#but a guy can still dream that some day he'll be fired

[sinsofsinister]

finished reading weekly comics and xforce is finally over (praise the lord) and it ended exactly the way i thought it would (derogatory) (derogatory) (derogatory)

[devotedlyandrogynousyouth]

Okay, please tell me I’m not the only one frothing at the mouth at the idea of Baby Daddy Dick Grayson???

AHHH YES I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS💙 I'll have Dick's babies any time tbh.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who still insists on calling you "babe" even though you two have clearly been on rocky terms ever since the breakup. He acts like he's still the charming, lovable guy you once knew, but it’s a little harder to ignore his flirty nature now that you're co-parents and he's dragging his feet on the whole "responsibility" thing.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who shows up late to pick up your kid, always looking like he just got off of a rooftop, trying to juggle his crime-fighting schedule with his duties as a father. But when it comes to helping out around the house, he tries to pull the "I’m too busy saving Gotham" card... again. You’re starting to roll your eyes every time he uses it.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who, when asked to pay child support, tries to sweet-talk his way out of it with an overconfident wink, joking that "how could you possibly put a price on this?" while flexing his abs. But it’s hard to stay mad when he shows up with ice cream for your kid and flirts with you like you’re still together—just long enough for him to sneak out without paying.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who, despite his flirty nature and charm, genuinely tries to be a good dad. He’ll drop everything when your child needs him, even if it means cutting his patrol short or rearranging his schedule. You can always count on him to be there for the important moments, even if his timing is off sometimes.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who genuinely adores his child but still struggles to grasp the concept of boundaries. He’ll show up unannounced, claiming it’s to "spend time with the little one," but really, he’s just looking for an excuse to rekindle that old spark with you.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who sometimes forgets that he’s supposed to be a grown-up, trying to get away with showing up at your house in his Robin gear to make everything feel like some sort of "happy family." His tendency to leap into action (sometimes literally) makes things complicated when you're just trying to have a quiet evening.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who, despite his complicated life, always makes time to bond with his child. He might not be perfect, but he’s the first to throw on his old Robin uniform for a "training session" or teach your kid how to juggle or do acrobatics, giving them a fun and loving memory that they’ll cherish forever.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who, when you finally call him out for his lack of involvement, just gives you that boyish smile and says, "Come on, can’t you just cut me some slack?" He’ll promise to do better, but deep down, you know he probably won’t—at least not until you hold his feet to the fire.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who swears he’s "getting better" with commitment and responsibility but ends up over-committing to things, like training your child in martial arts when you specifically told him no, or disappearing for a few days on a "secret mission." You don’t know what’s worse—the lack of communication or him acting like nothing’s changed when he comes back.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who, when he actually pulls himself together, is a total sweetheart. He'll leave you little notes, either tucked into your child’s backpack or stuck on the fridge, reminding you of how much he appreciates you and how proud he is of the family you’re raising together, even if he’s not always the most present.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who secretly listens when you talk about your hopes and dreams for the future, and while he doesn’t always show it, he supports you in subtle ways. He’ll show up at your kid’s school play, even though he’s exhausted from fighting crime, just to let you know he’s on your side. His actions often speak louder than his words.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who, when he does take responsibility, goes above and beyond. He’ll make sure your child has everything they need—school supplies, a new bike, or even just a good bedtime story. It might take a little nudging, but when he gets it right, he really gets it right.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who might joke around with you, but he’s fiercely protective of your family. He’d rather face down a villain than see you or your child in harm's way. He’s always got your back, even when you fight, because deep down he wants you both to be safe and happy.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who tries hard to make amends when he messes up. If he misses an important date or forgets something, he’ll make it up to you with an over-the-top gesture, like taking you and your kid out to dinner at your favorite restaurant, or even organizing a little weekend getaway—just to show he’s trying to make things right.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who sometimes tries to make it up to you with a bottle of wine on nights when your kid is at a sleepover. "It's just the right thing to do," is almost always his excuse, and you know better. Despite your better judgement, you still let him in, anyway. What's the worst that could happen?

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who ends up between your legs after only a couple of drinks, greedily lapping at your neglected cunt as the TV plays on in the background. It was almost enough to cover up your soft moans as you tugged on his black locks while he practically made out with your pussy.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who's on top of you pretty soon after that, rutting into you at such a ruthless pace that it was almost hard to remember your own name. His arms are wrapped around your torso just like yours are around him as he drills into you on the couch of your apartment.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who likes to say the nastiest things during these nights that he knows you haven't heard since you were together. "Yeah? You like it when Daddy does this, baby?" His voice is caught between being a moan and a tease as he twists your perked nipples between his index finger and thumb.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who never leaves your unsatisfied by the end of the night. Does he like to tease you? Yes. Does he like to make you work for it? Absolutely. But not once has he ever left your apartment without having made you cum at least twice.

BabyDaddy! Richard Grayson who will always stay the night, if you let him. He misses you so much more than he would ever admit, even to himself. There is absolutely nothing he wants more than to be able to hold you in his arms like this every night. He misses being able to stay the night without having to ask. You do too, for the record, but you just need a bit more time to think about letting him back into your life.

Masterlist

[itslouisan]

Time to have C!Techno headcannons!!!

Heyo, seems like finally I reached my 2nd favorite cc ever! I think techno's character is REALLY interesting, with great writing and details and I can definitely add some hc of my own in there, so without further ado, let's go!

(btw @syndicatedsystem you might like some of my headcannons involving Jschlatt and Techno I talk about here so yeah! Also feel free to discuss em' with me or make asks abt it, hell your blog inspires me a lot)

(I lost the name of the artist if anyone knows please tell me)

• Techno has some braids in his hair, the longer, the more he values the person

Longest: Philza, it's braided with gold details

2nd longest: Ranboo, has a amethyst crystal for purple

Mid-term: Wilbur, he braided it in consideration of a battle friend and some good times with Will, he doesn't hate or likes Wilbur, but still can't deny they do have a connection

Shortest: Tommy.

• Techno prepared a space in the cabin for Tommy in case some day, his demons and the hell he was looking for, finally was found, he'd welcome Tommy with open arms, since he'd view that the kid suffered enough and had the time to change and face any consequences he'd need to face, the space is safe, always available, but, he'd never tell Tommy that, he keeps it hidden, he's not ready to be vulnerable to the demon child again and openly say Tommy could count on him, not until Tommy makes the first step.

• Keeps the pickaxe that blinded Quackity as a trophy, this and keeps all weapons from powerful enemies with him as a reminder of a great battle he won once again

• Likes to write poetry about people and events, he'd never give them to the person, but keep it in a dusty small box in his room in the attic of the cabin

• OKAY, LET'S ALL AGREE TECHNO IS ARO/ACE? GOOD.

• Techno was friends with Jschlatt before everything went to hell, they liked to talk about random bs while watching the fire crack at night and drink some cheap booze for Jschlatt and coffee for Techno

• I view Techno also having some boar traits, so yeah territorial as FUCK don't mess with his stuff or house, also he chases pray like crazy and can eat almost anything without a problem due to that

• Doesn't CARE for alcohol, just doesn't like the idea of having a hangover afterwards since he'd be unable to fight the next day

• Would gossip with Jschlatt, Tommy and the syndicate like, ABOUT EVERYTHING, I imagine him and Jschlatt favorite hobby is shit talking people they hate

• Techno being aro/ace also means if you flirt with him, he'll just stare at your soul and bully the shit out of you, sometimes calls Phil and/or Jschlatt to roast the shit out of the person, also WILL defend himself from any creeps and defend his friends from ANY strange people since for him touch is STRICTLY a death sentence and something that takes time

• Techno smokes when stressed or in the syndicate room, making Phil always carry an extra lighter for him just in case, the 2 used to be smoking buddies before Phil quit when he adopted Chayanne and Tallulah

• Techno in the QSMP is an entity, a god watching above everyone but never leaving Phil side and the eggs side, sometimes he'd talk to Tallulah directly, or influence Phil like a voice in his head to do the right thing in his vision or appear to Chayanne in his dreams to have a chat

• Can and will drink blood from the enemies

• Loves to talk about skulls and anatomy of the body in general, a dark fact, due to respect to Jschlatt, after he died (not considering revival, I view revival as either the decomposed body coming back to life in a LESS but STILL fucked up state or a kind of new body that is the users body in the afterlife coming to the alive realm, if you guys want, I can make a post about this) picked and kept Jschlatt sheep skull, with horns and everything

(art by sadist)

• Would talk about historical wars and battles with his own analysis and commentaries on it, making a great history teacher

• totally collects greek mythology stuff, books, items, anything.

• Has a couple of tattoos but one that is pretty badass is a wither skull with red smoke on his ribs in the right, a tattoo of a emerald in the inside of his left wrist, a tattoo of a squid with a fork on it's head in reference to the potato war on his right wrist really tiny and "everything starts with blood" and "the voices demand blood" written in his tights

• My boy 100% has piercings due to piglin culture, around 75% of them being made of gold

[catcas22]

Literally Dreaming About the DLC

Had a disturbingly vivid dream about an Elden Ring sidequest, and decided to share it 1) to exorcise it from my mind 2) because there might be some potential here?

Content warning for implied dead kids.

Starts out galloping around Liurnia at night, on the lake just north of the Moonlight Altar. Hereabouts, I think:

Tarnished spots a large cluster of spectral animals ahead and investigates. In the center of the herd is a spectral dragon-hybrid, childlike but in a Ghost of Christmas Past sort of way.

The spirit appears morose and rather confused about her current state. When questioned, she drops a few poetically ominous lines about cold and dark, then mentions the name "The Hunter Michigain" [sic] before she clams up.

Tarnished goes to ask her buddy Kalé if he's heard any local gossip about this guy. Kalé explains that Michigain is a madman worshipping some kind of cold-affiliated entity. He sacrifices to said entity by kidnapping small children and leaving them down an abandoned mine to die of hypothermia (What the hell, my subconscious? I think I might have been drawing on SCP-4666 a bit).

Kalé then proceeds to recount an absolutely harrowing tale of how years ago, his three-year-old nephew was taken by Michigain. Against all counsel, Kalé's brother tried to go after the kid. Michigain broke the poor guy's legs and left him a few levels down the mine, close enough to the surface that those above could hear his agonized pleas for help. Kalé finally breaks and arms up to go spring the obvious trap.

Present day, Kalé recounts that he didn't get his brother or his nephew back, just a leg so mangled he can still barely walk on it. Kalé began the story trying to dissuade us from tangling with Michigain, but by the end of it he's ready for round two now that he has the Tarnished for extra muscle.

Kalé directs us to a set of ruins high on the Moonlight Altar, where we find the entrance to Michigain's mine. It's an absolutely hellish platforming puzzle, where we have to drop down level by level through the entire depth of the plateau, balancing on rickety mineshaft scaffolding while Michigain shoots at us with a gatling crossbow and his goons try to run along the rafters and tackle us off.

Thankfully, there are no visible dead kids, no environment-hazard live kids that we have to avoid friendly-firing, and no kids attacking us for whatever reason. There is, however, an omnipresent sound of sniffling and whimpering, always sounding as if it's just around the corner, sometimes louder, sometimes softer.

Kalé is with us. He moves at like 0.2 miles per hour due to the bad leg, and he'll die in a hurry if you leave him behind. But if you stick with him and draw fire, he's got a big hatchet and a box-fed dart gun, and he's quite effective at sniping the cultist highwaymen as they try to rush you.

Michigain looks like a sort of evil coureur des bois, wrapped up in layers of snow-dusted leather and fur. We never see his face. He never says a word. He fights with the aforementioned gatling crossbow, then switches to a pickaxe when we get close.

Before we fight him, we get a miniboss in the form of his two dragon-hybrid henchmen, both notably bigger and older than the spirit who initially tipped us off.

We finally face Michigain at the lowest level of the mine. The sounds of weeping children are loudest here. If we spoke to Ranni after triggering the quest and informed her of what was happening on her land, she shows up halfway through the fight the way Yura does for the Nerijus fight. She gives a monologue to the tune of "You merely adopted the dark, I was born into it" that I dearly wish I could remember verbatim, then wrecks the guy with Ranni's Dark Moon.

It was only in the process of writing this all out that I realized the two dragon-hybrids are definitely the specter child's parents, who sacrificed their own daughter for the sake of Michigain's cult.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

😑😑😑

"Aang is a bad main character because the world has to adapt to his world view. Meanwhile I love Zuko for his brilliant arc that concludes with him making his nation to adapt to his world view now that he is in charge" fuck these people. "Younger generation fixes the problems the old ones created" is only bad as a theme when they don't like the kid in question.

"He has to save Katara, the weak damsel in distress" So we're really just gonna ignore all the times she saved his ass, and how she literally BROUGHT HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD just to pretend the show is sexist?

"He has to pretend the world isn't in agony" Are you high? Aang is constantly pushing himself to do things he doesn't wanna do (go with Zuko willingly, confront Hei Bai, go to the Fire Nation on the solstice, intentionally trigger the Avatar State, cross the serpent's pass despite having permission to go through a safer path, let go of Katara and risk losing her in the battle for Ba Sing Se, and even accepting he'll have to kill Ozai in the finale) just to innocent people won't suffer. For fuck's sake, he has plenty of compassion for the guy that SENT AN ASSASSIN AFTER HIM. Just because he's still holding onto whatever childhood innocence he can, doesn't mean he's blind to the issues around him.

"Zuko's arc is independent from Zuko's" They have a fuck ton of parallels, and entire EPISODES dedicated to said parallels. Zuko himself said chasing Aang fueld his fire - and he said that when he learned a higher form of firebending ALONGSIDE AANG, who had just saved his ass from being burned alive by the dragons by figuring out they were supposed to dance together.

Zuko was so obsessed with Aang he tried to engage in a conversation AFTER AANG'S SOUL LEFT HIS BODY, and he had a weird fever dream where he literally BECAME Aang. We get confirmation in book 3 that Zuko never forgot how Aang mentioned the possibility of them being friends if things were different, and the show ends with them as best friends in an obvious parallel to Roku and Sozin.

You know who had fuck all to do with Zuko's arc though? KATARA, yet these people keep insisting she's totally important to it.

"Episodes centered on Katara and Sokka are good because they ignore Aang" No they don't, he's just not front and center, same for Toph, or Zuko, because that's how FOCUS works.

Also, for all the shit "The Headband" gets for supposedly being "filler", it's shocking to me how people act like "Sokka's Master" was briliant and not at all rushed. It's honestly as irrelevant as "The Great Divide" for me.

"Aang had lots of Deus Ex Machinas" He had one, the lion turtle. The Avatar state is introduced right away, and explained in depth a whole season before the finale, AND it was not that easy to use.

Katara bringing him back from the dead is even less random. In the first episode of season two, we are introduced to the concept of "Aang can still be killed in the Avatar State and that is REALLY bad", to the the character that will kill him and how she'll do it (Azula with her lightining), and to the water of the spirit oasis - which the show goes out of it's way to remind us of before Aang is even dead. That's a fuck ton of foreshadowing and proper narrative set up.

"Deus Ex Machina" does not mean "Protagonist survives major battle" or "Hero defeats a super powerful villain", it means "Day is saved by a thing that had never been mentioned in the story before so the audience could have never guessed what would happen." These people want to talk shit, but only show they have no fucking clue how some REALLY basic storytelling stuff works.

[a-french-coconut]

Luke Castellan (Part 2)

Each day, his forces grow a little stronger, demigods joining them from all over the country, even Camp Half-Blood.

It's time.

Already ? It's only been one year.

He's in his office, seated next to a golden coffin that grows more visible every time a demigod pledge themselves to Kronos.

Our army is strong and with Jackson on his father's side, we need another piece in the game.

He stays silent, reaching for a piece on the chessboard on front of him.

Would it really work ?

Will it bring her back ?

Yes, the Golden Fleece is a powerful artefact.

They why didn't Chiron, or even Dionysus, ever told him ?

He would have went on that quest without hesitation, he would have saved her !

I feel your anger rising, good. Remember, Chiron, Dionysus and all the other gods don't care about you. With her dead, they thought they could avoid the Great Prophecy.

He clenches the piece in his hand, his familiar hatred boiling in him again.

They had killed her, valued her as a defective object that needed to put down.

I shall inform our spy at Camp to proceed.

If Silena didn't change her old calendar, she should be horse riding now.

"Silena, do you copy ?" He asks her through the charm bracelet.

"Hi Luke."

As always, the daughter of Aphrodite have this sweet voice, one that could work on many guys but Luke couldn't be more indifferent to it.

Silena Beauregard is not his type of girl but he can't risk having her offended by a rejection.

"Hey Lena, I need you to do me a favor."

"Of course ! Anything you need." Comes back the answer, cheerful and hopeful.

"The poison Lila gave to you last time you two met ? Use it on the target."

"Oh, okay." She sounds disappointed but frankly, she should know better than expect him to like her, daughter of Aphrodite and all that. "Are you sure you want to do this ?"

"Of course I'm sure," he frowns, "why are you asking ?"

"It's going to hurt her Luke, deeply. It's like she'll die again."

"She isn't going to die" he snaps at Silena, voice cold and harsh, "a quest will be issued to save her. Now go do your job and stop questioning my orders !"

He abruptly cuts contact, not caring about how it might affect Silena.

He looks at the piece in his hand.

Kronos wants a new pawn to balance the careful game they are playing.

"Castellan," an empousa barges in, "Torrington is asking for you on deck, he needs you to teach the soldiers a manoeuvre."

"Tell them I'm coming Kelli."

She nods, promptly leaving him alone.

He gets up, puts some light armor before gripping Backbiter and getting out of the office.

On the table, away from the chessboard and its pieces, stands the dark queen, as proud as the girl she represents.

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

He dreams of her, of the pine's leaves slowly turning gray, the bark rotting and falling on the ground.

He wonders if she can feel it.

(When he faces her again, on a mountain top surrounded by ruins, he'll know that he made her suffer.)

As expected, Chiron is fired and Tantalus takes over the leadership.

Luke thinks he knows why Kronos chose him. Indeed, they seem to share the same culinary taste.

"How long until the poison kills the tree ?" He asks Alabaster who created it.

"One week, depends on what cure they will administrate it." The son of Hecate shrugs, clearly unconcerned with Thalia's fate. "Don't worry Luke, they should make it time."

"They better," he mumbles under his breath, "if Thalia dies, there is no way for me to convince Annabeth to join us."

"About that," Alabaster fidgets, "Are you sure she'll want to join ? She seems pretty loyal to the Olympians."

"When Thalia joins us, she will too." Luke assures his second in command, "why don't you go find Ethan ? Last time I heard he was still pining over you, looking at you with awe in his single eye."

He snickers slightly when his friend's face turns red, promptly leaving to find the son of Nemesis.

"This is a waste of time," Kelli scoffs from the corner of the room, "why aren't we sending our own forces to get the Fleece ? It would be a lot more productive."

"Because" he glares at the monster who languidly gets closer to him, "they need to ultimately have the Fleece and they are not going to accept it as a gift from us. Hence, they need to find it by their own."

"If you say so, Castellan." Kelli sighs, seating on his armchair, "the girl you keep talking about, Talia or-"

"Thalia" he corrects her, slightly uncomfortable with her proximity.

"That," Kelli narrows her eyes on him, her talons tracing lines on his shoulder and arm," what does she mean to you ?"

"She's a dear friend," he quickly gets out of the chair, earning himself a scowl, "and a powerful ally to have."

"I'm sure she would make quite a feast," Kelli smiles, "Zeus' blood is always so delicious-"

"Don't kid yourself" Luke cuts her off curtly, "you don't stand a chance against Thalia."

"Is that so ?" she hisses, "then maybe I should pay her visit when she's done housing birds and squirrels, to see her worth."

With the speed of a son of Hermes, Luke unsheathes Backbiter and furiously slashes at Kelli but she jumps out of the chair and the only thing damaged is now his furniture.

"Thalia is an essential person in our plan, do you want me to tell our Lord that you wish to harm her ?" He snarls, pulling off his sword from the wood.

"Oh, now" Kelli chuckles nervously, "there's no need for such rash action, I have no intention to go near the daughter of Zeus."

"Good," he says firmly, "now get out, I have work to do."

She hisses at him, hair burning a bright orange but nonetheless hobbles her way out, the sound of her bronze leg hitting the ground echoing in the corridor.

He forces himself to breathe, to squash down his fury against that damned empousa.

His charm bracelet heating up, the signal Silena is trying to contact him, distract him from his insider turmoil.

"Silena," he says rather irritably, "Lila is in charge of receiving your infos, I have enough work to do."

"I thought you would have wanted to hear this but fine, I'll just transmit to Lila and she can tell you." The daughter of Aphrodite says with a snappy voice.

"Wait," he calls to her," what it is ? I'm not busy right now."

A lie since he has to prepare a meeting concerning their sponsors but he is curious about what is so important.

"Clarisse got a quest and she's leaving first thing tomorrow morning to retrieve the Fleece."

"Clarisse ?" He frowns, "why would they send Clarisse when the Fleece is on an island in the Sea of Monsters ? Jackson's obviously a better choice."

"Tantalus isn't very fond of him."

"Tell that idiot that Percy must come." Luke hisses, furious against the new director. "it's the perfect opportunity to trap and kill him."

"It's too late, it would be weird for him to suddenly change opinions." Her voices curls in distaste, "how are we going to keep him Luke, the guy gives the creeps."

"Then avoid him because he is going to stay as long as possible."

"But", her voice wavers, "he might want to hurt the kids."

"Kids" he scoffs, "that are on the opposite side Lena. We are bound to fight them sooner or later."

"We want a better word for all demigods," she stresses her word, "even them, do we not ? I don't see how Tantalus fits into our vision."

"He does for now" he grits out, "anything else ?"

"No, Percy has arrived at camp but he isn't going on the quest. Oh ! Wait, no, I have something to tell you-"

"It'll have to wait," he eyes Chris who just entered and mouthing to him they are here, "I really need to go, please inform your official agent of any new developments and not me."

"Our spy ?" His brothers asks, tilting his head.

"Clarisse has been sent to retrieve the Fleece," Luke eyes carefully his brother's face, "dangerous quest, some might say lethal."

"Clarisse's strong," he mutters quietly, not looking in Luke's eyes, "she'll get through it."

"One day, we are going to fight her, are you sure you'll be able to do so when it happens ?"

"Yes, my loyalty is to Kronos and you."

Chris looks at him with a hardened gaze, grim determination etched on his face.

"I'll do whatever you need me to if it means getting retribution."

"Good," he smiles," I'm please to see your faith in me."

When he passes in front of him, he puts a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Kronos will appreciate that kind of loyalty once we win the war, brother, be sure not to lose it."

As he leaves to greet his guests, he doesn't see Chris carefully taking a picture of his trouser's pocket, with on it a girl with a bright red bandana hugging with one arm a younger Chris.

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

"Well, I have to say I didn't expect you here."

He looks rather amused at the trio confronting him.

"Percy, I should have known you couldn't stay far from me for too long, Annabeth," he looks at her, properly seeing her since he left, "you've grown and-"

His voice dies out as he looks with disbelief at the boy in front of him.

Except he's not a boy.

No, he's monster.

A cyclops.

"Really, Annie ?" He says rather hysterical, earning himself a weird look from everyone except Annabeth who's red with shame, "of all monsters, a cyclops ?" He pronounces it with such disgust, such hater towards that kind.

"Don't talk to Tyson that way !" Percy angrily say, struggling against Agrius's grip.

"Why ? Fond of him Jackson ?"

To that, the son of Poseidon stays quiet, the same red Annabeth has colouring his cheeks.

"Well, as fun as this is, I'm afraid it must come to an end." He sighs, "Agrius and Oreius, take them downstairs, I heard the monsters were hungry."

But the cyclops breaks free and sends Oreius tumbling on his brother, giving Percy to opportunity to escape.

"Catch them !" He roars to his soldiers but they have already bolted out of the room.

He can only watch them, seething, disappearing on the horizon on one of the emergency life boat.

He had them...

They were on his boat, unarmed and outnumbered and they escaped.

Shame and rage churn his stomach, make his body vibrate with fury and Alabaster is the one to pay the price.

"Torrington !" he bellows at the son of Hecate, "they were three and you had six demigods and two monsters at your commands !"

"The monsters don't listen to me !" he protests, looking straight into Luke's eyes, "I'm the General of your demigods' army."

"And what have you been doing all those months ?" he hisses, "how come they were completely useless to stop them !"

He sees Alabaster's eyes glower and green ruins appear on his jacket. He reaches for Backbiter but a little girl suddenly puts herself in the way.

"Stop this ! Please !" she begs, looking fearfully at Luke.

"Lou," Alabasters says softly, "get out of the way."

"No, I'm not letting you fight with him !" Lou crosses her arms defiantly, stubbornly not moving.

"Your sister ?" He asks his general who curtly nods, still eyeing him and ready to fight.

But Luke only looks at Lou.

She's small, black-haired and has startling green eyes.

If he has to guess, she must be eleven years old, younger maybe.

And yet, despite her young age, she looks at him warily and ready to protect her brother.

He sheathes his sword to Alabaster's great surprise.

"They'll have to come back once they get the Fleece, we'll catch them then."

He leaves the deck and Torrington's confused face to isolate himself in his cabin.

He spends the next hour twirling a cheap ring on his necklace, thinking of a young blond girl with startling grey eyes and wondering if she would too protect him if he needed it.

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

He doesn't remember falling asleep.

And yet he is chained upside down, with an unbearable heat burning his face as he looks at the cauldron below him.

He remembers that place.

It's when they were on the run and Thalia and he got captured by a cyclops.

Annabeth had been the one to save them, stabbing bravely the monster and freeing them.

"Luke ! Stop looking like an idiot and use your powers !" A voice next to him snaps in the air.

She's there, looking wildly alive, face etched into a scowl and gleaming from sweat.

"Thalia..." he whispers with a broken voice.

"Is the heat making you lose your mind ?" She says harshly, a worried frown appearing on her features, "yes it's me, Thalia. The girl who is about to buzz you if you don't find a solution."

It's been so long since he heard her talking and not screaming.

The way her eyes pulse with electricity.

The way her freckles are a constellation adoring her pale skin, contrasting so much with her spiky jet black hair.

The way she's pulsing with life, trashing against the chains restraining her and not cold dead on a forest's floor.

"Thalia, I-"

He wants to tell her everything, like he did before, to tell her about Kronos and his rebellion against the gods.

"Hurry, Luke !" She trashes even wilder, a small edge of fear in her voice.

He knows what happens next.

The cyclops comes back, failing to lure Annabeth in his trap, and as he's ready to cut their bonds, to let them fall into the boiling steaming pit below, the monster screams in pain and Luke seizes his chance.

He gets out of the now loosened chains, managed to free Thalia despite only using one hand, the other firmly gripping the chain, and the both of them jump onto the cyclops's arm.

That's when he sees the cause of the monster's pain.

Annabeth had stabbed him in the toe, his little sister looking terrified but determined to fight the beast.

Quickly, Thalia and he climb down the screaming monster until they're on the ground and help Annabeth kill him.

Then, she punches him in the gut after praising Annie.

"What the fuck Thals !" He groans, doubling over.

"What was that back there, huh ?" She asks angrily, irritated enough for not scolding off for the bad word, "why'd you froze like that ?"

"I didn't freeze, my powers were just useless." He winces when he feels his abdomen, it's definitely going to bruise.

She scowls but doesn't push him further.

"Come on, we have to go, Grover is waiting for us outside." Annabeth urges them, dragging them to the exit.

"It's too late."

Both Annabeth and Thalia look at him with utterly confused faces.

"What do you mean it's too late ? Too late for what ?"

"Forget I said anything," he mumbles hastily, pushing them aside to reach the exit, "it's nonsense."

A hand on his shoulder stops him.

It's not like her punch, no.

It's a prolonged contact, one where her hand barely touches his skin and yet, it is warmer than the boiling cauldron.

"Luke," he hears her say his name with worry, "what's wrong ?"

"Nothing's wrong Thals," he reassures her, not looking in her eyes. "We have to go, the monsters are gaining on us."

But she doesn't let go of him and her hand gets closer to his neck.

He doesn't turn, can't bear to look at her.

"You can tell me anything, you know that right ?" She whispers, her voice centimetres away from his ear.

"And I will," he replies, "I will but not today."

He terribly wants to face her, to tell her everything but he can't waste any more time.

It's stupid of him to think that maybe, in this dream Thalia makes it to Camp alive. It's like jumping off the cliff again when he knows he'll break himself on rocks below.

Yet, he hopes.

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

"Welcome back to the States, cousin." He smiles at Percy, holding Backbiter under his throat, "I'm the welcoming party."

"Really wasn't necessary."

"So uncivilised," he shakes his head, "come aboard, all of you."

This time, Grover is with them. Luke doesn't know why he is there, surely something Silena could explain, but he doesn't particularly care. There's only one thing he wants, and it's within his reach.

"Where is it ?"

"Where's what ?" Percy asks innocently, the ghost of a smile floating on his face.

"The Fleece, Jackson." Luke patiently says, "give it to me."

"I can't, it's gone." He says, his smile now very visible and irritably smug.

"It can't be gone Jackson, you are all here," Luke snaps before a horrible idea dawns on him, "no, there's no way, you didn't-"

"Yes," Percy says glowing with satisfaction, "Clarisse is already on the way to Camp with the Fleece. You lost Luke."

"What where you planning to do with the Fleece, anyways ?" Annabeth asks him coldly.

"Well, since none of you are getting out of here alive, I suppose I can tell you," he shrugs, trying to hide his growing panic at the perspective of telling Kronos he failed again, "I was going to use the Fleece to resurrect Kronos but I would have given it back to you after."

"Really ?"

"Of course Jackson, I know why you need the Fleece and I wouldn't have stopped you."

"That's rich," he scoffs, "considering what you did."

To his grand surprise, Jackson hurls a coin at him. One he easily dodge, the drachma falling in the water behind him.

"You betrayed me, betrayed DIONYSUS AT CAMP HALF BLOOD !"

"Old news Jackson, why are you doing this ?"

"Did you poison Thalia's tree ?"

"Of course I did !" He snaps at Jackson, utterly confused, "but you-"

"So Chiron had nothing to do with it ?" Jackson presses on.

"As if that old man could ever hurt his Camp !" Luke rolls his eyes, "why are you doing this ? You already know all of that !"

"I do, but now all the others do too."

"What others-"

His voice dies at he turns and sees the whole Pavillon of Camp Half-Blood looking at them, dead silent, through an Iris Message.

"See Mr D ? Chiron is innocent !" Percy says behind him.

"I suppose so Peter," the god sighs, "well then, goodbye Tantalus."

He waves his hand and the earth opens, swallowing the man whole.

With a furious scream, Luke slashes the Iris Message, making it pop in a cloud of mist.

"Chris !" He barks at his brother, "ready my stallion, I'm going after the Fleece."

His brothers nods and hastily leaves the room.

"As for you all, Oreius and Agrius are in dire need of fresh meat."

"So you're just leaving us here, not even able to kill us yourselves ?" Percy yells at him as they go on deck where a black pegasus awaits Luke.

"I have more urgent matters than you Jackson, believe or not."

"Why don't you fight me, eh ? Scared you'll lose like the first time ?" The son of Poseidon taunts him.

It's an impasse and they both know it.

If Luke declines, he loses credibility and if he accepts, he doubts he'll manage to intercept Clarisse.

"Very well, Jackson. Give him back his sword."

He arms himself with Backbiter and a shield and faces Percy.

"It's not fair Luke," Annabeth protests angrily, "at least give him a shield too !"

"The world's hardly ever is fair Annabeth," he snarls, "I had hoped you would know that by now."

He looks at Percy, scanning for weak spots and when he finds one, he attacks.

"You've gotten better Jackson" he grunts, blocking Riptide with his shield, "but there's not water trick to save you this time."

He kicks him in the leg and sends Riptide flying out of reach.

He hears Annabeth screaming, the cyclops bellowing and Grover bleating as he lower down Backbiter to stab Percy in the stomach.

Water slaps him, sending him tumbling backward and loud screams and confettis ?

Dozens of centaurs are on his ship, trampling his forces or throwing party hats and shooting paintballs.

One hits him on the stomach, splattering his shirt blue and bruising his skin.

Amidst the chaos, he registers Percy mounting Chiron while the others are on other centaurs, his old mentor whistles and they're all gone as fast as they came.

"Chris !" He roars, face red with fury, "the horse, where is it ?"

"It left with them," his brother groans from where he's sprawled on the floor, covered in paint, "saw Percy talk to him."

He feels like he might explode from shame and rage.

It's the second time Percy escapes him, the second time a thirteen years old beat him, an experienced twenty years old demigod.

"All of you, clean this mess ! I have to inform our Lord of this recent development."

He closes his office's door rather harshly, taking a few minutes to calm himself before contacting Kronos.

Master.

Next to him, the coffin glows and he feels him stirring, his presence lingering in the air.

You have failed.

Luke feels his throat drying, yes master.

And yet we are still successful.

I... I don't understand Master. Without the Fleece, you'll take more time to fully awake.

Foolish boy, do you think I cannot wait a few more years ? I have spent eons awaiting for this moment, I do not lack patience.

It was never about you, Luke realises, all you wanted was for the Fleece to reach her tree.

And it has, soon, we'll have another pawn in the game.

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

Far away, on a hill overlooking Long Island Sound, a girl opens her eyes under a grand pine tree for the first time in seven years.

[alpineshift]

Oooh omg okay, so I’m not super duper into fantasy, like only up until a certain level but I do love me some outdoorsy vibes so: prompt 12 please!

A tiny tent in the middle of the woods, the fading embers of your campfire still glowing just outside the door.

Gimme Nicojack and some of your beautiful writing 🩵

you are my nature bestie!!!! 🩵🌲🌼

[12] a tiny tent in the middle of the woods, the fading embers of your campfire still glowing just outside the door

The tent is particularly tiny for two hockey-playing guys, but for once, Jack doesn't mind the squashed quarters.

Here, changed into soft flannel pants and an old Nike t-shirt, lying on top of an air mattress and tucked underneath a thick blanket, he's the most relaxed he's been in a long time.

Training camp had been good--exhausting in the most satisfying kind of way that makes Jack feel like he's put in good work before the start of the season. There's still so much to do, so much he needs to prepare for.

But Nico had laid down on the couch and put his head in Jack's lap the other day, took Jack's hand in his own, and asked would you like to get away from all this for one weekend before it all starts?

A trip into the "wilderness" is a lot different than a cottage getaway. Putting up the tent itself had been a hilarious struggle. Nico had forgotten to pack extra rope for the tarp, so they'd lashed it down to the pegs hoping the wind stays calm for the night. Jack suggested they tell ghost stories. Nico firmly and politely declined.

The air is fresh and cool this close to autumn. The days end earlier and earlier, painting the sky blues and purples above the tree line. Outside, it smells like earth, greenery, and woodsmoke.

The embers of their campfire are dwindling now, but the glow is still strong and warm. The light catches the domed inside of their tent, reflecting along the tan-coloured sheets, filling their space with warmth and lazy flickers of shadows.

Nico's curled up beside him--the two of them facing each other--just easily basking in each other's presence between soft kisses and cozy cuddles.

"What d'you think we'll be like this year, Neeks?" Jack asks quietly. His face is tucked into the crook of Nico's neck right now, their legs tangled beneath the blanket. Nico's got his head propped up on the crook of his elbow, his other hand drawing curving shapes into the space between Jack's shoulder blades.

"I don't know," he admits. "But I know we'll fight hard. We'll push ourselves, like we always do, but we'll make it count. I don't want to end this season with any regrets. This year, I want us to keep fighting up until the very last second."

"Spoken like a true captain," Jack chuckles, but in his mind's eye, he can see it. Nico's broad back, leading them down the tunnel towards the ice. Nico's strong figure at center ice, eyes on fire as he prepares for a face off. Nico's belief in them all, immovable as a glacier, carving the way to a shining silver dream once more.

He reaches out and takes Nico's face in his hands, thumbs stroking under those pretty eyes, fingers light against the stubble of his cheek. Nico smiles sleepily at him, expression so full of love, and Jack knows he'll follow this man wherever he decides to lead them.

"Let's bring a cup home together," he whispers, and closes the distance between them.

it’s almost hockey season again! send me a jacknico prompt?

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Three Word Fic Titles (3) Masterlist

part one, part two

A Human Heart (ao3) - andthenshesaid-write (ladyknight1512)

Summary: Phil's mother has always said that there are creatures in the forest and Phil has always thought they were just stories. Then one day he runs into the forest looking for somewhere to hide and meets Dan, a man with antlers and the ability to talk to trees. Phil's world opens up but there are dangers in the forest that he can't even begin to imagine.

Boys on Fire (ao3) - transdimensional_void

Summary: Dan is visiting Phil for the second time ever and a little Buffy viewing session turns into sexy times.

cowboy hat canoodling (ao3) - calvinahobbes

Summary: Usually they’re of a height, somewhat because Dan has that tendency to slouch. But today Dan is in boots and the cowboy hat, both making him taller than usual.

Don't Blame Me (ao3) - ForeverJustAnEmoKidAtHeart

Summary: When Phil gets a new job at the Tops Only Bar, he's just looking to make ends meet over the holiday period. He doesn't expect how he'll feel about one of the performers or how hard that'll make his job.

Doubt and Trust (ao3) - MorningStarshine

Summary: Being at the party had been fine. Stumbling home arm in arm with Phil, that had been the best part. But when kissing started leading to something more, Dan had a bit of a confession to make.

dreaming of you (ao3) - blossomsphan

Summary: “and now I’m dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming of you”

endings, endings, beginnings. (ao3) - commonemergency

Summary: A lot can happen in eleven years, he said, finishing his cup of coffee. Dan and Phil had lived a full life. It wasn’t always happy, but nothing can ever truly be happy, but it was finding the happiness and the light in those dark places.

When Dan finished talking, when all the words had come out, Evelyn had looked at him the same way that she looked at him back at that last session, a mix of pride and unbridled joy that Dan had grown up. He had grown up and become the person that his twenty-one year old self had been so scared of, the sixteen year old self he would have been proud of, and the twenty-five year old he almost gave up on if it hadn’t been for those around him to remind him that he was loved.

everything has changed (ao3) - gamingbeats

Summary: Dan and Phil go on holiday to NYC and everything changes when Dan books only the couple's options.

Falling for You (ao3) - Anonymous

Summary: Dan is at the front door waiting for Phil, eager to get outside so he can put his secret plan in motion when he hears a chilling thud of his partner colliding with the bathroom tiles.

Hospitals and homosexuals (ao3) - trashcanfromgallifrey

Summary: The story of Phil's near death experience

How Life Changes (ao3) - madd09

Summary: Phil had no idea how much his life was going to change when Cornelia and Martyn announced they were expecting and how it would end up being a catalyst for him and Dan,

Like Fine Print (ao3) - totalincandescense

Summary: Every few weeks, Dan was given an unfriendly reminder of at least one of the many reasons why he never went outside.

The most frequently recurring thing on the list being the general existence of people.

But more specifically, the existence of people who flirted with Phil.

missing the obvious (ao3) - Fictropes

Summary: Dan just wants this guy to stop ruining his game.

(or a reverse you've got mail)

one night stand (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Dan meets a stranger in a bar during after one of his shows on the We're All Doomed tour.

Some Other Light (ao3) - jestbee

Summary: Dan works the night shift because it's easier to exist in the dark

still so lucky (ao3) - jonsaremembers

Summary: Dan and Phil take a little trip, but Phil gets a migraine.

sunny intervals tomorrow (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Phil thinks about fifteen years.

Tequila and Lime (ao3) - SecretLlama_22

Summary: Dan and Phil bartender AU, where Dan has a crush on his recently phlonded colleague.

the fisherman’s guide (ao3) - watergator (orphan_account)

Summary: it’s 1956 and phil is a lighthouse worker who wants to write, and dan is the handsome stranger that washes up on shore one night who can’t remember who he is, but does know how to fish

The Philver Scream (ao3) - UnorthodoxSavvy

Summary: While Dan's career in the FBI is taking off, Phil is left behind to pick up the pieces of his life after his brother's death. However, he finds himself plagued by strange nightmares that he can't explain. Soon, people around him start dying. Can Dan and Phil's partnership survive the mounting body count?

three of us (ao3) - SylvesterLester

Summary: Phil is ready to make the next step. Dan isn't so sure.

Set after Dan comes home from WAD.

To be loved (ao3) - Thedemonqueen

Summary: Dan knows Phil insisted they’re together. Dan knows Phil loves him. But it doesn’t stop Dan from feeling dirty when he wants to touch Phil.

Viva Las Vegas (ao3) - evermorepeyton

Summary: Dan and Phil go to Las Vegas on October 19th. For what? Honestly, who knows? But maybe we should all seriously imagine it anyway.

What A Catch (ao3) - hygge

Summary: Phil visits the same cafe every weekday morning without fail. But, when he decides to visit the cafe on the weekend for once, the atmosphere that he had grown used to has completely changed thanks to a piano player named Dan. While Phil is ready to jump into a relationship, Dan is hesitant and is still trying to stitch his life together again after What Had Happened in his past relationship. And that’s easier said than done.

Where it began (ao3) - Frog910

Summary: Dan and Phil are thinking back to how things started

You and Me (ao3) - Scuddleduck

Summary: Birthday sex after Dan's birthday livestream

[o-o-lover-o-o]

HOW OBSESSED I AM

It's been 7 years ago, when my obsession started. I heard about the anime called ‘hunter x hunter’. This caught my interest and the way the story is delivered is hella good. Then, the first time I saw Illumi Zoldyck in the first arc, I didn't have any reaction because he looks like a dead person and a red flag. But then in the election arc. He appeared and he's hella fine~ 💜, he is now a dead sexy good-looking person and a hot flaming red flag.

Years passed, I've become more obsessed with this character knowing it will not give me any acknowledgement or recognition from this guy because he never existed but if he did, he'll probably kill me LOL because I'm useless AF to be a pawn. I know he exists in a different dimension or universe. Let me be delulu 🙄. I'll probably kms and hope that ill reincarnated to the hxh

WHY I LOVE HIM

Loving a fictional character that has a very questionable personality and morality. Is very common among people who have bad taste in men (like me). He might be fictional but I'm willing to die for him. I love him so much because of his appearance, personality and traits. I wonder why I am so drawn to him. Is it because he's very obsessive and possessive in nature that it gives me security that would probably won't leave me if he gets a chance to love me?(a normal yandere enjoyer)Or I just read many fictional stories about him that my brain always thinks about only him? (I'm brainwashing myself lol).

I am mediocre about everything but if I get obsessed about something, I will dig for its information till the end and the center of the earth. So I can just find a way just to seek what I want to know, even if it's something small or big, it doesn't matter as long it's him. Everything that I'm obsessed about, is essential for my obsession. I must know things that I don't know and I must find answers to these questions that linger in my head and heart.

I love the way his hair drapes down from his shoulder to his waist. It gives a mysterious and majestic effect that caught my interest in every single detail of his features. I'm willingly wrapped myself in his hair and suffocated myself even though it would hurt or might take my life away. His sharp features that make him intimidating is smooch 😘🤌 a masterpiece. he has this big eyes that are filled with emptiness that I'm willing to be swallowed by darkness and will not go up again to see the light, his nose is straight i want to sit on it and, lips that i can kiss till my lung oxygen runs out and die in his arms. His pale skin that illuminates in the darkness from the moonlight, it could light up my life. His aura is so cold and menacing that I want to hug him and never let him go. I like cold stuff because my body is always naturally warm, he can set me on fire to warm himself, I'll be happy to keep him warm. He puts all the spices and gives flavors to my tongue and I would savor the taste of his odd behavior.

I already did a lot of stuff to feed my obsession everyday; reading fanfiction, character analysis, and talking to bots that I made lol. I go far, like making myself hallucinate to see him, and doing reality shifting and I still haven't succeeded yet. I'm happy, everytime i get sleep paralysis and it means I can control my dream. I also lucid dream and encounter illumi a lot in it. Sometimes he appear in my dream 😏 very randomly… and one time we held hands and I got too excited, I woke up. or the way he kissed my neck but I woke up because my mother screamed my name. Or the way he tries to kill me but I'm fine because I'm able to see him. Hehe~💜

My friends call me obsessive and delusional, I'm actually not. I'm just.. Devoted to this relationship, to him. Also I'm manifesting the reality I want. I keep myself virgin for him, even my first kiss. I am willing to be his sacrificial lamb.

I'm willing to follow him all day and pick up all his hair strands on the ground and make a crochet out of it, then create some sweater or something cute that I can give him or something I can keep it myself. If he has dandruff, I'm willing to sprinkle it in my mouth and eat it like parmesan cheese and I can do it like a snack and dessert everyday.

I'm willing to consume everything that comes out in his body, everything he touches is holy and sacred for me. I will build an altar to worship him from head to toe, from his dead skin to his bone marrow. I am willing to fight the Gods and Goddesses or The Devil for illumi, just to see him.

If he existed in this world, I'll probably be his stalker, I'll end up being his slave or I'll be dead lol. But that's fine, as long as the last thing I would see is him. If I get reincarnated to an object, I don't mind being his soap, not in a perverted way but I would love to feel him against mine. Thinking that my only purpose is to serve him then I'll die slowly, melting down to the drainage till I'm nothing. If I don't turn to soap, I'll be okay to be anything, as long as I am his object. If I become a hair blower, I still don't mind. It'll be lovely to witness his hair flowing to the wind. I would not be mad if I became his tissue. But if I turn into a pet, I would be ecstatic.

He smells like every dark thought I ever had. Keeps me awake at night and keeps me thinking about him. I might not have any needles in my head but I act like one. I am drowning in the thought of him everyday that it becomes unhealthy and there's no day that there's no him in my mind. My head will subconsciously start thinking about him to the point of obsession that I can't start my day without staring at my phone with his face in it, scrolling through my gallery and reading fanfiction or anything that is related to him.

I am aware of his flaws but that makes him more attractive in my eyes. He's such an interesting person. I am hella fine with his current personality, to be honest, i would like to be abused by him. He can torture me all day and all night, just to see him and breathe the same air as him. If I really did breathe the same air as him, I would be willing to let him rip open my ribs and offer him my heart or organs. I would kill for him and I would let him kill me if he wanted to.

[fizzigigsimmer]

I wish I had more time to write. I have so many fic ideas that live in folders that I am afraid will never see the light. After I finish my Big Bang fic I still have to finish To B With Love & All The Kings Men (oof poor baby has gone so neglected). So this brain bunny will sadly probably not see life until next years big bang honestly. But I love the idea so much and want to share it. All my love to @dream-about-dancing who helped me with my initial brainstorming and encouraged me that this wasn't too dark of an idea lol.

That said. Warnings ahead for some dark!romance as in, this is fucked up with purpose.

The idea came to me after the massive disappointment that was Don't Worry Darling. I just feel like the film missed a lot of the horror and emotional beats that make the original Stepford Wives so twisted and compelling.

So my idea for a Harringrove Stepford!Wives Au was born.

A secret government organization has given Martin Brenner funding for "The Eden project". The goal of Eden is to create an actionable community model that would end poverty, wealth inequality, crime, war etc in the western world. Their slogan is " take the first step to world peace. Choose Eden."

World peace is the surface goal, but we all know Brenner is a closeted sociopath - so naturally he's using Eden and the technology behind it to create a weapon that can control/erase/change the will of others on a mass scale. World peace through mind control in other words. Everyone in Eden is essentially a test subject.

Brenner finds volunteers by preying on fringe groups and people who are ostracized in society, because they can more easily disappear without being missed. Nobody cares if the guy dealing drugs out of his van stops showing up to the corner, or some "tranny" quits their job and moves without telling anyone.

Billy and Steve are college roommates, it's the 80s, and they're both deep in the closet. Billy struggles with his childhood trauma and Steve is there for him like no one else ever has been. Steve is exploring his own sexuality and trying to live independently of his overbearing parents for the first time and they form a very codependent relationship.

Steve's parents start to suspect somethings up with him and his roommate and start to put pressure on him to live up to his responsibilities (Aka join his father's firm and get married to a nice girl). It doesn't help that Billy is fearful and possessive of their relationship and generally just a giant redflag. Steve just wants to be with Billy, but he knows they don't have a future and he doesn't want to be the son who fucks up and ruins his family over something he shouldn't even want - so he breaks up with Billy.

Billy spirals. He completely ignores the part about Steve breaking up with him because he's an unstable mess lol and fixates on Steve's parents and the world telling them it's wrong to be together. He knows Steve was happy with him and that Steve loves him and is desperate to get him back.

He meets someone at a bar who introduces him to Project Eden and indoctrinates him into Brenner's circle. At first Billy thinks this sounds like some weird geek novel bullshit, but the idea of a safe world where he's not wrong for being the way that he is, and where Steve still loves him and he's powerful and successful and nothing can touch him? Appealing as fuck. Sign him up. He'll be a warrior for world peace.

Cue him literally abducting Steve on his wedding day and bringing him into Eden, where they become The Hargroves. They have the perfect life and the perfect marriage that the outside world tells them they can't have. Billy's the provider and each day he gets to come home to his blissfully happy and submissive husband.

He was afraid at first that Brenner's technology would take away what he loves most about Steve, but no he's still the same dork with the same fire. The only downside is Billy knows deep down that Steve didn't choose this and he lives in fear of Steve waking up one day and truly hating him.

The first crack comes when Steve starts to have upsetting dreams about the past, including the time his dad called him a slur and accused him of ruining the family and breaking his mother's heart. Billy tells him these are just nightmares but he knows they are really Steve's memories popping up where they shouldn't. He starts to panic and does everything he can to "fix" Steve, gaslighting him the entire way.

Meanwhile poor Steve is on a reluctant heroes journey slowly regaining his memories and his own mind. He starts unraveling the mysteries behind Eden with the help of Eleven and his friends, who are also fellow residents of Eden. Eleven is Brenner's "daughter" and unknowingly is a big part of how the technology works. Max and Lucas came to Eden together so they could be together without persecution. Heather and Robin were lesbians who didn't know each other and wanted a chance to experience being in love. Jason was a closeted man escaping religious trauma, but in Eden he's the perfect husband to Chrissy who isn't sick or being abused by her mother anymore, and Eddie was a poor social outcast who wanted the world to hear his music. In Eden he's a rock star and has a budding romance with Jason & Chrissy.

Steve agrees that they can't allow Brenner to use El and the Eden technology for what he's planning, but the more of the truth he discovers the more he wishes he'd never woken up. Because despite everything, he loves Billy and the life they have. Billy's very sorry of course. It was never his intention to hurt Steve. He just wanted to make things right for them. And it can all be right again if they all just take this little pill and go to sleep.

Decisions decisions.

[btr-rewatch]

Big Time Rush Season 1, Episode 1: “Big Time Audition” PART 2

LINK to part 1

Thanks to those of you who checked out my first post. What a nice surprise! Onto part two :)

Also, since these posts are long and hidden under a keep reading, maybe I'll do a little "highlights" blurb after I write the post up? That way people can get an idea of what's in it and see if they want to read it?

Highlights: The guys finally get to the audition, and I proceed to spiral into Kendall Knight character analysis.

After borrowing their elderly neighbor (in order to have an adult in the car so Logan can drive), the boys make it to the audition in the nick of time. An exhausted looking Kelly slaps stickers on all four of them, and I have two comments on this:

Kelly referring to Kendall as "tall, blond, and eyebrows" is perhaps one of the best lines so far in the episode. I remember really loving Kelly when I originally watched the show, and so far, she is not disappointing me. She calls it like she sees it, and what she sees is accurate.

Look at him. I love Kendall.

The other thing is just how funny it is to me that not only did these four wildly different boys became best friends—they can all sing. And like, not even in a "yeah, you've got an ok voice" kind of way. They can sing, sing. What are the odds of this happening? Yeah, yeah, I know this is a wacky show, and it had to happen like this on account of, um, it's the plot, but for real. Did they...did they not know they could sing? Or did they ever sit around and start singing for fun and just not notice how good they all sounded?? I can't remember if this is ever brought up. It's funny to me for some reason. Gustavo had a whole entire boyband pre-packaged and ready to go in Minnesota, and the only reason it was discovered was because Kendall can't keep a lid on his temper.

Moving on! James starts getting cold feet and switches his number sticker with Logan's. And it's at this point that I must also comment on yet another instance of Kendall having to serve as their collective brain. I mean, Logan says he's a genius and will come up with something to do on stage, and then he immediately goes, "Kendall?" to which Kendall tells him to beatbox. No thinking involved for Mr. Mitchell so far. Can't figure out how to get to the audition? Call for Kendall; he'll solve the problem. Don't know what to do on stage? Kendall will provide the answer to that, too!

Kendall is single-handedly holding this friend group together. James, Carlos, and Logan are like kittens. Scrambling all over the place, getting themselves into trouble, making messes, etc, and Kendall is the one hurriedly running around trying to corral them all.

Logan's audition goes GREAT, by the way.

When it's finally time for James to take the stage, Gustavo utters one of my other favorite lines, "Well, he's not hideous."

Unfortunately, that's about the nicest comment Gustavo has for James, and he eventually tells him to get off the stage because he has no talent. Uh oh! Is James about to have his dreams completely crushed?? Nope!

Kendall Knight to the rescue! He's about to (eventually) save the day by using the power of

Anger Management Issues

Yes, Kendall is going to aggressively sing and dance to a pop song at the big scary man, (plus give us the wonderful "Giant Turd" song), then start a physical altercation.

There he is. Gustavo's singing block of wood that he can set on fire. Though, this Kendall that we're seeing has a good deal of that fire already.

Which brings me to another topic that I'm sure I'll be touching on a lot: What happened to this version of Kendall??

Putting aside the fact that this episode has a different "feel" to it from the rest of the series (something I chalk up to the way it was filmed, the lack of sound effects, and the fact that first episodes do tend to differ a lot from the direction the remainder of a series will go in) this is still a very different Kendall Knight than the one we end up with in the show, especially in the later episodes.

I'm not necessarily complaining, because I love Kendall. I was always a Carlos girl crush-wise, but Kendall was my favorite character, and a lot of that had to do with how good-natured, goofy, and loving he was. It's a silly, fun show, and Kendall certainly fits into it.

HOWEVER! I think they really captured a fleeting glimpse of something unique with his character in this that I wish they would have stuck with. So far, we know that Kendall is the firmly established leader. He's the guy in charge; he solves the problems, gives the pep-talks, loves his friends, and just overall seems responsible. He's also unhinged. A music producer puts down one of his buddies, and Kendall goes from zero to being wrestled by security guards in a matter of ten seconds.

This is not something that just happens. What this tells me is that this is a personality trait that is already pretty ingrained and that has likely led him into similar scenarios before, especially if those situations have involved having to defend his friends. And there's no way Kendall hasn't been put in that scenario before. I watch that scene, and I see a kid who has flown off the handle like he does in that audition. I can see a Kendall who can't control his anger and gets into physical fights with peers and maybe verbal fights with adults even.

And maybe this is me thinking back too much on my BTR fanfic days (I didn't post any, but I read a WHOLE lot) but a big focus in a lot of them was Kendall's family situation/upbringing. The general consensus in the fandom was that Mr. Knight had likely abandoned his wife and kids when Katie was a baby, forcing Kendall into the "man of the house" role at the ripe age of like 6 or 7. He didn't have a choice but to become his mother's support system, a good male role model for his baby sister, the protector of his friends, etc. A natural side effect of all of that was the whole "I have to fix everything and hold everyone together all the time and keep everyone safe or else I WILL DIE" complex that he definitely has going on.

I'm rambling, but here's my point: This Kendall seems to have a little more depth to him than he will as we move forward in the show. They were on the track of having a loveable but troubled lead character here, and I'm not sure why they didn't lean into that. Could've provided some nice contrast to the fun shenanigans of the series.

*sigh* What could have been...

Getting back on track...the rest of the guys (and Mrs. Magicowski!) all join in on the fight and get brought back to the Knight house by the cops.

Kendall's line here kills me: "Mom! Remember that time I saved you from choking? Wow, that was close! And I love you."

He is so cute, I can't.

Mama Knight appears completely unfazed by this sight, which only makes me more convinced that this is just another normal night for her. She has absolutely opened up her door and seen her son standing with a police officer.

Also! Kendall mentions that he knows the Boyquake song from work, and if I'm remembering correctly, he's the only one of the four to have a job. That was another thing the fandom used to discuss in regards to Kendall needing to step up and help take care of his family.

I love Mrs. Knight, by the way. She's totally chill about the whole audition fiasco. She listens to them explain themselves, then just immediately moves on. You can tell that Kendall is being raised by a really loving, supportive mother who knows and trusts him.

Okay, I think I need to wrap this up again soon because it's getting ridiculous, but before I do, can I just say how much I love when Katie asks to hear the Giant Turd song and the guys all start singing it for her? There's not eye-rolling or annoyance or ignoring her like some teenage boys would be prone to do. They enthusiastically jump right in! They love Katie! Those are her four big brothers. They all feel like such a nice little family, and it gives me emotions. I am a SUCKER for found family, and BTR absolutely fits the bill in that area.

Well...I suppose that's it for now. When I was planning this blog, I was like, "Right, two posts for the first episode. Easy peasy." Wrong. I am only TWELVE minutes in. This is ridiculous. I am ridiculous. I derailed myself with a Kendall Knight analysis essay.

I hope those of you reading these posts are enjoying them. I'm certainly having fun writing them.

[calbeloved]

Trick or Treat!!!!

I'm going to ask about my guy Johnny, but knowing that's unlikely Arthur is the backup <3

hiiii factorial :333 just for you a little thing about johnny i wrote specifically for this AND a wip of an arthur pov from a Thing (that i haven't worked on for. a long time now. it's also an au. obviously.) i hope i did johnny justice shsh he's such a guy i adore him

---

In retrospect, maybe working for the Order did give him something good. No matter how it came along… a reason to live; some task he has to do before he dies is what he was looking for.

…technically. Relatively.

It… maybe was?

But in his defense, there really isn't a lot an orphan with nothing to his name can do after being kicked out of a place he once called home on the day of his 18th birthday.

Johnny was good in the Order. Not perfect (oh, he was far from that) and not the best and a lot of times more of a burden and an annoyance than not, but… He did his job. He saved some people. Pushed some civilians out of harm's way.

He just wasn't good enough. He understands that. He knows that was always how it was going to end. Too much blood on his hands, too much stupid things he said without thinking, too much impulsive decisions, too little work done correctly.

He's just surprised they only moved him to do undercover work.

He should be dead. Or fired. Or… whatever the Order does with their ex employees.

Instead, he's sitting in an apartment (a nice, warm place without any mold- maybe it shouldn't be as surprising as it is, but Johnny still dreams of a room too small, filled to the brim with little kids sleeping all around him; so overwhelmingly hot yet so cold, with the cold breezes of wind coming in from windows that could never truly close) on a bed, in a room that's his.

It's still weird to think about. Naluti is still cooped up in his own room (two whole rooms are inside the apartment!); even when Johnny was cooking dinner, he didn't come out. Just murmured something from behind his door that Johnny took as a “I'll make my own food later".

That's whatever. It's not like he cares about the guy. They just have to work together. Just like he did before with every other person in the Order.

…and yet.

On the laptop open in front of him is a tutorial on how to make a flamingo in origami. Around him are countless other origamis; unfinished works that he deemed unsalvageable and paper cranes and butterflies and fortune tellers…

Is it embarrassing? He doesn't know. It probably is.

His hands shake and he knows… Ruben? his housemate doesn't like it when he keeps his hands occupied with a gun, and all online articles say to do something repetitive and calming and how hard folding paper can really be?

…it is a little bit.

Most of the papers around him are not in his hands because he messed up with them.

But he'll be damned if this flamingo doesn't come out perfect. He's been rewatching the tutorial for hours and the pink scraps of paper on the floor are telling just how long he's been on it.

…maybe he could give it to Rubens (Natuli /Rubens,/ that's the name, he /knew/ he could remember it) when he's done. No point keeping all of this to himself, right?

---

^ (inspired by me getting into origami again... id like to think he'd enjoy it and maybe do some with rubens when they'd get closer.... they're just sooo)

----

and have a littleee piece of the wip of arthur now; it's an au where gal is imprisoned in the order but shrinks into a child instead (simply because i like time stuff) and one of the things im very 💥💥💥💥 about

---

There's now a commotion behind him- someone screams something, someone runs out of the room, someone does something, someone, someone…

Arthur does not pay attention to it. He drops to the ground and with wide eyes (where, where, where-) looks.

…Under the bed is a child. It's a small child, chest heaving with sobs while trying to make themselves as tiny as possible. They're bleeding, covered in bruises, and-

Oh God.

And then- hands on Arthur's shoulders, pulling him away; screaming again, so much screaming-

There is a child on the floor, crying and trying to hide away, they're hurt and- he needs to help, why are people pulling him away, this isn't right, this isn't-

“Stop! Stop, stop, wait-!” He screams- sees the child flinch, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, just wait-

It's Dante. Of course it's Dante. Gray hands dig into his skin, dragging him up and away- “Arthur! What's going on?!”

But he cannot answer, he can't- this kid needs him, why are they hurt, why are they here-

Somewhere further away, someone shouts. “Where is he?!”

Footsteps on the floor; running… That's Joui, Arthur knows Joui…

And there's a gun- there's a lot of guns, a lot of weapons-

“Stop! Just stop! Be quiet!”

They do- at least enough for Arthur to think, even through the fast breathing (just Dante, he can always recognise Dante…) in his ear.

He shrugs out of Dante's grip, crouches down again, ignores Joui- he's so angry, so, so angry again…

“Hey, hi,” he half whispers, half saps out. Kids. He knows how to deal with kids. Kids are easy. “I'm sorry, everyone here is very loud, huh? You're okay, nobody is going to hurt you…”

The kid looks at him; teary eyes, bloody nose, biting their hand to keep quiet…

Joui crouches down next to him. He takes in the sight and glances at Arthur with wide eyes. “Arthur.”

There's something that he's supposed to get from that tone. He knows that. But… there's a kid, how can he focus on anything else?

[yunnathearcher]

Back to reality in Warrior II pose, opened eyed in half angel wings. Woke up in the middle of the night just knowing it was still Saturday. Nah. Oh well, new week. New beginnings. “Make people as uncomfortable as they make you.” Okay. Doable. Lunar Monday's.

Early morning talks with you fill me with joy. Hearing your voice expands my day. Work passes in a blur. Heartfelt convos in the iMessages. Afterwards all I wanna do is vibe & rest. Busy week planned, in & out the streets. Showing love and being loved. Doing my thing. Monday night in the in between.

Dreaming fast and sleeping deep. Shadows of monads beneath the screen. Body cool and relaxed against the yoga mat. Early morning gym sessions. Lighting fires, pouring water, saying words. Everything flowing the way it always could. Martian Tuesday's.

Light talks underneath the shadows of the city lights and curious trees. Fish and okra and ATL island drinks. You tell me you’re moving again, makes me wonder how that would feel. Packing up and leaving. Starting over in a new city. We talk about men, we talk about love, we talk about mistrust, we talk about planting seeds. We talk. Tuesday night and the inquistive ear.

Slow to get out of bed. Sleep dancing behind my tired eyes. Luckily my yoga mat calls to me. Luckily I have programmed myself to adhere to my rituals and routines. Luckily? Decidedly. Opening back up feels like dipping my toes in the sand where the water meets the shore. In the distance I can see the waves. I want to feel something that encourages me to swim. Mercurial Wednesday's.

He doesn’t realize I love him yet. I'm sure he'll figure it out. Baking. Napping. Washing my hair in the middle of the night. Lighthearted connections. Every which a way. Resonating through time and space. Encountering issues that are not mine and taking my hands off of them. Liberation. Channeling more precisely. Slowly learning how to harness skill. Wednesday night full of precision.

Hearing the birds chirping while in eagle arm pose. Feeling my lower chakras open in rabbit pose. Namaste. Namaste. Namaste baby. Earlier start to a busy day. Anointing my head and my crown. Hearing Ra’s meows. Trusting in the force that has been guiding me. Keeping my faith strong, my love real, allowing peace to radiate and surround me. Jovian Thursday's.

Long ass day man. Productive. But still. Late afternoon mood swings. Self-compassion, patience, extending understanding and mustering up some grace. But still. Not much to say. Not much energy left in me to feel. Thursday in the depths of the abyss.

Late night tangents. Sleeping in batches. Cold morning air waking me up while the Sun rises. Oversized t-shirt & some panties. Thinking about the guy that told me he liked my legs the other night. Thinking about how easy it has become to release the old ways of being and embrace the new. Also thinking about you. Venusian Friday's.

Not needing and not clinging. And that feels good. But still wanting you. And that feels good too. Good talks through the day. Initiating convos, allocating time and energy with intention. Loving each moment for what it is vs what it could be. Intuitive spikes. Quiet nights. Friday with the sweet surrender.

Considering how emotionally charged the collective becomes in times of economic and social decline. Thinking of how love eases even the hardest of hearts and the wickedest of minds. Feeling excited about the day and the adventures it might bring. Enjoying the crisp cold air and fond ideas of spring. Saturnian Saturday's.

Reminded of yoga sessions that lasted for hours. Just me, my mat and the night sky. So much has changed since then but there’s a lot that stuck around and stayed along the way. In a lot of ways it feels like I’m starting over. In a lot of ways it feels like I’m just beginning. A process worth embodying, a life worth living. Saturday and a renewal of vows.

And on Sunday She loved & She rested.

[wishitweresummer]

- Dream Team Camping Trip -

Just some fun tickle shenanigans that would totally go down if those goofballs went on a camping trip together. Please share your thoughts and headcannons and any scenarios you have and everything please please, your interactions give me life.

Fishing- The boys all fishing and George finds it unbearably boring. He keeps blabbing on about nonsense and the other two keep shushing him and telling him to shut up. Dream and Sapnap explain they need to be quiet so they don't scare the fish away. George realizes he can ruin and end the boring fishing trip and have fun at the expense of his friends with one tactic. Of course he is sat between them on the little wooden dock. He tickles Sapnap, but he just keeps huffing and shoving him. Sapnap can be pretty good at holding in his laughter when he needs to be stubborn. Fearing he'll tumble down into the lake, George backs off. He tickles Dream and gets a few good loud laughs out of him, but the two catch on to what he’s doing pretty quickly. They pin him down together and make him scream with laughter, definitively ruining the fishing trip, but not letting George get any satisfaction out of it.

Sleeping Bag- Sapnap forgot his sleeping bag so the others give him extra blankets. George tries to be helpful and rolls him up in multiple blankets so he can get the sleeping bag experience like the other two. Things get way out of hand when they decide to tickle him and now he's trapped. Sapnap's head in Dream's lap as he shrieks and laughs helplessly. Dream plays with his soft curls and enjoys the show, not getting to see Sapnap wrecked very often. George got rid of the socks quickly and went all in on tickling both of Sapnap's feet, getting way too into it since he never gets to tickle his feet. Poor Sapnap.

Sunscreen- They want to have a lake day and hang out by the water, but George refuses to put sunscreen on. "Please George you hardly go outside! Your pale skin will burn up the second the sun hits it!", they cry. Dream holds him down and rubs sunscreen on him against his will, also tickles him senseless. Sapnap watches on in horror at the uncomfortable scene.

Campfire Stories- Telling scary stories around the campfire but the stories keep ending in "...and then it tickled Dream!!!". The poor boy eventually just giggling in anticipation through-out every story and still somehow getting surprised every time. Squirming on his log as he wheezes and regrets sitting between his two best friends. George's giant brown eyes look downright evil with the fire reflecting against them. They have so much fun making up ridiculous ways to get every story to wind up with them digging their fingers into Dream’s sides. He just keeps falling for it! Probably had too many s’mores.

Flashlight Tag- The boys playing flashlight tag through the forest at night. Constantly jumping out from behind trees and scaring each other. The punishment for being caught didn’t start out as being tickles, but George tickling Sapnap the first time he caught him caused it to be added quickly to the rules. The dark forest being lit up by beams of flashlights and chaotic screams and laughter.

Bear Attack- Dream and George cuddling in the tent when they get a second alone while Sapnap goes off to pee. It’s so cute, all cuddly and giggly. But, Sapnap pranks them epic-ly by growling and shaking the tent. Of course, they think it’s a bear and are hilariously terrified. Once they hear Sapnap’s glee from outside they drag him into the tent against his will and tickle the absolute muffin out of him together.

Fireflies- The boys running through the forest clearing at dawn trying to catch fireflies. George has never seen one before since they aren’t that common where he’s from and they want him to experience the magic. They only had two jars so Dream goes jar-less for the good of the group. (What a guy.) He’s the first to catch one in his cupped hands and sits down, the others crowd in close to see the cute little lightning bug. Instead they find Dream all giggles and shaking shoulders, the little bug tickling his palms. The other two melt at the sight and Sapnap offers his jar. They guide the little bug of light into the jar and watch it, George especially captivated by it’s magic. They can’t help but to poke and prod more giggles from Dream into the night. Words like “tickle bug” and “giggle bug” are suddenly littering their teases. Sweet giggling under the sky as night approaches.

[enjomo-arch]

𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄

𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗘𝗗: whatever  the  ace  is  able  to  lie  on  (  sometimes  even  just  sitting  is  enough  ).  he  doesn't  really  have  a  desired  type  of  a  bed  because  during  his  travels  ace  either  sleeps  on  his  boat  (  on  the  striker  )  or  in  a  place  where  he  can  sleep,  away  from  cities  and  people  through  his  high  bounty.  the  only  time  ace  had  some  kind  of  decent  bed  that  had  a  mattress  and  pillows  in  it  was  when  he  was  a  toddler  in  rouge's  arms  and  slept  with  her  on  one  bed.  during  his  time  with  dadan  ace  slept  on  bare  planks  covered  by  some  sheets  at  best,  when  he  lived  in  a  tree  house  with  his  brothers  he  slept  on  cold  planks.  the  only  time  ace  actually  had  a  normal  bed  is  when  he  was  a  captain  of  his  own  ship  during  spade  pirates  era  so  he  slept  on  rocks,  wood,  planks,  earth.  it's  all  good  enough  as  long  as  he  has  a  place  to  sleep.

𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦: one  thin  blanket  or  no  covers  at  all.  a  guy  who's  made  of  fire  doesn't  really  need  a  cover  y'know  ?  ace  literally  himself  is  like  a  heating  blanket  for  other  people  by  his  naturally  raised  body  temperature  and  at  rest  it  cools  down  a  little  bit,  but  he  still  can  be  a  walking  heater  for  others  to  cling  to.

𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗦: two  are  preffered  but  not  required.  one  under  his  head  and  the  other  under  his  elbow.  ace  still  has  to  deal  with  rsi  since  he  was  a  child  and  the  elbow  brace  while  enough  to  keep  him  comfortable,  it's  better  for  his  joints  to  just  simply  lay  on  a  pillow  on  more  or  less  similiar  height  to  his  laying  body.  though  if  there's  not  enough  he  doesn't  really  mind.

𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚: what  do  you  know  he  either  sleeps  in  his  boxers  or  naked  so  if  you're  lucky  enough  you  may  get  him  actually  wearing  something.  if  he's  sleeping  on  his  boat  /  in  the  wild  he  just  sleeps  in  what  he  walks  everyday.

𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣?: absolutely  not.  ace  had  no  problem  adjusting  to  new  places  since  he  was  little.  later  on  when  he  developed  his  narcolepsy,  ace  just  sleeps  anywhere  at  any  time.  sometimes  on  a  table,  sometimes  even  in  his  food.  

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗗𝗢 𝗜𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣?: he  simply  watches  the  sea  while  sitting  on  the  railing,  sometimes  ace  drinks  himself  to  sleep  if  he's  experiencing  a  very  stressful  moment  in  his  life.  his  depression,  anxiety  and  insecurity  can  bite  him  pretty  hard  and  while  he  does  bite  back,  sometimes  he  just  doesn't  wish  to  think  about  it.  he  goes  outside,  sits  on  the  ship's  railing  and  drinks  until  he  can't  anymore.  maybe  one  day  he'll  fall  over  the  board  and  offer  himself  to  the  depths  of  the  sea.  he's  okay  if  that  happens.

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦, 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦: mostly  nightmares  or  no  dreams  at  all.  usually  ace  has  no  dreams  during  his  narcoleptic  naps  so  he  just  wakes  up  and  sometimes  he  experiences  a  slight  lack  of  memory  of  what  he  was  doing  previously,  before  falling  asleep.

𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗦𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗥 𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦: naps  naps  naps.  though  deep  slumbers  do  happen  after  he  stuffs  himself  full  of  food.  

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣: well  take  your  pick.  every  moment  of  the  day  may  be  good  for  him  to  sleep.  when  it  will  happen  ?  who  knows.  one  minute  you  talk  to  him  the  other  ace  is  snoring  and  eating  at  the  same  time.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠 𝗨𝗣: smell  of  food,  smell  of  blood  and  sometimes  just  his  instinct.  ace  does  feel  presence  in  his  circle.  he  may  wake  up  if  you  walk  too  close  to  him  but  that  usually  is  only  if  he  just  straight  up  doesn't  trust  you  enough  to  naturally  sleep  around  you.

tagged : @shiigures

[waitingforwinterwinds]

A Clash of Kings - 00 PROLOGUE (pages 01-26 )

Maester Cressen of Dragonstone refuses to take his retirement lying down, instead, he'll take his retirement lying down. Meanwhile, Stannis's pursuit of the Crown is off to a shoddy start.

-

The maester did not believe in omens. And yet... old as he was, Cressen had never seen a comet half so bright, nor yet that color, that terrible color, the color of blood and flame and sunsets. He wondered if his gargoyles had ever seen its like. They had been here so much longer than he had, and would still be here long after he was gone. If stone tongues could speak... Such folly. He leaned against the battlement, the sea crashing beneath him, the black stone rough beneath his fingers. Talking gargoyles and prophecies in the sky. I am an old man, grown giddy as a child again.

Sounds like he's having a nostalgia fueled rewatch of Gargoyles. (That's a cartoon that ran from 1994-1997 for you young folk.)

Speaking of prophecies in the sky though: That description of the comet's colour really captures the up coming events in a nicely vague way. Fire, blood, and sunsets. (fire and blood being obvious, but 'sunsets' as in those things that happen right before the night falls~)

When pylos returned the girl came with him, shy as ever. Behind her, shuffling and hopping in that queer sideways walk of his, came her fool.

Ah! Patches! The guy they struck from the show completely and... has some kind of prophetic madness? Or at least he spouts nonsense that sounds like it could be prophetic if you know everything that's going on? Which kind of brings up its own thing about evidence and conjecture and interpretation done to fit know facts...

AND SHIREEN!!!! Hi baby girl~

"I had bad dreams, Shireen told him. "About dragons. They were coming to eat me." The child had been plagued by nightmares as far back as Maester Cressen could recall. "We have talked of this before," he said gently. "The dragons cannot come to life. They are carved of stone, child. -"

Hmmm *squints suspiciously* gimme a sec, I just wanna ... check a family tree... and a prophecy...

Okay, I know I said I wasn't here to drop hot takes, but I can't just let a crack theory this fun slip past me: Shireen Baratheon is Azor Ahai!!

I'm sorry, but Cressen's inner monologue really wants us to know this place surrounded by the salty is is smoky AF.

"- It was the Valyrians who raised this citadel, and they had ways of shaping stone since lost to us. A castle must have towers whenever two walls meet at an angle, for defense. The Valyrians fashioned these towers in the shape of dragons to make their fortress seem more fearsome, just as they crowned their walls with a thousand gargoyles instead of simple crenelations."

Okay so, are the ways "lost to us" like Egypt's trade partner's location and the recipe for Roman concrete was lost to us, because everyone thought it was obvious so no one wrote it down and then ... events transpired, or because the Valyrians didn't share their stone working technologies and... events transpired??? (So either way everyone who knew died out. Also: we've (and by we I mean an international team doing science) figured out the recipe, it was sea water, not fresh water~) Also, also, ngl, this castle sounds epic, I want to steal it.

"If the gods are good, they will grant us a warm autumn and bountiful harvests, so we might prepare for the winter to come."

I would love to know the logistics of the seasonal cycles, like I know GRRM has said it's magic, BUT. Is Autumn a proportional length of time? Like if summer lasts for X years then Autumn lasts for xx% of those years? What if the Autumn is really short? Can it be as slim as a few months? Weeks? Days?

What are the measurements the maesters are collating and comparing? day length? average temperatures or rain falls? And how do seasonal plants grow? There are some real world plants that need their sleep between seasons, like there's one fruit tree that literally cannot refruit until it has experienced at least a brief (but uninterrupted) period of cold (winter) weather. The logistics George! GIVE THEM TO ME!!!!

"It is always summer under the sea," he intoned. ... "Under the sea it snows up," said the fool, "and the rain is dry as bone. -"

hmmm, sounds kinda like underwater volcanic regions.

There was a single chair in the room, carefully positioned in the precise place that Dragonstone occupied off the coast of Westeros, and raised up to give a good view of the tabletop. Seated in the chair was a man in a tight-laced leather jerkin and breeches of roughspun brown wool.

I want this tablemap also. "Roughspun"= 🥛 First drink of the book~

"- That Lysene pirate Salladorhor Saan will be there with the latest tally of what I owe him, and Morosh the Myrman will caution me with talk of tides and autumn gales, while Lord Sunglass-"

OMG Hei Yanjing is in this?! Crossover crack is back in the- Oohhhh, Sunglass not Sunglasses. My bad, never mind. "- mutters piously of the will of the Seven." ooh, yeah, definitely not the guy I was thinking of.

"Why should I avenge Eddard Stark? The man is nothing to me. -"

Oohh, he doesn't know Eddard tried to get him the throne~

On the bottom shelf behind a row of slaves in squat clay jars he found a vial of indigo glass, no larger than his little finger. It rattled when he shook it. Cressen blew away a layer of dust and carried it back to his table. Collapsing into his chair, he pulled the stopper and spilled out the vial's contents. A dozen crystals, no larger than seeds, rattled across the parchment he'd been reading. They shone like jewels in the candlelight, so purple that the maester found himself thinking that he had never truly seen the color before.

oh, oh, oh, oh! These are, um... Tears of Lys? Strangler? The, um, the poison crystals that are in Sansa's purple wedding hairnet. I mean not the exact same ones, obviously, (probably,) but it's the same stuff? I think?

All the world knew that a maester forged his silver link when he learned the art of healing - but the world preferred to forget that men who knew how to heal also knew how to kill. ... In the Citadel it was simply called the strangler.

Strangler, that's it.

... hmmm, should I add maester chain metal meaning to the drinking game? 🤔

Around her throat was a red gold choker tighter than any maesters chain, ornamented with a single great ruby.

And rubies. They also cropped up a few times in the first book. (mostly in relation to Rhaegar getting the snot beat out of him at the Trident, iirc.)

"A man your age must look to where he steps," Melisandre said courteously. "The night is dark and full of terrors." He knew the phrase, some prayer of her faith. It makes no matter, I have a faith of my own. "Only children fear the dark," he told her.

It's not the dark you need to be afraid of, Cressen, It's the things hidden by it.

"It is not too late to spill the wine, maester." "No," he whispered hoarsely. "No." "As you will," Melisandre of Asshai too the cup from his hands, and drank long and deep.

Kind of wondering if this futile effort by Cressen was actually an intended self inflicted death. If part of him knew his mind was going, understood that he was being removed from his post before he died at it, and thought "no, I don't want to die like that. I'll die doing something for my son."

He had to know he wasn't walking away from this, even if he'd managed to kill Melisandre, some part of him had to know it. Right?

Alas poor Cressen, we only knew you for a chapter, I'm sure you were just out there doing your best.

-

Experimenting with indents in the quoted passages. I just thought it might make the text blocks a little easier to read. That's why we have them in books after all. (unlike computers and digital copies where a few hundred spaced paragraph breaks don't matter much and don't turn a 500 page book into a 600 page book.)

I've also changed my profile pic to reflect the current book~