#bond 10

[fernrisulfr]

After far too long, Cu Alter is finally Bond 10. I've had him since the America Singularity.

[writer-and-artist27]

[Image Description: Four screenshots from Fate/Grand Order showing in order, (1) the Bond Level Up screen for Assassin Mata Hari, where her Bond Level has gone up from 9 to 10; (2) the “Craft Essence Extracted” screen that shows Mata Hari’s Max Bond Craft Essence of “Worthless Jewel”; (3) a screenshot of Mata Hari’s Servant card, with emphasis on all 10 of her bond diamonds in the level screen being filled and about to be enhanced to Bond 11; and (4) a “Bond Level Limit Released” screen that shows Mata Hari’s Bond Level limit being broken to reach Level 11. End Description.]

It's been a while since my last bond achievement (and this one happened on July 18, darn work fatigue), and to make a milestone like this with one of my first Servants after the tutorial (I checked, I summoned Mata Hari a week after starting the game), it feels more meaningful.

So, with yet another song in mind, here's a story for one of my first Assassins. Thankie, Margaretha.

---------------------------

Mata Hari already knew she didn't have much compared to the other Servants in her class. Even for an Assassin, the distinct lack of Presence Concealment as a skill was one of many things that made her not even close to a good fighter, so why wouldn't she give up on her wish for the Holy Grail?

She never was able to achieve a happy family life when she was alive. Trying again as a Servant felt like a faraway pipe dream at best.

But when looking into the teary, star-filled eyes of the girl named Vy Duong, she started to reconsider.

Maybe it was the first few days Vy had come to Mata Hari in the middle of the night, scared from the occasional nightmare and wanting to talk about makeup and jewelry experience to fall back asleep. Maybe it was those moments in the early morning soon after, when Mata Hari would find the girl sleepy with unbrushed hair; how the simple act of easing tangles out of those brown strands started to become a comfort to her too. Or perhaps it was when Chaldea had tried to save Paul Bunyan, and even when facing that other Mata Hari, Vy had hugged her so much harder since. Or even in Salem, when Vy asked her oddly-timed questions and even cried over her faked death because Mata Hari meant something to her.

It felt like a glimmer of hope in the first time in forever.

It's why Mata Hari couldn't find herself doing anything but smiling shakily once a rainbow flame is being offered her way in the Enhancement Center of Novum Chaldea, the mana warm and soft just like the girl who summoned her. She should've known it was coming, but seeing it was different from imagining it.

"...You... you really are serious about this, hun?"

Even when a little taller, a little tougher, Vy's smile didn't change from their first meeting — appearing bright and happy as she held the Bond Chalice up to Mata Hari's eye level. "Aye. You've been with me for almost forever, Margaretha," was the warm response back, the words seemingly making the rainbow flame glow even brighter between them. "And I'd like you to stay with me. You're one of my honorary big sisters and I love you, Margaretha. Even if," a self-deprecating giggle left her lips, "I'm kinda out of Holy Grails right now to give to you at the moment, you're still on the top of the gifting list once we restock. Because it's you and I wanna thank you."

The jewels in Mata Hari's arms felt like nothing once the words registered in the back of her mind, and looking into those star-filled brown eyes had her own start to itch. "Honey..."

"Aye." Even when her own arms started to shake, Vy carefully put the Bond Chalice on one of the nearby tables to reach over and take Mata Hari's hands in hers to squeeze. "I hope it's not too much...? Because you really have helped me a lot, Margaretha. I feel like I couldn't have gotten through everything without you, so I couldn't help but love you. And I love you very very much."

It takes Mata Hari a moment to realize the worthless jewels in her arms are falling to the ground with loud clink clink noises akin to rain, her vision blurring as she tugged on her Master's hands. Because why would she need them now? Vy merely giggles once she's tucked into a hug, her nose resting against Mata Hari's neck in a clear sign of trust as the first sob leaves Magaretha's lips.

This is what I always wanted.

"I... I love you too, Vy. Honey. I love you too. Very very much."

"Aye!"

[artsymeeshee]

Artsy! I love all the Mabel and Ford bonding art you've been drawing recently. I really wanted to draw them again so here you go fren!!!

!!! Fren, this is so cute!! Let them make all the concoctions! >:D

[gaminggoth]

finally 👸🏼💙

[paintedcrows]

Are you alright...?

[starry-bi-sky]

“Your brother is adorable.” The cashier cooed at Danny, peering over the counter with a smile. “What’s his name?”

Danny looked down to the surly, scowling little de-aged Batman currently holding onto his hand, glaring up at the cashier with bright blue eyes.

Things had already been bad enough when he’d gotten caught in a fight in Gotham, but things went from bad to worse when a magician had hit Batman with a de-aging spell and then shoved them through a portal.

Into a different fucking dimension.

Because of course neither of their lives could be easy. And now the two of them were stuck in Iowa in the middle of nowhere, at a truck stop gas station, trying to go on a cross-country roadtrip to reach the nearest hero city and get home.

He looked up and smiled awkwardly, trying to come up with a name off the top of his head — one of the heroes called Batman ‘B’ when he got hit right? B for Batman, right. B… B… Bee… Bees.

“Buzz.” He said, and tried not to grimace as the cashier’s face warped with surprise. “Like the astronaut.”

This was gonna be a long trip.

[faeriekit]

43rd Annual Gotham Academy Bake Sale

dp x dc | FosterDad!Frostbite

❄ Now available to own on video and ao3 ❄

I promised @tourettesdog a snippet of More Yetis™ ages ago and I finally finished lol

❄*❄*❄

Bruce looked up.

And up. 

...And up. 

The— parent?— glanced down at him with a fanged smile. Not— not meanly. Just fanged. As in, he had fangs. 

And thick, puffy fur. And glacial blue horns. And a soft, muzzle-esqe face, and an equally blue prosthetic arm, with what looked like his original bone structure underneath it. 

What a sight at the PTA bake sale. Bruce huffed lightly.

(Remarkably, the puff of air came out as cold steam. Huh.)

“Good afternoon,” the parent, presumably, greeted him, his voice a low rumble. “I’ve been told that the purpose of this event is to raise money for the school, so there are baked good available for purchase. Please tell me if you are interested in any of the selection.” 

Bruce watched the giant, furry parent carefully set out a crocheted blanket to serve as a tablecloth on the provided folding table, dotted the space with carefully organize tupperwares and displayed, and sanitized his— claws— before setting out little treats on round wooden trays. A stack of napkins completed the setup. 

It was a good first-time setup. Downright exotic, even, considering the setting of Gotham Academy. It had a homey, home-grown feeling that was entirely anathema to the cultivated air of the usual attending crowd. 

It was nice, though. Bruce took a picture of the table for his public instagram. 

Usually Bruce and Alfred would man a table for the younger kids, but Damian was still attending the lower school, and Duke had been opted out of participating due to…prior circumstances…which left Bruce to be an attendee rather than a fundraiser. It was kind of nice. He got to try new foods. Check things out. Meet a giant yeti. 

“They look good,” Bruce complimented, because they did. They didn’t exactly look vegan, so Damian couldn’t try one, but they did look good. “What’s this one? On the bun?” 

The giant…whatever he was daintily got himself into a folding chair. From his side-satchel came a paperback copy of Elin Hilderbrand’s Summer of ‘69. “Salmon patties on potato buns. My charge assures me that they’re perfectly edible, although we did have to shop around for a suitable vehicle with which they could be eaten.”

Alright, so the guardian had missed the boat on exactly what bake sales were supposed to consist of. So what? The food sounded good, smelled good— and for four dollars, that was a good deal. 

“Keep the change.”

They tasted good, too. ��Hey," Bruce exclaimed, "This is pretty grand!”

The yeti’s eyes crinkled around the edges. The muzzle couldn’t exactly replicate a human smile, but Bruce had the distinct impression that this was the equivalent expression. “Thank you. Daniel told me that it was overkill to catch my own fish for the raising of funds, but I always prefer the taste of a fresh catch.” 

With those fangs, Bruce would believe it. He took another bite of what was probably a salmon burger. “Nothing beats fresh-from-the-sea. When I lived in London for a few months, I was very spoiled by the seafood selection.” 

The yeti’s ears swiveled upright in interest. “Oh? I will say, living in Gotham, there is a lack of interesting seafood. The shellfish grows to be as large as my arm in my home territory.” 

Well, that didn’t lower the location down to anywhere in particular. The arctic? The deep ocean? Some vast, unknown world? “Sure sounds more interesting, that’s for sure. Hey, I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you new to the school?” 

The being kindly answered his nosy-enough question. “I have taken temporary leave of my people to care for my charge. As he is mostly human, his elder sister and I came to the decision that the human plane was a better locale for him to grow up in. Gotham city simply has more volatile energy floating around.” 

Bruce’s eyebrows rose up over the rims of his sunglasses. Gotham was their first choice to raise a child in? A not-completely-human child to boot? “You sure about that?” he asked, just to be clear. “It’s not so safe here. We’ve got a guy who blows up buildings for fun. I think we’ve had the most toxic gas leaks…ever, really. I love the place, I grew up here, but man do we have problems!” 

“Hm,” the yeti hummed. “We were concerned about that. Daniel spent the first few nights beating up pickpockets, however, so I foresee that he will likely enjoy the challenge.”

As someone who beats up pickpockets, Bruce had no reliable say on the matter. He took another bite of his salmon patty. He made a note of the issue nevertheless. If there was going to be a new, half-human vigilante in his home territory, that ought to be something he stays abreast of.

“Hey! B! Over here!”

Bruce spotted Duke’s hand a head above the crowd. He waved back; his newest foster edged through the crowd of wealthy parents and their nepo-baby children to make his way over, a cupcake in his hand. “Duke! Find anything good?”

“Yeah!” Duke confirmed cheerfully, raising the cupcake in his hand. He continued his approach. “They had tamarind ones at the stand Mrs. Cheng is running! I got you one just in case you wanted to try it. They were almost out, and—“

Duke paused beside Bruce. And looked up.

And up.

...And up.

Bruce didn’t bother to hide his smile. “I’m getting to know some of the other parents here. Hey, what’re your thoughts on salmon?”

“It’s,” Duke started, thoroughly distracted by the parent’s height, “Good. Um. Hi?”

The gigantic being (he must be, what, nine feet? And balancing on that horrid folding chair the PTA shoves out every year?) roved a yellow eye down to his foster son.

“It’s very nice to meet you, young one,” the parent rumbled, cheery as anything. “My name is Frostbite. You may know my charge, Daniel. He is in his junior year.”

“Danny? Danny Fenton?”

Bruce finished off his burger with a bite. Well, there was curious tone. “Do you know him, Duke?” he asked. The tone wasn’t quite warning, but the edge was to be found in his phrasing.

Duke winced. “Yeah, we…uh. We might have gotten into a fight on his first day. And his second week. …And…last week.”

Bruce. Blinked.

“…And maybe a few hours ago. But to be fair, he has a really punchable face—“

This sounded more like Dick and Jason in their first weeks at Gotham Academy rather than Duke, who was generally better-mannered than most of his brood. (Bruce tended to chalk it up to the effect of being raised largely by loving, attentive parents.)

“But. Um.” Duke shuffled a little closer to Bruce, and a little farther away from the tallest parent to ever grace the pristine lawn of Gotham Academy. “He’s…you know. He’s fine. Usually.”

Thank goodness Alfred was across the way with Damian. He would have disapproved highly of the both of them for this slip.

Still, the gigantic creature only…huffed. Bruce would dare call it a chuckle, even. He popped a barely punctured bookmark into his novel, and gently set it to the side. “My apologies, young one; fighting is a favored form of socialization in our culture. His interest in you is likely genuinely meant, if…rough. Tell myself or his sibling if it becomes unbearable, and he’ll calm down.”

Duke’s lips twisted. “No, it’s not— It’s. Fine? I guess? We like blow off steam and stuff. When I sprained my wrist, he just punched my other arm and bought me ice cream.”

Bruce wanted to judge this kid and whatever parenting style this yeti was putting this kid through. He wanted to pass judgement so badly. But this also sounded exactly like something one of his own kids would do with someone they were friends with.

So.

So he bought a second salmon burger, took an offered bite of Duke’s tamarind cupcake (very generous), and tried to remember everything he could about his brief foray into romance novels. “Say, have you ever read any John Grisham? It’s not quite the same genre, but I’m more of a fan of thrillers myself…”

Honestly, the surreal part was that nothing untoward happened for the entire bake sale. Bruce would happily do this again next year.

[faunandfloraas]

Changbin unnie ♡

[lotus-duckies]

i think there's something very interesting about the fact that irl, turtles aren't very social or familial in any sense but the ninja turtles are incredibly social and love caring for others and this is arguably the greatest example of their humanity

[starthecozy]

Recovery and relief

[doctorwhommm]

I hsve an idea. Could u draw rose and ianto as besties

absOLUTELY I CAN

they’re chatting shit (lovingly) about their tall, long-coat-wearing, time-travelling, death-cheating, alien boyfriends who have spikey hair

[fernrisulfr]

I FINALLY HAVE IT. SIGURD BOND 10. A JOYOUS DAY!

[panakoui]

post canon laishuro prelude :>

[feelingtheaster99]

I absolutely fucking love Brennan and Sibohan as catty British teen sisters like dishing on their enemies and playfully griping (and expressing honest sentiments of love and affection) at each other

[silusvesuius]

[jesterjaxx]

Happy pride guys have yearning doomed yaoi 10 years later duntrent au wip

As a treat