#and yeah!!!!!!!!! she wasn't kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maeintree]

pillow kingdom | s. reid

Summary: Dr. Spencer Reid may have three PhDs and an IQ of 187, but when it comes to battling his two tiny, chaos-loving children in an all-out Pillow Kingdom war, he never stood a chance. Pairing: father!Spencer Reid x fem!mother!Reader Word Count: 600 (oh.) Author's Note: genuinely wasn't thinking when i wrote this, saw my nephew and immediately got baby fever and just remembered spence being so good with kids and this is extremely mgg coded, so enjoy this fluffy 'lil one shot <3

You weren’t sure what was funnier—the fact that your two children had built an entire fortress out of couch cushions, blankets, and stuffed animals, or the fact that your genius husband, Dr. Spencer Reid, was dramatically attempting to “storm the castle” like a medieval jester on too much caffeine.

“You think you can defeat me? The all-powerful Dr. Spencer the Fearsome?!” he bellowed, holding a wooden spoon like a sword.

From the depths of the pillow fort, two pairs of eyes peeked out. Your daughter, Lily, narrowed hers suspiciously. “You don’t look fearsome.”

“Yeah,” your son, Max, added. “You look like you need a nap.”

You snorted into your coffee from your spot on the couch. They weren’t wrong.

Spencer gasped, clutching his chest like they’d just insulted his entire PhD collection. “A nap? A nap? Do you know who I am? I have an eidetic memory—I once stayed up for eighty-four hours straight during a case! I can outlast any of you!”

Lily pointed a tiny finger at him. “Then why did Mommy say you got cranky and cried over a vending machine that wouldn’t take your dollar?”

You nearly choked.

Spencer’s mouth fell open. “I—that’s slander! Your mother is a liar.” He turned to you for backup, but you just smiled innocently and sipped your coffee.

Max, meanwhile, picked up a stuffed T-Rex and threw it at Spencer’s head.

“ATTACK!”

The war was on.

Spencer ducked and rolled—dramatically, of course, like some kind of action hero who had absolutely no reason to be this extra—before lobbing a pillow right back at them. Lily shrieked and launched a plush unicorn in retaliation.

“You’ll never take our kingdom!” she declared.

“Oh, we’ll see about that!” Spencer bellowed, grabbing a blanket and spinning like a deranged superhero. “I have acquired the Cloak of Infinite Wisdom!”

Max squinted. “That’s just the throw blanket from the couch.”

Spencer gasped again, pointing at him. “You have your mother’s skepticism, and frankly, it’s terrifying.”

You grinned. “Taught them well.”

Just as Spencer lunged forward, Lily leaped from the fortress and wrapped herself around his leg. “I got him! I got him!”

Max charged next, full toddler-speed, ramming into Spencer’s side like an overenthusiastic linebacker. Your husband crumpled like a science nerd hit by reality.

“Oh nooooo,” Spencer groaned, flopping onto the floor. “My one weakness! Small, adorable children!”

“Victory!” Lily cheered, standing triumphantly on his stomach like she had just slain a dragon.

Max clambered on top of him next, sitting on his chest. “Now you’re our prisoner!”

Spencer groaned dramatically. “Curse you, tiny overlords.”

From your cozy spot on the couch, you smirked over your coffee. “See, this is why I married you. Not for your three PhDs, not for your genius IQ—but because you lose every single battle against two tiny humans.”

Spencer tilted his head up from the floor, where he lay pinned beneath his children. His curls were a mess, his glasses were slightly askew, and he looked utterly betrayed. “I don’t lose. I let them win.”

Lily gasped. “Traitor!”

Max grabbed another pillow and smacked Spencer square in the face.

And that was the day Dr. Spencer Reid was officially overthrown as ruler of the household.

this was soo rushed, and i'm sooo ughh. hope you enjoyed!! aha

[nottsangel]

no thoughts, head empty, pussy on max. just stepbro! theo hearing you masturbating in your room one afternoon.

after you and your mom moved in with theo and his dad, the two parents had the brilliant idea of giving you the room RIIIIIIGHT next to theo "for the kids to bond and get closer". that led to a lot of fighting between the two of you actually, with theo bursting into your room to yell at you to stop chatting with your friends so loudly over the phone, or with you banging on the walls for theo to turn the volume of his wack ass music down. and so on and so forth.

this, however, was the first time theo has been woken up from his (quite rare) afternoon naps by a strange sound. he was still sleepy and, at first, he completely forgot the room besides his was occupied. then he heard whimpers and slow moans, the fretting of a body on bedsheets, the frustrated groan of a woman... low vibrations and wet squelching noises.

his cock recognised the situation before his brain did, sprouting to live in an instant: his little stepsis was touching herself and, by the sound of it, she was sure no one else was home. oh, but he was there. now, all his sleepiness went away, his eyes wide open, his hand clamming at the band of his sweatpants to touch himself to her sounds. he was such a pervert for listening in, yet he moved closer to the wall he was sharing with her and slipped his hand in his boxers.

closing his eyes, he tried to feel her movement. was she stimulating her clit with that buzzing vibrator? was she also fingering herself? by the wet sounds coming from her room, theo could guess she was. how many fingers was she using? eh, doesn't matter, it would still be a smaller size than his. she wasn't that fast either, he could hear the frustrated groans even through the wall. should he be a good older brother and give her a hand?

no, she has been pissing him off lately, being a total brat and acting all high and might with him. he will make use of the situation and get himself off, then enjoy her frustrated little whimpers. "yeah, a great plan!" he thinks as he speeds up his pace, jerking himself off with more energy now. the sounds were of great help, but his imagination... just closing his eyes and picturing her face, all frustrated and stained with tears, begging him to help her out and finger the fuck out of that greedy pussy.

but then an unexpected thing happened and his fantasy is shattered in an instant. her vibrator died and a wave of curses came together with its downfall. guess that's his cue to act like a knight in shining armour and make his bratty little stepsis cum, huh?

yeah, he should. and maybe he will get her so overstimulated that he will make his fantasy really and she will cry those dreamy tears for him.

- 🍯 anon (going crazy, sorry)

OH MY GODDJSJDJJD I FINALLY HAD THE TIME TO READ THIS AND HELLOOO ???????? DID U REALLY HAVE TO KILL ME LIKE THIS

“should he be a good older brother and give her a hand?” sjdjejdkdjdjsjdrjdjdids i really thought i had my horniness under control but no! of course not when my sweet big brained honey anon is in my inbox !!!!!!!!!!!

[dangerpronebuddie]

For the fic prompts - #39 for buddie?

I am so sorry this took me so long! 😭 Maybe these dorks will help you forgive me? 😁🩷

“This is more embarrassing than the time I fell down the stairs at the observatory,” Eddie’s patient, Maria, says with a self-deprecating laugh, watching as Eddie bandages her sprained wrist. In terms of embarrassing moments, a slip by the pool doesn't even make top thirty in the list of calls Eddie has seen. “My partner loves taking the kid there,” Eddie says in an effort to ease her embarrassment, realizing how the words sound a little too late. Buck's head snaps to him. Eddie resolutely does not look at him. “It’s so cute watching them geek out together, isn't it?” Maria smiles, a lovestruck look Eddie knows he wears regularly. “Yeah,” he agrees, recalling the many times Buck and Chris have returned home, excitedly discussing what they saw. “The gift shop bill, I could do without though.” “You try saying no to Chris' puppy eyes!” Buck protests. Maria chuckles. “Tell me about it. Axel has an entire shelf in his room of things he and his dad buy.” Eddie finishes bandaging Maria's hand and smiles. “I once came home to the entire dining table covered in stuff they bought.” “Again. Chris’ puppy eyes are my weakness! They're worse than your Bambi eyes,” Buck huffs good naturedly. Maria smiles at them. “Your partner?” Eddie clears his throat and Buck ducks his head. Eddie manages to smile and gives Maria care instructions for her hand and she thanks him before wandering away to find her family. Eddie can feel Buck staring at him. “Eddie,” he says slowly. “I know, I… slip of the tongue, that's all,” he waves off. “You… didn't correct yourself,” Buck points out, his voice carefully neutral. “I'm sorry,” Eddie says with a helpless shrug, “I forgot I was a single parent! But we kept talking and it… It felt so nice to act like…” “Like… what?” Buck persists. “Like you really were mine.” It sounds pathetic, and it is, but the warmth in his chest is worth it. To pretend, just for a moment, that he isn't living an almost of a life he really wants. “Eddie,” Buck says, his voice shaking. “I know,” Eddie says, zipping up the med bag. “We'll just… forget it, okay?” “I don't want to forget it,” Buck says, takes Eddie's hand before he can grab the bag and make a run for the engine. “I want to be yours.” Eddie looks at him so fast he thinks he gives himself whiplash. “You do?” Buck smiles and tugs Eddie closer. “I do. I have since… probably since you let me step inside with you; let me be your partner. On the job and at home.” Eddie doesn’t think he’s ever been rendered speechless before. Trust Buck to be the one to do it. He’s dreamt of how he’d tell Buck for years. Now he can’t seem to find the words. Instead, he takes hold of Buck’s turnouts and tugs him closer. “I love you,” he says softly, watches as a wide grin spreads across Buck’s face. “I love you too,” Buck says, and if Eddie wasn't clinging to his turnouts, he might just float away. Buck leans in with Eddie, cupping his cheek. The engine horn has them jumping apart. “Be disgusting later!” Chim yells, his head out the window. “No!” Buck yells back before dipping Eddie dramatically and kissing him senseless.

Send me a number!

[waywardwizzard]

OKAY SO,

(Warning; long post/rant ahead)

Like @rubyonyxred said, they can't quite be called a found family yet. It's there, it's growing, it's seen in the small things the crew do for each other/how they act. For example, the first thing that comes to mind, is the way Zoë took River's hand in Bushwhacked. She didn't grab her arm or her wrist and pull her along, Zoë took her hand. Maybe I'm looking too deep into things but this small gesture means a lot to me.

I've known too many people (especially a specific teacher in primary school) who didn't even do this to kids they've known for almost 4 years. They grab and pulled but almost never gently took someone by the hand and led them. Also, another example (from the same episode, I think?) is when Zoë claps Simon on the shoulder. She sees him, she accepts him and she tries to make him feel part of the crew.

Also, the whole 'you're on my crew'/dinner scene at the end of Safe and the entirety of Objects in Space are prime examples of the slow growing found family endgame, too.

Anyway, so, sure, we can technically say they're found family. They're nine people, stuck together on a ship (even though they don't have to be and this in itself says a lot), and they continue to fight for each other even when it would be easier to just not. They also fight with each other but continue to trust the other(s) (side eyes Jayne and Mal). But, we need to remember that we were robbed of almost a season and a half's worth of character development as far as we know.

Firefly is rich in character development, even in epsiodes that weren't as plot heavy. According to someone (can't remember who, I need to go find it again), they were supposed to find Miranda, from the movie, at the end of the second season. Unfortunately, that never happened, and we lost so much in the way the crew could have been fleshed out and shown as even more of a family. As it stood, they were found, they had chosen but they still needed to pick away at each other's prickly shells/break each other's walls in order to fit together. Firefly's found family dynamic wasn't just a quick burn, it was a slow burn that needed time to fester. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled, and we lost that slow burn, established found family ending (I like to think) we all were hoping for.

And then, the movie. Serenity is great, don't get me wrong. I spent almost two years looking for a copy (only for it to be shown on TV the next week). I also understand that they had to make the movie watchable/understandable for newer viewers who didn't know that the show existed. But, to us who did know the show, it didn't carry the same vibe as the crew we all loved. The movie changed the slow burn to a 'we're all gonna die in a big ball of flames' speedrun and tried to fit in character development for two groups of people who didn't really overlap. They did really great, but it was sad, in a way, to see the established development go through a retrograde just to be speedrunned again. Although, I like to hope, that if they did something like the movie's plotline for the show, we would have gotten to see how the crew's relationship deteriorated over time and why everyone acted like they did, while getting to see how it was built up again when all was said and done.

So, yeah, the Firefly crew can be seen as found family, but they didn't reach the full family potential they were capable of and that the writers were (hopefully) building up to, and that really really makes me sad.

(Shout out to @jaytodd1129 whose Firefly analysis made me feral in a good way and inspired a lot of my feelings about this subject)

What are some of your favorite fictional teams and crews? Groups of characters whose relationship is founded on the goal of accomplishing something together. They might become close friends and important presences in each other's lives--or just finishing the mission without biting each other's heads off might be a win--but either way, they have to work together and use each other's skills. I love this type of dynamic--tell me yours!

[pretty-bratty]

'It's Peter. Parker.'

He slides the phone back into his pocket without much hope. No one will reply - haven't in all these months - and even if someone would, it would be a very annoyed Happy.

It's September, and the mornings are foggy-pink like apples, the evenings are orange from streetlights and fallen leaves - and Peter's been living with this bittersweet mix of hope and anxiety since Germany.

Since Mr. Stark gave him that little talk in the car. Peter tries not to die from embarrassment every time he remembers that not hug.

"You sure you're okay, kid? No feeling sick, dizziness, any other fun stuff?"

Peter hurried to nod, then shake his head. The movement echoed with the pain.

"Yeah, no, I'm-I'm totally fine!"

I don't want you to go.

But Mr. Stark - Tony - had a long night ahead. Lots to discuss with Captain America and the others. Lots to figure out about Cap's friend, the one with the cool arm. And Peter, well, Peter wasn't needed in any of this. Not anymore.

That fight in Berlin airport ended almost as soon as it started. Everyone stopped throwing superpowered punches and started talking, right after-

No. Peter forbids himself to think about it. This memory is saved for before sleep.

And right now he better focus on whatever Ned is saying.

"...in the news."

"Huh?" Peter whips his head to look at his best friend. "Sorry, what's in the news?"

"Mr. Stark," Ned repeats patiently, slurping apple juice. "Saw them in the morning news, him and Cap."

"Really?"

Peter almost asks what suit was Mr. Stark wearing, but bites his tongue before the words slip out. He's not a fangirl gossiping about a popstar. He's just gonna see it himself on YouTube after school.

"They've been asked if a part of the Avengers tower could be open for school field trips."

"Really?!"

Okay, he's repeating himself, but - seriously, he missed that?!

"Yup." Ned smiles dreamily. "Mr. Stark said it's a great idea-"

"Really?!?"

This time Ned gives him a look, and Peter giggles sheepishly. Yeah, alright.

"Yeah dude. Don't get your hopes high though. Cap banned it."

Ugh.

"Said it's dangerous and blah blah blah."

"And rightfully so." Michelle chimes in, and Peter didn't even know she was here. "Imagine all this herd near the alien weapon and superpowered technology."

"O-o-oh, you're the Avengers fan?!" Ned's eyes immediately sparkle as he turns to her.

"Who said so?"

Peter tunes out, looking at the cafeteria. Flash is trying to pour juice into someone's - surprisingly, not Peter's - milk. Yeah. Michelle and Captain Rogers have a point.

But at the same time, what if he could go?! What if they saw him, and remembered how good he did in Berlin (they said so themselves back then), and then Cap would be like 'You could actually help us out with this one, Peter', and Mr. Stark would be like 'I was actually about to tell you to start reporting straight to me, not Happy', and!

And even all that aside, it's just. It would be so cool to just see Mr. Stark.

"Duuude, you totally have a crush." Ned gives him a toothy smile, and Peter realizes, horrified, that he said the last phrase out loud.

"No I don't," he quickly looks around, feeling how hot - and undoubtedly red - his face is. Apparently, Michelle already went away, and Ned was the only one to hear that. Thanks God. "I don't really do crushes, Ned, you know. It's-it's different."

"How different?"

The bell rings, getting them hurrying to Spanish class and saving Peter from the inquisition.

Well, not fully - Ned keeps whispering questions the whole class.

Do you wanna play Kiss-marry-kill and pick from Mr. Stark, Cap and Black Widow?

Would you like him to personally check your internship work?

Imagine if he picked you up from school in one of his cool cars, would you - scratch that, who wouldn’t have wanted it.

Peter is almost grateful when Mr. Ramirez threatens them with detention.

After school he manages to run away, yelling about being late to the internship. The look on Ned's face tells him he's already planning to bombard him with questions tomorrow.

***

The patrolling goes as always. Boring. Yeah, no, it feels great to swing around the city, getting all his energy out and helping wherever it's needed. But so far the highlight of his day is the churro from this nice old Mexican lady - until he sees a robbery near Mr. Delmar's place.

Everything goes exciting at first - he even manages to make a cool fight-talk, before one of the guys pulls out that weird-looking weapon. Peter's muscles tense - and seconds later the whole place explodes. Literally.

He barely remembers how he runs into the sandwich place, helping Mr. Delmar and carrying Murph out. The next thing he sees is the splash of red, white and blue, accompanied by the big wings shadow in the sky. Captain America and Falcon. Peter looks for the flash of red and gold, with the sounds of Led Zeppelin or whatever - heart rabbiting faster than when the actual explosion happened. But there's nothing. He ducks from the Avengers' sight, running into the alley where he left his backpack and clothes, tugs the mask off, and-

"Peter."

For a millisecond his heart drops in his stomach and freezes there, but then he recognizes the voice difference. He turns around to face Steve Rogers - starry shield and all.

"Uh, yes sir? Hi?"

Hi? How lame.

"You were there, fighting with the robbers."

It's not even a question, so Peter just shrugs. Like no biggie, he's doing it every day. Ugh.

"Would you recognize them?"

"No. They were wearing masks, Avengers masks actually. Maybe it's like, something personal?"

Cap makes a thoughtful noise, nodding absentmindedly.

"Where's your friend?" Peter shuts his mouth, but the words are out already.

"Sam?" Cap furrows his brows in confusion. "He's helping with the-"

"No, I saw him." Peter cuts him off. Yeeaaah, May would've been just delighted with his manners. "The other one, from Germany. With the metal arm."

"Oh. Bucky..." there are so many different emotions in how Captain says this name. It feels overwhelming. "He's getting...back to himself. I hope."

He adds the last phrase so quietly that a normal person wouldn't have made it out. Spidey senses deliver it to Peter loud and clear.

"He's nice." Peter offers him a little smile. "Especially when we stopped trying to kill each other."

Captain actually chuckles at that, shaking his head. Then nods back to the explosion.

"Stay away from trouble like this, kid." His face gets the usual shade of solemn. "Those are dangerous people, we'll take care of them."

"I can help!"

"Like I said, it's too dangerous. I'm glad Tony's keeping an eye on you..."

Apparently something's flickering on Peter's face, because Cap frowns. Uh-oh, time to go, time to go. He stumbles back, nearly tripping over a trashcan, and giving Cap a bigger and hopefully not so fake smile.

"Um, sorry, but I actually gotta go, Aunt May will start worrying if I'm not home!"

Captain Rogers crosses his arms, worry clearly showing on his face now.

"Peter? He is, right?"

But he just pulls his mask down, jumps off and swings away, leaving the national hero without an answer. Holy shit.

***

He should've just said yes. Because obviously, Happy being his curator is considered as Mr. Stark keeping an eye on him. And maybe Happy not replying to his messages doesn't mean he's not caring! And now Captain Rogers would tell Mr. Stark about his encounter with Peter, and Mr. Stark would come and yell at him, and oh my God. Well, at least he would talk to him. Except if he's gonna call Peter an ungrateful brat who he doesn't want to do anything with, and Peter wouldn't be able to bear that.

He stops mid-climbing, tears the mask off and presses his face into the red-bricked wall of his building. It's cold to the touch. The night air is chilly and dark blue and full of police sirens and big city noises.

All Ned's questions suddenly pop up in Peter's mind, but none of them are helpful. Peter doesn't know how to call what he feels for Tony Stark, what he's longing for, and what label to put it under. He almost wishes it was a crush, because it would be normal. He would be normal.

What lives and burns in his chest is something in between adoration of a role model, falling in love and needing a father figure - or maybe all of those combined.

He wants to be near him. He wants to do as he says and be good for him. Or not do what he says - and find out what happens.

He just wants Tony to really care about him. To care about him the most of all. Like during that short time - no, Peter, stop - in Berlin airport... He tries to stop thinking back to that moment but fails. He lets his eyes close and sees everything as if it's happening right now.

***

Thinking back, adrenaline - that's what Peter felt the most. The rest was just a big noisy mess, flooding the whole world and overwhelming his senses. He missed when and how the reasonable - well, sort of - conversation turned into a fight. Maybe it happened while he was too busy filming? But anyways, everyone was fighting now. And it wasn't a cool battle against baddies, wasn't protecting what's right from what's evil. There weren't bad guys. There were confused guys, hurt guys, guys who didn't manage to talk it all out, and now were too angry and adrenaline-infused to do anything but fight and hurt each other. They reminded Peter a bunch of riled up first graders. What could he do though? Mr. Stark got his full and devoted loyalty...he wasn't sure when exactly that happened. Maybe even before the man burst into his little room, spitting date loaf and making innuendos about May. That's - that's whatever. Peter didn't really want to fight other Avengers, and he wanted Mr. Stark to fight them even less, because he saw how hurt it actually makes him.

Yet, here they were. Fighting.

"Sorry, guys, I just really gotta impress Mr. Stark!" Peter yells to Cap's friends.

One just looks annoyed, and the other - the mysterious metal-armed one - bugs his eyes out. Peter knows that he's the reason the whole ruckus started and that Mr. Stark doesn't like him for some reason.

"S' just a kid," the metal-armed dude breathes out, and okay, now Peter doesn't like him too.

He webs him down to the concrete, smirking under the mask.

"How's that from a kid?!"

Metal Arm is grunting something, but Peter doesn't have time to listen. There's something crazy going on.

"Hey guys, have you ever seen this really old movie, The Empire Strikes Back?!"

His spidey senses are overflowing with information. He's overexcited, high on adrenaline, giddy with being accepted by real superheroes, and-

BOOM.

Something huge, like a train on full speed, smashes into him. Peter sees stars flashing under his eyelids - cartoons don't lie, it really happens - and then everything goes black and he starts falling. He tries to use his webshooters, but for some reason it doesn't work out. Everything's going awfully fast. Peter hears someone cursing, flails his arms around, heart in his stomach - and suddenly there's a strong grip across his body. Peter opens his eyes - turns out he was squeezing them shut - and sees the metal arm. There's a red star on it. The next moment the grip changes, and there's a soothing glow of shiny upturned triangle, and red and gold suit, and Peter blacks out.

When he wakes up, Black Widow is giving Mr. Stark an incredulous look.

"Jesus Christ, Tony. If I knew that's what you meant by 'your guy', I would've said no right away."

Peter pouts at her, and it only makes her nod as if in confirmation.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about."

"It's an actual child, Tony!" That's Cap.

Seems like they didn't kill each other while Peter was unconscious. Which is, would be nice to know for how long.  Everything feels funny. Maybe he has a concussion?

"What?! Don't give me that judging glare, Capsicle. You just dropped half a building on that child-"

"And I was wrong!"

"-even your assassin bestie didn't do that."

That's the first time Mr. Stark addresses Metal Arm not as a mortal enemy, and everyone falls quiet, staring.

"And this is what I've been trying to talk to you about," Cap gets everyone's pointed looks and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, okay. I haven't really. And it was wrong of me. I should have."

Peter opens his mouth - for some reason, it feels awfully dry, and it takes an effort to part his lips.

"S' so stupid, you fighting." He cannot believe he's saying this to the Avengers, his heroes, for crying out loud. He definitely has a concussion. "S' how all the worst wars happen..."

He blacks out again after that, and when he wakes up, everything's over. The brewing war that was about to start never happens. Mr. Stark and Captain are talking, then them both and Metal Arm are talking, everyone is talking and no one has time for Peter.

And actually, he should've understood back then - he's just not needed anymore. Because he was just that - 'my guy' as in a help in a fight, not as in 'mine'.

***

He shakes himself out of the memories, realizing he's still clinging to the wall, without a mask, cheek warming up the old bricks. Without a mask! What if someone sees him! What if May sees him - what's he even thinking about!

Peter lets out a sharp breath and quickly picks up his pace. Up, into the window, climb over the ceiling, quietly close the door - why is it even open - on the floor. He taps the suit, letting it loosen and fall down, leaving him in boxers.

"Agility - 10 out of 10. Attention - we're going to negative numbers here." The painfully familiar voice speaks up from the semi-darkness of his bed, and Peter stumbles and plops on his ass.

"Correction, 9 instead of 10." Mr. Stark watches him intently, popping some snack into his mouth.

[cryptid-killjoy]

The mystery was solved. Mazzie and Jax really had been on Pleasure Island the entire time.

The mystery was solved he wasn't sure he wanted solved. His MIA family were in fact truly dead.

There was a mystery he hadn't expected to want to solve and that was why his Beagle brothers were being kept on chains as being fed like zombie pets.

There was a mystery solved he hadn't even thought to wonder about because frankly he didn't care enough to think about them. Honest John was pet zombie chained while Gideon seemed to be the new ring leader throwing meat to the tigers.

Then Ellie asked a golden ticket question for yet another mystery Babyface didn't know he needed to wonder about. Were there zombie donkeys? In Feral it didn't affect the animals. This wasn't exactly Feral. This was Pleasure Island and these weren't normal animals. These were naughty boys turned into donkeys.

Gideon would shake his head and point an arm he was pulled out of the feed bucket towards the barn. "Stables are full of zonkeys. We try to keep 'em separate from the jackasses unless they kick up a big fuss. Then eh- What do ya do?" He shirked a shoulder like it was what it was.

What it proved was at their core they were still human under their donkey skins.

Living in Nola all their lives these kids were used to their fair share of bizarre and supernatural. Still, Babyface felt a little squeamish seeing his own family's corpses treated like that.

"Why aren't you hacking their heads off?" Babyface had to ask.

Bebop shrugged, "Gideon said the Magic Man was working on a cure."

Babyface shook his head. He was never the brightest bulb in the pack, but he said, "Zombies have been around forever. There's never been a cure. That's the dumbest thing I ever heard. The Magic Man is dead. I know. I killed him."

Gideon ran over and put his hands over Honest John's ears as if Babyface just said the most blasphemest lie. At least he would have been had Honest John had full ears still. They were quite decomposed. The only thing that really helped identify Honest John was the hat. Truly Babyface was standing there wondering how it stayed on.

This is also where Jax butted in. "Go ahead and tell 'em Mazz. Can we tell 'em?"

Mazzie looked at her two friends from what felt like so long ago.

"Remember the story I told you about the island and how it lives? Well, the Coachman's still here. Yes, you killed his human. Now he's the island with his wife. We're feeding them both now."

Babyface's heart dropped into his stomach.

It all made sense now. It wasn't Oogie's new decor as to why the island presented different. It was because there two souls in the island now.

Babyface was slowly realizing what this meant and why Mazzie kept asking if he'd stay no matter what. He knew he was going to have to make it up to the island, the Coachman's wife somehow, but something told him she might be angry at the old man. It was hard to believe she wouldn't be. So dealing with the island felt like one thing to Babyface, but the soul of the monster he murdered? This was other level. His mind went further than that. Did the island push his family into dangerous situations to get them killed as revenge because of Babyface? He tried to shake it out of his mind, but it was hard.

"Oh. Soooo, he's the reason for the big clown and.... stuff?"

"Yeah."

For as much red flags and warning signs that went through that Beagle Boy's head he was still the same ol' Babyface Beagle. He ate red flags for breakfast. He would always be headstrong and dive in headfirst. "Well shit. I guess we got double the donkey to harvest then."

"Fuck yeah we do. I'll teach you to make zonkeys Baby." Bebop said while snatching his brother in a headlock glad he wasn't chickening out.

And thus all the mysteries were set before Ellie solved. If she needed anymore information to help her decide whether she was going to stay on she now knew it all, nothing withheld. The island was more powerful than before.

While the mysteries of Pleasure Island were all being revealed to Ellie a different sort of mystery started to plague Bebop.

"How did you guys get here?"

"Boat."

"You guys have a working boat? Here? Right now? Are you fucking serious?"

Right after it looked like he was welcoming everyone to settle in Bebop looked like he was ready to jump ship and bail out.

"What the fuck guys. Why didn't you say so?"

“Dude, if I was a real zombie, you would have been absolutely done for,” Ellie said with a grin, rustling his curls with her fingers. It satisfied some deep part of her, being able to do that again. Like everything was going to be alright because she had done it, the way that some people with OCD have to flick a lightswitch three times or wash their hands twice.

“I’m so glad you’re alive!” She said, keeping an arm around him, sitting beside him and hugging him back, staying there while they watched the interaction between the brothers.

Of course it was BeBop. But despite their snarky back and forths that they often had, the redhead hot tempers, she was happy to see him.

Not that she’d tell him that obviously.

And she was even happier for Babyface. This was a surprise, something neither of them had been expecting. Mazzie was a win enough. Jax was a super bonus. But a Beagle?

She even started to laugh as they wailed at each other. It was the Beagle after. all. They weren’t touchy-feely the way that the Laveaus were, giving out hugs. Each wail was just love, even if it didn’t look like it from the outside.

“Some things are never going to change,” Ellie said with a nod, the grin still prevelant on her face. And thank God, or thank Loa, whichever, for that.

But Jax got her attention, and she noticed the glare that Mazzie gave, and raised her eyebrows, a touch worried about where this was going.

She got up, moving back to her place beside Babyface. Being the outsiders around here, she still felt the need to watch his back over anyone else’s, in case something jumped out. Some kind of zombie or -

“Are they zombie donkies?” She asked, curling her nose.

Some of the zombies seemed fresher than others and she was able to make out Bouncer, maybe one or two others that looked slightly familiar, but others were a bit too decayed to be able to tell. She didn’t recognize Mazzie’s other father, the one that was chained down to the chair, but she did recognize the one with the longer hair who was feeding them. He’d been at her family dinner table.

“Do we look like zombies to you?” Ellie asked in retaliation to his question. Though she did look playfully over at BeBop. “Oh, he might be brainless, but he’s not dead.”

[imsuperhungry]

the game

Seb and you sat across from each other in the cozy little diner, the warm buzz of chatter and clinking silverware surrounding us. While you both waited for your food to arrive, you figured a bit of conversation would help pass the time—and maybe make the wait feel a little shorter.

It was late at night, the soft hum of the diner lights glowing against the dark outside, a cozy contrast to the buzz of the skatepark earlier. Right now, Seb was going on and on about how much he loved football—his eyes lighting up as he ranted about how he started playing as a kid. 

And you know what? You listened to

every

single

word.

It wasn't even about football anymore—it was about him. His voice, the way his eyes sparkled when he got carried away, and the way his hands moved as if the words alone couldn't hold his excitement. You didn't need to understand half the terms he threw around; it was enough just to listen, to see how happy it made him. It was cute, really—like watching a little kid show off their favorite toy, so proud and full of life that you couldn't help but smile right along with him.

You could tell just by the way his eyes lit up, the way his voice took on that soft, excited rhythm, and the little smile he couldn't hide—this was something he was so passionate about. It was in the way his expressions shifted with every story, like he was reliving every moment all over again. Honestly, it was hard not to get swept up in it, too.

But then your food came out, and he had to take a break to eat—mostly because you insisted. You didn't want his food to get cold, even if it meant pausing his excited rambling. He gave you a sheepish grin, like he was already planning to pick up right where he left off the second his plate was empty.

He tried to keep talking, his words muffled by the food in his mouth, but you couldn't help it—you shut him up with a playful look. "Hey, no talking with your mouth full," you teased, giving him a smirk. He rolled his eyes but flashed you a grin, clearly not bothered in the slightest.

You both slipped into another comfortable silence, the kind that felt easy and warm. He focused on his burger, taking big bites, while you savored your wings, the crispy crunches filling the quiet between you. It was peaceful, just the two of you in your little bubble, enjoying the moment.

The silence would've been perfect, if it wasn't interrupted by the same. Fucking. Girl. The one you'd seen earlier at the skate park, and then again before that at the game.

The silence would've been perfect, if it wasn't interrupted by the same. Fucking. Girl. The one you'd seen earlier at the skate park, and then again before that at the game. She walked over, wearing a tight, white crop top that showed off a bit too much and a pair of ripped jeans that looked like they came straight off a mannequin. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, even though she wasn't in her cheerleader uniform this time. It was all bouncy waves, effortlessly perfect. She flashed you a smile, way too bright for the moment. "Hey! We just keep running into each other, huh? I feel like it's a sign that we need to hang out!" she said, her voice sweet, but there was something about it that made your skin crawl.

"Yeah, either that or you're following us," you thought to yourself, a small eye roll tugging at the corner of your mind. Something about her just didn't sit right, and the way she kept popping up felt too deliberate. You couldn't shake the feeling that she was up to something.

"Hey, me and her are on a date here, and you're kind of interrupting it, man," Seb said, his tone sharp as he glanced at her. He didn't even try to hide the annoyance in his voice, his eyes locking with hers in a way that made it clear he wasn't in the mood for whatever game she was playing.

She furrowed her brows, glancing between the two of you with a sly look, her gaze lingering on you a bit longer than necessary.

"Really? Why don't you both come over then? My friends wanna see you guys," she said, her tone sugary sweet but with an edge, as if she was trying to pull you in while completely ignoring Seb. The way she looked at you made it clear she wasn't all that interested in him, but she wasn't going to give up so easily.

Sighing, you gave up, figuring agreeing was the quickest way to get her off your back. You weren't in the mood for this, but it seemed easier than arguing. Plus, you didn't want her hanging around any longer than necessary.

"You know what? Sure. Why not?" you said, forcing a smile that was way too bright to be genuine, hoping she'd get the hint. You could practically feel the fakeness dripping from your words, but she didn't seem to notice—of course she didn't.

Seb looked at you, clearly confused, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to make sense of your response. He leaned over the table, his breath warm against your ear as he whispered, "What the fuck?" His voice was low, a mix of surprise and a little concern, like he wasn't sure whether to laugh or call you out on it.

"Don't worry, this will get them to talk to us for now, and later on, after this, I pinky promise to make it up to you," you whispered back, the words slipping out with a playful edge, your voice light with an obvious attempt to flirt. You shot him a wink, hoping the mix of charm and reassurance would make up for the awkward situation.

He backed up, his goofy grin spreading across his face as he looked at you, clearly not bothered by the whole situation anymore. With a playful twinkle in his eyes, he stood up from the booth and offered you his hand, an invitation for you to join him. "After you," he said with a smirk, like the whole mess was already forgotten.

You grabbed his hand, letting him guide you as the girl led the way, practically skipping ahead with an eager bounce in her step. She led you both to a booth, and as she slid into the seat directly across from you and Seb, you couldn't help but notice how her eyes lingered on you just a little too long. She settled in with a smile, as if she'd already won some unspoken game.

Once they all saw you, there was a subtle shift in their expressions. They stiffened just a little, their eyes drifting over you and Seb with an intensity that felt a little too much for a casual glance. It was like they were trying to figure you out, not with curiosity, but with something deeper, like a quiet assessment. Their focus lingered on you longer than it should have, as if trying to decide what to make of you. Meanwhile, the way they looked at Seb—well, it wasn't exactly friendly. There was a coolness to their gaze, like they didn't quite trust him, or maybe they just didn't like him being this close to you. It was subtle, but you could feel it—tension simmering beneath the surface.

"Hey, guys..." you said awkwardly, standing in front of the table, your gaze flicking between them. The atmosphere felt off, like the air had thickened, and you weren't sure if it was just your nerves or if they were subtly sizing you up. You shifted uncomfortably, trying to shake off the feeling of being under a microscope as you waited for them to say something.

There were two boys and one girl at the booth. The girl was sitting next to one of the boys, his hand casually resting on her thigh, the gesture almost too possessive for the casual setting. The other boy was alone, probably because the girl who had spoken to you earlier sat beside him, her attention already focused on you and Seb. The whole setup felt off—like they were a little too close, a little too comfortable, and you couldn't help but notice the subtle tension in the air.

"Hey, what's your name?" The boy sitting alone asked, his voice deep but surprisingly soft. His brows were furrowed in what looked like concentration, though his expression seemed a little too intense for someone who probably didn't think much about anything. He had messy blonde hair that looked like it had been styled with no effort at all, and his broad shoulders gave off that classic himbo vibe—strong, but in a laid-back, almost clueless way. Despite his tough exterior, there was something disarmingly charming about him, even if his intense stare made you wonder what was really going on behind those pretty blue eyes.

You hesitated for a moment before answering, your voice soft but steady. You told them you name, offering them a polite smile, though you couldn't shake the feeling of being sized up by their intense gazes. Then, you shifted slightly, trying to break the awkward tension. "What about you guys? What are your names?" You glanced around the table, your eyes landing on each of them, hoping to keep the conversation flowing without feeling too out of place.

"I'm Lillith," the girl who had dragged you over here said, her voice sweet but with a hint of something sharp beneath it, like she was always in control. Her blonde hair shimmered under the diner lights, looking almost too perfect, like something straight out of a glossy magazine. She gestured to the boy sitting next to her, his hand still on her thigh. "This is Damian," she said, her tone softening just a touch when she spoke his name, as if she had a quiet understanding with him.

Damian gave a small nod, his brooding expression unchanged, and you noticed how his eyes lingered on you just a little longer than necessary. Then, Lillith pointed to the boy across from her, his posture relaxed but that distant air still hanging around him. "That's Seth," she said, her voice taking on a casual tone, as if she didn't mind the cool distance he kept.

Finally, Lillith turned her gaze back to you with a small, almost playful smile. "And that's Mara," she said, nodding toward the girl who had dragged you here in the first place. Mara gave you a quick, tight smile, her eyes scanning you like she was already deciding what to make of you. There was something subtle, almost predatory, in the way she looked at you, but she masked it with a politeness that didn't quite reach her eyes. The whole group seemed perfectly mismatched, but there was an undeniable tension simmering between them—like they all knew something you didn't.

"Well, nice to meet you all..." Seb said awkwardly, his voice a little higher than usual as he tried to hold in a laugh. You could see it in the way his eyes darted around the table—he was clearly uncomfortable, the tension in the air too thick for him to ignore. Despite his usual confidence, he was struggling to find the right words, his usual charm nowhere to be found in the face of this oddly intense group.

You could almost feel the weight of the silence that followed, the kind of silence where everyone was waiting for someone else to speak, but no one really wanted to. Damian's eyes flicked over to Seb for a second, giving him a brief, unreadable look. Lillith's smile didn't waver, but there was a sharpness in her gaze that felt calculating, like she was deciding how much of Seb's discomfort she wanted to poke at. Seth, on the other hand, didn't seem to react at all, his eyes half-lidded, still scanning you and Seb with that detached, almost bored look.

You decided that now was probably a good time to try and leave. The conversation felt like it was teetering on the edge of something uncomfortable, and you really weren't in the mood to sit through more of it. Without saying anything, you reached over and grabbed onto Seb's hand, giving it a light squeeze. The tension in the air felt like it was suffocating, and you could tell it wasn't just you who wanted to escape.

You gently tugged at Seb's hand, trying to turn away from the table without drawing too much attention. "Hey, Seb, let's go," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper, but you were hoping he'd pick up on the urgency. The last thing you wanted was to linger here any longer than necessary.

"Woah, woah, woah! We haven't gotten his name!" Mara said, her voice sharp and insistent as she suddenly grabbed your wrist.

The sudden movement made you freeze for a second, her grip tight but not enough to hurt. Her fingers curled around your wrist like she wasn't about to let you go anytime soon. The playful smile she had earlier was gone, replaced with something a little more demanding, a little more possessive. It sent a chill through you, but you forced a smile, trying to keep things light.

"You're not in a hurry, are you?" Mara said, tilting her head slightly as she studied you. There was something subtle in her eyes, a glint of something you couldn't quite place, but it made you uneasy. 

Lillith's gaze lingered on you too, her smile still in place, but the tension in her expression was hard to ignore. Damian, as usual, said nothing, but you could feel his eyes on you, almost like he was waiting for something. Seth, too, hadn't moved an inch, his expression as unreadable as ever, but the slight shift in his posture suggested he was watching carefully, waiting for how you'd react.

You could feel Seb's hand tighten around yours as he glanced at Mara, clearly not pleased with her hold on you. The air had thickened again, and now it felt like a strange tug-of-war between wanting to leave and being pulled deeper into their web.

You turned around, plastering a passive-aggressive smile on your face as you met Mara's eyes. "This is Seb," you said, pointing towards him with a slight flick of your finger, the words coming out more forced than you intended. You could feel the tension hanging in the air, thick and uninviting.

Seb stood there awkwardly for a second, his hand still holding yours, and gave a half-hearted wave. "Uh, hey," he said, clearly still trying to figure out how to handle the situation, but the discomfort was written all over his face.

Mara's grip on your wrist remained firm, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she didn't quite buy the lighthearted tone you were trying to put on. "Nice to meet you, Seb," she said, but there was something a little too sharp in her voice, as though she was making a mental note of every detail about him.

Lillith, on the other hand, didn't say anything but watched you closely, her lips curving into an almost amused smile. Damian and Seth were still quiet, though you could feel the weight of their gazes following your every move.

The group wasn't making this easy, but you were determined to get out of there.

By now, you were sure you were garnering attention. The commotion when Mara had grabbed onto your wrist was loud enough to draw eyes from other tables, some curious, some awkwardly trying to pretend they hadn't noticed. The quiet chatter of the diner had shifted, and you could feel the weight of several sets of eyes on you, the uncomfortable heat of their stares burning into the back of your neck.

"Sup..." Seb said, his voice a little flat. His posture screamed discomfort, and you could tell he was desperately searching for an escape from this awkward situation. His eyes flicked to you, a silent plea for help in them, before he looked around, clearly hoping for some kind of distraction to pull him away from the tension that had built up around the table.

Mara's grip on your wrist tightened ever so slightly, but she still smiled, that same sharp smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, you two are so cute together," she said, her voice dripping with something you couldn't quite put your finger on. It wasn't exactly friendly, and it wasn't exactly threatening—just possessive in a way that made your skin crawl.

You could feel Seb's hand shift in yours, his thumb brushing over your palm in an attempt to ground himself. He was already uncomfortable, but now you could tell he was getting fed up. You didn't blame him. This whole thing had become a game to Mara, and you were stuck in the middle of it.

"Well, we have to go, thanks," you said, your voice clipped as you grabbed Seb's hand, pulling him towards the door. You could feel his confusion, but you didn't care anymore. You just needed to get out of there.

Mara didn't let go immediately. For a moment, her fingers lingered on your wrist, like she was testing whether you'd actually walk away or not. Her eyes were intense, unreadable, but that same twisted smile remained on her lips.

"You're not running off already, are you?" she asked, the words sweet but carrying an underlying threat.

You ignored her, tugging Seb along as you both made your way toward the door, the weight of the others' stares heavy on your back.

As you reached the door, you heard them shout something after you, but you didn't care to stay and listen. The words were muffled and meaningless, fading behind you as you stepped into the night air. You were already pissed—pissed that Mara had ruined your date, pissed that you let yourself get dragged into their little game. The last thing you wanted was to deal with their weird, possessive energy.

Seb followed you out, his pace matching yours as you walked away from the diner, the door swinging shut behind you with a soft chime. He glanced over at you, still clearly unsure of what had just happened, but there was a glint of something in his eyes—maybe amusement, maybe something else. He wasn't going to press you for details, though, not yet.

You could feel the weight of your frustration still buzzing in your veins, and all you wanted now was to get away from that group.

[ami666]

DINNER

sarah cameron x reader!

warnings: smut, scissoring, cheating.

You and your wealthy family were invited to the Cameron's for dinner. Sarah was the only reason why you were coming. Maybe she wasn't your best friend or anything like that but sometimes you two would casually talk with each other.

Not to mention, Sarah Cameron was the most beautiful girl you ever seen. She looked like summer, like sunshine. She was always so nice to everyone, acting childish, being full of life. You adored her.

You spent the whole two hours looking for the perfect dress and the perfect way to make your hair. Just because you wanted Sarah to compliment you. But still you were only thinking about her as a friend.

Now you were sitting in front of Sarah. You two were giving each other's glances all the time while your parents were talking about business or something like that.

Suddenly Ward Cameron turned his head towards Sarah and started to speak. "Sarah, how about you girls go upstairs and do your thing? I don't want the two of you to be bored."

"Yeah, Sure." She nodded and gave me the look to go upstairs.

You two end up together in her bedroom lying in the bed facing the ceiling. The sheets smell like her. The mix of strawberries and vanilla.

"How about we play truth? Sarah turned her head towards me. "Me and Wheezie are doing this all the time"

"Truth?" You asked confused. "Like truth or dare?"

"Well yeah, but there's no dare it's only the truth." She shrugged. "I'm too lazy for that".

"Sure, we can play the truth." You two are now facing each other smiling like idiots.

"Okay." She whispered biting her lip like always. "You first".

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?" You asked in the low voice wanted Sarah to be the only one to hear you.

"Well let's see." She took a deep breath. "Probably drinking, having kids, husband who will cheat on me, going to stupid yacht parties. Everything that sucks."

"Well that's going to be your future if you are going to choose the path that your parents picked out for you." You decided to speak because you knew what it's like to have parents who already planned your whole future. She ignored my comment probably being sick of talking about that.

"Okay, my turn" She smiled widely. "Did you have your first time?" She spoke in a whisper.

"Yeah, I did actually, not a long time ago."

"I knew it!" She exclaimed happy. "So who was this lucky guy?"

"Um, Ellie Sparks" You said hiding your eyes away from hers feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Wait.. are you..?" "I had no idea, not that I have a problem with that it's just.." Sarah started to gesture with her hands making you giggle.

"I mean I'm not sure yet." Your eyes wandering on her wallpapers, pictures above her desk. "I think I like guys and girls"

"Well that's nice" Sarah uttered biting her lip again.

"Yeah it was nice."

There was a comfortable silence between you two for a couple of minutes, but Sarah's voice decided to interrupt that moment.

"I always wondered what it's like to have sex with woman". - She claimed making you laugh at her.

"Well I can always teach you if you want"

"Really?" She sounded serious, that surprised you. You only said that as a joke, because the thought of you and Sarah having an intimate, romantic relationship was completely off limits because she was dating Topper.

"Well, if Topper isn't going to be jealous." Still you didn't think her comment was serious.

"Oh, come on we are friends it's not like I'm cheating."

"Oh, Sarah it's cheating" you thought to yourself.

Suddenly Sarah's lips were just a few inches from yours. "Come on, it's not going to ruin our friendship or anything". She claimed brushing her lips against your jaw.

You gave up and connected your lips together. It felt like the sun was meeting the moon for the first time. Or the sand with the ocean. She grabbed you by your waist, but you wanted to have the control over here so you pulled Sarah on her back in one movement while climbing on top of her.

She rubbed her hips impatiently against yours making you wet.

"What do you want me to do?" She was breathing rapidly.

"Just..." You grab her legs showing them apart pulling her skirt down. "Let me do the work."

She was only left in her lacy underwear. But eventually it landed on the floor near your own clothes. You two were naked, exposed to each other.

"Sarah are you sure?" You asked because you didn't want her to regret it.

"Yeah, just two friends, naked in bed, exploring new things, right?" Her gaze meets yours.

"Right". A bright smile covering your face. You spread her thighs placing your wetness against her. At first both of you didn't feel anything but the second you started to move moans filled the room.

Skin slapping together and the sound of wetness is making both of you even more close to orgasm.

Sarah tried to muffle her moans and screams against her pillow but you grabbed her chin forcing her to make eye contact.

You hips slapping her at a rapid pace, your breast jigging with every movement.

"Fuck, I'm gonna come" Sarah arched her back, face twist in pleasure.

"Let go Sarah, give it to me." You said almost in a whisper.

You felt the wetness pouring out of Sarah as she reached her orgasm. "Oh fuck, that felt like heaven."

You pushed against her a few more times and you finally came. "Yeah, it felt fucking amazing" You claimed as you kissed the area of her chest.

"Was I better than Ellie Sparks?"

"Almost as good as her."

"Oh shut up." Sarah smacked you.

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.218 Giving me life

The next day, I made a point to get up extra early so we wouldn't have another frantic mad-dash out the door. That kind of stress isn't good for anyone. I took a long, hot shower, did my hair, and put thought into my outfit vs. just grabbing something. I went to get Desi up, but as always, she had already beaten me to it. She was playing in her room, so I left her to make breakfast. We enjoyed a nice, slow morning, just like in the old days, but something troubled me. I had another nightmare. This time aliens abducted me, and they did all kinds of experiments on me while I was still conscious; it was terrible. I know it's natural to have lingering stress after a traumatic event, but the trouble I felt didn't seem related to the fire. The heaviness around me felt more unsettled than fear or panic. Deep down, waaaay in the crevices of my subconscience, I knew what plagued me, but I hadn't allowed myself to address it. The fire trauma was just the mechanism used to get my attention, and now, with all these nightmares haunting me, I can't ignore it. I kept telling myself I wasn't ready and stuffed those thoughts in the farthest parts of my mind, but I should have known they would come back to bite me. I need to visit the cemetery.

The groundskeeper threw away all the flowers and candles we had left at each visit; that's how long it had been. I was so ashamed at the sight. Their name plates were all dusty, and my grandparents' were barely legible from being covered in dirt. I knelt in front of Mama and wiped away the dust.

"I'm sorry, Mama. I didn't think I was ready to see you, so I kept putting it off. But days turned to weeks, and weeks into months, and here I am."

"So many things remind me of you, and I can't stand it. But I love it too. You're unforgettable, not that anyone could ever forget their mother. I don't know what I'm saying... Desiree is so big now. We had a fire at our house, and she's still pretty rattled, so I don't think bringing her here will be a good idea right now, but as soon as she's ready, I will."

"Less' kids are great. A little rambunctious, but great. And she's excellent with them, too. You would be so proud of her. I bought a duplex in San Sequoia so she could live next door. It's been great. I'm doing what you asked: taking care of my sister."

"Long time ago, you told me to find someone who fits into my life who I can't live without. Every day, Sophia shows me how there is no one else in this world who could have given me such a wonderful life. I may have had a lot of insecurities about relationships early on, but I never forgot what you told me. I always thanked Dad and gave him credit for getting me from a boy to a man, but I never gave you credit for giving me a framework to guide me. So...yeah. Thanks."

"It looks like it's gonna rain soon, so I guess I'll get out of here. Hopefully, you'll be able to see this before it goes out. I'm lighting a candle, so you'll know I was here. I love you, Mama, and I wish you could see how wonderful my life is. We've had lots of challenges, but I wouldn't trade any of it. I miss you. I'll see you soon."

I stood there in silence, remembering our good times and feeling grateful for the wisdom my parents bestowed upon me. An odd surge of energy coursed through my body, and I knew for sure this visit was what I'd been needing. The truth behind my procrastination is simple: I didn't want to feel broken again. Grieving my parents, especially Mama, drained me, and I felt like I would never be whole again. I hated that feeling and didn't want to experience it again. But standing there, holding that candle, thinking about my beautiful mother gave me life.

I put down the candle and started to leave. Just before I reached the exit, I heard, "Wait! I'm here!"

"Me too," another echoed voice said.

Both of them?? What are the odds?

All at once, I was a little kid again, happy and excited about hanging out with his parents. Mama wanted to know about the duplex, so I started from the very beginning with Dub moving to San Sequoia and buying his house. I rambled on and on about that, and the money tree, and our vacations, and Desi getting into yoga, and my SimTube channel... I felt like Chi Chi had possessed me, ha ha. Talking to them again filled me with such delight.

I thought hearing about everything they missed might upset them, but my life events elated them. I swear, with every story I told, Mama got more and more pumped up. By the time I was done, she was squealing with excitement. I guess when you live a full life like she did, you don't feel like you're missing out when you die. You just cheer on everyone as you watch them grow. That's a life lesson right there.

"I'm so proud of you," Dad said.

Hearing those words again healed my soul. I tend to think I live right and make good decisions, but receiving affirmation that I'm on the right track never gets old. I'm really glad I came.

[jesncin]

Some inspiration for this comic and Hellblazer homework:

Noah repeats the "any hand will do." line from the Hellblazer Fear Machine arc. I thought it would be so fitting if Noah didn't even realize he was emulating his dad's kindness too. After all, Noah holding someone's hand to comfort them did happen in canon.

Astra Logue, the girl John damned to Hell when messing with demons he shouldn't have, ended up losing her arm in the Newcastle Incident. In the Critical Mass arc, John manages to free her and several other children's souls from Hell. Some versions of Johnstantine don't include this arc so that John's guilt over Astra is a constant in his life.

Either way, we purposefully left it ambiguous whether John and Astra are in Heaven, Hell, or something in between. What matters was allegorizing that forgiveness. We also didn't want Astra's arm to be "cured"- instead fully committing to her being an amputee. It didn't feel right to imply that she's an amputee in Hell but she gets her arm back in Heaven- especially when we're responding to the ableist ending of Dead In America. The disabled children John wronged forgiving him because "they're cured now" felt thematically hollow and ableist.

So!! I wanted this send off to feel as Mike Flanagan-core as possible. Which meant we needed a MONOLOGUE

John's speech is inspired by the poem "Good Bones" by Maggie Smith. I took the "realtor" angle and reframed it to fit John's silver tongue conman character. So it morphed to being about protecting kids from how cruel we know the world to be.

Speaking of over-protecting-! Yeah that's right, we are pulling an Uno reverse on that canon "curing Noah" ending. While I get that it wasn't directly John who "cured" Noah (it was Clarice), I tried to keep some essence of it by reframing it as John being so protective of Noah that he thinks he can change who his son is for the "better". But then John recognizes how ableist he's being to who Noah is.

In canon, from Hellblazer 2019 to Dead in America, Noah's disability is treated as an inconvenience to overcome. Noah's disability is the unintended result of John's magical shenanigans, so curing it is part of John's redemption. Instead we have it so that John's growth ends with leaving Noah the way he is. I even made a nod to the "Making things easier? Simpler? Why not?" line from canon but reframed it as a flaw on John's part.

For those not in the know, Noah's situation is that he lost his voice as a very young boy when his mom was attacked by a demonic entity. His mom has been in a coma ever since, and Noah steadfastly visits her "at least twice a week". Noah lived most of his life having to both hope but grieve his only parent for so long. This made it feel all the more fitting that he should be the one to send off John at the end. He's used to sitting by his mom, ready to say goodbye any day now.

Like John, Noah's placement in our story is ambiguous too. Afterwards Noah's left to his own devices, he wants to make it back home, and he's still a very vulnerable kid at the end of the day. Not everything is wrapped up neatly, and I don't think it should be. John's prepared him as best as he can, intentionally or not. It's all a part of letting go and being worried for their safety regardless.

[spoilers for Midnight Mass]

To bring the Flanagan vibes together, we pulled from Riley's death scene in Midnight Mass. Riley is so John-coded that I swear there's a hidden perfect John Constantine movie somewhere inside this series. Riley spends the whole series haunted by the young woman he accidentally killed in a drunken car accident. But when he meets his end, the young woman is there to welcome him sweetly. It's SO INTENSE haha. I've had a Johnstantine death scene saved in my pocket ever since, so I refitted it for Dead in America. We made Noah and Astra parallels of each other.

Despite being called "Dead in America" to hype up the death of its hero, John's send off never landed for me. I get that cape comic characters never truly stay dead, (especially when they make tons of money for the company) but I was hoping for an ending that at least felt emotionally final and convincing. Something that brought everything about John Constantine full circle. In canon, it's a bunch of events that accumulate into a larger event where John just happens to get the short end of the stick and rot away. He's sent off into the ocean by Swamp Thing, his new friend that he barely got to know (Nat), and his son he barely connected with (Noah) are just there.

This is me trying to visually express "Forgiveness is warm. Like a tear on a cheek" from Nell's speech in Flanagan's Haunting of Hill House. I didn't want it to have words. I Uno-reversed Flanagan's obsession with monologues you see.

Dead In America acts self aware about how anti-climatic and unsatisfying it is, but that doesn't magically make it good- y'know what I mean? I wanted an ending that actually said something about parenthood, being buried by your children, worrying if you prepared them enough to survive, worrying that they've emulated the worst parts of you, or that you've become the worst parts of your own parents. Something that called back to John's origin story as a guy who messed up and screwed over the life of an innocent kid. Dealing with having his own kid should be this ending piece to that tragedy. So here's what it looks like if Dead in America bothered.

A Father's Farewell: The End Of The Road.

Our take on Hellblazer: Dead In America's ending, focusing in on John's relationship with Noah, legacy, and parenthood.

[forsakenwitchery]

bts of these photos Aemond: ElvenDen Helaena by me

I know that gifs look weirdly cropped, that's because no one was looking how vids were recording, and it's a miracle some bts are salvageble at least as far as heads go. even without the necks. :c

still cute tho. and not-so-cute, the 2nd one will forever be whoa in gif or photo form for me.

My cosplay tags:

Photos, gifs, videos from costests/cos shoots/cons

Inprogresses (costumes, 3d printing etc)

since it's my blog and I can talk at length about anything, here's a story of how I came to ship Helaemond TL;DR: fanarts and actors. & my anti S2 / Condal & Hess musings again. Wasn't planning on venting, but TG treatment still makes me so mad that I can't do one without the other.

Okay so my friend kept telling me her friend looks a lot like Aemond. I've met him once before this costest at the elven photo planner & he really does, but I still wasn't fully prepared for how uncanny it will be in costest. 😹 It's uncanny to be point it's CRAZY especially as up close as in the gifs above. Y'all are not ready for the full cosplay.

ANYWAY. So I sort of started thinking who among HotD characters I could try putting together for a costest for this to make sense. Alicent was out of the question since I don't look like her at all, and with me tending to look younger than I am, it would have looked even weirder than in the show. Eventually, I was choosing between Hel and Alys. I didn't ship Helaemond at the time, and we had no stills of Alys back then, so Hel seemed like an easier choice, plus I had my Dany wig.

And then I realized people actually shipped them, and at first I was like, 'huh'? Since they barely had any scenes and whatnot. Not that the greens had a lot of scenes together even back then. I wasn't particularly in the fandom, too thank god, I wish I could unsee some TB's hot takes. ANYWAY. I genuinely wasn't planning for this costest to be shipping galore at first, because I didn't know this was even a thing. Then I started looking up the fanarts and started to see the appeal. xD No joke, it legit happened when I was looking for references in a span of a few days. Then I saw how Ewan and Phia were hyping them up for S2 and talking about them in S1, and I was fully on board... Only for S2 to turn out to be so underwelming and character assassinating for all the greens blacks too, I really liked Rhaenyra in S1 and it's insane how much of a nothing sandwich she is after S2. By the time we shot the costest right before S2 finale, I had so little hope we'll get anything. Or more like. I knew we still haven't seen the scenes Phia and Ewan were talking about, so I knew we were getting something, just probably something that will simultaneously shit on Aemond and the ship since TG can't have nice things or feel anything but disdain for one another per S2 aside from Alicent and Hel because they aren't male therefore can be nice to each other. And at that point, I was so invested that I'm in my delulu land now, surrounded by my plans to do Helaemond justice in the best way I can. With maybe some side plans to try gathering the whole TG to ya know. Annoy people who hate them even more. xD Jokes aside, I'd really love to do that, I'd love to at least shoot Targtower kids as, you know, not hating each other. Shippery or not, doesn't matter. I'd just really like to do some wholesome green things, but yeah atm we're just Hel, Aemond & Alicent, and tbh I don't think it's possible to find an Aegon over here. I tried reaching out to my friend in another city, but got more of a 'no', than 'yes' answer, so idk where to find Aegon unfortunately.

I might eventually do Alys since my face works for both Hel and Alys & I can pull off one hell of a bitchface I'm actually surprised how I somehow come off so soft as Hel, but I have a feeling the show will make her TB she practically already is, and since Aemond is the eViLeSt person to ever evil in Westeros per Condal & Hess aka the only character making sense amids ongoing war with magic medieval nukes ffs, and doesn't deserve good things... I don't see a universe in which Alysmond will be really inspiring, not fucked up from the get go. I don't trust them. At all. So like. Giant question mark there. Helaemond priority. Fuck this show. Like if I had the resources to, I'd honestly shoot a bunch of scenes, not just photos. Hell, I'd reshoot S2, TB included, lol. But my ass is broke and I'm doing both mine and Aemond's cosplays so. 🤷🏼‍♀️

'Cause not that they haven't fucked up Helaemond… Or Alicent's relationships with her sons... Every single relationship of the greens went down the drain so fast it's like. The. Fuck? No, seriously, it still enrages me Hel helped Daemon of all people?? And seemed to almost wish Aemond would just drop dead right there. ANYHOW yeah… Yeah. I legit have so many ideas. I love using props and all that, and with her needlework, love for bugs & her overall tragic story (plus the dreamer storyline on the show the show doesn't touch like AT ALL), I want to do so much!

TL;DR again: the fandom made me do it. Just like the fandom made me dislike TB a lot. Or more like, the loudest TB stans with double standarts and zero understanding of how Westeros and people in it should function. And that it's not real world and no one is 'coded' anything related to our world or politics (or at least they shouldn't be no matter how much Condal & Hess try to push contemporary problems into the show to pat themselves on the back).

I realize there are dubious people on both sides of the fandom, but really not even Condal & Hess can make people like or dislike characters as much as their stans can. Oh also, WHY THE FUCK ARE THERE EVEN SIDES. They literally pitted the fandom against each other, it's so sick and twisted and all sorts of fucked up.

Back to Condal & Hess, them trying to sink TG so much made me sympathize even with those on it I didn't care about at first, like Criston, and simultaniosly dislike the Saint-RhaeRhae side and it's vicious vocal part of the fanbase... I even liked Daemyra in S1, but after S2 I don't want to touch anything or anyone related to her with a ten-foot pole. Even tho I still like some characters on TB, they just ruined everyone. To some extent on both sides, but for TG I sort of want to do things in support of them and in spite of Condal & Hess. Thereas for TB... After S1 I was thinking of cosplaying Rhae, but LMAO NO. Just no.

Tagged this with all the anti tags I mention, so don't come at me, I don't have time, and do have a block list. You can argue with the wall or those who want to argue. If you can't disagree with someone & be civil about it, it's not my problem.

[imsogonesposts]

The Odds are Never in Our Favor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ranger-kellyn]

there are two wolves inside me. one is desperate to just brute force our way through this therapy book so it can be over with. the other is going to lash out in a self-destructive rage if i have to listen to even another word

[beef-brisket]

Adam slowly looked up at Lucifer: W-What are you doing...?

Lucifer: I'm making things right. I'm done thinking everything is dine- or normal, because it isn't! I'm sorry, Char. Really! But everything your mother said is a lie... I've made my foot share of mistakes... but I can't let you lice your life thinking... thinking she was a good person. Because she wasn't. She left us once she had no use for us anymore.

Charlie: I... I don't... why... why are you telling me this now-? How long have you known?

Lucifer: I... I've been slowly coming to terms with it... f-for a few months.

Charlie: ...A few months?! And you- didn't say anything?! I've been calling her- texting her- and... and you didn't want to say that she's in Heaven?! I went up there, dad! I could have... I could have SEEN her!

Lucifer: I... knowing Heaven and your mother, Char, I doubt that would have been possible...

Charlie sighed and rubbed her face: I need a minute.

Everyone parted to let Charlie through. Watching his daughter walk away from him was tough, amd reminded him too much of when she was a child.

Lucifer: Shit...

Angel: Just had to dump that on her all at once, short king?

Lucifer: I... I panicked!

Alastor smirked: Don't you always~?

Lucifer glared: Piss off, Bambi.

Kneeling ag Adam's side, Lucifer put his hand on his knee: Adam- please... I'm sorry. I really am... please stay, for a few days at least.

Adam: Days...? I... I guess I don't have anything on... okay- but you piss me off again, and I'm gone.

Lucifer quickly nods and helps him to his feet: Of course! That's all I can ask for.

Beaming, Angel ran up to Adam: I'm such a big fan babe- even after finding out you're Adam- you sound.so SICK! Could you sigh a few things for me, babe?

Adam laughed: How about tonight? I've uh... got someone to see.

Angel: Oh! Yeah, of course! We can chat! I'll even steal some of the good stuff~.

Husk growled: No, you fucking won't.

As everyone left, Adam straightened his clothes and took off his jacket, suddenly feeling hot and overwhelmed.

Lucifer: Am I the person you have to see~?

Adam: Pft, no. I'm going to talk to Charlie.

Lucifer: Huh? Why?

Adam: Fuck, you're blind. Lu, you just told her where her mother is, and you kinda sprung on her that her mother is a lie. That's... a lot to take in.

Lucifer: I... you're right...

Sensing the kings nerves, he petted his shoulder: I won't hurt her. Okay? Not again.

Lucifer nodded, and smiled: I believe you.

-

Charlie was pacing around her office, and she refused to see anyone, even Vaggie. There was so much to unpack, and she had no idea where to begin.

When there was another knock on her door, she was ready to tell them to leave. But they spoke before she could.

Adam: Kid? Can I talk to you for a minute? About everything?

Charlie was silent for a moment before opening the door: W-Why you? Why isn't he here...?

Adam shrugged: Because he's an idiot. And it will only make shit worse. And... Lilith's my sister, I'd understand her more than Lucifer. Now, anyway.

Slowly nodding, she opened the door and let him in. Taking a seat across from Charlie's desk, Adam looked around. There wasn't anything special in her office, apart from some pictures of a snake sinner.

Charlie: O-Okay. Holy shit... hi, Adam.

Adam smiled as Charlie sat in her seat: Hey. So. I... I know what it's like to feel lied to. Especially by her. But, I'm not here to bash her, pr put ideas in your head. I think you've had enough of that.

Charlie nodded. Poor thing looked so tired: I... I don't know what to make of everything.

Adam: I can tell. He shouldn't have dumped it all on you. He's a cock face, that's for sure.

Charlie laughed and rubbed her face: I can't believe Adam of all people is taking more time and care when talking to me than... literally anyone else...

Adam shrugged and crossed his legs: It's not that much of a surprise, is it, babe? I am over ten thousand years old and someone who had a lot of time on their hands. I've learnt a thing or two. I've also... spent some time with your mom in Heaven. So, if you have any questions, ask away.

Charlie: You... You did?

Adam scoffed: Not that I wanted to or had much choice.

Charlie: Hm... is she happy?

Adam smirked: Very. She's on a beach in Heaven. Who wouldn't be happy?

Charlie sighed: Did she mention me...?

Adam sighed: ...No.

Charlie: N-No? Nothing? She said nothing?

Adam: Nothing. Sorry, kid. Really, I am. But, that's her loss.

Charlie: ...What is?

Adam: That she doesn't realise how fucking great you are.

Charlie blushed and looked away: G-Great? Oh, I'm not sure...

Adam: Yeah? Well, I am. I... I don't mean this as an insult, but I think we're a lot alike. Growing up, I had no one. No parents, I had no idea what to do. And... I had a lot of expectations, and others used me before dropping me... but you're a great person, Charlie. I fucking hated coming here for the exterminations. Fucking hated it. But you-? Fuck, you have to deal with sinners everyday, I couldn't handle them for a day... even coming here was a pain in the ass...

Adam shifted in his seat: So, I think you're pretty amazing, kid. I do. Even though you fucked up my life in Hell but whatever. Water under the bridge.

Charlie sighed and wrapped her arms around herself: ... why have me if she didn't want me...?

Adam smiled: I asked that question a lot in Eden.

Charlie: Did you find out the answer?

Adam: shrugged: I was more of an object than a life. Like, a new cup or book. A shiny new thing is exciting for a few weeks, but it wears off... and... I think she wanted you, Char, she just couldn't get out of her own bullshit to put you first. There's only one person that matters to Lilith-.

Charlie: And that's Lilith... mom, I mean.

Adam smiled: You're getting it. And you're dads, just a fool that doesn't understand the basic needs of a child. But you're a good person, Charlie. And that's rare to find down here. Even in heaven. You're a rare breed. Just don't let people take advantage of that.

Charlie nodded: Thank you, Adam... I won't, I promise.

Succubus au

@beef-brisket

@fanofstuff01

(This au was originally on @things-aren't-what-they-seem66blog and was originally thought of by an anonymous ask)

The roaring of the crowd and the playing of his guitar deafened his ears but the incubus didn't care. He loved the way they cheered his name while he shredded on his axe. With one final strum, his song was done. He raised his arms and gave the horns, to which his fans reciprocated, and bid them all goodnight. He walked away his hands still raised until he was out of sight from them. Adam sighed heavily and wiped the sweat with his forearm as he made his way to his dressing room.

Once there he flopped onto the couch and groaned. Though Adam loved being a rockstar and having adoring fans, he wouldn't lie to himself, each performance, especially concerts, can be quite draining since he always had to prepare with mic checks and making sure he sounded right. Steve, his producer/manager/on-and-off-again fling, always assured him that these were mandatory. Just one of those sacrifices that come with being a star. Still, Adam felt a little like shit and he needed a drink, a hard one. Unfortunately, his evening wasn't quite over yet as knocking was heard from the other side of the door then a voice called out.

Assistant: Excuse me? Commander? I'm sorry for bothering you but I brought the VIP guests here with me.

Adam sighed completely forgetting about that. Almost all VIPs get access to meet him after every show. Though he loved his fans coming to him and saying how much they loved him, maybe even getting some head from the older crowd, tonight, he didn't want to. However, he knew that he didn't have much of a choice. Unless he wanted Steve up his ass, and not in a good way. Letting out a long groan he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and yelled out to her.

Adam: Bring them in.

He closed his eyes and sighed once again as he heard the door open and feet shuffle in. He prepared himself for the immediate responses of squealing and clamoring over to shake his hand. However, he was not prepared for a familiar voice to call out his name.

Charlie: A, Adam?

He opened his eyes and standing in front of him were Charlie, Vaggie, and a one-eyed sinner.

[luna-loveboop]

Had the dumbest conversation with my sister and it reminded me of these two. Sending a resume including SCUBA ocean diving certifications without context while applying for a job seems like something Wind would do.

:)

[starry-bi-sky]

finally giving fem danyal her own au and fulfilling my 'danny is an animal whisperer' agenda at the same time: mother of monsters danyal 2.0

i say "2.0" because TECHNICALLY 'mother of monsters danyal' is an au I made back in June for Dark fem!Danyal (who I promptly named Layal). However, I haven't posted much for her yet, and I like the "mother of monsters" premise too much to leave it only to Layal. Plus Danyal in that au was going to become the mother of monsters anyway, just with significantly less world domination and mass extinction.

'Animal whisperer' Danny has been something I've been thinking about since my latest DP 'wolfpack au' post and it's! So fun to think about, and who no better to assign the idea to than Danyal Al Ghul? Who comes from a family infamously known for their love of animals and nature?

Fem Danyal is just purely self-indulgent. *gestures wildly at her* i just lomvb,,, her,,,, I've only really mentioned her in context of the 'Things in Threes' au/my first Danyal al Ghul au with the facial scar, but she's!!! I love her. She deserves her own au <33

So kill three birds with one stone! Make a post about it.

Anyways, Danny has a large lair. Similar to cult leader danyal, her lair is a giant mountain region resembling nanda parbat with a big temple/palace-like area built into the mountain. It's large, it's overflowing with natural flora, with its own mini-floating islands hovering over some areas, and it's also completely empty.

Danny takes one look at her lair upon first meeting, -- noting that it looked relatively smaller from the outside -- and promptly, with the elegance of an Al Ghul, goes "What the hell??" Because yes, while she does enjoy her own solitude and privacy, this is a bit ridiculous.

For heaven's sake, there's even a massive lake in there! What's she going to do with all this space? Can she make it any smaller? Why is it so big in the first place? This looks borderline like one of the mega-islands!

She finds out later that apparently, the amount of ectoplasm a ghost has can have an effect on the size of their lair. And since she has such a large core, her lair reflects that. Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff, it's bigger on the inside so it doesn't take up "too much space" on the outside. Don't worry about it too much.

Danyal isn't totally opposed to having such a large lair, she's just... a bit baffled by it. It feels like so much wasted space is all. All this flora and no fauna to enjoy it with. It's practically eerie.

She decorates her temple-palace area, transforming rooms to match her needs as she sees fit. In the center of the inner gardens is a massive tree that she likes to climb, with twisting, winding branches. Sam and Tucker have honorary rooms, even if they can't safely leave the specter speeder for long periods of time, even with proper safety equipment. So does Jazz. Ali (Dani) has one too, but he can actually use that one, and Danny brought him to her lair so he could decorate it himself.

She has a personal garden, but for the most part she lets the flora exist as it is. Too much space to cultivate it en masse anyways.

Skip to a few weeks later, on her next visit to Clockwork. She developed a habit of going to see him semi-regularly just because. She enjoys his wisdom, and he has a lot of stories to tell, and when he's not being the cryptic and esoteric timekeeper, he's a bit goofy.

(pushing my dadwork agenda here,,, i think Danny deserves to go 'hey, Lord Clockwork, do you want me to buy you something' while she's at walmart, only to receive a singular glowing sticky note that says 'cucumber gatorade'.)

(She insists on referring to him with his proper titles even for the most mundane of things because it's proper, but Clockwork sees a future where she eventually calls him "Cee" and by all things in existence is he determined to get there. Anyways,,,)

On her next visit to Clockwork, just as she is about to leave, Clockwork stops her and goes; "Ah, I have something for you. Hold out your hands."

Danny does as such, and Clockwork doesn't give out things often, so her curiosity has spiked to the highest levels. He turns away from her for a moment, using his staff to summon whatever it is he needs, and when he turns around.

He drops a fish into her hands. Granted, a fish in a small glass tank. But a fish nonetheless. A small one, roughly about the size of her finger, with a blue-black, eel-shaped body and four sets of glowing eyes. She can see thin, almost translucent, but spiny fins down its back and the start of bioluminescent markings. It's swimming around in circles in its small container.

"Lord Clockwork." Danyal says all too calmly.

"Yes, Danyal?"

"What is this?"

"That is an adolescent leviathan, Danyal." She’s transfixed onto the tank, but she doesn’t need to see Clockwork’s face to hear the smile he’s stifling.

The myriad of emotions that runs through her all at once threatens to overwhelm her, and she can’t tell if the feelings are negative or positive. So she carefully closes her eyes to breathe in through her nose.

“Clockwork.”

“Ah, I see you’ve dropped formalities.”

She ignores that.

“Why have you given me an adolescent leviathan?”

She's expecting the trickster to look amused when she opens her eyes. Instead, he just looks endeared. "I know you're fond of animals," he says, "and you always look amazed when you come across an animal of the realms. So I thought you might enjoy taking care of the young beast, it's mother is dead so it has no one to care for it."

Oh.

"But, if you don't like it," Clockwork's hands reach out for the tank, "I can simply take it back--"

Danyal shifts the tank out from his reach and hugs it possessively. "I never said that. How do I care for it?"

And so clockwork gives her a list, and when Danyal returns to her lair, she sets up a large tank in her room for the leviathan to swim in -- it's much too small for the lake right now, she thinks. She'll feel better if it's somewhere she can find it. She names him Suhā.

Suhā grows quickly, and by the end of the mortal month she transforms one of the rooms into a large pond for him to swim around in. He's a very loyal beast, recognizing her as it's mother of some kind. Danyal takes great care ensuring that her beastie gets quality care, and Suhā swims to the surface to see her when he senses her in the room.

It spirals from there. Somehow, Pandora catches wind that Clockwork gave her a leviathan, and so the next time Danyal visits the Greater Athens, she gives her a baby chimera. It's eyes are still sealed shut, Danyal can't bring herself to say no. She names the little beastie Firas.

Frostbite hears about it too, and not to be outdone, gives her an animal she's never even heard of. Infinite-realms born, apparently. A fox-like creature with two small horns like an impala, four eyes, and tall legs. The name isn't something she's quite sure how to write down, and she's positive that her friends won't be able to comprehend it. She names her Eira.

Getting the three of them used to each other was... interesting. Suhā tried to eat Firas when Danyal first introduced the two, and they've hated each other ever since. Firas and Eira are seemingly getting along. Her island already feels full enough with the three of them on it.

Of course, that's not the end of it. With her luck, she begins stumbling across other monsters. Realms-borne or otherwise. An injured hydra in the Grecian islands that, through lots of trial and error, Danyal is able to rehabilitate and heal. It routinely comes to visit her afterwards.

A griffin with a broken wing that she moves permanently to the island that likes to keep to itself, but tends to come down when she's near. It gets along best with Firas.

A panther-like monster from the Shades Woods that had six legs and three tails, with ends that reminded her of a venus flytrap. It stuck around the heavy foliage and she can only make out where it was when she saw its golden eyes reflect.

She befriends a young indrik with its leg injured, and much like the hydra it follows her back to her island, and stays there in the mountains. It comes out when she's alone, much like her other beasts.

She receives two more leviathan -- one from clockwork, and one she finds herself while exploring the deeper and darker recesses of the Ghost Zone. It was huddled against the carcass of its mother, and she managed to befriend and get close enough to it to bring it back to her island. Suhā is fully grown by then, with a head bigger than Danyal herself and he still likes to stick her head out of the water for nuzzles when she's near.

He's not very happy with his new siblings, but he's not trying to eat them when she's not looking. So she calls it a win in her book.

And it's not just large beasts either; smaller animals begin popping up when she's not looking. Bird-like creatures and small mammals, and she swears she saw a doe (or something resembling a doe) grazing in the forest while she was walking by.

She takes back with her a lone snake egg once, and it grows so big it wraps around her island and sleeps with its massive head on the mountain beside the temple, like some smaller breed of Jörmungandr.

And on and on it goes. Some of the beasts she comes across never step foot onto her island, some of them follow her back, while others she has to carry back. Not all of the ones that follow her stay, and Danny rehabilitates the injured and releases them when they're fully healed.

It's hectic, and busy, and frankly she loves it. Some of her rehabilitated beasts return to visit her, or to have their children somewhere on the island, or whatever it is they need to do.

She becomes a bit infamous for it. She goes to visit Dorathea once, and as she's walking through the streets she can hear some of the denizens whispering while she walks past.

"Is that her?"

"Her highness' friend? Yes--"

"--that's the one--"

"--Mother of monsters--"

Danny's not sure how to feel about that.

Although, she can't say she's opposed.

Danyal Al Ghul, Mother of monsters, raiser of beasts. It has a nice ring to it.