#apprentice (phillip)

[spocks-kaathyra]

star trek behind the scenes content my beloved. have u guys seen this

[kismetconstellations]

Little Barlyle Things That Haunt Me

- How Phineas is the only person calling for Phillip during the fire at the Barnum Museum, and the growing panic in his voice and fear in his eyes when he realizes that Phillip isn’t coming back out of the museum on his own. 

- “They come to see you.” Despite the stands being filled to capacity for the Oddities’ and Anne and W.D.’s performance of “This Is Me”, where Phineas was completely absent. 

- That Phineas manhandling Phillip is such an innate part of their dynamic, it bled over into Hugh and Zac’s interactions behind the scenes. 

- Phineas needing to straddle Phillip, essentially draping his entire body over him, in order to affirm for himself that Phillip is still breathing. 

- Everything about this:

[quarterlifekitty]

Imagine an AU for cod— inspired Haunting Ground, but with a few twists.

Like a princess, you were born in a castle— one with many secrets. You didn’t know it then, but your father was a homunculus— the first to successfully be made with the alchemical essence of life, azoth. This gift was passed down to you, born when he fell in love with a human woman. When you were young, your father and mother fled the castle with you, and from then on you lived the normal life they’d wished for, losing almost all memory of the castle as time went on. Eventually, you regard it as a dream. Until the day of the accident, you and your parents in the car. You wake up in that same castle, with no escape in sight.

Phillip Graves fills Ricardo’s role. He’s the one that kidnapped you from the scene of the accident. He grew up with you for the short time you lived in the castle, feeling robbed when your parents took you away. In his mind, you were always promised to him. He’s a homunculus without azoth of his own, a failure. But now that he has you again, to keep at his side and breed, he can use your azoth to ensure his line continues.

König takes the role of Debilitas. A homunculus made with both human and a bit of wolf dog— he’s never been quite right in the head, but has more than enough mass and muscle to make up for it. He has precious little in this life, as a lifelong servant to the castle, but he does have a small cloth doll he carries with him everywhere. One you happen to resemble. He pursues you relentlessly— wanting to take you in his arms, precisely where his doll should be.

Ghost is in the role of Daniela. He knows not what he is, only that he is incomplete. He is not a full man, he cannot feel things the way a man should. He views you with a spiteful jealousy— you are a complete, beautiful being. You got to live outside, when he has spent his life in service of this castle, never knowing love or companionship. He sees how full of life you are— the glow of your skin and the shine of your hair and the joy in your rare smiles. He wants that to himself. If he is not complete then perhaps owning, mating with a complete being will make him so.

Soap is your Hewie. A man captured, like you, but for the purpose of alchemical testing. (He’s got some dog in him now because it’s my AU and I get to be insane). You see him locked up when you awake, and come across him later in the courtyard, his leg snared in a bear trap— his pain and weakness from being kept prisoner make him unable to free himself. You help him, and he becomes your loyal companion, shoving himself between you and any danger, defending you with his new teeth— those of a predator. The dog in him is in love with your scent, and easily bonded to you from your compassion. You’re his mate now— and he’s going to keep you safe at all costs.

Which leaves Price as Lorenzo. Watching you go through the castle, helping you and giving you warnings, ensuring your survival. He is another iteration of the alchemist who built this place, keeping himself alive and reborn through alchemy over centuries. He seeks eternal life and the endless pursuit of knowledge. He sees your intelligence and quick wit through how you solve the puzzles, navigate the labyrinthine castle, and evade capture again and again.

He was there when you were young, and even then he knew you were special. Now you’ve blossomed into something perfect and beautiful. You’re not meant to live outside of these walls, among the ordinary. He wants you here, with him, nestled into his side and apprentice in his research. He’ll even let you keep Soap, since you’ve grown so fond of him. Being born into this castle made you a part of this family, and he’ll be damned before he’ll see you separated from him again.

[ronearoundblindly]

Okay, so, hear me out.

I know I've got a Beauty and the Beast AU coming for skinny!Steve, but @darsynia gave me/let me have this idea of a Cinderella AU with him, too, except he is the Cinderella character who gets transformed to live his dream for a day.

I present to you the setup of:

*All photos from Pinterest

Steven is the only child of an exiled prince, and due to happenstance of the aged Warrior King Phillips having no male heir of his own, Steve becomes true royalty overnight.

His cousins, Princesses Margaret and Sharon, angry at the circumstance of their demotions at court, offer no help to the young, small, and often sickly new king.

No one is allowed to see him until his coronation. The few knights and advisors who have laid eyes on Steve are sworn to secrecy, and though he has a mind for strategy, Steve is burdened by his appearance.

Given the coronation crown the night before the big ceremony, Steve stares deep into the massive yellow gem at its front and wishes to look like the "ruler they all want to see."

And he does.

He wears the heavy crown easily, he stands tall over most of the court, and he carries a heavy, steel sword at his hip for the first time ever without the blade dragging across the stone floor.

The court is elated. No one looks twice, not even the handful of men who knew, but that's the magic of the stone...

Steve meets a seemingly endless stream of people, but the most curious is the apprentice of King Phillips' military advisor, a young man he saw befriending a stray cat in the courtyard while everyone else ogled and angled for him. The apprentice's eyes...there's just something about them...

After a long celebration feast where he charmed the nobility with humility, practicality, and honor, Steve falls asleep small again, but certain he can win over the whole realm if he can simply be known for his actions, not his physique.

That becomes the plan; Steve will work behind the scenes, make the kingdom better for people high and low, and then he'll be loved and accepted for who he is. In the meantime, he, in his natural form, can act as a sort of messenger or page boy 'for King Steven' and move around freely. Why not? They all are on the lookout for a man standing two hands higher and broader than him.

One of his first visits is to his inherited military advisor. Of course, Steve doesn't expect the apprentice to live inside the family home, possibly somewhere on the estate maybe, but after a long ride to get there and a long discussion while sitting in the man's study, Steve asks if he might walk the garden before leaving.

He asks about the woman by the roses, and his advisor simply replies "that's my daughter."

Of course, he won't bother to introduce him. Steve's an untitled nobody like he's been his entire life thus far.

Steve might not have seen the resemblance, truly, if not for the exact movement of your finger to gently lift a wilting petal back into place.

It's the move the apprentice made when scratching beneath the cat's chin, and he'll never forget that smile.

"You," he blurts, startled at the otherwise drastic change in your appearance.

You jump back before composing yourself, shielding your eyes from the bright sun above as you look him over.

He's more alarmed by your curtsy than you are by him, watching you bow deeply where moments ago your father dismissed him offhand.

"Your Majesty," you say to the ground.

You...

You recognize him like this? How? How is that possible?

His wish was granted. They all saw a perfect soldier, but that's just the thing: you didn't want to be ruled by a perfect soldier.

You wanted a good man.

You, who secretly longs to offer more to your father and family than a bartering chip for marriage, same as his cousins, need the king to be a good man because then he'll understand this...

A/N: Ok, full disclosure, I might already be very protective of this one, so we'll see if I can bring myself to put it all out there. Anyway! Thank you for the gif, Brandy! It was a great opportunity to get this down.

Also, if it's just an idea/intro, do I include the taglist? Idk. I hate pinging y'all if it's not like a lot of content.

[Main Masterlist; Light Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

[enchantedchocolatebars]

Belos Redemption AU idea

When Belos learns about Jacob from Camilla, he simply comes to him and convinces him that although he has good intentions, people will rather see him as a laughing stock because of the way he acts. Sure, he did a good thing when he found out that some shape-shifting demon was pretending to be a little girl. I think in the real world everyone would have reported Vee to the police or somewhere else.

Jacob kind of has a reason to act like this. He encountered Eda in her Owl Beast form and probably got some trauma. So, what if no one believed him that he had met a real monster and taken a real photo, and so he started looking for people with similar cases and the first ones he found were conspiracy theorists? As he said, he found out the truth by watching a few MewTube videos. And it was quite easy for him to believe what they were saying, because he believed that they were telling the truth just as he did.

The result is a guy who wants to be understood so much that he doesn't think about the consequences. Philip explains to Jacob that the government would not like that he damaged a valuable specimen or that Mewtube would simply block his video with such violent content. And those few people who would have had time to watch his video would probably still not have believed that this is a real demon, and not computer graphics.

Jacob doesn't believe it at first, but Philip knows how to convince people. And in the end, Jacob is devastated. But Philip keeps talking. He tells Jacob that there is one Paranormal Investigator, a brilliant scientist with Ph.Ds, and Phillip can ask him if he needs another apprentice. That's how Jacob meets Stanford Pines and begs to take him on as an apprentice. Stanford is a little surprised, but agrees on the condition that Jacob tries his best. And he does. Jacob becomes Dipper's friend and respects him for having more real experience than Jacob. He is amazed by the stories that Dipper and Stanford tell him.

Ford calls Philip to tell him that Jacob is a pretty capable young man, and Philip is happy for both of them. He tells Vee about everything and she is even glad that Jacob is getting better. Like, of course he tried to dissect her, but damn, he had a pretty good reason and maybe later he would even apologize to her.

Luz, who heard this, says it would have been better if Phillip had beaten Jacob or scared him. Philip says she should go to the Reality Check camp next year. The design of the flyers is certainly not very good, but this place should help her. Vee agrees that the camp was good, not realizing that Philip is just reminding Luz that she also did things that people suffered from. Luz ironically regrets that they don't take old witch hunters to the camp and Phillip laughs.

He took Jacob’s training wand for his personal use, and Jacob was even happy to give it as he did not know how it functions. And by his actions, he also saved Jacob from being fired from the museum. The director personally thanked him for doing something with their slightly impressionable employee. Philip says that there is nothing better than helping another person get on the path to a better life.

For context, in case anyone needs it.

But anyway, AAAA, ANON, I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!

IT'S SO ENGAGING!!!

Love the backstory and depth that you gave Jacob!!!

(It's always so great to see people take a character that's viewed and treated in a one-note manner by both the show and fandom and making them INTERESTING!!!)

Also, JACOB REDEMPTION AU!!!

Love that as well! ❤️

You're gonna wanna see this, @talisman975.

[classical-memeician]

Hiii you mentioned in some replies to a post about notable Jewish people in history that there's many Jewish composers, i was curious if you could give me a few classical ones? I only know one and my mother who does genuinely love classics can't think of any, it would be great to find a couple recs 🥰 great day to you either way

Yeah of course! I'm whacking down a few below but there's also a whole wiki page on it as there are so many!

Obviously the most famous one is Mendelssohn - you can hear little bits of klezma-esque themes breaking through in his 6th string quartet (which is one of my favourite pieces of all time, and an absolute bastard to play). If you listen, my fave version is the Esme Quartet on YouTube, they have two videos, the one in black on a stage is my preferred version

You've also got Dukas who wrote the sorcerer's apprentice, Finzi who has a relatively famous clarinet concerto (not my cup of tea but other people seem to enjoy it), Gershwin, Korngold (my orchestra accompanied his violin concerto last concert, it's again not my cup of tea personally but is one of the great violin concertos none the less), also Phillip Glass.

Mahler 💔 is fascinating as he converted to Christianity to try and avoid Antisemitism (it didn't work) and spent a long time feeling isolated and as if he had cut out his culture. He has a literal klezma band in the third movement of his 1st symphony - as opposed to the finale of his second which is trying to prove he's a good Christian and is very very god heavy but also has the most incredible climax - there is an old Bernstein version is on YouTube and is my fave

Finally, Schoenberg - who probs doesn't need an intro.

Honourable gentile mentions are: Shostakovich - with the Jewish Theme in his second piano trio and the 8th quartet (also excellent, the Jewish Theme is in the second movement and is stunning)

Bruch - not a Jew but was taken to the Lol Nidre service by a Jewish friend and was so moved by the tunes that he immortalised them in his "concerto" for cello and orchestra which has the same name. Its one of the most amazing pieces to play as a Jew and I stand firm that you can tell when a performance has a Jewish soloist as they understand the music. Im not saying it's bad when played by non Jews as that would be stupid and wrong but there is a level of understanding you simply do not have if you don't have thousands of years of culture in your bones when you are performing

[sebeth]

Who's Who In The DC Universe: Batman of Earth-One and the Batman of Earth-Two

Batman of Earth-Two by Dave Gibbons & Batman of Earth-One by Dick Giordano

Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman had versions on Earth-One and Earth-Two, mainly due to being members of the Justice Society and the Justice League. Other heroes like the Flash (Jay Garrick/Barry Allen) and Green Lantern (Alan Scott/Hal Jordan) were separate individuals using the same identity on different earths while the Trinity were always Bruce, Clark, and Diana.

The easiest way to cover the Batman entries would be to start with the similarities:

Both Batmen are named Bruce Wayne and hail from Gotham City

Parents were named Thomas and Martha Wayne

Both have an uncle named Philip Wayne

Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered by Joe Chill after leaving a movie theater. A traumatized Bruce witnessed the murders.

Bruce spent his formative years developing his mind and body to perfection.

Bruce adopted the Batman identity. A large bat crashing through a den in Wayne Manor inspired the creation of the Batman.

At first Batman had a rocky relationship with the police but later formed a partnership with Jim Gordon

Bruce took the recently orphaned Dick Grayson under his wing. Dick later became Robin the Boy Wonder.

And now, the details unique to each version:

Earth-Two:

While Thomas was shot by Joe Chill (causing his death), the shock of seeing his death caused Martha to have a fatal heart attack.

Bruce was placed under the guardianship of his Uncle Phillip who raised him to adulthood.

Bruce moved back into Wayne Manor after coming into his inheritance.

Batman carried a gun in his first few cases but soon gave it up.

He was a charter member of the Justice Society and the All-Star Squadron.

He maintained his playboy image until the late 1950s, when he married Selina Kyle (Catwoman).

He semi-retired the Batman identity once he reached middle age and became the Gotham City Police Commissioner upon Jim Gordon’s retirement.

Bruce and Selena had a daughter named Helena.

Selina died at the hands of a former criminal colleague, inspiring Helena to become the Huntress. Bruce gave up the Batman identiy entirely after Selina’s death.

A year after the debut of the Huntress, Bruce donned the Batman uniform for the final time. He died aiding the Justice Society, saving Gotham from a super-powered criminal.

Relatives unique to Earth-Two Bruce: Selina Kyle (wife), Helena Wayne (daughter), and Karl Kyle (brother-in-law).

Earth-One:

Relatives unique to Earth-One Bruce: Lord Elwood Wayne (uncle, deceased)

A young (pre-murders) Bruce Wayne admired a costume Thomas wore to a party. It would later inspire the creation of the Batman uniform.

Joe Chill was acting under the orders of Lew Moxon. Moxon was seeking revenge against Thomas Wayne as his testimony had sent Moxon to prison.

Bruce way placed under the care of his uncle Philip. Philip was a world-class traveler, so Bruce spent his formative years under the guidance of Philip’s housekeeper, Mrs. Chilton. Unknown to Bruce, Chilton was Joe Chill’s mother.

Bruce served an apprenticeship under Harvey Harris (the world’s foremost detective) while training to be Batman.

Frustrated by laws that seemed to help criminals more than their victims, Bruce left law school.

As on Earth-Two, Bruce took Dick Grayson under his wing. The difference being that Dick’s costume was inspired by the one Bruce wore while serving as an apprentice under Harvey Harris.

Bruce left his playboy image for a time and devoted himself to running Wayne Enterprises and building the Wayne Foundation into one of the world’s foremost philanthropic organizations. He later relinquished his day-to-day involvement in the organizations to devote more time to being Batman.

Bruce has recently become the guardian of Jason Todd, a young circus performer whose parents were murdered by Croc. Todd has since become the new Robin.

Batman, a founding member of the Justice League, has recently resigned due to a philosophical dispute over law and justice.

He has recently formed a new team called the Outsiders.

The next few entries are of Batman’s utility belt, the Batmobile, the Batplane, and the Batboat. Mostly drawings with some basic information.

Everybody knows Batman. Ask any non-comic book fans to name a superhero, and you have a ninety percent chance of the person responding with Batman. He’s had a bazillion comic books where he is the focus and has made millions of guest appearances in other comics. As for non-comic book media…he’s easily the most featured hero of all time. No one else comes close. Batman has starred in radio dramas, multiple movies and tv series, along with many cartoon series and animated movies. And numerous video games. Not to mention all the merchandising.

Whether you love or hate the character, if you were to make a list of the top 100 super-heroes of all time, you would have a hard time justifying not putting Batman in the #1 spot.

I love certain versions of Bruce (the bronze age, BTAS/DCAU, Justice League International, Young Justice cartoon, Wayne Family Adventures) and despise others (the majority of the 2000s).

As for the actual Who’s Who entries:

I miss the Bruce – Selina marriage. The cop-out during the King run was lame. And infuriating if you spent money on all the tie-in issues (which I did not).

I wish Helena would be born during curing continuity (I know adult Helena is running with the JSA but I want baby Helena just for the interactions with her bat-siblings).

If the “Bruce was placed under a housekeeper’s care while his guardian travelled the world” bit was canon in the post-Crisis era it would have been a great element to add to the Bruce-Tim Drake bond.

I don’t like the Dick’s costume was inspired by Bruce bit. Dick’s Robin indentiy is inspired by his parents only.

I hate Jason’s pre-Crisis origin. “He’s exactly like Dick but with red hair but we’ll dye it black” – that’s the best you could do, DC? Seriously?

[somewhatgoodatart]

Redesign edits for my OpenMind!AU

Context

Hunter

currently training as the Golden Guard under Darius' care after his father (the previous Guard) passed away

bonded with Flapjack before he even started training

Luz

taken in by Phillip after landing in the Conformatorium when she first arrived on the Isles

quickly befriended the Collector

gets trained by both Phillip and Eda (cue antics)

Willow & Gus

they ran into Luz and Hunter seperately and had Coven Scouts show up at their door a few days later, delivering two mentorship offers from the Plant and Illusion Coven

aside from their usual lessons they usually shadow Hunter along with Luz to prepare for future Coven duties

Amity

still gets mentored by Lilith, though mostly in the workings of the Emperor's Coven

her Abomination & combat training gets handled by Darius

Phillip/Emperor Belos

takes one descendant from every Clawthorne-Wittebane generation as an apprentice, which turned into generations of Golden Guards serving him through his rise to power

anominously helped Eda get the treatment for her curse, though there's only so much he can do since he can't exactly show up on her doorstep and Gwendolyn is very stubborn

compensates his own lack of children by adopting every teenager in sight, regardless of whether or not they already have parents

handles his curse through an elixer he invented

Lilith

Head of the Emperor's Coven

shared the curse with Eda after Belos' let it slip that that's possible

still keeps trying to recruit her sister because she would love to work with her sister again, instead of against her

slightly less annoyed by Hunter, actually takes the time to nerd out with him and Luz

loves teaching Amity, basically shares custody over her with Darius (bc f her parents)

Eda

low-level criminal (since wild magic isn't outright banned)

mostly annoys Coven Scouts, her sister and Phillip

ordered to train Luz since her ending up on the Isles is mainly her fault (she quickly grows on her)

she wouldn't have to follow the order but she loves the opportunity to corrupt her many-times-great uncle's ward

[the-owl-house-blorbo-brawl]

The reasons are the following:

Hunter Clawthorne: because he becomes the apprentice of Dell Clawthorne. Does he consider him as a father figure? Also, to honor the lineage of Caleb who had a child with Evelyn Clawthorne.

Hunter Deamonne: because of the theory that Darius is a father figure.

Hunter Noceda: remember what Luz said? "You're family now"

Hunter Park: because of Huntlow, I think it suffices as an explanation ^^

Hunter Wittebane: because of his relation with Phillip and Caleb (wait, what was the show about... found families or sth? can't remember)

[sea-owl]

For your Dragon AU - Penelope is probably gonna stay with Colin. So her friends get worried. The first one's to come looking for her are probably Michael and Kate, cause they are the most badass. Now Anthony and Francesca see them and immediately know they want them - but while Michael is actually super into the fact that he's managed to seduce a fucking dragon - Kate takes off her shoe, thows it at the fucking beast that keeps sniffing her and leaves, once she knows Pen is alright. Now Anthony kinda stalks her and his siblings follow to keep him in line and that's how BD&E meet their mates. Bonus points if they make friends with the local witch (who Kate and her family live with), Violet's dad's mate, Lady Danbury, and that's how Hyacinth and Gregory end up meeting their mates in form of her punkass grandson and and his quiet little friend who is actually super sweet but always gets in trouble due to her crazy uncle and weird friends 🤣

So the reason Penelope was gone for a few months was that she is an apprentice to Lady Danbury, the most powerful witch in the surrounding area. That's also how she why she was pen pals to Simon, Kate, Sophie, Michael, Phillip, Gareth, and Lucy. They are also apprentices to Lady Danbury and Penelope's coven mates. Her leaving was them all coming together as a coven for the first time.

Two days after Penelope was yoinked into the cave, Lady Danbury notices one of her little shits hasn't come back when she should've been back the night before. So she sends her other little shits to go look for their coven mate. The others were starting to get worried as well because most if not all of them are pretty reliable and the blue moon was coming up soon. The blue moon is important to magic users as it's the only time they have to get certain spells and potion made. That potion took forever damn it! They need all eight of them to finish it.

They go to Penelope's village and some of the villagers pointed them in the direction of the cave. Making their way up they find Penelope in a nearby meadow. Rushing to greet their friend they ask her what happened. She was only supposed to be gone for a few days to meet up with some friends from her village. Penelope tells them that that's what she did but now those friends won't let her leave.

"What do you mean they won't let you leave?"

Penelope points up where eight dragons are circling above the group.

"Pen what the fuck?"

Eight dragons land growling at the coven mates, some of them wrapping their tails around Penelope to pull her back if needed. The coven mates keep a hand on Penelope. Kate throws her shoe at the closest dragon to her. That dragon just happened to be Anthony, and because Anthony's siblings are so mature, the tension is broken as they all start laughing.

With the tension broken Penelope explains to the Bridgertons that these people are her coven mates and she likes them very much so don't bbq them thank you. A deal is made, while the Bridgertons are antsy about letting go of the red head who is pretty much a nest member they will allow her coven mates to stay so the can get their potion done when the blue moon rises.

If the other dragons just so happen to gain an interests in the other coven members and maybe have found their mates as well, well that's just a bonus.

[thechild111]

James Riley Fathers

I realized a lotta characters in James Riley’s books have father problems.

Half Upon a Time

Jack - Is raised without his father in his life

May - Is also raised without a father

Phillip - His father is killed by a giant

Story Thieves

Owen - His father divorced his mom

Bethany - Her father is taken away when she turned four

Kiel - He is a clone and doesn’t have a father

Charm - Her entire family died, including her father

Moira - Has a cop dad while she is a villain

Orion - Is an orphan

Gwen - Never knew her parents

The Revenge of Magic

Fort - His dad is taken away by a monster

Cyrus - Is an old one and doesn’t have a father

Damian - Is a Dragon and never met his father

Ember - Is also a dragon and never met her real father, but was adopted

Once Upon Another Time

Lena - Is much smaller than her parents

Jin - Is a genie and doesn’t have a father (though the person who brought him to life is an ifrit who is trapped in a mirror)

The Golden King - Turned his father into gold

The Dragon’s Apprentice

The main character is an orphan

Wow, that was a lot, and I prob missed a few

@james-riley-author is there any reason for so many characters having father problems?

[heliads]

hi again !! person who asked about part 2 4 the benoit blanc fic here !! thank u 4 agreeing 2 write it !!

k so here's my request : it's like half a year after part 1 , and benny n the reader r solving crimes together but they're like ... super awkward with each other . they don't dislike each other , in fact they want to be closer , but r really wants a parental figure but isn't sure how to verbalize that and benoit jus does NOT know how 2 parent.

but then when they r on a case , r gets hurt ( not 2 serious , but enough 2 be scary ) , and benoit realizes how much he actually cares about this kid . n then they have a really sweet moment n decide 2 try n get closer ?

thank you so much !! i'm super excited 2 read this !!

anything for benny

part one / masterlist

Benoit Blanc is lost. Usually, this is not enough to trouble him. Problems are only worthwhile if they take some time to parse out. Benoit has no fondness for pointless mysteries, games in which the end is clear from the beginning and the middle has no value at all. He has always preferred to amble along and seek out clues. That is his best method of solving, it always has been.

It is a confounded issue, then, that Benoit is lost now. He is not in the midst of a crime, nor locked within the confines of a good hoax. He is between jobs at the moment, which usually means that his problem-solving fingers should cease to twitch at his sides, that he would no longer be ready to reach for a hint that will let him catch a killer.

Benoit’s problem at the moment regards his apprentice. He took on a teenager to help him with his cases about six months back, Y/N L/N. They’ve been an excellent aid, no cause for concern there, but Benoit’s judgment is faulty in where he is meant to draw the line between work friend and real friend. Typically, he never runs into this problem because he keeps each case to itself with no overlap whatsoever. By bringing Y/N with him, he now has someone closer than an acquaintance.

The issue is that Benoit would like to go about making their dynamic a little less stilted but he has absolutely no idea how to do it. There are moments when he’s certain that Y/N would appreciate a little parental guidance, for a lack of a better word, but Benoit is few things and one of them is certainly not a father. Thus, he is left grappling with how to indicate that he would like to try having a more central role in Y/N’s life with absolutely no idea how to do it.

Benoit took the idea to Phillip a month or so back to limited success. His partner had been focused on the intricacies of some blasted sourdough starter, his attention more in line with tossing flour to the heavens and whatnot. Benoit had posed the concern of what to do with the L/N kid. Phillip had allowed him to ramble on during the feeding time of the sourdough starter, which was consistently scheduled as if it were some kind of beast in need of a kilogram or ten of raw meat.

Benoit cannot fault his partner for the importance of the sourdough, however. They all need a task, some project in which to throw their focus and only withdraw some time later, wholly spent and perhaps a different man. Phillip finds his outlet with baking. Benoit does so with the lives of other people. 

Some would consider that to be a sign of their true characters, but Benoit tries to prioritize the people above the thrill of the hunt. That, in the end, is what he feels separates him from the gaudy treasure-seekers of podcasts and true crime shows. Although he does feel that he would make a superb advice host if the chance ever came along. Phillip has yet to catch on to the idea, but Benoit is giving it time.

The conversation was brief but sincere. Phillip had dashed about a cup of flour into the ominous bowl of starter, then turned to him with a sigh.

“You’re getting in your own way,” he had said simply.

Benoit had spread his hands. “Obviously, but how do I get out of my own way? It is difficult, sometimes, to find one’s path long enough to step aside and let the truth rush forward. Sort of like a child who’s just taken off their training wheels. They can go fast, of course, and wreak havoc throughout the suburbs, but, Lord, they should not be allowed to do so.”

Phillip raised a weary brow. “In this case, I don’t think the issue is that you shouldn’t be able to go fast. You just are afraid to let go of your inhibitions. They’re a kid, Blanc, not a piranha. Although God knows you’d rather investigate a piranha than deal with this.”

“It would be interesting to figure out how a piranha had managed to cross my path,” Benoit had mused. “That isn’t the point, though.”

“No,” Phillip said around another sigh, “it isn’t. You need to find the proper time, then tell Y/N what you expect, plain and simple. There’s no other way around there.”

Phillip was right, as expected. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the advice Benoit had wanted to hear. He would have preferred something along the lines of ‘don’t worry about it, how about you go take another case’ or even ‘wait for them to come to you,’ but life is hardly fair.

“Thank you,” Benoit had said at last, “and for goodness’ sake, stop pointing that spatula at me. I’m going to do it. No threatening necessary.”

Phillip had disagreed on that point, but that was hardly a surprise. Benoit had gone to bed that night wondering how he was going to find the right chance to explain his expectations for the situation between himself and Y/N. In the morning, he woke with a blessing.

Handwritten letters have long been Benoit’s favorite way of hearing about a new case. Typically, he can figure out half the evidence just from studying the correspondence. Is the information scribbled in a hasty scrawl or typed out to avoid giving anything away? Do they mention his prior cases from the papers, and if so, which ones? Are the stamps perfectly organized, the product of a great time for leisure, or slapped on the envelope just before the mailman came?

This letter is no exception. Already, Benoit has a few ideas percolating in his brain even before he starts reading the message. This is a call to arms, to be certain. A murder. A weapon. Several innocents all in the line of fire. An inheritance, ready to fall into the wrong hands. Yes, this is a case for him without a doubt.

Benoit explains the situation to Y/N when she comes back from school in the evening. They discuss initial motives, then agree to respond back in a most reasonable fashion. The police investigations start Saturday, so they’ll arrive early in the morning in the hopes of reaching the family before too much has happened.

The car is studiously quiet on the drive over to the crime scene. A few times, Benoit or Y/N will attempt to bring up a casual source of conversation, but they always seem to lose their nerve before true discourse can occur. Something will happen to make them hesitate, and then the ball is dropped and they’re back to silence.

Benoit is grateful to see the address of the crime scene before long, sparing them from another few unsuccessful endeavors. Half an hour later, they’re so lost in the tangled threads of this particular mystery that they don’t have much time to trouble themselves over small things like whether or not this whole apprenticeship deal was worth it.

By Saturday evening, Benoit feels that he’s got a pretty good hold on the case itself. It seems to be your typical run-of-the-mill inheritance snatch. A primary character is established, the man who would receive the largest cut of a will. They’re then framed for murder, thus ensuring that the bounty will instead fall to the second-in-line, a brother-in-law who only married into the family in the hopes of collecting this sort of bloody check. Very satisfying.

Sunday morning rolls around. After a final late night check with Y/N to make sure their facts are in order, the pair feels ready to present their findings to the police and distraught family. Benoit, always excited at the possibility of an audience, leads with his theory and watches the brother-in-law’s face twist with horror as he realizes he’s been exposed.

All is going according to plan, or at least it has been until the brother-in-law stands up and announces that he isn’t going quietly. The money has already been transferred to his account, much of it withdrawn, and he can live off of it for quite some time. The murderer moves to flee, but when the police start to block his path, he does the unthinkable and grabs Y/N as a hostage.

Benoit has no choice but to watch as the murderer leaves the house, gun pressed to Y/N’s temple as a guarantee that he’s going to remain untroubled. Benoit has been involved in quite a few murder cases over his time, and is no stranger to danger, but this is something altogether different. He is terrified, plain and simple. Terrified that he’ll lose his crime-solving partner before even a year has passed. Terrified that he’ll never get that chance Phillip was talking about.

It occurs to him now that Benoit needs that chance more than anything. If he does not speak with Y/N about the fact that he wants them to be better friends, to rely on each other more than the stilted dynamic they have going on right now, he will carry that regret to his grave.

It is good, then, that Benoit and Y/N had factored in the fact that the murderer would try to run and planned accordingly. The brother-in-law’s car only makes it halfway down the street before the tires abruptly give out and the vehicle screeches to a stop. Y/N was evidently waiting for that moment, because they fling open the door and dive out without a second’s hesitation.

Benoit sprints to their side, pulling them away from the car and towards safety. The police surround the car, and after a few tense seconds the brother-in-law comes out with his hands raised. Benoit only starts to relax once the killer is in handcuffs and he knows for certain that the situation is in the hands of the law.

He turns to Y/N at last, checking for signs of damage. “Are you hurt?” He asks, frantic.

Y/N shakes their head. “No, I’m alright. Just startled, that’s all.”

“You’re a brave kid,” Benoit manages, “I don’t know that many people who would be this unruffled after being taken as a hostage. It speaks to your character. It also reminds me how affected I would be if something worse had happened. You’re not a stranger, Y/N, you’re a friend. I’d like for us to believe in that.”

Y/N starts to smile. “More than normal?”

“Far more than normal,” Benoit confirms, “millions of miles beyond that point. The best partnerships are based on trust. I trust you, Y/N.”

“I trust you,” they respond, “that’s why I was alright. I knew that no matter what happened, even if the tire thing didn’t work out, you’d look for me.”

“You didn’t need me, though,” Benoit argues, “you had the situation handled just fine. You were courageous all by yourself and I am quite impressed by that.”

Y/N shakes their head. “I could be brave because I knew you were there. I trust you.”

“Alright,” Benoit says at last, “we’re good, then.”

“We’re great,” Y/N confirms.

Benoit thinks that he’s going to have to talk to Phillip about this. The plan has gone quite well indeed.

part one requested by @starlit-epiphany, your ideas are very popular around here

knives out taglist: empty for now!

[fantomcomics]

What's Out This Week? 8/9

The Summer is winding down, but the comics are still hotttt

Akane-banashi GN Vol 1 - Yuki Suenaga & Takamasa Moue

Akane unintentionally stirs up the specter of scandal when she's discovered taking informal lessons from her father's former teacher, Shiguma Arakawa. But she's about to make even bigger waves, because her first step in climbing the ranks of rakugo performer from zenza opening act to shin'uchi headliner is exchanging her secret lessons for formal training. And she'll still have to finish high school and navigate her relationship with Shiguma's existing apprentices, all while learning that becoming a stellar rakugo performer takes much more than just being good at performing!

The Ambassadors GN Vol 1 - Mark Millar & Frank Quitely

You've cracked the superhuman mystery and can give superpowers to six different people around the world. Who do you choose? The world's greatest and most ambitious superhero comic needs the world's greatest comic book artists. FRANK QUITELY, TRAVIS CHAREST, OLIVIER COIPEL, and an international line-up of superstars step forward to introduce an all-new cast of characters from MARK MILLAR's latest Netflix sensation.

Comic Books Kill #1 - Shane Berryhill & Hoyt Silva

NONSTOP. NYC. 1939. Comics creator Jack Levi places his life and career on the line when he begins an affair with the femme fatale lover of his mafia boss publisher. Comic Books Kill! is a crime noir tale of myths, mistresses, and mobsters sure to thrill fans of Kirby, Brubaker, and Phillips.

Damn Them All TP Vol 1 - Simon Spurrier & Charlie Adlard

After the death of Ellie's uncle Alfie, an infamous magician and occult detective, the 72 devils of the Ars Goetia are mysteriously freed from their infernal realm. It's now up to her to track down each of these demons and damn them right back to Hell... using holy water, conjuration, or just her trusty, rusty claw hammer.

Meanwhile Dora, a detective traumatized by the same events as Ellie, is suspicious of the untimely death of Alfie. As new terrors unfold, the two witness strange changes to the political landscape of Britain: a gibbering madness infecting the population. Alfie's meddling made more than just the mortal realm a nightmare, so it's up to Bloody El to set things right... with only eternity at stake.

The Enfield Gang Massacre #1 (of 6) - Chris Condon & Jacob Phillips

The THAT TEXAS BLOOD duo returns to Ambrose County, Texas with an all-new MINISERIES set 150 years in the past!

Gunslinging action meets dark frontier drama in this original Western thriller, as Montgomery Enfield and his gang of outlaws find themselves in the crosshairs of an aging Texas Ranger and a newborn county that's hungry for law.

Finders Creatures GN Vol 1 - P. Knuckle Jones

Meet detective-in-training Finder and her friends as they try to figure out why everyone in Belly Acre Bog has disappeared in this hilarious mystery graphic novel! Finder the tree frog absolutely loves solving mysteries. So when all the animals in Belly Acre Bog mysteriously disappear overnight, Finder and her friends Chopper and Keeper are toad-ally on the case. But when Seymour Warts, the world's greatest detective and Finder's hero, arrives on the scene and begins his own investigation, the young creature finders soon realize that this mystery could be even bigger than their little bog!

Ghost Book GN - Remy Lai

Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die. July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren't real. So she pretends they don't exist. Which is incredibly difficult during Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a hungry ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He's a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends set off to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth-for William to live, July must die. Inspired by Chinese mythology, this dark yet hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice, and the unseen ghost world is a dazzling heir to Studio Ghibli classics.

Hexware TP Vol 1 - Tim Seeley, Zulema Lavina & Mirka Andolfo

Why sell your soul...when you can buy a new one?

In a corporate-ruled city where class inequality is greater than ever, a desperate, lonely populace is drawn to neo-spiritualism and hedge magic. When their teenage daughter is murdered, the Marks family is left asking the gods what they did to deserve this. But their android maid, Which-Where, has a different approach. Perhaps if she asked the devil...

Now, to pay the price, a machine with the soul of a teenage girl must hunt down souls who have escaped from hell. But on the way, she and her only friend, Ren, discover a vast conspiracy threatening to burn the last civilization to the ground. Can Which-Where keep her soul with her humanity on the line?

Mech Cadets #1 (of 6) - Greg Pak, Takeshi Miyazawa & Ian Herring

General Park-head of Sky Corps Academy-must assemble a team of heroes to protect humankind from alien invasions, and Stanford Yu, Maya Sanchez, Frank Olivetti, and Park's own daughter Olivia may have been pulled into the role by fate... as they are Earth's best hope.

But there is more to their relationships with the symbiotic, sentient giant Robos they pilot... and the alien threat of The Sharg is far more epic and widespread than any could imagine!

While Mech Cadets makes a fresh debut for new readers and viewers, long-time fans can delight in having more adventures after the long awaited collection of Mech Cadets Book One!

Oblivion Song Compendium TP - Robert Kirkman, Lorenzo De Felici, & Annalisa Leoni

The entire series, collected in a single volume for the first time!

A decade ago, 300,000 citizens of Philadelphia were suddenly lost in Oblivion. The government made every attempt to recover them, but after many years, they gave up. Nathan Cole...won't. He makes daily trips, risking his life to try and rescue those still living in the apocalyptic hellscape of Oblivion. But maybe...Nathan is looking for something else? Why can't he resist the siren call of the Oblivion Song?

Paul Bunyan: The Invention Of An American Legend GN - Noah Van Sciver & Marlena Myles

Did you know that a mainstay of American folk culture was in fact created as an advertising ploy? Few people realize that Paul Bunyan, the legendary lumberjack, and his blue ox are the product of corporate marketing by a highly industrialized industry. Cartoonist Noah Van Sciver shows us the myth creation as real life marketing man extraordinaire W.B. Laughead spins ever more wondrous tall tales. Van Sciver's story is bracketed by rich contributions from contemporary Native artists and storytellers with a very different connection to the land that the Bunyan myths often conceal. Readers will see how a lumberjack hero, a quintessential American fantasy, captures the imagination but also serves to paper over the seizure of homeland from First Peoples and the laying bare of America's northern forests. It's a tall tale with deep roots... in profit-making!

Plush TP - Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard & Rico Renzi

Serial-killing, cannibalistic furries! PLASTIC and VINYL creators DOUG WAGNER & DANIEL HILLYARD are back. This time, they've recruited colorist extraordinaire RICO RENZI for their disturbing "neon-horror" spin on fursuit psychopaths and bizarre love. In PLUSH, Devin Fulcher is coerced into attending his first furry convention. When he accidentally happens upon a group of furries devouring a human, the insanity begins. Do they just want Devin for dinner...or something much more wicked?

Skeleanor The Decomposer HC - Emily Ettlinger

An instantly charming and vivid chapter-book graphic novel, starring a music-obsessed skeleton, Skeleanor, and her quest to find her sound (and her confidence) by debut creator Emily Ettlinger. Skeleanor loves music more than life itself. There's just one problem: She has a bit more rattle than rhythm at the moment. No matter what type of instrument she plays-from the fiddle to the xylobone-she always seems to scare the people of Little Casketon away. But with the Little Casketon Summershine festival coming up, and the town band missing a player, maybe Skeleanor (along with the help of her best friend, Batima) could show people her skills and finally take center stage.

Summer Ghost The Complete Collection GN - Otsuichi, Yoshi Inomi & loundraw

Based on the critically acclaimed animated short film about three high schoolers' supernatural coming-of-age! There's an urban legend that claims the ghost of a young woman will appear if you set off fireworks in a certain abandoned airport. Three high school students are united by their shared desire to meet this ghost-and each of them is close to death. What happens when they come together one fateful summer night as the boundary between life and death grows thin?

The Summer Hikaru Died GN Vol 1 - Mokumokuren

Two boys lived in a village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. The two did everything together...until the day Hikaru was encompassed by a mysterious light. That was when everything changed-Hikaru most of all. Yoshiki still wishes from the bottom of his heart to always stay by his side...but is there even a Hikaru left to be with?

The Madness #1 (of 6) - J. Michael Straczynski, Aco, & David Lorenzo

In THE MADNESS, Sarah Ross has been using her power as a thief, stealing from the rich and...well, keeping it. Until the day she stole from the wrong person, a highly placed official who pressures the government to assassinate her. The plot, aided by so-called "good" superheroes sponsored by the government, misses her but wipes out her family. Driven mad by grief, and laser-focused on revenge for the murder of her family, Sarah and a hidden side of her personality - an imaginary friend who may be more real than she believes - goes after these superpowered operatives determined to take her revenge, at any cost.

Us TP - Sara Soler, Silvia Perea Labayen & Joamette Gil

Us is Sara and Diana's love story, as well as the story of Diana's gender transition. Full of humor, heartache, and the everyday triumphs and struggles of identity, this graphic memoir speaks to changing conceptions of the world as well as the self, at the same time revealing that some things don't really have to change.

Vampirella/Dracula RAGE #1 - Christopher Priest, Christian Rosado & Lucio Parrillo

NO MORE MS. NICE VAMPIRE!

They're coming for her baby. They're going to murder him before her eyes. And then she's going to kill every last damn one of them. Picking up where Vampirella: Year One left off! In an unprecedented turn for our titular heroine, Vampirella/Dracula: Rage presents Vampirella as you've never seen her before. Inconsolable grief yields to irreducible rage as Vampirella tracks the cultists who threaten her son across Europe and America, unsettling political and economic alliances and unraveling the global network of the baby's father - Dracula.

In a macabre exchange of norms, it is Dracula, the Lord of Vampires, hunting the elusive Vampiri, trying to save Vampirella from herself - or, more precisely, to save her from becoming like him. To this end, Dracula recruits Victory, once Vampirella's closest friend, to act as his ersatz Renfield while they try (and fail) to anticipate the next moves of a woman whose anger has now completely consumed her.

WYND Book Three: The Throne In The Sky GN - James Tynion IV & Michael Dialynas

The land of Esseriel is a darker and more dangerous place than ever, as tensions between the Human and Faerie realms build to the brink of war. Could Wynd be the only hope for peace?

Danger, betrayal, and even some romance confront our heroes at every turn, while elsewhere, the Duke makes murderous plans of his own. Things seem dire, but help from an unexpected figure might just be the lifeline Wynd and Merien need... even though the final battle draws near.

Whatcha checking out this week, Fantom Fam?

[dazeddoodles]

A The Count of Monte Cristo AU with Eda in the role of Edmond Dantes and Raine in the role of Mercedes. The setting is mainly the Demon Realm, so most characters are Witches and Demons, but there is contact with the Human Realm by way of trading. The Covens exist, thought there is no mandatory joining and branding with Coven Seals - at least it’s not widely done.

Eda Cawthorne is accused of treason and sent to a horrible prison on the same night she was going to propose to her partner, Raine Whispers. The people who framed Eda are Odalia Bright, Terra Snapdragon, and Phillip Witterbane.

Philip wanted to discredit the respected Cawthorne Family, so he could get enough power and influence to become the ruler of the Boiling Isles, and one of them being accused of treason would ruin their reputation; Terra wanted control over Raine and felt that it would be easier without Eda’s influence on them, and because she wanted the two to suffer by separating them; Eda and Odalia were once friends but Odalia was secretly jealous and resentful of her power and skills, so she joined forces with Phillip and Terra to frame Eda.

Eda spends almost 12 years in the prison (losing an arm), until she learns about a great treasure and escapes. Not sure who could be in the role of Abbé Faria, but they help Eda escape at the cost of their life.

On her way to the island where the treasure is (Titan’s Hold), Eda meet Luz Noceda, an orphan human whom Eda takes in as her apprentice. Arriving at the island, they find baby King, along with the treasure.

Once they have the treasure, Eda and company return the the Boiling Isles. Eda reunites with her Lilith Clawthorne, her sister, and discovers that her parents are dead and that people think Eda died in prison. She also learns that Raine cut contact with Lilith/seemingly forgot about Eda to become Head of the Bard Coven.

(Terra is Head of the Plant Coven and seemingly a confidant to Raine, Odalia has achieved prestige due to Blight Industries (it’s thanks to her husband) while Phillip is well on his way to become Emperor, and fulfill his secret agenda).

Betrayed, Eda swears to destroy everyone who had a hand in sending her to jail. She spends the next 8 years plotting her revenge with the help of Lilith, Luz, King, even recruiting some other young witches who have been hurt by the elite (Gus, Willow, the Detention Track Kids).

20 years after her arrest, Eda infiltrates high-society as Marilyn, the Countess of Titan’s Hold. As she works to full-fill her revenge plans, Eda is reunited with Raine who doesn’t recognize her. Eda is surprised that Raine doesn't seem happy with their Coven Head position and that they still fondly remember Eda, even playing their song from time to time. Eda tries focusing on her anger at Raine, but she still has feelings for them.

Meanwhile, Luz (presented as Countess Marilyn’s daughter) becomes close with Amity Blight, Odalia’s youngest child. At first, it was to get some dirt on Odalia, but then Luz fell in love with Amity and helped her break free of Odalia’s control. Amity eventually discovers the truth about Luz, and decides to help her clear Eda’s name by finding evidence of her mother’s dirty dealings.

Eda discovers that the reason why Raine became a Coven Head was to the find proof of Phillip’s, Terra’s, and Odalia’s corruption to clear Eda’s name. Raine still loves Eda, and her apparent death nearly broke them, but they used it to fuel their determination to bring the corrupted elites down. Witnessing Raine’s devotion to her, Eda reveals her identity to them. Cue tearful reunion!

The rest is kind of predictable: they find evidence of corruption and destroy Phillip, Terra, and Odalia in satisfying ways. It might involves intense battle sequences cause these bastards won’t go down without a fight.

Eda and Raine finally marry, Lumity becomes official, everyone lives happily ever after. The end.

I’m changing the characters ages a bit to fit in with the story.

Eda is 24 when she’s imprisoned, around 36 when she escapes, and 44 during the main events. Raine is the same age as Eda. Luz, Amity, and the kids are all aged up to around 20-22 years. King is his canon age of about 8 years old.

People don’t recognize Countess Marilyn as Eda because of her now silver hair (she has orange hair the last time most people saw her), and because she hides her distinctive golden eyes behind sunglasses.

Eda still has her curse, but she made peace with the Owl Beast sometime after she escaped. Lilith still cursed Eda, but it was an accident instead of purposely.

I've never read The Count of Monte Cristo but I'll share this anyways

[franciswhetsel]

Did you know that the first person to receive the Titanic's distress signal might have been a 14 year old boy?

Jimmy Myrick was an apprentice working the Cape Race lighthouse under two other Marconi operators, Walter Gray and J.C.R. Godwin. The two had left Myrick alone (going against protocol of not leaving an apprentice in the station without a trained operator) and in that short period of time the first CQD (precursor to the SOS signal) was received. Myrick was sworn to secrecy due to the previously stated protocol, so as to protect Gray and Godwin's jobs. Myrick wouldn't reveal any of this until he was an old man. There's no solid proof of this, but it's an interesting piece of lore.

Two bonus facts:

The Myick family had actually worked the Cape Race lighthouse since the 1870s, and continued to work it (I believe) well into the 21st century.

2. Walter Gray had gone to school and was friends with Jack Phillips, the Marconi operator that didn't survive the sinking, and he would have been in contact with him throughout the night.

[probably-a-plant-thing]

ooo you wanna hear me ramble about how Phillip and Rodney are funky lil guys ooo you wanna click that read more and get that yummy lore dump ooo~

Phillip killed his boss on accident and in an attempt to bring him back, created Rodney.

But when he found out Rodney remembered nothing about it's past life Phillip quickly took the opportunity to be in charge.

Phillip is pretty moody, getting snippy with anyone he thinks is "disrespectful" to him (but really it's just disliking anyone who doesn't kiss his ass)

Phil got constantly praised as a miracle doctor, so literally bringing someone to life (albeit without the memories) defo ruined his ego in the best way.

Phil's relationship with his old boss wasn't really friendly, so he tends to be very sharp towards Rodney since it's hard to disconnect Rod from his boss. Rodney takes it a little personally.

Rodney figured that was his name because Phillip called him "Mr. Rodney" and just didn't know what a last name was at the time. Phil just changed it to his first name.

Rodney has multiple large scars across his head that are deemed to be the original cause of death, which is what Phil hypothesizes is the reason for the memory loss.

Rodney has a surprisingly fast mind for learning, so that's why he's an apprentice/assistant.