#also the potential for that to haunt Knives

[b0tsbby]

Me after not reading Trimax and being too silly before walking into the Trigun fandom with my post Trimax Knives x Livio presentation: No cause listen listen-

[domfock]

Now that we're finally at volume 5, are you guys ready to fucking suffer? Yes? Good, because I have some absolute horrors to share with you guys, and since I had to realize this and live with it, so do you!

Let's start with this page:

Vash is blaming himself for shit Knives has done, right? He puts the responsibility of his brother's actions onto his own shoulders while his own rage mounts, he kept himself going because he had to send Knives to Hell for what he had done.

We saw him say this to Legato,

And we saw him say this to Hoppered, despite his earlier inner confession of being a murderer.

Almost as if this excuse runs on autopilot as a way to cope with the horrors he witnessed and can't remember in July, blaming Knives for everything. This was his mindset before July, and after losing his memory of July, it reset.

This is the last time we see this excuse, however.

As the truth comes back to haunt him, he is faced with the true suffering, and so are we as readers.

Vash IS a murderer, in fact, he killed everyone in July. Knives didn't force him to pull the trigger, Vash made a calculated move, something he could only do if he was aware. He WANTED to kill Knives right then and there, and for the sin of wanting to shoot to kill, Vash's punishment was blowing everyone around them away.

Vash intentionally swapped where his angel arm was growing to trick Knives, made it smaller, possibly in the hopes that it would contain the damage.

After hearing Knives' rant about what humanity has done to him, it probably dawned on Vash that these are Knives' abuse towards him. Vash's goal was to punish Knives for the Big Fall before July, and everything that just happened only enforced that. Vash really did intend to send Knives to Hell there, using his angel arm to kill him and took all of July with him.

Vash will be completely changed after this, having realized that he is just like Knives now, killing thousands in a moment of anger and fear. Knives caused the Big Fall, Vash destroyed July. Vash lost Rem's spirit long ago, his hands are already dirtied by blood.

But wait, it's about to get worse.

Remember this line from Trigun Vol 2?

Knives body couldn't survive the damage done to it from July, even after years of attempted recovery. They're transferring Knives consciousness to another Plant, his data, to make a new body for him, a "copy."

Question is now, is this a data copy or a transfer? Because if it's a copy, then Vash did truly kill his own flesh and blood brother. The new resurrected Knives is both a copy in body and spirit, if that is how one sees it, and leaving the original Knives to experience death.

Vash did not only kill everyone in July, but potentially also his own brother, and with his returned memory he now remembers this.

Anyway, have fun and enjoy, Bookclub!

[mothmanssweetsucculentass]

General JTK hcs??

I’m saving most of my detailed Jeff headcanons for a full headcanon post (and maybe a potential origin story in my writing style???) like the others I’ve been doing, but here’s a small handful:

Former scare actor, specifically the kind who would run around and chase people with chainsaws

“Patient zero”

Autistic!!!

Liu isn’t his brother in my interpretation, but the two of them were roommates in college

Forensic science major. Knows how to be good at murder because he literally learned how murders get solved

Has special interests in knife collecting and has a very large collection of many different kinds of knives. He will talk your ear off about each one if you let him

The “smile” is from an incident at the haunt where he worked at, considering it takes place in an abandoned lumbermill that still had working facilities. Things happened, people got pushed, and Jeff ended up face down in a spinning sawblade on one side of his face

He hated how lopsided it looked, so the unaffected half of his face was soon carved to look the same

No burn scars on his face, but he has major severe burn scars from his shoulders down. Self inflicted.

Chronic scab picker. His facial scars have never healed because of this habit

Before his hands were burnt to shit he used to really love drawing in his free time. Can’t really do that anymore tho.

Has a soft spot for animals

Frequents public places that are older/more run down/rural. People are less judgmental/don’t care about the guy covered in suspicious red stains

Also wears face masks whenever he’s out in public to hide his mouth wounds

Carries cash on himself since using a credit or debit card is out of the question

Chronic nightmare haver

Not the best in social situations. Is blunt and pretty straightforward

Is scarily good at telling if someone is faking being asleep or not

[house-of-mirrors]

I kept saying "one day I will type the Nemesis rant” and I finally did

TL,DR: I criticize Nemesis because it’s my favorite. It had so much potential and good build-up in the first parts, but the ending was rushed, anticlimactic, and unsatisfying to me. Act 3 really dropped the ball. I know, “revenge stories aren’t supposed to be satisfying, they’re supposed to leave you empty!” There are ways to execute that theme while still doing justice to a story. Build more upon lore and motives. Make the side characters along the way less of stock characters. Make the story mechanically engaging to play. I felt strong emotions for several weeks following Nemesis and it will be a story that haunts me forever. I don’t think it was a bad story, but there are parts that definitely could have been better.

Obvious major spoilers for Nemesis. Also spoilers for SMEN, Railway, Bag a Legend, and some minor ones for the other ambitions. Finally, a note that I started playing in late 2020 when the ambitions were finished so I do not have context for what it was like to wait long times between updates or what FL was like in its earlier days. The views and opinions expressed ahead are solely from my own experiences, etc.

Mechanics

Nemesis is the shortest of the ambitions. When I finished, I sort of felt like, “that’s it?” Every other ambition needs the lab and/or Parabola. Why not this one? There’s a whole section of the ambition that happens in Parabola that could have been easily integrated. Studying the cardinal’s honey could have been done in the lab and could have given a unique item or something afterward like the jaguar blade in Bag a Legend. I just felt lost and overwhelmed when I finished Nemesis with no idea what I was supposed to do next, no clue how to progress into Railway and other newer content. There was no bridge from ambition to endgame.

The whole climax of the ambition was just buying knives! Not mentally stimulating or creative, nor does it open any path for character development. Working towards a variety of sequential goals like other ambitions’ endings are set up would have been more engaging. I think the other ambitions struggle with pacing too, with action spaced between long grinds that risk losing the player’s interest. Nemesis is my favorite, though, so that’s what we’re picking apart here!

Narrative Stakes

There's little sense of escalation. You’re scheming to do the impossible and unheard of: kill a Master of the Bazaar. That ought to make you Public Enemy No. 1. But you never face any serious obstacles or consequences. Getting the mirror shard into the Bazaar gives you some suspicion but. Okay. That’s it? You kill or otherwise seriously injure Cups, and you walk away without any repercussions. No one acknowledges it.

I focus primarily on Act 3 here, but I can’t resist adding how most of the characters along the way are underdeveloped stock characters. What reasons do Mackay, Carrywell, the Sanguine Auctioneer, etc. even have to be invested in the plot? What debts did Scathewick need to repay that led to being a licentiate for a Master? We get some detail that Lilac is being forced into it by Cups, but her whole part is not explained at all and I’m still confused as to what happened during the Missing Month or what it was meant to accomplish.

There's a brief part saying the relickers are watching you, but that never actually goes anywhere. It would have been a pain to draw cards, but what if there was something of having to deal with all four of them before you could progress? Cups explicitly says it had been watching your movements, so why didn’t it do literally anything to try to stop you? It didn’t want to die.

I thought it would have been cool to have some step of having to go to the slow boat to finish the job. A man who seeks revenge must first dig two graves, etc. While we’re talking about wounds, I’d have liked more acknowledgement of how physically taxing cardinal’s honey is on the body and give some sort of consequence or quality. Furthermore, where does cardinal’s honey come from? That isn’t well explained, Lilac isn’t well explained, the book of red murder isn’t well explained. Please, some lore?

I played Nemesis because I wanted, you know, a nemesis, a personal rival and the character dynamics that arise from that. Cups doesn’t even appear till the end. We know next to nothing about it. We learn Mirrors’ entire backstory moments before meeting Cups but... nothing about Cups whom the ambition was actually about. And its motives? It wanted painful stories to hurt the Bazaar because it wants her and the sun to suffer. This is vague and requires significant lore knowledge to comprehend. I know it’s a popular fan theory that Mirrors’ demise was what broke Cups to seek revenge stories, and I like the theory, but it remains a theory. Please a crumb of canon info.

The only tie-ins during railway I can remember are a small thing at Helicon House, an option in waking the Merchant, and a vague comment Pages makes to you when talking about how the Masters have lost some of their ranks (which you also get from doing BAL). I want recognition! Give the player acknowledgement in revolutionary and criminal circles. Make the Masters nervous around them. If they killed Cups, make them still scared of disappearing or being arrested. BAL has the player kill Veils but it still shows up in other stories and is replaced by Stones for BAL players, so why can't they do the same for Cups? At the very least, I would have enjoyed some acknowledgement at Station VIII (and this goes for LF players with Fires as well). Why would the Masters nonchalantly accept food from the player who poisoned one of them? We know how I love Wines, but me bringing it up here is relevant since it’s the Master that takes over for Cups and Mirrors if you do the murder ending. Could Wines not have special dialogue acknowledging Nemesis in some of its interactions with the player? Please, it’s my favorite bat to bully and I made its life exponentially worse here, give me a crumb of acknowledgement for my crimes.

(One thing I must say: the Esurient Smith is my best friend, my skrunkly, my poor little meow meow, and there is NOTHING wrong with him.)

The Dreaded Aside about SMEN

Disclaimer: while the above sections are objective to the source material, this section is purely speculation. We all know how I feel about SMEN and AK, and I feel like the conspiracy board meme bringing it up here, but it is something I think about a lot when I think about my criticisms of Nemesis, and this rant is entirely about my own opinions so I’m including it. Feel free to skip to the conclusion section if this isn’t your thing.

The tone and mechanics of Nemesis very much to me feel like pre-2020 Fallen London, as if Nemesis was finished long before the other ambitions and never revisited.

If you kill Cups, at the end you get a choice to leave a story on the Bazaar either of mourning for its victims or a tale of a vengeance never satisfied (I chose mourning). To me, this is a glaring parallel to the two ending paths of SMEN, “grieve” and “hate.” Now there’s nothing wrong with playing a Nemesis character who turns into a seeker, it makes a lot of sense for someone who wants to take vengeance upon the Masters a step further! I almost went down that path. But wait, there’s more!

Nemesis is the ambition that takes the player to the Avid Horizon and is one of the only ways to visit if you aren’t doing SMEN (The ES Where You And I Must Go and a certain ending of Watchful Gains being the others). There’s that brief part when you’re deducing who did it and you can guess Eaten and get some nice horror text. Nemesis has the Lady in Lilac as a major character, who also plays a major role in SMEN as well as the bizarre theater scene in Feast of the Rose which was clearly written by AK, man has a distinct writing style (derogatory). To make another point with mechanics, ehhhh making the player buy 777 knives and rely on a luck check for no other reason than to frustrate the player is reminisce of winking isle and AK’s philosophy with cultist sim and ssea. Additionally, Nemesis has the part villainizing the Revolutionaries and having February be mean to the player for no reason? Ok, sit down, AK, I know it’s you!

HD, LF, and BAL all have references to SMEN; LF alongside Nemesis is mentioned at the Carnival at Midnight; BAL has the plot point and ending path with the Third City and Vake-the-Betrayer (which I usually avoid thinking about because ehhh demonizing and stereotyping an indigenous culture). Nemesis isn’t unique in having connections to SMEN or having parts that aged poorly, but it does have much more than the others.

“R you can’t blame everything you don’t like about Fallen London on AK, and Nemesis was finished long after he left the company!” Yes, yes, I know this. This is all purely conjecture, where am I going with it? It just makes me wonder if he wrote more of Nemesis than other ambitions, and since the devs generally don’t touch/update things he worked on, maybe Nemesis was in an awkward phase where no one knew what to do with it. Cracked foundations, etc.

In Conclusion

One ambition has a complex and emotionally charged relationship with a rival who is revealed to be a Master of the Bazaar; makes the player make increasingly dramatic choices that make them wonder how far they’d go for their goals; naturally involves the revolutionaries in killing a Master; has a powerful climax that takes all of your strength, wits and resources to stand against a powerful foe that does not want you to win; explores in personal detail its backstory; rewards the player with Master’s Blood at the end in exchange for the large chunk of monetary resources required to complete the ambition; and has long-term repercussions for the fact you killed a Master of the Bazaar with people acknowledging you with the fear you deserve. And the other ambition is Nemesis. I love Bag a Legend, have nothing against it, and am glad it was that good, but where was this energy for Nemesis?

I just heavily squint at all of it.

[science-lings]

Summaries of the AU's below the cut bc I know I'm going to be annoying about it

1- Set in a world that's just a bit more magical than we're used to, Trucy has actual magic, Edgeworth is a vampire, that type of thing, the first fic in this au is about 7k words in. Another important part of this AU is that Ryunosuke was Phoenix's previous form so there could potentially be fics in the TGAA era in this AU. Slow build on the lore aspect but the parallels with Edgeworth and Phoenix are going to be insane.

2- Fem!Phoenix (and Edgeworth and Larry) where a big part of the AU is that Phoenix has a stronger connection to the dead and is haunted by the ghosts of Ryunosuke and Kazuma, her spiritual abilities vary and the Magatama helps her see the ghosts around her. She's not really a Fey, her spiritual sensitivity is not due to her blood but the Fey's kind of adopted her, multiple times. The fic for this au is 18k words in and features some incredibly sapphic moments between her and Edgeworth. There was also a fic published for this au for Wright Family week.

3- Hear me out, Yatagarasu but it's Kay, Ema, and Phoenix, all working to end the dark age of the law. Big spy movie vibes. Ema is the tech guy who works as a detective for the LAPD and gets all the inside information, Kay is a full-on vigilante who sneaks into the computers and files of big important corrupt people, she narrowly escapes any confrontation with the police and is so fun about it. Phoenix is their connection to the criminal underworld through the less-than-legal happenings at the Hydeout and his accidental friendship with Viola Cadverdini.

I also think it's funny to bend his skills to make him a surprisingly good underground spy type. He's a good actor who can detect lies and can talk out of his ass for hours, he's also well known as the guy who got some of the scariest people locked away so he's got a reputation. And I want to come up with any sort of scenario where he has to act like Kay's dad for some mission and they run into Edgeworth specifically because I think I would be so funny. Anyway, badass beanix who totally sees that the girls in their early 20s that he works with are crushing on each other and is having too much fun being the distraction for their schemes.

Technically the fic I wrote where Trucy teaches Phoenix how to throw knives is part of this au. anyway, I could talk about them for hours let's move on.

4-Exactly what it says on the tin, Phoenix gets poisoned in college and loses his sight, maybe he grew up in a catholic orphanage so I can give him some classic catholic guilt, this one isn't as well thought out it's just a general vibe at this point. I just want to see Phoenix with some blue glasses who gets aided by Maya during cases and who kicks ass on the side because he doesn't completely trust the law to do what's right. He has that thing where he's so good at getting beat up. Also, poor defense attorney swag, keeps having a soft heart and taking cases pro bono. Idk I just think superhero-style AU's are fun to play with and this one made some sense.

[the-sicklysweetest]

Lend Me Your Heart

As promised, here is a not-so-brief synopsis of the dating sim I'm working on!

Lend Me Your Heart is a visual novel in which you are a transfer student going to a new university (thanks to your old university for axing your major program, sigh). Your new university puts you in the upperclassmen housing they offer, so you don't have to worry about getting an apartment, but the building you were placed in is rumored to be... Cursed. People say that the basement is haunted, that you can hear screams coming from the rooms, that people lose their minds when they live there. The basement also happens to be where you're moving in. Which is... Fantastic.

You're the last person to move in on the floor, so you're able to get to know everyone right away. They all seem nice enough, not without their quirks, but nothing off-putting (and they're all quite attractive). Where, then, are all of these rumors coming from? Everyone else is also new to the basement this year, so maybe the curse was broken the year before? You hope for that, but strange things are already happening...

Less story-like description of the game + content warnings under the cut!

Lend Me Your Heart is a yandere dating sim, in which you live in a dorm surrounded by characters who become completely and utterly enamored with you. Enough to do some horrible things to keep you safe.

The game has five main love interests, with two or three non-romanceable, but important, side characters (currently). Each character has a different path of study in school and different... Methods to their madness. Which you learn about the further you progress on their routes! It's a visual novel, so your agency is based on dialogue choices (which may have more relevancy than you think no matter which ending you plan to get!)

If you like the handful of yandere imagines I wrote on my imagines blog, you'll probably like this.

Some more non-story stuff: You can choose the pronouns you use, it doesn't restrict you from getting any routes. If you choose not to input anything for pronouns, the game uses he/him by default. The current love interest options are all men, and have canon appearances already.

I'll introduce the characters (featuring some of my very messy sketches of them) soon!

Right now I'm making it in RenPy, but that may change if I need things that I can't do in it! (Although honestly given the games created by RenPy in the past, I think it may work fine for my needs)

What you will encounter depends on which route you focus on, so this list will definitely get expanded upon as the game gets closer to having some kind of release, but generally speaking:

Content Warnings:

Yandere trope (especially obsession)

Stalking

Blood/Gore (written descriptions will often be more detailed/potentially gruesome than visual art) (I can't draw gore well)

Murder

Needles/Knives/Other sharp weapons

Sexual content

[secretdestinypainter]

The Best New Book Releases Out of 2024:

In today's world where everyone is having different screenings and digital distractions, I feel like there is something great and truly magical about diving into a good book. Books have the power to transport us with the well of knowledge, introduce us to fascinating characters, and make us think about different imaginations that nothing else can do not even this digital media. I love reading books and exploring new characters based on interesting stories. Let me join you on a journey to the enchanting world of books, where we can learn and explore adventure, knowledge, and inspiration awaiting on every page.

When it comes to new releases, I’ve been loving the Black horror girlie surge that’s been part of the Horror Renaissance, the latest of which is Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis. It’s a YA slasher that follows a girl looking for her mother’s body at the summer camp that — get this — her serial killer father once owned. Supreme horror mess of the highest order.

Another new horror title, albeit an adult one, is Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne. Diavola also has some family drama going on, this time set against a haunted Italian villa during a vacation. Finally, there’s the conclusion to troubled, half-Native teen Jade Daniels’s Indian Lake saga in The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones.

Stepping outside of horror, Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura sees protagonist Tatum Vega getting her newfound peace upended when news breaks that a famous author — someone she dated years ago — has been accused of assault. And, from the author of The Enchanted — which I inhaled when it was first published years ago — comes Sleeping Giants, a tale of foster kids, abuse, and real-life monsters. Lastly, Worry by Alexandra Tanner, is a debut described as “a Seinfeldian novel of existentialism and sisterhood.”

In the featured books below, there’s an entry into a popular cozy mystery series, queer love across timelines, a reimagining of Icarus, and more.

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

isSutanto stays with her foot on our necks with these new releases, phew. After last year’s über popular Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, she’s back with another cozy mystery, this time a continuation of her bestselling Aunties series. Here, Meddy Chan travels to Jakarta to spend the Chinese New Year with family. But then, a former fling of one of Meddy’s Aunties — affectionately known as Second Aunt — shows up trying to stunt with bougie gifts. Well, one of the gifts was actually meant for a business rival, and it being accidentally given to Meddy’s family sets her and her Aunties up to become mixed up in a decades-long feud between Jakarta’s business organizations. When things get really real — and Meddy and her family are put in harm’s way — it’s up to Meddy to save them all.

There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib is the National Book Award-nominated author of A Little Devil in America, and here he aims his poetic eye at basketball. With his usual mix of the personal and communal, he looks at one of America’s favorite sports, examining its history, who makes it and who doesn’t, and LeBron James.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

This is being compared to Knives Out, which makes it perfect for the fun-seeking cozy mystery reader. Almost 60 years ago, Frances was just a teenager at a fair with friends when a fortune-teller told her that someone would kill her. She spends the rest of her life trying to figure out her own future murderer. Then, one day, Annie is called to her great-aunt Frances’ huge country estate. She’s been murdered, and it’s up to Annie to figure out who did it. Good thing the dearly departed Frances kept detailed notes on potential suspects…

Icarus by K. Ancrum 

In this queer Icarus retelling, the titular character is an art thief, but one with a victim who kind of has it coming. Icarus only steals from the wealthy Mr. Black by replacing his priceless art with his father’s flawless forgeries as part of revenge for Icarus’ mother’s death. A strict set of rules keeps Icarus from being exposed, until he gets caught by Mr. Black’s son, Helios, one night. But the enigmatic Helios doesn’t turn him in — instead, he asks for Icarus’ friendship. This friendship turns into something more that threatens everything — even what Icarus and his father hold dear.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

Across multiple timelines and lives, two men are reborn, each life proving to them the eternity of love: a young emperor gets seduced by a courtier in 4 BCE, an innkeeper helps a mysterious visitor in 1740, and a college student meets an intriguing stranger in modern-day L.A.

The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920 by Manisha Sinha

Sinha gives us a new look at a pivotal moment in U.S. history: Reconstruction. Despite Reconstruction’s claim of granting true freedom to Black people after the Civil War, the country’s leaders proved to not be very concerned with equality after all. And, by looking at imperialist desires, northern labor conflict, women’s suffrage, and the Chinese Exclusion Act, Sinha shows how the failed promise of Reconstruction resulted in capitalism running amok and a special kind of race-based tyranny.

Blogs like these are immensely helpful for people who love to read different books which include their summary plots, characters, themes, and a major part of a story. If you want to have more synopsis regarding your favorite books you can schedule a book club event on tinyti.me website, where you can organize book discussions, meet and greet different authors, or get regular updates about upcoming book events or holidays.

[ambriel-angstwitch]

My Love is Sick through the lens of Merlin

My love is sick It leaks and bleeds All over me onto my nicest shirt

Merlin is so helplessly in love with Arthur that it spills over. He can’t help but show it.

Vines without roots Like knives in my body And I am their puppet Twisting ‘til I hurt

But Merlin is tied to destiny. He is its puppet. He hurts himself to save Arthur and yet he is told he cannot love him

My love is sick I’m running a fever so high I peel my skin to breathe

Merlin has to remove parts of himself like his magic in order to keep Arthur around.

Birds without cages Find perch on my ribs and I Stitch myself back up to keep them in

Merlin exposed nature draws people in. His clear devotion to Arthur convinced others to stay. Half of the knights joined because of Merlin.

You’re an infection I am keeping No matter the sepsis You are staying I’d rather the wound Than have you removed

A sepsis is a life threatening complication. Merlin knows that he could die protecting Arthur or even Artur might kill him if he found out about his magic. Merlin would rather die for Arthur than have to lose his love.

Enough rotting for two Killing me, keeping me high

Merlin risks his life enough for the both of them, he’d rather face all the death so Arthur had to face none. Though Arthur has the potential to kill him, he is also what fuels Merlin he is his purpose.

My love is sick It’s messy and wrong But I pray for a bit of contagion

They lived in a time where a gay relationship would have been considered wrong. But Merlin wanted them to be that way.

Hands without fingers Like spoons at the source Coat evenly Oh, won’t you touch me?

Without Arthur he feels like he doesn’t work like he used to like a hand without fingers. He needs Arthur to reciprocate.

You’re the cure You’re the curse You make it better You make it worse

Arthur cures the ache in his chest but he’s the one that put it there in the first place

You’re my killer And my Christ (But I’m the one twisting the knife)

Arthur would kill Merlin for what he is yet he is the one that Merlin serves, he’s Merlin’s everything. Yet Arthur isn’t the one that hurt Merlin. Merlin is the one that put himself in danger. Merlin is the one who caused destiny to go towards destruction even if he was just trying to fix it.

My love is sick. It’s taken me whole I’m simply a host to a haunting Ghosts without corpses Still linger in flesh Holding on to a love they keep wanting

Then Arthur is gone and Merlin is haunted. His friends bodies are long gone yet he holds the memories. He holds onto his love for Arthur just wanting him to come back.

[geekthefreakout]

Brilliant! Brilliant! Jason is impulsive when he’s scared is such a good reading on him.

I think it’s unfair to say that Jason doesn’t have anything of his own because he does, a lot of it just isn’t really interesting or the writing imo is not as good. Like his romantic relationships for better or for worse have included Artemis, Rose, Isabel, etc. The only romantic interest that was also Dick’s was Barbara (I’m not including Kory because in context that wasn’t what their dynamic really was) and Barbara he has explicitly showed interest in her twice (once with a phone call and the second time with a letter) and Dick doesn’t play a role in it either since the budding feelings develop on their own terms.

I think Jason should be able to have friendships that overlaps with Dick’s. He can have that friendship with Roy and Kory (even Donna) but I feel like as team they probably should have chosen different characters. I would have loved to have seen his friendship with Eddie Bloomberg and then Eddie’s romantic relationship with Rose Wilson. But I also feel like everyone wants something different out of Jason’s character so none of us will ever really be happy.

Personally I like when Jason doesn’t have some strange magic to him. He’s just some boy who was brought back with not even a scar on his body. Like that in itself there is a lot you can work with and is both a tragedy and a haunting. And also I think I prefer him more as a solo character with the community of Gotham being people he really interacts with. Jason really shouldn’t even have a uniform like his leather jacket look from the 3 jokers was probably the best look for him.

I also like when Jason is living in Dick’s shadow but not in the way most fandom portrays it because they did know of each other and briefly had interactions but I can’t see a version of Jason that comes back being very brotherly to Dick and I don’t really think Dick saw Jason when he was a kid as his brother but more as Bruce’s adopted son or kind of student.

And to be fair Jason grew up under Talia’s influence and the real Talia would have been a great influence for Jason to have. Talia lost a son in Damian and gained one in Jason while Bruce lost a son and gained a new one in Damian. And there’s also the fact that Jason would have trained with some of the best weapon users and teachers in the world. Like show me those knives skills! The hand to hand combat.

Idk Jason is such a sad character to me because he has so much potential and writers do nothing with it.

I feel you completely, Nonny.

I know the magic stuff isn't for everyone, I just get a kick out of it lol

I feel the same way about writers not doing the Good Shit with Jason a lot of the time. But that just makes those stories when we do get that good stuff that much sweeter!

[ultrahpfan5blog]

A Haunting in Venice - a strong third chapter in Branaugh's Poirot series....

As a massive Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes fan, I am a sucker for murder mysteries with brilliant detectives and a colorful group of suspects. Branaugh's Hercule Poirot movies were always something of interest to me as direct adaptations of books that I loved, while simultaneously Rian Johnson created two excellent examples of how to do it in Knives Out and Glass Onion. Branaugh's two adaptations felt a little ordinary in comparison despite Branaugh's excellent committed performance in the role. Perhaps the fact that I was intricately aware of both books and their resolutions and the movies largely sticking close to the book took some enjoyment out of the mystery. I did enjoy both Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile but they weren't great. I expected more of the same in A Haunting in Venice, but it is a significant improvement as a movie. Not only is it a much darker and interesting mystery, the various characters feel a lot more fleshed out then they were in the previous 2 movies despite this film having a shorter run time. A lot of credit for the film also has to be given to the sense of atmosphere and setting. The film takes largely in dimly lit rooms, in the middle of a storm in Venice, in a seemingly haunted palazzo. Branaugh makes good use of the setting and there is an air of melancholy and grief that permeates through the movie which helps make the events of the movie feel more intense.

The film also tries to be a bit of a horror movie, with the story of the haunted Palazzo, the past history of death in the building, the sense that each character is haunted by ghosts of their past. I won't say its a particularly scary movie, because it isn't. It has a spooky aura about it and a few effective jump scare moments. But I like how the movie handled the idea of ghosts and the supernatural. It delivers a human explanation as well as a potential supernatural presence. Now its up to the audience to interpret it the way they want. I do think the exploration of personal demons was fairly effective among the characters. The reveal of the murderer is not that surprising after a reveal that is made some while before this. However, there are a couple of other twist reveals which did surprise me. Benefits of a movie made as an original story instead of from a book I have read before.

Another positive for me is that the film does ask for some deeper performance from its main actors. Its definitely Branaugh's best work in the role. He is unsettled and confused. You feel that he has seen a lot that he wishes to forget. He is a lot more serious than in the past two movies. Tina Fey in a period role takes a bit getting used to, but she provides the rare amount levity the film gets. Kelly Reilly is impressive as a grief driven mother, while Dornan and Jude Hill reunite with Branaugh as a father-son duo with past secrets. Dornan is very effective at delivering a broken man who is struggling to function as a person and as a father, while Hill delivers a strong turn as a kid who knows and understands more than he probably should. Michelle Yeoh as the psychic who claims to communicate with the dead is expectedly enigmatic. Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Emma Laird, Ali Khan, and Riccardo Scamarcio all add depth to their respective characters.

All in all, a really satisfying movie that deserves more credit then it seems to be getting. An 8/10.

[gremlin-girly]

The C.E. and S.S. Character Collection

If you're looking for the following characters, they have their own collections!

Steve Rogers

Bucky Barnes

Stucky

Hi and welcome to the CEvans and SebStan collection :)

The Key is an indicator of what a fic contains but all fics have their own warnings. Please read the warnings! Remember: this blog is 18+

Please remember also that these warnings are non-exhaustive and there is potentially something I've missed (I am human, afterall). Please read at your own risk!

Any struck through fics are fics that are in process. This can mean in process of editing, writing or just being posted! I don't have many WIPs that I have shared yet, but I am open to questions and asks on my fics!

Dividers are by the wonderful @/cafekitsune

Happy reading!

Masterlist

Key: 💖 fluff, 🔥smut, ⛈️angst

Chris Evans Characters

Jake Jensen (The Losers, 2010)

Flufftober Day 7: Hoodie Weather 💖

Summary: You hate your boss and hate filing work for him when he’s out gallivanting so when your IT kit breaks and you summon IT to the devil’s den that is your boss’ office  you can’t help but take the opportunity you’ve been given with your office crush. Word Count: 3.5k

Flufftober Day 25: Haunted House 💖

Summary: Jake begrudgingly takes his niece, Aimee, to the Haunted House at the fairground. Putting on a brave face is a lot harder than it looks when you don't like clowns. Word count: 1.6k

Kinktober day 2: Office Sex 🔥

Summary: You hate your boss and hate filing work for him when he’s out gallivanting so when your IT kit breaks and you summon IT to the devil’s den that is your boss’ office  you can’t help but take the opportunity you’ve been given with your office crush. Word Count: 3.5k

Kinktober Day 15: Costumes (Alt. Title: Honey Bunny) 🔥

Summary: You surprise your boyfriend with your costume at Aisha's Halloween party - a costume he's been waiting all month to see. Word count: 2.7k

Kinktober day : Blowjobs/ Milf 🔥

Johnny Storm (Fantastic Four)

Flufftober 2024 Day 28: Lucky Charm 💖 Kinktober 1: Scratching 🔥

Kinktober : Spitting 🔥

Ransom Drysdale (Knives Out)

Flufftober Day 20: "I hate it." / "No you don't." 💖

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Reader Tags/Warnings: FLUFF, swearing (it's Ran). established relationship, Summary: Going to a charity gala, Ransom despises the tie you've gotten him. Word Count: 626 words

Flufftober Day 26: "I can't find it." (Alt title: Sweater Weather) 💖

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Reader Tags/Warnings: FLUFF, pet names, swearing (it's Ran) Summary: Ransom's iconic cream sweater mysteriously vanishes.. Word count: 556 words

Kinktober Day: Free Use 🔥 Kinktober Day : Clothing 🔥

Lloyd Hansen (The Gray Man)

Kinktober Day 4 : CNC 🔥

Summary: You find a place on the Web where you can spell out your sexual desires with no judgement and maybe even hire some help... 

Word Count: 2.1k

Kinktober Day : Body Worship 🔥💖

Sebastian Stan Characters

Sheriff Lee Bodecker (The Devil All the Time)

Kinktober 2024 Day 13: Handcuffs 🔥

Pairing: Lee Bodecker x F!Reader Warnings/Tags: SMUT, masturbation (f and m descriptions), authority/power kink, dubcon (a little), alcohol consumption, semi-public sex, handcuffs, dirty talk, brattiness (a hint), pet names (sugar/good girl/sweetheart), Not beta read Summary: After stumbling out of a bar drunk, you get picked up by the local deputy and make his night a little more interesting. Word count: 1.1k

Lance Tucker (The Bronze)

Kinktober 2024 Day : Stretching 🔥

[thoughtlessdesire]

HELLO TRI STATE AREA

I'm participating in goretober this year! Specifically, this version made by Archivist-Kayl on deviantart! There are multiple versions out for this year, this one fit me the best.

So, why am I making an announcement? 2 things.

1. Audience. I just like to make things like drawing or writing challenges known in advance to the people who are here, even if those are very few people. Plus, this can get me back into the swing of engaging with people on this blog.

But the second, bigger announcement is:

2. Lost in Madness having an official start date! If you aren't aware, Lost in Madness is my fanganronpa-turned "book" that'll be releasing on A03. And that will be day 31 of Goretober for me, the "free day!" Lost in Madness' first chapter will release on October 31st. And I am doing this prompt for the month of October to promote that release. The first 16 days will each involve a different character from Lost in Madness, and the rest of the 14 days for art will be repeat characters that fit prompts.

Below the cut are my "concept ideas" for all the days. Basically, the characters and any content warnings that post will have. Obviously, gore and/or blood warning for all of them but specific triggers/squicks that are semi-common.

If you want to support this project, please follow and share around! And I may have a ko-fi in the works for these pieces if anyone shows interest in having them for themselves, cheap prices too.

Thank you so much for reading!

Day 1: Bandages(Trixik Osama)

CWs: eye gore, eye contact

Day 2: Claws/Hands(Glory Karo)

CWs: themes of sexual assault, light nudity

Day 3: Restrained(Lisa Anamor)

CWs: choking themes, paranoia, mental institutions

Day 4: Kintsugi(Leaf Asarabi)

CWs: medical malpractice

Day 5: Cuts(Alexandre Li)

CWs: self-harm, paranoia

Day 6: Stitches/Sewn(Jackie Haruki)

CWs: skin-pulling

Day 7: Monster/Cryptid(Navim Begam)

CWs: feral-based gore, animalistic possession??? I don't know how to trigger tag this one yet

Day 8: Werewolf(Cherise Emersyn)

CWs: same as day 7

Day 9: Weapons(Mekana Peni)

CWs: knives, self-harm

Day 10: Fight(Tohi Carimo)

CWs: "extreme" assassin behavior, potential light nudity

Day 11: Blood/Bleeding (Vedran Stanković)

CWs: death/murder

Day 12: Needles(Mirra Kagame)

CWs: medical malpractice, illegal experimentation

Day 13: Hunting/Hunted(Idalia Mac Óda)

CWs: paranoia, amputation

Day 14: Mechanical(Alice Hayes)

CWs: mechanical insides mixed with human guts I also don't know how to trigger tag

Day 15: Possession/Haunted(Ashlynn Anamor)

CWs: guilt/paranoia, choking themes

__

Day 16: Candy Gore(Kiran Abashi)

CWs: needles, bright colors

Day 17: Mutation/Extra Limbs(Glory Karo/Mirra Kagame)

CWs: experimentation, knives

Day 18: Throat Torn(Mirra Kagame/Glory Karo)

CWs: vomit, extreme violence, eye contact

Day 19: Cut in Pieces(Kiran Abashi)

CWs: amputation, medical malpractice

Day 20: Plant Growth(Cherise Emersyn)

CWs: hanahaki, guts

Day 21: Impaled(Navim Begam)

CWs: sharp objects(possibly involving needles), potential vomit warning

Day 22: Mutilation(Mirra Kagame/Glory Karo)

CWs: same as day 17 + vomit

Day 23: Torture(Alexandre Li)

CWs: paranoia, needles, medical malpractice, experimentation

Day 24: Crystal Growth(Idalia Mac Óda)

CWs:

Day 25: Guts(Tohi Carimo)

CWs: guts(obv.), knives, gunshot wounds

Day 26: Amputation(Leaf Asarabi)

CWs: broken limbs

Day 27: Cannibalism(Trixik Osama)

CWs: dead animals, eye contact, delusional themes

Day 28: Bones(Ashlynn Anamor)

CWs: crime scenes, rotting flesh, paranoia/panic attacks

Day 29: Insides(Alice Hayes)

CWs: crime scenes, guts, skin picking, rotting flesh

Day 31: Lost in Madness Chapter 1 Release

Day 30: Decay/Rotting(Lisa Anamor)

CWs: crime scenes, eye contact, rotting flesh

[ihateoc]

Knife Throwing

(word count: 1,276) (Shadow has a free day.)

For the first time in... well, ever, Shadow was left with nothing to do, no targets to stalk, nothing to steal, nobody to kill. Bennett wasn't home, he had left a few hours ago, telling Shadow he wouldn't be back until late and his sister was nowhere to be found. 

After some sulking, he figures he'll take advantage of his free day, choosing to roam around the city. He's new here. He may as well get a feel for it, especially if he's going to be sticking around longer than expected. It also provides him with an excellent opportunity to look out for any potential threats against Bennett or Ren. 

Old habits die hard. 

As he walks down the bustling streets and alleys, he more often than not finds himself in dark corners rather instinctively, almost like a moth drawn towards darkness instead of light due to its comfort and familiarity. Exploring further, he comes across a flea market that's happening downtown.  

The former mercenary's maroon eyes take in the chaos of the bustling area. The variety of items on display, from worn-out antiques to hand-crafted trinkets, brings a ghost of a smile onto his lips. There's an odd sense of comfort found amongst these second-hand goods. 

His gaze catches something that strikes him, a little charm bracelet with tiny daggers hanging down as pendants. They almost look like Ren’s weapon of choice. He swiftly picks it up and inspects them closely. They do seem pretty similar. Without giving it much thought, he pays for it and stuffs it into his jacket pocket. Now, should he give them to her subtly or make some dramatic flourish out of nothing? 

He walks ahead, stumbling across an old woman running a knife throwing stand. A pair of young boys are trying their luck at the moment and failing miserably. He scoffs. Amateurs. Before he can retreat, the elderly lady greets him. 

"My, my, aren't you a handsome one?" She says with a gentle smile. 

"Well, thank you, ma'am," Shadow returns the woman's smile with a devilish grin of his own, "Interesting game you've got here. Mind if I try?"  

She gestures to the stand as if encouraging him, "Be my guest!" 

He runs a hand through his black hair before standing in front of the knives. As he picks one of the sharp objects up and tests its balance in its hand, it brings back familiar feelings from an old life. Too long spent hurling these deadly instruments at innocent targets that too often had blurred faces. Shadow shakes off those memories and throws three quick knives into all bullseyes, earning a round of applause from several passing onlookers. 

"Wow, you have some skill!" The woman remarks as she claps herself, seemingly impressed, "It seems like you do this often." 

"Once upon a time, I did," The dark-haired man answers casually, flashing her another charming smirk. His eyes narrow as he adds in an elusive manner, "Throwing knives was all just part of the job." 

There's a brief moment when his past life as a mercenary claws into his mind again. The countless lives he had to end and the bloodshed that still often haunts him. He considers how second nature these deadly skills came to him before quickly brushing off those dark memories with a shake of his head. 

"My husband would have been really impressed by you. He used to run this stand," She begins, her smile shifting into something sadder, "He passed away a few months ago." 

"I'm sorry to hear that," Shadow replies sincerely. Even though he's not particularly good with emotions, the woman's comment reminds him of losses he had frequently seen his victims endure. Losses caused by him. 

He offers her a reassuring smile, a foreign facial expression for him, "I bet your husband was an amazing man and an expert at this game. This round goes out to him then." 

Shadow takes one more knife into his hand and throws it, hitting straight on target again. The small crowd watching erupts with applause as Shadow raises his hands up as if saluting toward the sky. 

When he turns around and takes notice of the audience watching him, impressed looks etched onto their various faces, he decides fuck it, why not show off a little bit more? 

Feeling multiple eyes on him and the adrenaline rushing into his veins, Shadow's cocky confidence rises back to the surface. With an impish glint in his maroon eyes, he takes five blades this time, one held between each of his fingers.  

"Watch closely now," He utters with a smirk as he throws them all at once.  

Every single knife hits its target perfectly, creating an awe-inspiring display that nobody there had expected to see today. The spectators erupt into applause again while Shadow bows down exaggeratedly, allowing a hearty chuckle to escape his lips.  

"You're very talented! What's your name young man?" The elderly woman prods him enthusiastically. 

A pause follows her question as he contemplates his response. Should he simply give her an alias as he had so often done in the past when walking among normal society? Although aliases have always been part of his past life, something about this current state of honest existence pushes him to stick with the truth. 

"Name's Shadow," He responds smoothly, shooting her an amused grin as if daring the old lady to challenge the oddity that was his chosen name. 

It may spark curiosity or maybe even skepticism but it was what it was. He was nothing but a shadow, or at least he used to be. For years all he did was exactly what shadows do, follow wherever their host goes regardless of any consequences. 

But being here now like this? It felt like finally coming home. 

"Shadow?" She begins, leaving him worried she was about to question him about his identity. Instead, she introduces herself with a warm smile, "My name is Hildegard but everyone just calls me Grandma Hildy. I do hope you come by again and show me some more of your talent. I'm here every weekend! Perhaps we can even have lunch sometime." 

Shadow's eyes widen slightly, surprised at the old woman's warm gesture and invitation. He hadn't anticipated such kindness from a stranger, especially one who had just lost her husband. A genuine smile tugs at his lips as he replies, "Grandma Hildy, it would be my absolute pleasure to show off for you again. And lunch? Well... I'd be honored." 

The idea of sharing a meal with someone who radiates grandmotherly warmth is strangely comforting to him. As he bids farewell to Grandma Hildy and the onlookers with a wave and confident stride, Shadow can't help but think that maybe this city has some unexpected surprises in store for him after all. 

As he walks away from the market, he shoves his hands into his pockets, touching the charm bracelet he had purchased earlier. Maybe it wasn’t about being hard or soft, maybe for once. It was about simply being human. 

Human enough to enjoy throwing knives at a flea market. Human enough to accept an old woman's invitation for lunch and even more so, the feeling of warmth when someone else shows genuine kindness. And as much as these feelings were alien to him due to years of chaos, bloodshed and hiding in the shadows, it felt kind of good too. 

A small content smile plays on his lips as he begins walking back towards Bennett’s apartment. He had been running on adrenaline and darkness his whole damn existence. It was about time he let some light in. 

[snorvus]

GRAH THANK YOU FOR THE TAG! Sounds like you have a very interesting year ahead of you, if any of that turns out to be true, I’ll remember you (also very jealous of your pocket watch)

January: Enter: A beginner’s Guide To Faking Your Death by Jhariah. (Title is pretty self explanatory, I guess I’m faking my death now??? Uh sorry guys I guess if I die just don’t rat me out to anyone.)

February: Two Time by Jack Stauber’s Micropop (I genuinely have no idea what this song is about or most of his songs they just scratch my brain, kinda sounds like love life trouble maybe? Whatever it is doesn’t sound great though.)

March: Knives are Dangerous Kid, so Cut The Theatrics! By Jhariah (I’m gonna fight a bunch of people and maybe kill them??? Uh, Oopsies-)

April: Aura by Ghost and Pals (Guys I hate to break it to you but there’s gonna be another plague, and also I’m gonna become some kind of fortune teller tarot card person and people are gonna come to me for advice until I go insane or unlock some Godly powers or something.)

May: Laplace’s Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!) by Will Wood (I’m gonna be doing things that are gonna make me question my morals. I don’t even think that’s what this song is completely about.)

June: RISK, RISK, RISK! By Jhariah (Getting tired of my day to day life which I already am and doing some potentially dangerous things to change it?)

July: Touch-Tone Telephone by Lemon Demon (Apparently I’m gonna be a conspiracy theorist who has crazy theories that may or may not be true and I’m driven insane because no one will listen to me.)

August: Murders by Miracle Musical (Not entirely sure I can tell there is a story I just can’t tell what it is, some kind of haunted cursed forest maybe probably way deeper than that though. Maybe I’ll end up going into one.)

September: DEBT COLLECTOR by Jhariah (I’m gonna get chased by a debt collector but I won’t be able to pay them off.)

October: The Chattering Lack Of Common Sense by Ghost and Pals (Things don’t make sense anymore, I’m bored, nothing matters and I’m pretending to act like a normal person <- last bit is just me already.)

November: Needed A Change Of Pace by Jhariah (Faking my death was successful but I’m not content.)

December: Flight Of The Crows by Jhariah (I’m gonna fake my death again.)

Well uh. I definitely have an interesting year ahead of me, hopefully it won’t get in the way of my plans

(If I got some of the interpretations wrong don’t come after me, though feel free to nicely explain it)

Tagging you (No pressure!)

@original-character-chaos @spoopy-sloth

i wanna start a tag game so: let your spotify predict your 2024!

shuffle your on repeat playlist, and the first twelve songs represent your 2024

january- guns and ships- hamilton (idek what this could represent but okay)

february- we fell in love in october- girl in red (PLEASE)

march- say no to this- hamilton (…i have nothing to say about this)

april- castles crumbling- taylor swift ft hayley williams (damnit sad month then?)

may- you’re losing me- taylor swift (FUCK TWO SAD MONTHS?? breakup songs are even worse now that im actually in a relationship. please. better not be accurate)

june- astronomy- conan gray (please stop why am i having so many sad songs)

july- stoned- ed sheeran (oh fuck this)

august- new year’s day- taylor swift (hm okay. idk what to say about this)

september- heather- conan gray (i consider heather to be a happy song AND it’s mine and my partners song so i’m taking this as a good one)

october- 18- one direction (yessss we’re going okay now)

november- king of my heart- taylor swift (YESSS)

december- all too well (ten minute version)- taylor swift (i take it back ugh)

no pressure tags!!- @autumnleavesforwinter @weeping-in-the-willows @swiftieannah @felizusnavidad @jittyjames @anixknowsnothin (please help me get this off the ground, but also if this flops you saw nothing)

[defiledtomb]

FORUM POST ||  PLAY DEMO HERE || DISCORD || PATREON || NEW TUMBLR

Hunter, O’ Hunter, your undying body has experienced the seasons wither and flourish in endless perpetuity, the forest scattering its corpses at your feet. Rot to sapling to bloom to death. Through heartbreak and loss, bloodied knives and slaughtered hope, you have persevered.

Ouroboros is a science-fantasy interactive fiction that will take you on a journey filled with adventure, romance, and mystery. Set in a world where magic and technology collide, you will explore a solarpunk setting brimming with fantastical creatures and hidden secrets.

This is a story that will explore core themes of hope, redemption, and love, as well as the power of choice and consequence. You can confront your past and overcome your inner demons, but you are also faced with a crucial decision that will shape your future: to become a hero or a villain in the world of Ouro.

As you navigate this unfamiliar world through the eyes of the hunter, you must decide whether to embrace your darker impulses or to fight against them and forge a new path. The story highlights the potential for growth and change, even in the face of difficult circumstances, and emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal agency.

Through the hunters journey, the story examines universal experiences of trust, love, and connection, and shows that even in the most unexpected places, one can find the strength to start anew. Whether your hunter chooses to be a hero or a villain, the power of second chances offers a message of hope and possibility to both.

(As of 2023/02/17. Playable wordcount 80k excl code~)

Play as male, female or non-binary.

Play as Gay, Straight or Bisexual and romance accordingly.

1 Customizable (player-sexual) RO/friend(can still be romanced as friend), 4 player-sexual RO’s.

Extensive character creator; choose to be a rare human or between two fantasy-races, choose your origin and customize your body and looks.

Choose to fight for your retirement or go willingly

Choose how your past affects you: are you healing from trauma or still in it’s clutches?

You play as a retired hedgehunter who was forced to retire due to traumatic events. Living in isolation in a safe part of the forest, you are still haunted by the past. But when a letter arrives, summoning you back to your hometown of Riven, you are thrust back into a world of danger, excitement, and new discoveries.

Riven, a bustling city filled with techy gadgets and a robust community, was once protected by the defensive, organic wall that you helped build. But now, the city is facing new challenges, and you are asked to join a new expedition deep into the mythical forest, where reality warps the further you go.

As you embark on this journey, you will be forced to confront your past and overcome new obstacles that will test your trust in the people around you. The secrets of the Stila’s water will be revealed, and the future of Riven will be impacted. Will you be able to emerge as a hero once again and overcome the traumas of the past? Or will the mystery of the forest prove too much to handle? The choice is yours in Ouroboros.

IDREN // IDA (RO)

Your sworn enemy due to unfortunate events, but will they forever remain so?

The main tropes that can be explored with this route: Enemies to Lovers, Enemies to Friends to Lovers or Enemies to Even Worse Enemies And Not Lovers At All.

Idren/Ida is a mysterious figure made of mist and mischief, their vague humanoid shape taking shelter in armor as black as night, a plain mask covering the void of their face.

They blame their misfortune solely on you and are not afraid to show it. But as you join forces to embark on a dangerous journey together, the walls between you begin to crumble.

Will your tumultuous past prevent you from moving forward, or will you be able to overcome your differences and find love in each other’s arms? Will you be able to unlock the secrets of Idren/Ida’s past and build a future together, or will the void between you prove too vast to bridge? If you pick their route, there is a chance for an epic romance, where enemies can become lovers, even though the line between love and hate is razor-thin.

Auryn (RO)

This four-armed druna is a master of martial arts and a unapologetic flirt.

The main tropes that can be explored with this route: Friends to Lovers, Friends with Benefits to Lovers.

Auryn is a master of martial arts, with a confident and muscular build that exudes a strong sense of determination. They’re known for their unapologetic flirting and their love for pleasure, but beneath their playful exterior lies a person with hidden depths. As you get to know Auryn, maybe you too can’t help but be drawn to their kind and generous spirit.

Despite their hedonistic ways, Auryn is always there when you need them, willing to lend a helping hand or a sympathetic ear. As your friendship with Auryn deepens, you might start to sense that there could be something more between you. But there’s something holding them back, some unseen force that keeps them from fully committing to a relationship. Can you help Auryn overcome their past and learn to trust again?

Yor // Yana (RO)

The built-as-a-brick-house Commander of the Hedge is a force to be reckoned with.

Yor/Yana, also known as the Commander of the Hedge, is a seasoned and experienced leader. Despite their gruff exterior, this towering figure possesses a heart of gold that guides their actions and decisions. Their physical prowess and imposing presence command respect from all who cross their path.

As a highly respected leader, Yor/Yana is known for their unwavering dedication to their responsibilities and their team. Their stoic demeanor belies a deep commitment to their cause and a steadfast determination to see their mission through to its successful conclusion.

Sometimes emotionally distant and reserved, Yor/Yana can be hard to reach beyond surface level pleasantries. But nothing softens them up as much as honesty and genuine care, especially if you hold the same values regarding honor and duty. As you work together on missions and fight side by side, you will start to see a different side of the Commander. Perhaps there’s more to this gruff exterior than meets the eye.

The main tropes that can be explored with this route: Defrosting the Ice Queen, Fake Relationship/Arranged Marriage/Forced Proximity.

Sene // Selene (RO)

This frazzled and frankly mad scientist is passionate about the development of Riven and it’s many technological advances.

Sene/Selene is a brilliant scientist with a razor-sharp intellect and an obsessive drive for technological advancement. They have a commanding presence and a dismissive air that keeps most people at a distance. But for some reason, you alone are able to crack their tough exterior and connect with the romantic at their core.

As you work alongside Sene/Selene, you begin to uncover a hidden side to their character - a vulnerability that they have kept hidden from the rest of the world. Apart from their quick wit and sharp tongue, you will begin to realize that there’s more to them than just their passion for science, and their deep admiration of you as the person you once were. Will you be able to reciprocate their feelings, or will you be content to let them love you from afar?

The main tropes that can be explored with this route: They Loved You First, Master/Apprentice.

Leith/Custom is a ghost from your past that still haunts you. Once your closest confidant, they were lost to you on that fateful day when everything changed. In your heart, you know that they died, and that their death was your fault. But what if they were still alive? Could you find it in yourself to believe in their survival and forgive yourself for what happened?

Leith // Customizable (RO)

Your long lost friend/lover. How was the relationship between you, once before?

As you embark on your journey, clues begin to emerge that not everything is as you thought it were; as you dig deeper, you start to realize that there are forces at play that are far beyond your control. Can you unravel the mystery and find out the truth about what really happened to your friend/lover? And if they are still alive, can you find a way to bring them back into your life and reconcile with them? The answers to these questions may hold the key to your own personal redemption and the chance to finally move on from the past.

Many romance tropes have been omitted due to spoilers.

These are some things I’m excited about:

Bestiary and Lore Compendium for the statpage

Timeline for your hunter with choices you make for the statpage

Art and character portraits

Both smutty and asexual routes that aren’t just the ‘friend-route’ / where sexuality is discussed

A savesystem

Yes, a tumblr that is solely for Ouroboros. I’m working on it!

Update 0.1 [April '22]

Added new path and choices

Expanded on gender options and added neo-pronouns + a way to input your own pronouns

Added Character Creator to stat pages to allow for changing your appearance/gender/pronouns at any time

Added Unicode tone indicators for choices

Added more options for customizable RO (gender, appearance)

Added the ability to choose RO’s gender as you meet them

Update 1.0 [January '23]

Added two new chapters (1 full chapter, all paths + 1 incomplete chapter if you choose to deny alliance)

Added third and final path for the prologue

Fixed some errors in previous chapters

Fixed disclaimer and added some cover-art on dashingdon

I’m steadily making progress but I have to account for real life so I am not setting a deadline. However I am active on both the forum and on Tumblr so I will make sure to update anyone who is interested.

I will release a progress update at least quarterly, if not monthly, on both tumblr and the forum.

Finally, if you made it all the way down here, thank you so much for reading and I hope you try and like what I have so far! This story and these characters mean the world to me, so I’m hoping you’ll like them too. :>

Fare in good health, hunter. See you in the woods.

[zbeez-outlet]

Part Three || Big Brother Diego

Five Hargreeves x OC | TUA Canon Universe | Slow Burn Relationship

Description || The story of how little Noa Lavigne went from dodging Diego's knives in target practice to sharing secret handshakes and spinning in the rain.

Content Warnings || allusions to Reginald Hargreeve's abuse, minor injuries, mentions of blood (If I missed anything, please let me know!)

<<< Part Two

Book Masterlist

Number 2 has a lot of feelings about being number 2. At the top of the list is the fact that being number 2 means he is not number 1, he will never be number 1, but he can be better than number 1 — well, maybe. Mom says he could be as long as he tries his hardest. So he does.

At the bottom of this so-called "Feelings About Being Number 2" list is the sentiment that at least he's not Number 7, who's small and powerless and left on the sidelines with a frown and a wish for more. Just above that is the even greater truth that being Number 8 would be worse. In many ways, Number 2 thinks Number 8 is more like a pet than a child or a sibling or a person.

Their official introduction happens thusly.

Dad hands him a knife and orders him to throw it at Number 8. The goal is to cut her. She stands ten meters away, small with her shoulders curved forward and her chin bent low, but for some reason he feels watched by her. Like behind the curtain of strawberry blonde curls is an eye that sees his every heartbeat and every impulse.

Part of him wants to cut her just to see if he can.

When Dad realized Number 2 needed an object to focus on to control his power and exceed his potential, early in the study of his abilities, he chose knives. Sharp, deadly, precise. He could use his manipulation of trajectory to maneuver the direction of the knives with unprecedented accuracy. Number 2 practiced on stationary targets until hitting a bullseye with his eyes closed became as easy as breathing. He graduated to the next step: moving targets.

The day Number 8 appeared on their doorstep, Number 2 didn't think much beyond the initial awe at her speed. There wasn't much more to think when you're only six and small and subject to the disciplines of everything bigger than you. They were all told to call her Number 8, so he does because he's Number 2 and clearly she's one of them now — except Dad makes her sleep in the attic and there's never a plate for her at the dinner table. He wonders about that now, thin slice of knife between his fingers and the orders of his father tensing between his shoulders. He wonders how she can be and not be one of them at the same time.

Disobeying is not an option.

It's actually fun, he realizes a few sessions of target practice later because catching Number 8 feels impossible and excitement simmers under his skin every time he gets close. The game changes from Number 2 chasing her around the room with blades and frustration to anticipating her next moves. To making plans and strategies and maneuvers he would never otherwise come up with. It's fun, it's new, it feels way more valuable than the thousands of pushups Number 1 must be doing. That thought keeps him proud.

The first time Number 2 cuts Number 8 is also the last.

It happens after he's been named Diego by Mom and Number 8 has become Noa to him in secret. It happens after hundreds and hundreds of hours of target practice. It happens because Dad wants to challenge her, not him.

She's being electrocuted the first time he cuts her. A tiny slice on the right side of her throat that bleeds and scars and haunts him every time he looks at it. Noa doesn't cry from the wound, but she does look at him differently afterwards, even if she doesn't mean to. Something like sadness, something like betrayal, something that tastes bitter every time he sees it flash in her eyes.

Diego never cuts her again because he never wants to. Not like he did at first, just to see if he could. Not even for Dad's approval.

Having a stutter makes Number 2 insecure in a way he's not prepared for — though, really, how does one prepare for insecurity at the age of seven? It forces him into a quiet that unsettles the person he wants to be, which is loud and proud and as confident in his words as every other part of himself. A leader.

He struggles with sharp consonants the most. The ones that are thin and shaped with steel, trapped aggressively behind his teeth and lips no matter how hard he pushes them with his tongue. It's the t's and the k's and the g's. It's the way r's struggle to ripple passed his throat and the vowels that draw on longer than he means for them to. Number 2 cannot control the flow of his words the same way he can control the trajectory of his knives.

Mom is patient. Mom is kind and sounds out the words for him, slow at first. They play games with letters and shapes, and she teaches him how to picture the words in his mind before saying them.

When he finds out Mom is teaching Number 8 English, his first thought is about how he can help. Because he knows what it means to silence yourself for fear of using the wrong words or ruining their sound or jumbling them up all over the place.

Number 2 likes the way French sounds the few times he's heard Number 8 speak, similar to the Spanish Dad has him practicing or the Italian Number 5 picks up with ease only with more floral notes and a sound that reminds him of Mom's perfume. It's round with vowels in a way English often isn't. It's lovely and soft and dances through the air with a warmth that isn't welcome within the walls of the Umbrella Academy. He wonders if she trips over the same consonants as him.

"Mom," he starts with a soft call, reaching for the billowy length of her skirt. He's nervous because sometimes acknowledging Number 8 feels blasphemous, like there's some unwritten rule of the house that her presence is as consequential as the paintings on the walls and to give her any more substance than that is punishable in their father's eye. "Can I help you teach Number 8 English? I can show her how to pic-pic-picture the words like you t-taught me."

Her palm rests on his head, gentle fingers running through the short cut of his hair and making him preen like a cat. She smiles with all of the softness he doesn't get in their world under the sunshine of a flashing monocle. "Of course, Number 2. I would love your help." She kneels down by his side, a thick leather book in her hand that she holds out to Number 2 like a special treasure. The leather is dark and latched with a metal clasp, a matching key attached to the pages by a string. "I got this for her so she can practice. Kind of like how you do in your head, but on paper. Would you like to give it to her for me?"

Number 2 nods so enthusiastically his neck hurts, and he follows behind Mom with an extra little skip to his step, the journal clutched to his chest. She leads him in a delicate stride up and up and up towards the attic, a bubble of anxiety threatening to pop in his throat. He's never been to the attic before.

Mom knocks with a rhythmic tap tap tap and calls for Number 8 with a tone so unlike the sweeping curve of breath she uses for his own number. None of the motherly affection he knows from her. It's not harsh or angry or berating, but stiff like metal. It leaves Number 2 confused and curious, wondering where all the warmth of the beating heart she doesn't have has gone. Number 8 peaks through the crack of the attic door, eyes flickering between him and Mom like she can't figure out how she's supposed to act, but she offers him a hesitant smile despite her wavering. He can't help but smile back, feeling crooked in his skin and fighting the impulse to pat her head like a puppy.

He holds out the leather journal like a peace offering, a treaty between two sides of the same coin. "To prac-practiccce..." he trails, frustrated with his words and his letters and his brain. "To practice! Your English."

The way Number 8 looks at the journal with a shine to her eyes makes him sad. She reaches forward like a frightened animal as if she's expecting him to retch the gift from her as soon as she touches it. Number 8 holds the journal like glass, waiting for it to shatter between her palms, and pride dances in Number 2's chest at being the one to put such a reverent look on her face.

"Numéro 2?" Her voice is small, and he wonders if it's impossible to put her in his pocket to keep her safe and happy and cozy at all times. "Voulez-vous me montrer, s'il vous plaît? Um..." she pauses, brow crinkling cutely as she tries to find the right words. Her feet shuffle and her shoulders curve further as insecurity presses onto her spine. Number 2 nods at her, encouraging her to pick and choose and ask him again. "Sh-show me? Please?"

When Number 2 smiles, it's with his entire face. All teeth and stretched cheeks and elation freckling his skin.

He grabs her hand, noticing but not commenting on the way she jumps at his touch, and drags her all the way to his room — the attic still scares him even if there's just a little girl behind the door. They settle on a blanket he tosses onto the floor, heads bent close together as he starts by talking her through the alphabet, which is largely the same and yet somehow totally different. He points to objects around his room and asks her to name them. If she gets it wrong, she writes it down with the corresponding French word so she knows to practice. If she gets it right, he gives into the urge of patting her head and beams at her answering smile.

When Number 8 smiles, really truly smiles with all the happiness she can muster, her cheeks dimple and her eyes scrunch and her tongue pokes from between her teeth.

He only sees that smile a handful of times throughout their childhood. The first time he sees it is also the first time he pats her head. Awe dances in his chest at the sight and suddenly all he wants is to protect that smile.

They are the exact same age, every child in the manor is, but he thinks this must be what it feels like to be a big brother. He rather likes it.

Diego comes up with the idea for a secret handshake on a whim of normalcy when they're barely eleven. His first attempt is with Klaus, unanimously dubbed the creative one among the children. It's an attempt that fails spectacularly with fumbled fingers and Klaus getting stuck in a roundabout interpretive dance, though Diego likely should have expected it to go that way what with his brother's recent discovery of weed.

He contemplates going to Ben next, as the only other sibling likely to indulge his newfound micro-obsession with handshakes and secrecy, but quickly decides to go to Noa instead when she simply walks by him in the hallway amidst his boredom. She's closer and most often compliant, and Diego prefers that over the tediousness of a few extra minutes of convincing Ben to do it with him. Besides, he rather likes her gentle company more than that of his uniquely deranged siblings.

Not to mention the silently massive 'fuck you!' it would be to Dad's rules piled between Noa and the rest of them. Another way to dig a little path of comradery to Noa, same as their English lessons and the stolen moments of head pats and tongue-in-teeth smiles.

She's following behind Five like she so often is these days, close enough that their linked pinkies go almost completely unnoticed but far enough so she can't be perceived as an equal beside him. It's cute in a weird complicated way he doesn't quite understand, not with the way Five's brutal demeaner clashes with Noa's jittery calmness, but they smile together and whisper and sometimes blush pink, so Diego decides not to dwell on it so much.

But it's been days since Diego's had some stolen time with Noa, so he decides pilfering her company for the early afternoon before she's relegated to the corner of the dining hall during dinner is his right.

"My turn with Noa, bye Five!" He gets out in a rush, the words smooth from practice and patience and Mom's smile. Snatching Noa's hand, the one decidedly not occupied by Five's pinky, Diego pulls her away in the wake of his brother's snarled curses with a devilish cackle.

Noa keeps up easily of course, her feet far more graceful than any other part of her, but she doesn't laugh like him because she doesn't know how — her smile is one in ten thousand jokes, her laugh is one in ten million tickles. Sometimes he wonders if he'll ever hear it. Sometimes he wonders if any of the others have. He knows she's not mad though, if the soft curve of her brow and gentle reciprocating clasp of his hand are anything to go by.

Diego drags her out to the courtyard. Dad rarely leaves his office when they're not training let alone ventures outside, so it's usually the safest spot to hang out with Noa without getting caught. He settles them under the cover of the largest tree in the yard, an aging oak that they're all convinced was there before the mansion was. Sitting cross-legged on the grass, he gestures for Noa to do the same with the kind of excited impatience only a child could have. She does, though she folds her legs delicately beneath her instead of crossing them because of the skirt of her uniform, and stares at him expectedly.

Her eyes swivel like she's checking for the weighty shine of a monocle before turning back to him with one of her more hesitant grins. "Hi Diego," she whispers like if she dares to speak any louder the world may crack beneath their feet. He has always loved the way their names slip from her accent in soft doting French sounds.

"Noa, I had a great idea!" He keeps his voice low despite the bubbles of anticipation dancing along his tongue, more for her comfort than any actual fear of reprimand he may have. "We should make a secret handshake!"

She tilts her head like the puppy he so often thinks of her as and furrows her brows. "A secret...what?"

"You know, a handshake. Like..." he trails, reaching for her hand. Even at eleven, his hands seem far larger than hers. He firmly grasps her fingers in his hold and shakes with a howdy-do nod of his head that leaves her cheeks pink and her green eyes shining. "Only, we'll make a special one that just the two of us know."

That very special tongue-in-teeth smile stretches her cheeks and when she nods, her curls bounce. Diego's chest puffs at the sight.

He doesn't count the minutes, but they stay out in the courtyard for a long time playing with their hands and coming up with different ways to link their fingers. They use their right hands even though Noa is left-handed. Eventually they come up with something simple enough to remember for a lifetime but complex enough that it takes a few tries to get it right. It goes like this.

Three taps to each other's palm and sliding back to clasp fingers in a claw-like gesture. Pressing thumbs together before unclasping their fingers and twisting clockwise to link their pinking, and then reversing that motion to smoothly clasp hands in a classic handshake form. They shake three more times before drawing back and forming small fists that they take turns tapping the tops and bottoms before ending in a classic bump of knuckles. With, of course, exaggerated explosive noises that Diego insisted on as the finisher.

Diego dissolves into giggles after every explosion, teetering in the grass and holding tight to his belly like he can trap the warmth of his mirth with his hands. He pats her head as a reward just like when she gets her English words right.

A water droplet splashes against his nose, startling him from their game. Diego looks up to the canopy of leaves beneath the shady oak tree and blinks, more droplets spattering across his cheeks and he grins.

It's raining.

Quickly pulling Noa to her feet, he dances them from under the cover of the tree and twirls her in the falling rain. He does their handshake again and goes spinning at the final explosion to dance in the growing puddles and dirty his shoes without a second thought. Noa stands more calmly on the edge of the rain, watching him with warm eyes but far less enthusiasm for the dancing, and that just won't do. He shimmies towards her, reaching and reaching and reaching as if he can pull the excitement and playfulness he knows hides beneath her skin from the tips of her fingers.

Her curls speckle with silver water and sparkle just like the day she found her way to their doorstep. He rocks Noa into his arms and shakes her to the rhythm of a song that's not playing and then sends her twirling with an encouraging thrust of his hands. And that's when he hears it, under the twinkling sound of rain.

Noa giggles. She giggles and laughs and spins without any care for the mud dirtying her stockings. It's breathy and soft, just like everything else about her, and sings with the same gentle harmony as her French and her lullabies. It wraps warm around his chest and pulls another laugh from the mirth hidden behind his ribs. It's a sound he wishes he could bottle and save for the darker days when none of them can find the strength to do more than blink.

A throat clears behind him. Noa's laughter stops. The world stills so suddenly even the rain seems to pause against the fight of gravity.

"Number 2," Dad's voice crawls along his spine and claws at his ears. "This behavior is unacceptable. Go change for supper, we'll discuss your punishment after."

Diego trembles, trying to meet Noa's eye, but she's already shut down. Now standing rigid with her hands clasped behind her back and her chin pressed painfully to her chest. He can see her shaking. If Diego were braver, he'd walk towards her and wrap her in his arms like the big brother he wants to be, whisper reassurances without stuttering and protect her, but instead his father's orders drag his feet back into the house, leaving her to his wrath. Dad doesn't follow him inside.

Mom is waiting with a towel and a clean uniform in her hands, smile bright and warm and everything he can't feel right now.

Dinner starts later than usual. Noa never takes her spot beside Mom and Pogo. Guilt floods his chest and his lungs and threatens to spill over his eyes. Her laugh echoes in his head until it sounds like a scream. Five asks where Noa is as the only one brave enough to do so. Dad reminds him that speaking is prohibited during dinner, leaving Five to simmer with a red rage and stab at his plate without eating any of it. He glares at Diego, at Dad, at his plate. He stares at the empty spot where Noa usually stands for a long long time.

It's three days before they see Noa again, quiet and small as she's always been. He can't see any marks of punishment, relief mingling with the guilt in his chest like oil.

He doesn't ask what happened to her the last three days. She doesn't tell him.

When Dad's not looking, Noa holds out her right hand. Diego's eyes go wide and with trembling motions, he taps against her palm three times. He almost cries when she whispers the quietest explosive noise to finish off the handshake.

When Noa and Five are gone, Diego grieves in the only way he knows how. Silently and with a weight hardening behind his ribs like a stone, a pressure that will never go away. His screams and cries are trapped under his skin, ready to burst as days without explosive handshakes or English lessons or impossible target practice turn into weeks, into months, into years.

Her journal is gone.

The attic is locked.

Dad hangs a painting of Five over the fireplace mantle. He wants to ask if Noa gets a painting, but knowing the answer keeps the question resting on his tongue, swallowed into the recesses of his throat.

The only proof that Noa existed at all is their memories. It's not enough, it'll never be enough. He turned out to be a pretty shitty big brother.