#and their roles being reversed as to who’s believed dead

[lunammoon]

Oh I LOVE Alma and also that you seem to be picking up EXACTLY what I'm putting down.

I also have a non-de Riva Rook who could have possibly met Lucanis on and off because if their specific job and something that FURTHER adds to the "Oh this must be a dream." is that because of Ezra's particular role within the Watch (someone who deals with blood mages specifically to free spirits and reverse corruption) has left a large neon sign on their soul that basically screams (HELLO SPIRIT! I AM HERE TO KICK ASS AND RESCUE YOU AND I AM A MULTITASKER) so he's got Spite yapping in his ear like "Helper! Here to help. You! Here to help. Me! Here. To. Help. Us! Kill Jailor! Destroy Blood! Set. Us. Free!"

Lucanis KNOWS what Ezra's job is. The reason they've met is because often the mages that Lucanis was sent to take out were doing blood magic experiments that Ezra was sent to disrupt and destroy.

It's part of the reason why Ezra saving him was something his mind considered a plausible daydream. He's seen the fake body (because I refuse to believe that Zara wouldn't have taunted him with it) he knows that everyone thinks that he's dead. BUT from what Ezra has said about their work and what he's witnessed, the Mourn Watch finding out about the Ossuary and sending a team of Watchers to investigate and eliminate doesn't seem too far-fetched for his mind to dismiss automatically. And considering Ezra's unique skillset, they specifically would have been on that team if not leading that team. So Lucanis has had several dreams involving Ezra along with faceless members of the Watch and sometimes Illario coming to save him that seem to always end just as or right before they kill Calivan.

It's weird that in this "Dream", Ezra is here with a Tevinter Mage, a Dalish Elf, and/or a Ferelen Dwarf none of whom seem to be dressed up like members of the Mourn Watch. It's also weird that in this "Dream", Spite seems to recognize Ezra. This isn't the first dream he's had where Ezra was sent by Caterina, but is is the first "Dream" where an Ezra who's been sent by Caterian isn't accompanied with other Crows, typically Illario, sometimes Viago and Teia, one time that in hindsight he should have KNOWN was a Dream from the start but it had happened just after Spite had been forced into him so he surely can be forgiven for seeing his friend Ezra and his Grandmother outside of his cell and not questioning it.

Ezra is outside of his cell with the Tevinter Mage, the Dalish Elf, and the Ferelden Dwarf, and Spite is shouting in his ear about a "HELPER!" as their eyes spark with yellow and the wards put up after his most recent escape attempt shatter and magic gently scratches at the back of his eyes the way Ezra's always has and just like the last few times he's certain that this isn't real but just like the last few times, he can't stand the idea of this being real and him missing out on a chance to escape because of his hesitation and Ezra getting trapped here too and he knows Zara would taunt him if that were the case, so he holds out his arms for them to remove the shackles and accepts the coffee (Ezra brings him coffee often in his dreams. This time it tastes different. It tastes more real. He thinks that every time.) and the coat that they throw over his shoulders. (They do that every time. Even outside of his dreams when the would find some poor soul chained in a magister's workshop they would always offer their coat and when asked they offhandedly mentioned that that's part of why they bring the coat in the first place)

This Dream of Ezra is acting more erratic than the previous ones and so are their companions. Their companions despite not being crows have voices and opinions (they stand between him and the Dwarf's arrow when Spite comes out). They coax half of Zara's demons back into the fade with the soft slam of their staff (that quiets even Spite for a moment), which hasn't happened before. Before destroying his phylactery, they rolled up their sleeves, set it on the ground, DUNKED THEIR ARM UP TO THEIR ELBOW in his blood so that they could make sure that there weren't any other vials of his blood snuck somewhere. They found four, five if you count them staring up at the ceiling, with their pointer and thumb looking up, frowning and after asking if Calivan's office was located above them (it was) remarked that he likely had vial on him and then began tracing something on a scrap of paper with their still blood covered finger, pressing it in his hand, and saying that "it won't block the compulsion completely but it SHOULD disrupt it enough for them to have time to break it the rest of the way."

(It's not the first time he's had a "Dream" where Ezra did something once they got access to his phlactery but he doesn't like to think about those dreams.)

And then Calivan is dead without Ezra dying or turning on him and they're standing in front of the portal out and he's through and when he blinks he's out and he's not back in his cell and the dreams never last for this long.

He doesn't think he could dream the heartbroken look in Ezra's eyes when he quietly asks them if this is a dream, if they could please wake him up now. Because he's never gotten this far in a dream and whenever he has a dream where he gets farther than he has before and he wakes up a part of him breaks even more.

It's not a dream. He's out. It's real.

I've seen people do the whole Rook who knew/was close to Lucanis pre-Ossuary and I love it. It's incredibly juicy and I especially love the whole "dispite everything it's still you" aspect of it, but now what I've got in my head is that same kind of IDEA EXCEPT the presence of Rook flips a switch that causes him to go "Damn. This escape attempt seemed like it was going so well! But they're here. This is obviously too good to be true. I'm dreaming again" and it isn't until they beat Calivan that Lucanis suddeny freezes and Rook's like "What's wrong? Is there another phylactery?" and Lucanis is just like "I'm awake"

"Yes..."

"You mean this is real?"

[quibbs126]

I’ve seen some people suggest the idea of TF One Starscream and Megatronus Prime having been a couple, and while I’m not entirely sure whether I ship it (the potential skystar here has a grip on me), I will say the sheer comedy of the situation makes me strongly consider it

Like I just love imagining Megatron’s reaction to this information being this

He is mortified and really doesn’t want to believe it’s true

But also in some seriousness, I do like the idea with how it relates to Megatron. I remember some months ago someone having a ficlet on here with this ship, where basically Starscream feels like he has to be responsible for and protect Megatron because he failed Megatronus, and because he sees Megatron sort of like a son they never had (or at least I think, it’s been a while since I read it and I don’t know how to find it again), and I like that idea. It’s interesting and also works with the concept that this Starscream is significantly older than Megatron

[amutamika]

Demon/Demon Hunter Moshang AU idea where Mobei Jun is a Demon Hunter and Shang Qinghua a demon (yeah \(*-*)/ role reversal... kinda?). It is set in a modern setting where demons exist, and so do demon hunters. It is not known to the public because demons largely blend in. That doesn't mean that they aren't dangerous. They are. Very much so.

Shang Qinghua is an incubi who cracked the code and noticed that he doesn't need to fuck someone to steal life force. Being a troll on the internet also sucks literally the life out of people (and wastes their time. lol). Also, if he writes shameless smut, it is even more effective because people actively wank to that. It is a lot less life force per person but that also means he doesn't kill anyone with that, it probably doesn't even shorten their life span that much. But because there are so many people that read his web novels filled with all kinds of wank material it is enough to keep him full. And it earns him money. And he even profits from haters. It is a win-win on all accords. How the hell the actual life force is transferred to him, he does not know - and honestly, he doesn't want to know.

His parents despise him because of his 'vegan' life style. And the money he makes off of his web novels isn't exactly much. He has to work his ass off and is still basically poor. But it is safe. No, demon hunter will ever suspect a thing. He basically doesn't even need to leave his home, making it even less likely to be noticed. And he doesn't have to find prey and deal with the aftermath. Not that he exactly would feel guilt. He just doesn't like to deal with all that.

But sometimes he does go out. Most of the times to buy research material for his work, or to just breath some air. And it's not like he absolutely can't eat human food. So, from time to time, he might spoil himself and splurge a little on snacks. It's one of those days were a sweet, savory, fresh and mouthwatering scent leads Shang Qinghua into a back alley. Where he does not find some obscure street food stall. Instead he finds himself at the scene of a fucking slaughter. There is a demon hunter standing in the blood of at least half a dozen demons. Shang Qinghua can't really say what kind they had been. The only thing he could detect was that they were very very dead.

He freezes as the demon hunter slowly turns around, noticing the passerby with ice-cold gleaming eyes. Shang Qinghua wants to run. He actually wants to scream and run. Very very fast. But he is frozen in place as the hunter slowly steps toward him. That's when he abandons any form of self respect for self preservation. He let's his knees buckle and basically throws himself in front of Mobei Jun. He starts begging for his life. Explaining that he is just a simple man and that he didn't see shit and so on. He shouldn't be clocked as a demon. But it wouldn't be the first time that hunters kill humans for the greater good of protecting the whole of mankind from the knowledge that demons exist.

Mobei Jun doesn't kill Shang Qinghua. But from that day onward they stumble over each other time and time again. There is always that sweet, savory, fresh, and absolutely mouthwatering scent, that Shang Qinghua can't explain, when it happens. Of course Mobei Jun grows suspicious. Why does that random (cute) guy always pop up where he was dealing with demons? That is what Shang Qinghua also would like to know. But he explains all these coincidences with him actually knowing that demons exist because he lived in a rural town as a kid where half the people had been killed by a malicious fox demon. And now he researches them for writing inspiration.

For some reason, Mobei Jun believes that lie. And he decides that Shang Qinghua should report his findings to Mobei Jun from now on. And that's how he kind of became a demon working for a demon hunter. He has no remorse throwing some of the more vicious demon under the bus from time to time to get that hunter off his ass. Or to protect peaceful demons just as himself. He just hopes that Mobei Jun never starts suspecting him.

Which might be harder than he thought, because he finally remembers what that scent was, that always kind of lead him to Mobei Jun. It is the smell of a person that is exceptional compatible with an individual incubi. Mobei Jun's life force literally draws him in. And he never wanted to fuck a person so much in his entire life. Even just being close to the hunter can satisfy his hunger, only feeding on some lingering life force. Nothing too much. Nothing he would notice.

Meanwhile Mobei Jun can't help but absolutely fall for this weird shut in that somehow has the talent to stumble right into him all the time. And he suspects him to be a demon. An incubi to be exact. Mobei Jun can actually sense the pheromones that incubi and other life force eating demons use to lure their prey in. Except that idiot doesn't even seem to notice that he does it. He also doesn't try to sleep with him. But Mobei Jun wants to. It might be because of the pheromones. It might also not be. He doesn't care.

And so the mutual pining begins. While Shang Qinghua tries to look innocent and Mobei Jun tests if the demon really doesn't plan to do anything. He flirts (badly), tries to make himself an easy target (like sleeping in front of Shang Qinghua, being all defenseless), and generally spending a lot of time with him. All the while Shang Qinghua really worries for that guy (why the hell is he sleeping in front of him, like a fine dinner served on a silver platter), but also really struggles to not give in to his own carnal desires.

It is not enemies to lovers. Shang Qinghua doesn't hate hunters. Mobei Jun doesn't care enough to hate demons, especially not one specific demon. It is more like "someone I want to fuck very badly, but is otherwise no concern of mine" to "fuck, I might actually like him" to "not only do I like him, but I might actually have fallen in love with someone who might actually try to actively kill me".

[ecoterrorist-katara]

The tragedy of Katara’s parentification

Sokka and Katara were both parentified, and it’s a profoundly life-changing thing for both of them. One of the saddest things in ATLA, though, is how Sokka sort of got to outgrow parentification, but Katara never did.

Sokka’s told to be the man. The provider, the protector. He’s not so good at the former (his hunting failures are a consistent source of comic relief), and he takes failures of the latter very, very hard. He doesn’t manage to save Yue, and that wrecks him. After Yue, he becomes extremely protective of Suki in a way that’s borderline offensive to her. He’s willing to do anything to protect his friends and his family, including something as irresponsible as breaking into the Boiling Rock. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Sokka is the only one of the Gaang who unambiguously kills. The rest of them may technically have clean hands because of cartoon logic, but Combustion Man is very dead, and Sokka is the one who killed him. We don’t know how he feels about it, because the show never goes there, but I have a pet theory that Sokka is so uncharacteristically (remember he was team “leave Zuko to freeze to death”) against Katara confronting Yon Rha in The Southern Raiders because he’s the only who knows what killing feels like and wants to protect Katara from it.

But by the end of the show, Sokka’s in a place where he can start to let go of his need to protect. Objectively, all his friends are unbelievably powerful and can take care of themselves, including his sister and his girlfriend. Suki is the one who saves him in the final battle, representing not only a reversal of his initial cartoonish misogyny, but also demonstrating that he is worthy of protection. And of course, he and his friends saved the world, so there isn’t really an enemy that he has to protect them from anymore. Sokka’s loved ones create the conditions under which his parentified behaviour is no longer necessary. Sokka would still have to take the first step to stop seeing himself as the one who has to lay his life on the line, but at least it’s possible for him.

But not Katara.

Katara had to take on the mom role after their mother was murdered, which meant she was responsible for domestic labour and emotional support. Sokka says in The Runaway that her role was to keep the family together. Unlike protection, that’s always a full time job regardless of the war. We see Katara spending more screen time than anybody cooking, getting food, mending, and generally doing women’s work. We see Katara giving everyone emotional support, including strangers and her enemy. We see Katara putting aside her own discomfort and her own hurt in The Desert because if she falls apart, they all die. Nobody ever showed her that she doesn’t need to be the only one who cooks, or that somebody else can be responsible for the emotional wellbeing of her friends, or that — god forbid — someone else can actually be responsible for her emotional wellbeing.

That’s why I never cared for the Ka/taang argument of “he teaches her to be a kid again!” Putting aside the fact that Katara ends up taking care of Aang a lot more as the series goes on, the whole tragedy of parentification is that you can never again be a child. That part of your childhood, your god-given right, is robbed from you. It is extremely precious and important to still be able to be a kid, but breaking free of parentification is not about seeing yourself as a kid. It’s about breaking free of being responsible for everyone’s feelings and behaviours.

For Katara, that responsibility is not problem of perception, but of reality. Unlike Sokka, who was told and shown that his loved ones are capable of protecting themselves, Katara has zero reason to believe that her loved ones are able to feed and clothe themselves and not fall apart emotionally. Between Toph and Sokka who emphatically don’t want to do this work, it all falls on Katara. Telling a parentified child that they just need to loosen up is akin to telling an overworked mother that she needs to just relax (“happy Mother’s Day! You get a break from chores, which you will catch up on tomorrow because nobody else is doing them”). It doesn’t accomplish anything if nobody creates the circumstances under which it’s possible to let go of responsibilities. A lot of Zutara fans, spanning all the way back to the early days of the fandom, like the “Momtara and Dadko” trope where Zuko also does chores. Why? Because even without the concept and language of parentification, many fans recognized that Katara’s performance of domestic and emotional labour is inequitable and probably very taxing.

Growing out of parentification is about more than just letting go of old expectations: it’s also about finding a new way to value yourself beyond the role you grew up with. I’ve said this before, but it’s very important to acknowledge that just because a kid is parentified doesn’t mean they’re actually good at being a parent. In fact, it’s probably a given that they’re not, because they’re kids performing roles that are developmentally inappropriate! Sokka remains a shit hunter; he becomes a decent fighter but he’s still miles behind his friends. A big part of healing from his parentification is finding another area — strategy, engineering, project management (what else do you call that schedule) — where he actually excels, to which he can dedicate his time and from which he can derive satisfaction and a sense of identity. For Katara, fighting for the oppressed and combat waterbending give her that. Crucially, however, Katara does not stop being a girl when she becomes a warrior. She’s still responsible for domestic and emotional labour. Unlike Sokka, whose protector duties were more or less relieved as the series went on and he found new ways to contribute to the group, Katara continued to perform her old role in addition to her new one (which is depressingly realistic btw, look up feminist theory around the concept of the second shift). Still, it’s important that she found these new ways to value herself and her contributions…

…which disappear in her adult life. Where’s adult Katara fighting for the oppressed? Where’s adult Katara enjoying her status as a master waterbender? Where’s Mighty Katara? Where’s the Painted Lady? Where’s the person who vanquished a whole Fire Lord?

What do we know about adult Katara? She’s no longer a rabblerouser or an ecoterrorist. She did not translate her desire to help the downtrodden into a political role, like being Chief or on the United Republic Council. She’s not known as the best waterbender in the world, only the best healer, even though her combat abilities are what she took the most pride in. Even as a healer, she established no hospitals, trained no widespread acolytes (except Korra, I guess?), and made no known contributions to the field.

What Katara is known for…is being a wife and a mother. The same role she was forced to take on at age 8. One which she performed for the next 80+ years.

[lustlovehart]

I just wanted to let you know that I've been obsessed with your monster and reverse!monster au 💓 I've been rereading the posts over and over again lol you're a great writer!

I was just wondering what you think would happen if the reader for each au was somehow swapped. Like monster!reader replaces hunter!reader in the monster au and vice versa. Would the monster boys be happy to have a monster darling who they wouldn't have to worry about scaring off, or still prefer the caring mortal reader? And would the hunter boys like hunter!reader more and fight about keeping them in their own ranks?

I guess they would all still be obsessed regardless lol

Thank you for your writings and don't forget to take breaks and rest!

This is such a fun idea ( ˘ ³˘)♥︎ (This ended up being way longer than expected)

The appeal with both of the au’s is the Odd one out kind of thing. As the others are taking a deep interest in you due to their status of being different from you, MH!Reader feels the opposite way, wishing to stem away from the dangers of the unknown (Despite the occupation of Monster hunter holding its mysteries, and the species of monster having their own ways.) This is essentially the make up of both Au’s. Buut, With the roles being swapped around, It surely sounds fun, because now, the cast and you are the same species, making it so they’ll have to find a different reason to become infatuated!

MH!Reader is appealing to the Monster!Twst cast as they’re a human who hunts their kind, while still harboring some form of sympathy towards them. Even with the acts of murder and all that evil stuff, they could fall into your arms, you might be horrified, but you’ll still hug them all the same.

But! If you were to swap them out with a Monster!Reader, you’d need to do something different too! Perhaps you’re the kind who travels instead of staying in one place. In this case, I think you’d have to do something along the lines of protecting humans this time! In the monster world, it’s an all for one thing, fight to survive. At first, when you protect the human they’re about to devour, they assume you’re just trying to steal their meal. But when you tell the thing to run away? They’re convinced you’re a fool.

But when you continually step in their way to stop them? Then they’ll be intrigued. If you’re a low ranked beast, they’ll gladly swipe their hand and let you drop dead. But, you’re ranked just the same as the 7 highest bounty beasts (Or so rumors says) so they can’t simply toss you away. That’s when you peak their interest. Someone as (rumoredly) powerful as you, take pity on humans? It’s pathetic… yet their actions speak the opposite.

“So, You stalk monsters you think are pathetic right? Do you attempt to sleep with them too?” Depending on who you’re talking to, you either receive a sway of the hand, or words of adoration.

The only one who is not affected by this change is Rollo. Just like his Human counterpart, he believes you to be absolutely vile. The way you save humans though is entirely the opposite. So… he’s extremely conflicted.

On the other end, you have MH!Reader with the reverse cast. It’s the same situation, where you spare a monster from the kindness in your heart. But, instead of it being them this time, they’re essentially spying on you as you let your heart get in the way. Truly… they should be executing you for such treasons, but they can’t bring themselves to do it. In this case, I like to think they had their eye on you before your first failed mission, but only when that happens do they actually engage in their interest.

Your status as a specialized hunter (Though everyone just calls you Crowleys favorite), leads to many admirers in the organization. Though, you didn’t think you’d receive 7 different letters (Plus a couple of extras from the newbie), all requesting you to transfer to their unit. They’ve only been talking to you for a few months after that job, you questioned why they were all scrambling for you attention at every turn. Maybe they just needed an extra member…? (no they’re obsessed.)

Riddle insists having someone like you in their group would be beneficial for both of you. You get less sporatic jobs, a more organized scheduele, and he gets to see you. Ace and Deuce would calm down a whole lot too… He has the highest chance of acceptance, but with the way Trey and Cater slump against the door at your answer, he understands he must try much harder. Especially if he’s going against the others…

Leona tells you if you join him, you’d get harder jobs, but will get way more rest than usual. You won’t ever see the first draft of the letter where… Your thoughts disperse when you notice Jack in the corner of your eye, the shadows overcasting him as if he’s a wet puppy. He doesn’t move from his spot when he turns his head, quietly asking if you’re gonna join.

Azul by far has the most convincing letter of request. What is it? You get a better pay and much better work benefits. Truthfully, if this was anyone else eyou’d take him up on the offer. But… Knowing him and those twins, less than ideal business transactions… you don’t think you will join them. Azul buries his head in his hands on the other side of the door, Jade sighing in disappointment while Floyd shifts from a happy mood, to a complete opposite vibe.

Kalim doesn’t actually send you a letter, he bursts in through the door just offering you the position straight up. The one who sends the request is Jamil. His offerings are rather on the standard side in truth. There’s a slight increase in your wage, but the true appeal is his offering to help assist you in your missions. Kalim may be in charge of the Scararbia unit, but Jamil is so capable… Though, you’re a bit off put by the feint smell of iron. You hope he didn't pen this after a job…

Vil is by far the most proper when he writes his letter. You’re sure this is those acting skills he has cooked up, the ones he uses to lure in unsuspecting monsters… He writes with a certain primness, yet a slight desperation that makes you feel inclined to join. You’re close to actually considering joining, but then a chill runs up your spine. You know the feeling all too well. Someone’s watching you. It’s definitely Rook. You set the paper down, leaving the room without showing any sign of knowing he’s there. He sniffs paper when you’re gone, leaving a second letter by him. You don’t read it.

Idia has the shortest letter of all. He lists what he can give you in bullet points, and then below just has a single sentence. “Please join.” Compared to everyone else, it’s the least worthy letter of acceptance. Yet, he’s the only one who gets an in person visit. He’s walking back and forth, tightening his head to the point of suffocation. He’s in a complete panic, why would you ever wanna join him? He’s the unit with the least talkative members… you’re gonna wanna leave the moment you join—

He stops his thoughtless rampage when you pull his head free from that hood. Everyone sees this happening too by the way, and suddenly they’re wishing they did whatever it was he wrote down.

Malleus is the exact opposite. He has the longest letter ever, 5 pages?? The first three are him praising your skills, your looks, you intellect, your kindness, your— It’s too much to process. You don’t even have the chance to finish the letter before Sebek basically hoists you overs his shoulder all of a sudden.

“Malleus is waiting for your arrival! As a new member you can’t be late!” Your head turns quickly towards Lilia and Silver, heavy confusion evident on your face. You… You didn’t even…! Wait, did they just assume you’d say yes to him?? (Lilia knows you didn’t. When you’re alone with him he’ll let you decide. But, convincing you with a little persuasion wouldn’t hurt would it? After all, he hopes you join them as well)

Rollo basically cucks everyone 💀. When you’re looking through and actually considering, he sits next to you. His fingers gently grab your hand and pull you away from the papers, his eyes imagining fire to set to those wretched requests.

“Why would you join them?” His mouth ghosts over your knuckles, never touching them, but connecting somehow. “I believe you’re everything without them.” Rollo attempts to block out the other 4 who nod in agreement. (He doesn’t wanna accept his alone time with you is being interrupted by Fellow, Skully, Neige, and Chenya 💀)

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Light's Chapters 414-415

New title - 53. Confronting and Defending

Brief summary: GoC saint kills himself to become the first sacrifice and start the ritual. Sword of the Sun's battery runs out. Cale is the only one standing left in his group.

==========

Thank you, author-nim, for giving us two chapters today! 🥰🥰🥰 But it was so tense today. Everyone in Cale's group had been incapacitated, and only Cale was left to fight. Raon's group above was still fine, but it seemed like Cale was going to overwork himself today.

Because Cale refused to become the first sacrifice, and the GoC cult's plans went awry, the GoC saint decided to kill himself and become the first sacrifice, starting the ritual of GoC's descent. Chaos ensued, as the lake overflowed with gray water, overwhelming everyone it touches with intense emotions.

If that was not enough, the GoC believers were even bleeding gray blood, and there was gray smoke threatening to spread above the canyon and all over Hellhole.

Alberu's Sword of the Sun ran out of its battery, and Alberu himself was about to faint. It was funny (and sad) to see the role reversal though.

I will give you the last of the power of this Sword of the Sun. After that, I leave it to you. Cale's face contorted in understanding. “Your Highness-” Ah, seriously. Alberu swallowed the laughter that threatened to escape. It would be a waste to laugh now. But it was funny. Cale Henituse must know now how Alberu had felt in being unable to stop Cale whenever the former said he'd use what was left of his power, even though he knew it would be dangerous. I'm sure Cale does. Because now he knows what it was like for Cale to do what he had to do.

So the flag was somewhat right and somewhat wrong too? It was Alberu who would faint and leave it all to Cale, and not the other way around? 😂😂😂

HD and Eru were out of breath and struggling in resisting the power of chaos. Rosalyn and Gashan were trapped in the gray water, stifling their screams as they were affected by the intense emotions of chaos. Alberu had almost fainted. Only Cale was fine. Or was he really okay?

Cale was clearly struggling. He looked like he was suffering from the Contamination of Chaos as his entire body except his eyes had turned gray. He was bleeding, his clothes were torn all over, and his mask was almost gone. But Cale was mentally okay because DA protected him from the intense emotions the chaotic power was releasing.

And Cale gave DA the okay to go all out, even if he faints. DA soon completely dominated the field, saying some cool stuff like "Be dominated by the ruler" and so on. Everyone felt goosebump-inducing fear, and began to wake up from the intense emotions they felt from the power of chaos.

The glutton priestess told Cale that she was hungry, and Cale realized that she was not limited to eating dead mana. I guess she was about to eat all that gray water and smoke? The four trees above the canyon began to move their roots in response to the glutton's power.

Meanwhile, Crazy Attention Seeker was trembling and crying as he witnessed everything down below. And the reason why was because... his live stream had reached 1 billion views and counting! 🤣🤣🤣

Cale's 🚩flag checklist:

⏹️ Fight the two wanderers ✅ Fight the GoC cult (He fought (?) the GoC saint) ✅ Appear in a user’s livestream (Already 1 billion views and counting) ⏹️ Use his Shield AP to protect the sacrifices (About to happen next chapter) ⏹️ Faint and have Alberu take command (The reverse happened. Alberu is about to faint) ⏹️ Meet the GoC pope

Ending Remarks Two flags had been fulfilled, and a third one would be by the next chapter. There was the role reversal, but it was still possible that Cale would faint too and Alberu would wake up this time, fulfilling that flag too. Next chapter would be Shield AP going all out. I'm envious of those viewers. I want to watch the live stream of the great legend too!

[threepandas]

Bad End: Hidden Heir

Next ->

The Duke's family had very distinct eyes. It was genetic. An aggressively dominant trait at that, though it tended to die off, after a few generations out of the family. Supposedly a "blessing of the Gods". Spring to be exact. Bounty and luck. And the family certainly WAS bountiful.

In all the best and worst ways.

Wealth, corruption, children and bastards. It was a family so aggressively ALIVE, it could only be Spring's blessing that made them so. Pouring mania and madness into their veins like sweet sunlight. Whispering glory and riches, into power addled ears. They burst with life. Even as they endlessly destroyed themselves.

They were fictional.

Fascinating set dressings, for the stage play of someone else's story. Unimportant beyond their role in world building. As the origin story and power base of a character lead.

The Story ITSELF didn't even occur here. But rather, in the capital. Where the players of significance had gathered.

And I? Oh I was some minor antagonist, so insignificant to the plot, I genuinely could not remember which of seven different women I actually WAS. It had been an ongoing series. Otome Isekai. Reverse harem.

And I was either in the ORIGINAL original novel, the isekai'd plot novel, the anime adaption, OR a horrifying fever dream. My memory was largely useless. But? I did remember the characters. The archetypes.

And the fact, that the author had clearly been going though a Yandere phase.

My region of the Reverse Harem collect-o-thon? Horrifying! Red flags everywhere! No one here should date, leave room for fantasy Jesus, have we considered the joys of being a NUN? Yes. Yes I HAVE thought about it.

I was pretty sure I'd never make it. End up dead or captured by some sort of Nun Yandere. Or God Yandere. Possibly both. Assuming the bandit yanderes don't get me first. It... it was very stressful, living here.

Luckily? I knew when I could leave.

Or so I thought.

Because my house? The Dukedom? Had the "yandere butler who is secretly an heir." Who starts out with loyal dog behavior. A little highly possesive master and servant play. Then rises to become a Duke. Presumably? That is when I die. Or am disowned.

Death is most likely. Since my role was "minor antagonist" and I was to be mean to the sweet, earnest, Harem possessing Protagonist. Don't see WHY I would. Live and let live. Good for her etc etc. But regardless? Best to avoid, just in case.

The problem? Who do you think Mr Illegitimate Heir serves before she gets here? The OTHER possible heirs? Of course not! They'd "oops! Hunting accident~☆" him in a heart beat. Father isn't stupid. And my sisters? Issues. Violent, violent, issues.

He ends up with ME.

Father, WHY.

Obviously, I ignore him. I see nothing. I hear nothing. There is no war in Ba Sing Se. Mmmmm, tea. Good book. Ignore his creepy staring. His creepy, creepy staring.

Thankfully? I never really ran out of Totally Legitimate reasons to send him away to learn or do something. Proper tea making. Door maintenance. Eastern embroidery. Something, anything, and off you go! Bye bye~☆!

Unfortunately. He got faster. Better and better at learning. Mastering skills. Coming BACK. Showing up to stand in the corner, silent and looming, like an omen of death. Those damn eyes. The fucking family eyes!

I don't have them. And NOT as, my Father would have me believe, because I "take after my Mother". But because I am not genetically related to the Duke. I have GOLD eyes. When I wear the right shade of green? I pass. So I am condemned to forever wear green. Don't even really like it much. But?

I am pretty damn sure? I was just... pretty.

A lovely, orphaned, golden eyed child that COULD pass as his. So why not? It was a whim that payed off. Unlike in the original stories, I imagine. Since I am by FAR the best behaved child in this entire house. Ha! Suck it, bio-kids, the adopted one's the favorite! Maybe should have been less lil bitchs.

....I carefully do not say.

Those are INSIDE thoughts.

Fuck. He's still LOOMING. Isn't he? Go awaaaaaay. Where is Protag-chan? Come be doe eyed and busty! Trip adorably! Go "kyaaa~" or something! I feel body heat and freeze. He's leaning over my shoulder to pick up the teapot, pour me another cup. I can FEEL the barest graze of his knuckles against my back, from where he's gripped my chair. The smell of his aftershave almost hauntingly pleasant.

Like he KNEW exactly what smells I liked most. Went out of his way to find one that best suited my preference. Coincidence. Please, PLEASE be a coincidence! I do not turn my head. Keep my eyes locked straight ahead. Barely breathing.

He steps back.

The new pot is sharp and herbal. Almost bitter. I force myself to drink. Can't see a sugar dish, and REFUSE to turn around and ask for one. Ignore. IGNORE. My pounding heart calms. My muscles slowly start to relax.

It... it IS weird, though, now that I think about it? That Protag-chan hasn't reached the Dukedom yet. She should have. God only knows I sent Creepy to the capital enough times, with enough highly specific instructions, that he should've had his meet cute's and dates by the dozen. Been half way in love. So... why...?

Huh.

Dizzy.

The taste of tea sits wrong on my tounge. I stop drinking as the world sways. Letting the cup fall from my hand. Splatter, roll, and shatter. I try desperately to stand. A gentle gloved hand catches my elbow, supporting me. I turn. Giddy eyes. Triumphant, wide, spring green eyes. Too green to be gold, too gold to be green.

An almost cruel, mocking, yet loving grin.

Another hand slides around my waist, braces me against his side. Gleeful little murmurs, too pleased to be reassuring. You. You did this! You DRUGGED ME!

I can barely move, body relaxing against my command, going limp, as he draws me close. Presses his face against the side of my head, against my temple. A deep, shuddering breathe, that he savors like wine. I try to pull free but can not. Feel his lips pull into a vicious grin against my skin. Hands begin to run in gentle, claiming, exploration.

And at last the drugs kick in... the wo..rld..

G..oes..

Dar..k........

[aryadelvich]

one more i beg please “act part 3” jk please dont let this end

I really appreciate your enthusiasm !!! This is the last part I’m writing about “may the act begins”. But if you want something similar, fake dating, enemy to lovers, jealousy… my requests are fully open !!! Don’t be shy to reach me!!!

May the act begin Part 3 - Luigi Mangione x reader

Summary : The roles are reversed, this time it’s Luigi who has to met your family.

"I’ll admit it... I'm kind of scared," Luigi confessed, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

"My mom don’t eat trust me," you joked.

"And what if she doesn’t like me?"

"Luigi, you’re smart, polite, kind... and insanely sexy. She’s going to love you," you said, smirking.

He looked down, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

"I’ll do my best to make a good impression, but it's going to be hard to top what you did with my family," he mumbled.

"Don't worry," you said, tapping his knee, "I'm here to protect you."

"It’s supposed to be the other way around..." he grumbled.

You laughed. He was so adorably flustered, it was hard not to find it endearing.

"Relax, we’ll visit a bit. I'll show you some cool spots."

"I've never met a girl's parents before," he admitted, looking genuinely nervous.

"And your ex’s parents?"

"Different. They were family friends. I knew them before I knew her."

"Just be yourself. They’ll love you," you said confidently.

Finally, you pulled up to your house. You took a quick breath, trying to prepare for the chaos inside. The second you stepped through the door, your two little brothers tackled you like linebackers.

"Heyyy! I missed you guys!" you laughed, hugging them tightly.

"What did you bring us?" one of them asked immediately.

"Still trying to hustle me, huh?" you teased, ruffling his hair.

Meanwhile, Luigi lingered behind you, trying to blend into the furniture — but with that permanent goofy smile he wore whenever he was near you, he wasn’t exactly invisible.

"Hey, who's that guy?!" your other brother barked, pointing accusingly at Luigi.

"Uh..." Luigi stammered, frozen.

"Hey! Manners!" you snapped. "He's my friend."

"Your friend?" they repeated, in perfect, suspicious harmony. "Ooooooh, Y/n's got a BOYfriend!"

"No! He's just a friend!" you protested.

"Sure," they said, nodding in sync like tiny mafia bosses. "We believe you."

Before you could strangle them, your mom walked in. She smiled — until she spotted Luigi. Then the smile vanished like a magician’s trick.

"Mama! I missed you so much!" you said, throwing yourself into her arms.

She hugged you back, but her eyes were locked on Luigi like she was trying to figure out whether to cook him for dinner or let him live.

"And who's that?" she asked, direct as ever.

"Uh... a friend," you said, voice an octave too high.

Luigi straightened up like he was being drafted into the army.

"I’m Luigi," he said, giving his best smile. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I've heard wonderful things about you."

He even added your last name at the end, like a polite little soldier.

"Oh, please," she said, waving a hand. "Call me Abi. 'Ma’am' is for the dead one."

Luigi’s eyebrows shot up, clearly not expecting this.

"I didn’t know my daughter had male friends," she added bluntly. "It’s... unusual."

You cleared your throat. "Luigi, you can drop your stuff here. Come on, I'll show you around."

He followed you gratefully, throwing your mom a polite (and slightly terrified) smile.

You gave him the grand tour — living room, kitchen, hallway — and ended at your bedroom.

"It's not huge... You must feel claustrophobic already," you said.

He looked around. "No, no. It's... cozy," he said honestly.

He wandered over to your battered desk and started examining your worn-out books.

"Big fan of English lit, huh?"

"Yeah. Bargain bin specials. And the city library’s 'take it or it’s trash' sale."

He scanned the titles like he was searching for hidden treasure.

"Hey, I haven’t read this one," he said, pulling out an old classic.

"Oh really? It's a must-read. You can have it."

"For real?"

"Yeah."

He smiled wider, cradling the book.

"So... this is your room," he said, glancing around with a mischievous glint.

"Luigi..." you warned.

"I’m just saying," he teased, "it’s cool seeing where you grew up."

Before you could respond, your mother yelled from the kitchen:

"Dinner!"

You both hurried to the kitchen. Everything was already set up.

"Y/n, go grab another chair for your friend”your mom said pointedly. "Sorry, Luigi, we didn’t know you were coming."

"It’s no problem, really," Luigi said, all polite again. "You’ve already made me feel so welcome. Your hospitality is priceless."

"Why does he use such complicated words?" one of your brothers asked, frowning.

You dropped the chair behind Luigi, and he only sat down once you did.

"They’re not complicated words," you said, rolling your eyes. "They're just words. Don’t make us sound like a bunch of uncultured people."

"What does 'uncultured' mean?" your brother asked again.

You groaned, resting your forehead against your palm.

Luigi chuckled quietly, clearly enjoying the chaos.

"Shut up and eat," your mother ordered before anyone else could speak.

Dinner went surprisingly well. Everyone relaxed. You talked about everything — your late father, your weird stepdad, your childhood disasters, your little brothers' antics, college life... everything.

Then, halfway through dessert, your mom casually dropped a grenade in the conversation:

"So," she said, loud enough for everyone to go quiet, "Luigi... you came all the way from wherever you live... for what exactly?"

Luigi froze like a deer caught in headlights.

You kicked his shin under the table.

"Ouch!" he yelped.

You gave him the death stare.

Clearing his throat, he sat up straight and, in his most serious tone, said:

"Madam... I'll be honest with you. I'm dating your daughter, and I'd like to have your blessing."

"So," she said, staring him down, "you’re telling me... you want to date my daughter?"

Luigi swallowed so loudly even your brothers heard it.

"Yes, ma’am—Abi—I mean, yes, Abi," he stammered.

"And why would my daughter want to date you?"

You pinched the bridge of your nose.

"Because… because I really like her. She’s smart, funny, beautiful... she makes me want to be a better man."

Your little brothers gagged dramatically.

"BOOOOORING," one of them said, stuffing more food into his mouth.

Your mom didn’t even blink.

"And what are your intentions?" she asked, narrowing her eyes like a mob boss.

"My intentions?" Luigi repeated, panicking.

"He’s scared," your brother whispered to the other one, way too loud.

"My intentions are... honorable," Luigi said finally.

"Honorable?" your mom repeated, raising an eyebrow so high it almost flew off her face. "What is this, the 1800s?"

You bit your lip so hard trying not to laugh that you tasted blood.

"I just... I just really care about her," Luigi said, his voice cracking slightly.

Your mom stared him down for what felt like an eternity.

Then —and you almost didn’t believe it — she smiled.

"Good," she said, reaching for the bread basket like they hadn't just put Luigi through a full CIA interrogation. "But be careful about your actions, I’m watching you.”

Luigi nodded so fast.

You tried to hold it together, but the sight of Luigi sitting ramrod straight, clutching a piece of bread like it was a holy artifact, was too much. You snorted into your drink.

The rest of dinner went smoothemostly because your mom spent the next hour embarrassing you in front of Luigi with childhood stories.

"Did I ever tell you-“

"MOOOOM!"

She finished telling the story and Luigi almost fell out of his chair laughing.

By the end of the night, he had gained full approval from your family — even your brothers, who decided he was "cool" only after he beat them in Mario Kart.

When it was finally time for him to leave, your mom patted his shoulder like a proud mom.

"You did good, Luigi. You survived."

He gave her a bashful grin, then turned to you.

"I think I aged twenty years tonight," he whispered.

"Yeah, but you earned like, five family points," you whispered back.

"Still not sure it was worth it," he teased.

"Oh, it was," you said with a wicked grin. "You should see what they did to my ex."

His face paled immediately.

"Ex?"

You winked.

"Just kidding."

After dinner, your mom insisted Luigi stay the night because it was too late. Of course, that meant the couch was his.

"You sure you'll be okay here?" you asked, pointing at the tiny, lumpy couch.

"I've slept in worse places," he grinned, trying to act tough, but the way he tested the springs with his hand said otherwise.

Your little brothers were still shooting him suspicious looks, but they eventually gave up when your mom sent everyone to bed.

"Goodnight, Luigi!" your mom called, turning off the lights. "Try not to break anything."

"Goodnight, ma'am," he answered, adjusting the thin blanket you gave him. As the house fell into silence, Luigi lay there, staring at the ceiling.

Sleep? Impossible.

Not with you just down the hallway, curled up in that cozy little pajamas of yours. He shifted. Then he shifted again. The couch springs squeaked dramatically every time.

Finally—when he was sure everyone was asleep—Luigi threw the blanket off, tiptoed through the dark living room like a thief, and crept down the hall.

He opened your door carefully, praying it wouldn’t squeak. You stirred in bed but didn’t wake up completely. Luigi slipped inside and closed the door behind him with a soft click.

"Luigi?" you whispered, half-asleep.

"Shh," he whispered back, grinning. "You don't want to wake your family out there."

You lifted your blanket, inviting him in without hesitation. He slid into your bed—a tight fit for two people. His body was warm from the couch ordeal, and he smelled faintly like your shampoo (probably from the pillow you had thrown at him earlier).

"You’re crazy," you whispered, trying not to laugh.

"You think I was gonna spend the night without you?" he said, pulling you closer under the covers.

The bed creaked dangerously. You both froze. You covered your mouth to stop a laugh. Luigi’s face was close, his breath brushing your cheek.

"I swear to God," he murmured, "if this bed gives us away, I’m blaming you."

"You’re the heavy one," you teased, poking his chest.

"Wow. Body-shamed by my girlfriend," he muttered dramatically.

You giggled against his mouth, and before either of you could think twice, he kissed you. Soft at first. Careful. Testing. Then deeper, hungrier. You tangled your fingers in his hair, and he ran a hand slowly along your thigh, under your oversized sleep shirt.

It was sweet and desperate all at once, both of you trying to be silent—to keep the bed from betraying you—while the tension built up, heavy and electric.

Luigi broke the kiss just long enough to murmur against your lips, "You better keep that pretty mouth shut, bella."

Your cheeks flamed, but you nodded, biting your bottom lip. His hand slid higher. You both moved slowly, carefully, trying not to make a single sound, the bed squeaking just a little whenever either of you shifted. Every small noise made you both freeze, wide-eyed like guilty teenagers.

“I’m an adult why am I so scared ?”he asked, terrified by making any noise.

“The mother effect.” You responded, chuckling.

It was maddening—the need to laugh, the need to stay quiet, the sheer heat between you.

He kissed down your neck, his touches light but urgent. You fought to keep your breathing steady, but he made it impossible.

“Oh my god Luigi..”

“Shhh I know baby but keep quiet.”

He gently gets on top of you, paying attention to every movement he makes, not wanting to make any noise. But the bed creaks too much, so you get down on the floor.

"No risk here," Luigi assures you.

He penetrates you, a grunt that he tries to hold back as best he can emerges from his mouth. When a slightly too loud moan comes from your mouth, he places his hand on your lips.

"You give me no choice, you don't obey."

What he doesn't know is that in this position it's even worse, the excitement is at its peak.

His hand stays pressed against your lips, firm but not harsh, his touch both commanding and careful. His other hand finds your hip, steadying you as he moves deeper, slower now, savoring every second. The floor beneath you is cold against your skin, a sharp contrast to the heat building between your bodies.

Luigi leans in, his breath hot against your ear.

"You'll have to be quiet for me," he whispers, voice low and rough with desire. "Think you can do that?"

You nod, though the effort it takes to hold back another moan is almost unbearable. Every slow, deliberate thrust seems designed to test your limits, your body trembling under his control. He chuckles softly, a sound that rumbles through his chest.

"Good," he murmurs, kissing the side of your neck where your pulse races. "Just like that... be good for me."

The forbidden thrill of being caught lingers in the air, making every touch, every movement feel electric. Luigi’s pace quickens just slightly, each push and pull drawing you closer to the edge, the tension between you wound tight, ready to snap.

When it was finally over, Luigi collapsed next to you, both of you breathing hard but silently, staring at the ceiling in the darkness.

"Well," he whispered, "if your mom didn’t hate me before, she definitely will when she finds me in here tomorrow."

You snorted, trying to muffle your laugh into his chest.

"Maybe I’ll tell her you were scared of sleeping alone," you whispered back.

"Or we blame the little brothers. Easy targets," he said.

You got back to the bed. You cuddled closer, grinning, as he wrapped his arms around you protectively.

And just like that, you both drifted off to sleep.

You blink your eyes open, sunlight spilling through your curtains. It takes a few seconds for everything to click into place. You bolt upright, accidentally waking Luigi in the process. He groans sleepily and tightens his arm around your hips, as if asking you to stay just a little longer.

"Luigi, we overslept!" you whisper urgently.

It takes him a moment to process, but when he does, he jolts up too. He scrambles to pull his clothes on and sneaks back toward the living room. Peeking around the corner, he’s relieved to see the house still quiet — no one’s up yet. He quickly collapses onto the couch, pretending he’s been there all along.

One by one, the rest of the house wakes up. You and Luigi play it cool, greeting each other like nothing happened.

"Sleep well?"

"Yeah, really really good," Luigi says, winking at you, smiling easily

No one seems suspicious. You exchange small, knowing glances across the room, like two partners in crime.

But just when you think you’re in the clear, your brother squints at you from across the table.

"Why are you wearing the t-shirt Luigi had on yesterday?"

Tag list : @contrarianshitstan-blog @bean-is-reading @iinfinitelimits

[anselbun]

Reverse age robins AU is so interesting to me, especially when you think about damian. I mostly see people talk about dick and Jason and how different their lives would be, but not really about damian.

Like, think about it. He’s still born of a messy relationship between Bruce and talia- but Bruce would have been so much younger then, after his first run in with the loa when he was trained by them when he was still just a teenager. Him being led to believe that talia lost the baby, and that’s part of the reason he eventually returns home alone and takes on the role of Batman. Not only has he lost his parents and gone through all of his struggles so far in life, he also has the knowledge that he could have had a son, who died before he could ever be born. He becomes Batman, he works hard to protect people but stays in that dark state he was in before he found hope in a robin.

And then one day- damian. Maybe much younger than he actually was in the comics when he is first given to Bruce. Bruce is hurt and lost not understanding why talia kept damian from him, and has to contend with the understanding that damian was raised in such a painful way, and that Damian’s views of the world are so skewed. But he doesn’t have the experience as a parent to help him. He doesn’t have dick Grayson to raise his son for a year and understand exactly what that child needs to be able to grow and change. He doesn’t even know that he IS missing that. He just knows he has this six year old with a body count higher than Bruce can even fathom and a skewed, painful view of life and death. But this kid is still a kid. Bruce’s kid. And he loves him and wants to be his father.

I don’t know where the name Robin would come from in this world if not from dicks mother, but let’s say it happens anyways and damian becomes robin. It won’t be the same robin that dick was- sure, he’s a child. He’s fast and taunting and draws the attention of the enemies, but damian isn’t immediately the same sign of hope that dick would have been. He becomes more like an extension of batman, if not a piece of the man’s shadow.

And then maybe he grows up and, just just as dick did, starts to see the flaws in Bruce as a parent. Struggles with the pressure of leading his own team of teen hero’s, the pressure of being Batman’s son, and he just. Needs to get away from that for a while. Needs to leave and find out who he actually wants to be. He loves Bruce, he loves Alfred. They’re both his dads in some way, but he knows he’s not the same as them. Does he want to be like them? Does he want to be like his mother and grandfather? Does he want to be something else entirely? He has no idea.

And In this case, where would tim come from? Would young tim have been as interested in robin if he wasn’t the same bright brilliant hopeful figure that was dick and Jason? Would he still feel the need to seek them out if there was no second dead Robin? This is something I truly want to just think about and explore forever because this family would be so different in the opposite way. If Jason was the third, would he still have died? Would damian willingly give the Robin mantle over to Tim after he left? Would a different robin have died in Jason’s place? It’s so interesting and there’s so many ways one could go with it. But just. Damian. How different his life as Bruce Wayne’s child would be if he didn’t have the big brothers who helped raise him into who he is.

[inkyrainstorms]

Part 3 I guess? Ford vs the world to get his bro back

They sat out in the porch, the two of them.

Stanley seemed different from the last time Ford saw him. His grungy mullet had been cut, his hair was a similar length to Ford’s, he even wore glasses even if they were obvious modified by the look of them.

Ford wanted to ask where Stan has been, what his life was like out there. He spent all these years waiting, working to get his brother back, and now, his brother was finally here.

But the distance that remained between them, no portal separating them this time.

Stanley to seem to hold himself, at a distance.He had gotten good at science, probably just as good as Ford. Ford tried to not to let that sting.

Of course his brother was as smart as he was, he always was. He just didn’t apply himself.

And now he was. It was as simple as that.

Of course Stan wasn’t going to be the same person Ford knew years ago. He…he knew that.

So why did Ford clench his teeth at, Stan’s continuous comments about going back on his own once the summer ended. Gravity Falls was just a pit stop for him. No heartfelt brotherly reunion, no closure, just back on the road again!

Ford tried to argue with Stan, the man hadn’t been on Earth for 30 YEARS, things have changed from when Stan fell into the portal, at the very least Stan needed to stay with him for more than a couple weeks to (so Ford could have a plan to long term win Stan over, he has his brother back he can’t mess this up he can’t it’s been decades he needs to convince his brother to stay to stay with him please Stanley—-) get rehabilitated to this dimension.

Stanley seemed to have bonded with Mabel, the two being able to break the ice easier, than Stan had with Dipper. Dipper was still cautious, with Ford’s brother even with the explanation.

Ford would be lying if he didn’t say he felt insecure around his brother. His whole life he was known as the smart one, the one to be able to… but as much as he screwed that up, he’s trying to make up for his greatest mistake. So why is he still feeling bitter about Stanley showing him up?

Stanley knows how more advanced technology works, can talk about everything in the different dimensions he’s been in, awe’ing his grandniblings, his adoptive spawn (shifty) and his found family alike.

It was getting under Ford’s skin.

Because what use is a man who almost sold out the world? The man who for all the PHD he has, is afraid his brother won’t need him anymore if he isn’t the smart one. His brother never needed him, and was always better off without the Six Fingered freak.

Without him, Stan wouldn’t have ended up with so many bruises and injuries alike in their childhood.

Without him, maybe Stan would graduated and succeeded like Ford knew he always had in him.

Without him, maybe that day Stan showed up on Ford’s doorstep, he would have looked less down on his luck.

Without him, Stan would have been on earth for 30 years instead scraping by, trying to survive from dimension to dimension, with a triangle from Ford’s own faults hunting Stan down.

He….

Ford’s hands shook. No, he couldn’t go down that road. He promised he wouldn’t, ever since he was sent to an asylum.

He had to just try convince Stan harder.

He needs to succeed in this. He can’t lose his brother again.

hey. anon. i am putting my hand on your shoulder and looking you in the eyes.

ow.

the fucking role reversal here is driving me nuts— Ford wants nothing more than for his brother to stay at the end of the summer!! Stan doesn’t fucking get that, and what i wouldn’t give to be able to see the inside of his brain— how this all appear to him? Ford spent thirty years bringing Stanley back, but Stanley fully believed Ford left him for dead. Probably was told that too. but it wasn’t true, and Stanley has to understand that. is this resentment? some odd stomach churning guilt? (your twins spent thirty years bringing you back. he could have made a life for himself)

Ford feeling insecure is so :( this poor man. the parallels are paralleling

[creeperman247]

alright, so, we all know that the ending to the whole phyrexian arc was really disappointing, but honestly one of my biggest gripes is what they did with urabrask.

the phyrexian praetors were twists on the stereotypical color roles; elesh norn turned white's order into tyranny, vorinclex turned green's nature into a "perfected" nature, jin-gitaxias turned blue's desire for progress into a desire for progress at any cost, etc. urabrask took reds emotion, most commonly anger, and turned it into emotion, most commonly compassion, which is a super interesting direction to take it. he shut off weapon creation from the rest of the phyrexians, he sheltered the mirrodin rebels, he even went as far as to think that compleation should be a consensual process, that if it truly was perfect, everyone would become willingly compleated eventually, and that the other praetors forcing compleation upon people was a sign they didn't really believe in it. he shows that, unlike what basically everything else would lead you to believe, the phyrexians are not inherently evil. (it is also important to note that despite what wotc seemingly really wants you to think, compleation isn't "a fate worse than death," at least not when consensual, it is shown that compleated people maintain their original personalities and memories.)

so, what did they do with this incredibly unique character (who is my favorite character in the entire lore honestly)? they had him lead a revolt that went nowhere and got him killed, doing nothing in the process. what a massive waste.

so, here's my idea on how the ending should have gone: urabrask leads the revolt but is outnumbered and overpowered. however, instead of being killed, he escapes and flees the plane through the planar gate (perhaps with the help of one of the compleated red planeswalkers.) he ends up hiding and/or on the run for a while, and then the whole "phyrexians invade every plane" thing happens. a bunch of planeswalkers kill elesh norn like in the current story, but this time elesh norn isn't stupid and the phyrexians don't shut down just because she's dead. however, her dying gives the rest of the planes hope that this is a winnable battle, and they begin to push back. this then gives urabrask and the red phyrexians the space to begin fighting alongside the planes to defeat the rest of the phyrexians, and, once the rest of the phyrexians are defeated (obviously over the course of multiple sets with more cinematic battles and such, instead of cramming it all into 1 set) urabrask takes over as the new leader, and ushers the phyrexians into a new age of kindness where they aren't the villains for once. urabrask educates the compleated planeswalkers about compassion and such and undoes the teachings of elesh norn (which really wouldn't be that hard honestly? the planeswalkers don't really have a reason to not believe him, especially more naturally compassionate ones like tamiyo, and even meaner ones would probably listen better once the first few do). if for some reason, people really think important characters like jace being compleated (and otherwise exactly the same) is a bad thing for the story, then there can be come character arcs where some of the planeswalkers realize that they don't actually like being compleated and some people come up with some way to reverse the compleation process, probably with the help of urabrask himself due to the whole consensual compleation ideology. plus, this new story allows for all sorts of followups: instead of the phyrexians just being gone with no chance of coming back because the oil no longer works, you can have the red phyrexians exist as denizens of mirrodin, living alongside the natives, and even as allies in other story things, like having them help fight against emrakul or something. and because the oil still works, there will be leftovers of the other phyrexian factions all over the place, so you could have them reappear occasionally as both major or minor villains.

and of course, make sure to give a few sets that go over the consequences of the multiverse-wide invasion instead of just glossing over them.

[acesw]

Knowing our Arcanists 6: Bkornblume

Welcome to entry six of my series: "Knowing our Arcanists"! This is a series in which I introduce and tell the stories of our fellow characters in Reverse: 1999. Today's character is: Bkornblume!

Bkorn's got a funny nickname, since its just a mash-up of blue and kornblume. (cornflower) However, she's got quite the short yet nice story, so I'll at the very least make it worth. Lets get started.

Bkornblume is a German arcanist born in the 1980's, born on February 9th. While I have no direct understanding of her arcane skill, I can at distinct that her skill involves sound, and is able to hear smaller sounds (like whispers) that are usually left unheard in the bigger melody.

She's a spy who works under the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit, known in English as the Minister of Security, or more commonly known as the "Stasi." They were the state security and secret police of East Germany, who placed eyes everywhere in the former state.

East Germany has been known for its oppressive rule and its insistence for uniformity. The Stasi were meant to maintain state authority at the time but it was notoriously known as being one of the most oppressive police states, overlooking the lives of the state's civilians with intense surveillance, torture, and intimidation.

Most will conform, some will not. Of course, Bkornblume was not one of the people who wanted to immerse in her part of the role in this era. She's merely a listener who does her job as one.

Bkornblume grew up in Berlin, becoming part of the Stasi and is well-known for her arcane skill. She doesn't enjoy this job very much, but she also does to some degree as she's a good listener. She'll leave a bit of unheard commentary about everything she'll hear.

Her daily life tends to be just her listening and transcribing, but it can be said that she enjoys distracting herself and tends to delay her travels to work to take in the scenery. She's also spied on too. But she feels that she would be more uncomfortable if there weren't any eyes on her.

At one point, she had purchased her scarf (and the elk brooch that came with it) in a shop that was closing down. While not remembering the price, it costed a month's salary "and a funny joke which was rarely heard in East Berlin."

Bkornblume is a conformed and optimistic individual. However, she holds a quiet rebellion in her heart, dreaming of a world where everyone can practice freedom of speech. But with a colourful dream far away because of the dull walls around her, she'll only ever do the little things that she could do in her job. Calling for help, making that commentary, but especially endlessly writing. Even then, she's aware that she can't change everything in one go, so she'll try step by step as she speaks out for others.

It can't be denied that Bkornblume spent most of her time "alone," but she enjoys having those eyes on her. She would have wondered if she were dead if not. Like I said earlier, she's greatly optimistic in everything she does, and even believes that she's some sort of "undiscovered radio host." She wishes to become one in the future to comfort others in late nights. Bkornblume hopes that she's at the very least observed and acknowledged.

She's also a greatly mundane and relaxed person, enjoying the simplicity of life and even interacting with simple "contraband" that never really seems to be harmful, like flowers.

Bkornblume finds admiration in the pieces of wildlife that bloomed from old cracks, identifying them time to time such as cornflowers and chrysanthemums. She'll always find some in the most niche places and will share where to find them.

The cornflowers—kornblume in German—are why she took up her current nickname, as she had wanted to distinguish herself from the "countless other unfeeling names" like SCH KA/#.

She empathizes with others greatly and wishes to help them directly, but she can never cross the monitor to take action now can she? She'll shift around the stories of other people in her reports, and no beneficiary ever thinks twice about it as her reports are detailed and easily convincing. Her kindness reaches quite far despite her ways of wanting to express it being a little unethical.

She'll hear anything and everything meant to be hidden away, but hopes for a free world and will choose to grant peace and freedom to the innocent and defiant against such oppressive control.

[coraniaid]

reverse unpopular opinion meme: xander?

[Reverse unpopular opinion meme]

I like to consider my opinion of Xander Harris as being particularly complicated and nuanced, but – engaging in some critical self-reflection for just a moment – I think the objective truth is probably more that I’m just instinctively and aggressively contrarian about it.  I find that I tend to strongly disagree with most of the online takes about Xander I see, almost regardless of whether they’re pro or anti.  

I mean, on the one hand I do think it’s more than a bit silly to pretend, as many people seem to do, that Xander Harris is [somehow?] uniquely and only a Joss Whedon self insert [despite being written by multiple people] in a way that none of the other characters [that Whedon also created and that appear in the show Whedon created] apparently are. Or to ignore the fact that very often the audience is clearly meant to think that Xander is in the wrong and disapprove of his actions.  (You obviously aren’t supposed to be cheering for him when he lies to Buffy about Willow’s message about Angel in Becoming, for an easy example; or to be clapping and applauding him when he cheats on Cordelia or leaves Anya at the altar either.) And I think it would be wrong to dismiss the fact that Xander starts the show as a dumb but (mostly) harmless teenager and that, not only does he gradually mature and improve as a person as he grows up, he also [perhaps uniquely for this show?] manages to do so without killing even one person.    

But equally I would be lying if I didn’t admit that many of my least favorite episodes of the show are either Xander-centric episodes (Teacher’s Pet, The Pack, Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered for example) or episodes in which Xander plays a non-trivial role in exactly the parts of the episodes I most dislike (his treatment of Buffy in Dead Man’s Party, say, or his speech in support of Riley in Into The Woods).  The haters are right to say that Xander does often treat his female friends and partners abysmally, often in ways that the show doesn’t seem to acknowledge or which it briefly acknowledges only to brush them off with no consequences.  There certainly are times when the writers expect the audience to cheer for Xander a lot more than I personally want to, or when he says something gross and sexist which is just meant to be funny and that the writers simply didn’t think critically about at all.  And the flipside of Xander being written by a range of different writers is that his character growth is often slow, halting or inconsistent (which, while arguably realistic, is not particularly fun to experience).  And unlike some of the fandom I don’t really believe anything Xander does can be handwaved away by him being deeply affected by what happened to his “best friend” Jesse in Season 1’s The Harvest: in fact I would put money on a majority of the show’s writers having no idea who Jesse was.

Anyway, none of that preamble is really in the spirit of the ask game, is it?

Um.  Five things I like about Xander, then.  No hedging or clarification except for what I heavily imply above (oh, and also the comics aren’t canon and don’t mean anything and actually don’t even exist … I mean, uh, what comics are we even talking about?).

I think the show resolves the initial Season 1 “love triangle” (in which Xander is really into Buffy and she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings or even seem to notice them, while similarly Willow is really into Xander and he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings or even seem to notice them) in about the best way it possibly could have done.  Buffy and Xander don’t ever get together and there’s never really any suggestion that they might – one or two odd moments in Season 2 aside, I guess? – and Willow musters the self-respect required to firmly reject Xander when he tries to ask her to the dance that Buffy had just turned him down for in Prophecy Girl.  Not only that, but Willow goes on to have a serious relationship with a guy who isn’t Xander and then comes out as a lesbian and continues to have serious relationships with woman who aren’t Xander, right up to the end of the final season.  And this happens all while the three of them stay very close friends; in fact Buffy and Xander at least are clearly better friends in the second half of the season than they were at the beginning of the show [when, after all, Xander had only just met her].  Whether or not that was planned from the beginning – and to be honest, I think the Buffy fandom as a whole wildly overestimates how much of the show was planned from the beginning – I think that’s a pretty unambiguously great way for that particular subplot to have be handled.   (Although the funniest and most geometrically pleasing resolution of the Season 1 love triangle would, of course, have been for Buffy and Willow to end up together.)

Speaking of Buffy and Willow, for all his faults Xander is consistently written as somebody who cares about his friends and wants them to be safe and happy.  As well as the obvious big moments – helping to save Buffy’s life in Prophecy Girl; his speech assuring Buffy that she’s his hero in The Freshman; repeatedly assuring Willow in Grave that he’ll always love her, even if she ends up killing him or destroying the world; that moment in Season 7 where Buffy sends him away to look after Dawn because she “needs somebody [she] can count on” – I think it’s fun when we get to see the three of them just hang out, in those quiet little moments they get to just all be kids together.  I am very firmly in the camp that thinks Buffy should have friends and be allowed to not be treated for an idiot for liking said friends or wanting to spend time with them.  Whatever else you can say about it, I think it’s obvious that this is how the show’s writers expect you to engage with the show.   That’s part of why I’m more forgiving than some people of episodes like I Robot, You Jane or Bad Eggs or Amends: these are all episodes in which I can believe that Xander is fundamentally a good kid who Buffy would want to be friends with, and that he’d grow up to be somebody she’d still want to be friends with as an adult.    

Some people online – mostly not on Tumblr – talk a lot of rot about Xander getting self-defense training or somehow reconnecting with the military persona he had in Halloween or otherwise Learning How To Fight, and I can’t overstate how glad I am that the show didn’t go in this direction.  Xander makes sense as a character precisely because he isn’t a fighter.  Because he doesn’t occupy that more stereotypically masculine role: because he is the one who gets rescued and brings in baked goods and that the other, more powerful but emotionally repressed characters can go to to talk about their feelings.  Because he is the person who, by the end of the show, can best reassure Dawn that she doesn’t need to be a Potential Slayer or have superpowers to be special.  This idea that Xander complains too much during the show about not having special powers and that the “solution” to “fix” this is to have him go out and get some (as opposed to this being a deliberate character arc in which Xander learns to accept that he’s never going to be that sort of person) is not one I have a lot of sympathy for.  The show already has a human male character who is trained as a fighter so he can go on patrol with Buffy: he’s called Riley Finn and he’s insufferable. 

Although the fandom as a whole loves to massively oversell how “abusive” the Scoobies respective parents are, I do think that Xander’s home life is a key part of understanding who Xander specifically is as a person.  And – again, however deliberately planned from the beginning or not it was – there’s something nicely disturbing about how we never get a big dramatic reveal about how awful Xander’s parents are: it’s just something that the writers just slowly build up to – from the idea in Season 1 that Xander doesn’t regularly eat cooked meals at home (“do your parents even own a stove?”), to Xander joking about his dad trying to “send [him] to some Armenians once” early in Season 2, or calling home to say he’s going to be out all night and having his mother clearly not recognize his voice, through to Cordelia revealing in Season 3 that he admitted to her that sleeps outside during Christmas to avoid his parents drunken fights  – until by Restless we can see Xander having nightmares about being trapped in his parents basement and having his father come down the stairs and we don’t need to have anything more than that explained to us.  I think that’s all really effectively done, and while I don’t think it excuses te way Xander behaves I do think it does a lot to make sense of it.

Again, while I think it’s possible to drastically overstate the Mind/Spirit/Heart metaphorical reading – I don’t think this is something the writers were consciously thinking about most of the time and I don’t think the reading of the show in which everyone is reduced to a part of Buffy’s own psyche is even particularly interesting except perhaps as an intellectual exercise – I do think it’s a reading that works pretty well for Xander. (Actually of the three elements, that’s surely the one that’s easiest to see: I’ve never been completely sure why Willow is the Spirit rather than the Mind.)  Yeah, Xander can often be petty and jealous and selfish and hypocritical and refuse to analyze his own feelings: that doesn’t rule him out from being Buffy’s metaphorical heart, it’s evidence that he is.  Buffy can be all of those things too!  (I think I am rather more fond of Buffy herself than you are – she is my favorite character on the show, after all – but I don’t like Buffy because she’s flawless and perfect; I like her because she’s interesting and realistically flawed, and very often flawed in the same ways as her friends.)

[ladykailitha]

Never Hold Back Your Step... Part 16

Here we are at the end of an era. I can't believe it's over. Even when engagement dropped off, and it lost it's luster, I persevered and got it done. I sad it's over, but grateful too, you know? I don't have to worry about fitting it into canon or make Nancy play nice.

I do plan on finishing the story. I'm just juggling other stories at the moment. I have four current WIPs and they take priority right now.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

~

“Sing it.”

Dustin’s eyes went wide and looked around him, looking for support.

“Sorry, man,” Eddie said, “I’m with her. You haven’t spoken to her in a week and now you’re only calling when you have a problem. Suck it up and sing the god damned song.”

Steve hid his grin behind his hand, so Dustin sighed and started singing the theme song to The Neverending Story. It was a lovely duet.

Or at least it would have been had Eddie not been singing back up, terribly, horribly, and deliberately off key.

Steve was a little surprised at how well the little twerp could sing, if he was honest. Hell, if the kid wasn’t so wrapped up in the nerd stuff, he probably could do it professional.

Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and he stumbled that direction. He started pawing at Eddie’s jacket.

Eddie turned around to ask him what was wrong, but he saw it too.

“Shit.”

Everyone else turned too.

“Shit,” Dustin echoed. He grabbed the walkie talkie and tried to get their friends on the line.

“SKEEERAAAHHH!” was all he got back in response.

“You and Erica stay here,” Steve snapped. “You two still need to get Hopper and them through to the base. Eddie, Robin, you can come with me or stay here, but we’ve gotta go now.”

Robin and Eddie immediately fell in line behind him.

“Sorry, Eds,” Steve said, “I’ve got to drive. It’s only way I can–”

Eddie nodded. He knew that in that moment it wasn’t about concussions or being beat to hell. It was about getting the people who needed him. He slapped the keys in Steve’s hand and slid in the back of the car.

Robin hopped in the front seat and Steve got into driver’s seat.

“Seat belts, everyone,” he said through gritted teeth. “This going to be a bumpy ride.”

He threw back in reverse and hightailed it out of there.

~

CRUNCH!

Steve stared ahead at the now flattened Camero in shock. He couldn’t believe he had just done that.

“Everyone okay?”

Robin looked at him with wide eyes. “Ask me tomorrow?”

“No, no, I am absolutely not,” Eddie hissed. “But better fucking Hargrove than me.”

They all scrambled to get out of the car.

“So what’s this one called?” Eddie asked looking up at the giant flesh monster.

“Dustin and them call it Mind Flayer,” Steve replied.

“So we’re going to try and kill this thing?” Robin asked, looking at Steve in concern.

Steve nodded and then started heading for their friends. “Before it kills El, yeah.”

“Let’s do this shit,” Eddie said, hurrying to catch up, Robin hot on his heels.

~

Well that could have gone worse.

Hopper dead. Billy dead. Mind Flayer, also dead. El lost her powers. Also bad. Steve definitely had a concussion and a broken cheek bone. That was going to be a bitch to heal, there was no doubt about that.

A couple of weeks later, Erica called up Dustin, Robin, Steve, and Eddie.

“Who’s up for a Scoops Troupe My Little Pony GURPS?” she asked when they had all shown up at her house.

They all stared at her for a moment like she was crazy.

Then Eddie’s eyes went wide. “Ooh, wait, I’ve heard of this. It’s like D&D but is get six sided dice and a point system.”

“Sounds like fun to me,” Robin said. “I don’t know what either of those things are, but taking my mind off the monsters sounds brilliant right about now.”

“It stands for generic universal role play system,” Erica said, proudly. “One of my friends was out visiting family over the Fourth of July and got to go to the convention. I’ve been doing some research and I can totally make it My Little Pony themed.”

She scuffed the ground with her shoe. “But before I played it with my friends I wanted to try it out first, you know? Work out the kinks?”

Steve was all ready to say no until she brought up her friends.

“Yeah, all right,” he huffed. “I’m in, too.”

Erica jumped up and down, clapping her hands excitedly.

~

They all met up at Steve’s.

Steve provided the treats and sodas and Erica provided the story telling.

Robin mostly fooled around and Dustin didn’t take it very seriously. He got into character and all, but he was very silly with it. Making inside jokes from the show and just trying to make Erica laugh.

Steve just held on for dear life and whenever he got too overwhelmed by it all he would refresh the drinks and goodies.

Eddie, though? He got really into it with his pony called Metal Fire, he was asking all kinds of questions and Erica was eating it all up. Sometimes he would ask a question and she would just laugh. Because there wasn’t an answer yet.

But between the two of them they made it all the way to the big bad, Lady Applejack. Dustin threw down his pencil when she was revealed to be behind it all along as he had been saying for the last four hours not to trust her.

Erica sat back giggling and just unable to stop. It was late at night so Steve called Dustin and Erica’s moms to see if they could spend the night. Claudia was fine, but Sue had to be convinced. It didn’t take much, just a nice conversation with Robin that she would keep an eye on her.

That night when Eddie and Dustin were cuddled together on Steve’s bed, Eddie asked him if he had fun.

Steve thought about it for a moment. “It was a bit overwhelming,” he admitted. “I couldn’t imagine playing D&D if it’s harder.”

Dustin scoffed, but Eddie smacked the back of his head. “Hey, you and I have been playing these kinds of games for a long time and he hasn’t. Cut him some slack.”

Which after some major grumbling, Dustin did.

After they were sure he was asleep, Eddie murmured, “It’s okay if you didn’t enjoy it, Stevie. It’s not for everybody and that’s okay. Just like sports aren’t for everyone.”

Steve huffed out a breath of laughter and then settled into drift off to sleep, surrounded by two of his dearest people.

And later, he would admit that he did have fun. But mostly because it was one die instead of multiple dice and was really simple.

He knew from dating Eddie and being best friends with Dustin that D&D was not that.

~

The summer passed slower after that. The days seemed to last longer and time drifted like a leaf down a gently flowing stream.

There were pool parties and barbecues and just learning to laugh again. El was even more withdrawn now that Hopper was gone. Joyce had taken her in and Steve knew money was getting tight for them, now that she had three kids to feed.

Eddie was getting more anxious as the summer wore on. He was told by the new principal that he had to graduate this year or he would be forced to drop out and take the GED.

Steve knew it was going to be a rough year for him and really wanted to support him. But didn’t know how.

He barely passed himself with Nancy’s help. But between him and Wayne they were going to try their hardest to make sure Eddie got at least a passing grade in every one of his classes.

The first day of school finally arrived and Steve found himself with a new best friend. Or like she called it platonic soulmate.

Even Eddie found it amusing and a little freaky how in sync they were. All the time.

Steve showed up at her house and honked the horn. She came running outside, carrying her trumpet and backpack, as gangly as newborn giraffe.

“Dingus!” she cried happily. “You didn’t have to pick me. I could have taken my bike.”

Steve shook his head. “Nah. I wanted to check up on the squirts and figured this was the best way to do it covertly. Like a ninja!”

Robin swatted at him playfully. “Using me to look at after your children. Disgusting!”

Steve laughed as he reversed the car and started toward the school. “Come on, you love me!”

She paused to think about it. Steve swatted her arm playfully and she burst out laughing. “Yeah, yeah. Of course I love you. Just don’t tell your boyfriend.”

“He knows and is surprisingly chill about it,” he said with a grin and a half shrug. “I think he thinks that as long as we’re together it’s easier for him to find me.”

“That is surprisingly chill,” Robin said. “And unhinged, but okay.”

Steve pulled into the parking lot and let her out. She pointed over to the front of the school. “See? Your children are fine.”

He looked over at the front doors to see all but Erica of his children. El and Max were listening to Max’s new Walkman. Probably that new Kate Bush tape Nancy gave her to help her sleep. The Party were harassing Eddie about Hellfire.

He could tell it was about D&D because Eddie was waving his arms excitedly and they were all listening to him with rapt attention. All four of them. Which meant D&D.

“Yeah, okay,” he said with a small smile. “I’ll see you after school?”

Robin smiled at him fondly. “Yeah, dingus. I’ll see you after school.”

~

Eddie held on to him like a leech. It was the one Saturday they had together and probably would for a long time.

“No...” he whined. “You can’t go. You need to stay here and snuggle with me. You promised.”

Steve sighed. He had promised, but Robin called a little bit ago saying that she had an in at the local video store and they should go.

“I’ll tell you what,” Steve murmured. “Let me go call her back, tell her to grab a couple of applications for us to fill out tomorrow and go. Then I’ll come back here and snuggle with all day. As promised.”

Eddie looked up at him skeptically. “You sure?”

Steve rolled over and grabbed the phone next to his bed. He dialed Robin’s number. “Is Robin there?”

Once he got her on the phone he told her the plan and though she grumbled a little bit she ultimately agreed.

Steve hung up literally minutes later.

“See?”

“You’re a regular hero, aren’t you?” Eddie said, rubbing his nose along Steve’s throat. “You never faltered, never held back your step for a moment. Not when you were needed. I never really thought about it, but I think you’re my hero.”

Steve blushed. “I’m really not. I don’t have superpowers. I’m not trained in several martial arts. I’m not smart or even brave really.”

Eddie rolled over on top of Steve to look him square in the eye. “You care a lot and if I’ve learned anything in this world, that is greatest superpower there ever was, sweetheart.”

Steve looked up at him in awe.

“You really believe that?”

Eddie kissed him deeply and then collapsed on Steve with a huff and a grunt. He wrapped his arms around him and buried his head into the crook of Steve’s neck.

He vowed then in there, he would keep the keeper. He couldn’t be brave all the time. What happened was frightening as hell. But he had Steve with him every step of the way. He would protect this beautiful boy. This knight of his heart.

“I love you, Stevie.”

Steve kissed the top of his head. “I love you, too, sunshine.”

~

Tag List: COMPLETED

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @blondie1006

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

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7- @mugloversonly @y4r3luv @greeniebean911 @birbsauce @acingthecounts

8- @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars @ravenfrog @dreamercec @sadisticaltarts

9- @clockworkballerina @bluelightsinthevoid @blcksh33p1987 @i-go-pink-in-the-night @mamafaithful

10- @w1ll0wtr33 @samsoble @urkadop

[woradat]

HC on Throne and fall

NOTE - this will roughly summarize the relationship between reader and the main characters who play a major role in the story (will add more)

Proteus

That wretched name you so love to loathe

Yes, the Senate is a veritable parade of imbeciles draped in protocol—but Proteus, regrettably, is not among them. He is one of the rare few with teeth behind the smile, substance behind the speech. He arrived late, but how effortlessly he outshone the veterans. And now, you’re left wondering whether the contempt you feel stems from the humiliation of being outmaneuvered—or from the grudging admiration for a plan executed with such exquisite cruelty. That infuriatingly handsome, silver-tongued bot has whittled away your power with grace and precision, pulling you into his web, convinced that your voice can be bought

And it can

If you decide to sell

Every one of his smiles is a velvet-wrapped dagger whispering “I’m superior” and you smile right back "try me"—why wouldn’t you? He’s a charming fraud, a quick study, almost too adept for his own good. Had he not drawn first blood, you might’ve called him a worthy ally but this is the Senate we are talking about, not some tragic morality play penned for the weak of will

The irony? You would’ve done the same, had the roles been reversed

You despise being underestimated

And yet.. It’s proven advantageous

Dangerously so

Half the Senate now sings in Proteus’ choir— including you, for the moment. But tides turn, and yours is already rising.

You’ve obtained the decisive piece. The one move that will flip the board, tip the king, and redraw the game. It comes with risk, of course

(I thought it would be funny. The picture shows the overall relationship)

and if both senator have they own pawn.. Proteus got Sentinel, Shockwave have Orion Pax, then you have–

Megatron

Miner, fighter, poet, dreamer – a walking contradiction dressed in grime and fury. He’s dangerous in that maddening, electric way that makes your very circuits want to twist with anticipation. You’ve written him a part in your grand production, and now it’s your job to mold him into an actor worthy of the role. He lacks polish, control, even education—his innocence borders on poetic but that only makes him more tempting to shape

To steer

To direct

You’ve given him lines to speak, actions to perform. But deep down, you know—you’d be bored if he followed your script too well

Someone like him will never trust someone like you and that, deliciously, is what makes the fruit of your deception all the sweeter

Because he will think

He will doubt

He will grow

But not fast enough to see past you

And you must ensure he never turns the game on you once the curtains fall. That is non-negotiable. You will not allow it and should your little performance collapse in ruins, you hope the grave you dig for yourself will be a masterpiece—an elegant tombstone with your name etched in graceful script

…And then there’s

Shockwave

The ever-serene, ever-sterile paragon of logic. Perhaps the highest among you all—yes, including you. He speaks not to persuade, but to proclaim, and does so with such unflinching candor one might believe he has no idea how the game is played – too pristine, untainted to sit among serpents like you and Proteus and yet, that's precisely where your silent, inconvenient admiration begins

You mock him, of course—one must

But woven in your barbs is a thread of sincerity even he likely detects but never acknowledges

He should be in a cathedral. A laboratory. Anywhere but here, in this vulgar arena of power and duplicity

You know a little secret about him—a delicate, dangerous truth about that academy he claims was founded in memory of a dead mentor. A refuge for the rejected, the “outilers” the ones deemed unfit for the Functionist ideal

He knows you know and yet, you’ve never wielded it, never bartered, never threatened. Not yet

You, of all bots, who plans every step like a chessmaster with bloodied hands…

still hesitate

Not out of mercy

But out of uncertainty

And that is unusual. Disturbingly so

you hate that — Immensely

[celticcrossanon]

BRF Reading - 15th of May, 2024

This is speculation only

Cards drawn on the 15th of May, 2024

Question: Are Meghan and Harry actively trying to kill The King?

As I was shuffling the cards for this reading, two cards flew out. I was going to draw one card for Meghan, one for Harry, and one for them as a couple, plus the underlying energy, but those two cards told me everything I needed to know.

This is a two card reading

Warning: This reading contains some of the ugliest energy I have ever encountered in all my years of tarot reading. Please prepare yourself before you read it and do not read it if you are feeling at all upset/despondent/shaky/insecure etc. You need to be protected by God/Jesus/the angels/the universe/whomever you call upon to protect you before you read this reading.

Answer: Yes

Card One: The Three of Swords

This is the card that flew out of my deck as I was shuffling. One look and I had my answer.

The Three of Swords is a card of grief, heartbreak, despair. It shows King Agamemnon being killed in his bath by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover.

Clytemnestra brooded over past injuries done to her by the King until she decided to kill him. In this card she represents Harry, with his belief that the BRF has ''victimised' him (e.g. by taking away his military honours).

Her lover, Aegisthus, believed his family has been betrayed by the father of Agamemnon and had been conceived to take revenge on the family. He represents Meghan, with her belief that the BRF has hurt her (eg no one asked me if I was Ok, no one cared about my mental health, they are racist and all her other lies) and her desire for vengeance on them.

The picture shows the death of the rightful King by Clytemnestra and her lover. I am taking this as the death of The King at the hands of Harry and Meghan, in answer to my question. Harry and Meghan want to kill The King. They want to inflict the grief and heartbreak and despair of his death on the BRF.

Card Two: The Eight of Swords in reverse

The energy of this card is of stress. The reverse position has intensified the upright energy (as it sometimes does) instead of reversing the meaning of it. It also adds a delayed time element to the energy.

Harry and Meghan want to use stress to kill The King. They wants him to feel trapped, hemmed in, unable to move or escape, especially mentally. This card can represent someone who is trapped/paralysed by their thoughts and who feels helpless, and that is the energy of the card - what Meghan and Harry want to invoke in The King.

There is a very strong relentless energy to this card - Meghan and Harry will not give up until The King either a) abdicates in their favour (yes, I know that is not possible, but we are dealing with two delusional people here) or b) drops dead from stress - stroke, heart attack, cancer, they do not care.

There is a vicious energy to this card that lashes out repeatedly until the desired object is achieved - an energy I can only describe as stabbing, over and over again, until the person is dead. There is a chant going through my mind of 'stab stab stab kill kill kill' as I type this. The 'stabs' are emotional and stress wounds.

These two cards tell me that Meghan and Harry have planned to kill The King and they will not stop until it is accomplished - and then they will turn their attention to Prince William.

This is truly ugly energy - vicious, self-centred, and laser focused on their desires with no thought of anyone else.

Because it is so ugly I asked for a third card as confirmation, just to make sure I am on the right track about this, as it is a horrible thing to say about anyone.

Confirmation Card: King of Cups in reverse

The King of Cups is the card for Scorpio, and as such it represents King Charles, who is a sun sign Scorpio. In the reverse, it shows King Charles in decline, weakened, not strong and happy (that would be the card upright). The card represents King Charles in his role as a person, father/husband/uncle etc, and not in his role as King. To have it in reverse as a confirmation card is a definite yes. Harry and Meghan want The King to die and they are actively trying to bring this about.

Just in case there is any doubt, the card after this was The Seven of Swords.

The Seven of Swords - deceit, trickery, lies, scheming - with the pictures showing Orestes creeping into the city/palace to kill his mother for murdering his father. The card showing a son in the act of murdering a parent and the meaning of the card - thief, lies, deceit, scheming - confirm the message above and add to it - Harry and Meghan are trying to kill The King so they can steal what is his for themselves.

Notice that all the suit cards I am pulling are Swords - the suit of thoughts, plans, and strategies. Another confirmation. There is no emotion involved here (that would be Cups) - just a cold and merciless desire to remove someone who stands in the way of their plans.

This is revolting energy and I am going to stop now.

A note of hope - just because Harry and Meghan are actively trying to do this, there is no guarantee that they will succeed, especially if we pray for The King and for Prince William and his family and/or we send them protective energy. St Michael the Archangel is a good angel to ask to protect them if anyone is so inclined.