#certainly wasn't me

[lizavet]

@heropartnerweek - Day 4: Great Canyon | Hidden Land | Glacier Palace | Revelation Mountain

There was something strangely nostalgic about the peak of Revelation Mountain. Tuft knew for a fact they had never been there before. But even still, they couldn’t shake the feeling that something about it was… familiar.

How they found a massive clearing with a giant forcefield of light surrounding a small pond familiar, they didn’t know. Maybe they had been here before their Pops found them? He did say he found them close to Revelation Mountain. Maybe this had something to do with their past!

“Looks like some sort of spring,” Archen noted.

Poppy rolled her eyes. “What an astute observation,” she drawled sarcastically. “I wonder why Mawile is the head of archaeology instead of you.” Archen glared at Poppy for a moment as Tuft bit back a laugh. The two of them had been taking shots at each other ever since their first mission together when they encountered Entei, and it never failed to make Tuft giggle.

Mr. Nuzleaf walked over to the forcefield, pressing a hand against it, only to flinch back as sparks exploded across his palm, making him hiss in pain. “Right, reckon that won’t work,” he muttered. “Looks like this crystal thingy be protectin’ the spring.”

“Another brilliant observation,” Poppy noted, though this time with notably less heat.

“Must you?” Archen asked tiredly.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Poppy gave a faux sad face, putting a palm over her heart and shaking her head. “It’s a fatal condition of mine. If I don’t point out the stupid things people say or do, I’ll die on the spot. Extremely tragic.”

“Wonder why this is here?” Mr. Nuzleaf mused, completely ignoring the argument in the background.

“Must be important for something,” Archen said without looking away from Poppy. “Maybe we should look around, see if we can find anything that could-”

“Or we look at the obvious stone tablet that’s right there,” Poppy deadpanned. Tuft followed her gaze over to a slab of stone sticking out of the ground, messy writing scrawled across it. Huh, they hadn’t noticed that. Neat.

Poppy walked over to the tablet to read it… only to squint her eyes and frown after a couple of seconds “Great,” she huffed. “It’s just a load of gibberish.” Archen sighed as he made his way over to her, shaking his head.

“If only Mawile had come with us,” he said. “She could have helped us.”

Tuft walked up behind them, glanced at the tablet for a moment, then squinted their eyes in confusion, looking between Poppy and Archen. “I don’t get it. What’s the problem?”

“We can’t read this.”

“Why not?”

Poppy gave Tuft an unamused look, the one she gave them when they made a stupid joke. “Because the writing is chicken scratch.” Three pairs of confused eyes turned to her. “Oh for- it’s illegible. Nonsense. Stupid squiggly lines of nothing!” she yelled, throwing her hands in the air.

“No it isn’t?” Tuft said, though it sounded like a question more than a statement to them. What was Poppy talking about?

“Yes, it is,” Poppy said slowly. “We can’t read a word of this.”

“I can.”

Silence. Poppy opened her mouth to reply, only to promptly shut it, her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

Tuft pushed their way past a confused Poppy and Archen, sitting down in front of the tablet. They cleared their throat and started to read. “Should you seek to overcome this crisis-”

“Woah woah woah, hold up!” Archen squawked, flapping his wings and jumping up and down. “You can read this?”

“You can’t?”

“No! It takes Mawile ages to decipher this kinda stuff, and you’re telling me you can just read it? What kind of joke is this!?”

“It’s not a joke,” Tuft pouted. “I don’t know why you can’t read this, but I can.”

“Now listen here-”

“They’re telling the truth,” Poppy cut in. Archen snapped his gaze over to her, but she just crossed her arms and met it head on. “Tuft is too stupid to lie. The second anyone calls them out, they start smiling and giggling. If this was a joke, they’d have cracked already.”

Tuft smiled, nuzzling slightly into Poppy’s side. It was nice that she had so much faith in them.

Archen still looked unconvinced, but Mr. Nuzleaf let out a low whistle, running a hand over the leaf on his head. “Well I’ll be an aipom’s uncle,” he whispered. “Reckon we shouldn’t question this an’ just be thankful!” He gave Tuft a reassuring smile. “Hows about you go on readin’, eh?”

“Right!” Tuft chirped. They turned their attention back to the tablet again while Poppy gave Archen a glare, daring him to interrupt them again. Tuft cleared their throat and started reading again.

Should you seek to overcome this crisis, summon a person. A person will have the power to break the barrier over the spring. And the font of light will breathe life into the world anew.

“…Poppy was right,” Archen noted. “That was gibberish.”

“Hey!” Tuft yelled indignantly. “It’s not gibberish! That’s what it says! It’s not my fault you can’t understand it!”

“Oh yeah? Then what do you think it means?” And okay, Tuft didn’t exactly have an answer for that, but they weren’t going to let Archen know that! They really didn’t appreciate him just writing them off like that. They read exactly what the tablet said, and it obviously meant something! They just… needed a second to figure out what.

“To be fair, it is a bit cryptic,” Mr. Nuzleaf said. “Reckon this ‘Font of Light’ is this here spring, but what’s this ‘bout ‘Breathing life into the world anew’? Sounds a bit too vague for my likin’.”

“More importantly, what exactly is a ‘person’ supposed to be?” Archen snapped, fluffing up his feathers. “I’ve never heard the term before, and it’s certainly not any species of pokemon I know!” Tuft tilted their head to the side. Person… they had definitely heard that word before, hadn’t they? They’d heard it from-

“It means me.”

Everyone turned to look over at Poppy, who was watching the barrier with a strange glint in her eye. Her hands were shoved far into the pockets of her hoodie, pulling it down tight on her.

“Pardon?” Mr. Nuzleaf asked.

“A person,” Poppy explained. “It’s… another way to say a human. You need a human to break the barrier.” She looked back at the group with resignation. “That’s me. This… this is why I’m here. This is why I was brought here.”

Oh, right. That was where Tuft had heard that word. Poppy had spent the first couple of months referring to others as ‘People’ instead of pokemon, confusing the folks in Serene Village. It took a while for her to adjust, and to that day she still slipped and used human terms and sayings every now and then.

But hey, that was a good thing! Not only did they figure out why Poppy had been turned into a pokemon, but they also had a way to get through the barrier! It was perfect!

…so why did she look so sad about it?

“That’s all well and good,” Archen cut in, “But what good does that do for us? We get some water. How is that supposed to help us? We came here to find Krookodile, not sit in a hot spring.”

“Maybe the water is magic!” Tuft suggested. “Maybe it’s the solution to all our problems!”

Archen gave Tuft a dry, unamused look. “Please grow up,” he deadpanned. “I know you’re still young, but you have to realize by now that this isn’t a fairytail where magic is real and will fix everything you need it to.” Tuft felt their fur bristle a bit, but gave Archen a smug look in return.

“Oh, right, sorry, is pokemon getting turned to stone not magic enough for you?”

“You know what I mean! We can’t just hope for the best and expect things to go right! That’s not-” he shut his beak as a beeping sound filled the air. Poppy, Tuft, and Archen all looked over at their packs in unison, pulling out their ringing communicators, clicking them on.

“Prehistoric Ruins expedition team here,” Dedenne’s voice called out from the devices. “Do you read me?”

“Krookodile pursuit team here!” Archen replied. “We read you. Are you alright?”

“We’re fine. We had a bit of an incident with the guardians of the ruins, but it’s all sorted. Anyway, that’s not important.”

“I disag-”

“We have great news!”

Needless to say, Tuft was extremely smug when Dedenne informed them that the spring (which was apparently called The Luminous Water) was indeed the solution to all of their problems, as it could reverse the petrification of pokemon. Archen was not impressed.

It did bring up more questions though. Who put the Luminous Water and the barrier there? The stone tablet was ancient, which meant that this had all been put in place centuries ago. How did the ancient pokemon know this would happen? Who summoned Poppy?

But those were questions that could be answered another day. For now, there was only one thing to do. Break the barrier and get the water!

“…and how exactly am I supposed to do that?” Poppy asked, crossing her arms.

Tuft blinked a couple times, tilting their head to the side. “I mean, the tablet says you can,” they said. “So… just do whatever feels natural! I’m sure it’ll come to you.”

“Whatever feels natural?” Poppy asked incredulously. “What, do you want me to punch it or something?”

“Yeah! That’s how you solve most of your problems.”

“…you want me… to punch… the giant, crystal pyramid?”

“Yes.”

“…and you expect this to work?”

“Yup!”

“…”

“…”

“…how many hits to the head did you take on the way up here again?”

Archen scoffed, crossing his wings. “Oh please, as if this isn’t standard behaviour from them.”

“Hey, I’m right!” Tuft argued. “Something goes wrong? Poppy punches it and it stops being wrong. Works every time!”

“No it doesn’t!”

“Yes it does! Pancham is bullying me? Punch fixes it. Ferals attacking? Punch makes them stop. We’re not allowed to join the Expedition Society because we’re too young? Punch stuff to prove we’re good enough. Shopkeeper trying to rip us off? Punch wall to intimidate!”

“Wait you did what?”

“I’m telling you, Poppy’s fist is the solution to all problems!” Tuft said proudly, before looking thoughtful for a moment. “Except pokemon turning to stone,” they amended. “Then the solution is water. Except to get to that water, Poppy has to punch. So once again, Poppy punch is the solution!”

Tuft stood proudly, tilting their chin up and looking very pleased with themself, while Archen and Poppy just stared at her with mirrored long-suffering expressions. Mr. Nuzleaf just looked down at Tuft with a somewhat amused smile. “Ya know,” he said, “I’d pay good money to see what it’s like livin’ in that head’o yours. Figure I’d have some good fun.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty great in here,” Tuft giggled. “One time, I-”

“Oi! You there!” a rough voice yelled, dragging everyone’s attention to the other side of the clearing. Tuft’s eyes blew up wide when they saw who was standing there, glaring at the group with anger and contempt.

“Kr-”

“Kroo-”

“KROOKODILE!”

Krookodile towered over all of them, the shadows of the trees painting his body darker as he loomed, eyes scanning each and every one of them, before landing somewhere at the back and narrowing. He took a step forward, the ground shaking beneath his heavy form, then another, and another, slowly inching closer and closer.

“Finally,” Poppy snarled, cracking her knuckles. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Now hold on there!” Nuzleaf hissed, throwing an arm out in front of Poppy as she tried to move forward. “We can’t go an rush into this! We slip, and he gon turn us to stone!”

Poppy slapped his arm away from her. “Get off me! We literally came here to capture him! We’re not backing down now!”

“Maybe not, but we do need to be careful,” Archen warned. “Nuzleaf is right. One wrong move, and we’re dead.”

“Unless we get that there water,” Mr. Nuzleaf stressed. “Poppy, you need to-”

“I told you, I don’t know how!”

“Guys!” Tuft yelled. “He’s getting closer!”

Krookodile was taking his sweet time, his menacing glare never leaving the group as he stomped across the clearing, completely unafraid. Tuft felt their body shudder under his gaze, the idea that he could end them with a snap of his fingers making their stomach turn to lead. But! They hadn’t come here just to be afraid! They were a fully fledged member of the Expedition Society! They weren’t going to back down.

“Archen!” they yelled. “Help me distract him.” They looked back. “You two get that barrier open! We’ll buy you some time.”

“Like hell you will!” Poppy snapped. “I’m not letting you-”

“HALT!”

“Oh for- NOW WHAT?”

The second the words left Poppy’s lips, a cruel gust of wind swept through the air, sending leaves scattering and nearly knocking Tuft over. The sky above them darkened as storm clouds rolled in from nowhere, blotting out the sun. The wind roared in Tuft’s ears, drowning out the sound of their own screams until-

***ZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

CRSHHHHHHHHHh*

Lightning struck and tornadoes swept through the clearing before dissipating in an instant, revealing two new pokemon, both with canine forms that were all too familiar to Tuft.

“The hell?” Krookodile snarled. “Who are you two supposed to be?” The pokemon both stood tall, holding their heads up high and sneering down at Krookodile like he was a rotten fruit to squash underneath their paws.

“Suicune the Gale!” one declared.

“Raikou the Storm!” the other boomed.

“And you are the one who turned Entei to stone, are you not?”

Krookodile didn’t respond, just narrowing his eyes at the two massive beasts, a low growl rumbling out. Tuft watched the scene play out in awe, trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Everything was moving too fast, and they were having trouble keeping up.

“Suicune and Raikou,” Archen mumbled. “The legendary beasts of water and lightning. They’re Entei’s siblings.”

“They must not be too happy about what happened to him,” Tuft noted.

“Now hol’ on,” Mr. Nuzleaf cut in, keeping his voice low. “This here’s our chance!”

“Our chance?”

“The spring! We can get the water while them two keep Krookodile distracted!”

“He’s right,” Archen said. “Poppy, get that barrier open!”

“I’m telling you, I don’t-”

“JUST TRY!” Mr. Nuzleaf insisted, his voice angrier than Tuft had ever heard.

While Poppy continued to argue with Mr. Nuzleaf and Archen, Tuft’s ear twitched at the sound of grumbling, their head snapping over to look at Krookodile, who was ignoring both Suicune and Raikous, walking straight past them towards the group near the spring. Tuft was about to warn them, until they heard him speaking under his breath.

“-wasn’t part of the deal…”

The deal? What deal? Tuft gave Krookodile a wary look. Was that why he was turning pokemon to stone? Because he made a deal with someone? That… didn’t feel right. Something was wrong. Tuft could feel it in their bones. They were missing something.

“Poppy!”

“FINE!” she yelled. Poppy stomped her way right over to the barrier, rearing back a fist. Tuft couldn’t decide whether to watch her or the approaching Krookodile, head whipping back and forth between them, their nerves on fire. What was going on? Why did they feel like they were missing something?

“We had a deal,” Krookodile muttered lowly. “Where the hell is my money?”

Money? He did this for money? No, no that couldn’t have been it. Krookodile was greedy, sure, but this? And the way he just waved off Suicune and Raikou, despite their demands and threats. They couldn’t put their paw on it, but Tuft knew something was wrong. They just didn’t know what it-

“Where’s my money you hick?”

…no.

“Poppy, wait!”

Too late. Her fist smashed into the barrier, sending fractures racing through the crystal structure, before SHATTERING into shards of light that dissolved in the air. The spring underneath shot a beam of teal light into the sky, signalling to the world that it was free. Hope was alive. But Tuft’s heart sank at the sight.

“There,” Poppy huffed. “You happy?”

“Good work, Poppy,” Archen replied, before turning to glare at Krookodile, adopting a battle stance. “Now that we have the spring water, we can deal with him without fear of being turned to stone!”

Tuft watched as Krookodile’s eyes scanned the group, their heart getting colder and colder as they saw his confused and bored expression. “Spring water?” he scoffed. “I don’t give a damn about that. I just want my money!”

He took a step forward, baring his teeth and pointing a claw out.

“I did everything you told me to! I left those warnings! I let myself get seen! Hell, I even came out here ‘cuz you told me to! And you brought Expedition lackies with you? The hell you trying to pull, Nuzleaf?”

…

White noise filled Tuft’s ears, the entire clearing going dead at his words. The wind stopped blowing, the trees and grass were still, and no one moved an inch. Slowly, ever so slowly, Tuft managed to drag their head to the side to look at Mr. Nuzleaf, fearing what they would see.

It was somehow even worse than they imagined.

Gone was the chill, laid back country man that they knew. Instead, Mr. Nuzleaf had a cruel smirk on his face that looked so out of place. Shadows danced in his eyes, a purple fog coiling around his feet. His body shook ever so slightly, Tuft barely able to hear his low chuckling.

“…reckon it’s time,” he sadistically grinned, an otherwordly echo following his voice that made it sound so wrong. “I don grown tired of all this. The barrier is gone, and now… we’re invincible!”

Laughter filled the air as Mr. Nuzleaf threw his head back, his cruel cackles the only sound in the world. Tuft saw Poppy take a step back, and uncharacteristic look of fear on her face. Tuft found themself at her side in an instant, curling their tail around her back protectively.

Slowly, Mr. Nuzleaf’s laughter faded, and he looked over at Krookodile, giving him a strange smile. “You done good, Krookodile,” he declared. “I reckon… you’ve earned your reward.”

*SNAP

With a snap of his fingers, something dark began to seep out of the air, twisting and coiling around Mr. Nuzleaf’s outstretched hand. It wasn’t shadow, or anything black, it was just… nothing. Nothing at all. Like everything that existed in that space was consumed, destroyed, replaced with utter void. The very sight of it made Tuft’s entire body scream, their brain begging for them to run, telling them what they were looking at was wrong wrong wrONG WRONG! It shouldn’t exist! Nothing can’t exist! But it was there and it was wrong and they had to run!

“The hell are you-” Krookodile started, but his voice was cut off as Mr. Nuzleaf thrust his palm out, the nothingness stretching out and wrapping around Krookodile’s mouth, forcing it shut before dancing over his form. He thrashed and flung himself about, trying to rip it off, but everywhere the void touched his body turned grey, the life draining from his form until…

…there was nothing left but stone.

‘No… it can’t be.’

But there was no denying it. They had seen it with their own eyes. Mr. Nuzleaf was the culprit. The true mastermind. He was the one that turned the pokemon to stone. Tuft should have screamed, should have demanded to know how he could do this, how he could betray them, why he wanted this, or just attacked. He was a grass type! They had the advantage.

Instead, they looked up at Poppy, seeing the life leave her eyes as she shrank in on herself. Tears started streaking down her cheeks, her arms wrapping around her chest, making her look so small. Then, Tuft learned it only took one word to break their heard.

“…dad?”

[punkrockisafulltimejob]

Absolutely fucking bonkers that I have to go to my parents house tomorrow. Who tf decided that was a good idea?

[supercantaloupe]

live action Moana remake announced. who asked for this

[peachesofteal]

Through Me (The Flood) - secret baby fic Simon Riley / female reader #33 Ghost helps fix up your house or makes repairs - for @glitterypirateduck's Ghost writing challenge

His phone rings again on the following Tuesday morning.

It's been a day and a half, since he's seen you and Orion last. Since he made you promise to call, no matter what, if you needed something. Or if you needed a break, or some company.

Anything. Anything, and he'd be there.

You had tried to push him off a bit, tried to assert your independence, which he appreciates, he values. He likes to know you can take care of yourself and the baby when he's not here. But when he is-

"We're really fine, you know. You don't have to be... available for us, whenever. I mean, like if you have other things. Or people, you don't have to be here all the time. I've been doin' it on my own, and I'm fine. We're fine. I don't want you to feel like you have to-"

His fork clatters to the plate, and your eyes go round as he rises from the chair and steps toward you, firm hand cupping your arm. "I'm here because I wan' to be."

"O-okay, I just don't want you to be here because you think you have to... because you're all the sudden saddled with a kid."

"I'm not here because I feel like 've been saddled with a kid. I'm here because I want to be, because I wanted you the night we made him, and I still do. I want you both." Your mouth drops wide before snapping shut abruptly, warmth rising in your cheeks. You're so cute like this, flustered and nervous, and it reminds him of the night he met you, a sweet little kitten, all alone at the bar. "And you've done more than just a fine job, sweet girl, takin' care of yourself and our baby for me, but when 'm here, it's my job."

So, his phone rings, and it doesn't matter that he's in the middle of spotting Soap at the squat rack.

He drops everything.

"Hi." You're a little out of breath when you open the door, eyes wide and wild, chewing on your lip. Orion is asleep in your arms, blissfully unaware, head lolling on your shoulder, clad only in a diaper.

His head buzzes, still trying to reconcile the truth of this entire thing, the fact that this is his, you and his baby. His.

"What's wrong?" He's massive in your door frame, and ushers you back inside, clicking the lock into place behind him. "What's goin' on?"

"It's... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called. I just... I don't know how to fix it and you said I could... call, right? So-"

"Hey." His thumb gently presses into the inside of your elbow, and then he squeezes slightly. "It's okay. I want you to call me. What is it?"

"It's the laundry." You blurt, and then freeze, eyes flicking down to see if Ry has woken up. "I broke the washer, and today is the day I do the baby's clothes, but I can't get it to work and... it hates me." He chuckles.

"It doesn't hate you, sweetheart. Let's take a look." This, he can do. Things with his hands, mechanical things, physical puzzles, easy. It's not the first time he'll have fixed an appliance, and it won't be the last.

He takes the machine apart as quickly as possible, pieces laid out exactly where he needs them, washers and screws and everything all accounted for. It's the belt, he discovers rapidly, an easily fixed problem with a new part.

"I'll have to run down the street quick," he tells you, drawing up to his full height and motioning towards the entryway, "but it's a quick fix." You nod, stepping out of the way, small smile on your lips. He promises he'll be right back, that he'll have it done in no time, and you pad along to the door, standing back as he pulls it wide.

"Simon..." you whisper, and he turns, "thank you."

"Of course."

True to his word, he's back before the hour. The low murmur of the TV echoes from the living room, and he gravitates there before returning to his task, driven to lay eyes on both of you, to make sure you're here, you're okay-

and the sight of it stops him in his tracks.

You're asleep on the couch, shirt pulled up and bra unhooked from it's strap. Orion is cradled against your chest, his tiny fingers curled in the flesh of your breast, mouth lax around your nipple. There's a dribble of milk sliding down his cheek, and the sight of it all makes Simon dizzy. He knew you nursed him, but seeing it for the first time fills him with something he's not sure how to reconcile, adding onto the heap of adoration and possession pounding in his heart. It's a different kind of puzzle, the same kind of barbaric instinct and need roaring in his blood, the one that tells him to tuck you away and never let you go.

He stares for a second longer, scratching this moment into his memory as much as he can before he realizes how tired you are. You do a good job of hiding it, smiling and buzzing about, but in the early afternoon light, he can see the exhaustion so clearly, and kicks himself for not noticing sooner.

When Ry starts to fuss, your brow furrows in your sleep, and Simon can't stop himself. "Shh, shhh." He soothes, pulling him free as gently as he can. You twitch, hands searching, and then your head snaps up in a panic, breaths stuttered. "It's okay. I got him, you just closed your eyes, is all. It's alright."

"Sorry." You croak, sitting up and fumbling with your top. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's okay, mama." He's on his knees in front of the couch, in front of you, and you stare down at him, mystified. "What does he usually do after he eats?"

"Uh... burp? And then he goes down to sleep." You yawn. "A change, if he needs it."

"Alright, 've got it, you go rest. After I put him down, I'll finish the washer."

"Oh, no... I can-"

"I've got him. Nothin' I can't handle." He shifts Orion, supporting his head as he props him up over his shoulder, rubbing his back slowly. He wants to do this, wants you to let him do this, wants you to trust him.

He needs it.

You hesitate. "Are you sure?"

"If I need anythin', I'll wake you." There's a burp cloth on the coffee table, and he places it under Ry's chin. "Huh, lad? If we need mama, we'll get her, right?" You soften, posture relaxing a bit, and then you nod.

"Alright, then."

[mamawasatesttube]

what WERE tim and kon doing in that closet together that made kon have to get dressed afterwards anyway? wrong answers only. i'll start i think they were playing two person strip poker but tim cheated like a motherfucker. actually wait that doesn't make this sound any less gay. um. hold on. there's gotta be something. um

[coveredinbutterflydust]

i'm being so serious when i say that this book warped my perception of what any sort of relationship should look like. is it healthy to want to exclusively feel soul-crushing love for the friends you choose or to know you would absolutely give up every single piece of yourself to them if they asked? probably not, but nothing else feels worth any effort and maggie stiefvater is to blame for that.

[fazedlight]

Alone (rift with hopeful ending, content note for self-harm)

The problem is me, Kara thought.

She collapsed to her living room floor, panting and panicked, still feeling the kryptonite in her veins as she watched her best friend try to kill her. The problem is me. I’m not supposed to be here.

“One more go?” Mxy said.

Kara didn’t answer. She shoved herself off the floor, making her way to her couch to sit down, staring at a wall as her panting began to slow.

Mxy’s brow furrowed curiously as he took a seat next to her, but Kara wouldn’t meet his eyes. So he waited, and waited, watching the kryptonian as she thought through the problem.

Finally, Kara spoke. “There’s one more reality I want to see,” she said.

“That is?”

Kara turned up to him. “I want to see the world, if I had died on Krypton.”

Mxy froze. “I can’t show you that.”

“Why not?”

“I can only show you changes in your life, your choices,” Mxy said. “I can show you the events immediately following your death. But Krypton died decades ago - I can’t show you Lena so far after.”

Kara frowned, leaning up against the couch. “Then there’s something I have to do.”

---

Lena was making tea when Kara tapped down on her balcony that evening. Though it was close to 11pm, when most of the city was preparing for bed, it seemed that sleep was alluding the Luthor just as much as it was alluding Kara.

Lena tensed as she watched Kara step into her living room - wariness and cold anger highlighting her features. Kara didn’t offer greetings or niceties, knowing that Lena would prefer she leave sooner rather than later. “I’m being given a chance,” Kara said, “To rewrite time.”

“Rewrite time?” Lena asked.

Kara’s jaw tensed nervously - a flicker as she thought about the hourglass in her suit pocket, the timepiece that Mxy had given her if she made the choice he told her not to make - before speaking again. “I am being allowed one chance to change history,” Kara said. “I can make it so that we never meet.”

Lena’s eyes widened.

“Is that what you want?” Kara asked quietly.

“Yes.”

---

Kara flew.

She didn’t say goodbye - there was no point. She told Lena the change would happen at midnight, that the Luthor will wake to a new day without having ever known Kara Danvers. No memory of her old life, no memory of the pain or betrayal. It would simply be morning.

She thought about saying goodbye to her sister, to Eliza - even to going back to Argo to see her mother. But she couldn’t bring herself to. If Alex realized something was off and dug deeper, if Eliza soothingly tried to prepare some hot cocoa, Kara wasn’t sure she could go through with what needed to be done.

Kara landed outside the Fortress, walking inside the hallowed grounds of what was the only piece of Krypton on Earth. She had thought of it all too often in the aftermath of Krypton’s destruction - how death was always in solitude, and the Fortress was as good a place as any.

She reached inside her pocket, pulling out the palm-sized hourglass - given to her by a Mxy who wanted no part in all of this, telling her she ought to smash the device instead of activating it. But Kara set it gently on the console, and sand began to flow.

She exited again, floating up to the roof of the Fortress. It was cold, dark. Not that it could penetrate her skin, as she looked up to the skies.

This is forbidden, came the idle thought, an affront to Rao.

Kara ignored the bubbling thoughts, pushing back the lump in her throat. After all, she wouldn’t really exist anymore - there would be no one to punish for any transgression she committed. A thirteen-year-old child would flee Krypton in her father’s pod, but the debris from her dying planet would ensure she’d never wake up again. The Kara that existed now would simply not, and no affront to Rao would be made.

“She’s worth it,” Kara murmured up to the stars, eyes landing on a faint red glow in the distance.

---

Idiot, idiot, idiot.

Lena had realized her error as soon as Kara left - as soon as Lena had had more than two seconds to think through the implication of we never meet.

Not haven’t met yet, not haven’t met as Kara and Lena - but to never meet at all? There was only one way to keep that sort of promise. Kara, don’t you dare…

Like a fool, she had run out the door, landing on the steps of Kara’s apartment building in the dead of night only to find that the blonde wasn’t there. Lena cursed herself as she rushed back to her condo, digging for the portal watch and praying she had enough time. The Fortress, she thought, that’s the only other place she’d be.

Lena prayed she was right as she stepped through the portal field, mentally planning on how she’d need to call Alex or Nia or anyone to find out where Kara was, before the kryptonian did something so utterly fucking stupid-

“Fuck,” Lena murmured, glancing around the ice walls. She’s not here.

More than that, the Fortress was cold. Not that those rooms were ever balmy - but the door had been left wide open, allowing an arctic breeze to send a damning chill through Lena’s bones. The North Pole is around -40 degrees, she thought, scrambling for her watch as she could feel her fingers already getting numb.

But to her relief, the cold didn’t last long - she heard the shift of the door behind her, could feel the stagnation of the wind. A heartbeat later, she turned to find impossibly warm arms around her. “Lena,” Kara murmured worriedly, “What are you doing here?”

“How is it that we never meet?” Lena pleaded, ignoring Kara’s question. “What happens that prevents us from meeting?”

Kara stilled.

“Kara-”

“You won’t remember me,” Kara said, holding her tighter, “You won’t remember this.”

“You’ll be dead!”

Lena struggled against Kara, but she could only feel the kryptonian’s infuriating hold, preventing her from going anywhere. “It won’t be much longer,” Kara said softly, turning her head to her side, “You’ll be free.”

Lena followed Kara’s gaze, her eyes landing on the Fortress console. It was then that she noticed it - the small hourglass on top, sand ticking through the narrow waist. She doesn't have much time, Lena realized, noting that Kara might only have minutes left.  “Kara, don’t-” Lena struggled again, “I don’t want you dead!”

“I don’t want you in pain,” Kara said simply. “I love you too much for that.”

Lena glanced up at Kara. You love me?, Lena thought, the seeming impossibility washing over her. She feels what I feel?

Because Lena thought she had been obvious, years ago. The flirting and the flowers and the solemn confessions - compassionately denied for a friendship instead, which Lena tried to graciously take. Even if Kara didn’t feel the same way, Lena had wanted her in her life.

But Lena saw something different in that moment - maybe a kryptonian who couldn’t cross that line while carrying secrets. 

And maybe there was hurt and pain and being wronged… but ever since the night in the very Fortress they were standing in - where Lena had once walked away after encasing Kara in toxic air, after manipulating her and stealing from her - Lena found it harder and harder to look at herself in the mirror. Is this what we’re supposed to be?, Lena wondered, two people who just hurt each other?

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Lena’s fingers slipped up Kara’s shoulders, tugging firmly on the collar as Kara turned towards her with somber blue eyes. Lena knew she could never fight arms powered by the yellow sun, couldn’t argue with the kryptonian’s foolish sense of duty. 

So she did what she wished she had done years ago. Tipping her head slightly, pushing up on her toes to counter Kara’s boots, Lena pressed her lips against Kara’s own.

The kiss was soft. Chaste. No more than soft lips meaning soft lips. Where first kisses were usually of joy or lust, there was none of that here as Kara stilled, as Lena let her work through her confusion and fear. There was only a solemn confession, and the kryptonian who was uncertain of how to accept it.

Lena broke away. “Stay with me,” she whispered. “Don’t leave me alone.”

Kara’s eyes darted between Lena’s own for a moment, until her arms finally loosened, allowing Lena to pull back. Lena watched as ambivalence crossed Kara’s face as she stepped away, but she could feel nothing but relief.

Lena turned to rush to the console, fingers reaching the hourglass as it steadily trickled along, perhaps another minute or so of sand left. Lena raised her arm and threw the timepiece to the floor, smashing fragments of glass and a spray of sand across her shoes and the icy floor. If I had been any later…

Lena shivered, and it wasn’t from the cold.

She turned up to Kara again, and the blonde smiled softly back.

[safedistancefrombeingsmart]

🥰 Love how you mixed up their lines! And yes, flustered John is cute. 🤭🤭🤭

Fluffbruary with turtely

(missed days edition)

Day 26

[day 25]

prompts: ice | beautiful | night by @fluffbruary <3

fandom: BBC Sherlock

will be uploaded to "That Stuff Called Fluff" on Ao3!

A/N: mainly inspired by the absolute amazing, lovely, kind, sweet, beautiful, lovely, heartwarming [insert all other positive adjectives to describe a person here] @justanobsessedpan - AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOLLOW BLOG!!! Arie drew this amazing art about a year ago and i was IMMEDIATELY inspired to write something based on it. i did NOT forget it... i'm just slow. thank you, bestie, for letting me use your art this way! here is the perfect perfect drawing (tap for better quality):

♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡

"Ah, fudge!", John said, facepalming. They had just walked back into the changing room after their ice-hockey training.

"What's up?", Mike asked.

"Forgot my helmet at the rink. I'll be right back!"

John rushed out, grabbed his helmet from the bench right next to the ice, straightened up and-

dropped the helmet. It bounced a few times on the ice. It made loud thuds.

"Watson! You alright?", a voice from somewhere on John's the left hand side yelled.

"Yeah, Greg, just forgot my...", John's eyes were fixed on the boy on the ice rink. It was a figure skater. A really beautiful figure skater. "Um..." His skating was... beautiful. His face was beautiful. In fact everything about him was beautiful. "My uh..."

The skater finished a flawless pirouette, in a half sitting position, his leg stretched out. How is that even- Wait- why did he stop- oh my god. Is he coming- what- wait that's-

"Your helmet?", the figure skater asked with a kind smirk on his lips. A kind smirk?! What the hell is a kind smirk?!

"Sorry- what?", John asked, after his brain finally registered that the figure skater had said something.

"You forgot your helmet?"

"I- uh... Yeah- I-", John let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. He half recognized Greg smirking at him, bemused.

"Do you wanna go-", a side glance at his friend proved his suspicion. He didn't care. "On a..." Damn, this guy has gorgeous eyes. John gulped. "Date? With me?" Where did that question come from?

The boy raised his eyebrows. "Is that it?"

"Is that what?", John countered.

"We only just met. And we're gonna go on a date."

Oh, shit. He hadn't been thinking. He had just spoken. Come on, Watson. Get a grip! Confidence! Confidence is everything! "Problem?", John asked, feeling himself grin (hopefully convincingly).

Sherlock bandied looks with Greg, bemused as well as amused. He shifted his weight on one hip, then looked John up and down. "We don't know a thing about each other. I don't know where we're meeting. I don't even know your name."

Oh, right. Awkwardly John fumbled with his helmet, stuck it under his left arm, so he could extend his right, "John Watson. Speedy's. Tomorrow night at six P.M.?"

Sherlock shook his hand, with a suspicious eye. "Fine. But only because you're cute when you're flustered."

"Why- I am not-"

"See? Cute. See you tomorrow.", and the boy glided off the ice. There was a certain swing in his hips that made John drop his eyes...

"What. on earth. was that?", Greg asked with a disbelieving chuckle.

"That, Greg", John sucked in a breath. "Was me realizing, there's no way in hell I am straight." John said, still staring at the door through which the beautiful figure skater had left.

♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡♥︎♡

A/N: this was so fun to write! i love reusing/ scrambling up quotes from the show :P hope you liked this too! again please follow justanobsessedpan, promise you won't regret it! (feedback as always very welcome!)

tag list! (tell me if you wanna be added or removed💚) @helloliriels @fluffbyday-smutbynight @inevitably-johnlocked @hisfavouritejumper @rhasima @forfucksakejohn @ohlooktheresabee @turbulenttrouble @so-youre-unattached-like-me @totallysilvergirl @peanitbear @train-mossman @loki-lock @smulderscobie @timberva @grace-in-the-wilderness @chinike @pansherlock @the-smol-bean-libby-blog @jawnn-watson @whatnext2020 @escapingthereality @missdeliadili @kettykika78 @musingsofmyown @7-percent @speedymoviesbyscience @astudyin221b @francj15 @almosttinycowboy @ladylindaaa @we-r-loonies @mxster-jocale @sherlockcorner @noahspector @our-stars-graveside @jobooksncoffee @baker-street-blog @psychosociogentleman @quickslvxr @macgyvershe @myladylyssa @johnlock2708 @battledress @a-victorian-girl @dreamerofthemeadow @oetkb12 @ohnoesnotagain @mutedsilence

[atomi-cat]

The way you draw Manolo and Jack gives me gender envy idk why

Couple of fancy bois, aren't they? But also thank you!

[dirtytransmasc]

atwow hot take:

if jake had said his "son for a son" shit out loud and spider had heard him, he would have been so beyond pissed, he would be seeing red.

spider loved his little siblings so much, neteyam included, even after they grew apart. he loved them like they were his own blood and protected them like they were too (we see a lot more of them together in the comics, where spider is the big brother without a doubt). neteyam's death most certainly rocked him hard, even if he hasn't really been able to show it (how could he? he's already going through all the shit with his dad and the RDA and their nonsense, he can't grieve around neytiri, he's just so tired after it all. he doesn't have the room or the energy to grieve yet)

so if jake had the audacity to say that to/around spider not even a few hours after he watched his little brother get shot after coming to save him, after he stared at the bullet hole in his back, after he watched him take his last breaths, after he watched the light leave his eyes, after he watched his little brother die for him; if he said that while his little brother's body lay in a pool of his own blood not even ten feet away, not even cold yet, blood still clinging to his chest, the scent of it still filling the air: he would have lost his shit.

because the disrespect for his brother is wild.

jake was an active player in spider's neglect and abuse for the last 16 years, he let it happen, he helped it happen. he tried to send spider with the humans, tried to take him away from his siblings, from the forests, from eywa to live with his foster family that didn't love him (not to mention Nash was an asswipe of epic proportions) and the RDA of all people. he had referred to spider as a stray animal since he was little. he was the reason spiders life was hell.

and after all that, years and years of putting him in shit positions and allowing him to suffer the fate of being forever unloved and uncared for (by an adult authority figure, cause I love the kids, but they don't make up for the gap left by a parent), this is what it took for jake to care about him? his little brother had to die in front of him first? he had to be traded out to fill the space of a corpse, to fill in the gap left by his little brother's death?

in canon, spider was in deep in shock with nothing to break him from it, he wasn't in the place to really think about any of it, and I'm sure we're gonna see this anger in the coming movies, but if jake had said it out loud, that would have been enough to snap spider right out of it, and he would have given jake a piece of his mind, I just know it.

[thankstothe]

[dxxtruction]

"Louis acting like a pimp to Armand" And what is a pimp exactly? Quickly. And, oh so sexual trauma survivors can't engage in kink now without it being all about that? Pet names? They can't be submissive anymore? Consensually? Sexually healthy? Be serious. I'd hardly say there's much power difference between them during all this anyway, except that Louis is freer than Armand and it's been putting a strain on their relationship. Louis wants more from Armand, and less of this 'being his past' for them both, and so helping Armand with this could fix that. It's healthy to want to help your partners get out of a rough patch?

I mean, the whole exchange was very clearly set up as a "I want to help you" after such a great moment of vulnerability Louis feels just how much Armand is desperate for it. Louis called Armand so they could work out a plan together.

And the bit with the umbrella was Louis' way of asking 'are you willing to listen to me?' and Armand said yes by unfolding it. Louis goes on and explains, Armand is allowed to argue against it, but Louis makes his point. And then he gives Armand a way to make his own choice in it too. Armand's already decided 'I want you, more than anything else in the world', but Louis still asks after if he's sure of his choice, and with a name, Arun, that is the one of his fullest agency, running the point home. Honoring the situation Armand calls Louis Maitre - as a way of being like 'I'll do as you've said then'. To make this work he's going to have to give Louis some of the control, yes. But it's the first time such a role is ever established, and it was his choice to do it. So so what if they do it in a very suggestive way? They can't like doing that? I think it's them having fun.

I struggle to find how Louis is being overly domineering here when really he's giving and offering Armand the most agency he's ever had. Same with finding it manipulative. The manipulation was more earlier in the episode I think, when he was stringing him along, giving mixed signals. He's no longer toying with him like that. Louis might be pushing Armand, leading him on to make a decision, but he doesn't mean bad by it.

But back to this pimp thing. I find it frankly offensive that this is where people are going with this. I get it, but to run with it being the case is, on many levels, wrong.

Louis told us episode 1 this was the only sustainable line of work to support his family and keep their standing, at the time. It was never his choice to be doing this either but his blackness allowed no other options. He did what he did so his family could stay in that house and maintain all their same comforts. It gave him privileges most black men didn't have at the time that he wanted to maintain and even have more of. Anyway, it doesn't and had never defined him the way 'being good at running things' had. And in that case he just likes having that kind of control where he can get it, which makes sense.

The world is what placed that kind of role onto him of what he was allowed to be able to run, not himself. And on that he actually treated the sex workers he employed well and respected them enough to give them more opportunity.** He recognizes they don't have much in the way of options either.

Louis employed sex workers, yes, but he didn't subject them to abuse, (like how Armand was)*. He didn't oversee things in a way that would go against their consent (see; episode 1 again)**. Sometimes a job is just a job. And Sex work is work.

Armand's particular past with sexual abuses may strike a particular cord with Louis, given all that, but the very last thing either is thinking is that Louis' pimping Armand out here. This is merely their decision as companions, and had nothing to do with adding another line in a laundry list of selling Armands body out to people at the command of someone else. Armand rescinds some of his control to Louis' wishes, because he wants him, and he trusts him, that's all.

If you aren't allowing Armand that choice, and are doubtful it's fully his, you're putting him right back in the box of being defined by his abuses. Putting him back into that space where he isn't given any agency over what he does. (Which is exactly opposite of what the intent of this scene is for)*.

*: (edit) added for clarity.

**: (strike through) numerous people are saying I'm misremembering these points so disregard it. (Thought he was siding with Bricks, it was the other way around). (Technically one aspect of those opportunities were for getting around the law). I don't have a perfect memory, it happens. Let's not get mad about it. Doesn't change much of the point which is that Louis, now, Louis then, was always considering more about the running things and for stated purposes. So I guess I'd say he may only have respected the SWers enough sometimes for what allowed him to do that, and there are moments he certainly expressed remorse over the fact, but he has a great deal higher respect for Armand that is genuine. It's incomparable. Please read my added notes in the tags, it should address most other concerns.

[moxachuu]

everytime someone complains about MCs personality and how much of a doormat she is, i lose a year of my life. leave my baby alone

[joltrify]

id sell my left soul and my lung for more disabled Ben 10 aliens please omg

<3

hope i did okay this time around; still getting back into the swing of things

[jannacalendar]

I understand why it wasn't possible, but it's such a shame we couldn't get Jenny back for The Wish. She and Giles fighting a losing battle side by side and being hardened from it, but remaining each other's solace. Them piecing together the puzzle Cordelia presents to them and having faith in a world better than this, only for Anyanka to try and throw them by hinting at Jenny's death should they return. Giles faltering at the thought of losing her and Jenny, once again, sacrificing herself and destroying the necklace. The way she sees it: she'll either be dead by The Master's hand or by her own, and only one of those inevitabilities gives the man she loves a chance of survival. She kisses him as she plunges herself into the abyss, wanting the last thing she experiences to be his love.

Giles waking up the following morning, the pang in his heart he always feels whenever he remembers Jenny accompanied by a newfound feeling of emptiness, and he's not quite sure why.

[inawickedlittletown]

Sooo I started to read other articles. I didn't after reading the ones that came out right after the episode that justifiably got everyone upset.

This one from tv insider had Tim saying this:

Moving on to Buck and Tommy’s breakup, talk about your approach to it. Why was Tommy sure that Buck would break his heart?

Tommy’s older and Buck is very new to this, and whether Tommy was correct or not, I think what he felt like was exactly what he said: I’m not your last, I’m your first, which is a special thing to be, but as Tommy says, it doesn’t usually end up being the same thing. And I think based on what we know of Buck, he’s maybe not wrong. Buck’s a little impulsive when he’s feeling a certain kind of way. He’s like, move on in, bring your couch. So I just think because Tommy’s a little older and wiser or maybe at some level he feels like he doesn’t deserve Buck, I don’t know. But I think he accurately diagnosed Buck. Buck’s still figuring himself out, and boy, that would be quite risky to move in with that guy as much as you would love to.

That does seem to be Buck’s go-to, which isn’t the best.

Exactly.

Are we going to see Buck single for a significant period of time now? Is he trying to figure out what he wants really out of a relationship?

Yeah, I think that’s right. As Tommy said, you’re still figuring yourself out, and his options have increased by 50 percent of the population. So knowing Buck, that’s going to be choice overload. He’s got to navigate that with a little self-awareness.

--

So they definitely planned for this. That's what this reads like...they wanted to break them up so that they could send Buck through a period of exploration. Tim says everything Oliver said here in much nicer terms. His view of Buck is so...Idk, it's like he sees Buck as a kid that still doesn't know what he wants. And he decided to put that view right into Tommy's head too. It's a little jarring I guess but this show...has it ever been consistent?

What sucks is that 8x05 was written like they were doing so well. And then right off the back with 8x06 we have warning signs in the date scene with the girl that approaches Buck and how Tommy sort of shrugs off Buck checking her out. I really do wonder where hot waiter fit into this and I'm so glad we didn't see Tommy like checking hot waiter out or something. But I guess that scene was there to sow the seeds. We have Buck spiraling because of the Abby thing and we have Tommy maybe not realizing but reinforcing for himself that he's a stepping stone for Buck and being okay with it in the status quo.

The way that Tim speaks about Buck asking Tommy to move in, he makes it seem like Buck is just barreling in without thought...like if they went through with it Tommy might be proven right. But then what is the point of the scene with Josh where Buck is right on the cusp of an "I love you" just to then be like no actually Tommy knows how this ends and he can read Buck and knows they're not forever. But Tommy is not a mind reader.

Where there is hope is in that Tim doesn't outwardly say anything about Tommy being gone for good. As someone else pointed out the Lou interviews were done by buddie journalists with a bias so there is a question to how much that colored what we got and why they were so determined to close the door fully. Also...why did we get exit interviews in the first place for a character that only had three episodes...it's so odd.

The writers made a point of leaving this open. Do I think we'll get Tommy back any time soon. No. But after the doom and gloom and the time to mourn this a bit I want to be positive and there is really no knowing. Tim says he thinks Buck will be single for a while...okay fine...picture that being the rest of this season.

Buck won't just jump into another relationship...and Oliver gets his Buck slut era 2.0...what if S9 brings back Tommy? What if this is the long game...or at least the thing they can have in their back pocket if Lou is available later on to come back. But that's not something they can promise or that they can commit to and Lou isn't on contract clearly and Oliver wouldn't know if that's the plan...hell even Tim probably doesn't know if they'll do that. Or I'm giving him too much credit because as we've seen this season storylines have been rushed to close up at breakneck speeds so it would be an anomaly for him to prolong something like this.

All this to say, showing the network and Tim that bucktommy matters to a lot of people and that Tommy matters...it may just make a difference.