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alchemistc · 7 months ago

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Please be aware I am two screening this bitch, I haven't pulled out my second screen since I quit my desk job.

"He's like a one-man Suicide Squad."

When I tell you I've never heard a more accurate description of Evan Buckley IN MY LIFE.

they watch as Vincent Gerrard uses the distraction of B Shift heading home to duck behind one of the engines a grinning demon rounds the corner and makes a bee-line for him

This is what I'm picturing in this moment:

"So, which one of you said 'spreadsheet' three times in a mirror?"

WHY IS RAVI THE FUNNIEST PERSON ALIVE

"He's everywhere, always, just waiting for you to slip up."

Eddie your latent Catholicism is showing

It's the only clipboard that has ever fucked.

Yeah actually YOU are the funniest person who has ever existed I cannot describe the wheeze I wheezed but both of my tiny dogs and my very large boyfriend were legitimately concerned I was going to stop breathing when I read this.

Tommy had pulled it out of a bag and presented it on one knee like he was proposing, or bestowing a sword to a king. The entire brewery was then given front-row seats to an intense game of tonsil hockey that nearly went into overtime until Eddie threatened to call Athena because Bobby looked like he was seriously reconsidering sobriety

The freak4freak agenda is real

T.K. 07:27am: I'm offering 3 nights of free babysitting to the first person who delivers

Not Tommy offering up free babysitting KNOWING that what Clipboard Buck does for him, "Uncle Tommy" does for Buck, OH YOU NASTY THOMAS KINARD

Tommy's typing indicator appears, then disappears. Then appears and disappears again. Then appears—

Me: Oh they're perfect for each other. Chim, .5 seconds later:

"Those two were made in a lab for each other, I swear to god."

And now I'm emotional and also losing my shit with laughter.

"Don't worry, Melanie! This is something to bring up during Thursday's workplace conflict seminar."

Evan Buckley no one is doing it like you.

"[...]Just need you to sign off on everything. Sir."

Yeah Tommy isn't the only one getting something out of this. Hot damn Buckley.

If he sees his shadow on the firehouse wall, it's 6 more hours of bullshit.

STFU I'm so obsessed with your turns of phrase and the complete irreverence of your humor, I want to shove you into a wall and gently forehead kiss you. Consensually.

"Three nights of free babysitting? I'm not proud."

Lies, Hen, you know this is gonna get Buck laid, and then Tommy laid, this is mutually beneficial for ALL THREE OF YOU.

Buck looks up, flashes a grin, and the second he clocks the phone he salutes it with the clipboard.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall the day Buck realizes his completely uncontrollable Control Freak double identity is a turn on for his boyfriend and he realizes he can weaponize it for good AND evil.

"I'm not a probie anymore," Ravi whines. "You can't haze me like this."

Baby boy you signed on to work with the biggest team of gentle bullies this side of the Rockies, you'd better get used to this shit.

"You do this and I'll make sure you're not sitting anywhere near Buck and Tommy when Taylor drops the bomb about Gerrard and Ortiz."

Absolutely fucking obsessed with how every single one of them has come to accept that their two weirdo friends are just so DOWN BAD for each other that they will inevitably horn it up in public for increasingly batshit reasons.

'Oh, Buck's ex who they enlisted in secret and who probably spent a month in Buck's kitchen red-stringing tentative leads while they eye-fucked each other is about to get their hateful boss fired? Yeah they're gonna make out about it shamelessly in the middle of Hen's kitchen.'

(Karen has a spray bottle labelled "Improbable Kink Stopper" literally just for Buck and Tommy)

I swear to fucking god I want to make out with your brain.

I'm also gonna blame you for my cough acting up again but it's possible I laughed so hard I actually dislodged some stubborn mucus so thank you, maybe?

Return of the Mack

For @alchemistc. Hope you feel better soon!

At the fire academy, three things are beaten out of every trainee: fear, a normal sleep schedule, and the social influences that prevent one from intervening in the event of an emergency. Some have jokingly called the third one the Anti-Bystander Effect, because if someone needs assistance—whether it's to stop an assault, run into a burning building, or help a little old lady find a quarter she dropped—a firefighter will immediately rush in to save the day. It's a special brand of classical conditioning that instills an elevated sense of responsibility in every trainee, and it's paid in full by the state of California.

Which is why it's so odd for there to be three capable firefighters standing around doing nothing while there's an old man clearly in need of dire assistance. If the LAFD higher-ups knew they were actively choosing to watch the carnage unfold instead of lifting a finger to help, they'd all be shitcanned.

Luckily, there's a fourth firefighter on the scene doing the absolute most.

"I thought we made a pact to keep him from using his powers for evil," Eddie says, taking a dispassionate sip of his coffee.

"Is it evil if he's actually using them in service of a greater good?" Hen's attention is half on what's going down and half on the Notes app on her phone, where she's typing out the week's grocery list. "You know, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

Draped over the railing like his bones have melted, Chimney gives a sage nod. "He's like a one-man Suicide Squad."

In the apparatus bay, they watch as Vincent Gerrard uses the distraction of B Shift heading home to duck behind one of the engines, most likely to regroup after being thoroughly ambushed the second he stepped into the station five minutes ago. He slumps back and breathes. The moment of weakness costs him: a grinning demon rounds the corner and makes a bee-line for him as though he can taste blood in the air.

"So, which one of you said 'spreadsheet' three times in a mirror?" Ravi sidles up next to Chimney and unwraps a breakfast burrito from Delia's.

Chimney gives him the stink-eye. "I hope you brought enough for the whole class."

"Nope," Ravi says, taking a cheerful bite.

"None of us summoned him," Eddie says. He leans down to try and catch the conversation being had, but he's too high up. For a second, he thinks he hears the words 'crack whore' but it's probably a trick of the bay's acoustics. "He's everywhere, always, just waiting for you to slip up."

"Like the Devil," Hen says in agreement.

"Or Santa," Chimney adds.

Ravi chews thoughtfully. "I thought we threw out all the clipboards. Who gave him that one?"

"Tommy," Eddie, Hen, and Chimney say through a simultaneous, long-suffering sigh.

It's not just any clipboard. It's the king of clipboards. It's the only clipboard that has ever fucked. The thing is a navy blue polycarbonate beast with "Buckley 118" embossed in fire engine red on the back, and the clip looks like it was forged in the fires of Staples HQ.

At the bi-weekly Beer and Bitch Night last Friday at Golden Road Pub, Tommy had pulled it out of a bag and presented it on one knee like he was proposing, or bestowing a sword to a king. The entire brewery was then given front-row seats to an intense game of tonsil hockey that nearly went into overtime until Eddie threatened to call Athena because Bobby looked like he was seriously reconsidering sobriety.

"Does he know what he's unleashed?" Ravi sounds genuinely curious.

As if on cue, Chimney's, Eddie's, and Hen's phones chime with three incoming messages.

T.K. 07:26am: Has it started? T.K. 07:26am: Remember: you promised one of you would film it T.K. 07:27am: I'm offering 3 nights of free babysitting to the first person who delivers

That last one is followed by a gif of J. Jonah Jameson shouting "Bring me Spiderman!"

Hen frowns down at her phone. "Who the hell is that?"

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Chimney mutters.

H.W. 07:28am: Why are you so desperate for video? E.D. 07:28am: What 40-something year old still uses pinky swears? H.H. 07:28am: Clipboard Buck better not be a weird sex thing for you, Kinard

Tommy's typing indicator appears, then disappears. Then appears and disappears again. Then appears—

"Yeah, no." Chimney hastily pockets his phone. "Those two were made in a lab for each other, I swear to god."

Down in the bay, Gerrard has moved to stand almost directly underneath them. While they can't hear what Gerrard says to Melanie Wu, an electrician so talented she could probably take down the entire grid with her eyes closed, that puts such a dour expression on her face, they can hear it when Buck, popping up behind Gerrard like an insane Jack-in-the-box, and says, "Don't worry, Melanie! This is something to bring up during Thursday's workplace conflict seminar."

"What seminar?!"

Buck isn't cowed. He taps his clipboard and says, "The one I scheduled with Chief Alonso. You know, the mandatory one we all need to do in order to keep our certification—well, we'll keep it as long as nothing comes up during the seminar that might call into question our ability to do the job."

There's a charged moment where it almost looks like Gerrard might take a swing at Buck, but then he notices the audience hanging above him like a Greek chorus and shouts, "Someone'd better top off the fuel and DEF or—"

"Already done, Cap." Buck makes a show of turning to the second page on his clipboard and lists off, "All fuel, DEF, oil, and coolant are set. Tires have been aired up. Hoses have been drained and cleaned, and re-rolled. Engines were all waxed yesterday, all medical supplies have been inventoried and stocked, and I've made a list of the harnesses and cutting torches that need replacing. Just need you to sign off on everything. Sir."

The ingratiating smile on Buck's face would fool even the wiliest of senior officers, and Gerrard himself looks like even he's not sure if what just happened was disrespectful, but they know better.

"Diabolical," Ravi whispers, awed.

Hissing through his teeth, Gerrard spins on his heel and storms away in the direction of the little office in the administrative section of the firehouse where he's taken to holing up like a miserable groundhog until they get a call that forces him back out. If he sees his shadow on the firehouse wall, it's 6 more hours of bullshit.

As soon as he's gone, all the firefighters that had stopped to watch the show burst into laughter and applause, and Buck cracks up, taking sweeping bows and blowing kisses to his adoring fans.

Chimney rolls his eyes and looks to see what Hen's expression is doing, because no one gives good face like she does, but she's holding her phone in a way that clearly means—

"You're filming this?" Chimney demands, betrayed.

She gives an unrepentant shrug. "Three nights of free babysitting? I'm not proud."

Buck looks up, flashes a grin, and the second he clocks the phone he salutes it with the clipboard. Then he struts after Gerrard, calling almost lazily, "Cap, wait up! I wanted to talk about setting up a mock exam for everyone who's planning on taking the TCFP D/O!"

They all watch him go. Silently, Hen sends off the video with the air of someone about to make a drug drop.

"So, when does Taylor Kelly's exposé come out again?" Eddie makes a dubious face in the direction of the administrative offices. "Because I don't know that Gerrard won't off himself before it does."

"We win either way," Chimney points out.

"It comes out next Monday," Hen says, slipping her phone into her pocket and elbowing Chimney in the arm on her way to the stairs. "Karen and I are hosting a watch party that night and you're all invited."

Ravi beams. "Thanks, Hen. I'll definitely be there."

"And you'll be bringing dinner from Taco Azteca—for everybody. Make sure you get enough carne," Chimney calls over his shoulder as he follows Hen.

"I'm not a probie anymore," Ravi whines. "You can't haze me like this."

Snickering, Eddie pats him on the shoulder and says, "You do this and I'll make sure you're not sitting anywhere near Buck and Tommy when Taylor drops the bomb about Gerrard and Ortiz."

"Extra al pastor and buche it is!"

#bucktommy fic rec #if you haven't read everything rcmclachlan has ever written please go to ao3 and remedy that IMMEDIATELY #the highest of recs #reading your work is like basking in a patch of sunlight in a bay window #while a dog chases a mailman down the street slapstick style right outside

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halcyon-hero-head · 2 years ago

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Do you have SK fancams?

Also, I'm a CC shapeshifter truther too! Do you want to compare some evidence I only started following them recently I'm sure there's stuff I've missed 👀

sadly i don't have any sk fancams on me. Yet. biding my time bc if no one else makes them i fucking will.

also as for Copycat being a shapeshifter evidence I guess??? We can like??? Ask her now???? Since she's on here????

#i need a monarch fancam for that one song that's like 'im blond.. im skinny.. im rich.. and im a little bit of a bitch'#like i need air to breathe #also. uthanizer fancam set to to boss bitch WHEN #i need it now.#dont worry anon i have so many ideas for so many fancams #centerfold to the song centerfold just bc i think that's funny #also need shadow king for a boss bitch one #literally all of polar to boss bitch #admin morgan #ask and answered #polar posting

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mikeysbabygirl · 2 years ago

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Mikey is the type to have a crush and won’t do shit about it, but then you get a boyfriend and he’ll beat the fuck out of him and go "i dIdn’t dO shIt" like 'bitch, you still got the blood on yo hands'

But like think about the sex afterward like 😩 i don’t like you or anything, i just fuck you like you’re the only one i need. I swear i don’t like you… i just hold you abit too long after we’re done. Of course it was a mistake, it won’t happen again… until you got a new bitch, in that case, he better know how to catch these hands.

Please I'd be such a whore for him such a cocksucker such an open-

Word count : near to 1000

But YES, I can totally see him denying it 'til his last breath.

Kanto manji were his darkest days, Manjiro had lost it all, family, friends, you were the only one who he let stay.

Well, not really let, but you were too stubborn to leave no matter how blood stained were his deeds. You promised, to yourself, to Shin, and to him to always stay, and you would.

And everyone he allowed to stay around him, mainly the Kanto members could see the invisible red strings tying you together, it seems you two were the only oblivious ones.

No he couldn't afford love, he could not afford happiness.

Those nights were full of lures, no matter how beautiful you looked in his bed, face lit by the moonlight seeping through the window. Yet another slip, another lingering touch of yours in his face got you wrapped in the bedsheets he only yearned to when you were around.

But the morning comes and the other side of the bed would be cold, and you'd leave with grace once again, no word, no question marks.

The ghost of his touches still stinging over your flesh, and you wearing them proudly as your battle scars. Because if he was the king in the darkness, you were his soldier.

Yet someday you'll figure out you deserved better, you'll understand you lost yourself trying to find him, and remove the dagger of him from your heart, start the healing process.

But he never thought that day would come that fast...

Watching from not that far, watching the fire in you burning again after the frozen kingdom he put you through, watching another man lighting you up.

He should be happy for you, he should acknowledge he's no good for you... Instead he felt like losing the last string tying him to life, the path to that dimly lit candle only burning when your hands are on him.

-" What the hell you doin' here ?" You frowned seeing the Haitani brothers coming toward you and your date in the park , Ran couldn't quite tell anything. He liked you a lot, he also knew it was wrong, that you deserved better, but it was his boss' order after all.

-" C'mon, just come with us, don't make it harder than it already is. " That was Rindou, gently grabbing your arm to make you stand up, you glanced up at your date of the night, he stood up, probably ready to stop the Haitani brothers but his face fell as soon as another shadow appeared in the park, some steps away from your bench.

-" Manjiro... ?"

You tried freeing yourself from the boys holding you, no use, their grip was firmer now. Standing in front of you two, Mikey could practically hear the million questions your eyes were sending him, behind the deafening cries of his demons, therefore his eyes never left your new boy toy.

His eyes only crossed yours for a second, stealing your breath before they met Ran's purple one's again. A nod, just a nod from him and they were already dragging you away.

Yes, he was the king of madness. But he would rather not stain your innocence. Because villains are not born, they're made of insecurities, of hopes that someday someone would love their monstrous side, and you seemed to do.

No question marks, again. When he would come back later to his bedroom where the boys have locked you, under his command, sure, hands all bloody, you knew better than to ask, wasn't even the first time.

-" It can't go on this way "

-" I know" he'd whisper, forehead against yours, bloody knuckles caressing your soft cheeks.

-" You should let me go " you'd utter between two feverish kisses.

-" I wish I fucking could. "

Then he'd be laying you down on his bed, feather-like touches, hesitant fingers, blood stained fingers.

-" That's it, cum for me" another kiss on your throbbing clit would bring you closer to your high.

And the dark night in his eyes was a starry one when he looked at your body under him, sinking deeper in you and throwing his head back.

Funny how, it was in the tightest corner of you that he finally felt accepted, enough.

-" Feel me here ?" Calloused hand reached to place yours over the bulge in your lower belly, you nodded, lightheaded with pleasure. " Only I can love you this deep "

-" Say it. Say this pretty pussy's mine. "

Soft kisses on your left breast.

-" Say there's only me in this fucking heart "

No, he would not say the suffocating words in his throat.

But he would hold you close the night. Do what people do when they can't sleep, stargazing, but at your sleeping face.

Murderous arms around you careful not to crush you as if you were made of glass.

His hands a weapon, and you were nothing but skin, and someone else could probably make you happier.

But then you open your sleepy eyes to look at him, and you're again, part of his flesh he could not rip away.

-" Sleep. " His dark glance commands. "Worry not. Ain't got nowhere better to go"

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cosmictulips · 3 years ago

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PAC:: Poor Unfortunate Souls.

the third installment of this fun series lmao. we have... the Disney Villains! Now, someone brought this up to me as an idea and I was like, hell yeeeee. Okay, I can't find who gave me this idea but I think it was @tsundoku-reads

if you want to see the first two installments, here you go :: Sailor Moon, Disney Messages.

Anyway! if you wish to tip your reader, you get an intuitive reading =)

CAUTION ::

this is realllyy and I mean REALLY into shadow selves. if you are not tuned into your darker side, you may not resonate with any of these. if you are NOT aware of what you do to others intentionally and unintentionally, you may not see these qualities. this is a REALLY good pac for recognizing and beginning to do shadow work.

Choose between the photos! and I'll tell you which villianary suits you best.

Pile 1!

The World, The Sun, The Moon, 03 of Pentacles, Ace of Cups, 02 of Wands, Ace of Wands, 02 of Cups, 08 of Cups, Knight of Swords

omfg. you'd be the kind that works from passion. from love and bitter endings. you'd seek to ruin those who have taken everything from you. some of you have the most tragic backstories. You're down for manipulating people if you need to. you know how to get what you want. I would also like to say that this could be the pile of egos. playing the victim and always begging for forgiveness if only to turn around and do it again if they've hurt you. emotional manipulation could be a big thing here from other people or from yourself.

Selfish emotionally. you like to show off and perhaps even enjoy the spotlight if it's given to you. one way or another you'll get what you want. some of you literally operate from one distinct emotion. whether that is pain, sadness, euphoria. you chase a high.

the world treated you cruelly, and why should you be any different? I do feel like this pile really holds back because they know how emotionally manipulative they can be. how cold and uncaring. But you're also not the type to hold back for very long if you think someone or something is getting in the way from your light.

People literally may not like you because they get such strong emotions for you. whether you even say anything or not, people just want to fight you. for no reason. because you make them feel something. egotistical they may say. or you're so full of yourself. or like you're so dramatic and cruel. blah blah blah.

let me give you a list ::

Davy Jones -- pirate of the Caribbean

Gaston --- beauty and the beast

Hans--- Frozen

Claude Frollo --- The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Mother gothel --- Tangled

Pile 2

The Emperor, Queen of Swords, 08 of Swords, King of Wands, 09 of Wands, 07 of Cups, 10 of Cups, 07 of swords

Hollyyyy fuck you are the person who can command a room by sheer force of will. the type to have an intimidating voice or stare. you show no mercy to those you deem as weak. You worked hard to get where you're at and you're not going to let some rat get in the way of you worked for.

You guys are the pile that are boss ass bitches. no exception. pile one is more like the dark romantic, you guys are the group to sacrifice everything just for what you want. You don't care how long you have to keep going, or who you have to step on. You want that crown, you hold that crown, and you'll kill if it means you get to keep it.

Selfish. but only because you want the finer things in life. when the world doesn't play fair you hold on tighter to what you want. You RULE this world bby. and you know it. you would prefer it to be with a gentle hug, but if you need to use your iron fist, you won't care too much either. Either way, it's a win-win for you.

Maybe bossy. You are the type to always have a plan. you see where the weaknesses are in other people and you know how to exploit them. I feel like you guys are the pile that will just keep asking for more and more and more from a person.

Like "can you do this for me?" and "oh but I would prefer it if you bought me this". and "well it doesn't matter what you think, I already have this one. so I want that."

Very cunning. very smart. sharp tongued as well. I feel like the biggest difference between this pile and pile 1 is that you guys don't hide it lol. you are blunt, you are secretive. you are the leader. you KNOW this. it's why you may not like working with other people. because there's just a small part of you that doesn't understand. why. they. can't. fucking. see. it. the . way. you . do.

why they can't just shut up and go along with what you're planning. you don't like to be questioned haha. ooh darling if someone catches you on a bad day, you let them have it.

People may even say you're just scary to talk to when there's something going on. People may be envious of the power that you hold and are terrified for how you may end up using it.

A list for youuu ::

Maleficent --- Sleeping Beauty

The Evil Queen -- Snow White

Jafar ---- Aladdin

Professor Ratigan -- The Great Mouse Detective

Shan Yu --- Mulan

Pile 3!

King of Pentacles, 09 of Cups, the Devil, Ace of Swords, the High Priestess, Strength, 09 of Swords, the Star

You are someone who exploits peoples weaknesses. you have a sharp eye and even sharper tongue. some of you are very intuitive. and most importantly, you're not afraid to get down and dirty if you need to. very similar to pile one except you don't coat it. Like Hans from pile one who will manipulate, you guys are just a powerhouse. and that's the difference between these two piles.

Y'all don't need a motive other than "I like what I like" and that's it lmao. the first pile is more emotional, the second pile doesn't really care for emotions, and this pile, has them both together. you can most likely manifest anything. if someone does you wrong, I promise you, they regret it instantly.

you may not even have to do anything! a simple look gets this person to starve. you are the type that just takes things from people. you ruin their day with a single phrase. You HAUNT their nightmares. if you want someone out of your life or workforce, all you have to do is bat your eyes, and they're gone.

You have a LOT of power and I don't think some of you realize it. you literally make people nervous when you're angry. you make people anxious and scared. talk about silent and deadily lol.

I feel like this is also my more.... adaptive pile. you guys feel the most awake when it comes to your shadow side. so you know how to balance this shadow with your higher self.

I also just got the message that yall know how to lead people on lmao. people want to impress you because they fear what would happen if they let you down.

You aren't as loud as the second pile. but you are like... the silent force. the stage master for the performance. you let people see and feel what they want to. and you take what you need and go.

Hades --- Hercules

Dr. facilier --- Princess and the Frog

Ursula --- Little Mermaid

Scar --- The Lion King

Ursula --- the Little Mermaid

Oogie Boogie --- the Nightmare before Christmas.

#pac #pick a card #pick a pile #shadow workkk #heavy themes here guys be careful #tarot #free tarot readings #tarot readings #free tarot reading

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ketchupqueenboiiii · 4 years ago

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Black Cat and Desert Flower

'Kaldur, what are we doing in Paris? We finished the mission, we should be heading back home.' Said Robin, via mind-link.

'Patience, my friends, I arranged for us to have a day in the city. A vacation, if you will.' Aqualad said to the team.

'Kaldur, I don't know if you noticed but it's night.' Kid Flash was also getting impatient.

'Why are we standing under a bridge with a bunch of locks on it?' Superboy asked. He hated not knowing things.

After busting a minor league drug ring in Versailles they expected to relax in the Bioship until the arrived back in the US, not stand under a bridge.

'Can you at least tell what we need 'patience' for-' Kid Flash whined until he was interrupted by a voice.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my city?" The voice was like steel. In a way it sounded like Batman's. Not in sound, but in its tone of command. It sounded young and feminine.

'Brace your selves.' Said Robin, hands inching towards his tool belt.

'There are 6 of them. Should we attack?' Superboy adds.

'No. These are friends.' Aqualad sounded completely at ease. It would have calmed them if he wasn't always calm and collected.

Before they could refute he walked into the moonlight. They heard the voice take in a sharp breathe. So they recognized them, maybe it will prevent a fight.

"I am no less than a black cat." What? The team had no idea how this conversation took such a turn. What was she saying?

"And I am no more than a desert flower." What was their leader saying? It must have meant something because the voice squealed and a figure clad in red and black polka dots came barreling at him.

'Stand down.' He sound completely unbothered. How could he be so whelmed?

'But she's-' One tried to reason.

'Stand down, she is a friend.' He sounded, breathless? Something was going on, maybe M'gann should do a scan of his mind when they get back.

The force of the girl's impact knocked them both over. They were both smiling, eyes never straying from each others. They got a clear view to analyze the girl. She look developed and fit, but still pretty small. She shouldn't have been able to knock down a door, let alone a military trained Atlantean. Was this a secret Kryptonian?

"You're, you're here," she sounded out of breath, though clearly out of amazement rather than the run. "Oh kwami, it's been to long. Is Roy here too?" How did she know Roy? Did she know all of their civilian I.D.s?

"Sadly no, Speedy is not here. But my team and I are." He said as they stood up. They could see exactly what she was wearing. A red and black skin tight body suit with a open black leather jacket and a hood. The bodysuit was red down to her navel and black the rest of the way. Each of her palms had a black circle with a unknown ideogram in red on them. Her shoes were black army boots with red laces. So she has a theme.

She moved her gaze behind Aqualad to look at the team. They took note of her mask. Her hood covered her forehead and her eyebrows, and she wore a mask connected to her body suit that cover everything nose and down. Leaving only her eyes exposed.

"Aqualad, who is she?" Artemis asked, hands already itching towards her arrows.

"Team, this is Ladybug. Ladybug, this is the team." He introduced, stepping away to allow them to assess each other.

"It's an honor to meet you all, Aqualad has spoken fondly of all of you. Welcome to Paris." She greeted professionally.

No one returned her greeting. They looked to Aqualad for more context.

He then gestured to Ladybug to speak. "You're probably confused as to who I am. I'm Ladybug, one of the heroes of Paris. We surfaced to reclaim a misused ancient magic artifact."

"Who is we?" Robin asked.

"Well, I realized that one city to one hero wasn't an equal ratio. So I formed a team to take some of the responsibility. Bunnix, Carapace, would you like to introduce yourselves?" A woman with an umbrella jumped from the top of the bridge and a man walked out from the shadow behind Ladybug. Both taller than her. Based on their themes, the man was Carapace and the woman was Bunnix.

"Sure thing, Boss." They said in unison and with exaggerated bows and salutes.

"Good Kwami, don't call me that." She said, pinching her nose.

"Our deepest apologies, Master. We beg your forgiveness." They spoke in unison again and with straight faces, too.

"God damn it, I'm not even fully trained-" She was interrupted by poorly muffled laughter behind her.

"Singe, you've been doing this for 3 years, and you still manage to reveal your presence in almost every situation-" Robin felt like he should interrupt before this escalates.

"Is that an umbrella?" He genuinely wanted to know.

"Are you judging? 'Cause, you shouldn't judge since you spent a year or so running around Gotham in green panties and a pole." Robin blushed in embarrassment. The team looked ready to fight these so called heroes.

"Ryu!" Ladybug reprimanded, looking affronted. Wait, Bunnix didn't say it? Then, who did?

"I'm so sorry about her. They're all really defensive about the umbrella." Okay?

"Who spoke then?" Kid Flash asked, still looking all little miffed about the comment.

"You know, Aqualad, there's enough of us for a spar." She said smirking, and ignoring Kid's question.

"If we're sparring, I want a few minutes with who ever said that stuff about Robin." He said glaring in no particular direction.

"Actually, I was thinking we do a group spar. Aqualad's team versus mine." She suggested.

No one seemed to be against it.

"Okay then, prepare yourselves-" Aqualad started.

"Wait! I have to call of Pegasus." She brought her hand up to her ear and looked toward a building.

"Woah-woah-woah, hold up, you have a sniper?!" Kid Flash exclaimed, speedily looking around to see them.

"You have to be prepared for anything." She responded after finishing her comm-call.

"Yeah, but still, you have a sniper-"

A turquois portal appeared and a white-haired man in a brown leather bodysuit stepped out of it. His hair was held back in vertical braids gathered in a ponytail. He also wore pitch black sunglasses, even though it was the middle of the night.

"Hello." He greeted the teams before walking to stand next to Bunnix and Singe.

"Let's get ready to spar." Aqualad announced, walking not-to-subtlety towards Ladybug. The teams both walked of to strategize.

"You sure your ready to fight me again? It's been a couple months since our last spar." She quipped with pop of her hip and challenging smirk.

"If my memory is correct, you were the one with the losing streak." He smiled back with his patented sass.

"We'll see about that." They shared eye contact and a firm hand shake.

With a quick turn of a heel, "Formation!"

Bonus #1

For more context: Mari and Kaldur were not always this touchy feely. Mari spent a year or so out of Paris to train for Guardian purposes. She would have cataclysm herself before leaving Paris alone. But Tikki and Plagg convinced her that she was unstable with all of the guardian power and she would have to learn to control it. Outside of Paris. So they decided to give out the miraculous and have the new team pass around Tikki and she would take Plagg out of Paris (too many billboards and Plagg wasn't good at emotions).

So she was backpacking America, trying to find someone to help her. Unfortunately someone found her. Namely Aquaman and his partner. Interrogating her just left them both offended.

But she did learn that she was now fluent in ancient languages, like the guardian language and Atlantean.

("What are you doing here?"

"That's not your problem."

"You sunk Atlantis! Of course it's our concern!"

"You Atlantean's think you're entitled to everything. That's why Plagg sunk your city."

"{In Atlantean} My King, should we take her to Poseidonis-"

"{in Atlantean} Excuse me, but I'm not going anywhere other than out of this cell."

"{In English} How do you-"

They call in the JL for backup and try to interrogate her, until Diana vetoes and pardons her. She offers to take her to Themyscira and train but Arthur vetoes that so now she's going to train with Roy and Kaldur. [Because they are the oldest and I believe that they worked together most pre-canon YJs1.]

{Whispers and Glares}"Atlantean bitch."

{Whispers and Glares} "Guardian scum.")

5 months and numerous fights later, Roy was tired friendTM of their shit and sat them down to make them talk. They spoke of both versions of the Sinking of Atlantis and came to the agreement that Plagg was sorry for taking things too far and that modern Atlanteans could not be blamed for the mistakes of one of their selfish past monarchs. [king whoever tried to use Plagg's miraculous to conquer and terrorize neighboring kingdoms, so in retaliation Plagg cataclysmed the entire country/city]

After getting over that they both realized, 'Hey, he/she's actually pretty cool."

Everyone kept in touch after she went back to Paris and bitched to each other about teammates and leadership and how it's, quote-unquote, 'unfair that it's legal for Mari to drink but not Roy'

I'm not good with timelines so I'm going to say that, Kaldur still has hopes for him and Tula, Mari's not entertaining anything more than friendship (no distractions), and Roy is too focused on teenaged rebellion.

#maribat #kaldinette #kaldur'ahm x marinette #reposted on ao3 and wattpad

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sonicasura · 4 years ago

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Danny Phantom Surprise Dads

An idea that popped into my head involving my childhood favorite Danny Phantom and spiting the shit out of the creator Bitch Hartman.

Let's give Danny some father figures with questionable backgrounds.

How this will work is simple. They have to share an aspect similar to our lovable ghost boy or can relate. Superpowers(preferably ghost or spiritual related), not human or previously human, socially awkward, some role in good or evil: Remember the hour special Ultimate Enemy if you need any clarification, etc.

Here are my picks.

Snatcher- A Hat In Time

Yep! We're starting with the soul eating ghostly noodle of Subcon Forest. So far, I've never seen Danny with a father figure even close to a ghost much less. A VERY disappointing fact despite the fan art and fanfiction with all sorts of dad! characters like @the-stove-is-on-fire 's Spiderdad and Dadpool, or the multiple Irondad fics on AO3 especially "How Tony keeps adopting Ghost sensitive kids". So my Snatcher choice is viable.

The bean will have someone to help him get a better hold of his powers and Snatcher having someone to relate too. If you don't know or haven't played Hat In Time, I will just say that Snatcher was a good loving person until a traumatic experience turned him into this wisecracking malevolent soul eating ghost.

Cracking jokes can be a coping mechanism btw, even the morbid ones.

For alignment, the Subcon Snatcher is Chaotic Neutral. He only really causes trouble in his domain which is Subcon Forest, he cares about his minions to an extent (he uses them for one attack in his boss battle) and kills any trespassers on his land but do give them a chance to live through contracts.

The bonding will no doubt start out slow especially what point of time Danny is, the biggest is when he has his Ice Powers. But I can see Snatcher being someone Danny can go to if life in Amity gets hard to handle. A driving point to help Danny is so the halfa doesn't end up like him.

Also, I just want to see Snatcher and Danny a Ghostly Wail like combo or the ghostly noodle beating the shit out of Vlad. Bigger bonus is if Hat Kid's around, Danny has a little sister figure he can cause mischief with while giving Snatcher a headache. Or all three team up and prank everyone.

Sukuna Ryomen

Now you can say I'm insane for picking him. One of the Ultimate Evils from Jujustu Kaisen but hear me out.

Once again, we have a character closer to the ghostly spectrum specifically a Curse. Curses are a type of entity born from negative emotions such as: sorrow, angry, fear, etc.

Sukuna was once human before becoming the 4 armed, two faced, tattoo King of Curses. After a 1000 years, Sukuna at the moment is split into 20 fingers with Itadori Yuji as his vessel.

Encountering someone like Danny is definitely gonna grab Sukuna's attention. Danny's assortment of powers but also pun loving attitude in battle will drive him wild. Interest is there but just like Snatcher, it'll take time for a bond to form.

The jumpstart would be a friendship with Itadori which involves goofing off or training. And seeing a good look at Danny's personality, the times our ghost boy gets awfully quiet do the alarm bells ring. Think Sukuna would rather have a happy Danny than a depressed one.

Sukuna would be a huge ass tsundere about his growing bond with Danny before it hits him like: "Damn it, now I'm attached to this brat." Once again, the Ultimate Enemy episode will play a huge factor. Considering where he is, Sukuna definitely wouldn't want Danny to end up like him.

Also mentioning the Pariah Dark episodes, you can bet Sukuna would be impressed upon Danny practically being the King of the Ghost Zone due to the rules. Would Danny get a Domain Expansion similar to Sukuna if his powers adapt the King of Curses'?

Sparring matches would be a definite and Vlad would be so screwed if he did something to Danny. I'm pretty sure an angry four arm, four eyed, stomach mouth horror of a father figure be haunting the fruit loop might the perfect repellent.

Plus Danny has a Two in One deal! A father figure in Sukuna and a brother with Itadori! If Sukuna did get out, would he adopt Itadori under circumstances? 🤔

Also, I sorta had this peculiar idea now that I see we have two ghostly father figures. Can Danny's ghost form adapt from a paternal relationship with a ghost or supernatural entity? His power allows him to adapt against opponents and even copy specific abilities so why not his physical form too?(Looking at you Bitch Hartman.)

I can actually see Danny's form slightly shift or even evolve depending on the current bond. For Snatcher, he could have minor fire magic with a slightly shadow appearance, his hair be messy with violet tips or his suit becoming a cloak to mimic shadows.

And for Sukuna, his own tribal like tattoos, slits under his eyes that could become eyes, or even four arms too! His clothes could shift to something like hakama trousers, an obi or yutakata. Inherited powers being his own Domain Expansion and curse fire.

That's all I have on the topic! If you guys have a character suggestion to be Danny's father figure and how it would go, just reblog it here!

Until next time folks! Going Ghost!

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caroline-nighthunter · 4 years ago

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-Rating and gushing about every Wizard101 “World”/Arc-

Imma just gush about my month of Wizard101 and how I finally got to a close “end” of the game.

24/12 Edit: Fixed some typos here and there and added some stuff.

07/09 Edit: KI decided to fully revamp Wiz city also changing some lore so the rating on that is outdated. Might also put my thought of the new Wiz City there once I’m through all the new content.

Arc 1 - Malistaire - 10/10

Prob my favourite.

The writing really ties in every world, even when you speedquest through it.

Contains a lot of my favourite worlds.

I’m still crying over Mali to this day...

(Old) Wizard City - 10/10

Literally the introduction to the game and the place I spent most of my time in when I was a crownless and membershipless young wizard.

Do you want to farm Nightshade or Kraken?

That graphic revamp really punched.

Fave Places To chill: Nightside, Commons, Ravenwood, Cyclops Lane

Krokotopia - 11/10

This world made me fall in love with Wizard101

Egyptian aesthetic o-o

I was once a balance wizard you know?

Cries over the plot in the tomb of storms

Also KROKODILES

Fave Places To chill: Krokosphinx, School Of Balance

Marleybone - 10/10

I liked the Wizard version, but the Pirate version is more my jam.

Everyone is lookin dapper.

Home of the Doc- I mean Professor!

The whole worlds feels like Cats, but with dogs and the plot is Sherlock Holmes.

Barkingham Palace Gear o-o

Fave Places To chill: The Museum.

Mooshu 7/10

Japan and China vibes

Your usual warlord chaos

Everything is BRIGHT GREEN

It felt S H O R T

Has pretty nice wand drops

Fave Places To chill: Jade Palace

Dragonspyre 12/10

This is what you get when you throw Roman aesthetic, Prussian History and a pinch of Russia into a pot.

The amount of subtle history references is making me listen to every line of dialogue I can get from this world.

D R A G O N S

Milos Bookwyrm is kinda a darlin

We kill Mali here :’)

Fave Places To chill: The Atheneum, wherever my battle drake chills

Arc 2 - Morganthe - 9/10

Has nice spots here and there.

Writing is still good, but a little less engaging.

Morganthe was so over the top “bad bitch” that it got annoying

Grandpappy spider was the saving grace of the arc

Celestia - 8/10

Solid world, story was kinda meh

ASTRAL MAGIC

Is this Skull Island??? Why are there water moles??? I thought they only exist in Skull Island????

Basically Atlantis

WAND OF STASIS

Fave Places To chill: Watermole Village

Zafaria - 8/10

Jambo Wizard!

The plot is Belloq and crazy tse-tse zebra ruining everyones day.

All they wanted was a nice zafari, all they got was misery and running into Morganthe worshippers.

Flameingo can’t take it anymore...

“Son I’m disappointed”

Fave Places To chill: Baobab Crown

Avalon - 9/10

Love it, but something is missing?

King Arthur, but you’re Arthur.

How to become a knight 101

FINALLY I CAN GET DEER KNIGHT

The source of Morganthes saltiness

Everyone is prob scared of me because I rode a battle badger during my stay...

Fave Places To chill: Caliburn

Azteca - 9.5/10

Hello and Bye...

I will never be able to do casual side questing here anymore...

The plot was nice, but you know, IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED

Do not speedquest through this if you are a plot person, DO NOT

Cries over birb and dinosaur friends...

The music was the best part of it.

Fave Places To chill: N o w h e r e a f t e r t h a t d a r n m e t h e o r i t e, almost everywhere before that

Khrysalis - 9.8/10

L O O O O O N G

It was to be expected though

Mouse Guard vibes

The furniture sets for this suck and there is no proper furniture to obtain otherwise...

One Wizard Army (with the help of some deer friends) pls do not kill me for my bad word puns

I’d feel bad about how Morganthe ended, but after Azteca I really don’t have anything left for that whiny bitch...

A lot of people want my head...

Hello there hand- I mean hello there Spider.

Captain Colridge, if you had a pegleg I’d be 100% sure you’re ratbeard gone out of shape.

I love the dynamic changes to the Bastion once you progress

SHADOW MAGIC no one uses though because it’s not worth the pips and time

Fave Places To chill: Last Woods

Arc 3 - Spider And Raven - 6/10

Had solid concepts, kinda threw them out of the window

I do not like the writing in a majority of the arc

I think I was so disappointed, because I hyped these worlds up so much, the expectations did not meet reality

The ending was a no no

Plot was barely engaging

I only pushed through this for the concepts of Mirage and Polaris and wanted to see where Grandpappy Spider went

Polaris - 7/10

WAY TOO SHORT

You spent half of the time in the arcanum anyway

I don’t like Mellori, but that is just me

REVOLUTION TIME!

I don’t like that we had to throw a ship worth of fish into the sea, although they apparently still live? Somehow?

Everyone was at full right to overthrow the Empress though, she was horrible.

Where is Napoleguin???

RA RA RATSPUTIN, LOVER OF- wait w h a t ? ? ?

I don’t like the Arcanum, but I guess I’ll be a part of it.

Fave Places To chill: Walruskberg, Captain Colridges Tavern

Mirage - 6.5/10

The more you hype, the more you’ll be disappointed...

Again the Spider part of the plot was good, the other was e h

If I’m going to have to talk to another snobby over the top whiny cat I’m going to lose it.

Boochbeard, where is Mr. Gandry?

Bara Snakes.

Istar stop whining about bugs.

Ozzy you’re my best bud in this.

House themed GEAR, APARTMENTS and MOUNTS, but you gotta defeat a 100 enemies before that...

Love the world design though

THE MAGIC CARPET RIDE

Fave Places To chill: Caravan, anywhere you can wander through endless sand

Empyrea 4/10

This is what happens when you throw too many things together

S t a r T r e k

Medulla shut up

The idea to have an isle in the eye of a storm is cool though

Zanadu was kinda meh (prob because I remember most of it just happening in a sewer)

That dance session though, Khan rocks

The dwarfes were also kinda meh, just didn’t fit with the concepts of the previous areas

Cthulu island was also kinda meh

Ending of the first half was literally Batman and although I know “The Bat” and “The cabal” it kinda came out of nowhere...

And then I pretty much lost interest in the world

The Reverie got me again, nice and fresh mechanics.

I will make a seperate rant on the ending, but no... I don’t like it at all and I don’t see Spider forgiving Raven as a good ending

Felt really forced

Hit some bad spots with me...

I thought we could fight Raven??? >:O

Fave Places To chill: Reverie

Arc 4 - idk what is going on

Karamelle ?/10

Ja moin, guten Tag allerseits.

Haven’t gotten there yet, but man, I’m not up for dictator Nana... :T

Spells look pathetic o k

If you try denglish one more time I’m going to lose it

At this point it’s obvious that KI has a thing for german speaking countries related stuff

Sentinel Marshmallows, do I have to say more?

Other Worlds

Grizzleheim - 8/10

Vikings

Forshadowing of Raven

It’s ok

Grendleweed

Wintertusk - 8/10

Even more Vikings

Grizzleheim 2.0, but everyone is op and crits

You need the spells, but you don’t want to do it

It’s been too long since I’ve last been there

Wysteria - 9/10

The original snob

At least these weren’t a pain to listen to...

Incompetent teachers make incompetent students.

That hall of fame though.

Actually a nice world to quest through

The aesthetic is nice and they kinda got the cooler library compared to Ravenwood, unless I’m missing out on something.

Fave Places To chill: The library

Aquila - 10/10

Birbs

Was a pain in Pirate, is wonderful in Wiz

SKY IRON HASTA

Secret bosses you seldom find people to fight with

Everyone is salty that you’ve beated them and they don’t even try to hide.

Hades got the best estate.

Cerberus was cute until he became a set of floating heads.

Fave Places To chill: Tartarus

Darkmoor - 9.5/10

“Who hits?” - “Everyone” - *person who asked decides to leave the dungeon*

This happened to me 7 times in a row an U G H

People need to calm down their hitter ego

The dungeons are fun the first times, then they are just an annoyance to farm.

Plot is the Ballad Lenore

GO TO REST MALI

Hit in 5 rounds or say bye bye to your blades

No Feints

Catacombs 11/10

D r a g o n s p y r e L o r e

Valencia, what are you doin there?

Basically KI’s punch in the face of Pirate101 players

“Oh you want an update? Guess you gotta watch how we recycle Valencia in Wiz”

Dragoon gear - Just like Darkmoor, but this time your suffering has a certain end

Also no exp on your quests?

#Wizard101 #w101 #[ Reviews ]

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ootori-sibs · 4 years ago

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Kyoya's second shot

Episode three: Return of the bully

"What are you doing here?"

"I'd like to request Tamaki."

The twins paused, sharing a glance before looking at the girl once more. "You're blacklisted, remember?"

"No I'm not." She crossed her arms, looked like he'd have to step in.

Kyoya was at the twins side almost instantly, book in hand. "She was blacklisted last year yes, but this year she's done no wrong. You remember Tamaki's philosophy don't you?" He glances down at the twins, watching them frown and shrug, wandering around.

"The boss is weird, we don't trust her." They left to return to their post, disagreeing but conceding.

Kyoya looks down at Seika, his gaze crueller then she could ever manage. "Just tell him your banishment has expired, he'd be happy to welcome you back."

"Using Tamaki's philosophies against him?" She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a manipulative little homo~."

"Our agreement shall not be spoken of here, keep to yourself, princess." Kyoya gives a fake bow, gesturing towards Tamaki's table. "Have fun."

She approached Tamaki's table, Kyoya sighed and went to sit down, staring at the numbers on the screen. He glanced around for a moment before taking out his phone.

Shadow king: Eclair, have you spoken to that woman yet?

Woman: No, I've been busy. I don't see why I should talk to her when you're not even dating Rene yet.

Child: Who?

Woman: You'd know him as Tamaki.

Child: ah

Shadow king: It won't take that long, and convincing that dreadful woman will.

Woman: Ugh, at least get some progress done before you start hounding me you bitch.

Bitchboy: Speaking of which, my article is ready to print.

Shadow king: Send me a PDF.

An email arrived in Kyoya's inbox, with a link to a pdf file. He opened it, scanning down the page with a critical eye, opening a seperate application in order to edit it. No basic spell check, at least this fool knew how to spell and use grammar. But Kyoya did need to edit out most parts that painted gays in a bad light, making the story focus more on Haruhi and Renge and less on the fact that they're both women. He even attached an image of the duo holding hands, knowing full well that holding hands can often be platonic, but the girls at this school are basic, and will do anything to believe a scandal. He sent an email back, with the new link, and sent a message to the chat.

Shadow king: Post it.

At lunch, Haruhi complained that her new phone had none of her photos, she was sad to have lost all those memories. Kyoya had to sympathise with her there, he'd sort of assumed she used the cloud. Then her complaints changed when she realised her lunch box was missing from her bag- it had been stolen. As expected, Tamaki instantly rushed to her side, promising to buy her lunch for today, and she agreed, apologising as they left the club room. Huh. Tamaki didn't ask Kyoya to join today…

But it was ok, he was alone now. He made his way to Tamaki's bag, it contained two cards, Tamaki's own money, and the club's budget. Kyoya had the details memorised of course, that wasn't why he needed it. He quickly snuck over, and slipped the card into Haruhi's wallet, next to her own. He smiled cruelly, ready to play his part. He'd spent all night thinking about what he would actually do in that situation, so he's more than prepared for his starring role. Of course he'd prefer to not have the starring role, but he is the one who's in charge of finances, he has to react like he actually would.

He sits back down at the table, he needs a reason to ask for the card… he looks on his laptop, finding a little cafe in town that sold custom food platters, entirely customizable… oh, Tamaki did suggest a commoner food theme, maybe a customized platter for each host would be a good idea, and he and Tamaki could even go in person. Oh it was all coming together now! Kyoya had wanted to try some new makeup things, he'd mostly been doing the same face every day, it wasn't exactly catching any eyes by the second week. He should do something special for their day out.

Kyoya was practically bouncing in his chair, clicking his pen as fast as possible when he heard the door quick, scrambling to look busy, and normal. The other hosts entered the room, getting to their seats and doing the usual finishing touches to their appearances before the door opened. Kyoya watches Tamaki comb his hair carefully, his hair almost sparkling in the light. He called over to the king, "Tamaki! Get over here, I want to show you something."

Tamaki hurried over, leaning over Kyoya's shoulder. "What is it mon ami?" He looked at the screen, then glancing to Kyoya. Kyoya smiles softly, switching his window to the website of the little commoner store he'd found.

"Remember when you mentioned that commoner food theme? We could get customised platters for each host?" He suggested the idea, looking at Tamaki closely for his reaction. Tamaki's face lit up, clearly finding the idea a good one.

"Ooh that's perfect! Weldone Kyoya!" He pats Kyoya on the head gently, condescending but oh did it make Kyoya feel actually proud. Funny how that works. "We can all go! A club day out!" Ah. Kyoya's moment of joy evaporated at the king's words, he definitely didn't want that… but Tamaki seemed to notice how Kyoya defeated, looking at him in slight worry. "Is something wrong?"

"Well…" he started, sighing when he realised how stupid it sounded, "I'm sorry Tamaki, I was under the impression we would go alone, it does seem like a more behind the scenes type action as opposed to something we want everyone there for." He wasn't sure exactly what he was saying, he just definitely didn't want to spend time with all the hosts outside of school, that would almost definitely overwhelm him.

Luckily, Tamaki seemed to understand, he smiled, nodding. "Oh of course! It's been so long since I've spent some good quality time with my bestest friend in the entire world." He chuckles and hugs Kyoya, pressing his cheek against Kyoya's face. Said shadow king's face was heating up, feeling a pit drop at the word friend, but feeling still proud to be Tamaki's favourite person, he can ignore Haruhi's existence for a second for bliss.

"If we're going in person," Kyoya began, knowing exactly what his lines were, "you should probably get the club credit card out of wherever you've hidden it." He looked up at Tamaki, watching the recognition spark on the king's face.

"Oh! It's just in my bag, I never take it out." He hurried over, searching through his bag, Kyoya's phone had vibrated so he checked it.

Bitchboy: We're having trouble with the printer, it should be fixed by tomorrow?

Shadow king: Alright, post it tomorrow then.

He looked back over at Tamaki, smiling when he saw the colour drain from the monarch's face. "It's gone!" This caused all the other hosts to look over at him, he looked around at all of them in turn. "The club's card! The one with access to all the club funds! It's gone missing!"

Time for Kyoya's starring roll, his eyes widened, and he spun around in his seat as fast as he could. "What do you mean it's missing? How idiotic to you have to be to loose the club's money!?" His words, or at least the way he'd said them, seemed to spark panic in the other hosts, if Kyoya was worried then surely they should be too.

"Where did you last have it??"

"Doesn't Kyo-chan handle the money?"

"Did you check again?"

Words from the hosts echoed around the room, everyone was sent into a bit of a tizzy. Only shutting up when Mori speaks, quietly, but speaking nonetheless. "Calm down, check your bags and pockets, it may have been dropped and picked up by someone else." Oh, he was a voice of reason, when he managed to find that voice. Kyoya might be head over heels for Tamaki but he can't help but admit that that voice makes him a little weak at the knees.

The hosts do as he tells them to, searching through bags and pockets, Kyoya does so only to keep suspicion away from himself. He was listening for it, he knew it was coming, "oh…" and there it was. He glanced over, to see Haruhi holding the little card, and looking extremely confused. Kyoya got to his feet and was by her side in an instant, plucking the card from her fingers, face contorting into a look of disgust, one he'd cleverly practiced all night.

"So you're a thief now too?" His voice was cruel, and if any of the hosts weren't looking before, they were now. Haruhi looked up at her, eyes widening by the second. "I know you live in squalor but please, don't take us for fools."

"Wh- what?? Senpai, you know I wouldn't do that! I'm not a thief!" Clear panic on her face as she glanced around, realising that Kyoya's word ranked above her own. Kyoya knew this too, but he also knew the other hosts adored Haruhi completely, so time to take a better tone.

His voice sunk into sounding hurt, he was in charge of the money of course, but he was still a friend. "Haruhi please, you don't have to lie to us. You know if you needed money, you could have asked Tamaki, he'd be more than willing- as would most of the others." He glanced to the side, the others were nodding, Tamaki looked hurt as he rushed to her side.

"Are you ok Haruhi?? Is anyone threatening you into paying them money? If you're having troubles we can help you! We would always help you!!" He clasped her hands in his own, eye full of sadness and pity.

"Senpai… I really don't know how the card got into my bag I promise, I wouldn't steal from you guys…" She looked slightly annoyed, but it was clear there was panic behind her eyes. Kyoya was about to say something more, put another nail in her coffin- when the twins spoke up.

"Maybe it was princess Ayanokoji, she loves to bully Haruhi." They spoke in unison, frowning, hands tilted just a little. They weren't wrong, they just didn't quite get it, they were close though, and that scared Kyoya.

"Oh yes," Tamaki stood up, his pondering clear, "she recently told me her blacklisting had expired…" He looked at Kyoya, with eyes that unwittingly make the shadow king's hands shake, "was that something we wrote into the rulebook?"

Kyoya swallowed dryly, nodding once. "Yes," he gestured vaguely, "you said something about redemption and growth whilst we were discussing the club back in the planning stage, so I wrote it into the rules. I'm surprised you don't remember." Yes, that was a good idea, put the spotlight on Tamaki, what kind of a king doesn't remember his own rules.

The twins spoke again, "there's a rulebook?" They frowned at Kyoya, ugh, idiots.

"I gave everyone a copy when you first joined, the big binded file? With the colour coded ribbon?" It was true that he had given everyone a rulebook, and he was quite insulted they couldn't remember, he'd spent a whole week on those.

"Oooh," Hikaru began, a look of recognition on both faces as Kaoru finished, "yeah we threw that out." Kyoya was incredibly angry at that, but simply turned to go and sit down, clicking his pen in a more negative manner, he couldn't lose his temper, he couldn't lose his cool. Not right now.

14:25 - the card was found in Haruhi's wallet, the twins saved her. They don't care one bit for any effort I had put into the rule book, it seems my efforts are an expectation for them.

"That wasn't a very nice thing for you to do, Kyoya had worked hard on those rulebooks. I watched him bind those folders himself, there was glue everywhere!" He could hear Tamaki scold the twins for him, feeling a little better for all Tamaki cared.

"I never got a rulebook when I joined senpai?" Haruhi spoke, clearly sounding slightly shaken.

"Oh!" Tamaki exclaimed, clicking his fingers, he didn't even need to say anything else, Kyoya knew what to do.

"...I'll send you a pdf." He said flatly, going through his google drive, he was going to have to make an edit or two…

Halfway through the session, a sound was heard. Kyoya glanced over to see Tamaki coughing and spluttering, from what little he heard, it seemed Haruhi had put salt in his coffee, or rather Seika had switched the sugar for salt, he knew this was true by her smirk as she watched Tamaki scold Haruhi for being so out of it today. To Kyoya's surprise, Haruhi actually sounded stressed out when she responded. When the session ended she didn't stay behind to help clear up, she just grabbed her bag and hurried off to class.

Tamaki sighed, "I'm worried about her… she's so out of it, I wonder if she's feeling alright."

"She got caught stealing," Kyoya began, not meeting the king's eyes, "only got saved by the twins, got scolded for screwing up something as simple as coffee and didn't even bother to help clear up? Sounds to me like she's trying to spite you for something."

Tamaki paused, looking at Kyoya in clear interest, Kyoya refused to let Tamaki peer behind the curtain like he had so often done. "Are you mad at her? Do you really think that?" Oh great, he'd done it. Once again, Kyoya was angry at this man being able to see straight through him.

"Well, she did try and steal our hard earned funds, you can forgive me for being on edge." It wasn't a question, he wasn't asking to be forgiven, and Tamaki knew that. But Tamaki didn't care, he just sighed. Kyoya didn't stop, "it seems to be like there's something else on her mind, something opposing you." He didn't want to mention Renge, cause he feared that might lead Tamaki to realise he had something to do with the upcoming news.

Tamaki frowned, looking genuinely worried, "she has been distant lately…" Oh, and there was the sound of Kyoya's heart breaking, as much as this was his goal, he hated seeing his love in pain. He sighed, putting his laptop down, throwing his own pain away.

"Hey, I'm sure it's fine Tamaki, even if she is hurting you, you are so far above her, it's only natural she'd seek to lash out." He smiles softly, taking Tamaki's hand in his own. "You've got nothing to fear."

"So… you're saying she's lashing out because she feels inferior?" Tamaki tilted his head slightly, looking confused, Kyoya sighed, sure, that was close enough, he nodded. Tamaki frowned, "oh… she shouldn't, I should think of something to cheer her up. Perhaps I'll take her on a date this weekend!"

"Not before our day out?" Kyoya frowned, hating the outcome of this situation, becoming confused when Tamaki chuckled.

"Oh of course not Kyoya, don't worry." The king smiled, reaching up and ruffling Kyoya's hair. "I missed spending time with you, even if you can be a little demanding at times."

Kyoya had to chuckle at that, feeling reassured that Tamaki was still going to prioritize him. "You're one to talk, remember when we first met?" He didn't even need to elaborate to have Tamaki laughing, knowing full of what Kyoya had referred to.

There wasn't a hosting session at the end of the day, there'd been too many accidents that Tamaki had decided to hold an impromptu meeting. Haruhi was late, so where the twins but that was irrelevant. Kyoya frowned as she walked in, crossing her arms. "A thief and a truant? Are you planning on playing the delinquent this year?"

"Shut the hell up Kyoya!" Hikaru snapped at him, causing Kyoya to all but squeak in alarm, he hadn't been expecting resistance. "She's being bullied if you hadn't noticed, and your stupid comments aren't fucking helping!" Kyoya glanced around the table, it seemed he'd gone a little far, but no one cared about what he'd said, in fact he was being completely ignored in favour of their precious Haruhi being bullied.

"You're being bullied??" Tamaki stood, looking so very worried. "What happened?"

Haruhi didn't say anything in response, choosing only to sigh. It was Kaoru who spoke up, "someone spray painted on the window outside the classroom, essentially calling her a gay whore."

"Oh ouch." Wait shit, did he say that outloud? The other hosts were looking at him, at least they'd stopped ignoring him?

"Yeah…" Kaoru began, letting Hikaru finish, "we stayed with her to talk to the teacher."

Haruhi went to sit down, burying her face in her hands. "I just want to go home and take a nap…" God, Kyoya hadn't expected to feel for her, but Ayanokoji had gone way too far, this was disgusting.

Shadow king: WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU??

A GAY WH*RE? DID YOU REALLY FUCKING CALL HER A GAY WH*RE?

Child: cranky cause you're also a gay whore aren't you?

Shadow king: You're like 13 shut the fuck up.

Woman#2: You told me to make her life hell, that's what I did.

"It's ok Haruhi, you can leave if you want…" Tamaki started, frowning, eyes full of sadness. But he paused, looking down at Kyoya, "who are you texting?" Uh oh.

Kyoya spoke plainly, not letting the other's see his eyes behind his glasses. "I'm putting Seika Ayanokoji back onto the blacklist, at least until she proves it wasn't her." He pauses, noticing how Tamaki appears to approve. "I will also have a talk with her about why she was removed from the blacklist, and how she can get back off of it."

"Hm, good idea Kyoya." Tamaki nods in approval before turning back to Haruhi and going to hold her, she lets him for once, but doesn't reciprocate.

Shadow king: I've put you back on the blacklist for the time being, the hosts are on to you.

Woman#2: But our agreement???

Shadow king: Is only valid if you're actually useful.

So try being useful.

Everything but the graffiti was alright.

And don't forget the school has cameras.

Woman#2: Don't be such a baby.

Shadow king: Don't be so insolent.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. Tamaki glanced at him, clearly on edge, and Kyoya decides this silence is too unbearable to stand. "Well, I think this meeting has been enlightening. But I'm sure we're all tired, so, Tamaki?" He didn't have the power to dismiss the hosts, but he had the power to ask Tamaki to do so.

And who was Tamaki to refuse him? The king nodded, sighing and curling a lock of Haruhi's hair in his fingers. "Of course, you're all dismissed, you may leave if you wish."

Most of the hosts got up and left, mumbling condolences to Haruhi as they did so. Kyoya began slowly packing his stuff away, he could feel Haruhi's eyes were on him. He didn't feel shame, only pity. He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He glanced down at Haruhi, "I hope you have a better day tomorrow," he spoke curtly, almost mocking her in a roundabout way, but genuinely meaning that, the news story won't affect her nearly as much as the graffiti, and at least she'd get a reprieve.

Shadow king: Before I forget, don't go after her tomorrow, the article will be enough.

Woman#2: So much for making her life hell, you coward.

#tamakyo #ouran high school host club #ohshc #kyotama #kyoya ootori #hikaru and kaoru #kaoru hitachiin #hikaru hitachiin #haruhi fujioka #takashi morinozuka #mitsukuni haninozuka #tamaki souh #kyoyassecondshot

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taptroupe · 4 years ago

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cozy in bed time for

EVERGRACE NOVEL PART ????

WE ARE IN THE SHADOW TOWER!!!!!!

https://youtu.be/Jj7CfvGHgTg

youtube

thats right baby four levels of monsters bridges and twisting paths and bosses and - huh? the novel version is entirely different? oh damn

Shadow Tower - A Place for Purified Souls

somehow i don’t really believe that. i had to spend a while beating this place like a week. wasn’t fun at all

so after he dies in the last update, we see darius walking up a long ass path of stairs. red stairs... maybe blood? is this even rieubane anymore?? how’d he get here??? but no matter what’s going on he must continue going up. because...

heh lol. say the words darius!

you sure do! and so his footsteps get faster. see, you can guess the context even if you don’t get the language right. that’s been me this whole book is just picking up on context around things.

he climbs the stairs up and up. suddenly krysalis can be heard.. the last things she said about apologizing, he can hear it.

“i’m sorry. so sorry...”

“? krisalis, are you there? where am i?”

“darius, has the crest brought you happiness? do you hate it? are you afraid? it’s hurt the most precious people to you, isn’t that sad?”

“huh?”

“what will you do with the crest?”

“oy, can you hear what i’m even saying?”

“I truly hate the Crest. Nothing good has come out of it... It would be better if all Crest bearers just disappeared.”

krisalis disappears. 😳

“just where am i...?”

hi merida! who appears suddenly on a bridge to say it’s the tower of shadows. the place of purification. cool thank you.

“hi merida. so where’s sharline” (how would she know this)

“i only know what the big mother says. i will now walk away and you should follow me. also what will you do, You who is afraid of the Crest?”

“?! I’m.. I’m not afraid of the Crest, I only hate it!”

“On the tower’s top... to the voice... please...”

bye. oh hey a new set of stairs. um the king is here for a moment but he disappears. darius asks him for keys to unlock the door but he’s stubborn and dies i guess. bye.

ORLADIN IS HERE NOW.

“hey we can’t kill morpheus. let’s go.”

“hey orladin, where (????) is (?????) sharline (?????how would he know????????)”

“it doesn’t matter, i’m following morpheus now.”

“hey! aren’t you worried about sharline?!”

“whatever. you’re the one who can handle palmira weapons. you have the crest, you can go ahead. just shut up”

“bitch” (i said this)

“hurry up, here comes another one of morpheus’ henchmen!”

??? but darius has no weapons on him? what’s he gonna do?

“does it matter? can’t crest bearers just destroy whoever they want? show me that power! kill and destroy it all!”

suddenly the floor under him turns into autumn grass. also uh orladin transforms into red breeze and starts talking some more

this part’s really good but i need sleep so i’ll wake up and do it

#evergrace novel funtime #long post #Youtube

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killerswonderland · 5 years ago

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The God Of Thunder

Pairing: Jason Todd x Reader Summary: You always liked the rainy thunderous nights, that is until a fateful one. When villainous occurrences come to life, threatening you and your job, will you come to love the rain again or will the drops of water only bring more death. Warnings: Language, minor violence, mentions of death. Word Count: 2.2 k A/N: Soooo, this is my first fanfic ever!! Any constructive criticism is very welcomed. I hope you guys like it!!!!

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It’s always raining in Gotham. The rain filled the sewers, the streets, the abandoned houses. It never mattered who was safe and who wasn’t. Who died and who didn’t. Maybe the only thing that could compare to the number of deaths caused by villainous crimes were those caused by the ineffable rain and floodings of Gotham River.

You always liked it, that is the rain, not the deaths. The refreshing sense of cold droplets falling in your face, the smell of it while in the depths of the woods, the crashing sound of thunder, roaring like it was the king of the skies. But that was a different time, a safer, calmer time, in which you could run to your mothers bedroom in seek of comfort. Now you couldn’t even call her, since she died in a robbery six years prior, after deciding to move to Gotham, much to your joy and seeing that you had convinced her the city was much more fun than the country, and she could easily stay away from the bad memories of your asshole dad.

It was in nights like this that you couldn’t sleep. You always blamed yourself, but in rainy, thunderous nights, it was worse. You could hear her screams echoing in your apartment and you could swear that you saw her standing in your window, shadow produced by the ocasional strike of lightning. Ands that’s when you decided it was best for you to leave your bed and shake it off, going towards the bathroom in your studio apartment. You splashed water in your face, ignoring the tired look you kept giving yourself in the mirror, just opening the cabinet and picking the orange cup which contained the recipe for chemical happiness, popping a pill in your mouth and swallowing it dryly.

You moved back to your bed, glancing at the time in your phone, it was 4 a.m, so you deduced you had time to get ahead in the billion of files of your work. Moving to your little desk by the window, you start shuffling the papers, reading and marking them until you had the notion of what it was being said, summing up the useful business information for todays meeting. Working for Wayne Enterprises sure sound promising, but in the end it was just like any other secretary job, overflowing and underpaid. But in the end, by two hours of reading the transactions, you were done, only needing a soothing shower and a hot cup of coffee, having the sighting of the night being long forgotten.

No later than one hour and a half later you were ready. Your so called “office clothes” were tidy, your hair was fixed and neatly done the way you thought was more professional and your makeup was light, yet enhancing. Still, your eyes kept the same tired look.

When you left the comfort of your home the rain was still raging and your heels clicked quickly through the sidewalk, moving towards the subway, which at that time was surprisingly packed with desperate people, being homeless or simply in the way of their work, looking for shelter. It was in times like this that the primal fear of getting wet and cold gathered people together, never minding the difference between them, soothing the never-ending chaos of Gotham. Shuffling and excusing yourself, you arrived at your stop, climbing the stairs and running with your old umbrella until you were safely inside the modern building. Being at least 10 minutes early considering the weather condition was a huge relief.

Greeting the reception guards as you walk in, you notice the elevator doors closing as you run to try to catch it, “Hold it!” you shout, as you see the piercing blue eyes look at yours and a sadistic smile forming in the mans mouth. He didn’t hold it and you face planted the elevator doors. “Asshole,” you murmured, tidying your appearance once more and pressing the elevator button.

Once you got to the top floor you went straight to your little desk, leaving your purse and organizing the documents that were going to be needed for Mr. Wayne’s 10 o’clock meeting.

“Good Morning.” a deep voice said suddenly, catching you off guard. And yet, you answered without even flinching “Good Morning Mr. Wayne”

“I already said you can call me Bruce, you’ve been working for me for about 6 years already and I think you know me as better as my butler” he argued, moving towards his office, looking behind him only to see you’re right in his tracks. “I’m sorry sir, but that would be highly unprofessional of my part” you replied, quickly updating the times of his other duties as another newspaper wished to interview Bruce before his great charity gala.

“Suit yourself then,” he declared “And before I forget, one of my sons will be coming here to collect some files from my office while I’m in the meeting, so let him in when he comes if you may” he says as both of you come closer to the meeting room, seeing that some of the chiefs of the lower departments and Lucius Fox were already inside and waiting. You nodded and gave him the files you prepared.

The next hour was passed answering calls, figuring out time tables and organizing some peculiarities of the great Wayne Charity Gala. You’ve always dreamed about being invited to one, and sometimes catched yourself daydreaming about it too, wearing a beautiful gown and talking to important people, but that was never the case. In reality you were perpetually the one that planned and organized it, fulfilling all of your bosses weird wishes.

“I said Good Morning!” an annoyed voice spoke and you looked up, not recognizing the owner of the voice, but in an instant recognizing those eyes.

“Oh! If it isn’t one of the most rude people I have ever encountered” you snapped, standing up and noticing how the man, who towered over you, was looking with an amused grin.

“I really think Brucie wouldn’t like his P.A talking with his son like that” And that’s when it clicked, the eyes were the same. The black shiny hair was a little more messier than you expected, with a mysterious stand of white hair sticking out, but there he was, Jason Todd-Wayne, one of Bruce’s oldest. Of course now you had to apologize, not because you wanted but because you needed the damn job or you would die in the wet pavement of Gotham. But then a dry laugh came, guessing it was caused by the realization that hit your face.

“Well, I really think Brucie would’t like to know that his son crashed a party and almost burned down a building” you replied, seeing his eyes darken and his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of the water. “You see, as your father’s P.A, it’s required of me to help him keep his company reputation, and that may or may not involve his family sometimes. You should thank me for keeping all of the involved quiet.”, you smiled, triumphantly.

And that’s when you hear the noise. A first loud bang coming from one of the lower floors. You panicked looking around for answers, but all the floor was as quiet as you. Then it all flashed. The glass of one of the windows was blowed up, shards flying around while people screamed and ran to the nearest exit. You felt stuck, breathing uneasy, until you felt a hard tug, pulling you to under your desk.

“Snap out of it!” Jason said as he gripped your shoulders and shaked you lightly “We have to get you out of here”

“Me? You and your dad are the royalty of Gotham, we need to get YOU out” you said as you got a grip in the reality of what was happening. After all, the rain asked for death again, just as that night.

He shushed you before you could continued, putting his hand over your mouth and you forced your eyes shut. The laughter was the worse, a cold, shrieking voice erupted through the corridors, as you heard things being knocked out and people screaming. Jason pried over the table, just as his suspicions were confirmed. There were a total of five thugs, some of them armed, nothing too hard to handle if he had the upper hand. He felt your breathing in his hand, slowing down, and when he looked at you he saw your eyes opening, a calm look in them, so he took his hand off.

You moved ever so slightly reaching for you purse and opening, quickly grabbing the NAA Mini-Revolver you carried around and you handed it to Jason Although you knew it wasn’t the best choice of a gun it gave you a sense of security. You also picked up a letter opener that had fallen and tossed at your direction when everything went south. “Help your dad” and with that you raised yourself and ran and lunged yourself to one of the huge men, holding the sharp object and sticking it in his neck.

After that all hell broke loose, there was a lot of blood and the victim thug was screaming in pain while spinning, trying to detach your form from his back. You heard the other masked goons running, panicking and shooting at you trying to help their friend, but, luckily to you, they ended up shooting their friends leg, unbalancing the great giant, which fell into the ground, you underneath him.

“Get that bitch,” one of the goons said, with a raspy and clearly angry voice, “The boss wants only Wayne alive. He said that we can have a little fun with the others”. You heard footsteps right above you, moving the huge body away from you. There was little time to enjoy your functioning respiratory system after the weight was lifted from your chest, because right after that you were grabbed by one of the remaining four, his grip in your neck was certainly going to leave a bruise, that is, in your corpse. You don’t know what possessed you to have that momentarily amount of courage, but in a sense, you felt calm, knowing that now, if something happened, you could go and apologize to your mom.

You taught it was because of the lack of oxygen that you saw the great bat-form shadow fly through the window, but when the blood splattered on your face and the pressure on your neck stopped, you noticed it wasn’t just a hallucination.

“Red Hood!” you heard a deep growl as you fell onto your knees, coughing and inhaling quickly, noticing only now the sharp ringing on your ears. “I told you to just get her out of here, not to kill someone” the same voice said, that you clearly assumed it was the Batman.

“I was doing doing that, but he was in my way” a mechanical voice said, while coming at your direction. You felt his hands on your shoulder as he knelt close to you, “I’m going to pick you up now, is that ok?” he asked gently and you simply nodded at the shiny helmet, figuring you couldn’t use your voice since your throat was hurting.

“Can you take care of the rest?” he asked into his comms, you guessed, since Batman was long gone, and he nodded, seemingly receiving an answer. He then picked you up, turning the bright helmet eyes back to you “Hold on”, he spoke, seriously. And you did, as he ran in the direction of the busted window. You felt the gravity take you down, but soon after the feeling of falling stoped, being replaced by what you thought was the sensation of swinging in a forest, like Tarzan.

You presumed the travel was fast, since you had closed your eyes as firmly as possible since the beginning, and when you landed with a strong thud, you opened them, noticing how tightly you were holding the vigilante. Quickly you let him go, trying to stay as straight as possible in front of the built man, looking around you as you noticed he landed near your apartment complex.

“Thank you,” you croaked, looking at the helmet eyes “But I wasn’t the one that needed rescue, Mr Wayne..”

“Mr Wayne is safe” he interrupted, “And so is he son, who was apparently saved by you, missy…”, you could feel the amused smile he had under the red helmet as he said those words. You gave him a small smile, turning from him and looking at view, hugging yourself so you didn’t show him how fucking cold you actually were.

“You should go” you said, without turning to him “My house is near, and I really think you wouldn’t let Batman take all the credit”. You heard him chuckle and, as you heard footsteps approaching, you felt a comforting heat. He had put his leather jacket onto your shoulders.

“You’re completely right” he admitted while leaving you, going straight to the ledge of the roof.

“But your jacket! I don’t know how to find you!” you shouted, causing him to turn.

“Don’t worry, I know where to find you” he said as he jumped from the building, quickly swinging through the modern forest.

You stood there, watching until he disappeared, feeling the smell of gunpowder and whisky from his leather jacket as you hugged it tightly. The thunders roaring in the sky and the droplets of water from the rain hit you strongly in the face, cleansing the blood from it.

And that’s when you started liking rain again.

#jason todd x reader #red hood x reader #red hood x y/n #reader insert #jason todd imagine #red hood imagine #red hood #jason todd #fanfic #dc imagine #batboys imagine #batboys fanfic #batboys

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inspector-montoya-fox · 5 years ago

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let’s talk about the themes of the Sly games

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (2002):

Paris: this might not be the game’s main theme but it’s the theme that is most omnipresent. Paris is the glue that connects everything together. it immediately has such an impact on the player, even though it’s just the tutorial and the gang’s base of operations. Sly being a thief but also living in Paris just sounds so right, like it’s the way it should be. it fits.

The Thievius Raccoonus: this is the main theme and what provides the game with its premise. it’s the book that needs to be glued back together and its importance is highlighted throughout. almost every level has a page included so we’re constantly reminded of its significance. the skills we earn by retrieving the main ancestors’ pages elevate the gameplay and force the player to respect it. other than that it’s a clever way to spotlight the ancestors and establish that Sly does come from a long line of thieves.

Family: this doesn’t need much explaining but i’ll do it anyway. we start off with Sly’s parents getting killed and him landing at an orphanage where he creates a new family for himself with Bentley and Murray. you’ve got 3 different types of family: (A) Connor and Sly’s mom getting murdered and Sly’s aim to avenge them, (B) Bentley and Murray being true brothers when Sly was left with no one (i’m tearing up), and (C) the ancestors, which are explored more in-depth through the theme of The Thievius Raccoonus. Family as a theme explores Sly’s motivations and drive, even though Connor’s role is minor, especially in comparison to his role in Sly 3

Morality: Sly 1 is rudimental in its gameplay. it was a little game with a big promise at the time it was released, hoping to serve Sony and the Playstation 2 with a worthy mascot and an even worthier title. but right off the bat the player is bombarded with a shit-ton of lore about the world Sly lives in and how he operates. we immediately find out he’s an antihero, an honourable thief who has a code of conduct. this comes into stark contrast with the game’s villains who are basically filthy crooks. thief takes down thieves and the theme of Morality is SP’s attempt to make the player distinguish between good criminal and bad criminal. Morality as a theme is spotlighted immensely in Cold Heart of Hate when Sly saves Carmelita because he truly is the good guy, but also when it’s revealed that what’s been keeping Clockwerk alive all these years is the lack of morals and the hatred. the game establishes Morality as the outlining theme of the entire series, placing Sly on a pedestal because he’s honourable. morals trump hatred, so fuck off Clockwerk (even though ‘perfection has no age’ might be one of the coolest lines in the game lol)

Sly 2: Band of Thieves (2004):

Paris: this is the theme from the first game but on steroids. like make it x10. when you take the plot of Sly 2 and boil down to its core, it turns out to be a full-on race against time to save Paris. it provides both a nod to the first game and a sense of closure at the end: the game begins in Paris and ends in Paris. It’s both a setting and a catalyst, and it is absolutely brilliant in the game. you spend most of the game globetrotting, away from home but as soon as you find out ClockLa is on her way to unleash her psychotic brain waves and turn the city evil, you find yourself at the edge of your seat, caring more about Paris than anything else. it’s omnipresent and powerful and i don’t know why but i love it.

Spice: if you wanna be my lover. here’s an amazing replacement for drug trafficking as a plot device in a children’s game: spice. the spice trail is what pushes the narrative forward but also gives the gang something to face before the pieces fall into place and the larger scale of things is revealed. before ClockLa steals the show, spice is the main antagonist in the game. it brings the villains together, leads the gang from one location to another, provides some memorable missions and obstacles (Spice in the Sky and a raged, spice-infused Murray). but it’s not to say that it fades away in the long-run. Spice is actually the subtle thread that connects the episodes together but also is significant to the final master plan of hypnotising Paris.

Deception: obvious one here. Neyla pretending to be an ally is the major example. we’ve got the Contessa pretending to be loyal to Interpol, we’ve got Arpeggio seemingly being the mastermind behind everything (which he kinda was until he wasn’t), we’ve got the whole evil plot reveal on the spice, we’ve got Neyla ripping off Arpeggio on her journey to become the most well-written villain in video-game history. lots going on here. overall great theme. on a wider scale (and i’ve touched on this before in some recent posts) we’ve got SP deceiving the player into thinking the plot is all laid out at Rajan’s ball until it all turns to shit and nothing goes as expected. Appearance V Reality is a sub-theme that pops up when Bentley fights Jean Bison and Bison constantly underestimates Bentley until the turtle fucking blows his lights out. it’s not an instance of Deception per se, but it’s worth mentioning

The Past: Clockwerk’s return makes this a theme instead of a motif. before ‘saving Paris’ becomes the main objective, it’s Sly’s determination to prevent Clockwerk’s revamping that kicks off the game’s events. the events of Sly 1 play a pivotal role here as they lay the groundwork for the plot of Sly 2. it’s not just Sly 2: The Sequel. with its own set of characters and an intricate story it becomes its very own thing. but Clockwerk is the link that connects everything.

Morality: this one sneaks up on you in the game’s second half and just bites you right in the ass when you least expect it. Contessa, who until her boss-fight seems to be just another selfish spider bitch witch, manifests into this advocate for Sly’s inner demons through simple dialogue. fucking brilliant. ‘You’re an ignorant child playing dress-up in his father’s legacy’ (in my opinion, the best line in the entire series) kicks it all off. and then the theme becomes obviously present throughout. it explores the fine line that Sly walks between robin hood and scumbag thief, it shows how the villains are down-right criminals who want to benefit from their crimes, it cracks black and white into a million pieces because in a single game there are like a million layers of good and evil: Barkley at the very top as the authoritarian white, Carmelita as a sympathetic cop who tries to grasp onto her own code of ethics while occasionally running with the thieves, Sly and the gang as antiheroes, the villains as... villains, and Neyla as the embodiment of satan. it’s a scale and the game spotlights this. i had a different bullet point for Justice but i think it falls under Morality. basically, Carmelita’s story arc in Sly 2 deals with blurring her views a bit and re-defining justice

Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves (2005):

Ancestry (Cooper Vault): this is what the game is all about, or at least the premise. after stitching the cottdamn book back together by the end of the first game, Sly 2 doesn’t give any attention to the Thievius Raccoonus. in fact, Sly 2 exists on a completely different plane, using its amazing plot to elevate itself away from the lore of the first game. ancestry is rarely mentioned. flashforward to Sly 3, where SP takes us back to the mythos for a new caper involving a new reveal: the Cooper Vault. what we thought we knew about the ancestors is thrown out the window to pave the way for this mystical place where the Coopers buried their secrets and their loot. i’d like to point out that the theme of Ancestry is great and all but SP does a shitty job in spreading it throughout the game. whilst recruiting the new gang members we often forget why we’re doing so and it’s not until the last episode of the game that we get the fulfilment of the theme’s promise. it’s also worth mentioning that the theme pops up in A Cold Alliance when Tsao is comparing himself to Sly and he speaks of his ancestors but we somehow get the feeling that his ancestors were all colossal jerks like him and had absolutely 0 honour

Family: this is not the same as Ancestry. the new gang members could have very well been distant with each other if not for the adventures that made them bond. Bentley’s fascination with the Guru, Murray being the Guru’s apprentice, Bentley falling for Penelope, Penelope and Panda King helping Murray with the van, Panda King and Sly working alongside each other to kill vampire mantises and the Crusher. these are all moments that helped sell the ‘group of thieves’ aspect of the game. but Family also explores the bond of the original trio and how, even when they face their differences (Bentley and Murray living in the shadow of Sly), they can still make it through, even stronger than before. other references here might include: Panda King and Jing King, Dimitri and the Lousteau diving legacy, Dr. M and McSweeney being Conner’s “sidekicks”

Honour: this replaces the theme of Morality from the previous two games as the situations the characters face allude to honour (doing what’s right for the greater good) rather than morality (black and white, good vs evil). what i mean by that is SP making an effort to distinguish why Sly is a different thief and ultimately an antihero. this was sorta explored in the previous games by having Sly put an end to the villains’ various operations but the overall plot overshadowed those instances. Sly 3 on the other hand fully explores the theme of Honour by including the word in the title and having the gang save the day in every episode. stopping harm to the environment (polluting the Venice canals, destroying the Australian outback), helping Penelope come to terms with her inner demons by encouraging her to drop the facade of the Black Baron, saving Jing King from forced marriage, etc. the theme also ties into the theme of Redemption (below) but what i’d really like to point out is that Carmelita gets in on it as well. i can’t think of a more honourable moment than when she finally, after 3 games, puts the petty cop bullshit aside and comes to Kaine Island with her squad to save Sly from Dr. M. she makes Sly’s battle her own and doesn’t give up, showing up at the very end to save him from Dr. M’s horrific boss-fight (ugh)

Deception: although not as major as in Sly 2, i’ve said this time and time again: Flight of Fancy perfectly encapsulates the theme of Deception. Penelope dressing up as the Black Baron is not the only instance of deception. you’ve got Bentley and Penelope blowing their online avatars out of proportion, you’ve got Dimitri who was initially a villain finally turning sides, you’ve got an episode card full of sunshine and bright blue and gold fonts for a hub that’s all gloomy rainclouds. beyond Flight of Fancy, i can think of a few more instances: some Shakespearian shenanigans when Carmelita disguises herself as Jing King, or when the gang doesn’t reveal their Dead Men Tell No Tales plan to the player and we’re left thinking that Sly is going to get eaten by sharks

Redemption (Choices): speaks for itself, really. this one ties in with Honour and is a sub-theme, maybe a motif. we’ve got Murray’s desire to redeem himself for feeling guilty over Bentley’s accident. we’ve got Dimitri and the Panda King joining the gang after previously being villains in the series, and eventually redeeming themselves through helping with the heist. we’ve got Penelope redeeming herself as the Black Baron by joining the gang. i also named it Choices because these characters chose to redeem themselves. Choices are all over the game, whether its the lack of free will or the sacrifice characters make: Jing King isn’t in a position to choose whether or not she gets married during her capture, Sly sacrifices his cane at the very beginning of the game to save Bentley and then jumps in front of Dr. M’s shot to save Carmelita (!!!)

Closure: or the lack of, smh. SP’s trilogy comes to a close and therefore the theme has to exist even if the game doesn’t provide the player with mass satisfaction. Sly finally gets together with Carmelita, Bentley finally gets over his fear and self-doubt and lives the good life (with Penelope), Murray kicks off his racing career, and we get happy-ever-afters for the rest of the gang as well

#ya boi is FAMISHED #this beats any sly essay i've ever written #i'm exhausted bye #sly cooper #sly MF COOPER BITCHES

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realfuurikuuri · 5 years ago

Text

Don’t Look Away

MMHOPH Missing Arm! AU fic

WC: 2,954

Angsty as fuck

Oneshot

AN: This was a little thing I did using @spookylovesboba MissingArm! AU. It's been a while since I last wrote fanfic(like two years) but this was pretty fun. There wasn’t much to go on The AU gave a lot of room to invert the themes of the original source, which was pretty fun. If I had to place this anywehre on the hypothetical timeline it’d be before he finds the new arm so things aren’t too bloody. The story is a oneshot. I might do more; I might not. Depends on how I’m feeling. I could ramble about this for a lot longer, which I probably will in the tags, anywyas enjoy the fic.

Mao Mao polished Geraldine, holding the sword in his right hand, holding the handle with his tail. Every so often he would turn towards the silent monster alarm before he went back to pointlessly polishing his sword. Badgerclops and Adorabat were out getting… Ice cream, was it? He wasn’t paying much attention when they left. Maybe he should have joined them and actually done something with his day. The monster alarm wasn’t giving him anything to do.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Or maybe it was. He grabbed his sword and headed out the door and headed back in when he realized that it wasn’t the monster alarm. The ringing was coming from the backroom. Covered in dust, hidden in the shadows, was the home phone. Mao Mao slowly walked up to the phone, mind already racing with the unfortunate possibilities. Was it going to be one of his sisters? Probably not, he never gave them his number. Was it going to be his father? Definitely not, Mao Mao almost found the idea of him finally calling commercial. Almost.

Mao Mao reached for the phone,” hello?”

“Is this… sheriff, Mao Mao?”

The voice on the other end was faked, although there was something to it he could almost recognize.

“Who is this,” Mao Mao asked.

“Your reckoning. I am here to destroy everything you hold dear! I am here to make sure you get what's coming to you! I am-”

“-Going to stay out of the mayo,” Mao Mao interrupted. “Dammit Pinky, quit prank calling the sheriff's department!”

Mao Mao slammed the phone back down without even letting him finish. “Need to have the number changed again,” he said to himself.

He sheathed his sword and headed for the door. He might as well explore the town. It was better than getting prank called by Pinky.

* * *

“He just hung up on me. The ass just hung up on me!” The stranger threw the phone on the ground, growling in frustration. “Can’t even let me threaten him right. Prick won’t let me do anything!”

“Hey, that was our phone.”

“Shut it!” The Stranger snapped, voice echoing throughout the Sky Pirates ship.

Orangusnake didn’t know what to think of this man. Kid more like. He couldn’t have been much older than 16 maybe 17. He was a cat with mostly white fur, save for a patch of black here and there. He was a little taller than the sheriff and even sounded like the sheriff. The only thing the kid had that Mao Mao didn’t was both arms. If he closed his eyes he could easily imagine it was an extremely vulgar version of Mao Mao.

“So whadda we do now, boss,” Ratarang asked.

“Well, -uh, first we’ll…”

“You’ll shut the hell up and let me do my thing,” the stranger said.

“Hey! You can’t just come to MY ship. And start disrespecting MY crew.”

“I can when I’ve already beat the crap out of you and tied you up.”

“You haven’t even beat us up!”

“Do you want me to?”

Orangusnake was about to tell him to try it, but the kid’s eyes reminded him of Mao Mao on a bad day.

“Fine! But you said you could get rid of the blasted sheriff for us, so you better do it.”

“Don’t throw a bitch-fit, I have a plan.”

* * *

Mao Mao arrived in the town on foot because Badgerclops had to take the aerocycle. He walked through the streets making sure everything was under control. Occasionally he called out their names, but he got no response. It was quit. Too quiet. The town wasn’t on fire, Pigguns hasn’t tried to run him over, and there was no trail of mayo from Pinky. Something was horribly wrong. Did it only affect the sweetie pies? Was it the Sky Pirates? A monster? Did whatever happen also effect the King? Mao Mao gritted his teeth and began to run to the castle.

He ran as fast as he could up the castle steps. He could hear chatter get louder and louder until he finally kicked down the door.

“My door,” the king exclaimed, but Mao Mao ignored him. He had to take a minute to wonder what exactly he was seeing.

The entire kingdom was caught in a net with a misshapen piano hanging above them like it was some sort of cartoon. The group Horde Gaggle Headache of sweetie pies all began to speak at once.

“Quiet!”

The headache finally fell silent letting Mao Mao think. He pointed his sword at the King.

“Speak,” he said.

“Sheriff, get me out of this mess these… ruffians are disgusting.”

“What happened? Why you are in a net?”

“Oh, help me! Help me! Help Me! Help me! The pink… thing is getting closer!”

Mao Mao was tempted to let the King sit there and deal with Pinky however, he did sign his paychecks, so he had to do something. He took a few steps back before he began to run towards the net, pushing it with his one arm as the Piano began to fall. One swing with Geraldine and the leaf was in two pieces? What? Was Tanya behind this? Was she the one that kidnapped the sweetie pies? Did she do all of that just to mess with him? Why?

Mao Mao was moving towards the net when he noticed that the leaf wasn’t green. It was red. A nice fall red.

“Sheriff! SHERIFF!”

The King’s screams snapped him out the daze. He walked over to the net and grabbed the king by the collar.

“Who did this,” he asked.

“Who? I don’t know, just let me out-”

“Who did this,” he asked again.

“I said I don’t know, now get me-”

“What did he look like?”

“Oh, I don’t know. A black and white cat, maybe. A lot like you, actually.”

Mao Mao let go of the king with a huff. He turned to the door and began to walk to the door.

“Don’t forget about me. Sheriff? Sheriff? Cut me loose...Please,” the King asked, Mao Mao’s mind too busy to hear; his mind buzzed with thoughts and old memories.

* * *

“So, uh, care to tell me what exactly is going on?”

The Stranger looked up at his captives. One was a rather large badger with an eyepatch and a little blue bat. He knew the bear was Badgerclops although he didn’t know the small one. He expected it would take more than a half-assed ice-cream stand to catch them, but it seemed to work.

“What’s going on is that you'll both sit there quietly and wait for him to show up.”

“Whose he,” the blue one asked.

“I don’t know, maybe I would if someone would tell me what’s going on!”

Orangusnake slunk up to the captives with a wicked smile. “What’s going on is-”

“Nobody shutting the hell up. That’s what's going on,” The Stranger mumbled.

“Okay, why are you so rude? I let you into my ship! Then you start yelling at everybody! What do you want?”

“First off, you don’t ‘let’ me be anywhere. I can do what I want and you certainly can’t stop me. Secondly, I’m not rude you all are just insufferable. Lastly, what I want is to finally give Mao Mao what he deserves.”

“And what is that?”

The Stranger just smiled and took out more leaves. A flick of the wrist and a puff of smoke turned them into poorly made dolls of Mao Mao, Badgerclops, the blue one and himself.

“What are those?”

“The important people.”

“We aren’t I there,” Orangusnake said.

“Dude, I literally just said it's the important people.”

“That… that hurts.”

The Stranger rolled his eyes going back to his dolls. “First, I kidnap you two. Already done that. Then he shows up and we beat him up. Once he’s all nice and bruised we bury him alive. Let’s see how he likes being locked up without anyone to help him.”

The Stranger let out a cackling laugh.

“You’re a lot like your dad you know that,” Badgerclops said.

The laughter suddenly stopped. “What would you know?”

“I mean, you’re Jǐngtì Mao, right? Mao Mao’s son?”

Everyone turned to the Stranger. He squinted his eyes, pushing a finger into Badgerclops’ face. “Okay, its Jǐngtì Keys actually.”

The blue thing’s eyes lit up like stars. “Oh my gosh! You're Mao Mao’s Kid! WhatshelikeWhereyou’vebeenIsn’thethecoolestwhoseyourmom- wait, if you’re Mao Mao’s kid then why’d you kidnap us?”

“Well, you see… Blue thing. Mao Mao is… awful. So, I’m going to make use of the only way he taught me to deal with my problems: bury it deep deep down and hope it never comes back up.”

“That doesn’t sound very heroic.”

“Well, you see that would be a problem if I was a hero, fortunately, I’m not so I don’t have to worry about shit.”

“If Mao Mao’s your dad then who's your mom,” Orangusnake asked.

“Tanya Keys.”

“Who.”

“What do you mean who she was here like last week.”

“Never met her.”

“Really? Tanuki. Did the stuff with the leaves. I mean you should’ve met her, she’s a bounty hunter.”

“These guys don’t have bounties on their heads,” Badgerclops added from the back.

Jǐngtì turned to the pirates then back to Badgerclops. “Aren’t they pirates.”

“Sky Pirates,” Orangusnake added from the back.

“Yeah, but they suck so we never really placed bounties.”

“We’re right here.”

“Damn, I thought they were strong because mom didn’t catch them.”

“Nope. They’re bottom of the barrel.”

“We’re still right here.”

“Why do I even have these guys then?”

Everyone turned when they heard a loud bang. “Open up Jǐngtì! I know you’re here.”

“They may not be fighters, but I suppose they can be cannon fodder.”

* * *

Mao Mao kept knocking on the hull of the Sky Pirates ship. His one good hand was starting to hurt when the door finally opened a tad. Jǐngtì poked his head over the door, his face covered with the purple bandanna.

“Son.”

“You.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Four years and 156 days. Believe me, I’ve been counting.”

“How are you even out of jail?”

“Mom paid bail.”

“All of it?”

“What do you think she was so desperate for bounties?”

Mao Mao sighed and scratched his ears. “If you stop know we can have this kidnapping stuff all blow over, so just get down here.”

“You can’t make me.”

“Yes, I can.”

“There’s just one of you and six, maybe seven if you count the snake-monkey as two different people.”

“You mean the Sky Pirates?”

“Yeah.”

Mao Mao raised an eyebrow.”Really? You’re just scraping up wood chips. I beat them once a week, twice if I need to blow off some steam.”

“See! That’s the shit I can’t stand. You pretend to be better than everyone else when you’re just as awful!”

“What do you mean?”

“I make one mistake and you just throw me into jail. You didn't even try to help me. You complain about your dad when you’re not better.”

Mao Mao didn’t know words could hit that hard. He felt all the wind leave his lungs and pain in his chest. He clenched his fist and closed his eyes before looking up again. “You can’t just do things without consequences. You can’t just do wrongs and expect no justice.”

“You’re right,” Jǐngtì said,” so let me fucking bury you alive.”

“Please get down here. And stop cursing, Adorabat’s only six.”

“The blue thing?”

Mao Mao nodded.

Jǐngtì turned over his shoulder then back to his father, looking him dead in the eyes. “Shit, ass, fuck, motherfucker, bitch-”

Jǐngtì certainly inherited his obstinance. He climbed up and swung the back of his blade at Jǐngtì. He dodged the attack, stepping forward to bring down his knife. Mao Mao stuck his sword in the floor, freeing his hand to catch Jǐngtì’s wrist.

“-cock, fucker, and motherfucker.”

“You said motherfucker twice.”

“Well, I am fighting you so I guess it was on my mind.”

Jǐngtì pulled a bomb from his bag forcing Mao Mao to jump back. When the fuse burned out the bomb just turned back into a leaf.

“Pirates!” Jǐngtì called out.

Mao Mao was forced to let go and quickly step out of the way of Rammaraffe, he was pushed back by an egg-bomb from boss-hostrich, a small head-tilt was enough to dodge Ratarang. Orangusnake let out a battle cry, leaping forward with battleax brandished. He couldn’t win like this. He dashed underneath Orangusnake, and reached for Geraldine. When the sword was nearly in his grasp it was pulled away.

“How does it feel to be disarmed again,” Jǐngtì asked.

“You’re like really mean, you know that?”

Jǐngtì gave Badgerclops the side-eye before transforming with a large puff of smoke. “Meh meh meh meh meh, that’s what you sound like,” he said.

“Hurtful, but why’d you turn into modern art?”

Jǐngtì raised an eyebrow,” what do you mean modern art I’m supposed to be you.”

“That’s supposed to be… me?”

Badgerclops laughed. He laughed and laughed as Jǐngtì’s frustration grew and grew until he exploded in a puff of smoke. “You know what! I don’t see you doing magic! You don’t get to criticize me for doing mine!”

Mao Mao pinched the bridge of his nose.“ Badgerclops, quit arguing with an actual child and free yourself. Also, hand my sword while you’re at it.”

“Can’t tied up.”

“Quit being lazy. You know that’s not even a rope. It's just a leaf.”

Badgerclops rolled his eyes and stood up, popping the rope around with a puff of smoke. He pointed his arm right at Jǐngtì. “You’re both very demanding you know that?”

“I suppose I’ll just try burying him alive another time.”

Jǐngtì pushed Badgerclops arm up. A single misfire blasted a hole right through the Sky Pirate’s ship. He grabbed Adorabat without hesitation, jumping off Badgerclop’s face to start climbing towards the exit. Mao Mao called his son’s name, quickly following after. They climbed to the top of the airship. Jǐngtì held Adorabt in one arm. The wind howled in their ears.

“That’s enough, Jǐngtì.”

“Enough of what?”

“Enough of all this. You have to stop.”

“Why? Why should I?”

“Because you literally held an entire kingdom hostage. You teamed up with the Sky Pirates. You’re just becoming a villain.”

“Like father like son, I guess.”

“Jǐngtì just… just stop before this goes too far.”

Mao Mao walked forward while Jǐngtì kept walking back.

“Before I too far? I already thought I did go too far back in Queens Putland.”

“You stole from the monarch and stole their crown! You can’t just do that and expect nothing of it!”

“So, I guess it's justified to leave me in jail without even trying to post bail. I guess it’s fine to just up and move on with your life like you didn't spend 13 whole fucking years with them! Instead, you fuck off and replace me with… this!”

He shook Adorabat around like a ragdoll. “Careful!” Mao Mao shouted as he took a tentative step forward.

“Listen I get it I… am a hypocrite, certainly not the best father, but that's no excuse to do any of this.”

“Shut up! Just shut up!” Jǐngtì reached into his pouch throwing leaf after leaf.

Some turned into bikes, others into furniture, pianos and anything heavy. It didn’t slow Mao Maod down; he just cut them down one after the other. The final thing he threw was also the largest. A massive boulder that belonged at the slope of a mountain hurled through the air. Mao Mao simply raised his hand, simply grabbing onto it so tightly that it popped.

“Are you done?”

“No, I’m not done! I never will be until you finally get your shit together! Put action to your words, and try, for once in your life, to do something right!”

It happened in an instant. A step back when nothing was there. Jǐngtì fell back, too surprised to even scream.

Mao Mao lunged forward grabbing onto his wrist.

To his horror, Jǐngtì seemed genuinely surprised. “Why?”

“Does a man have to give a reason to protect his own children?”

The look in Jǐngtì’s eyes gave him hope. Hope that maybe mistakes can be fixed, or at least worked past. He helped Jǐngtì to his feet and placed his hand on his shoulder. Jǐngtì refused to look him in the eye, but he didn’t shrug it off.

Without warning, he threw down one of Adorabat’s bombs. A cloud of smoke filled the air. When the smoke cleared he was holding Adorabat and Jǐngtì was nowhere to be seen.

“Mao Mao,” Adorabat said.

“Hm?”

“What was that?”

Mao Mao took a deep breath as he searched for the right way to phrase it. “Adorabat, we all have to deal with the consequences of our actions. You can’t just forget about them, lest we start to hurt the people we’re close to.”

“Did you forget him, Mao Mao?”

“You know what? I never could. I never even wanted to. I hope he knows that.”

A loud crash shook the ship. Badgerclops helicoptered out through a brand new, much larger, hole with his arm cannon at full charge. “Alright daddy issues, that’s enough.” He waved his cannon around, searching for his target.

“What?”

“No not you. Jǐngtì,” Badgerclops said.

“You can put the arm cannon down now. He’s long gone.” He knew Jǐngtì wasn’t. He taught him that disappearing trick, after all.

“Oh. Well then let's get the aerocycle and go. I have no idea where it's parked.”

“But I didn’t ride the aerocycle here.”

Badgerclops groaned and they shared a laugh as they walked back home

68 notes · View notes

tinywriter2018 · 5 years ago

Photo

Chapter Twelve

Feng Teng sat across from Xiao Nai in his office. He felt his maker’s glare at him grow with each passing second.

“He called her Shanshan.”

“Well-”

“He knew her name progeny.” He cut him off before he could defend himself.

“How am I supposed to know how he got it. Contrary to what you believe sometimes, I do not go out of my way to talk to your enemies.” Xiao Nai spoke, trying to keep his voice calm.

“He knew somehow!” Feng Teng wasn’t calm, yet he wasn’t yelling. Something Xiao Nai knew from past times, was not a good combination.

“The only time I can think about a data leak was when we were hacked by the hunters…” Feng Teng looked up at him, both knowing the answer the question they asked.

“He would be the only one dumb enough to use vampire hunters to do his bidding.” Feng Teng stood up, his eyes moving to the girls’ apartment across the way. He could make out shadows moving in the light.

“Or smart enough. Who would suspect a vampire of using vampire hunters to get the data he needed.” Xiao Nai grabbed his glass of blood, downing the rest of it. He tasted the bitter brandy he had put in as well. The fire going down his throat. “Brilliant. I would have thought of that.”

“Well I always did like the smart ones.” Feng Teng mumbled, finishing his blood. Yu Banshan came running in, a list of names that haven’t reported back.

“I checked with all the vampires in each district for you Feng Teng. All the sheriffs have been notified and all accounted for. Three of our vampires are missing, Zhan Tianxia, Diemo Weixing, and Youming Guilao.”

“Guilao, hes a massive son of a bitch if I remember correctly. Taking down him wouldn’t have been easy.”

“Is anyone else missing?”

“Hao Mei hasn’t responded.” A knowing look passed between the sheriff and his second.

“Yu Banshan, Lock Qiu Younghou in, make sure someone has eyes on him at all times. He’ll be a main target.”

“What about Hao Mei?”

“The human? Why is he special?” Feng Teng leaned against Xiao Nai’s desk looking at his progeny’s worried expression.

“Hao Mei is a friend. He’s been nothing but loyal. Hao Mei is more a friend to vampire kind then any human we know.” Yu Banshan spoke up.

“He’s someone both Yu banshan and I have kept very close to us. The most trustworthy person we can have. If we need eyes in the daylight, hes the guy.”

“More importantly-” Feng Teng held up his hand stopping the love speech that Yu Banshan was about to give.

“I understand. But you can’t go after him yourself. Neither of you can.”

“We can’t just leave Hao Mei with him.”

“If he is even alive.” Feng Teng interjected.

“Hao Mei is alive.” Xiao Nai stood in between the two of them, placing a hand on Yu Banshan’s chest, trying to keep him calm. He pushed him to back off, nodding for him to cool down. Balling up his hands, he took a few steps back, his anger getting the best of him.

“Fine...I know a guy who can help find him. We just need an article of his clothes.” Feng Teng stood up, pulling out his phone.

“None of us have been invited in yet.”

“I thought you said he trusted you?” Feng Teng looked at them puzzled.

“We never had time to visit his new place.” Xiao Nai reasoned.

“Weiwei and Shanshan have. They are human, so they can-”

“No.” Feng Teng cut him off speaking over Xiao Nai’s “Out of the question” remark.

“I’ll escort them myself. They are in the same apartment building, 3 floors down. I’ll even block out that part of the building so no one can leave or enter until they grab the clothes. Put them right back in their apartment safe and sound.” Yu Banshan reasoned again. Both of them stayed silent, a conversation between them, that only a progeny and his maker can have. “Boss.” Yu Banshan said softer. “It’s Hao mei...They would want to help, no matter what you decide.”

“Don’t let them out of your sight.” With a nod, Yu Banshan quickly left, heading next door to the apartments. Feng Teng stood up straight, putting his phone back in his pocket.

“The contact will meet Yu Banshan at apartment. Make sure the girls don’t leave until he’s left the building. I trust this man to get the job done, but that’s about how far I trust him.” He started to walk out the office, an exhausted Xiao Nai quickly followed him.

“Where are you going?” Feng Teng pushed the first floor button, the doors closing in front of him.

Someplace other then here.” He stated, leaving Xiao Nai frustrated and alone in his office. Getting his maker to do anything against his will, was not something he was cable of doing. That he learned a long time ago.

♣♥♠♦

Weiwei came out of Hao Mei’s bedroom holding a sweater he liked to wear, while Shanshan sat on the couch, holding his jacket. She tried to keep from crying, only to feel hopeless. Weiwei wrapped an arm around her, wiping away her own tears. Yu Banshan stood outside of the doorway, pacing back and forth.

“Did you find anything yet?” Shanshan walked over, holding his jacket and sweater in her arms.

“He must have done laundry recently, these are the only things that seem unwashed.”

“We just need-” Before he finished his sentence, he paused, quickly catching the scent of someone else. His eyes darting down the hall to the elevator. Just as soon as it dinged, a vampire was in front of him. He had a good foot on him, fangs out and ready for an attack. Weiwei ran next to Shanshan pulling her back, while Yu Banshan brandished his own fangs.

“Is that Shaoxiang?” Weiwei asked, looking at the new stranger.

“No. I don’t know who that is.” The Vampire turned his gaze on the girl’s smelling the air, his eyes glancing at them a little too hard before turning to the other vampire, he stood up straight clicking in his teeth.

“Yu Banshan?”

“Yes?” He answered, not getting rid of his weapon.

“Feng Teng asked me to come. You need help finding someone?” Shanshan quickly ran over holding the sweater and jacket out the door.

“He’s a human, about her height maybe a little taller-” She pointed to Weiwei. “He’s-” The vampire held up his hand, stopping her.

“I just need his scent.” She pushed both articles of clothing closer to him. Taking the sweater, he bowed towards them before leaving without another word.

“Who was that?” Weiwei asked, leaving Hao Mei’s place.

“I believe that would be K.O. The best tracker in Shanghai.” Yu banshan escorted them to the elevator, hoping to get them back inside their apartment sooner rather than later. “I wonder what Feng Teng has on him to get him to do this kind of work.”

“Feng Teng isn’t like that.” Shanshan spoke up almost instinctively. Yu Banshan gave a sort chuckle, closing the elevator doors.

“Whatever you want to believe. But I know he will kill me, if you aren’t back in your apartment soon.” Weiwei pinched Shanshan’s elbow, giving her a glare.

“Snap out of your daydream. Feng Teng is the King of Shanghai, the most deadly vampire in the city, how do you think he got there, kissing puppies?”

“More like eating them.” Yu Banshan mumbled, but both girls heard him.

“He may be the most dangerous to you, but to me...he isn’t.” Weiwei shook her head. Her thoughts went to Hao Mei, hoping he will be safe with them soon.

♣♥♠♦

Feng Teng gazed out at the harbor, the sea just beyond it. A world out there, he’s been to, yet this was always his home.

“I remember when you brought me here for the first time.” Zhen Shaoxiang said from behind him. He came to stand next to him, his gaze on the ships leaving and coming. The night sky shined brightly, yet the knew dawn was fast approaching.

“I also remember the last time I brought you here.” He looked at his progeny, who started to sizzle with rage. He turned on him, gripping his collar. Feng Teng seemed unamused and unbothered.

“The last time, you ripped off the head of the only woman I ever loved.” With little strength, he tore his hands from his shirt, pushing him back.

“She was a hunter, she was going to kill you-”

“I was going to turn her! She was the love of my life.” He cut him off. “You ruined that. Put her head on a spike!”

“We are vampires, we don’t have loves of our life. We have the love of blood.” He watched Zhen Shaoxaing smirk at him.

“Is that what she is too you? In all my years of knowing you, working beside you, you never once treated blood like how you treat Shanshan.” Quickly wrapping his hand around his throat, he squeezes tight enough to make him go off his feet.

“What makes you think I won’t kill you now?” Shaoxiang pulls out his phone, a live video feed is coming through.

“You see, one thing you always taught me was to have a way out. Insurance.” Feng Teng put him down, taking the phone from him. It showed a snipper on a building, the gun aiming right towards a window. The video zoomed in, showing Shanshan in her night gown. She was sipping on wine, her phone in her hand. “I wonder who is calling…” Shaoxiang taunted. A few seconds after she put the phone to her ear, his phone began to ring.

“You will die soon.” Feng Teng pushed him away throwing his phone at him.

“I’m not the dumb progeny you left abandoned and forgotten in the waters.” Shaoxiang smiled watching his maker rush off. He looked at the camera once more, Shanshan smiling into the phone before quickly looking up and running away from the window.

♣♥♠♦

Weiwei was lying on the couch, while Shanshan was asleep on the chair, curled up hugging a pillow. Neither of them felt safe in the rooms after Feng Teng had called telling her about the sniper. All the window drapes were shut and they had the TV going so no one could hear them talk. The front door opened, with both Feng Teng and Xiao Nai walking in. Feng Teng went over to Shanshan, softly waking her up. Weiwei stood up, going to Xiao Nai who took her to the kitchen, hiding behind a wall for visible privacy.

“Is Hao mei found?” Weiwei asked, but Xiao Nai shook his head.

“Feng Teng thinks K.O. will find him soon.” Weiwei wrapped her arms around his waist holding him tightly. He kissed her forehead, hugging her back.

“I was worried all day. Shanshan and I haven’t been able to go near any windows without getting scared.”

“I came as soon as the sun went down.” Leaning down he kissed her softly, breathing in her scent. Xiao Nai wanted to get lost in her again and again, yet he knew he couldn’t. “I can’t stay long. During the day, Shaoxiang’s men struck the district 3 vampires, their coffins were set a blaze with them inside.”

“I wish there was more I can do to help.” He nudged her nose with his, smiling at her.

“Being here is helping me.” She smiled, leaning up she kissed him.

“Just please come back to me.” Weiwei whispered, tears prickling the back of her eyes. “The only person who ever seems to come back is Shanshan.”

“I will.” Xiao Nai promises, kissing her. He pushed her gently against the wall, her hands wrapped around his neck holding him there. Their lips moving in sync with one another.

Feng Teng was kneeling in front of Shanshan, ignoring his progeny’s time. Sometimes he wished he couldn’t hear everything.

“Feng Teng.” Shanshan leaned closer to him in her chair. He looked at her smile, wondering how something so sweet and innocent could ever love something so horrible and evil as him.

“I won’t be away long. Just king business I have.”

“You know with me, you never have to act tough.” Shanshan leaned in kissing him. “I’m not going anywhere.” Feng Teng kissed her moving his lips against hers, wishing to hold on to her longer. But just when he wanted to he knew he had to stop. Breaking the kiss he stood up, placing his hand under her chin.

“I’ll be back.” He whispered, his thumb tracing her bottom lip, before turning to walk in front of the wall, the two were currently pressed on. “Xiao Nai, enough, let’s go.” He staid sternly. Weiwei blushed, placing her feet back on the ground, unwrapping themselves from his waist. Xiao Nai, kissed her on the forehead, giving her a smile, before straightening his shirt. He walked around the wall, not smiling at his maker. They walked out the door, exiting to the elevator. “You know I can hear right?” Feng Teng asked, while Xiao Nai shook his head, a grin not leaving his face.

“I got carried away.” Feng Teng slapped him on the back of the head, the smile leaving his face.

Weiwei came around the corner again, sliding under her blanket on the couch. Shanshan came to sit next to her.

“Sometimes I wish we never left the small apartment.” Weiwei gripped her cousin’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Sometimes I do too. Life seemed easier then.” Shanshan leaned her head on her shoulder, both falling asleep to the TV.

Masterlist

#love o2o #love o2o fanfiction #Boss & Me #Boss & Me Fanfiction #Boss & Me Vampire #Love O2O Vampire #Xiao Nai x Bei Weiwei #Shan Shan x Feng Teng #K.O.#Yu Banshan #Xiao Nai #Feng Teng #Bei Weiwei #shan shan

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lilacmoon83 · 5 years ago

Text

Finding You Always

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 204: Change in the Tides

By the time they got back to the office, their top analyst had pulled everything that his David's boss had asked for and they gathered in the conference room with him. The guy, Trevor, was your typical analyst, David supposed. Introverted, yet quirky and sporting a look that might be described as a nerdy hipster hybrid. He was a nice kid, but he always looked at him weird, like he was trying to figure him out. And finally, after two years, David decided to say something while his boss was on the phone.

"You know...if you want to ask me something, you should just do it, because the staring is getting creepy," David said, without looking up from the report he was reading. The young man fidgeted and looked embarrassed.

"I'm...I'm sorry, you just look really familiar. Have you ever been to Seattle?" Trevor asked.

"Like on a case?" David asked.

"Uh...no, like have you lived there?" Trevor replied. David shook his head.

"Can't say that I have," David said.

"You sure?" he asked. The blonde sighed.

"Do you really think I wouldn't remember living somewhere?" he asked. The analyst shrugged.

"Maybe...weird stuff happens," he said and watched David, almost like he was trying to gauge his reaction.

"I think you're spending a little too much time on the dark web," he quipped, as Pat hung up her phone.

"Okay...what do you have?" she asked.

"A really long list," Trevor replied, as an endless list of names filled the large television sized screen.

"Good God…" Pat lamented.

"Do you think we can rule out a female perp?" David asked. She tilted her head in consideration.

"Normally I don't like to assume when it comes to serial killers, especially since I think this is less about killing and more about experimentation...but the violence in the death would suggest a male perpetrator," she replied.

"Though a woman definitely would naturally be easier for our victims to trust and be comforted by," David pointed out. She sighed.

"Okay...let's not rule out females yet. But I think we can rule out educators without any doctorates. The level of sophistication in this drug likely means that we're dealing with someone highly intelligent," Pat said, as Trevor put in those specifications and unfortunately, the list didn't get much shorter. She sighed.

"Highly intelligent...like a genius," David muttered, as something pricked the back of his mind at that.

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

"Well...it's pretty well known that sometimes there can be a fine line between genius and insanity," David replied, as he looked back at the screen.

"Just give us the people with three or more doctorates," he said. Trevor did as he asked and the list got significantly shorter, though still a good sized list.

"That's still a lot of over-achievers," Pat commented.

"But manageable. Seventy-three names between the five universities," he said, with a sigh.

"Okay...the rest of the team is on another case, so it's the three of us. Trevor, print out all these profiles. I'll order us lunch and good coffee, not that sludge out in the squad room," she said.

"I'm going to call Margaret and check in with her," David said, as he took his phone out and stepped out of the room.

Meanwhile, Trevor hit print on the very large file and then pulled up a website he had been looking at earlier. The date was from about seven years ago and was an article about the strange weather event that had occurred in Seattle that day. At least, a weather event was what the government tried to explain it away as. Many bought the official story, but there were a lot of people that didn't. Conspiracy theorists were still going strong on the web with speculative explanations for that day and he had always been fascinated by so-called fringe topics.

So Trevor had been extremely surprised when he ran across an article about a Detective David Nolan and his wife Margaret. He had read the entire sordid story about them and was enthralled by the whole thing, especially when many conspiracy theorists claimed that this David and Margaret Nolan weren't who or what they appeared to be.

After disappearing all those years ago, the rumors of where these strange people went were as wild and outlandish as they could possibly get. And then like they had never left, they had seemed to surface again, right here in Boston this time. And so far, he seemed to be the only one that noticed. For now...at least until he could be sure it was them. If it was, something strange was going on, because he didn't think David was lying about never living in Seattle, for he genuinely seemed to not remember. It was very curious and he decided to do more digging when he had a chance.

~*~

"Hey you…" Margaret answered, as he dialed her.

"Hey beautiful…" he said, feeling solace just at the sound of her voice.

"I take it you're still at the office?" she asked.

"I am...but I wanted to call you. I just...need to hear your voice," he replied.

"Is it a bad case?" she asked.

"Yeah...it's bad. I guess they're always bad. Hopefully, we'll make some progress though," he replied.

"I know you will...you're the best at what you do," she said.

"Only because I have you. I love you so much," he said.

"I love you too, please be safe…" she pleaded.

"I will...I'll see you tonight," he promised, as he hung up the phone and went back into the conference room, as Trevor put the stacks of paper on the desk.

"Okay...let's eliminate some names and find some possible suspects," Pat said, as they went back to work.

~*~

Fandral and Charming dueled furiously that afternoon and the latter found himself on his back, not for the first time that day. Charming growled and got to his feet again.

"I know I'm stronger, but I never beat you this easily...there's something eating at you," Fandral said, as he knocked him down again.

"It's nothing…" Charming snapped, as they went back to dueling, only for him to end up shadow boxing with the Asgardian.

"You are never this sloppy," Fandral chided, as he won the duel and Charming stalked off to the side to grab a towel.

"It's Mephisto...he is getting more and more suspicious. I fear what he may do," Charming said.

"If he figures out what we're doing...the consequences will be catastrophic. But if Jekyll has found his way to Snow...you know it won't be long until the curse unravels," Fandral reasoned.

"If our ruse is discovered too early...it won't matter, you know he will go after the ones we love first," he reminded him. Fandral sighed.

"I hate to...but perhaps it's time Rose and I seek help from Sif and Thor," the Asgardian said.

"But I thought Hermes said she was unable to access the All World River with the curse in tact?" he asked.

"She is...but that restriction wouldn't apply to the bi-frost. If I can...somehow get a message to Thor some way, getting his assistance may be possible. I have no idea how we're going to do that, but Rose may be able to find something in her books," he replied.

"It's a long shot, but the back up would be welcomed. Until then...we just have to hope my other half wakes the hell up soon," he growled.

"You know when it comes to protecting Snow that he will come through. The moment he senses something is off with that deranged doctor, it will accelerate his awakening," Fandral reasoned.

"Let's hope so...keeping up this charade is getting harder by the day and Mephisto needs to be dealt with...once and for all," Charming stated.

"I'll return to Rose and we'll work on getting a message through to Sif," he said, as he left through a portal back to Andresia. Charming sighed deeply and had it not been for the love of his sweet, beautiful Winter, he knew the burden he was carrying upon his shoulders would have crushed him long ago.

With that, he disappeared through a portal back to their palace and sought her out. But what he found in his own Throne room chilled him to the bone…

~*~

Winter gently kissed her baby granddaughter and lay her in the crib in the nursery they kept in their palace for her. She was happily watching her for Emma this afternoon; something she did often and did with great joy.

"Sleep well my little one," she whispered, as she quietly exited the nursery and went down the winding staircase. She wore a beautiful, shimmering silver and black dress, truly looking the part of the Queen she was. But she gasped suddenly when Mephisto appeared before her suddenly and grabbed her arm. She cried out, as he yanked her down the stairs and tossed her to the ground at his feet.

"Where is your idiot husband, wench?!" he growled. She glowered at him and managed to get to her feet.

"My husband is none of your business and I don't think I have to tell you what he will do to you when he finds out you dared to even touch me," Winter retorted. The demon surprised her again though back angrily backhanding her and sending her crashing to the floor again.

"Answer the question, you little bitch!" he growled.

"He constantly disappears and I know he's up to no good. Tell me where he is now!" he roared. Winter got to her feet and glared at him.

"If you must know, my Charming is on a training retreat with some of his men," she lied.

"I don't believe you...all your soldiers are accounted for. I checked," he snapped.

"The retreat is in Andresia. He is overseeing a training exercise with Fandral," she said without missing a beat.

"Such was not mandated by our Lord," Mephisto replied.

"Charming oversees all the armies, you know that. He has full approval to make sure everything is in order in each Kingdom," she refuted. Mephisto was silent at that, for it was true. She whimpered though when the frightening demon King grabbed her arm and pulled her close.

"You will tell me the truth now...or bad things are going to happen to you and the brat upstairs," he warned and her breath hitched, as his hand slithered to her cheek.

But he was suddenly and thankfully ripped away from her and her husband began to pummel the demon angrily with his fists.

"How dare you even think of touching her?!" he growled, as he kicked him away. He was about to charge him again when Seth appeared.

"My Lord...he just attacked me!" Mephisto claimed.

"My Lord...I found him threatening to harm my Queen and he dared to put his hands on her!" Charming growled, as Winter sided up to him and he pulled her into his arms.

"Then he was sufficiently punished. You will do no more," Seth decreed.

"My Lord...he struck her. He must pay for it with his life," Charming insisted. But Seth raised his hand.

"You will not kill him today," he ordered and Charming reluctantly obeyed. Mephisto smirked, as he stood up.

"I will not intervene next time, Mephisto. Please keep your hands off the lovely Queen Snow or I'll allow him to dispatch you accordingly," Seth warned. Mephisto bowed deeply.

"I understand, my Lord," he said.

"Come...both of you," he called to the Charmings.

"I wish to make an impromptu visit to Camelot," he said.

"Of course, my Lord," Charming replied, as he offered his arm to his wife. They quickly called Eva, who arrived promptly to watch Hope, and they were off to Camelot with Seth. Mephisto seethed, as they left. He was more determined than ever to expose their treachery and he was about to do take the first step into doing just that.

Mephisto entered Nephilim and observed his new charges, training with their new powers. The entire training room was lit ablaze in their practice, evidence of their rage.

"Well? Did you find anything that might expose him?" Arthur questioned.

"No...but I knew I wouldn't. You could torture that little wench and she'd never loosen her tongue when it comes to her beloved," Mephisto replied.

"Then what was the point?" Gawain questioned.

"To set Charming on edge. Nothing gets under his skin faster than harming his lovely Winter," Mephisto answered.

"But if he is on edge, he may be even more dangerous. He knows you're going to try something," Arthur stated.

"He knows I am...but he won't be expecting the two of you. It's time to make a visit to Camelot," Mephisto responded.

~*~

Margaret checked her list and checked off one more thing, as she looked in the boxes. The science fair was tomorrow already, but fortunately, she was just about ready. Some of her students had helped her set up the heavy tables in the gym and all the supplies were waiting in tubs.

"My, my...it seems you have nearly everything under complete control," Dr. Jenkins said, as he entered with a box full of beakers and test tubes.

"I think we should be ready for tomorrow," Margaret replied, as she looked around.

"I could have never been ready for this without your help, Margaret," he said with admiration.

"It's no trouble...I love organizing events. My husband likes to joke that I should have been an event planner," she said.

"Well, I think you'd be good at anything, though I think you're a bit too brilliant to be something like an event planner. I have viewed your work, after all. I am a bit surprised that you never went for your doctorate," he mentioned. She shrugged.

"I never really thought much about it actually. David is always so supportive, but I just didn't have any desire to spend my evenings in night classes instead of with my babies," she said, making him frown.

"I love teaching...but I love being a mother the most. And a wife," she said fondly, as she thought about her family.

"Perhaps now that your children are older...you might think of it? The only reason I ask is that I teach some night courses at Boston University. You would be a wonderful addition," he mentioned.

"Oh...that's kind of you to say, doctor. But to be honest, I'm really happy with things the way they are. I can barely stand to be away from David during the day so I can't imagine doing so in the evening," she replied. He frowned again and was about to say more when her son's team trudged in from practice.

"Hey honey...you're a mess," she said. He grinned.

"It was fun though," he joked and she laughed.

"Go shower and we'll head home," she said, as he headed off to the locker room.

"I do hope you'll consider classes in the future. You could have quite a career in the sciences," Dr. Jenkins mentioned.

"Oh...I don't know," she said. He was about to press her further, but heard her gasp. He looked to the doorway and saw the rest of her family there.

"I thought you were working late?" she asked in excitement, as David closed the distance between them.

"We still have a lot of names to go through, but we need a break. So I picked up peanut and we ordered takeout," he said, as he pecked her on the lips.

"That's perfect, because Bobby should be out in a few," she said, as she cuddled against him.

"Daddy let me drive the truck too, because he's tired," Summer added.

"You always liked field work better than office work," Margaret said fondly.

"I do, but I wasn't too tired to grab these on my way," he said, as he pulled a bouquet of snow drops out from behind his back. She gasped and brought the flowers to her nose.

"You spoil me," she gushed, as she kissed him.

"It is what I live for," he replied, as he kissed her again, just as Bobby hurried out.

"I'm starved," he mentioned.

"Don't worry...I ordered enough take out to fill even your stomach," David said, as they prepared to leave.

"Oh, I'll see you tomorrow, doctor. I think everything is about done," Margaret said. Jenkins forced a tight smile.

"Of course...have a good evening, Margaret," he said, trying to quell the anger inside him. But such was useless and he stormed back to his lab with fury.

~*~

Lancelot and Guinevere bowed deeply to Seth, as he arrived in their Kingdom.

"Welcome to Camelot, my Lord. This is an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise. Our palace staff is at your command," Guinevere said.

"Very good...I do hope they can prepare some delicacies while I am here. I do enjoy gourmet goods," he mentioned.

"Of course...they will prepare you an array of delicacies right away," she confirmed.

"Excellent...until then, I would like to see that your Kingdom's state of affairs is up to par," he requested.

"Of course...we can begin with the round table and by then, we will have a grand feast and celebration ready for you," Lancelot said, as he met Charming's gaze and then led them to the double doors that attached to the Throne room. They swung open and the current Knights of the round table stood still at attention, after each bowing deeply to the God.

"Ah yes...the illustrious Knights of the Round Table," Seth said, as he observed the empty seat.

"And why does this seat remain empty?" he questioned.

"It actually last belonged to your right hand, my Lord. Technically, it still belongs to King Charming. Only the most powerful and honorable Knights have ever sat in the Siege Perilous," Lancelot informed him.

"Yes...you once sat there as well, did you not?" Seth questioned.

"Yes my Lord," Lancelot answered.

"Until you disgraced yourself by stealing your King's Queen," Seth goaded. Lancelot knew he was trying to egg him on into some kind of reaction. Well placed insults to the royals was common with him. His own son and Elsa had been insulted thoroughly on their most recent visit to Arendelle. Fortunately, his son had kept his temper in check and though it burned Charming and Winter, they always let the insults roll off.

Midas had never been able to do this and it was why he was eventually unseated. If not for Charming's ruse, Seth would have allowed Mephisto to actually kill him. Charming could have actually used someone like Lancelot in the resistance, but he hoped that the other Knight held his tongue.

"I have made mistakes in my past, my Lord, but I truly believe that Guinevere and I belong together," he responded in an even tone. Seth smirked.

"Yes...I suppose if it's true love, that makes infidelity okay," the God jabbed and Charming clamped down on his emotions. It would not have been the first time that Seth had tried to tear down true love.

"Perhaps you fancy an exhibition duel, my Lord? My Knights can put on quite a show," Lancelot offered instead of taking the bait. Seth smirked and he took a seat in the Siege Perilous.

"I do love to be entertained…" he agreed. Lancelot motioned to two of his Knights, who took their places in the center of the room. But suddenly, a stream of fire swept into the room and in the blink of an eye, the Knights were slain, both killed gruesomely by the deep burn slashes on their chests and necks.

Winter gasped and put a hand to her mouth, as she watched her husband unsheathe his blade and his eyes dart around the room. The chalice sword lit with pure power, just as two more Knights were slain like nothing.

Charming jumped into the fray and his blade effectively blocked the flaming weapons wielded by the assailants. When the smoke and flames cleared, Charming glared at the wielders.

"What the hell are you two doing out of prison?!" he growled, as his gaze flicked to Mephisto.

"As if I didn't know," he hissed.

"What's the matter, Charming? Afraid of a challenge?" Mephisto goaded.

"These two are hardly a challenge," Charming snapped in return, as he dueled them both. Winter watched with bated breath and inched forward. But Seth put his hand up.

"You will not interfere, my dear Queen Winter," he forbade. She swallowed thickly and clutched her pendant to cover it, hiding the glow, as she willed her power to her husband.

"I hope you are enjoying your brief respite from prison, because you are going back there very soon," Charming threatened.

"I don't think so. We made a new deal," Gawain said smugly.

"I see we're not the only ones that have undergone some changes since our last meeting," Arthur observed.

"So you made a deal with the devil? You really think that's going to work out well for you?" Charming questioned.

"Oh...it's working out quite well for us, but you...not so much…" Gawain said, as his eyes briefly flicked to his wife.

"I see she's still the fairest of them all. I'm glad she's here to witness what we're about to do to you," he goaded, as they flailed their fiery chains around and the former prince parried each of their attacks in rapid succession. But he knew he wouldn't be able to maintain that pace long, even with the chalice sword. He felt her willing her power to him and it was very risky. Seth was thankfully occupied with the display of their duel, but he would not take any chances in him realizing that she was disobeying him and employed the full might of their power in the flashiest way possible. The two demons were paralyzed by the power of his sword with two expert swipes and Charming brought his blade to Arthur's throat.

"My Lord...it would seem that Mephisto has betrayed you by releasing these two from prison," Charming stated.

"Their desperate souls called to me, my Lord. They were severally wronged by King Charming and his fair Queen," Mephisto explained.

"Camelot is my birthright!" Arthur shouted.

"And they held the sword that was mine, while ousting me from my Throne!" Arthur claimed angrily.

"And then King Charming and the fair Queen Snow placed the man that betrayed me on the Throne next to my Queen!" he continued.

"You know I do not like when you do not consult me about acquiring souls," Seth chided to the demon King. Charming smirked smugly, but it fell away at Seth's next utterance.

"But Arthur should reclaim his Throne. He has obviously proved that he will be a stronger King that will force Camelot to serve me to its fullest extent," Seth announced.

"My Lord…" Charming started to protest, but he felt himself be forcibly silenced when the God raised his hand.

"I have made my decision. Arthur...as new King of Camelot, you will serve me. Do not make me regret this appointment," Seth stated. Arthur smirked.

"I shall not, my Lord," he said, as he bowed and cast a smug glance up at Charming.

"And what of these two? Perhaps two souls for my realm?" Mephisto asked.

"I'd rather them be alive, if you permit it so, my Lord," Arthur requested.

"They left me to rot in prison...and I wish to inflict the same upon them. Death is much too quick in this instance," he added.

"Very well...please escort them to the prison, my right hand. Then you and your Queen can take your leave," Seth ordered. Charming bowed deeply and sheathed his sword. He cuffed Lancelot and Guinevere without a word, as Winter hurried to his side. They marched the prisoners forth and once they left the palace, she hooked her hand on his elbow, hoping that her touch could quell some of the rage in her husband.

This had been a clear shift in power tonight and they both knew it would not bode well at all for their future. Mephisto had undermined them in a very big way, which meant that it was only a matter of time before their entire facade collapsed. Their light halves needed to wake up and they needed to do it soon…

~*~

Margaret giggled, as they sat on their couch at home, cuddled close and she met his gaze, as he fed her another bite with the chopsticks. Her legs were draped over his lap and she was content to be cuddled against him.

"Mmm...that's so good…" she said, as she picked up her chopsticks and repaid the favor by feeding him a bite too.

"Best Chinese in Boston," he agreed, as she sighed and rested her head against his chest.

"Is the case bad?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah...I'm afraid so. We thought it was serial...but now we think it's someone experimenting," he told her. Generally, he wasn't supposed to talk too much about cases and would rather protect her from the ugliness in his job. But he knew he could tell his beloved anything and she'd never breathe a word to anyone. She was his full confidante and source of strength. He dealt with that ugliness in his job far better than many might, for her love gave him light, no matter how many dark places his work took him to. And as far as protecting her, she insisted that she was strong enough for anything and wanted to know everything he was going through. They faced absolutely everything together and neither of them would have it any other way.

"Experimenting?" she asked. He nodded.

"We've never seen a drug like this before. We don't have any live victims to know what kind of brain activity is going on when they ingest the drug...but the reports we do have say they just...lose their minds in an instant," he explained.

"The one student I did see before he died kept saying that he didn't want to be bad, like something was telling him to do bad things," he said shaking his head.

"A complete personality change," he added. She sighed.

"Those poor people. I can't imagine going through something like that...those parents. Oh David...if something like that happened to one of our babies...I don't know what I'd do," she fretted.

"I know, my darling...but I promise you that I'll never let anyone hurt you or one of our babies," he promised, as he pressed a kiss to her hair.

"I think that's part of the reason our experimenter has changed his victim pool. Students are risky, even though they all had drug abuse history. He's now picking homeless people that he or she thinks won't be missed," he said.

"That's horrible...who would do something like this, let alone create a drug like this?" she wondered.

"I don't know...but if I profile it, then it's someone that's very sick and seems to be trying to find a way to get rid of that sickness," he said.

"Sounds like a Jekyll and Hyde situation," she commented offhandedly and he looked at her with scrutiny.

"What do you mean?" he asked. She shrugged.

"That's kind of what Dr. Jekyll was trying to do in the story. He was using a drug to keep his dark side at bay. Didn't really work though," she replied. He looked at her in surprise.

"I...I hadn't even considered that, but it's exactly what this is like. The student that killed himself...he kept saying he didn't want to do bad things," he said, as he surprised her by kissing her soundly.

"God...you're brilliant," he praised. She looked at him shyly.

"I just read a lot," she replied.

"Still going to go with brilliant...I'm going to add that to our profile. It might help narrow down our suspect pool even more," he said. He wasn't sure how yet or if it was even relevant, but if their suspect had some serious mental illness, there could be undertones or clues in their file.

"So...you think I'm brilliant?" she teased. He smirked and kissed her cheek, before trailing his kisses down to her neck.

"Most definitely...my beautiful, brilliant wife. I am certainly the luckiest man in this or any world," he replied, as she closed her eyes, enjoying all the things her husband's lips were making her feel.

"Mmm...I think I'm the lucky one," she said fondly, as she caressed his handsome face.

"We have such a wonderful life and somehow, I know our love is special," she said. He smiled and kissed her tenderly again. Their eyes met and not for the first time, they felt that mystical connection between them. They had never quite been able to explain it, but it had seemed to always be there since the day they met. If they didn't know any better, it was almost like their hearts were beating in sync. It sounded crazy, but somehow they knew it was exactly what was happening. Their hearts thrummed together and they could nearly read each other's thoughts with just a look between them.

"We're soul mates for sure," he agreed.

"Then you don't think I'm silly for believing in true love...that we have true love?" she teased, as he squeezed her hip.

"How could I when I'm part of this love? There's no other explanation for the depths of my love for you," he replied, as his gaze on her made her tingle all over.

"Maybe we should go to bed," he suggested. She kissed him tenderly.

"Mmm...I like that idea," she said, as she sat up and grabbed the fortune cookies from the coffee table.

"But first we need to read our fortunes," she said playfully. He chuckled at her.

"You don't even like the cookies," he teased.

"True, they taste like stale plastic, but you know me. I love reading the silly fortunes," she teased back, as he smiled fondly at her. He could spend eternity with her and he knew he'd never get enough of her. He shook his head in amusement, as he watched her unwrap the cookie and break it apart. She discarded the cookie and sought the slip of paper inside.

"What does it say?" he asked, as he ate a piece of the cookie.

"Oooh...let's see. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart," she read.

"Very true," he agreed.

"Really?" she asked playfully.

"Of course...look at all we've been through. Your father and my step-father did their damnedest to keep us apart, but they couldn't do it, because in our hearts, we knew we were meant to be together and nothing stopped us," he reminded. She tilted her head to the side fondly.

"You always know how to put things in perspective," she praised, as she kissed him and then broke open his cookie.

"Hmm...the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make a friend," she read. He snorted.

"Not in my line of work," he joked and she playfully smacked his arm.

"Maybe not, but remember that girl we went to school with and she hated me, especially when her mother, the social climber, was dating my father," she reminded him.

"Sort of...what was her name?" he asked.

"Roni," she replied. He chuckled.

"Yeah...she hated you," he recalled and she smacked him playfully again.

"Hey, she hated me too just because I loved you," he reminded her.

"Mmhmm...but then we became friends after I kept trying to be her friend and wore her down," she said. He pecked her on the lips.

"That's because you're you...I can't believe anyone could hate you," he said fondly.

"She managed...for a while," she said.

"But you won her over," he replied, as he stood up and pulled her up with him.

"Let's go to bed," she suggested, as she looked at him slyly and he put his arm around her waist and they headed for their bedroom.

~*~

Winter and Charming appeared through a portal in their palace Throne room and she watched helplessly, as her husband's temper got the best of him and he slammed his fists against a wall. He then deflated and turned to her, his handsome face marred with shame.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry…" he apologized. He never liked losing his temper in front of her. She put her hands on his shoulders and then folded him into her embrace. She brushed a soothing hand along the back of his neck and his anger started to ebb away slowly in her presence.

"It's all right, my love...that was not a win for us," she mentioned.

"Mephisto suspects something...I'm certain of it now," he said.

"Do you think he knows?" she asked.

"No...not about the resistance, but he knows we're not on the level. He is trying to undermine our favor with Seth and now that Arthur has gained that favor, it will only be a matter of time before my influence upon him is no more," he said.

"Then we need to step up the plan...I just don't know how," she fretted.

"You are not wrong," a new voice said, as Rumplestiltskin and Belle appeared through a portal.

"The shop was ransacked tonight and then burned to the ground. Fortunately, anything of true value or important magical artifacts are hidden in my vault inside Bald Mountain," Rumple said.

"Arthur and Gawain...Mephisto's new charges," Charming confirmed.

"Then we were right...they're looking for it. The dagger," Belle realized.

"But why? Emma reforged Excalibur and it still remains in the stone in the mines. He shouldn't need the dagger," Winter said.

"No...but he is no longer worthy of Excalibur. He cannot pull it from the stone again. The dagger is the next best source of the dark power that Arthur craves," Rumple replied.

"And he knows you two could still probably pull Excalibur from the stone...or one of your children could," Belle reminded them.

"We know Snow and David could...there's no telling if that's true about us and we're not willing to risk it for that sword. And the kids...don't have their memories," David refuted.

"Then it is time to bump up our plan, because I do not think it will be long until our ruse is revealed to Seth," Rumple replied.

"How? If Jekyll isn't even awake yet...then it could be months before they are triggered into awakening," David said.

"We know, that's why we think it's time to send someone to help them along," he said, as he revealed two pink potions in his hand.

"Did you make these from the poppies?" Winter asked and he nodded curtly.

"But Seth burned them all and cast a spell to keep them from growing in his presence once he figured out what they do," Charming interjected.

"And these are the very last of them. I managed to salvage just enough poppy pollen from the scorched earth where he destroyed them. This is it, with the exception of your chalice sword trick, but we know that requires them and everyone else thinking you have killed them and I think we know that Seth would never buy it if you do so to one of your immediate family members," Rumple explained. He was right. Seth would immediately know something was up if he didn't already.

"Then you want to wake two of our children," Winter deduced, as a mirror appeared before them and then a newspaper.

"As you can see, Dr. Jenkins isn't awake yet, but he is back to experimenting and using live victims to test on," Rumple explained, as they saw the doctor mulling around his lab. The sight of him made Charming's blood boil in rage and he clenched his fist. He had never wanted to see anyone bleed the way he wanted to see it from this man. He wanted him to die, slowly and in some excruciating way. He wanted to see the life leave his eyes and know that he would never again come near his beloved Winter of her other half. He wanted him to suffer and he wanted to inflict that pain.

Winter took the newspaper from him and read the headline.

"As you can see, Dr. Jenkins has created a new drug. He is seeking to silence the darkness in his head with a serum again, not yet aware of his past or that he succeeded all those years ago in perfecting that serum with my help," Rumple stated.

"The deaths have caught the eye of the press already...which means David will be in the spotlight soon in the middle of the investigation," Winter realized.

"Will people start recognizing him from Seattle?" Charming questioned.

"Perhaps...people in the Land Without Magic have a short attention span, but the dark web is still rampant with theories and truth seekers investigating that day...and the people involved," Rumple said.

"We think that's why we need to send someone that can run interference and look out for them, but who can also help wake them up in case the doctor's madness doesn't do it fast enough," Belle added. Charming sighed deeply, knowing who they wanted to send.

"As you can see...the doctor already is quite entranced by Margaret Nolan and his deep seated hatred of her husband has been reignited," Rumple said, as he showed them an earlier encounter. The bliss their other halves were living in was evident, but so was the doctor's clear displeasure at being constantly rebuked by the happily married Margaret Nolan. Winter put her hand to the mirror when the image focused on Summer and Bobby. He heard her choke back a sob and a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Bobby...he's grown so much," she murmured and he slipped his arms around her, comforting her the best he could.

"They'll be home soon, my love," he promised, as he looked at the Dark One and his wife.

"You want us to wake Emma, don't you?" he asked. He nodded curtly.

"We know she is the best one for this. She'll jog their memories, be able to interject herself into the investigation, watch David's back and protect Margaret from that psychopath if needed," Rumple explained.

"And the other potion?" Winter asked.

"We think Killian would be best as well. He'll be able to get them to Boston upon the Jolly Roger and bring them back quickly. Plus, we all know he'll support Emma in whatever she needs to do," Belle answered. Charming sighed again and Winter put her hands on his shoulders.

"I know how much you wanted to protect Emma from this...but you know she will want to do anything in her power to stop Seth and reunite this family," she reasoned. He nodded in acceptance.

"I know…" he agreed, as Winter took the potions.

"I'll call Emma and have them come. Escaping during the night is their best bet," she suggested. Rumple nodded.

"I'll cast a heavy fog spell over the harbor. Hopefully your son-in-law is as good a navigator as he boasts. He'll need to be to get through it and through the barrier with a bean," the Dark One said, as he and Belle used a bean and stepped through another portal. Winter returned from making her call and Charming took her in his arms.

"Everything is going to be okay, my darling…" he promised.

"My fear is for you, my love. If they find out what we've done too soon and Seth turns on you...I cannot bare to think about what he will do to you," she said, as tears filled her eyes. He cupped her face gently in his hands and kissed her passionately.

"There is nothing I will not endure for you and our family. Our love can never be torn asunder and even if the worst happens, I know that you will save me," he said.

"He will torture you…" she feared, almost hyperventilating at that thought. She remembered the times when Clayton had done the same to him for stepping out of line when they were in Atlantis and knew Seth would do a hundred times worse to him.

"Shh...my love, I will do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen," he assured, as he held her tightly against his chest. She sniffed and kissed him tenderly again, before going to prepare four glasses of wine. He watched her add the potions to the two of the glasses, just as Emma and Killian arrived with the baby.

"Hey...you said it was urgent. Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Unfortunately yes...but in order to explain everything, we ask that you trust us and drink this wine first," Charming said. Emma looked at them both strangely and took her glass.

"You guys are scaring me…" she said.

"We know honey and we don't mean to...but we promise you will understand everything if you drink this," Winter replied. Emma shrugged and took a drink, knowing that her parents would never hurt her. They watched the pink magic swirl around her and lift the curse. Her eyes widened in realization and she dropped the wine glass, shattering it.

"Mom...Dad…" she cried, as she went to them and they hugged her between them. Her eyes widened. Killian watched her, looking lost, so he took a drink of his wine.

"No one is dead. Everyone I've executed with the chalice sword is somewhere safe and building a resistance," Charming told her.

"But Mephisto is suspicious and we don't know how long until Seth discovers what we've done. He has released Arthur and Gawain, making them his demonic charges," Winter added.

"Jekyll has devolved into a threat, but we fear he won't wake our light halves soon enough," Charming added.

"So...you're sending us," Killian said knowingly. They nodded.

"Don't worry...I'll wake them up and bring them home. I...just make sure you guys stay safe while I'm gone, yeah?" she asked. They smiled and hugged her again.

"We will do our best," Charming agreed. Winter sniffed.

"You have to go. Rumple managed a fog spell in the Harbor to cloak your escape aboard the Jolly Roger. But you must go now," they prodded, as they took them to their mirror portal to conceal their escape. Emma and Killian kissed Hope, as Winter took her and they joined hands, before stepping through the portal. Charming took her in his arms and kissed her hair and then the baby's head.

"This will work, my love...it has to," he said. She nodded. Once again...everything rested on hope and true love...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #OC Charmings #AU #original season 8 storyline #Fandral the Dashing #Rose Red #Dashing Rose #romance #adventure #family #truest loves #Dark Snowing #finding you always #the epic continues

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