#and our long awaited

[thewitchoftheweed]

“I imagine I’ll be sweeping streets for an eternity,” Leshy says, resuming his work. Prior to this, he held pieces of a fence in place for Kevin to secure. Prior to that, he carted barrels of manure to the compost station. The odor was stunningly putrid. “The Lamb has restraint now, but that will change in time.” “Be silent,” Bathin says, voice suddenly hushed. She steps closer. “They are looking for an excuse to kill you again. Do not give them one.” Leshy stops sweeping. “And what do you suggest I do?” “Conform.” Bathin says bluntly. “It’s a decent life. If the Lamb is happy, everyone is happy.”

[luck-of-the-drawings]

smth smth about 'the thing that the character did that you thought was rly rly funny in the moment is actually linked to a terrible trauma that lies within said character.' or wahtever.

[destreza-draws]

Morning Baxter

Hes a mess...but hes our mess <3

[alwayzraven]

KARDESLERIM | 1.132 — Ayber's long awaited kiss scene ❤️

[tildeathiwillwrite]

June of Doom Day 23

"You're doing great." / Trembling / Gaslighting / Rules

Prompts List | Event Masterpost

Hero x Villain Masterpost | <- Previous Part | Next Part ->

Fandom: Original Work

Words: 1300

Tag List: @juneofdoom @fourwingedsnake @whumperofworlds @pigeonwhumps @mr-orion

@scaewolf @doctorsawyer @pinkrangerv @42questionsandaloafofbread

CW: captivity whump, concussion, blood, swearing, gaslighting, shouting, referenced torture, referenced abuse, helplessness, superpower whump, torture

----------

Villain didn’t struggle against Shapeshifter. Not only because it would be useless to do so, but also because every time the thought of fighting back crossed their mind, they remembered Leader’s warning. Even without Sound Gun around to wave their weapon threateningly, Villain didn’t doubt that Leader would make good on their words.

The worst part was that they didn’t know what would be considered struggling.

Or what Leader would do to Hero should Villain somehow break the rule.

For now, though, they were alone in a cell, the walls, floor, and ceiling blindingly white and sterile. Blood still ran down the side of their head from where Leader had struck them, and although the headache had subsided slightly, the lights and brightness of the cell hurt their eyes, and every time they tried to stand, the entire room seemed to tilt and spin. 

They slumped against the wall, eyes closed, trying to control their breathing and remain calm despite the panic rising in their throat. They’d never felt so helpless before.

Villain’s eyes flew open as the cell door opened without warning, despite the spike of pain from the light. “Where are they?!” they demanded when Leader stepped inside. Alone.

Leader smirked, closing the cell door. “Oh… are we worried about our little friend? They’re unhurt. For now. And as long as you cooperate, it will stay that way. Am I making myself clear?”

“Fuck. You.” Villain spat.

“Ah, a fighter, are we?” Leader mused, folding their arms, an infuriatingly smug expression on their face. “I suppose that’s to be expected. You do keep remarkable control over your territory, despite not having any powers to speak of.”

Villain barked a harsh laugh, ignoring how the sudden movement made the relentless hammering in their head throb faster. “You don’t know anything if you think powers are necessary to protect the innocent.”

“I suppose you are correct about that,” Leader acknowledged. They slowly began to remove their gloves. “However… you misunderstand your situation. The only reason you’ve kept your territory for so long is not through any skill of your own.”

“I understand the situation perfectly fucking well,” Villain snapped, hands curling into fists, “it’s not my fault your people are just so damn incompetent.”

Leader did not respond immediately as they finished removing their gloves, sliding them into a pocket. They casually inspected their fingernails. “Have you ever considered,” they finally said, “that ‘my people’ were simply going easy on you?”

Villain rolled their eyes and involuntarily winced as they accidentally glanced into the light overhead, its brightness temporarily blinding them and causing their retinas to feel as though they’d been stabbed with sharp needles. “Sure. I suppose I have wondered why you only ever sent them in ones or twos. Mostly Hero, for some reason. And then I hear on the news that I’ve been branded as their nemesis. Public attention, then?”

“Correct!” Leader exclaimed. Villain flinched at their tone, sounding somehow both jovial and spiteful. “You’re doing great.”

Villain glowered at the false praise, but Leader continued on. “You were never a threat. Not really. Sure, you had good aim with your little guns, but they really are no match for superpowers, now, are they? Of course not. You were supposed to be baby’s first nemesis, Hero’s first victory against evil in the city.”

“And then Hero wanted out.”

Their eyes still weren’t working properly, but they could see enough to catch the dramatic change in Leader’s expression. Where before it was casually neutral as if commenting on the weather, now it was cold, calculating. Threatening. “‘And then Hero wanted out.’” They repeated mockingly. “The weakling. The coward. I had to teach them a lesson, of course. This line of work is like no other, and the expectations are like no other. They just didn’t understand, yet.”

“You tortured them!” Villain shouted, voice trembling with anger. “I’ve seen their injuries, tended to most of them myself! The extent of their wounds… nobody does things like that in the name of discipline! I’ve been called a villain for years, but if anyone’s the true villain, it’s you. You who perpetuate this cycle of hurt, of violence, who allow your team to harm desperate people who are forced to break the law to survive. 

“You want to know why I chose to do what I do? Because someone has to protect them from people like you.”

Leader watched their tirade coldly, expression unchanging. “That was quite the speech,” they finally said, a hint of amusement in their voice. “How long have you been waiting to say that? Did you give that little monologue to Hero while you tended to their injuries?”

Villain gritted their teeth but did not respond to the dig. They hadn’t meant to say all of that initially, but they’d just… snapped. Remembered when they’d found Hero bleeding out in that alleyway, pursued by Teleporter. Remembered when they’d taken out the bullet, stitched up their wounds, bandaged what they could. Remembered how Hero never had a full night’s sleep, not really. Remembered the really bad nights, when they’d wake up crying, screaming for Leader to stop, and Villain could do nothing but hold them as they sobbed.

The words had just poured out. All the hatred they’d amassed, from years fighting them indirectly and from the weeks with Hero, all of it culminated in such a way that they couldn’t be face to face with them, alone, and just stay silent.

“Staying silent now, are we?”

Villain did not reply.

Leader rubbed their fingers together absently. “Did you know Hero can hear us from their cell?”

Villain blinked. They did not, but what did that have to do with—?

Leader was suddenly directly in front of them, having somehow crossed the short distance between them the moment their eyes were closed. Villain tried to flinch back, but there was nowhere to go. A hint of anticipation simmered in Leader’s eyes as they reached out, slowly, agonizingly, and placed their hand on Villain’s cheek, just below the cut on their temple.

It was a simple gesture. Shouldn’t have done anything. But looks could be deceiving.

The sensation was faint, at first. Barely noticeable underneath the throbbing of Villain’s head and the aching behind their eyes. But it grew. And it grew quickly.

It was like a hundred thousand needles piercing their flesh. 

As if the blood flow had been temporarily cut off from their face and was just now flooding back. 

Stabbing and cutting and jabbing and tearing into their nerves, into their bones, into their very soul. 

Spreading out from the source, Leader’s touch, and reaching every inch of their being.

Someone was screaming.

No, not someone.

They were screaming.

Leader’s eyes locked with theirs, their face a mask of grim determination.

They weren’t going to stop.

All other sensation was gone—drowned out, overwhelmed.

And yet, inexplicably, it continued to grow.

Each imaginary needle grew longer, sharper as the seconds ticked by.

“Do you understand now, just how helpless you are?”

No powers, no weapons, no allies.

“How minuscule you are, compared to me?”

Leader suddenly withdrew, stepping away and pulling their gloves back on. Villain’s breathing came in gasps, their entire body shaking and trembling, the incredible, awful pain dissipating into thin air.

As if it had never existed in the first place.

“You are nothing,” Leader said coldly, “As insignificant as a mite. It’s terrible how you’ve deluded yourself into thinking you could possibly stand a chance against people like me. You couldn’t even save yourself.”

Villain squeezed their eyes shut, becoming aware of the tears dripping down their cheeks as the cell door slammed shut behind Leader. Somewhere, far away, faint shouts echoed.

I’m so sorry, Hero.

They’re right.

I can’t save you.

Can’t even save myself.

[not-so-mundane-after-all]

All the messages 🥹 the fact everyone signed it 🥹 that cover!!!! This is the funniest, sweetest gift!!!

[biomic]

average tcg player interaction

[nilusanimationworld]

hey did you read the new kung fu panda 4 news? what are your thoughts on it?

This is the only video i could find to describe my mixed feelings.

[chaiaurchaandni]

free palestine! <3

freedom is not a matter of 'if,' but 'when'

[d0t3xe]

Here’s a quick doodle of Starline I did for the sonicpoorlittlemeowmeowshowdown (which he lost, but it’s the fight that counts) ‼️

Even through his shortcomings, you can still support him in the problemqueertournament right now, so go vote for him while you still can!!!

[kuchipark]

I cannot emphasize enough the sheer rage that courses through my veins whenever people in books/movies/shows use somebodies second name whenever they address the other.

Every time I hear a “Lucy Gray” (edit: was informed that that is her first name, which is honestly equally stupid imo BUT a little less infuriating. soz) or “Hazel Grace” or “Mary” fucking “Margaret” I lose another year off my life-span. It makes me so inexplicably furious. Not only does it sound fucking stupid but it’s also so unnatural.

Saying it once—as a joke—is one thing, I can tolerate that. Hell, if done right, I might even like it, but just casually? For no reason? Why?

Why do writers do this? Why?! Nobody in real life addresses each other that way!! It’s not cute, it’s not different, it’s not this adorable little quirk, it’s WEIRD.

W. E. I. R. D.

Please for the love of GOD stop doing this. It makes my skin crawl and my anus retreat into the fucking womb. It makes the rope in my garage form itself into a noose and tighten itself around my neck.

Please, I beg you. STOP IT.

[enypneon]

℻ @mindsmade ••• (*down these mean streets - accepting!)

⊵ smother. you clasp a hand over the sender's mouth to keep from being heard.

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬, drumming against the plastic of her coat in a soft rhythm. there is no direct way to leak the research biodyne has so carefully put together for high profit but it is not impossible to obtain. they plan to waste the nanites on the rich, while v and so mi prefer to share the knowledge with everyone who is able to fund the production. creating competition and alternatives to the original formula.

the meeting point is rather exposed despite the tall buildings narrowing in on them ─ not ideal for a rendezvous with someone they hardly know. so mi leans closer into v's vicinity, tilting her head towards the sky, illuminated by long strands of advertisement. what if they have walked right into a trap? a muffled metallic click erupts from the familiar sounds of night city's barking streets and in a sudden wave of all-consuming anxiety, so mi grabs v's arm and pulls him into the darkness of a small alley. however, before he can react, she extinguishes any grunts of wonder and surprise as she clasps her hand over v's mouth.

her eyes are locked on the spot where they have stood merely a minute ago. there are no signs of odd movement, yet she decides it is better when they remain tucked away between the concrete for at least a while. the mission failing is a small price to pay to ensure that v is unharmed. if anything were to happen to him...

hitches of damp heat pulse against her palm, right, her hand was still shutting v's lips. she cannot remember the last time life was slipping past her fingers in a tender caress as an excited tingle poured through her skin and body. v used to feel cold and hard beneath her touch but with the new layer of skin stretching over so mi's limbs, she could even feel the crisp prickle of v's beard. her hand slips to his shoulder, curious about what other areas can make her heart swell.

» sorry. thought i heard something. «

[adara-writer]

A Comparison of Kudos Over Time on AO3 on Two Fics

I'm a big numbers nerd, and one thing I like to do is to track how many kudos each of my fics get per day, via the daily emails ao3 sends. For my two fics in the Six of Crows Fandom, I've been fully tracking them since posting. Today, I went through and updated the spreadsheet where I collect and graph all of this data (although the emails aren't perfect, they are very helpful for being able to deal with the data later).

First, here are the graphs for both the kudos over time and the kudos gathered each day for my multi-chaptered, fairly popular fic:

So there's a few interesting thing to note here. There's an obvious spike in kudos when a new chapter is posted, likely from the fic being bumped back up to the top of the search results. The bump from finally being finished lasted two days (with the second day actually being slightly higher than the date I actually posted the final chapter). This double bump probably comes from readers who only read complete fics, but could not finish the 40k word fic in one day. Additionally, the kudos have slowly tapered off since the final chapter has been posted, but they seemed to have roughly stabilized with 1-7 kudos per day. Additionally, the fic has received kudo every day, except for when ao3 went dark, and that might be an error with the email system going down.

And now for the one shot that was less popular:

These graphs are also not surprising, although perhaps disappointing from an author's perspective. There was one large spike when the fic was posted, which quickly trailed off. There are no additional kudos bumps from posting new chapters, and there are far fewer new kudos each day. This fic was also posted after the multi-chapter fic was finished posting and it was posted for an event, but it trailed off faster. This could also be because it was much shorter (1.4k vs 40k words), or that that subjects were less interesting to readers in this fandom.

I am going to start posting the sequel to the long fic this weekend, so I look forward to charting that as well. I also may at some point compare guest vs registered users kudos, as I have all of that data as well, but I'm not sure what to do with that yet. And if you made it this far or have any thoughts, please let me know!

[arathergrimreaper]

We have such a shame around death in the western world and I'm kind of tired of it, tbh.

[mortyandem]

I don’t know whether I should be disturbed or impressed by this. Anyways, here are some AI generated Måneskin poems. 

[4giorno]

the girls-with-attatched-sleeves-likers are winning in fontaine