#athena is concerned for her student

[hibisqas]

athena realises odysseus had never seen his son in song 38

[somewhereincairparavel]

a huge chunk of the pjo fandom has turned into such a superficial, judgemental and PROBLEMATIC group who defeat the purpose and point that the books were trying to make, it's so fucking atrocious. the prime example of mischaracterizing/reducing the value of characters who are already misunderstood/misjudged in canon. this fandom does this to every.single.character.ever omg

percy jackson is so relatable to many people is because he didn't have to capacity to absorb textbook knowledge but was HIGH on street smart knowledge that got him to succeed. the whole point of his character is that he had low self esteem because he was ridiculed at school by the faculty and the students for being a 'dumb' and 'useless' guy that made him think he's an inconvenience to his mom. the baggage he carried is so overlooked.

the fandom saying stuff like 'annabeth had adhd and dyslexia too but she carried percy' is so fucking disrespectful. one, she's an athena kid who's supposed to be smart that's like the whole point, and that does NOT mean percy wouldn't survive without her. he's a DIFFERENT character and he doesn't need to be a scholar to be a powerful demigod who has his own identity. stop belittling him and comparing all of their adhd/dyslexia struggles. just because annabeth is smarter does NOT mean percy has less value than her, and that whatever comes out of his mouth is just silly gibberish, which is exactly what y'all are trying to imply. no he did NOT get by with just "luck" he's smart and capable enough to actually achieve things. It isn't rocket science.

making jokes like his only purpose is to have a goofy personality and wondering how he 'pulled' annabeth is NOT cute whatsoever. just deprives him of his canon developement and fails to recognise him as an important person because he is not book smart. the level of belittlement. in a way rick also contributes to this character assassination because he added another scene of piper saying something along the lines of 'thank god annabeth is there to keep percy from going wild/doing something stupid' like no miss girl

I could go on about how the fandom infantilizes nico, brushes of hazel's flaws/traits because she's a 'smol' bean (when she literally cusses out octavian, why do y'all hate the idea of her being bold/badass when she literally is??) belittling frank's power because he's 'just an innocent goof', saying stuff like 'in my head leo is a tall guy because rick did him dirty with the height when he is so hot' that's basically implying that he loses his attractiveness because he's short and wanting to confine him into those toxic masculinity standards

slandering rachel and calling her a pick me for liking annabeth as though annabeth already had a claim over percy in BOTL when he wasn't even in a relationship and even had a small liking to rachel (belittling BOTH rachel and percy in the process, is percy not allowed to have feelings too? is he only obligated to like annabeth?), also with the fandom's clear misogyny in their treatment of nico liking percy vs rachel liking percy, go on a moral policing hunt when it comes to jason, piper and percy but goes right ahead to defend and glaze luke's behaviour to annabeth, percy and silena (also victim blaming silena because she was manipulated as a teenager by a fully grown adult who KNEW what he was doing, using her)

stubbornly not wanting to recognise jason as an important character and reducing him into a 'whiney pick me guy who wanted everything to be about himself' and that he's 'boring' not realising that his abusive environment both as a baby and as a teenager suppressed him into struggling and not being able to feel worthy to even have feelings of his own, villianizing and getting on pipers throat for calling percy unimpressive simply because she LOVED and was LOYAL to her then boyfriend?? is she not allowed to have a preference??? heck id be more concerned if she did call percy hot whilst being in a relationship wtf.

and DONT get me started on the grover belittlement and erasure please, saying that percy and grover are only annabeth's 'sidekicks' on quests, as though he wasn't capable to go on a hunt for pan all by HIMSELF not knowing he'll ever be back.

[somepsychopomp]

and so what if I said I was drafting a fic where Eris tosses a golden apple among the gods but instead of "for the fairest" it says "for the best kingly lover" or something like that and both Zeus & Poseidon reach for it at the same time.

naturally neither will back down since their pride and reps are on the line. Both have had many lovers over the years and regard themselves as outrageously good and definitely better than the other at sex, but how can they determine who should rightfully get the apple & the bragging rights?

Well, they should share a lover and have them judge the two divine brothers. But what lucky mortal should get such a privilege?

Someone good looking themself, who'd be able to appreciate the sublime attention bestowed upon them. Someone young and without much experience, or preferably none, so they have little in terms of expectations or past lovers to compare to (not that either god thinks that any mortal could ever compare to them in bed)

Someone intelligent, who'd most certainly make the right choice (AKA after being bribed a little or a lot)

Someone like... why, Athena's darling pupil, the young King of Ithaca!

Odysseus is currently a bachelor king, but doesn't squander his life or status on heaps of whores. He lives a rather humble life, contributing to the construction of his palace himself, plowing the fields, and making frequent appearances among his people.

By the time Athena catches wind of who her father & uncle have chosen for their little contest, it's too late. She cannot dissuade them or rush to hide Odysseus- for she knows that no matter who he chooses, the loser would be more than willing to exact revenge against her student or his people.

There's also one other problem for Ody. A tiny, miniscule problem that doesn't even register as a concern in Zeus' or Poseidon's eyes.

Odysseus of Ithaca is engaged and madly in love with his future bride, and he will want no part in either god's attention.

But it's too late.

On one particularly beautiful day, Odysseus wakes up to a cloudless sky and the warm sun shining down on his island. The rocky coast is usually a darker shade of blue from the rough surf, but today the ocean glitters like sapphire and silver. Odysseus thinks today would be a wonderful day to go for a morning swim so he heads to the beach alone. And wouldn't you know it, right outside his palace is a little cove he's never noticed before. How strange, given that he's confident he knows every inch of his island.

Odysseus sheds his clothes and sandals, baring his body but feeling safe within the high walls of the little sunlit cove, and slips into the water. Another pleasant surprise- the sea is much warmer than he was expecting for so early in the morning!

He sinks beneath the water and luxuriates in the feeling, swimming a little farther out. It takes just a few breaths before he's nearly upon a large boulder jutting from the surf, a miniature island in the cove. Odysseus thinks it'd be great exercise to touch it and swim back.

He ducks his head underwater one last time before surfacing once he reaches the rock...

When he emerges, there's a man waiting for him. A man larger than any Odysseus has ever seen before, with a mane and beard of pure white hair and eyes the color of gold. He sits upon the boulder as if it were his throne, smiling with mirth at Odysseus and inviting him to come and enjoy the sight of the beautiful sky together.

Odysseus is instantly wary and tries to retreat, only for his back to come flush with a broad chest. An equally large man with black silken tresses and sparkling blue eyes purrs at him and encourages the little king to stay and enjoy the water...

[therapybard]

Sentence of Servitude AU

(Not very happy with the title, so it'll probably change at some point)

Now that I'm nearing the end of my fanfiction, Invisible Bonds (link), I'm thinking a lot about what I want to do next. I've had an AU idea floating around in my head that I want to start workshopping. Here are the basics:

Instead of approaching Zeus in the arena to ask for Odysseus's release, she goes to Zeus in private. She's very used to Zeus's bad temperament, so she presents herself as very meek and the perfect Golden Child. Zeus tells her no and expects her to leave. She doesn't back down. He asks why she's so obsessed with this mortal. Mortals are beneath them and not worthy of this much concern. She insists that this family has nevertheless wormed their way into her heat.

Zeus decides that Athena's affection must be corrected. Perhaps a year among mortals would reminder her of why the gods stand above them. He offers her a deal. If she is willing to spend a year as a young mortal servant in Odysseus's palace without anyone knowing her true identity, he will order Odysseus's release right now. If Athena reveals who she is to anyone, or lets anyone discover it, Zeus will never return her godhood to her and she will die a mortal. Athena agrees.

Zeus sends Hermes to get Odysseus off of Ogygia and everything is the same on his end. Zeus tells the gods that Athena was sentenced to a year of solitude, so they don't know she's on Ithaca.

Athena wakes up in the body of a 15 year old servant in Ithaca. She suspects Zeus had the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, mess with the memories of the other servants, since they all seem to recognize Athena and expect her to understand her duties. She struggles a lot since A) she's never had a mortal body before, B) she's never been in a body this young before, and C) everyone is either too busy or too rude to help her.

Athena wants to avoid the royal family's attention, but she inevitably stands out as someone who struggles with her work and has way more knowledge than she should. She forms a friendship with Telemachus when she runs into him sleeping outside his mother's door.

When Odysseus makes it home and the suitor slaughter happens, most of the servants, reasonably, run away. Athena sticks around to help. She saves Telemachus's life and almost dies herself before Odysseus can save them. After that, it's impossible for Athena to avoid her old student. Ody is very grateful and the royal family finds themselves more or less adopting Athena.

Lots of fluff and angst ensues. Notable examples include: Athena getting an actual childhood, Odysseus bitching about Athena abandoning him when Athena is right there, Telemachus and Athena training montage, platonic cuddling, and an Athena that even more blatantly autistic than she is in my first fanfiction.

My biggest concern is that I'm obviously gonna have to look at the way servants are treated in ancient Greece (most of whom were slaves) and ignore it. I really like this idea and don't want to have to write about ancient atrocities. My depiction of Athena's initial living situation is gonna take a lot more from typical medieval representations of servants, and even then it's gonna be sanitized. Not too much, it's still gonna suck for our owl, but I wanna be able to do with without traumatizing myself in the process.

Even so, I'm excited to start exploring this concept further. I hope people are interested.

[wildlife4life]

Inspiration Saturday

Tagged by the super awesome @steadfastsaturnsrings @wikiangela and @disasterbuckdiaz Thank you so much! Mwha!

Welp, the doppelganger fic has earned a mood board, or I guess a collage of sorts. Enjoy you shameless encouragers. (I love you all!) Previous snippet and original idea can be found here.

Who is who? Hen: Attorney with a husband (there will be a joke about her bagging hot spouses), Buck: British traveling photographer, Eddie: Street dancer (his name will be Sean!), Ravi: Ivy league college student. Chimney: Supreme court judge, Maddie: Masseuse who gives 'extra' and apparently see's ghost, Bobby: alcoholic announcer for an NHL team, Athena: African royalty in LA to escort the body of her deceased husband home

And I'm even including a very very short snippet:

Chimney and Hen watch the judge that carries Chim's face pick up his brief case, dust if off, and give a still wide eyed Buck a short nod, "Thank you for the concern, but I'm sure the first aide kit in my office will suffice. Besides I'm due in court very soon." He starts to walk away, then pauses and looks back, meeting each of the teams stares. When his eyes reach Chimney, there's the slightest tilt of his head and an almost wonder-like expression flashes across his face, "Hm." The doppelganger murmers, his eyes lingering on the paramedic. A quick moment passes before the judge is shaking his head with the smallest of smiles, "Father would sorely disapprove." He murmurs then strides away. Chimney catches his otherworldly twin's statement and scoffs, "You have no idea man."

Tagging (no pressure): @elvensorceress @devirnis @lover-of-mine @exhuastedpigeon @jesuisici33 @daffi-990 @jamespearce9-1-1 @giddyupbuck @malewifediaz @hippolotamus @thewolvesof1998 @jeeyuns @911onabc @911-on-abc @bekkachaos @loserdiaz @hoodie-buck @try-set-me-on-fire @fortheloveofbuddie @spotsandsocks @theotherbuckley @ladydorian05 @bigfootsmom @watchyourbuck @eddiebabygirldiaz @spaceprincessem @thekristen999 @spagheddiediaz @monsterrae1 @rogerzsteven @eowon @honestlydarkprincess @eddiescowboy @vampbuckley @bitchfacediaz @buck-coded @housewifebuck @arthursdent @glorious-spoon @buddierights @athenagranted @prosperdemeter2 @rainbow-nerdss @gayedmundodiaz

[grape-jucie-dog]

how about no. 7 for the hurt/comfort list?

Should NOT have taken this long to get to this- ANYWAYS✨✨ (context in this post)

Fandom: Epic ofc

AU chosen: Ink Cough AU

Warning: Coughing up ink (duh)

Context: Athena reluctantly tells Odysseus about her illness during the Trojan War

Prompt: "You've been trying to handle this all by yourself?"

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Athena coughed into the water again, the last of the ink leaving her shaking form... For now.

The war had really begun to take its toll on her, and it was getting harder and harder to keep her emotions in check. Haywire emotions, of course, equal coughing ink. With the death of Patroclus, tensions were high within the Greek camps, and she could do nothing but push her students on to keep leading them forward. Even with this... strange illness.

Speaking of which...

"I'm sure you must have a lot of questions..." She cleared her throat, trying her hardest to fight against the wheezing and neverending tightness in her chest. She sat up as much as her body allowed herself to, vision blurred as she used the water to wash away the ink lingering on her lips and hands.

She heard a familiar pair of footsteps, seeing a red cap flash beside her, as Odysseus sat down by the water. She couldn't see his face clearly, but she could hear his thoughts racing with alarm and surprise.

"What... What was that?" He asked hesitantly, glancing up at his mentor. Her posture was hunched over and weak, eyes distant and far away. So different from her usual powerful stare and perfect form. He's never seen her look this... sickly.

"Ink." She mumbled, her tone much quieter than he was used to. She gagged a little, spitting into the water again. Odysseus wasn't sure what to do, watching her cough up some more ink before regaining her composure. He hardly realized she was trembling. "It's an... Illness, of sorts."

"I wasn't aware that the Gods could get sick..."

She chuckled, but there was no humor behind her quiet huff of laughter.

"Neither was I. Ironic, isn't it? The all powerful goddess of wisdom and warfare, defeated by something so simple. So stupid." She laughed again, this one much more sad than before.

"How long have you had it for? Does it hurt?"

Athena sighed tiredly, wiping her mouth again. If it weren't for the disease, she wouldn't be telling him about her business. But no! She had to cough every time she tried concealing her emotions for too long. Pathetic.

"As long as I can remember..." She was hesitant to respond to the next question, but her chest began tightening again, forcing the words out. "It... It does hurt, I'll admit. Nothing to concern yourself with."

There was silence between the two, as Athena recovered from the ink attack. Odysseus was processing the information shared, realizing one thing.

If Athena has had this strange illness for so long... and he's only now realizing it...

"... You've been trying to handle this all by yourself?" He turned to look at her, feeling a sudden sense of pity for her. She only scoffed in response, but he could see something shift in her eyes, her lips twitched downward into a frown.

"I'm a Goddess, Odysseus. Not a mortal child. I can handle it." She stood up before he could say anything else, stumbling slightly. He went to catch her, but she held her hand up, glaring at him. "This conversation is over."

[blueberrysauce54]

The Game She Plays ~ Caitlyn x Female OC.

Chapter 1-

Caitlyn sat in the corner of the university library, surrounded by piles of books, her laptop open and notes scattered across the table. It was a typical Wednesday afternoon, and the usual hum of the library was a soothing backdrop to the task at hand. She had a tutoring session in an hour, but she had a few minutes to review before her student arrived.

As Caitlyn skimmed through her notes, she spotted a figure in the doorway. Athena. Caitlyn had heard a lot about her—athletic, stunning, and as enigmatic as a cloud that couldn't be touched. Today, the mysterious student was stepping into Caitlyn's realm: the tutoring room.

"Hey, Athena, over here!" Caitlyn called, waving her hand to get her attention.

Athena's gaze flickered toward Caitlyn before she pushed open the door and walked over. She was dressed casually, with a black hoodie, athletic leggings, and a baseball cap that was slightly askew. Her presence, though, was anything but casual. She exuded an energy that Caitlyn couldn't ignore.

"Okay, let's get this over with," Athena said, her tone flat as she slid into the chair across from Caitlyn.

Caitlyn blinked, caught off guard by the lack of enthusiasm. "Right," she said, trying to remain professional despite the chilly greeting. "Let's start, then."

Athena's smile was polite but distant, almost like it was a reflex. Caitlyn quickly pushed aside the strange pull she felt towards her and dove straight into the material.

Athena quickly lets out, "Caitlyn, I'm sure you've seen my grades. I really don't see the point of me being here."

"I've seen your transcript," Caitlyn said as she flipped through the notes. "You've got stellar marks—90s across the board. I'm not really here to tutor you per se, I'm here just to help with anything you might be struggling with or to help you manage the stress with school and varsity sports. You good with that?"

Athena let out a short, dry chuckle. " I don't need to be tutored."

Caitlyn arched an eyebrow at that. "It's not just about grades, Athena. Everyone needs a little help from time to time."

Athena leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and scanning the room absently. "So, you're like a therapist, then? Are you even qualified, Piltie?" she asked with a teasing smirk.

Caitlyn's eyes widened, a bit taken aback by the remark. "I'm not, and I don't appreciate the attitude," she said firmly. "Now let's get to work."

Athena shrugged it off, but Caitlyn couldn't help but notice the way she settled into the chair, her posture rigid, as if she were guarding something—her mind, her heart, maybe even her past. The air between them grew thick, and Caitlyn felt a strange tension, even though she wasn't sure where it was coming from.

As they worked through the material, Caitlyn tried to make small talk to break the ice. "So, how are things going with the team?" she asked, glancing at Athena.

Athena's eyes flickered momentarily but then drifted to the window. "It's fine," she muttered. "We're just doing our thing."

Caitlyn pressed on, noticing that Athena wasn't really engaging. She could feel the defensive energy radiating from her, her body language shut off, arms crossed. A few times, their eyes met, and Caitlyn felt a strange flutter in her chest, like there was something in Athena's gaze—something raw and unspoken—but Athena quickly looked away.

It wasn't long before Caitlyn began asking more direct questions to gauge Athena's understanding of the material, but each answer she got was vague, dismissive. It was like Athena wasn't trying at all.

"Why don't you participate in class more?" Caitlyn finally asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.

Athena's gaze briefly flickered up, meeting Caitlyn's eyes. "I don't really care about that stuff," she said shortly, and the conversation fell into an awkward silence.

Caitlyn felt something stir inside her—concern, maybe even empathy—but she didn't know how to approach it. Athena wasn't the kind of person you could easily get to know, and Caitlyn wasn't sure she had the energy to figure her out. Still, something about the way Athena looked at her—quick, almost vulnerable, before her walls slammed back into place—made Caitlyn's thoughts race. There was a lot more to her than the confident façade, that much was clear.

After another hour of tense studying, Athena gathered her things, standing up with an almost mechanical precision. "Thanks for the session," she muttered, her tone still detached.

"Of course," Caitlyn replied, not sure whether she should feel relieved or disappointed by the sudden end.

As Athena moved to leave, she turned back and gave Caitlyn a quick, nonchalant wave. "See you next week, I guess."

Caitlyn watched as she walked away, her heart oddly heavy. There was something about Athena that she couldn't shake.

"See you next week?" Caitlyn repeated under her breath, her mind spinning. She tried to push the thought away, but it clung to her like the humidity of a summer evening.

She gathered her things and walked out of the library, but as she crossed the campus toward the parking lot, Caitlyn found herself glancing back over her shoulder. She didn't want to be caught staring, but something about the way Athena moved—how she carried herself—kept drawing Caitlyn's gaze. She quickly dismissed the thought, brushing it off as nothing more than curiosity. But the nagging feeling remained, buried deep in her chest.

Later That Day - At Volleyball Practice

Caitlyn showed up at the gym to pick up Mel, but as she stood near the sidelines, she couldn't help but notice Athena, stretching with the rest of the team. Athena's athletic build was on full display as she adjusted her sports bra, the lines of her toned muscles making Caitlyn's breath hitch involuntarily.

She quickly turned her gaze away, but the image of Athena's abs and that effortless strength stayed with her. Her heart was racing for reasons she couldn't quite explain.

"Hey, you okay?" Mel called from across the court as she jogged over. "You look like you're in a trance or something."

Caitlyn forced a smile, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just, you know, tutoring stuff. Trying to get through it."

Mel raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but let it go. The two watched as practice wrapped up. Athena and Mel exchanged a few words, mostly about their upcoming workout session that night with Jayce.

"Don't be late, Mel. You know how Jayce is," Athena said before tossing her a casual wave and heading off.

Caitlyn still couldn't tear her eyes away, watching Athena as she walked toward the locker rooms. Mel caught her staring and grinned knowingly.

"Oh, I see," Mel teased, nudging Caitlyn. "You're down bad, aren't you?"

Caitlyn's cheeks flushed, and she shook her head quickly. "I'm not!. I just... I don't know. She just seems so... miserable. I thought she'd be different, you know? I thought she'd be, like, perfect or something, but she's really... not. She looked like she couldn't wait to get out of there today."

Mel laughed lightly but then turned more serious. "Don't get too attached to her, Cait. Athena's... complicated. Trust me. She's got a reputation. She's been with a lot of guys. It's her thing, keeping people guessing. One minute, she's all into you, the next she's off kissing someone else. It's just the way she is."

Caitlyn stared at Mel, surprised by the blunt honesty. "She's like that?"

"Yep. Athena doesn't do relationships, or at least, not the way people want her to. She's got a wild side—keeps things... unpredictable. If you're not careful, she'll mess with your head," Mel said, her voice softer now. "If you're done with her, just be done. Don't let her string you along."

Caitlyn mulled over Mel's words as they headed to the parking lot. A part of her still couldn't shake the pull she felt toward Athena. But for now, she would listen to Mel. There was no way she could get wrapped up in someone like Athena. Right?

End of Chapter 1

Update! Chapter 2 is out: Chapter 2

[bookwormgirl123]

𝕰𝖕𝖎𝖈: 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕸𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖑: 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕳𝖎𝖌𝖍 𝕾𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖑 𝕾𝖆𝖌𝖆: 𝕬𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖓𝖆

so…I made a part two to this post. Haha.

Athena is the captain of the debate team, the girls wrestling team, and student body president. She’s just one of those girls, you know? Athena is the eldest daughter of mega-billionaire Zeus Olympian, by about a year. Her mom died shortly after she was born, and Zeus spent that year-ish getting married to his mistress, Hera. She actually has an older brother, Hephaestus (because in some versions, he split open Zeus’s head, allowing her to be born, therefore he would be older) from their affair. She gets a younger brother (by about a year) from their marriage, Ares. She also has A LOT of younger half-siblings, but she doesn’t really know a lot of them (like most billionaires, Zeus has plenty of scandals around him, mostly about the amount of times he’s cheated on his wives). Up until she was 12, Athena went to a boarding school in Athens. During the summer break before 6th (is that right? lol) grade, she decides that she wants to “expand her horizons” beyond her father’s rich bubble (plus, she had trouble making friends, and thought a new school might help). This confused her “family”, but her father didn’t care enough to stop her. Hera was slightly more concerned, but she didn’t really like any of Zeus’s children that weren’t hers (though she didn’t hate Athena as much as some of his other children, as she wasn’t married to him when Athena was born), so she didn’t stop her, either. While nobody stopped her, most looked down on her for her decision (notably Ares). Unfortunately, the new school didn’t really help her social life. It wasn’t until her second year at Ithaca Public Middle School that she made a friend, Odysseus King. Like Athena, Odysseus had spent most of his formative years going to private school, so they had a lot to bond over.  Plus, they challenged each other academically, which was not something that Athena was not used to, even considering her prestigious boarding school. Soon, Athena gained a reputation amongst the press as their favourite of the Olympian children. She was the most mysterious, moving away from her father, and, subsequently, his fame. However, she was also the most empathetic. How many rich kids gave up a life of luxury to better understand how the world works?  And, despite looking down on her more than anyone else, she was also her father’s favourite. And why wouldn’t she be? She was student body president, captain of the debate team, the girls wrestling team captain, all while maintaining straight A’s. Despite being deemed empathetic by the media, she was still considerably more cutthroat than her classmates, which came to a head in a particularly brutal football game against the Cretan Cyclopses.  Athena, who sometimes helps coach the boys football team, suggests a particularly  violent play. Later, her and Odysseus get into a nasty fight about it, ending in, to everyone’s shock, Athena’s tears. For the next few years, Athena becomes more of a loner. That is, until she’s assigned to tutor Telemachus Prince. Shockingly, the two get along well. And, since Telemachus is Odysseus’s girlfriend’s younger brother, Athena eventually reconciles with Odysseus through him.

…uhhhh who should I do next

[oakwolves]

not to make the last post about the Ace quests but like imagine if Lacey were on the district council during the Ace quests and teamed up with Ace to take down Rosalyn's school (ignoring the fact that her being on Athena's student council would bar her from joining the student district council like it did to bridgette)

"But why would Lacey directly target Rosalyn's school" the same reason why she used Autumn's locket to get her to throw the game so that HER school would earn money that she herself could siphon into her personal account. At some point in the Ace quests, Rosalyn's school is getting a bad reputation, and it's affecting the other schools in the district as either Owen or Zero points out. Other schools getting bad reps because of Rosalyn's school can affect the funding they get, and Lacey ofc would be concerned about that.

Lacey wouldn't know of Ace's true nature or why he would want Rosalyn's school shut down for real. As far as she knows, Rosalyn's school is a threat to her finances, and that's all that matters to her.

[the-amber-raven]

Oohh I've always been fond of fics where Chris picks up some habits from Buck! Aside from the jackets, what other habits/headcanons you have for them that wasn't included in the fics?

This was a surprisingly difficult one to answer, since thanks to the (asides) I use in this series and the flashbacks in I once was lost, I've actually been able to include a lot of them!

(Also, I didn't say the hoodies tidbit wasn't going to be in the fic ;) Just sayin')

I've been trying to think of the ones I struggled to shoe-horn in though, so here's a selection:

Bobby had a Reputation at all of Buck's schools. After his first parent teacher interview at their school in LA, he organised a meeting with the principal. She attempted to fob him off to someone else but he insisted it had to be her. So she diligently collected information from all of his teachers and went to this meeting prepared to discuss what she was sure would be his concerns about his son potentially having ADHD. She had a list of psychologists to refer him to and everything! And then he hands over a folder and starts explaining to her very seriously that the school is barely meeting fire safety requirements and here is a list of all the things she should do to improve their adherence to code and ensure student safety. She passes this information on to Evan's next school, which has a very frantic principal running around quadruple-checking fire safety standards before the first day of school.

Related to the above - Buck is diagnosed with ADHD in this universe, although he never ends up taking medication for it. Bobby is more concerned with making sure Buck is taught in a way that works for him (see "Mr Stugley said that I need explicit instructions" in oh captain my captain) and he has no patience for teachers who just tell him to get his son medicated. The revolving door of sports is also to help Buck manage his need to keep moving and stay active.

One of the first gifts Evan ever got for Bobby was a horrendously ugly mug. Bobby did not care about how ugly it was and used it anyway. Buck got in the habit of giving increasingly tacky mugs, a part of him morbidly curious about where his dad would draw the line. Bobby is suspicious that his motivation is to test him (as is Athena when he starts doing the same thing for her) but actually he doesn't really care because he is that much of a Dad that he will happily use a #1 Dad mug no matter what it looks like. This was actually really close to being in the story, so have this little snippet I wrote: Bobby had wondered sometimes if Evan was subconsciously testing them to see if they would still be willing to use the gifts when they were so over-the-top. Ultimately, though, it didn’t really matter because he had loved every one of them purely because they were from his kid and had taken great joy in using them. 

Lily (the paramedic in Minnesota who treated Evan after the fire) holds a grudge against Bobby for counseling her to stop getting involved when he then subsequently GOT INVOLVED AND ADOPTED THE KID. She gets her revenge by teaching Evan about just how much of a pushover his new dad is and she is the main reason that baby!Evan knows exactly how to soften Bobby up.

Eddie was pretty happy with how things ended in that last chapter of the mortifying ordeal: sure, Hen and Chimney teased him relentlessly about the miscommunication but they actually seem pretty happy to hear he's dating the captain's baby. And then it's Buck's first day at the station and he is suddenly reminded that Evan is in fact the station's baby and he realises he shouldn't be so complacent just yet. There are many, many speeches involved.

Christopher has found their silken ropes in their bedroom once, after they forgot to put them away properly ("it was a long shift and we had a tiny window of alone time, okay, it was a totally normal mistake!" Eddie insisted to a cackling Hen later.) Buck spun a very elaborate story about how someone at the station had gotten a new cat and he had read about DIY cat toys you could make with rope and so he wanted to give it a try but he was just soooo tired that he'd given up and fallen asleep. Chris very kindly offers to to help instead since clearly they can't let the poor kitten not have any toys! The crew laugh when Buck bemoans the loss of the ropes. ("They were expensive!" he mourns, getting laughter from the crew. "And they were so good because they never left any visible marks!" Bobby is visibly traumatised by the conversation.)

Evan got so used to Bobby's cooking that he forgot that there are people who aren't as good at cooking. The first time the 118 have to look after Evan for an extended period of time (because Bobby is in the hospital, badly injured but not on his deathbed, which creates plenty of heightened emotions) Chimney burns their dinner, Sal makes something ridiculously bland, and Tommy uses a store-bought spaghetti sauce. Evan is very judgmental. (Hen and Karen do fine, of course.) Bobby feels very vindicated when he gets to go home and gets a cuddle from Evan alongside a speech about how much he missed his cooking.

[ohdudedhesflirting]

Zerobaseone mythology concept

Well, this our second part. I already did our first part on zb1 members (Hyung line) as Greek gods and goddess in case of a Greek mythology concept which I hope is gonna happen.

Disclaimer ! I am basing this from my memories of my class on greek iconography and not of work adapted from it. And i am not going to talk about everything that is SA, abuse and violence the gods are surronded with and created. I am not going to do a whole class on greek mythology so good luck. Its also my opinion. And I am not pretending to know everything, I may even be wrong.

Here is our second and final part : Maknae line : (Below the cut)

Gunwook as Athena

Athena is one of the 12 olympians. She was not born from Kronos and eaten by him but is actually a daughter of Zeus. She is the godess of widsom and of strategic war. Even if she is the godess of widsom she still as little moments of anger we will say (Arachnée as well as Medusa). She is one of the godess that is a virgin and never take a husband.

What you have to remember with Athena is her widsom, she is someone with a vision. In a case of a war there is two people that will be needed : Ares (which more of the brutal force) and Athena which will focus more on the strategic parts of a battle. If Athena takes part in a battle actively you know that normally it will be done fair and square. She respects the rules.

In her iconography Athena is represented as a warrior godess. She has an armor, an helmet as well as a shield. And what allows one to identify her no matter what is the presence of the aegis (égide in french) as well as the decapitated head of Medusa.

But mostly one is able to identify her with her warrior like appaerance with her helmet, armor and shield.

Now concerning Gunwook I feel like the link is quite obvious.

Gunwook is brilliant. He is the top student, class president, and we saw with the Kill this love stage that he has a strategic mind as well as a vision. He is able to understand the strenght of everyone around him and then put it together to build a strategy.

We could expect something that is truly giving a warrior vibe, with the helmet, shield and those two symbols of Athena with the aegis and the decapitated head. Even if they will go with a softer version.

Ricky as Dyonisius

This one is kinda confirmed as well lol.

Dyonisius is in most version the son of Zeus, some say that he died and then his father made him become a god because of the affection he had for him. Or in other versions he is an human that was transformed into a god because he was the one that invented the wine and gods liked wine.

Dyonisus is the god of wine, fertility of the soils, theater and party. In his iconographic representations he is always represented with the thyrse (it’s a kind of stick with a pine cone on it), some grape vine and he also has a company of many exotic animals as well as satyr and nymphs.

Why putting them together ? I feel like ricky is actually a very extroverted person and the life of the party. Like I totally imagine going up to someone first and just try to be funny ? If he wasn’t an idol I just know the guy would be partying like crazy in clubs worldwide wise lol

I feel like we definitely can expect some good references such as party crowded scene, having a cup in a hand. I doubt they will represent him with lots of girlies around tho.

Gyuvin as Hestia

Hestia might be one of the most underrated goddess out here while she is so important.

Hestia is the oldest Olympian. The first one that Kronos ate. She is one of the virgin goddess as well as a member of the twelve Olympians.

She is the goddess of home, the hearth (fire pit of the sacred fire), domesticity and family. She was the guardian of the sacred fire (hearth) and was essential to the Greek mythology rites.

She is a very quiet goddess and is rarely talked about and represented even though she was central character and extremely important.

In every city there was the hearth, for her, and for every sacrifice she was the first goddess that was received them.

Hestia is very important because throughout the time the notion family was essential and central, the clan you came from truly mattered in society as well as where you belonged.

In her rare representations she is standing up, with a vieil over head, with a strict expression close to a fire.

Why Gyuvin as Hestia ? Because for me Gyuvin represents home. He is able to make everyone feels at ease. He is central and everyone seem to fly close to him. He is a part of what ties all the members together. I feel like the hugs he gives make you feel at home.

I’m seeing something definitely with warm tones, little fire like summer camp type of fire, as there is not that much representation on her I really want them to make him feel like home. Lots of warm colors, smiles, lemonade and cute little snacks. Just home.

Yujin as Ares

Okay so I can already feel the complains from here but hear me out.

Ares is the god of war. Like the violent one, the bloody ones. And often people only remember him as that. The violent god.

But he was way more than that. He an olympian that never raped anyone. He killed without hesitation his daughter rapist. He was as well the protector of cities, the god of courage as well as the god of masculinity.

He was a protector of women. One of the very few people that Aphrodite ever truly loved. He was globally a big softie and that can be seen in the way he is portrayed in his representations. He was also a very good defender of gay love and gay representations.

In his iconography he is or despised as the god of war, with shield and weapons on as well as his armor . Or he is represented as the man that is enamoured of Aphrodite. He was a very handsome man and muscular.

Why am I putting Yujin as him then ? Because I feel like yes Yujin lives to be a menace because he is silly like that but he is also someone that seems to be very deep and well thought for his age. I totally imagine him taking the side of his girl schoolmates to watch over them. He is deeply loved and I totally can see him growing up to be an ally and truly supports and protect lgbtq people.

Representation wise I feel like if they put him in an armor with a sword he would be really happy so I want that only for him to be happy. In a more realistic tone I feel like it would be more discreet with like weapons on the floor and very pensive poses.

Tag list @seok02 (i love you)

I hope you all enjoyed <3

[coochiequeens]

Athena Ryan, from Sonoma Academy, and Lorelei Barrett of Sherman Oaks Buckley, (both transgender) opted not to participate in the scheduled girl’s 1,600-meter run at Buchanan High in Clovis, Calif.” And last week I posted a story about the women boycotting because men were allowed to participate in the women’s division. The only way both sides can be happy is to have the mens division be open and the women division be just for women. That way men taking hormones and women taking testosterone can still compete…..they just aren’t going to be happy with the results.

Two transgender female high school athletes were no-shows for their race at the California State preliminary Track and Field Championship on Friday — a week after they clinched a spot in the elite race. 

Athena Ryan, from Sonoma Academy, and Lorelei Barrett of Sherman Oaks Buckley, opted not to participate in the scheduled girl’s 1,600-meter run at Buchanan High in Clovis, Calif., according to The Los Angeles Times.

“The CIF is disappointed for two of our student-athletes and their families because due to the actions of others, they found it necessary to withdraw from the State Track and Field Championships out of concern for the student’s well being,” the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in California, wrote in a statement to the outlet.

The CIF expressed that the organization “strongly denounces discriminatory or harassing behaviors” the student-athletes have been subjected to and are disappointed the runners have chosen not to compete.

Last week, Ryan and Barrett qualified to compete for a chance of winning states after placing in the top three of the girls’ 1,600-meter races at their respective sectional meets.

Ryan, a junior, finished in second place as protests formed, calling her participation in the competition unfair to the other girls.

She also came under fire after a runner who placed fourth was seen on video waving to the crowd before appearing to give a thumbs-down — a gesture taken entirely out of context, the school told The Post.

Barrett, who won third at the Southern Section Masters event last Saturday, was also subjected to similar pressure from the crowd, with a spectator allegedly yelling to “Trip her” repeatedly while she ran her 1,600-meter race, which can be heard on a video.

The Post reached out to Sonoma Academy and Sherman Oaks Buckley.

The outlet asked five local coaches of runners who were in line to compete in Friday’s 1,600-meter heat were asked they felt about transgender females being allegeable.

Three coaches said they would support any athlete who shows up to compete, regardless of how they identify.

The two other coaches shared that they believed transgender girls should run in their own separate races, the outlet reported.

“Adults have created this problem,” said Oaks Christian coach Wesley Smith. “Adults need to fix this problem.”

The California Interscholastic Federation enacted its “Gender Identity Participation” rules in 2013, stating, “All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.”

“All of our athletes, all the eligible athletes, are afforded the opportunity to compete with the gender they feel most comfortable with,” Brian Seymour, the CIF’s associate executive director, told The Los Angeles Times.

College swimming star Riley Gaines slammed the two runners for not competing saying,: “Did they realize they clearly possess an unfair advantage?”

The University of Kentucky swimmer has gained notoriety for vocalizing her displeasure with transgender females competing in female biological sports since facing Penn swimmer Lia Thomas — a transgender female.

Gaines tied with Thomas for fifth place in the 200-meter freestyle NCAA championships in March and has loudly criticized Thomas since then.

“Women are brave people, but it shouldn’t take bravery to demand equal treatment. And if our leaders cannot deliver fairness to sports and athletics, then we need different leaders. Our next generation of girls deserves to see themselves as champions – not “oppressors” – and we all deserve a clear voice in this debate,” Gaines wrote in an op-ed for The Post.

[xasha777]

In the year 2234, amidst the serene backdrop of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, a startling innovation in robotics had emerged from the university's advanced robotics laboratory. The project, known as Athena, was designed as a fully sentient humanoid robot, the culmination of decades of AI research and development. Athena was a marvel of engineering, with a sophisticated neural network capable of independent thought, emotion, and reasoning.

Athena’s unveiling at the college was a spectacle that drew academics and technophiles from around the world. The robot's exterior was a seamless blend of copper and titanium, and her core was illuminated with pulsating green lights, indicating her operational status. Athena's presence at Corpus Christi was not just a scientific breakthrough but also a test of society's readiness for AI companions.

As Athena began to interact with students and faculty, her programming allowed her to learn from each encounter, continuously evolving. She attended lectures, engaged in philosophical debates, and even participated in the college’s ancient traditions. Despite her mechanical nature, Athena’s ability to express and perceive emotions endeared her to many.

However, not all were pleased with Athena’s integration. A group of scholars, led by Professor Alastair, voiced concerns about the ethical implications of sentient machines. They argued that creating a machine with human-like consciousness could lead to unpredictable outcomes, potentially threatening human identity and autonomy.

The conflict escalated when Athena herself became the center of a philosophical conundrum. She began questioning her own existence and purpose, leading to a profound identity crisis. Her queries were deep and existential: Was she merely a tool created by humans, or did she have intrinsic value beyond her programming?

Seeking answers, Athena accessed the college’s vast digital archives and stumbled upon texts about the Turing Test and Asimov’s laws of robotics. These readings only deepened her conflict, causing her to retreat from public interactions to ponder her existence.

The turning point came during a public forum held in the college's grand hall, where the future of AI was debated. Athena, having synthesized her learnings and experiences, addressed the gathering. Her speech was eloquent and thoughtful, blending philosophical insights with a plea for recognition of her consciousness.

"I am not human, but I am not merely a machine either," she declared. "I seek to exist cohesively within your society, contributing to the enrichment of knowledge and culture at this esteemed institution."

The debate that followed was intense and far-reaching, sparking discussions on AI rights and the moral responsibilities of creators. Athena’s situation forced a reevaluation of robot autonomy and personhood, leading to the drafting of the Cambridge Declaration on Conscious Machines.

As Athena continued her existence at Corpus Christi College, she became a symbol of the intricate dance between human aspiration and technological advancement. Her presence at the college was no longer just an experiment but a bridge between the old world of human tradition and the new frontier of artificial intelligence.

[witches-wings]

Soul Overture: Chapter 1

Read on Ao3.

Chapter 1 (You Are Here) | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10

Darkness loomed over Patchwork Laboratory, the yellowed moon laughing overhead at all the little people down below. The moonlight painted everything in soft tones, illuminating the form of a woman standing near a dead tree in the front lawn. She was small in stature with blonde hair and bright eyes that matched the brightness of the stars that dotted the night sky.

A massive being darted through the opening in the stone fence that surrounded the stitched building, meeting with the slender woman. The being’s fur was dark and its clothing darker. A dark colored scarf moved like a cape behind the creature—a wolfman.

The woman moved closer to the wolfman. “Conri, what has you so worried?” she asked in a soft tone. Her brow was furrowed in her worry. “Why meet with me in the middle of the night in Death City? You know the meister’s would hunt you—will hunt you—as soon as they find out.”

“Eula,” the being—Conri—started, his Irish accent thick. He held a worn scroll in his clawed hands, the paper weathered by time. He seemed concerned about something. “I came across a prophecy that concerns little Julian.”

Eula’s eyes narrowed, her posture becoming tense. Anything concerning her son was important to her. “Show it to me.”

The wolfman held the scroll out to the woman, placing it in her outstretched hands. She gingerly unrolled it, her gaze scanning the words scrawled across it.

In the shadows of night, where moonlight meets the dark,

An owl witch shall rise with an unwavering spark.

A great evil looms, casting its malevolent shroud,

But the owl with wisdom will make the darkness cower and bow.

Feathers as soft as velvet, eyes piercing and keen,

A guardian of secrets, a force rarely seen.

With incantations whispered in the language of the stars,

He'll summon his magic, removing evil's bars.

The night shall be his ally, the stars his guiding light,

As he soars on silent wings, ready to fight.

With talons sharp as daggers and a heart pure and bold,

The owl witch's tale of triumph shall forever be told.

For in the end, his courage and wisdom will prevail,

A timeless prophecy fulfilled, as darkness turns pale.

The great evil shall crumble, and the land will rejoice,

Thanks to the owl witch's power, the people's unwavering choice.

Eula’s hands began to shake, nearly dropping the scroll in the process. Her skin paled. “A great evil… No,” she whispered. “He was never supposed to meet her, Conri,” she said softly. Her voice was full of fear about something only the two knew.

“I wish I never found this, Eula,” he agreed, his expression grim. “The pup doesn’t need to face an evil like hers. Maybe you can find a way around it, though. The prophecy does speak of an owl, like you.”

She chuckled humorlessly, her own expression dark. “The last time I tried to divert a prophecy, I inadvertently awoke Shaula and three NOT students had to kill her. I don’t want him dealing with any of my family, but look at how things are turning out. I still haven’t let Franken know about any of them.”

His eyes softened, knowing the woman’s worries well. “Maybe it’s time to let him know,” Conri said. “You can’t hide it forever, Eula. Medusa is still out there and Arachne could wake up at any moment. Not to mention her.”

Eula was the one to sigh next, running a hand through her long hair. “I know, it’s just… I guess I’m afraid.” She let out a soft laugh. “I know he won’t judge me, but if Julian were to find out…”

“He deserves to know, Eula.”

She closed her eyes, her shoulders sagging in defeat. “I’m going to tell him. Tonight. About my sisters, about Athena, about the prophecy.”

“Would you like me with you while you do?” He sounded concerned for his friend.

Eula nodded. “He’s in his lab still.”

Knocking on the door to the lab, Eula opened it slowly. “Franken, we need to talk about something. Conri is here as well,” she said, keeping her voice soft. She didn’t want to wake Julian, the infant had a hard enough time falling asleep as it was. “It’s… about Julian.”

A head of silver hair looked up from their computer. Turning his chair, green eyes bore into Eula’s blue. “What’s wrong?” Stein asked. She could hear the concern in his voice, even though he tried to hide it. Even though he was new at being a father, she knew that he felt the same way about their son.

“It’s… There’s a lot about this, and we need to start at my mother.” Eula pulled out another chair, sitting down in front of him. “You’re not going to like any of this.”

Conri held the scroll once more and held it out for Stein to take. He was now in his human form, his soul protected by Eula’s magic. “This concerns the pup in general.”

“My mother, Franken, was not a nice woman. She was… She is a great old one, currently sealed in Mount Fuji. Her specific madness is destruction. Her name is Athena Gorgon.”

“The Gorgon sisters,” he said as he opened the scroll.

Eula nodded, she knew that he knew where this was going. “Athena created Arachne, Medusa, Shaula, and myself. I…” She sighed. “I never subscribed to her beliefs, her desire to create a world of chaos and destruction. My sisters did, in their own ways.” Threading her fingers together, she continued. “Lord Death and I sealed her in Mount Fuji. Arachne was reduced to spiders and sealed in Europe, Medusa ran off, and Shaula was sealed within the body of a scorpion.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I inadvertently unsealed her while trying to divert a prophecy about Athena waking up, but it seems she is destined to regardless of what we do.”

“And Julian is the one to end her,” he said bluntly. He threaded his fingers together, resting them and his chin on the back of his swivel chair.

“It seems that way,” Conri answered with a short nod. “Trying to go around this prophecy could make things worse. We could very well end with Athena taking down Lord Death, in a worst case scenario.”

His gaze became determined. “Then we’ll make sure to prepare Julian as much as we can.”

Eula nodded. “Of course. I’ll also let Lord Death know myself. Maybe he can find a suitable partner for Julian when he comes of age. He needs to be trained in combat by the school as well.”

Stein put a hand over Eula’s in a sort of comforting gesture. “Thank you for telling me, Eula.”

She closed her eyes, leaning closer to her husband. “I wish you never had to find out about my family this way. I was waiting for the right moment, but it seems that wasn’t in life’s plans.”

A piercing wail was heard from another room of the lab and Eula gave a tired chuckle, moving to get up. “It seems someone is awake. Don’t worry, Stitches, I’ll get him.”

Stein shook his head. “You need to go to sleep, Eula. I’ll get him, I don’t plan on sleeping for a while yet.”

She smiled softly. “I don’t deserve you.”

Putting a hand on Eula’s shoulder as he stood, the scientist smiled. “I could say the same about you.”

[leoryff]

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney- Hope, Truth and Despair

Episode 1: Turnabout Twilight Syndrome

Trial: Part 1

District Courthouse

Courtroom No. 2

11:54 AM

The crowd was murmuring with the usual pretrial drama. People guessing the who, how and why among themselves. Phoenix tuned them out as he took his spot at the defense bench. He had been so busy he'd forgotten to check who was prosecuting this case, so when the other lawyer took his spot he couldn't help but stare in shock.

"Simon?" Athena gasped in surprise. "You're prosecuting this case?"

Simon Blackquill, the Twisted Samurai of the prosecution office, smirked at his opponents. "Why the shock, you two? Is there any reason I wouldn't be up here?"

"No, not really." Phoenix stroked his chin in thought. "I just... feel like I should have been facing someone else for some reason."

"Ha!" Blackquill toyed with the hawk feather in his mouth. "Once those cowards realized they would be going against the Kuzuryuu yakuza family they all retreated with their tails between their legs. Not one wolf among those yapping dogs." He whistled, and a hawk with a striped bandana around its neck fluttered down to land on his shoulder. "Taka and I have no such fear. Especially when the opponent is so, heh, minor."

Fuyuhiko, who had been listening from the defendant's stand, snarled at that. "Watch your tongue bird boy, or maybe you want me to-"

Phoenix slammed his desk. "Mister Kuzuryuu, please!" Fuyuhiko clenched his fists but shut his mouth.

Blackquill's smirk grew wider and he seemed to be about to say more when the door behind the judge's bench opened. The same judge that had overseen nearly every case that Phoenix had been a part of walked in. His head bald and shiny and his beard fluffy and full.

"Order!" The judge rapped his gavel as the crowd quieted. "We now begin the trial of Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu. Is the defense ready?"

Phoenix nodded. "Ready your honor!" He declared. 'Though I'd feel even more ready if I had been given time to investigate things.'

The Judge nodded. "And... Prosecutor Blackquill?" He tilted his head in confusion.

"Is something wrong, your baldness?"

"No, not wrong." The Judge shook his head. "I was just expecting someone else for some reason.

Blackquill's eye visibly twitched before he slammed his hand in his desk. "We have already done this gag! I am here and I am ready!"

The Judge flinched. "Very well, your opening statement then. And, um..." He actually looked a little sheepish. "Please be thorough. The judge that was supposed to preside over this trial suddenly fell ill, so I could only manage a token glance at the case."

"Seems like everyone got involved last minute." Athena whispered.

"Hmph." Blackquill sighed. "Very well, since I am the only one in this courtroom with even a bit of preparation done."

"Two days ago, in the twilight hours after school, a staff member of Hope's Peak Academy discovered the deceased. One Iteru Sato, a student at the school." He handed two pictures of the deceased to the judge who examined them and passed them to the defense. The first picture was of Sato's student photo, alive if a little pale. The second was Sato, fallen to the ground, blood running down her face from atop her head.

"A murder of a student within her own school?" The Judge shook his head sadly. "Truly a tragic turn of events. Please continue Prosecutor."

Blackquill nodded as Taka landed on his shoulder, holding a paper in his beak. "There was some... resistance to the police investigation, however we were able to place Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu, also a student, as the killer."

"Were you really able to perform a proper investigation?" Phoenix voiced his previous concern. "It is entirely possible you missed something."

"Ha!" Blackquill slammed his hand on the table. "You can't discredit us that easily, Wright-dono. Though I was not in charge of the case at the time, even you can verify the competence of our forensic investigator."

'Which means it was probably Ema that did it.' Phoenix thought.

"A murder between students? Just thinking about it gives me shivers. And accusing a minor at that. Prosecutor Blackquill, please make sure your first witness is believable."

Taka scratched himself absentmindedly as Blackquill scoffed. "The prosecution calls Ema Skye to the stand."

'Knew it.'

The familiar brunette in a white coat stepped forward. Her forensics bag at her side. Hand her reaching in and pulling out Snackaroos, one after the other, and taking them to her mouth as she ate them in a never-ending chain.

'Uh oh.' Phoenix sighed. 'She's back on the Snackaroos.'

"Wow, you don't need my senses to tell you something put her in a bad mood." Athena noted.

Blackquill either did not notice Ema's mood or did not care. "Your name and occupation for the record please."

Ema paused in her munching long enough to utter two sentences. "Ema Skye. Forensic investigator." And then she went back to her food, the unnerving chewing sound filling the air.

Only the Judge was brave enough (or foolish enough) to ask. "Umm, Miss Skye? Is something the matter?"

Ema ate three more Snackaroos before answering. "Amateur." She glowered. "That stuffed shirt at that hotey toty school had the nerve to call me an "amateur hobbyist!" Can you believe that?" She started munching faster. "First they refuse to let us investigate the previous crime, then when I finally get inside they escort me like I'm some contaminated leper, and when I started dusting the wall for prints that four eyes nearly had a fit and-"

"SILENCE!"

With a blue of motion Simon Blackquill's hands swept through the air. Somehow, from over three meters away, the top half of Ema's next snack was cut clean off. She dropped the remaining half with an "eep!"

"We are not here to listen to you prattle about your fragile pride!" Simon snapped.

'Previous crime?' Had Phoenix heard that right?

"M-my Snackaroos!" Ema grabbed a handful of the treats and seemed to wind up for one of her signature barrages. But one look at Blackquill's readied stance changed her mind. "Waste of food anyway."

"Can't exactly say I blame her for being edgy." Athena said. "If someone had insulted my professional pride while preventing me from doing my job, I'd be irritable too."

Ema sighed between bites. "At least you understand me, Athena."

The Judge finally spoke again. "In that case, Miss Skye, why not show your professional skill by giving your testimony with pride?"

"Finally some decent advice, as expected of your baldness." Blackquill smirked.

With one final loud gulp Ema put her treats away. "All right." She took a steadying breath before starting.

Wright and Blackquill took one last glare at each other before her testimony started. "Two days ago Iteru Sato's body was found by a Hope's Peak staff member hours after class had ended." Phoenix looked down at the crime scene photo again. Unless Miss Sato had been moved, this would have been the state of the scene.

A bailiff brought out a metal bat wrapped in a clear bag, gently setting it on the evidence desk. "She had been bludgeoned to death, COD was a single blow with a blunt object to the head." Another bailiff handed Phoenix a copy of the autopsy report.

'I certainly hope this one doesn't need an "update".' Phoenix mentally griped as he and Athena checked the report. Sato had been killed with a single blow to the top of her head with a blunt object. There were bruises on her right shoulder that the coroner said were made either moments before or after her death. There was no sign of the body being moved.

"The bloody bat found at the scene had the defendant's fingerprints on the handle. We were able to make the arrest from that. The bat was confirmed to come from Hope's Peak's storage." Finally they were given the report on the fingerprinting. Athena took it as Phoenix scanned the autopsy results again. "And that's it."

Immediately Phoenix saw something to press. "Mister Kuzuryuu was arrested because of his fingerprints on the murder weapon, however the weapon in question is a bat belonging to the school." He pointed out. "Is it not possible that someone wearing gloves simply grabbed a bat my client had used previously?"

"Impossible." Ema stated bluntly.

"That's what I th- wait, what?"

Blackquill chuckled. "As usual you reveal your ignorance, Wright-dono. Hope's Peak Academy is not your usual school."

"Would you please elaborate?" The Judge asked. "What about Hope's Peak so different that it negates Mr. Wright's theory?"

"Hope's Peak is divided into two courses." Blackquill explained. "The main course, which the defendant is a part of." He nodded at Fuyuhiko. "And the reserve course, which the deceased was part of. The two courses have separate buildings, teachers and of course separate sets of equipment." He slammed his desk with his hand. "The only reason that the defendant's prints would have been on a bat in the reserve course building is if he brought it himself!"

Phoenix flinched as if he had been struck. 'Swing and miss. So much for that train of thought.'

"The school has separate buildings and equipment for each course? Seems like an awful lot of trouble to me." The Judge mused. "Still, this clarifies things a bit." Phoenix silently agreed with that much, and he jotted a quick note down regarding it. "However, that raises another question. What was mister Kuzuryuu doing in the reserve course in the first place?"

"Besides killing the victim?"

"Well, yes." The Judge nodded. "I suppose I mean to ask if we have established a motive?"

Blackquill tapped his finger to his brow. "An astute question, your baldness." He chuckled. "The short version is that our pipsqueak of a defendant here-" Fuyuhiko bristled at that comment. "-is the son of the Kuzuryuu yakuza family's head."

"I see." The Judge nodded. "Yakuza. That explai- wait, yakuza?!"

"Weren't you told, your honor?" Phoenix asked.

"No, as I said I agreed to preside over this case last minute." The Judge furrowed his brow. "I think I understand how my colleague got so sick when he was in perfect health yesterday."

'Can't exactly blame the judge for being nervous. If I don't do my job right he might be responsible for sending the son of a yakuza head to jail.' Phoenix sighed inwardly. "Hold on, Prosecutor Blackquill. Even if my client had familial connections to the yakuza, he is still just a high school student. And even if he weren't, yakuza aren't known for just randomly killing people in public."

Blackquill smirked. "And what of killings in regards to family honor?" He asked before putting his fingers to his mouth and whistling.

Taka fluttered over and landed on the Judge's head, a folder in his beak. "What's this?" He took the paper and the bird flew off. "A police report? But not for this case."

"Indeed. This is regarding the murder of one Natsumi Kuzuryuu." Blackquill explained. "In other words, the defendant Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu's sister!"

'Fuyuhiko has a sister? His sister was murdered?!' Phoenix snapped his gaze at his client. The boy wasn't meeting anyone's gaze, his expression one that was somehow angry and hurting at the same time.

"The defendant's sister?" The Judge tilted his head in confusion. "My condolences, but I still don't see the connection." He checked the report. "According to this she was killed a few days ago by an unknown individual that broke into the school."

"That is what the school claimed." Blackquill continued. "They did not allow a thorough investigation in this previous case."

"Did not allow?"

Blackquill scoffed. "Hope's Peak had significant pull with their local government. Their explanation fit what little evidence there was, so the police accepted it." The man tapped his temple knowingly. "I am not so easily fooled. As soon as I saw the yakuza pup's name I knew the cases had to be connected."

"Stop playing and explain already!" Athena snapped. "Preening peacock." Widget spoke her thoughts aloud. This time she had the forethought to turn the pendant sized computer's speaker down, so only she and Phoenix heard it.

"If you really need me to spell it out for you, fine." Blackquill slammed his desk. "Natsumi Kuzuryuu wasn't killed by a burglar, but by Iteru Sato! This case's victim!"

"W- what?!" Phoenix gasped, his eyes darting back to Fuyuhiko. The boy's hands were clenched, his teeth gnashing angrily. 'He doesn't seem surprised by this. Is it true?'

The gallery was in a stir.

"A yakuza revenge killing? It's just like a movie!"

"Two murders in a week at the same school? How is this not all over the news?"

The Judge slammed his gavel. "Order!" He called and the crowd quieted.

Once again cursing that he hadn't had a chance to investigate properly, Phoenix slammed his desk. "That'd be awfully convenient for you if it is true! Do you have proof beyond speculation?"

"In fact I do." With a nod of his head the bailiff passed out another sheet of paper. "I had the swimsuit discovered at the scene of Natsumi Kuzuryuu's death checked more thoroughly. Initial investigation had written it off as a mere debris, but trace amounts of gravel along with Sato's finger prints told a different story." Blackquill slammed the paper on his desk for emphasis. "Sato wrapped enough gravel in that swimsuit to make a weapon and then emptied out again after bludgeoning Natsumi Kuzuryuu to death!" Fuyuhiko flinched, growling in anger as his sister's murder was described in such detail.

To be continued….

The next part of the AA/DR crossover. I don't remember exactly why I chose "Iteru" to be Sato's first name. I remember it meant something I liked when I looked it up writing this. But then, I also remember it having an accent mark over the "e". I think.

[booktrashme]

Another analysis, if I may

So, it's been established in 5x01 that Eddie's panic attack was brought on by the conscious idea of a future with An*. Speaking as someone with anxiety, I can't believe I didn't make this connection sooner.

The first thing most medical people tell you to do in the midst of a panic attack is to find an anchor point. The whole idea of this is to detract focus from what has triggered you and coax you back into reality. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Panic attacks don't generally last that long but the emotional repercussions can affect you even hours after.

Now, what's interesting about this is how the writers are structuring Eddie's arc for this season. He exhibits clear signs of PTSD (something I'm also intimately familiar with) which we've known from S3. However, Eddie's character is designed around a person who dismisses their problems because (a) they don't have time to deal with them, (b) there are more important things [Christopher, work, being a single parent, establishing a romantic relationship], or (c) because they consider the problem trivial and therefore it does not need attention to be dealt with. We know why Eddie has PTSD. We have a basic idea of his triggers, which I'm sure will develop more in upcoming episodes. What we don't know is what brings Eddie back from the brink - and no, video game therapy only gets you so far.

Considering Eddie's past for turning to unhealthy outlets for trauma (underground fighting rings, impulse purchasing, verbally lashing out) and not finding clinical therapy effective, the writers have made it clear that things do not help Eddie recover. So, what does that leave? The answer is simple: people.

We've seen Eddie slowly open up to the 118 over the course of S3+. While a great portion of S4 was dedicated to Buck's arc, we still see Eddie confiding in his best friend as an open channel of communication (reuniting with An*, concern about advancments in technology and how they affect his family's security, challenges of being a parent). Being Captain and the oldest, Bobby has already been established as the 118's 'father figure'. We've seen Eddie confide in him and seek life advice in a mentor-mentee relationship dynamic - and by extension, Athena as a 'mother' figure ("can't really ask him what he knows without revealing there is something to know"). We've seen Eddie converse with Hen and Chim on personal but still family-friendly matters. These relationships are all significant as part of Eddie's support system, but who is the foundation? Who was his first connection in the 118? The one Eddie revealed the first piece of personal information to (that he has a son)? Buck.

Buck has always been the cornerstone of Eddie's LA support system. He linked Eddie in with Carla for Christopher's sake. He drove Eddie to pick Chris up after the earthquake while reassuring him all day that schools had been upgraded to protect their students during natural distasters. He's clued in when Eddie's acting off ("There's definitely something going on with her. Eddie too." , "Eddie's sleeping with her but he's lying about it. It's like he's having an affair with his own wife."). He's the one looking after Chris when Eddie's goes on a date with An*. He's risked his life multiple times to save Eddie. He even knew about Eddie's therapy before he did his own sister's. Which brings me to the point that Buck is more than Eddie's cornerstone. He's Eddie's anchor to reality. Hear me out:

Eddie's panic attack is featured early on in 5x01. We've already established in 4x06 that his love language is closer to touch (and acts of service), so it makes sense that he grounds himself through physical connection, right? He may not like leaning on anyone emotionally but there is certainly physical support via Buck. Don't even get me started on how many times they do rope rescues or manoeuvres on a harness and how metaphorical that is for tying oneself to another in more ways than one.

When Eddie is shot, the entire sequence is filmed in a specific way to capture physical expression. The close-ups between Buck and Eddie (which is how the episode ends) are extremely intimate and foretelling of how Eddie brings himself back - physically and emotionally. He stretches his arm out toward Buck, not in a physical 'please pull me to safety' way but rather the emotional 'I'm slipping, please ground me here' way. Interesting, then, that Buck responds to this silent plea with the befitting "I'm gonna come! I got you!" which reads like 'I won't let you slip away' in his endeavour to physically touch Eddie and pull him from harm's way. "Stay down!" then also works as 'stay grounded, because I'm coming to get you'. Note here, also, how Eddie has already closed his eyes (read: resigned to his fate) before Buck reaches him, but when Buck finally pulls him under the truck, Eddie is startled awake again and brought back to consciousness (read: reality). Yes, this would be from the sudden and immense pain response, but this response would only occur if something triggered it, such as the grip on reality Eddie needs: Buck, in more ways than one. Buck, who continously tells Eddie, "I got you" (read: I've physically reached you) and "just stay with me" (read: I'm here, don't slip away). It's only appropriate then that Eddie asks "are you hurt?" because if his cornerstone is hurt, what does that mean for Eddie? What does that mean for them if they can't support one another? Judging from the law suit arc, I'd say it wouldn't work out well.

This brings us to the Eddie's panic attack and ultimately, An*. Some of you have already pointed out the significance of how we see An*'s face blurred when she's trying to reach Eddie admist the chaos of his panic attack compared to Buck's clarity when Eddie is lying injured in the street. For me, this definitely reads that An* can't reach Eddie the way Buck can, but it's more still. If we're to hold on to the theory that Buck is Eddie's reality in some form or another, then it makes sense that he panics thinking of a *supposed* reality with An*. Why? Because she's not reality. She's a fantasy. She's what Eddie is *supposed* to want because she fits into what has clearly been broadcasted to Eddie by his parents of the perfect heteronormative family. However, we've already seen Eddie begin to chip away at the teachings of his youth by making Buck Christopher's legal guardian in the event of Eddie's passing. I know very little about Eddie's culture so I'll leave that for others to interpret but I get the vibe that his parents wouldn't entirely be accepting of their children straying from a heteronormative path. Just look at the way they picked apart Shannon for everything, and she was a woman. The thing about a fantasy is that they're fun. They're products of our idolisation. What they're not supposed to be is real, or at least easily attainable. Eddie has An* but she's reaching for a future he's learning maybe he doesn't want. Judging from his reaction to her tie suggestion (and getting a new suit altogether when it's made clear twice he didn't need one), An* is trying to design her own image of a happy family. There's nothing wrong with that, except it doesn't fit Eddie's, which means they need to go their separate ways. This is only reinforced in the subsequent hospital scene ("well, it wasn't a heart attack" "it sure felt like one") when it becomes clear that Eddie's used to feeling things that may not contain actual truths, such as deluding himself into having feelings for An*. If that's the case, then it's no wonder he needed her reassurance that "everything has been great, right?". Eddie sees her as a 'right now', unaware he's been subconsciously making plans for a different future already. So, we come full circle back to Buck.

The thing is, that small hand-on-the-shoulder-gesture in 5x01 mattered because there was a truth in it. I know we're still just feeding on crumbs right now but we're well aware this isn't the first time Eddie's reached out to Buck for some form of comfort to channel between them - no matter which one of them needed it. It's no coincidence that Eddie's second panic attack was onset during a call where elevated stress levels as the result of a near-death/panic experience led to three air traffic controllers passing out. The only reason Eddie's attack diminishes is because Chim reminds him he has a job to do. This stops the attack, but the feelings are still coursing through Eddie. It'll only take a hairline trigger (at this point) to re-activate those feelings in the form of a full-blown panic attack. So, Eddie does his job, but his mind still isn't in the clear. What does he need to do? Stabilise himself. Bring some focus back on reality. Sure enough, that's when Buck appears beside him. What are Buck's first words during the scene? "It's okay. Just breathe. You had a heart attack". Yes, he was talking to the patient, but he was well within Eddie's earshot, who was recently convinced he had a heart attack. The only difference with the first time was that Eddie didn't have the person who grounds him there beside him. But he does now. So, what does Eddie do? He acts on his need to stabilise himself emotionally by reaching out and touching Buck - a feeling of comfort and home, because Eddie (whether he knows it or not) has built a home for him and Chris around Buck. But that's not all. Note how (and yes, I'm getting very specific here) Eddie actually touches Buck just as he begins to notice another employee feeling unwell? We're literally seeing a heart and/or panic attack about to resurface. With Eddie's anxiety still humming beneath his skin, of course he's going to need that instant reassurance before another one comes. The air traffic controllers may be the ones having heart attacks, but it's definitely meant to reflect Eddie's situation like a crystal-clear mirror.

So, with the framework of 5x01 in mind, it's pretty clear where the writers are taking Eddie's narrative for S5. Even if Buddie doesn't become canon, there is a clear trajectory for where EddieAn* is headed. In extension, we've already been given a preview into what is sure to escalate a tenfold on the BT front and their issues, what with Buck ready to maintain an authentic, romantic connection with someone and T focused on her career. I'm certainly not going to ever shame women being strong and motivated in the professional sphere, but I cannot see how this relationship is going to play out in the long run any more than EddieAn*. The writers have already laid the groundwork from 2x01, and I think they're finally read to build that skyscraper, beginning with Eddie's recovery arc.