fairy tales being made, a topic on some and even a very important one at that "merging" some characters together like the universe itself deemed them a pair, one in two.

Star-crossed lovers.

How he hated that idea, he couldn't believe he even fed it to—

Let's not dwell on that topic, he had better things to do, like arrange a new Games Maker for the 12th Hunger Games.

Doctor Volumnia Gaul is no more, some freak accident with one or more than one mutt; it wasn't clear, the body was far too mutilated to be recognised by anyone at all if not for the DNA tests and well...the place of the accident, a place only a few people were able to enter and of course Doctor Gaul was one of those people, him included in the small pool.

It was slightly weird however how the mulls were able to break free, the reporters debated it for the first days the case broke daylight, but the theory was quickly suppressed.

After all, mulls were still in being tested and we're highly volatile, their behaviour unstable and unpredictable. And of course, accidents happen.

But the world continues to go around and so shall the Capitol, he needed to find someone and fast. 

He should have looked more into it, the selection that is. But he had more important things in his place, strength the security in the several points of entry on all distractions, the training of the peacekeepers and the change of the uniform like he so petitioned for just to name a few.

The new and young president had more important things to worry about than some person who would probably be soon replaced if so needed.

The theme he chose ,he didn't even try to remember the man's name, was an advanced-looking arena; a sign of the year the Capitol got a new President. Coriolanus liked the idea. It painted his future reign as one that would lead them into the future, lead them into a better time.

It painted him as a good leader.

The reaping ceremony passed without a problem. Some students clearly didn't like something— their tribute lack of attributes to make them win or the idea of having to participate in such 'twisted games' as the rebel-like-youth liked to name his games. He honestly couldn't care less, blue-ice-like eyes looking straight at the screens with a fake polite smile when the camera twists at him, showing his all too polished self composed with a deep red suit and thick coat that made his figure even more imposing than it normally is.

He would soon return to his manor and actually work, the two hours of the opening ceremony put his work ethic behind schedule more than he liked to admit.

There was much to be done to make the Capitol and the Districts into the way he saw fit and Coriolanus shouldn't waste more time than he already has.

Not even a day later he would have the files of everyone who chose to review. For some reason the late president did this— the threat of the Rebels was still very much a problem and he was of course scared shitless by them so all 'useful' information was of course turned into two paper pages that it was his duty to read through.

Coriolanus was just about to skim through them all but the very first file caught his attention, District One female tribute.

Not the girl's image he didn't even look at it properly, he already saw every tribute face on the reaping ceremony... all looked underfed and clearly not fit for an entertaining games in terms of pure brutal strength, the mentors would need to sell them well to the Capitol. No it was her name. Her last name rang a bell.

A big warning bell was inside his head and it made his eyebrows furrow, hand picked up the two-page long file and flipped through the description of her family. Something was amiss, he could feel it in his bones. Something was wrong. 

Coriolanus could almost feel the hunger tearing at his stomach, his small sweaty hand tightly gripping his equally moist cousin's hand as they received the news of his father's death.

His other small hand gripping the files of several names of supposed rebels that could be the reason behind his father's death. Blond hair falls against his sweaty forehead as at that time he didn't understand why he had to read the names of random men.

Brutus.

His hand grips the file on his hand, veins popping up as his eyes skim through the contents of the file, once and then twice. He didn't even sit down, reading in silence for 10 minutes over and over again to look out for another word, sentence, or anything more.

Only two people are still alive from her family— grandmother and little brother, Valeria Brutus and Menenius Brutus, then they got the last name from her grandfather. His hand moves the paper right and left, trying to see if her grandfather's first name was there. But it wasn't. It probably wasn't deemed to be useful information since he is dead. Putting the papers down he turns with a sigh to his window, chin rising as he looks to see all the perfectly arranged garden of pure white roses in the front of his mansion.

No this shouldn't matter. It didn't matter, not now. He got what he wanted he won, the victor. He was still standing with or without his father.

The nostalgic feeling of feeling hungry regrows once again and it makes him nauseous, sharp eyes turning to the face of the girl on the page. She looked like every other girl he reminds himself as he starts a little too long at her face. Eighteen, one more year and she should have been safe from the reaping.

A smile creeps on his lips. Amusement dancing in his eyes like he had just read a good enough joke.

He couldn't sleep.

Coriolanus hated to be in need of something even if it was just a simple pill to go to sleep. He was better than that, he could sleep alone thank you very much.

Couldn't he just get the information he wanted? He could, he had the resources, and he had the needs to if he so pleases, so why not?

No.

No, he wouldn't lose to this...whatever this is, curiosity, need— want to know. Closure.

Maybe that was it. Know the person or people that did this to him. To his family. The people that made him starve and struggle. Envy and step on people that he knew were living better than him, growing to bring them down so he could feel himself high above them all. Know the people that in a way, made him the way he is now.

Rising he presses the inside of his palms to his eyes.

For fucks sake— Shut the fuck up! 

His mouth was open. Eyes shot open and hands grabbing tightly the silk covers, knuckles turning white. Did he shout those words? Wasn't it all in his head? His hands were shaking, face was slightly flushed red from anger.

It's one of those episodes.

Rising he curses under his breath, feet carrying him to one of the small tables with some pills on them. Deep eyes thin as he tried to look into the colours of the various drugs that looked like they were thrown there and he picked a deep purple one in the midst of the rainbow and quickly gulped it down without water.

His attention is caught by the silver-like glow of the moonlight slipping through his windows, blue tired-looking eyes looking up at the sky, they find the stars instead of the moon that sings for attention. Wishing to catch a stray star amidst the ones that stay. Maybe he could catch it as it falls.

With those thoughts, sleep would soon catch him.

Previous

[fishy-poof-crackers]

Why Trios Work - Part One

The Training Trio: Kaito, Maki, Shuichi

In Danganronpa: Killing Harmony, Kaito invites Shuichi and Maki to train at night. Though their time together comes with character and relationship development between the three of them.

Relationship & character analysis.

Disclaimers:

Spoilers for the entirety of v3: Killing Harmony.

Content warnings: illness/disease, discussion of blood.

I haven't seen v3 in awhile. I tend to think as I write and I may ramble and repeat things and not make any sense, haha.

1. Kaito has Maki's and Shuichi's best interests at heart.

The loss of Rantaro and Kaede has taken its toll on everyone in the killing game. It starts a sequence of events that leads into a downward spiral of bloodlust and murder.

Kaede's death hits the hardest for Shuichi. It's implied that Shuichi had feelings for Kaede. Even if it was a small crush, Kaito knows that they had a deeper emotional connection. They trusted each other, they were there for each other, etc.

But because Shuichi spent so much time with Kaede, he didn't form hard connections with the other students.

Kaito invites Shuichi to befriend him and help him cope with the loss of Kaede.

Shuichi makes a promise to Kaede that he will end the killing game. Kaito knows that Shuichi can't do this on his own. He knows that someone at least needs to be there to boost Shuichi's morale. By showing that he believes in him, Kaito is being his shoulder to lean on.

(Kaito himself also wants to end the killing game. He doesn't believe that he can do it by himself, or that Shuichi can do it by himself. It isn't just Shuichi fulfilling Kaede's wishes to stop the killing game; Kaito fulfills her wish to have everyone band together. He believes that it takes a team. Teamwork makes a dream work, right?)

Kaito invited Shuichi to help him grow stronger.

They have similar interests at heart.

Kaito invited Shuichi to achieve their goals.

Since this is chapter two we're talking about, there isn't much to say about Maki.

Kaito takes an interest in Maki.

Okay, Kaito isn't very smart, but somehow he's able to see inside her. The rest of the students brush her off, including Kaede, the main protagonist. I don't remember who, but one of the two (I think Shuichi) points out that Maki can't be heartless due to her talent. In chapter two, Shuichi still doesn't have the mindset of the others when it comes to her. He doesn't make an effort like Kaito, but he doesn't think she's some stone-cold bitch with a secret.

Yeah, it isn't much, but Shuichi sees something else in Maki, too. So, Kaito and Shuichi both see something in Maki (mostly Kaito).

Shuichi is surprised to learn Kaito invited Maki, but he's even more surprised when she joins. It's disappointing when she doesn't interact with them like Kaito and Shuichi have been, but as you probably know, this eventually changes.

Like Shuichi, Kaito invites Maki to help her grow stronger.

When I say stronger, I mean in all aspects. Emotionally, physically, mentally. He wants them to become stronger people, wants them to have stronger relationships- Kaito wants them to be strong.

Kaito invites Maki because he wants her to open up.

This is a big recurring theme in chapter two. Going back through this analysis in my head I simplified the reason why, and it makes me kind of sad. There are a few reasons Kaito wants Maki to open up. I'll do my best to emphasize how heartwarming they are.

Going stronger, yadda yadda.

Curiosity. This is far from the main reason, but I respect it. Heavily. I'm a curious person (sometimes) and I always want the fucking answers.

He sees her as a closely-guarded person. This ties into the third reason, so view this as a prequel, haha. Kaito doesn't think isolation will help her at all. I don't remember if he thinks this will make her a target (he probably does, but he's still not the main reason he wants to connect with her), but in general, he thinks isolated people are not happy. In a high-pressure situation, Kaito believes she's burying her emotions deep. He knows that isn't a good thing.

Kaito is genuinely concerned for Maki's well-being.

This hurt me a lot. It's so sweet, and it shows how good of a person Kaito is. As stated, the reason he's concerned about her is because he wants her to be happy. He wants her to be comfortable with herself. Kaito shows this throughout the game- evidence on this later.

Kaito wants Maki to heal.

Again, evidence on this later, but Kaito believes that if Maki lets her guard down and learns to trust others, she can learn to trust and love herself.

2. Dynamic (+Humor).

Their dynamic works beautifully.

Technically, their dynamic is called a "complex bro-ship" LMAO. ("Gym bros" also works, I guess. I hate that term, it's more sexualized than bro-ships.) But they ARE! This post was meant to be ambiguous- you can interpret it as a friendship or a romance. You still can! I just use the term 'friendship' a lot for this point.

Honestly, "bro-ship"s in media makes it seem like they have to be between two guys and there's sexual tension and they're probably fucking on the side, or it's a Disney Love Triangle where it's romantic and you have to choose one (not to mention that your love interests don't like each other), or it's one ship and friend-zoning and jealousy.

The Training Trio not only defies the typical stereotypes, but they go beyond it. It truly is a complex friendship. I fucking love it when relationships make the stereotype complex, but I love it even more when they break it entirely.

This trio also brings some good comedic relief.

And relief in general, but allow me to elaborate on the humor aspect.

When Maki first starts exercising with the group, the boys' reaction is priceless. They're like, 'Woah, where the hell did this come from?' It's hilarious.

Kaito doesn't do the workout with them. It quickly becomes obvious that he set the group up for emotional reasons, but it's still funny to watch. Maki and Shuichi call him out on it and he straight-up makes excuses and picks on Shuichi.

He isn't hurting Shuichi's feelings too bad either, and it gets Maki to laugh.

I adore humor like this if no one is actually getting hurt. Maybe this isn't the perfect example of how this humor works because Shuichi does feel a little put-down, and I don't think he should feel bad at all.

Even so, the way they make me laugh feels way less awkward than most of the other characters do in the cast. Partly because the other jokes used in v3 are rude and sexual, partly because the Training Trio brings a sense of comfort because it feels like a joke between friends.

3. Character Development.

Character development and a closer look to each of their characters.

I'll start with the most obvious one.

Maki

Maki becomes less cold-hearted and more open. She shows kindness to others while not letting them walk all over her. In the past, she kept up a prickly barrier that would poke you if you even touched it.

In the end, she falls for Kaito. She reveals it after the fifth trial when he's about to get executed for murdering Kokichi.

"I've never... fallen for anyone before."

Kaito replies that by learning to love and trust others, she can learn to love and trust herself.

More than vulnerability, allowing herself to care, and showing the two on numerous occasions, Maki allows herself to feel. After Kaito's death, she admits she cried that night. Although she also says she wouldn't allow herself to cry about it anymore.

Shuichi

Honestly, most of his character development can be chalked down to Kaede, but... Nah. I do believe that she was a huge influence, but hear me out.

I believe Kaede pushed Shuichi towards being more confident, but there were still times when he doubted himself. Shuichi is always doubting himself; however, we see Kaito and Maki not only back him up, but sometimes they even go so far as to give words of encouragement.

There were multiple times when Shuichi said he didn't think he could fulfill Kaede's wishes. At some point, he thinks about how he doesn't think he's able to do it without her...

...But he has Maki and Kaito.

Shuichi will never be alone again.

Kaito

This was harder to think about, especially because I didn't really care for Kaito in my v3 phase. I did go back to be able to form an opinion.

Kaito is encouraging, brave.... and full of himself. Maki (and Shuichi) have to put him in his place multiple times. Kaito listens and tries to become a better person while still maintaining his own beliefs. He sticks to what he believes in, which is also his downside.

But that's a character description, not development you're saying?

Yeah. You're right.

Kaito more or less stays the same. Not all the characters are going to develop that much. Especially in v3.

4. Mutual Relationship.

I implied before that their relationship doesn't lean one way or the other, meaning it's extremely mutual.

"But Maki has a crush on Kaito!"

Yeah.

So?

Maki still looks out for Shuichi after Kaito dies. While they're training Maki chooses to talk to Shuichi to get his view on something. She says that Shuichi can give her different viewpoints than Kaito, so she goes to him instead.

You have to understand that Maki and Shuichi went through Kaito's downfall together.

I've already explained how Kaito cares for Shuichi and Maki and how they care for him in return. So, there's no need to elaborate on that, but I will add a point.

Kaito's illness. They're both genuinely horrified. Neither of them wants him to die, and both of them want to do their best to help Kaito recover. He brought them together.

Conclusion

I've never been good at ending things, haha. I really like these three! I believe they were crucial to the plot and they definitely didn't waste our time.

If you have any suggestions you can put them in my inbox, but I also read comments and reposts.

Speaking of which, both of those are very appreciated! I've never done an analysis on my own time before. Thank you.

[boolger]

Something something what if gn!Reader got revenge, mdni 18+, cw: mention of past kidnapping and non-con, violence, drugging and murder. Death of main characters. This is far from my best writing but here it is. Also no idk how poison works don’t come for me

You had escaped four years ago.

They had tried finding you, using a ridiculous amount of resources but every time they found a clue or a sign, you were long gone. It was Kate who knocked some sense into their heads, demanding their attention back in the game or stop working - so they abandoned the dream of you, spending their few vacations to look instead.

Nothing.

You had been perfect for them. A scared little thing, crying and whimpering, so naive and stupid, not understanding how dangerous the world was, how they were helping you. Together they molded you into a perfect being, the many days spent in the dark of their basement making you pliant, the many punishments making your tears dry up and learning to be tougher. They made you a new human being, happily sucking them off, spreading your legs when told, making them food and living up to their fantasy of a perfect little partner at home, doing the dishes and laundry, ready for them when they came home.

Four years had passed faster than they would like, they had even considered finding someone new, to take your place. To fill up that dark, loving hole in their hearts.

That was until they were eating at a small restaurant in France, a pitstop after a long but successful city, before they would return to the UK. Their waiter had taken their order and they sat in a private room, happily using money to pay for privacy to talk about what they wanted and enjoy themselves.

Except, the waiter who entered the room with their food elegantly balanced on their arms, wasn’t the one who had taken their orders —

It was you.

You had a polite smile that you probably used on all customers, greeting them as you entered, but stopping the moment the door closed after you - eyes wide, plates beginning to shake.

“My my,” Price rumbled, as you saw all of their eyes darkening, “what are the odds?”

It was like you were back in the basement, begging for food, for light, for human interaction.

“Serve us our food, pet,” Ghost said, barely blinking, looking like he was ready to pounce, “why don’t ya’ join us, yea?”

As if you had never escaped them, you immediately obeyed, even though you were shaking with fear, which they had trained out of you back then. You sat next to Price, who immediately pulled you closer, hand roaming over your side and hips.

“Fancy coming home soon?” Gaz asked and you knew it wasn’t really an option to say no, not with how Soap also stared at you hungrily, cutting his steak and eating a big bite without even looking away.

“Y-yes,” you whispered, desperately looking around on the table, “don’t uhm, don’t you need more beer?”

The men laughed - Price’s hand tightened on your thigh.

“No, pet,” he replied, “I think we’re gonna take this meal sober. Do you help in the kitchen here?”

You nodded nervously, hand shaking as you pointed to one of the small bowl of sauce that they all had, “I always make the sau-sauce, sir.”

“Remembering your manners, huh?” Price teased, “why don’t me and the boys taste then, see if it’s good?”

Something something I don’t understand poison, but it was shortly after that you stumbled away from Price, who grabbed out after you, falling down over the chair you had just sat on, foam evolving from his moan as he let out a painful sound just like the others.

Ripping your small gun from your boot felt as if it took forever, especially with Ghost charging towards you, a loud monster-like groan escaping him as he almost jumped over the table, only stopping when you delivered 2 bullets into his head. He fell right in front of you, dead - the others weren’t completely dead and you walked to them with shaking breaths, ignoring their looks as you shot them between their eyebrows, one after one. As soon as John Price laid dead together with Kyle Garrick, Johnny MacTavish and Simon Riley, you moved.

Out the window, down the path behind the restaurant, knowing the route you had rehearsed so many times by now.

Disappearing into the night, monsters bleeding out on a cheap carpet in a restaurant that was blown into full panic.

[captainremmington-13]

A Lady Made of Snow

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own The Hunger Games franchise, the images above, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, or any of the characters in this fic other than Bellova and Enolio. I also do not condone the beliefs or actions of Coriolanus or Bellova.

SUMMARY: Bellova fights to get herself back.

⚠️Warnings⚠️: THIS IS A DARK CHAPTER. It contains violence, mentions of murder, suicide, and torture, death, weapons, and swearing

A/n: i’m sorry this took so long to get out🥲🥲i’m gonna try to update this series more often

Coriolanus felt as if his body was turning to ice. 

He barely managed to refrain from trembling in fear. His life could be ended with a flick of Bellova’s wrist if he didn’t think fast enough. 

He decided against trying to play coy. He knew that would only infuriate her more, and lead to his demise.

“I can explain,” he said as gently as he could. 

Bellova’s cold laughter echoed in his ears, making him shudder in her painfully tight grasp. Her sharp nails dug into his pale complexion, slowly but surely breaking through the first layers of skin.

“I would love to hear your reasoning as to why you thought ruining my life would be a wise choice,” she replied. She was beyond angry, which Coriolanus knew was bad news for him. 

“Where did you get-“

“The knife?” Bellova chuckled lowly, dragging the sharp edge back-and-forth across Coriolanus’s neck, applying just enough pressure to make him gasp. “When you took all of the weapons from my room, you didn’t check underneath my bed. I hid a blade tucked in the frame in case of emergencies. And this seemed like a fitting time to use it.”

Coriolanus swallowed. His throat felt like it had been replaced by sandpaper. 

“How did you…become you again?”

“I don’t know. Everything was a blur. I felt like I was pulled out of a fever dream and back to reality.”

Bellova let go of him, only to spin him around and hold her blade right above his heart. “Now, you’re going to explain exactly what the fuck you did to me. The last thing I remember was being stabbed in the neck by a syringe, and collapsing on the floor of your office. Clearly, you took my mind hostage and took control of everything in my life.”

Coriolanus backed up, but Bellova was relentless. She grabbed him by the neck and shoved hard, pressing him up against the wall. Her lips curled into a sneer. 

He had forgotten just how terrifying she could be.

“I deserve an explanation, and I intend to get it. Then, once I’m satisfied, I’m going to kill you, as slowly and painfully as I can.”

Somehow, her violent threat snapped him out of his fearful mindset.

He could easily physically overpower her. He was now stronger than her, thanks to his time as a peacekeeper. During their Academy days, Bellova had prided herself in her physical strength. Though she appeared harmless, with a few well-placed blows, she could bring almost anyone to their knees. He was always envious of that ability, as he couldn’t match it. He was too malnourished to even try.

But now, he was properly fed and had developed a significant amount of muscle during his peacekeeper training. 

He could kill her with his bare hands if he wanted to. 

And right now, he really fucking wanted to.

But he knew it wasn’t the right choice. He had to play her game first.

With faux reluctance, Coriolanus told Bellova everything. How he’d used Dr. Gaul’s serum to alter her mind, how he’d killed her father and taken over the Reginelle family’s resources, how he’d gotten her closest friends arrested. 

He was practically able to see the cogs in her mind working. Her eyes, which once again contained the fierceness that Coriolanus had worked so hard to erase, were filing with angry tears. 

He flinched as he felt his cheek meet the palm of her hand harshly. He wasn’t surprised that she’d slapped him, but it was still irritating. She really was a bitch. 

“You’re a fucking snake, Coriolanus Snow,” she hissed, wrapping one of her hands around his throat and bringing the tip of her knife closer to his heart. “Say goodbye to everything you’ve accomplished, none of it will matter once I’m through with you.”

Bellova raised the blade, ready to begin creating morbid lacerations her “fiancé’s” perfect skin. 

But as her hand came down, Coriolanus reached out and grabbed her wrist, effectively stopping the motion. Before she could squirm away, he ripped the weapon out of her hand. His temper flared, and he shoved her to the hard marble floor, making her cry out in pain. She tried to scramble away, but he was on top of her before she could get back on her feet. 

Bellova opened her mouth to scream, but Coriolanus muffled the noise with his large hand. “Scream again and I’ll end you, you dumb bitch,” he snarled in her face. He grabbed the ends of her hair and tugged harshly, and she let out a quiet whine. She kept squirming wildly, trying to escape him, but she was trapped. He had her pinned.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Bellova asked, her face flushed with panic and fury. “You’ve already done enough damage, why won’t you just let me be?”

“You know too much,” he sneered, intensifying his grip in her hair. She whimpered, silent tears streaming down her face. “I can’t have you exposing all of my endeavors, it would ruin my reputation and my blossoming career.”

“So you took over my head and ruined my life just to keep me quiet?“

Coriolanus laughed darkly. “You’re acting like you wouldn’t do the same if you were in my shoes.”

“Oh, shut u-“

He didn’t hesitate to smack her across the face, grinning as she cringed from the pain. “Now, my darling fiancée, this can go one of two ways. Either you stop fighting me and accept your fate, or I kill you and tell everyone in the Capitol you committed suicide. Which will it be?”

Bellova looked defeated. Coriolanus smirked, satisfied with the fact that he’d finally gotten his way. 

Then, she spit in his face. 

“I’ll never live under your rule, Snow,” she sneered. “I’d rather die.”

Coriolanus was extremely tempted to use Bellova‘s own knife to torture her slowly, dragging out her pain until her body couldn’t take it anymore. However, he knew that one of the servants or Avoxes in the estate would hear her screams, and he’d be caught red-handed.

So, he settled for knocking her out with a punch to her temple. 

Picking her up, Coriolanus threw her onto the bed unceremoniously. He cursed silently, storming into his closet and pulling on an outfit as quickly as possible. He walked out of the room and hurried down the stairs, throwing on a coat and grabbing his satchel. 

“I’m going to the Citadel. Emergency meeting with Dr. Gaul,” he told Enolio. “Don’t enter Bellova’s room, she’s had a rough night and her sleep must not be disturbed. If I hear that you defied my order, I’ll get you fired. Understood?”

Enolio looked pissed, but nodded. “Yes, sir.” 

Coriolanus rushed out of the building and climbed into one of Bellova’s many family cars before the driver could open the door for him. 

“Take me to the Citadel, get me there as fast as you can.”

The driver gulped, and started the car. Like many of the workers at the Reginelle estate, he got nervous when the Snow heir was around. 

Coriolanus knew he tended to have that effect on people, which he greatly enjoyed. 

He’d never get tired of seeing people’s eyes widen in fear when they realized he was about to end their careers lives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dr. Gaul?”

Coriolanus’s voice echoed through the empty lab. The only living beings in sight were mutations, which chirped, hissed, and mewled quietly in their cages.

“Back here, Mr. Snow.”

He followed the doctor’s voice until he spotted her at the very back of the lab. She was staring at a couple of sketched designs, both of which were labeled as mutts to include the next Hunger Games. 

“I need help,” Coriolanus said, hanging his satchel on the back of a chair. “It’s Bellova. She’s back to her old self.”

“And how exactly did that happen?” The doctor’s voice was deadly quiet, making Coriolanus fidget uncomfortably.

“I-I don’t know. I went to go shower, and when I went back to her bedroom, she attacked me with a knife. I knocked her out after a bit of a struggle, and I came here.” 

Dr. Gaul frowned, her horrifying eyes narrowing. “Perhaps she finally was able to fight the altercations the serum made to her mind, and regain control.” 

“Maybe,” Coriolanus said. “But I need to get her back under. I can’t have her telling everyone about…about everything I’ve done.” 

Dr. Gaul sighed, setting down her papers. “Bring her here tomorrow morning. Once she wakes she will undoubtedly be hostile, so you’ll need to threaten her with violence to get her to comply. By the time she arrives in my lab, I will have an experimental room ready specifically to perform tests on her.”

“What tests?“

The doctor grinned crookedly. “We will see if she can be persuaded to behave the way you want. If so, we can keep her off the serum. But if not, we will keep her here until I develop a new formula that will keep her mind malleable and vulnerable, allowing you to have full control.”

“And what if neither of those work?”

Dr. Gaul shrugged nonchalantly. 

“Then we will dispose of her. We can’t have anything getting in the way of your success, can we, Mr. Snow?”

Coriolanus smirked. 

“No, we certainly can’t.” 

✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊

TAGLIST: @daenerysqueenofhearts, @squidscottjeans, @euphemiaamillais, @gracieroxzy, @effectwalker, @vxnilla-hxrddrugs, @mystargirl-interlude

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments! It may take me a bit to write the next chapter, and the story will start having longer, more frequent time skips, because we’ll be getting into Coriolanus’s career as a Gamemaker, and then his transition into politics.

Also, let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

[empressofthewind]

Hi! I've been rereading some of your meta posts and I really enjoy hearing your opinions. I don't know if you've talked about this before, but why do you think Near said "If you can't win the game, if you can't solve the puzzle, you are just a loser"? Does he really think L is a loser? (I don't remember if that line is in the manga, but it's in the anime). And thanks again for your awesome posts :)

Hi Ray!!! Thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoy them 🥰💕 this line IS also in the manga, and I don't think I've talked about it before but it's definitely something I've thought about! If you take Volume 13 as canon, then there is technically an answer to this, which you can see on the top line here (I've also typed it out in the image description if the text is too small/grainy to read):

This WOULD imply that Near actually thinks L is a loser, so take that as you will lmao. Personally I'm inclined to disagree with this, for two reasons. Firstly, he doesn't seem to extend this way of thinking to Mello when he dies for the same case (or anyone else, for that matter). If he thought dying at Kira's hands made L a loser, then he should theoretically apply that same principle to everyone who died for the case. Secondly, he does seem to have some level of respect for L, although I waver on exactly how much that is - but if he really thought L was just a loser, I don't think he'd wear a mask of his face, keep L's puppet on his finger during his final speech and rule out a potential plan on the basis that "it would be an insult to L".

However, I've included this entire excerpt from his profile because I think there are some other lines here that actually give a few extra clues about what's going on with this line. It's notable to me that three of the four quotes on there have very similar phrasing; "you're nothing but a loser", "you just have to say sorry", "you are just a murderer". He has this way of talking about things that reads as almost a bit dismissive? I don't get the impression that he is actually as impassive as he comes across, especially because the way he talks about Mello is always SO passionate and emotive, but rather I think this is just his way of rationalising things. He breaks them up into smaller parts or metaphors in his head, which makes it easier for him to think about them logically. He weighs up the risks and benefits of everything he does, he's very particular about deciding whether something or someone is worth his time, and I get the impression that he has a fairly symbolic way of thinking which helps him work through real-world dilemmas and keeps him from becoming overwhelmed.

So with that in mind, my interpretation of this line is that he compares the Kira case to a game or a puzzle, and thus instead of having to grapple with L's death, he thinks of it like losing a game. It's similar to him making puppets to represent people in his real life, knocking over his dice tower while most of the SPK members are collapsing around him and tipping out his puzzle while he delivers the line in question. This is also reflected throughout the rest of the series in the way he talks about the Kira case. He very consistently refers to the investigation as a game and thinks of it in terms of winning or losing, which I think makes it easier for him to reconcile with the consequences. The moment he learns about L's death, he knows there's an incredibly high chance that he will have to take over the case himself, and at this point, he's 13 with presumably zero real-world detective experience; only whatever training Wammy's House put them through. So if the world's best detective - who's been in that line of work for 15 years and has solved every case he's ever taken on - just died trying to solve this one, it has very scary implications for Near and Mello. Thus, while I honestly don't think he was as cut up about L's death as Mello and Roger were, it certainly wasn't good news, and thinking of it this way makes it easier for him to process.

I hope this makes sense!! Thanks again for the compliments, these are always my favourite posts to make :-)

[gx-gameon]

Yugi adopting Jaden part 2

Start - next

Yugi and Solomon talk the whole night. Planning out how they can do this and the practicality of it. (Where will Jaden sleep? Do they have the money? Can Yugi continue going to college?) a lot of hard conversations but Yugi is determined.

Solomon is so proud of his grandson but also sad in that Yugi is only 18. He’s always had so much pressure on him, and now that he’s free to be a young adult he is choosing to take in a child. Solomon couldn’t be more proud but this is a sacrifice. One Yugi is willing choosing to make.

Yugi gets all the paper work in order. He’s looked up everything he needs and knows this is going to be a long process, but before he can start it there is someone he needs to talk to.

He goes to the orphanage the next day and tells them that he wants to adopt. And they laugh at him at first, he is very young. Yugi shakes it off and continues, “I’d like to adopt Jaden Yuki.” No one is laughing now. They are looking at him like a man walking towards his death and Yugi is so curious to know why that is the reaction this gets. But he can’t ask because they are moving so fast.

Jaden is dragged in by one of the adults. They’re dragging the poor boy, his arm caught in a far to tight grip, and Yugi wants nothing more than to take Jaden far away from here. But he still needs to do something.

Jaden looks up at him and his expression goes from fear to excitement. “Yugi!” The adults get mad at him telling him to ‘be respectful’ and call him ‘Mr. Mouto.’

Yugi tells them to leave it and walks over to Jaden. He kneels down in front of the boy and tells him. “Jaden I have a question for you. And you can tell me no. But I want to adopt you. Are you okay with that?” Yugi wants this to be Jaden’s choice.

The boy doesn’t even think about it. He launches himself into Yugi sobbing, “yes! Please!” And Yugi just scoops the boy up holding him close. He stand up with Jaden still in his arms, the boys little arms wrapped around his neck and his little face buried in Yugi’s neck. He moves to sign whatever papers they need. He asks how long it will be before he can take Jaden with him, there’s a process to this, and no matter how much he wants to take Jaden and run he knows he has to do this the right way.

But the orphanage says he can take him today. When Yugi asks about home visits or check ins they tell him “not to worry.” Or “ there won’t be any of those.” And okay, either this is the worst orphanage ever or they really want to be rude of Jaden.

Yugi takes Jaden back upstairs to his little cubby of a room. (It’s so small, Yugi can’t imagine a child living here) and gather all of Jaden’s possessions. There aren’t main to grab. Then Yugi scoops his boy back up and walks out of that orphanage forever. He doesn’t put Jaden down again until they reach Domino. (Holding him through the walk through town and the train ride)

They make their way to Kame Game shop where Solomon is able to meet his new greatgrandson. And instantly the old man is spoiling the little boy rotten. They give him Yugi’s mom’s room. After Yugi graduated high school his mom moved out to live with his dad in America, so the room is open. Jaden is thrilled to have his own space.

And so they settle the little boy in for the next few days. It is in the first night that Yugi learns that Jaden has horrific nightmares. Things the little boy can’t remember when he wakes up. But both the spirits of Silent Magician and Dark Magician Girl are telling Yugi that his dreams have to do with the spirit world. Which is weird because Jaden can’t see spirits, and has no magic signature. It’s almost like he’s been cut off from that realm…

Jaden wakes up screaming the first night and Yugi goes to check on him. Jaden asks if Yugi will stay with him. He feels safe when Yugi is around, and how can Yugi refuse after that. This is how it goes for the first few nights.

Yugi eventually gets tired of having more questions than answers and looks into Jaden’s past. But it’s empty. His medical records, school records, even the boys birth certificate is missing the parents names. Yugi has no idea how that is even possible. So he goes to the only person who might be able to help him find some answers.

He leaves Jaden with Solomon tell them he’ll be back in a few hours, and he heads to Kaiba Corp. if anyone can find Jaden’s files it’s the Kaiba brothers.

But when he gets there Mokuba is in a panic. It’s been a month since Seto launched himself into the afterlife and he’s still not back yet.

Yugi arrives and is brought to Mokuba. He’s about to ask for help when Mokuba cuts him off. “I was just about to send for you. You have to help me Yugi. Seto wanted to duel the Pharaoh again so he built this machine that lets him travel between dimensions. But he left a month ago and he’s not back yet. I’ve got this new way to get him but I can’t go after him because I don’t have a connection to ancient Egypt. But you do. Please you have to help me find Seto!”

And Yugi is going through it. What do you mean. Seto built a machine to go duel Atem again? A week ago he would have left in that moment, but he can’t now. He’s got Jaden. If he doesn’t come back what happens to Jaden?

Mokuba can see Yugi hesitating and he begs him again. “Please I can’t lose my brother.” And Yugi knows he’s going, but he needs to take care of Jaden first.

“I’ll go Mokuba but I need you to do something for me while I’m gone.” Yugi explains already making a mental plan.

“Anything!” Mokuba is so releaved that Yugi is going after Seto. But he is a little surprised at Yugi’s request. It’s not like Yugi to ask for favors in return, though he did come here on his own, he probable needed something and that’s why he arrived at Kaiba Corp.

Yugi explains Jaden and their situation. “You see I adopted a four year old named Jaden Yuki.” Mokuba’s world goes side ways. Yugi adopted a kid? Why?

“Why?” Mokuba can’t help but ask. And he kinda wishes he didn’t once Yugi explains the situation to him. The knows exactly how poorly and orphanage can treat the kids it houses. He’s so amazed that Yugi adopted a kid. When Yugi asks him to look into Jaden’s past. That all the records are blocked, sealed, or destroyed. Mokuba is all over it. “You can count on me!”

Yugi knows he can but there is something else he has to do before he leaves. “Thank you Mokuba. Give me a few hours to make sure Jaden is taken care of, then I’ll be ready to go.” Mokuba agrees easily. As much as he wants Seto back he knows this is important to. He even offers to have Jaden stay with him at Kaiba Corp while Yugi is away. Yugi takes him up in the offer but wants some one else with them. If Jaden is drawling the attention of the spirit world in his dreams, Yugi doesn’t want to leave him without having and experiences duelist there to watch over his son.

So he calls Joey.

“Hey pal! Long time no see. What you go to college and become to good for your old friend Wheeler?” Yugi can hear the joking tone Joey is putting forward, but he can also hear the hurt in his voice and it’s now that he realizes that he’s hasn’t called Joey since he started meeting Jaden in the park. The little boy really absorbed Yugi’s world and he hasn’t told anyone about him.

Yugi feels awful. It’s not like him to leave behind a friend. With Téa in America and Tristian working at his father’s business he knows Joey had to be feeling as alone as he has. But he’s been so distracted by school and Jaden he hasn’t reach out in almost two months. “Joey I’m really sorry that I haven’t called you but I need your help. Can you meet me at the game shop?”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Joey doesn’t ask any follow up questions. If Yugi needs him, he’ll be there. Sure their relationship has been experiencing some growing pains with Yugi in college and Joey trying to make it as a pro-duelist, but Yugi is still his best friend.

Yugi runs home, Joey hung up right after he told him he’d be there so Yugi didn’t get to tell him he wasn’t home. Yugi gets home to see Joey waiting outside for him.

“Yugi what’s up? Gramps made me wait outside and everything. Whats going on?” Joey moves towards Yugi as soon as he sees him. Whatever this was, it was big.

When he showed up, Gramps had asked him if he had talked to Yugi. When Joey responded with ‘ya he asked me to meet him here.’ Gramps had looked at him and asked ‘so you know?’ Joey responding with ‘know what?’ Probably wasn’t his best response, considering Gramps had immediately chased him out of the store.

He was worried. He had thought all the fate of the world crap was behind them. But if Yugi was being targeted again Joey would stand by his side, there’s no doubt about it

“Joey I-” Yugi has no idea how to explain what’s going on. He takes a deep breath. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time.” Joey’s ready for anything. His mind is run through the options. Evil cult, already beat one. Ancient culture come to destroy them, done that twice. Kaiba being a jerk, when isn’t he. Whatever it is they can handle it.

“Alright well it all started about 2 months ago.” Yugi proceeds to tell Joey about how he met Jaden. How people treated him. How Yugi started spending time with the kid. How he started to care and eventually adopted the kid.

“You adopted him?!” Joey had been just as upset as Yugi was upon hearing how people treated the little boy. But he was shocked by Yugi’s decision. It was a big decision after all. Huge! But Joey couldn’t see his little buddy doing anything different, and he knows that Yugi thought this decision out way more than he would have. So there is only one thing he can say. “Well what are we standing outside for? Can I meet him?”

Yugi had been ready for any number of lectures. He’s 18 and he just adopted a kid. Joey could have named any number of reasons why that was a bad idea. But instead Joey just wanted to meet Yugi’s son. He was so luck to have such a good best friend.

Continue here

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

So I decided to rewatch the Hunger Games movies again (still haven't watched all of Ballad, but have seen a few clips), as I haven't done so in around 10 years. And holy hell. It is a lot darker than I remembered, and has A LOT of layers to it.

But then I did what I like to call the "game comparing". Which is the most mess up? Squid Game or the Hunger Games? And to be honest, I believe the Hunger Games is far cruller than the Squid Game. And I will tell you why.

Squid Game (stille haven't watched the second season) is very crul. No doubt about it. But only adults are given the "opportunity" to enter the game. The Salesman sugar coats it, and make it sound like it's a way out of their suffering. But they have the opportunity to refuse. They have to make an active decision, and call in to say that they want to take part. And even as they find themselfes in the games, they can take a vote, and decide wether or not they want to continue playing. Heck, they can even get a few days at home and decide wether or not they want to go back to the game. Granted, we don't know what happens to the people that refuse. And the biggest of them all - most of the players in Squid Game, as a small idea of how the games work, having played many of them as children. Not only that, but they are given food (unless they need to shake up the game), provided toilets and showers. And they can't just all kill each other between games (again, unless it's to shake up the game), as that would cut the show very short. Also, one thing that may often be overlooked, it's not streamed for their families to see, but only the rich that are willing to put money into the game.

Hunger Games on the other hand, is crul as fuck. Children are made to fight for the death, due to something their ancestors did. They don't have a say in the matter, and now from the very start, that they will most likely die, after YEARS of their hunger or having been trained to kill. Their childhood is gone before it had even begone. If they want to live, they have to add their name one more time. If nobody volenter for them, they're done for it. They have no idea what the arena is going to be like. They are feed up before the game, getting used to a certain amount of food for two weeks, before being sent in somewhere, with no food, unless they fight and kill for it. No toilets, no showers, no beds, no medicine. They can do whatever they like to do, killing each other in whatever way they see fit. The only time someone "broke the rules", was Titus from District 6, started to eat his victims after he had killed them. The whole thing is being sent live, and people HAVE to watch it, meaning that parents have to watch their own children being killed or kill each other. They have to bend themselves to the rules, and act like they enjoy it, so that the rich will sponsor them. And should they win the game and come out alive, it doesn't end there. If they are pretty they will get prostetuted for the riches. They are seperated from the rest of their District, yet they don't get to live in peace with riches and food, like a winner of the Squid Games would. It's not over, and it never will be over. Either you die in your District, you die in the game, or you die as a representitive of the Capitol in their respective District.

Both are horrible, but I think Hunger Games is way worse than Squid Game. But I rather not do any of them.

[corviiids]

hi!! for the fic writing ask game please~ 🎀 and 🌅

thank you <3

🎀 how do you decide when something is done?

no joke it's usually when im too sick of looking at it to keep it any longer and that is a deliberate choice by me. my perfectionism is literally disabling so ive really been training myself to, like, once i hit a point with a work that i think of as 'saturation' where i realise im no longer making any meaningful changes to it and instead im just reading it over and over being dissatisfied, i just swallow the discomfort and force myself to put it out there. in this way the sharing becomes not even really the end goal, it's more like a tool i use to demarcate the end of a process that i know will only stretch into perpetuity and hurt me. im like, it's out there, to an extent it is finalised (i know i can edit it still but ykwim), it's done, i am both giving myself permission and forcing myself to stop turning it over now. the end. i will be at peace with my creation i have no choice

🌅 do you typically known the ending to something before you start writing it?

the short answer is no and the long answer is literally almost never. there have been some very rare occasions where i wrote something wanting to reach a particular point, but for the most part my writing experience is that a premise or even a single line flies directly into my skull and bounces around in there until i start fleshing it out. i tend to find my writing suffers or even just peters out if i try to outline... although this is something i am trying to get better at especially if i want to write more longform stuff for which structure is a lot more necessary... but for oneshots in particular i have recently been basically doing a thing (as part of my Writing For Fun, Remember Fun? campaign @ myself in my own brain) where i just start writing and just keep going and somewhere around the middle i conceive of what could potentially be an ending and then from that point i write towards it.

frankly even for longfic i rarely know the end. i started writing palacefic in 2019 and only really figured out how it was going to end like, last year or this year? that initial outline was super detailed for the first few chapters but it ended around what is now about chapter 7 or 8. i am really myopic when it comes to plotting. it's not that i didn't want to see the ending, i genuinely just can't see past a certain point. again this is something id like to get better at just for skill building because this is not an approach that would work for every project -- however i honestly do enjoy writing this way and i also like the work i have created this way... all my published death note fic for example is like this

fic asks <3

[luinhealthcare]

Hello lovely Lofty❤️

What would you say is the pros and cons of EMS work?? Or like, things you would say to someone looking to be an EMT?

I have a full time job I don't plan on leaving, but tbh learning about what you do and reading your stories has kind of put it on my heart and I was curious if volunteer EMT jobs are a thing. Like, getting all the training done and then volunteering when I can?

Idk, I was just curious if you had anything to say regarding this😅

I could probably google some of this info but if if you feel like answering it would be appreciated! I value your opinion❤️

Ok, give me just a sec—*SQUEALS excitedly into pillow*

Hello Anon! :D That’s so exciting to hear!! I’m glad you’d rather just do it volunteer, as career EMS pays very little (my nursing job is what keeps a roof over my head, not my EMS one lol), but nearly every agency in my area has volunteers so I imagine it’s the same for your area!

So general pros and cons for EMS:

Pros

Tight knit work crew - These people see some bad things together, and trauma bonding is a thing, so they tend to be pretty close and have a lot of fun together. A note of care, we all have dark senses of humor. It’s a natural coping mechanism for people, and it can make life really funny too. But generally, working with EMS providers is quite fun! There will probably also be things like banquets, cookouts, and other fun bonding activities!

Boo boo bus - Driving is one of my least favorite parts of the job, but it is very fun to drive the truck around with lights and sirens and have the power to stop traffic and go through a red light lol. Super dangerous, but very fun

Knowledge - You learn so much in EMS! Medicine and our understanding of diseases and injuries is constantly changing, so you’ll always learn something new if you keep up with your training. Speaking of which, your agency will provide training opportunities to help you grow!

Patient care - You’ll find that the majority of your calls aren’t actually emergencies, but when you can actually take care of someone who needs you, you’re gonna ride that adrenaline high for ages. I still remember calls from years ago where I actually made a difference in someone’s life, and it’s a thrilling feeling.

Shift style - We work in 12-24 hour blocks, which means you knock out your work week in 2-3 days. As a volunteer your hour requirement would be much less than 36, but you could knock out a 24 hour monthly requirement in a single day if you wanted. Also, depending on a few factors (day vs night shift, busyness of your run area), you could literally just be spending your time chilling between calls. Sometimes I bring video games to work and play the switch because we have so much downtime. At night we get paid to just sleep if nobody’s calling 911.

Cons

Management/staffing - Like most jobs, somehow we’re all cursed with idiots in charge. Obviously this is variable, but a general trend in EMS is to overwork its people and toss them out to sea before they sometimes feel ready. And also like most jobs, we’re perpetually short staffed and everyone gets stretched thin to make up for it. Luckily for you, this shouldn’t be as big a problem because volunteers are usually treated very well!

Patient care - It’s a pro but it’s a con too. 85% of your calls are going to be for things that people should have never called 911 for. Your big pretty Boo Boo Bus is mostly going to be an Uber. And it will get frustrating, and you will have frequent flyers, and some people are not kind at all. They’ll call for your help and then get pissed off at you for trying to help. Anyone who’s worked customer service can relate, I’m sure. You get trained to handle life and death emergencies and then instead you’re picking someone up for a cough they’ve had for three days and you’re wondering when you became their mother/father and have to take the baby to the doctor when they haven’t tried anything to take care of themselves at home or see a less urgent health facility. It will burn you out if you’re not careful.

TMI - Speaking of patient care, get ready to see people at their absolute lowest. Hoarder houses, maggots, abusive households, all that jazz. Another reason for trauma bonding with your coworkers! 👍🏻 (This won’t be the majority of your calls, but you’ll see them)

Physical strain - If you don’t take care of your body, this job will hurt you. I’ve thrown my back three times working EMS; there were times where I was hobbling around like an 83-year-old and I was 22. You’ll be lifting patients of every weight, you’re gonna be contorted in weird positions trying to splint someone, CPR is a cardio exercise in itself (lol), you will probably be sore after some calls like you just went to the gym. Also, we don’t take meal breaks - you eat when you can, and you will become a speed eater very quickly in this line of work.

Mental strain - You’re gonna learn a lot about yourself and others in this work. How do you cope with stress? You will watch people die, you will see suicides and shootings and stabbings, you will watch family hurt each other and grieve over lost loved ones. You will be on edge for the majority of your shift as you wait for the tones to drop, you will be stressed trying to find an address or navigate the road and make sure nobody gets into a wreck with you. Military and first responders are so alike because the stress level and distribution is quite similar - downtime with boredom gets interspersed with spikes of huge adrenaline rushes. Have good coping skills, have a strong support system, take care of yourself. 95% of the people I know on duty are in therapy to stay sane.

Overall, I adore EMS. If I could survive off EMS pay I’d work it full time and do nursing as a side gig for funsies lol. The majority of the work is fairly mundane, but when you get to make a difference boy do you get to make a difference. And you’ll have so many funny stories to share. And the people are awesome.

Hope this helps! :D

[felixravinstills]

Hi, we’ve not met but I’ve been thinking about this post of yours & it also has me going insane. Funnily enough, I made a Tik tok about this ages ago but I also wrote it so I’ll just put that in. I just love discoing the education in the Capitol v Districts, it’s one of few things I was surprised of in the TBOSBAS and sooo happy to dissect!

We know in the districts that they just have a constant, pre-k to high school public-school like education system that is heavily doctored and monitored by the government. We also have the training academies which most think of as an after-school program, but that’s still ultimately funded by and for the government to continue the cycle of propaganda and indoctrination.

Now what we learn in TBOSBAS is fascinating because although it has the same foundation as the districts with it being heavily propagandized, but they have the option (or opportunity if they are financially stable or have enough nepotism) to continue their education after their time at The Academy. The idea of The University as this inaccessible, elitist symbol for Capitol children to strive for as a way to grow and climb the social/political/economic ladder of the city is the complete opposite of the idea of education in the districts.

School is where children go to get their daily dose of propaganda, then if they’re old enough, they go to work. And so-on and so-on until they are reaped or graduate and dedicate their lives to their trades, their slavery.

The education system in The Capitol is a symbol of hope for success, whereas in the districts it is a symbol of stagnancy until work or death.

Hi! Yes, education in Panem is really interesting to think about, and I love what you've pointed out here! It is really interesting the juxtaposition of how education is framed in the Districts vs. the Capitol.

I was talking with other people once about the other schools in the Capitol as Coriolanus mentions other secondary schools. I wonder how much a disparity there might be between those schools and the Academy (I mean they apparently end school sooner in the year than the Academy, so that already feels like a big difference if the Academy, so I'm sure there are other differences). The Academy of course seems to be the premiere secondary school in the city with potentially special ties to the University? (It would make sense since the Capitol's leading families all go to the Academy but they also are geographically close to each other since Snow can walk from the University to the Academy in the Epilogue).

It would be interesting if as you point out the education system in the Capitol is seen as a hope for success, but due to the requirements (tuition and whatever academic standards have to be met), it is actually mostly the affluent students from the Academy attending. Maybe, the Capitol presents itself as a meritocracy but still preferring the already wealthy and elite families. Coriolanus does mention that the University has more people and more types of people (Ch. 19), but for me, it would make sense that the actual statistical breakdown would show a majority of the students coming from the Academy.

Referencing the University with a capital U most of the time, also leads me to believe that it is the only university in the Capitol? Although the occasional uses of lowercase university does make it possible that there are others.

I often wonder about the middle to lower class of the Capitol since Coriolanus mentions in TBOSAS that there's a bit of an unemployment crisis going on. I suppose there is a bit of an implication that the Games might be providing new jobs in the future to help with that though as they gain popularity though, and joining the Peacekeepers seems like a common enough thing to do.

Anyway, it's a bit sleepy writing this, so sorry, if it's a bit ramble-y/if there isn't really anything too insightful in here, but again, what you brought up is really cool! It makes me want to re-read the OG Trilogy to remember more of the smaller worldbuilding details (education-based and otherwise!)

[blackjackkent]

Oh man, there's a lot here in the graveyard. Karlach's parents are buried here and she asked Hector if they could stop and say hi.

Of course Hector beelined for it. <3 This was an incredibly sweet little moment and as usual, her VA and facial animation are making me cry.

"Here lies Pluck and Caerlack Cliffgate. My parents. Hi mum. Hi dad."

"Sorry I haven't visited. I've been... away. But I'm back now! And I brought friends."

She and Hector exchanged a cute little glance here.

"I miss you so much. But I'm happy. And getting up to some really important shit."

"Maybe you can see for yourselves. I don't know."

"You're with me here, anyway. Taters."

Hector has just been listening to this and watching her with a gentle smile on his face. "Taters?" he asks softly, when she seems to have run out of words.

She laughs, just a little shakily. "Meant 'I love you' in the Cliffgate household. I can't even remember how it started anymore. Lost family lore."

(A/N: What an incredibly sweet, detailed little character note, holy shit.)

"There was a lot of silly nonsense in our house." Her gaze is distant, drifting through memories long gone. "My mates used to say we had our own personal language. I guess I'm the last remaining speaker." Her smile flickers slightly.

He reaches out and takes her hand, feeling his heart twist a little in his chest. For not the first time nor the last, he is struck by how brutally unfair her lot has been, to be pulled from a loving family and a life she was happy in, and instead thrust into the torment of the Hells with no possibility of escape. To have lost both her past and her future to the greed of Gortash and the cruelty of Zariel.

Deep at the back of his mind, so deep that he barely even acknowledges it himself - he is a little jealous, too, of the kindness and warmth and love she describes in her childhood, something that for all his contentment at the monastery, was never truly part of his life. But he is also deeply grateful that she had it - that it molded her into the kind woman that he loves, molded her so strongly that the Hells couldn't beat it out of her.

"Mum used to say there was no such thing as death," Karlach goes on thoughtfully. "That there was only change. Dad thought that was a load of woo. That gone meant gone, unless you'd struck a deal with one of the gods. Said he had better things to do in life than beg favors off immortals."

She draws a heavy breath, absently interlacing her fingers with his. "I'm not sure what I believe."

He is quiet for a few moments, thinking. He is, of course, trained in the dogma of the Selunites and could speak quite knowledgeably on the workings of the gods - at least such as it was taught to him - but he doesn't think she really wants a lecture on the City of Judgment and its uncertain outcomes right now.

She is thinking ahead to her own impending mortality. She wants comfort, something that is hopeful, and his voice giving it to her.

"Your mum was right," he says softly. "Our bodies become soil, water, air. We don't die, we just change..."

To his relief, he sees her expression relax slightly.

"Nice thought, isn't it?" she murmurs. "This grass could be my mum's hair. The air in my lungs might be my dad telling me 'taters.'" She smiles, leans her shoulder against his gently. "I like that."

------

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 I love Karlach so much, you guys.

The game didn't give me the opportunity, unfortunately, but Hector absolutely starts saying 'Taters' to her in place of 'I love you' sometimes. Not all the time, but just here and there, so she's not the last carrier of the tradition, and so she knows he's listening and will remember - both her and her parents.

Once again including the recording of this scene here because Karlach's VA and facial animations are really half of what make her scenes so affecting.

[obuoliukai]

Were your Durge/Tavs inspired by characters from other movies/shows/literature?

I got tagged by the wonderful @adorablebanite 🍎🖤 (I was so happy to learn more about Lilla and thank you so much for showing interest in mine character!!)

I never really posted much about my Durge Mercy because I really wanted to make some cool art (which would mean I need to get better at drawing haha) so I kept procrastinating.

To put it simply - my headcanon is that she's basically two different people. But not at the same time might I add.

Before the evens of the game while she still had her memory she was a Bhaalist and a snobbish sorceress. She was talented and smart but incredibly anti-social and spent most of her time alone reading or doing some research. She believed that other people are beneath her and are not worth her time. But at the same time she wasn't as evil as you might think. I always imaged her having True Neural alignment.

"True Neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction." (taken from here)

So I really like her ominous and cold demeanor, being apathetic about most things in life and having big "leave me alone" energy. And I especially like that "lack of conviction" fits her very well. Basically she has no strong faiths, beliefs or morals and although she was a Bhaalist she never really gave too many fucks about it (she did not join the cult willingly but at some point just stopped caring).

Rustin Cohle (True Detective) and Death (Supernatural)

Now when you start the game, she wakes up with no memories and additionally my headcanon is that she lost the ability to use magic as well. And I gave it a good think. If a person would wake up with no special abilities and no memory, what class would they be? Obviously, Sorcerer and Wizard are out; you don't immediately start worshiping a god so Clerics are out (and remember she's now much of a believer because of her lack of conviction); you don't immediately sell your soul to the devil so Warlock is out and so on. Until I was left with Barbarian.

So after she woke up on the Nautiloid she picked up a sword and just started swinging it chaotically hoping she would hit someone (a Fighter doesn't fit because she had no training and Paladin doesn't work because she certainly not gonna swear an oath). And Barbarian class also works with her repressed anger issues after so many years of living in apathy.

She then met some people that completely changed her life. She became willing to help someone because it's the right thing to do. Once she began caring about others, it became clear that she would do anything to protect them. I would say her alignment changed to Neutral Good because she had that "I'm not a hero I'm just a person trying to do good" mentality. Which means she didn't think she was a good person but she just chose to do good things. While she cannot control her urges, she tries her best to control her actions. Her way of achieving things is usually morally good but not necessarily lawful.

"Neutral Good characters value life and freedom above all else, and despise those who would deprive others of them. They sometimes find themselves forced to work beyond the law, yet for the law, and the greater good of the people." (once again, taken from here)

She's ready to take down gods because they abused their power and played with mortals. She's intelligent and bold enough to pull out some crazy stunts in order to protect loved ones. And she's not afraid to sacrifice herself while doing so.

Ahsoka Tano (Clone Wars) and Sirius Black (Harry Potter)

Thank you so much for reading! 🍎🍎🍎

One small note: I couldn't figure out a second character for my Redemption Ark Durge so I asked my boyfriend what character he would recommend. And he said Shrek as a joke but it kind of fits. And now I can't stop thinking about it. Like how at the start all he wanted was to be left alone but then he made a few friends, found love and became a better person. How he's not a typical hero you would imagine same as Mercy and oh my god-

My Durge is basically Shrek

[kydrogendragon]

WIP Word Train

Rules: tagger gives a word, then for each letter of that word you share a sentence/excerpt from your wips that start with that letter.

Tagged by @seiya-starsniper! Thank you for this fun wip game, I liked it a lot! My word was BITE (fuck yea):

---B--- (MelJayVik Poly Meme fic)

But he doesn't. Instead, strong hands are under his arms, holding him up off the floor. His eyes follow the familiar limbs, head feeling quite heavy as he lifts it. Gravity, it seems, decides to still exist. And has gotten stronger as well. Very cruel of it. “Are you all right?” Viktor's eyes watch Jayce's  lips move but the sound doesn't reach him until a few seconds later. He nods, clearly taking too long based on Jayce's frown. “Fine,” he slurs, using Jayce's strength to pull himself back to his feet. Someone else holds out his cane back to him, hands decked out in golden jewelry against dark skin.

---I--- (Jayce getting horny over Viktor's back brace)

It's not until Jayce is home for the weekend, filtering through his bedroom for an old journal, does he realize just why Viktor's brace gets him going. It's obvious, in hindsight. The box carefully stashed away with both full magazines as well as cut-outs of scantily clad ladies hides in an abandoned corner. Jayce chuckles to himself as he sorts through them, remembering the time his mother almost found his porn stash. And then it hits him.

---T--- (HexReversal)

There were few things that Viktor was certain of. Science, was one. Even with the new discoveries made and the errors in it’s interpretation by man, the universe worked as it does. Mystifying to some, but always with rules. Even if experiments failed, it was not because of how the world worked, but merely the parameters in which they tried to force it to fit. Another thing was death. More specifically his death. He knew the moment he’d heard the words Trencher’s Lung uttered to his mother when he was young that he would not be here long. He knew his time was limited. He also knew that with it, he would do everything he could to make his life count. He also knew with certainty that he would die much sooner than those he grew to love would. Than Jayce would. It was a simple fact. An unbending rule of the universe. Which is why his brain refuses to comprehend the sight before him. The sight of Jayce’s body lying under the broken stone column.

---E--- (Also from HexReversal)

Enforcers carry Jayce’s limp body back to the lab on Mel’s request. Viktor tries not to look. His crutch, thankfully, survived the attack. He’s not sure whether it is simply luck or because it was crafted by Jayce that it barely had a scratch on it. The moment Jayce is placed on one of their desks, Viktor tells them to leave. They only do so once Mel assures them it was okay to do so. She stays. Of course, she stays.

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No Pressure Tags: @pumpkinkingsalem @virgo-dream and @cuubism

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