#city spies theories

[afunky-jester]

I have given in to the theorizing and decided to actually find some proof of Le Fantôme being related to Mother. It's going to be a kinda long one since I tend to ramble when I talk about my theories

Anyways so

But from what I know from genetics, and the fact that Le Fantôme is described as a man, they could've been fraternal twins and she just ended up with blonde hair. It isn't impossible for two people with black hair to have a blonde haired child (my mom's grandma was ki'che yet she had blonde hair and green eyes from her German ancestors way back in the family tree). As long as the parents carry the gene for it, it is possible.

Le Fantôme and Mother might be related

(key word: might)

First and foremost, the Renoir painting mentioned in the first book. It is mentioned that it reminds Le Fantôme of his late twin sister. Although it is mentioned that Mother is the only child of only children, due to the fact his father left it could be that he never found out much regarding his father's past. Do take this with a grain of salt though, all I'm saying is that they possibly could be related in some way. Not necessarily father-son. What little we do know of Mother's appearance is that 1. He has black hair and 2. He has burn scars. The black hair complicates things as in the Renoir paintings that match the description of the one referenced in the first book, the young girl has blonde hair.

Both Mother and Le Fantôme have some form of interest in art. This is almost entirely coincidental but it also isn't uncommon for people who are related to have similar interests even if they have never met. My sister has a similar, almost identical signature to my maternal grandfather, and I have the same interests in most of the arts he practiced (like writing). Mother mentioned (although probably to make it easier for the mission to go well lol) that he likes Renoir's works, and it has been mentioned before that Le Fantôme specifically chose his main residence because it once belonged to Renoir. They both enjoy similar styles of art, ones put into the same category.

Another thing they share is some form of relation to theatre. Fuck yeah theatre. Mother grew up as a literal theatre kid, plays and musicals and stuff. Literally being cast in multiple main roles (I think, I haven't watched the ones that he mentioned he acted in)

Do you know what is by far one of the most iconic musicals? The one of which has had so many parodies and references about it, even the Thea Stilton books has one? The one where Monster High made a character who was the daughter of the namesake?.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

LE FANTÔME, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA??? PHANTOM IS ANOTHER WORD FOR GHOST!!!! AND THAT IS THE PART MOST CENTERED!!!!

So it's either 1. Le Fantôme is Mother's father 2. Le Fantôme is Mother's long lost sibling, perhaps from his absent father's side or 3. They are otherwise related in a different way.

But that's just a theory... A BOOK THE– *explodes*

I'm SO glad I managed to finally write this omg I rarely ever write down my theories lol

Is this just me comparing them? Maybe.

Is this just another way of sharing my family stuff? Yes

Someone should hire me to write articles /j (unless... 👀)

[city-spies-confessions]

Why did I have a sudden moment that is probably not going to come true.

Very very VERY wild theory moment here (a THEORY!!!!!)

Why did my brain create a theory of Mother potentially being related (even distantly like how I'm distantly related to a telenovela actress through my dad) to le fantôme??????

There is no way bro this is the type of theory I made for another character Oliver Ocean (man I wish there was a fandom for that book series) where it's just the brain processing information about the characters and filling in the gaps and finding subtext where there is any (especially for this theory what 💀 there's no way).

The only reason why I don't denounce half of my theories most of the time is that if my brain insists on it (and my penchant for being right on complete accident sometimes), it ends up true in some form of way 😭

At most the thing they share is like very vague stuff that is mostly coincidences 😭 (also could be on purpose but idk)

TLDR: brain said "what if Mother and le fantôme were related?" I looked back at how my theories worked and how they came to be. Went "😐 tf"

.

[needlesandnilbogs]

Prime

teeny tiny Kat drabble for fun, because the sum of the primes under 25 is exactly 100: every paragraph has a prime number of words in it and the whole thing is exactly 100 words

Kat smiled. Primes were fun. She always enjoyed number theory. Number theory was, ultimately, studying the primes. Kat had loved primes ever since she had discovered their existence. It was the randomness, she supposed. The way they went forever. But still… There were no patterns to the primes. No formula could predict every prime. Not a single one. No formula could predict humans, either. Kat didn't like people. At least primes had things in common. People didn't. Then again, her siblings were people. And Monty and Mother were people. She liked them, even though she couldn't predict any of them.

[n0tamused]

HOLY SHIT FUCK ME SIDEWAYS THAT DRAGON WUWA POST?????? EMUACH

thoughts on dragon calcharo and scar tho??? if u have any,,,, if not, its oki too take ur time😚

A/n: HELLO NOBUUU!!! <3 I'm so happy you liked the first part oml, and I'm more than happy to give a part two to that as well! I didn't expect people to ask about my OC too, but that's really sweet and decided to include her at the end too :,) Hope you enjoy! Lemme know if you guys want anyone else as dragons, HSR, Genshin or Wuwa

Contents: Calcharo, Aalto, Scar x reader, Encore (strictly platonic familial stuff), Jien(oc), fluff, dragons

Wuthering Waves characters as dragons pt.2

Calcharo:

-Another dragon that is a long way from his home and closely related to the dragons of the New Federation. 

-Not the one you see around too often, as he does tend to avoid civilization where he can, even avoiding flying if that would get him too much attention, but honestly he is really pretty to see in flight-

-He is scarily beautiful, and some people managed to catch a picture or two of him in flight from afar, so it’s one of those blurry “is it a unicorn” pictures that people spread around like wildfire

-Due to his lack of contact with others, a lot of ghost tales began to circulate around him, and gossip has it that he wasn’t born as he looks now. People say he was born pure as snow, but somewhere down the line, the gods cursed him, and now he physically bears that curse in the shape of tough black scales that spread over him unevenly, and the golden star on his chest is said to be the only place a blade can pierce him. A few courageous, or rather stupid, individuals did try to test this theory for glory and money that an anonymous bidder has set on Calcharo’s head. But those people were never heard from again.

-The climate around Jinzhou is not his favorite, so he tends to retreat into the mountains a lot where there’s a cooler breeze and colder caves to rest in properly. His mane helps him with regulating body heat, but it is in no way made for summer heat.

-It is said that Calcharo and Jiyan are in amiable talks with one another, with both patrolling the territory of Jinzhou and protecting it in their own ways. Two sides of the same coin, as one would say. Jiyan has also made attempts at bringing Calcharo to meet the others, to get to know the people, and when he did Calcharo was rather reluctant to leave his dragon form, and he walked there in his towering form. But when he was met with wonder, warm welcomes and greetings and with some small pushing from Jiyan, he caved in and showed the people his human form as well. Sure, there was some reluctance in people’s eyes as well, but their General vouched for this newcomer and told them of the feats he accomplished in the name of them or their protection, and they had faith in their General Jiyan.

-From that point on, the ghost tales did lessen, and the children of Jinzhou seemed to find it easier to wander further into the woods, and the adults found it easier to relax with two of the strongest dragons patrolling the territory. 

-However, Calcharo wouldn’t be able to cover all that vast territory alone, and from a long while ago he has pulled a few trusted ones into his fold and under his wing. 

-Be it other dragon folk like him, or regular people, he has many ears and eyes all over the lands, to the point he doesn’t even need to leave his mountain cave to know what goes on in the city at the foot of the mountain. Due to this, even if people began to regard him as an ally, they still do not dare to provoke him in any way, and criminals have begun to walk on their tip toes, afraid to poke one of Calcharo’s spies or men that he was so protective of. 

-Calcharo doesn’t hoard much of anything in his caves. Perhaps some weapons, but for the most part it is all barren. Sometimes moonlight shines into the cave from some hole in the ceiling of the cave, making his mane the color of beaten silver, and making all his markings go pale. He nearly looks covered in snow, pure white again.

-He doesn’t like you traveling so far up the roads just to see him, but if you do, he does keep you around for a few days to make your journey worth it. In that short time you stay with him, you find his cave gets quickly filled with supplies necessary for you to have an enjoyable/comfortable time.

-He doesn’t often nap or sunbathe, he also claims the sun hurts his scales. Due to their uneven thickness and distribution, one part of him could benefit from a bit of the sun, but the other would just start burning. 

-Although he looks like he is constantly scowling and sneering, he does greatly appreciate your presence. The quiet around, and the exploration you two seem to undertake suddenly seems more lively and worth the time to look at.

-Be it that you’re dragonkin or just a human, he does take you for a flight. Sometimes he does this if he is mid patrol or mid mission and he can’t just keep you behind. He knows he has what it takes to defend you, so he doesn’t mind you tagging along.

-His mane is also  free real estate bed, go ahead and bury yourself in it and while you’re at it you can also use another strand of his long mane as a blanket.

-He smells fresh too.

Aalto:

-One of the friendliest dragons, and he certainly looks the part as well with how soft he may look and behave. He is the dragon people see a lot around, and some claim he brings down the morning mists and others say he can wash clouds away with his wings to make way for the sun, but that’s all folktale. He can create mist and make his escape safe and quick, or his attack, but he finds fun in other folktales that surround him.

-Due to his breed, he really doesn’t look fit for battle, and many dragons misjudged him for his lack of limbs that could otherwise serve in a fight. But, naturally, they are wrong about him. 

-While Aalto lacks in mass, size and limbs, he makes up for all of it in agility, speed and intellect, using whatever environment is around him to his advantage, and you’d be surprised how much strength his talons have. 

-He has a lot of power in him for a seemingly “weightless dragon”.

-Aalto is also often seen near or around little Encore. And when she begins to stir trouble, or trouble finds them, he is quick to snatch her up in his talons like an eagle snatches a fish out of a lake, and flies off into the mist to disappear

-Aalto is also not the one to hide in his dragon form. He understands that he is already perceived as “weak” to some extent, driving some to believe he isn’t even worth attacking, and so he sees it as no harm in indulging in human activities as well, which also have their own merits and advantages, especially in his field of work. How else is he supposed to get all that information if he is this one big stumbling beast? Come on! This is Aalto! He knows way better than to let gossip stop him.

-Even if the gossip was the other way around, he would be sure in his skills to take on whoever goes after him. His senses are as sharp as a blade, and he does notice a lot even if he doesn’t let it on, especially since he doesn’t let it on.

-He has quite a characteristic chirp in his dragon form, it is a really sweet and comforting sound and can sometimes mean playtime, and he often uses it when Encore is around or some other kids that he is around with in that moment.

-Although he is very well met with people all around the place, he does his best to not let any of them get under his skin and worm themselves in his heart, as such could mean potential danger in his missions. So while he is surrounded by people, he does sometimes feel left out and alone.

-You seem to melt all that away though, standing at his side and twining your fingers with his before taking him to get food or drinks, saying how much his absence was noted, not just by you but by others as well. The lady that lives next to you that has grown accustomed to seeing Aalto come to your door with gifts and meals has begun to ask if he left you, already preparing a mouthful of scolding words, but upon your reassurance that he was simply working, she quieted down. And the kids in the streets began to wonder where their “sky dragon” had gone off too. They do this every time, no matter how many times he leaves for work.

-His mane isn’t fur, and although in some places his feathers give the illusion of fur, they’re just fine and thin feathers that are also well kept and clean. You can swear the mist has something to do with it. 

-Aalto often does leave behind a feather or two for you to keep before a trip, and slowly this big vase in the back of the house is starting to overflow with giant feathers of your lover

-He brings you other gifts too, some of them big so they only fit in your yard, and others smaller that fit inside your house

-He is quite the cuddly dragon with you, but be warned he does love to snatch you up and take to the skies when you least expect it

Encore:

-Make way for Encore! This sweet little baby brings a lot to the table, even much more than any other dragon ever - Aalto probably 

-She is the sweetest, and she is such a ball of energy, it can be hard for anyone to keep up with her. She loves to play with other children that are around, usually giving them rides on her back since she is still a bit big in comparison to a grown adult, let alone a small child. She dares them all to stay on her back while she jumps and bucks and  rolls around- which, hey, can be dangerous and Aalto makes sure there is no rolling at least unless they want someone to become a human pancake

-Due to her age, her scales have only now begun to grow and form, making them soft and easily damaged. Aalto tends to get Encore to spend more time in human form than dragon form, just for safety sake. But at the moment, due to the exact reason for her scales forming, she has to spend more time as a dragon to give her scales proper space and time to grow and develop.

-Her friends give her all sorts of gifts, bows and sweets and clips, and they help her comb her hair since it is now harder for her to do so..etc

-The two sheep plushies she usually carries in her human form are now like ants in her claws but she still has them following her, like flies compared to her

-She is a restless sleeper, and usually goes to power naps in some warm grass, giving Aalto a heart attack when he just disappears, but she is back quickly enough, hopping like a deer through grass. 

-The creatures of the woods both love her and fear her. Love her since she is a lot more like them and is respectful, but she is just too loud and during playtime can get a bit rough

-Here comes Aalto to snag her up.

Scar:

-Scar is another kind of dragon that hasn’t been seen around before, at all really. He is one of a kind, and quite scary while he’s at it too. Not only is he a giant, but his horns give him such a haunting appearance. If you were to see him in the night, his towering shadow and giant horns paired with four glowing eyes staring into your soul, you wouldn’t feel the best y’know

-He tends to wander, but seems to leave no traces behind him. One day he may be in the south, and the next he is down at the coastline near the northern cities.

-From some angles he looks rather disfigured, but if he allows you to approach him, you can see that all his bones are, in fact, in their place and he isn’t broken - he just hyperflexible-

-One sound he just loves to do is that one that is akin to a laughing hyena + cougar, he mixes the sound to the point you can only just shiver or tense up. On that topic, he is quite able to mimic many sounds and make new ones, and again - this is his favorite activity to do, especially when there’s people around to spook or run off from the territory 

-I mentioned he has four eyes. The bigger pair serves for normal vision, just like you and I, but they are also eyes for a predator, while the smaller pair are more for panoramic views. Although he can hardly be classified as a prey animal, he was a small lamb once too, and had to keep watch out for bigger predators.

-Although he doesn’t breathe fire, he also has a way of manipulating flames and creating them. The ends of his clothes that hang from him sometimes catch fire, giving him an haunting look as he is mid battle and burning himself - but the flames never touch him to hurt him,

-He doesn’t lack in limbs, and he especially is more than useful in both combat and scaling mountains and rocks. He can grab and kick and slash and bite. What more is there?

-Just like with any other dragon that isn’t in much contact with humanity and that looks as scary as him, a lot of people have woven different stories about the goat dragon. It’s mostly parents scaring their children with these tales, saying how the goat dragon will snag them if they stay too late outside or if they wander too far off.

-Some other stories include details of his origin. Some adventurous spirit found old cave paintings that show a black lamb and a big herd, and so they say he was a sacrifice himself. That the form they sometimes glimpse is nothing more but a vengeful spirit that seeks those who harmed him.

-Scar can’t fly, but he can float a bit, but he can also jump really high so watch out for that.

-He also lacks a lot of scales besides for his front claws.  He may be the only dragon that’s fluffed up as he is.

-For practicality sake, he doesn’t often do his things and missions in human form - it’s just way easier to swoop in like this beast, scare off the enemy and take their things, rather than chit chat and try to get through their stubborn heads.

-He does taunt them while he attacks with those sounds he makes, and sometimes, to lure a particular person out, he does imitate the voice of someone they’re close to.

-Sometimes, he is able to morph his skull to represent the skull of a goat, but those are just illusions and not real.

-Honestly, his fut is quite nice to the touch, although the big mane is a bit coarse and really thick 

-Although the woods are the best place for hiding and stalking, his horns often get stuck on branches and plants, so he prefers open fields for this reason

-Picks you up, carries you around, just unprompted. “You’re my friend now” meme,and there’s you dangling from his claws while he goes off who knows where

-Clingy in his sleep, so clingy. You have to be present or else. Else what? No clue, but you prefer not to be chirped at in the middle of the night, even if you know it is him making all that scary noise

Wuwa Jien:

–A dragon that seems to have been slumbering for the last several centuries, or else people simply believe her to be really old. Her slumber has paused her growth, but her scales still grew hard and impenetrable. Her claws are dark gold and leave behind a faint glimmer on things or dragons she slashes with them. 

-She is another dragon that doesn’t often interact with civilization, and just prefers to keep to her woods and fields. People began to claim that leaves grow greener while she is within the woods, and winters never last too long there either. For this, people do respect her and just leave her be. Although she isn’t social, she doesn’t shy away from people if they stumble into each other. Some people have come across her as she is laying down on some big boulder, resting or soaking in some sun, others have been there as she flew overhead, and she didn’t deny giving help to lost or distressed souls that find their way to her territory

-She is still quite formidable, and similarly to Aalto, she makes up for her lack of size with intellect and strategy

-She is another dragon that can breathe fire, like Mortefi. Her flames are really pale, almost golden and burn even hotter than Mortefi’s fire.

-Some people may find trees marked with her teeth, and some say it’s because she is marking her territory, while others say she is growing even more teeth.

-Jien is quite territorial though, and isn’t too happy when many people come and go, and even less when other dragons do so. She is quite tolerable though. She has patience and grits her teeth when someone tresspasses, giving them a chance to leave swiftly, but can sometimes make some noise to give warning to the unwanted visitors - primarily dragons. The only humans she’d give such hard treatment to are those that harm nature and litter or do any other sort of harm or are scheming to do so.

-There is a story that some people like to say that involves the General Jiyan, and it speaks of how the General went to her woods to seek her out for some assistance, but as he did arrive in the middle of the night and sh didn’t recognize him, she nearly clawed his lungs out. But from that encounter and onward, there were no fights between the two, and the army of Jinzhou never lacked in herbs from then either

-Loves to fly, and can often be seen gliding over her woods, and sometimes Jinzhou city and the surrounding mountains. It isn’t often for her to travel too far, but on rare occasions she goes to Mt. Firmament, which is more often in summer, she brings back a huge block of ice with her

-She has this big pool in the rocks of one hill, a big canopy of an oak overhead - it is a natural spring in which she is known to bathe in, and also perfect for her size.

-Doesn’t shy from human form either, and similarly to Mortefi - she prefers to do her paperwork and smaller business with human hands which are more precise, rather than claws. 

Size chart and trivia:

Calcharo is the biggest one in this lineup, having both size, mass and height to him, and can easily be classified as a war dragon as well

Scar is next in line, but he is much more lanky in comparison to Calcharo

Aalto is bigger than Jien but she has him beat in the strength department

Encore, of course is the smallest one here, Aalto can easily grab her in one talon and carry her off

So far, size wise the chart would be Geshu Lin> Jiyan/Calcharo>Scar>Aalto>Jien>Jinhsi>Mortefi>Encore

Tried to base Calcharo on a more wolflike anatomy/patterns since it suits him imo. So he has shorter claws that also look like paws

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

[lullabyes22-blog]

Snippet - The Future - Forward but Never Forget/XOXO

Vi dislikes Jinx's new Bff...

Forward but Never Forget/XOXO

Snippet:

She forgoes the omnibus for a smoky roof-run toward the Promenade.

Late night, and a hallucinatory neon glow hangs over the urban landscape. A light drizzle has darkened the streets. The soles of Vi's boots go thwock thwock thwock as she jogs up the avenue, turning the corner and taking a flight of concrete steps at a single jump.

A lurid red X is spray-painted at the base. Here and there, Vi spies more.

They're all over the city. A clutch of sumpsnipes prowl the streets, graffitiing random spots. They call themselves X-ers: local kids on a mission to map the city's dimensions. Nobody knows why, or what the X signifies.

Some call it an eyesore. Others claim it's a hex. A few theorize that it's an ancient signpost from the Oshra Va'Zaun empire, meant to guide the lost home.

Vi has her own theory. The X is a mark of ownership.

All of Zaun belongs to the Eye.

Veering into a slice of alleyway, Vi nearly stumbles as a dark shape peels itself from the shadows. A shriek rings out. Vi ducks, and a crow—its wingspan nearly four feet—swoops past her skull with a whoosh of black wings.

Hateful fuckers. Sometimes Vi swears they haunt her, following the same routes she does. Once in a while, she'll take pot-shots at them with pebbles. Her luck's limited. The crows are pure Zaunite: they survive by devious reflexes and a talent for trickery.

Climbing a chainlink fence, Vi vaults to the rooftop. The cityscape spreads out beneath her: a sprawling labyrinth of flickering lights. The smell of diesel hangs in the air, diffused by seaspray. In the distance, the Aerie—Jinx's workshop—pierces like a silver needle through the gloom.

Tonight, a violet haze circles its tower. The glow resembles the residue of a fireworks display.

Viktor, Vi guesses, is paying Jinx a visit.

Her gut knots with ambivalence.

Viktor is Talis' former partner. The silent force pulling levers behind the scenes, while his pretty-boy counterpart dazzled the public with Hex-tech in the spotlight. Post-Siege, he and Talis parted ways. There were whispers that more sinister factors fueled the split: a freak accident in the laboratory, a dead assistant, and a mysterious explosion that altered Viktor's fundamental matrix into something beyond human.

Vi doesn't give much credence to hearsay. But she knows nobody comes to Zaun with unbloodied hands and a clean conscience.  Viktor's talents with Hextech are undeniable: augmentations, armaments, you name it. He's the parallel force behind Jinx's innovations, adding deft twists to her zany blueprints. Week by week, they carve a path through Zaun's old wasteland of neglect—mutually siphoning each other's inventories and ingenuity in equal measure.

The cost of Viktor's brilliance, however, is a rapidly-diminishing body.

Sevika, in her manner of deadpan brutality, describes Viktor as "a smidge on the dying side." 

Vi would say it's more than a smidge.

In person, everything about Viktor exudes an aura of disintegration. His breaths grind in his narrow chest like a coal train struggling for steam. His shoulders hold the perpetual stoop of a martyr weighed down by the mortal coil. His skin holds a pellucid sheen: half-cadaver, half-cyborg.

Most unsettling are his eyes. Two bionic scopes of hazard-yellow that measure you like an X-ray: stripping away meat and gristle, then welding the bones with steel.

You, his stare says, are unfinished.

Jinx adores him.

Whenever Vi spots them together at official events, she's clinging to him like a limpet: her arm threaded through his, or her head nestled against his shoulder. If Vi didn't know better, she'd think the two were romantically involved. Except Silco would never tolerate that. Much as he covets Jinx's intellect and encourages her to flaunt it, Vi has quickly learnt that he's got a figurative chastity belt cinched under her skirts. And the buckle's made of barbwire.

Nobody gets close.

On his part, Viktor takes the girl's fawning with a resigned forbearance. It's plain he sees Jinx as an intellectual peer. It's equally plain that there's a clinical quality to his appreciation. Never once, in the course of their encounters, has Vi caught him sneaking more than a cursory glance at Jinx's... assets. All of it—a coy pout, a peek of leg, a flash of cleavage—might as well be a chalk-scrawl at a crime-scene. 

A dumber bystander would sum up theirs as a one-sided crush rubbing up against an alliance of cold convenience. Except at random times, Viktor will turn to Jinx with the closest expression Vi's ever seen to a smile.

And it's the strangest fucking thing, because he smiles like he's forgotten how, and Jinx has kickstarted the motor again.

The expression never lasts. But whenever it's there, Vi's blood boils.

Because whenever he smiles, she sees a peculiar edginess beneath. Like he wants to learn all that makes Jinx tick. Wants to peel apart the petals of her mind until the heart of her brilliance is exposed. And with the knowledge, he wants to bring upon the miracle which might save all lives: including his.

Progress: forced to bend the knee to mortal whims.

All of it wrapped inside a friendship that skirts too close to the boundaries of obsession, but never breaches it.

Jinx doesn't see it that way at all. To her, Viktor's driven by pure altruism. The liberation of the human condition from suffering. She thinks he's "Super-duper-neato!" and "Uber-ultra-smart!" and rhapsodizes about how the world (Topside) doesn't deserve him. Each time he'll send a missive from his workshop in Emberflit alley, summoning Jinx for a 'consultation,' or a 'brainstorming' or a 'tinkering session,' she'll break into such a megawatt smile it'd eclipse half Zaun's nightscape.

Then off she'll skip, with Sparky at her heels and a basket under her arm: full of medicinal Shimmer vials to keep Viktor's ailing lungs in working order and his frail frame humming in top-notch condition. There is also sweetmilk: glass bottles clinking like bells against tins of homemade cookies with gooey caramel centers. All of them crammed together in an endearing, heartfelt gift to ward the encroaching specter of death from her darling's door.

It's all so disgustingly sweet. But so fucking sad.

It's plain that Viktor is terminal. Each week, he builds himself up with more complex cybernetic implants: legs, arms, spine. But within the superstructure, he's fading.

The clock's running dry; there is no reset. And as the last grains slip away, his plans are no longer certainties. Only last-ditch gambles to delay the inevitable.

The deadline doesn't soften Vi's wariness.

After six years in Stillwater, she has a finely-tuned radar for danger. Whatever drives Viktor is powered purely by himself—a lonely enterprise with a dismal dead-end. But all the same, he is a silhouette around whom other lives have fallen off-balance.

For this alone, he deserves close scrutiny.

Silco, it seems, shares Vi's caution.

He will tolerate Viktor and Jinx's collaborations for three bells, maximum. Anything beyond that sets off his barometer of suspicion. He'll order Vi to go fetch her sister. Vi, her own barometer fritzing, readily acquiesces.  Each time, she'll find Jinx already waiting at the door, her clothes and hair rumpled. Not like a tramp after a wild romp. More like a kid who'd fallen asleep facefirst in her homework. Her face, enigmatically glowing, will resemble a transfigured version of a sepia snapshot: Powder's sleepy smile after too many cherry sodas.

What the hell do they do together?

"Work," is Jinx's answer, when Vi dares to interrogate.

It's delivered with a sly grin, and a grave stare. It is, Vi senses, a half-truth. Whatever they're up to is not work. It's something bigger. Something that necessitates its own strange intimacy: loaded looks, double-edged sentences, an entire shorthand of gestures.

Something that makes the rest of Silco's dealings look like child's play.

Jinx's next words make it worse. "We're making the future."

And she'll laugh until all the hairs on Vi's neck stand on end. A laugh that could've fled from a different cosmos, crackling with alien glee.

The promise of a reckoning.

Under her thundering boots, the roof terminates, Vi springs across a narrow channel: her shadow crossing one precipice to the next.  The crow from earlier—creepy bastard—hitches a ride on her slipstream: black wings spread, its mismatched eyes reflecting tiny mirrors of the cityscape: red and blue.

Overhead, a streak of greeny brightness fractures the dark.

For a moment, Vi swears it's a dragonfly. The crow is giving chase: its black beak parted like a rapier angling for the kill.

Then her feet hit concrete, and the mirage fades.

"Get stuffed!" she snaps, swatting in the crow's general direction.

An indignant caw echoes. Then the crow careens away: a dark comet splitting through the night. A flock of feathers, drifting down, reminds Vi of cinders after the Day of Ash.  The bodies on the Bridge: each pocked with bullets and exuding a heatless smoke.

And Vi and Powder: hand-in-hand, picking their way through the carnage.

Vi's eyes burn briefly. Then she is in freefall.

Down, down, down—into the heart of the Promenade. 

The neon engulfs her in a rainbows halo. In that final second before landing, her body dissolves into rapturous light.

[ladycrimsonandblack]

(sorry if I have sent this to you earlier, I didn't know if it went through cuz my laptop bugged out haha. Feel free to ignore this if so-)

Idk if your still open for TCF prompts, but if soooo: Everyone in the group knows that Cale is aromantic, or at least knows he doesn't want a romantic partner. However the public doesn't know this, and assumptions and rumors begins to fly as they see Young Master Cale interact with some members of his group. (Basically Cale is in a QPR, or has something similar to that, with those of your choosing! People makes assumptions but it's eventually revealed what is really going on)

AO3

There are a lot of rumors about Commander Cale Henituse, the esteemed hero Silver Shield and the savior of both continents. Ranging from ridiculous (saying that Cale Henituse is related to the White Star and that’s why he was able to defeat him will get you laughed out of a tavern, with a few good kicks added for emphasis), to actually plausible (the current raging theory that the Commander is on his path to godhood is usually met with agreeing nods), the rumors fly from kingdom to kingdom and from continent to continent at unprecedented speed. Thanks to his many great and varied public deeds, Cale Henituse’s life is an excellent fodder for imaginations of nobles and commoners alike. 

However, the current rumor is a bit different. 

It seems that Commander Cale Henituse actually has a harem. 

It started innocuously, in a small tavern in Rain City, the patrons imbibing large quantities of alcohol and listening to even larger quantities of gossip.

“I heard he attended a ball with Princess Rosalyn, from the Breck Kingdom! Did you know that she’s building a new Magic Tower? Only someone as capable as that is worthy of the Commander!” 

“Didn’t he attend a ball with Knight Choi Han a few weeks back?” A couple of nods and a rumble of murmurs answer the question. “Did they break up?”

“No, they weren’t even together. Going to the ball at the same time doesn’t mean they’re dating.”

“You’re the one that said that the Commander is dating Princess Rosalyn!”

“They just fit! I saw them once on the street in the shopping district and they were very close! And the picture they make— ah, they look so beautiful together!”

“Well, Knight Choi Han always follows the Commander, so I guess they might be dating too!”

“Uhhh, guys,” a timid voice interrupts them as one of the gate guards raises his hand like he’s in a classroom. “Doesn’t Knight Choi Han live together with the Commander? I heard they have a villa near Harris Village.”

A thoughtful silence follows this sentence. Then a series of considering nods and whispers, as the patrons catch each other’s eyes. 

“It’s not so strange? A knight should live with his lord, right?” 

“But, uh, isn’t Choi Han from Harris Village? Did the Commander build a villa there just to have Choi Han live closer to home?”

“That seems like something the Commander would do. He’s so kind!” 

Everyone drinks to that, and then there’s shouting for a new round. 

“But doesn’t that mean that Choi Han is more than just a knight?” 

“He’s a hero too, he deserves that much,” someone refutes. 

“A whole villa where they live together? I think that’s a bit too much for any hero. The Commander didn’t need to move into Choi Han’s villa.”

This time, the murmurs lean more toward Choi Han. 

The man who first talked about Princess Rosalyn and the Commander frowns. “But Princess Rosalyn is also living together with them. Didn’t she move in during the war?”

The following moment of silence is full of consideration. 

“Does that mean he’s dating both of them?”

The room explodes. The evening ends with a bar fight so nasty that two people end up in the hospital and the rumors about what started it only grow with retelling. As does Commander Cale’s harem. 

Eventually, the rumors reach Huiss City and the ears of royal spies therein. When Tasha hears them, she bursts out laughing, doesn’t stop for good ten minutes, and then immediately goes to inform her nephew. 

“So there are rumors that my dongsaeng is dating Choi Han.” At Tasha’s nod, Alberu frowns in confusion. “There have always been rumors like that. Why is this important?”

“There are also rumors saying Young Master Cale is dating Princess Rosalyn...”

Alberu sighs. “Well, those will have more immediate political consequences, but it’s nothing we haven’t heard before.”

“... At the same time as he’s dating Choi Han,” Tasha finishes, her pearly white teeth stark against her face as she grins. 

“...What?” Alberu chokes out. 

The thought of Cale dating two people at once is so strange that Alberu needs to take a moment to recover. As if Cale would want to be in a romantic relationship with even one person!

Tasha’s grin becomes outright mean. “There are even some rumors that the two of you are having an affair.”

“He’s my younger brother!” Alberu bursts out, more indignant than he remembers himself ever being in his life. 

“And then there is Mary.”

“Surely people don’t think there is something going on between Cale and Mary?”

“Oh, they do, and there’s a lot of them.”

Alberu feels a headache oncoming. He rubs his temples and reaches into a tin can on his desk for some cookies to comfort him. “He treats her like she’s his kid.” Never mind that Mary is physically older than Cale. Cale has mentally slotted her into the same category as Raon, On, and Hong very early on, and now Mary gets an extravagant monthly allowance on Cale’s dime. 

It’s telling that nobody has actually commented on this, or thought it strange. Their whole family accepted it as just another one of Cale’s eccentricities.  

“And of course,” Tasha says, apparently not finished. “There is also Eruhaben.”

“He treats Cale as his kid!” 

“Well, it’s not like people on the street know that,” Tasha points out, very reasonably. “But they do think that Young Master Cale is dating all of you. At the same time.”

“So they think that Cale… has a harem?” Alberu tries to wrap his head around this. There is not a person less likely to have a harem than Cale Henituse. 

“Yes,” Tasha says, and smiles like this is the funniest thing she’s heard the whole year. 

“Why?” Alberu wonders, for once not being able to guess what people are thinking. Cale is just so… Cale. Alberu can’t even imagine him wanting to date someone. 

“Nephew,” Tasha gives him an arch look, and Alberu feels like he’s thirteen again, and is caught sneaking out for more practice with his sword. “You forget that not many people know Young Master Cale as well as you do. And when looking from outside, our family’s situation is a little strange.” 

Alberu tries to think about this objectively. 

“Our whole family lives together, even though most others have their own homes.”

“That is one part of it,” Tasha agrees. “It is especially strange for Princess Rosalyn, who is a royal from another kingdom, and Eruhaben-nim, who is known to be a Dragon.”

Alberu nods. “And whenever Cale goes somewhere, at least one member of our family accompanies him.”

“And the Young Master always buys everyone extravagant gifts.”

With each sentence, Alberu frowns even more. 

“This is nuts,” he says. 

Because, looking from outside perspective, it does seem like Cale has a harem. 

…

He decides not to talk to Cale. Instead, he gathers Choi Han, Rosalyn, Eruhaben and Mary for a private talk, with the children averaging nine years old dragging Cale off to shop in the city (On takes one look at Alberu’s face before suggesting the trip; she is growing up to be terrifyingly perceptive). 

When Alberu tells them the latest rumor, Eruhaben is the first to react. He sighs. “Unlucky bastard. And now he’s dragging me down with him.”

Choi Han is so red that his ears appear to be steaming. “How can they— why would anyone even think that?!”

“Because Cale provides for all of us,” Rosalyn says, laughing in delight. “And most people can’t imagine us being family. Not like this.” 

“But this is so strange! Cale’s not… he is not—”

Interested. Cale is simply not interested. 

It hadn’t taken them long to figure it out. Cale’s lack of interest in anything approaching romance or romantic relationships is so obvious to those close to him, that even the few of them that might have quietly considered it as an option chose to discard it immediately. Cale loves them, but it will never be romantic, and doesn’t have to be. They’re a family. That’s all there is to it, in the end.

Alberu smiles pleasantly, none of his previous confusion visible. “Of course, not many people know my dongsaeng well, so they would come to their own conclusions. However, I called you here today to discuss what to do next.”

“We have to stop them from saying it!” Choi Han burst out. “Cale-nim would be upset.”

“We don’t need to let Cale know,” Eruhaben points out reasonably. “He doesn’t need to worry about this too, and it’s not really a big problem.”

Alberu nods. “Eruhaben-nim is right. There is really no way to stop the rumors, but they’re not doing any real harm.”

“Why can’t we just say that none of us are involved with Young Master?” Mary asks. “Won’t people stop talking after that?”

“That won’t work,” Rosalyn shakes her head. “Denying something like this never works. It just makes it look like you have something to hide.”

“Exactly, Princess-nim is right,” Alberu agrees. “Our best official course of action would be to ignore the rumors completely. I wanted you to know about them so that you wouldn’t be surprised if you heard someone talk about it in a public setting.” Choi Han frowns at that answer, but Alberu only aims a bright smile in his direction. “Of course, if anyone approaches you privately to ask about any kind of rumors about my precious dongsaeng, feel free to respond as you wish.”

Choi Han’s answering smile appears innocent. Everyone in the room knows better than to trust it.

…

In the end, the gossip is stopped by the most unlikely person of them all. 

During the couple of weeks the rumors have been rampaging around without any checks, no one has actually been brave enough to ask for clarification from any of the people involved. Alberu, Cale and Rosalyn’s high positions stop everyone from commenting on it in their hearing, even obliquely, and Eruhaben… Well. Eruhaben is a Dragon. No one dares. 

There are a couple of people who try to broach the subject with Choi Han, thinking that the famously noble knight would not take offense. Those people end up in infirmary after Choi Han, somehow, convinces them to spar against him. 

That leaves only Mary. 

The thing about Mary is that she has a very clear, very even voice. So when she says, “I am not dating Young Master Cale-nim,” in a very crowded ballroom filled with Roan nobility, her voice carries despite the fact that she is not any louder than usual.

The nearby conversations immediately taper off as everyone strains their ears to listen. 

“Oh?” asks the madam that had had enough courage to approach Mary in her little corner. “Does someone else have the luck to be the recipient the Commander’s affection?”

“Of course not,” Mary answers, apparently not noticing that she has the attention of half the crowd. “Young Master-nim is very busy. He does not have any time nor inclination for romantic attachments.”

The crowd murmurs in agreement. The madam lifts a hand to her mouth, looking stricken. “Of course, I completely forgot.” Eyes misting over, she says, “It’s admirable that the Commander is willing to deny himself so much just to keep our kingdom safe.”

Mary nods. “Cale-nim is very dedicated to his goal.”

Everyone feels very moved, but also very curious about the Commander’s goal. They haven’t heard anything about that, beyond Cale Henituse’s well-known wish to keep everyone in the kingdom safe and happy. 

“His goal?” the madam asks, curiosity rising. 

“Yes,” Mary confirms. “It will be very difficult and very hard to accomplish, but Cale-nim will surely succeed.”

“Of course he will!” the madam exclaims. “Who would ever doubt the Commander?”

Nevertheless, people are very eager to talk about his goal. 

Very difficult and hard to accomplish? Perhaps it has something to do with his latest battles? The Commander had informed the public that he has been battling the organization behind the White Star’s power in other worlds. That is surely a feat that would bring him divine attention, and he has been seen visiting the Temple of the God of Death. 

Perhaps… perhaps those rumors about Cale Henituse ascending to the path of legend and godhood are not so far off. Everyone has heard about them, and some even believed them, but this is the first time someone from the Commander’s inner circle confirmed that there is a bigger personal goal for him in all this. 

The next day, there is some new gossip going around the taverns of Huiss City. This time, there are no bar fights, or even small brawls. 

Everyone agrees that Cale Henituse is deserving of godhood anyway. Why would they fight about it?

[arpmemething2]

Batman the Animated Series sentence starters

Send one for my muse’s reaction.  Feel free to change pronouns as needed.

"All right, scum bucket, it's you, me, and thirty stories. You're gonna tell me exactly what I want to know."

"That's one way to remove a splinter."

"I have this natural immunity against poisons, toxins, the pain and suffering of others. Go figure."

"I failed you. I wish there were another way for me to say it. I cannot. I can only beg your forgiveness, and pray you hear me somehow, someplace... someplace where a warm hand waits for mine."

"Last time we met, you tried to throw me off a building."

"If you think I've been bad news before..."

"Old and infirm as you are, I'd trade a thousand of my frozen years for your worst day."

"What kind of a saboteur uses a six-thousand dollar Metronex to set a time bomb?"

"I never counted on being happy."

"A strong mind can fuel a frail body."

"I need a new car."

"There's no way you could have escaped from that explosion! How did you get out?"

"I'm gettin' too old for this."

"I suppose what they say is true: society is to blame. High society."

"Succumb to the fear!"

"Gee, it's amazing the things you find in people's glove compartments."

"Children and guns do not mix. Ever."

"I'm having a BAD DAY! I'm sick of people trying to shoot me, run me over or blow me up!"

"They're not stupid, and it's your party."

"Aren't they just the cutest family you've ever seen?"

"It's midnight darling, time to unmask."

"It's gonna be one of those nights."

"When you look too long into the abyss, the abyss looks back through you."

"If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?"

"You've got to admit there's something between us."

"There's always time to heal."

"I didn't realize you'd taken up listening to rock and roll."

"Choosing a weekend date?"

"I don't believe in fate."

"An entire city screaming in fear. I wonder if we'll be able to hear it."

"Some thought I'd gone mad. Others thought I always had been. And so they put me where they thought I belonged."

"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no tales."

"This city would fall apart without you!"

"I love that trick but I can never make it work."

"Taking up video games, are we?"

"I hate it when he does that."

"You are strong... but not strong enough!"

"They don't make straight jackets like they used to. I should know."

"He's not samurai. He's NINJA. They're spies and assassins. Their only code is to get the job done."

"A pixel is worth a thousand words."

"I am vengeance! I am the night!!"

"And who says opera has to be boring?"

"He always knew how to make an exit."

"Hey! Do I hit your kids? Oh, actually I do..."

"Now boys, didn't your mommies teach you that's not the way to get a lady's attention?"

"Not the robot theory again."

"Freeze, maggots! You're all under arrest!"

"You said you'd never let me go home!"

"What was she before she went bonkers?"

"This used to be a beautiful street. Good people lived here once."

"'Tis better to have loved and lost, and made a small profit, than never to have loved at all!"

"Chance is everything. Whether you're born or not, whether you live or die, whether you're good or bad. It's all arbitrary."

"But you've forgotten the first rule of comedy: if you have to explain the joke... THEN IT ISN'T FUNNY!"

"I told you not to speak!"

"Coming through! Hot stuff!"

"The snow is beautiful, don't you think? Clean, uncompromising..."

"When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping."

"What a pleasant surprise. Though I should warn you - breaking and entering is against the law."

"This could cause a stampede to pork."

"You really know how to put the fun in funeral."

"You ought to put your toys away."

"Would not, could not... would not, could not... oh, could not join the dance."

"Home. I never thought that could sound so good."

"Then I'll see you in your nightmares!"

"As the Bard said, "the fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves.""

"You know what I'd have given for a death scene like this. Too bad I won't get to read the notices."

"He's a little protective of all this. I think he likes bats better than people."

"All your power and money has bought you an empire of misery."

"Don't try this at home kids!"

"I feel ill."

"Well, that was fun! Now, who's for Chinese?"

"You're about to fall out of orbit."

"Why can't he ever stay dead?"

"They can bury me in the ground, as deep as they like. But I'll grow back. We always grow back. Don't we, baby?"

"All men have something to hide. The brighter the picture, the darker the negative."

"You thought I was just another bubble-headed blond bimbo! Well, the joke's on you, 'cause I'm not even a real blonde."

"When the wage slaves start acting like they own the place, it's time to pull the plug."

"I've been known to be foolish, but ain't nobody calls me a liar and goes to bed happy."

"Since you don't like my side-splitters, how 'bout a skull-splitter?"

"This is kidnapping, mister! Last time I checked, it was highly illegal!"

[inky-writing]

Carlisle Cullen x Reader

Warning: long? i got carried away again, I'm too much inspired haha

Word count: 2,744

Chapter 9: Possibilities

Esme's pov

The heavy drapes of her Volterra room barely allowed a sliver of sunlight to seep in, but it suited Esme perfectly. She sat at her desk, her fingers skimming over old parchments and texts that littered its surface. The weight of her task pressed on her like the centuries-old stone walls surrounding her. For weeks now, she had meticulously combed through every record the Volturi had on supernatural anomalies.

Y/N had proven to be an enigma, and Esme was running out of leads.

Aro, Caius, and Marcus had made their expectations crystal clear during her last audience with them. They demanded answers. Why was Y/N immune to Esme’s influence? What was she? Esme had assured them she was close to finding out, but the truth was, she wasn’t sure. However, after weeks of research and carefully recounting every detail of her observations of Y/N back in Forks, two possibilities emerged: witch or siren.

The witch theory had merit. Esme had spied on Y/N’s interactions countless times. The odd occurrences surrounding her, objects seemingly moving or appearing where they shouldn’t, the weather aligning with her emotions, animals drawn to her, hinted at a latent power she might not even be aware of. Magic, though rare, wasn’t unheard of among humans. If Y/N were a witch, a real one, it would explain her immunity to Esme’s mind manipulation.

But then there was the other theory. Siren. Esme couldn’t ignore the way people, gravitated toward Y/N. Even Carlisle, under Esme’s influence, had become inexplicably drawn to the girl. Esme’s hold on him had faltered slightly whenever Y/N was near, an unsettling development that gnawed at her confidence. A siren’s power was subtle, affecting people’s emotions and thoughts without them realizing it. If Y/N was one, she was unlike any siren Esme had read about. There was no singing, no seduction, just her existence.

Esme leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. She eliminated the possibility of Y/N being an anchor early on; anchors were human, yes, but their abilities revolved solely around nullifying supernatural powers. Y/N’s influence went far beyond that.

With a sigh, Esme closed one of the ancient tomes and made her way to the window. Below, Volterra’s streets bustled with tourists unaware of the predators that ruled the city from its shadows. Somewhere in the castle, her mate waited, patient and loyal as ever. The thought of him brought her a fleeting sense of peace, but it was quickly overshadowed by her frustration.

Y/N was a problem she had to solve, not only for the Volturi but for herself. If Carlisle’s feelings for Y/N continued to grow, they could jeopardize everything. Esme vowed to keep digging until she had answers.

Y/N’s pov

The sun was hidden by deep grey clouds as Y/N pushed through the door of the diner, balancing a tray of freshly cleaned mugs. The morning rush had died down, leaving the place quiet except for the low hum of the radio playing a classic rock station. The scent of coffee and bacon lingered in the air, comforting in its familiarity.

Y/N liked working at the diner. It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave her something to do during the long summer days while Bella spent nearly all her free time with Edward. Though she and Bella still saw each other in the mornings before she left for work and at dinner when they ate with Charlie, their bond had shifted slightly. Bella was so absorbed in Edward that sometimes Y/N felt like an afterthought. She didn’t blame her, Bella was clearly happy, but it still left Y/N feeling a little... alone.

Well, not entirely alone.

The little bell above the door jingled, and Y/N looked up from wiping the counter to see Carlisle stepping inside. He looked as immaculate as ever, dressed in light slacks and a crisp button-up shirt, his blond hair shining faintly in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

“Good morning, Y/N” he greeted, his voice warm and polite as he walked to the counter.

“Morning, Carlisle” she replied with a smile, setting down the rag and leaning slightly on the counter. “The usual?”.

He chuckled softly. “You know me too well. Yes, four large coffees please”.

She nodded, grabbing one of the large takeout containers from beneath the counter. “How’s work been? Keeping busy?”

“Very busy” he admitted, leaning against the counter. “With the rest of the family away, I’ve taken on extra shifts to cover for some of my colleagues who wanted time off. It’s been… hectic”.

Y/N filled the coffee container, carefully sealing the lid before sliding it across to him. “Well, if anyone can handle it, it’s you. I swear you must have superhuman patience to do what you do”.

Carlisle’s lips twitched in a small, amused smile. “It’s all about perspective. Everyone has their challenges; mine just happen to involve a lot of long hours and caffeine”.

She laughed softly, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter. “I bet you could rival this diner’s coffee consumption with the amount you must drink”.

“Perhaps” he conceded, his golden eyes sparkling.

Their conversations had become a routine over the summer. Carlisle stopped by the diner a few times a week to grab coffee for the clinic staff, and Y/N always found herself looking forward to his visits. Despite his calm demeanor and professional air, there was something about him that felt... easy. Safe.

It wasn’t just his kindness, though that certainly played a part. It was the way he listened when she spoke, the way he made her feel like her thoughts and feelings mattered. Over the past few weeks, they’d fallen into a pattern of casual chats that often veered into deeper territory, life, grief, and even the strange happenings that had been plaguing Y/N.

“Carlisle, can I ask you something?”, she asked one morning, after handing him his coffee.

“Of course,” he said, his expression open and attentive.

She hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of her apron. “Have you ever felt like... like you’re losing control of your own life? Like things are happening around you that don’t make sense?”

Carlisle’s brow furrowed slightly, and he set the coffee down on the counter. “That’s a difficult feeling to deal with. What makes you ask?”

Y/N shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t know. It’s just... weird things keep happening. Like, I’ll put my phone down in one spot, and then it’ll be somewhere completely different. Or I’ll go to bed and wake up to find my window open when I know I closed it… I don’t know, all of it seems weird…”

She paused, realizing how ridiculous it all sounded when she said it out loud. “It’s probably nothing. Maybe I’m just imagining things.”

Carlisle studied her, his expression thoughtful. “It doesn’t sound like nothing to me. Sometimes, when we’re under stress, our minds and bodies can react in unusual ways. It’s important to pay attention, even if it doesn’t make sense right away.”

“Yeah, maybe” she said softly, offering him a small smile. “Thanks. I guess I just needed to say it out loud”.

“I’m glad you did” Carlisle said, his voice gentle. “If you ever need someone to talk to, you know where to find me, even if we don’t have our weekly sessions anymore… Like a friend”.

Over the next few days, their conversations grew even more comfortable. Carlisle often lingered for a few extra minutes at the counter, asking about her day or offering advice when she seemed particularly stressed.

One afternoon in late July, Y/N found herself smiling as she watched Carlisle leave the diner, coffees in hand.

By the time August rolled around, Y/N felt like she’d found a friend in Carlisle. Bella was still wrapped up in her world with Edward, and Y/N had mostly stopped feeling hurt about it. She’d adjusted to the quiet rhythm of her summer, work, home, and her strange, unexplainable moments of oddity.

On a particularly warm august day, Carlisle stopped by the diner again, this time wearing a rare look of exhaustion.

“Long day?” Y/N asked as she handed him his coffee.

“Very” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “But coming here helps”.

She grinned.

He chuckled, shaking his head.

For a moment, they stood there in companionable silence. Carlisle leaning on the counter toward her, like drawn by her person. He glanced at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

“Y/N, have you thought more about medical school? Since we talked about it last week?” he asked.

“Yeah” she said, surprised by the question. “I mean, it’s definitely something I want to do, but... I don’t know if I’m ready. It feels like such a big step”.

“It is” Carlisle agreed. “But from what I’ve seen, you have the determination and the empathy it takes to be a great doctor. If you ever want to talk about it, I’d be happy to help you fill your university applications”

Her heart swelled at the offer. “Thanks, Carlisle. That means a lot”.

As he left, Y/N couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she had someone in her corner that wasn’t family, someone who truly believed in her.

And though she still didn’t have all the answers about the strange things happening around her, she felt, for once, like she wasn’t entirely alone.

Carlisle’s pov

The sun rose on the horizon as Carlisle pushed open the door of the Forks diner, the familiar bell chiming overhead. The aroma of fresh coffee and warm food wrapped around him like a blanket, soothing after before long day at the clinic. He scanned the room briefly before his eyes settled on Y/N, who was standing behind the counter, as radiant as always, filling a row of mugs full of freshly brewed coffee.

She looked up, her face lighting up with that beautiful smile that never failed to stir something deep within him. “Morning, Carlisle” she greeted him, setting aside the coffee pot.

“Good morning, Y/N” he replied warmly, walking to the counter. “The usual, if you don’t mind”.

She nodded, already reaching for the large takeout container. Her movements were quick, efficient, yet there was a certain grace to the way she worked—unpolished but genuine. He found himself watching her hands for a moment too long before catching himself and looking away.

“The team keeping you busy?” she asked, filling the container with steaming coffee.

Carlisle offered a soft chuckle. “As always. It seems I’m not the only one in Forks who relies on caffeine to survive these days” (even if he didn’t drink it lol).

She grinned, sliding the coffee across to him. “Well, you’d better pace yourself. Don’t want to become a regular patient at your own clinic”.

He laughed lightly, but the sound felt hollow to his own ears. Lately, his conversations with Y/N had begun to leave him more and more unsettled, not because of anything she said or did, but because of how he felt. Or didn’t feel.

It was a sensation he couldn’t fully articulate. There were moments, brief moments, when he felt drawn to her in a way that went beyond the bounds of friendship or professional concern. But as soon as he tried to grasp the feeling, it slipped away, like smoke dissipating in the wind.

He’d never experienced anything like it before.

“Carlisle?” Y/N’s voice broke through his thoughts, grounding him.

“Yes?” he said, blinking as he refocused on her.

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of concern in her eyes. “You okay? You looked like you were a million miles away for a second there”.

“I’m fine”, he assured her, forcing a smile. “Just... tired, I suppose”.

She didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press the issue, instead offering him a soft smile. “Well, take care of yourself, okay? Even the best doctors need rest”.

He nodded, thanking her before leaving the diner. As he walked back to his car, the weight of his confusion pressed heavier on his chest.

Later that evening, Carlisle found himself in the living room, seated in his usual chair with a book open on his lap. He wasn’t reading, though; his mind was elsewhere.

Edward entered the room, his movements silent as he crossed to the piano. He didn’t play, instead resting his hands on the keys without pressing down. “You’re distracted”, Edward said after a moment, not looking up.

Carlisle sighed, closing the book. “I’ve been... preoccupied, yes”.

“With Y/N?” Edward asked, his tone even but probing.

Carlisle looked at him sharply. “What makes you say that?”

Edward finally met his gaze, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “You’ve been thinking about her more often than you realize. But it’s... strange. Normally, I can hear your thoughts clearly, but lately, they’ve been fragmented. Incomplete”.

Carlisle frowned. “You’re saying you can’t read my thoughts?”

“Not entirely” Edward admitted. “And it’s not just you. It’s been happening with others, too. It’s like there’s... interference. It’s like I’m hearing statics”.

Carlisle leaned back in his chair, his thoughts racing. “Interference,” he murmured.

Edward watched him carefully. “Do you think it’s connected to Y/N? You’ve mentioned she has a way of... standing out.”

Carlisle hesitated. “Perhaps. But it doesn’t explain why it feels as though something is clouding my own emotions. When I’m with her, there’s a... familiarity. An ease. But as soon as I try to focus on it, it vanishes. It’s like a veil being drawn over my mind”.

Edward’s brow furrowed. “That doesn’t sound like something natural”.

“No” Carlisle agreed softly, his gaze distant.

That night, Carlisle stood on the balcony outside his study, staring up at the stars. The cool night air did little to ease the turmoil in his mind. He’d always prided himself on his clarity of thought, his ability to separate emotion from reason. But now, he felt as though he were adrift, uncertain of anything.

His connection to Esme came to mind, unbidden. They had been together for decades, bound by love and loyalty. But lately, it had begun to feel... off. There were moments when he questioned their bond, fleeting doubts that disappeared as quickly as they appeared. He couldn’t imagine a world where they weren’t mates. It was unthinkable.

And yet...

He shook his head, chastising himself for even entertaining the thought. His loyalty to Esme was unwavering, they were fated mates. Whatever confusion he felt regarding Y/N was likely nothing more than an anomaly, a byproduct of his concern for her wellbeing.

Still, he couldn’t deny the unease that lingered. There was something about Y/N that defied explanation, something that drew him in even as it pushed him away.

As he gazed at the stars, Carlisle made a silent vow to himself. He would continue to support Y/N, to be a friend and a mentor. But he would also seek answers, about her, about his own feelings, and about the strange forces that seemed to be at play.

For the first time in his long existence, Carlisle felt truly uncertain. And that, more than anything, frightened him.

Esme’s pov

Far away in Volterra, Esme’s thoughts turned to Carlisle. Even from this distance, she could feel her connection to him weakening. Y/N’s presence was interfering, disrupting the careful balance Esme had maintained for decades. She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling beneath her composed exterior.

If Y/N was indeed Carlisle’s mate, it complicated everything. But Esme refused to believe it, not yet. Carlisle was hers, had been hers for decades. She would find a way to restore her control, even if it meant eliminating the girl. For now, she would continue her research and report her findings to the masters. They, too, had a vested interest in Y/N’s true nature. If she was a witch or a siren, she could be valuable—or dangerous.

Esme’s eyes narrowed as she returned to her desk, determination hardening her resolve. Whatever Y/N was, Esme would uncover the truth. And when she did, she would ensure her place in Carlisle’s life remained unchallenged until they had secured Edward and Alice.

Chapter 10 >>>

Tag list: @inky-bonnie

[lopez-richter-fangirl]

The Tin Can Bros have launched a kickstarter to celebrate their 10 year anniversary with SEVEN new projects, and they need our help!

Read on to find out how:

This is Brian Rosenthal, Corey Lubowich and Joey Richter

You may know them from Team Starkid, or you may know them from their own group the Tin Can Brothers (creators of projects such as Spies Are Forever and the Solve it Squad), formed in 2014. To celebrate 10 years, they’re raising a goal of $200k in order to stage seven projects

They’re currently a week into their campaign and have raised almost $50k with 675 backers. But they still have a way to go! And to help, we need to spread the word

TINLIGHTENMENT PROMO SCHEDULE:

Saturday 10th - The Great Debate

What is it?

A live comedy game show featuring Joey, Brian, Corey and special guests pitted against each other to win a debate. It gets silly!

How will I be able to see it?

Live shows in LA (and potentially other places!) throughout the year, digital tickets, and eventually some ‘episodes’ on youtube!

What can I share?

If you’ve been lucky enough to see past great debates on Patreon, talk about favourite topics and moments!

If you haven’t, share moments and clips from the first public great debate livestream happening on Thursday! (I think - if plans are changed then they’re doing a terrible job letting me help them)

Talk about guests! They talked about a Dropout crossover which I know people have been asking for with Starkid. I don’t know what that is but tell the people that do!

Tuesday 13th - Gross Prophets

What is it?

A brand new comedy musical featuring Joey, Brian and Lauren with music by Ali Gordon and Angela Parrish (shitty broadway! https://youtu.be/AZ-bOPiDqo8?si=F6guq3Pk_lOkCB5B)

How will I be able to see it?

Live shows (some workshop-y) in LA leading up to a run at the Adelaide Fringe, with digital tickets and eventual youtube release

What can I share?

We don’t know a whole lot about this project yet, but we do know it’s got a great cast and creative team - talk about those people!

That it’s going to Adelaide!! Australia is frequently in the top backing countries on kickstarters, and those people finally get a chance to see a TCB show live!

Theories on what the show might involve!

Saturday 17th - SIS at the Fringe

What is it?

An Edinburgh Fringe run of the fucked up Scooby Doo parody, with the original cast!

How will I be able to see it?

Live shows throughout the entire Edinburgh Fringe run in August, or a digital ticket!

What can I share?

This is an existing TCB property, so talk about what you love from the original! Share art, gifs, edits, anything!

That it’s going to Edinburgh! As above, UK fans have been desperate for this for ages, now’s our chance! Make sure people know about it!

Tuesday 20th - Spy Another Day LA and London

What is it?

A live concert screening (Hollywood Bowl meets Rocky Horror!) of Spies with most of the original cast for LA and TCB plus Lauren for London!

How will I be able to see it?

A live show in LA in Spring (likely April) with a digital ticket option, and a live show in London in early September following their SIS fringe run

What can I share?

Like with SIS, anything and everything you love about the original show! Angsty fics, art, memes, it’s all good

Joe Walker. To me personally he’s just A Guy, but some people are still shocked to be learning he’s doing a show again! Get those OG fans to support this!

That it’s going to London. I need Joey doing a passable to decent depending on how much he’s practiced English accent in London! And again, an opportunity for one of the highest backing cities to see them LIVE

Saturday 24th - TCBoB at 54 Below

What is it?

The songs from their musical This Could Be on Broadway in concert at 54 Below in New York City, with Joey, Brian, Lauren, Esther, Bryce and Clark, plus more performers to be announced!

How will I be able to see it?

Live in NYC in November, with a digital ticket option

What can I share?

The first workshop only got a digital ticket release but if you caught that, share favourite parts! And the soundtrack is available, so talk about how fucking good the songs are

The fact that it’s an opportunity for people to hear these songs live!

Tuesday 27th - Intelligent Life

What is it?

A reading of TCB’s queer sci-fi comedy TV pilot

How will I be able to see it?

Live in LA in early Summer, or by digital ticket

What can I share?

Like with Gross Prophets, this is a brand new (to us) project so we don’t know a lot! But we do know it’s gays in space! We love space gays

Remember, these are just ideas. Share anything you personally are excited for and think other people might be interested in! The aim is to make sure people are aware of these projects, what they entail and why they need to happen! Any other way you have of getting the word out about the projects and the campaign in general is valuable!!

Join our discord for more ways to help or to ask questions! https://discord.gg/4VNEBzpA

And if you’re hearing about all this for the first time, check out the campaign! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tincanbros/tinlightenment-world-tour

[karniss-bg3]

I figured you’d be the right person to ask this question, why is Kar’niss’ skin super pale when he was originally a drow? 🖤

I had the same question myself and I did some digging a bit ago. All of the official drider concept art I've seen has depicted driders with dark skin, so it stands to reason that the transformation alone wouldn't be enough to alter his appearance. This leaves one interesting theory at play; Kar'niss was a Szarkai.

Szarkai, which translates to "ghost spiders", are albino drow. This is a very rare mutation that affects only 0.1% of the drow population. Their skin tones are so light in fact that they are able to pass as surface elves with little trouble. Some would think that this would make them outcasts but in fact Szarkai were viewed as a blessing of Lolth, hence their namesake.

There are some interesting crossover traits between Kar'niss and Szarkai that lean me more toward this theory, such as: -Szarkai look almost identical to drow outside of the skin tone. However, they have also been known to have minor deformities. The most notable is "gnarled and claw-like hands" which we know Kar'niss to possess. Originally I thought this was due to the transformation, but now I think he may have had it prior to the change.

-They are very adverse toward combat, preferring to let others do the dirty work so to speak. When the player engages Kar'niss in a fight one of the first things he does after his multi-attack is cast sanctuary on himself, protecting himself from harm and forcing his companions to take the hits. I also saw a video where someone cast banish on Kar'niss and when he returned he disengaged, healed himself, and ran from the fight. Now this was likely a bug, but it'd be on brand for Szarkai's desire to escape a fight rather than engage in it.

-They were mostly used as spies and gathering information since they could easily blend into surface societies. While there isn't much evidence that Kar'niss has much training in this field, what stuck out to me was the professions Szarkai favored. One of them is bard, and we have at least some notion that Kar'niss is linked to one musical instrument by way of the spider's lyre. I recall someone commenting asking if the lyre may have belonged to Kar'niss at one point and while I can't say with certainty, if it was and Minthara was merely holding on to it then it'd lend credence to him being a bard formerly. That and he's super pissed if you play it poorly!

-I haven't done a playthrough with Minthara in my party so I am not familiar with all of her dialogue lines. However, she does know Kar'niss in some capacity and the lyre is used to call him. Her last name is Baenre which is one of the most notable drow houses in all of Menzoberranzan, famous for Jarlaxle the leader of Bregan D'aerthe. I say this because Szarkai seemed to be far more common in noble houses, which Baenre would be. This could, even if loosely, establish a link between them.

IF this is true, that puts a very intense spin on Kar'niss' potential history. Szarkai were protected, considered valuable, and their existence kept secret. They were removed from drow life, and even kept in far safer conditions than others. This didn't mean they were shielded from the cruelty drow are known for but it was a different kind of cruelty. Often trained from a very young age to be spies and saboteurs, and subsequently being shipped to human cities to do as ordered. It makes me wonder what Kar'niss could've done to incur Lolth's wrath to the extent she warped him into a drider. Betrayal? Failure? Weakness? Or perhaps Lolth just really wanted an alabaster pet, it's hard to say.

Thanks for the ask!

[elainemg97]

✨The Spies ✨

/ACOTAR SERIES SPOILERS/

Easter Eggs in drawing

Dusk’s Truth: As you can see, there is an old, crumbling temple that is meant to symbolize the fallen dusk court. Elriel has always been followed by the light and dark imagery in-text. Therefore, I think they have a good chance to revive the dusk court, the time of day when day and night meet. There are people stuck in the stone to symbolize those stuck on the prison walls.

Fanged Beast: The theory is that the fanged beasts found in the hewn city will come to life, as that was once part of the dusk court.

Nuala and Cerridwen: Elain’s best friends and part of Azriel’s trusted spy team. He trained them himself, and they are now training Elain (there’s evidence to support this).

Ivy: Elain’s mental shields are wrapped in ivy; therefore, I thought it’d be fun to have their bargain tattoo be ivy. Also, no one would expect Elain to have a massive leg sleeve, but Azriel knows 😈

Rhys’ command: I made Az and Elain’s expressions sad because Rhys commanded Azriel to stay away from Elain. Yet Az feels a connection to Elain, and vice versa, and they can’t stop thinking about each other. This confuses Az because she supposedly has a mate. Why does he feel this connection to her? And so he questions the cauldron because he knows what he feels in his heart.

Elain’s tears: Elain is crying because she thinks the man she wants doesn’t want her. I put tears in her eyes because people call Elain weak because she cries a lot. I say crying is not bad, and some people cry more than others. It’s good to express all types of emotions.

Overall, Elain’s book will hit different. I can feel it.

[afunky-jester]

AHHHHHHHH THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING I CAN NOT BE GENUINELY THEORIZING ABOUT WHAT IF MOTHER AND LE FANTÔME ARE RELATED THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT WHY MUST THIS HAPPEN TO ME IF THIS IS CANON CALL ME PROFESSOR HIDGENS THE WAY I'LL ACT ABOUT IT

[the-reader-insert-gazette]

A Game of Wit - F!Reader x Enver Gortash

Baldurs Gate 3

What begins as playful exchanges between Gortash and Reader quickly spirals into an intricate game of wits.

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

In the depths of Baldur's Gate, there were many alliances forged in shadow and deceit, but few as peculiar as the one between [Name] and Gortash. It had started innocently enough—or at least, as innocent as two minds steeped in manipulation and wit could allow.

[Name] had been lingering in the city, half-heartedly nursing a temporary truce with Gortash. Despite her disdain for his ambition and the gilded tower he lorded over, she couldn’t deny the allure of poking at him. It was easy to rile him, far too easy to see that charming mask falter. Their sparring was addictive, and on a day she deemed particularly dull, she decided to start something new. A simple idea, harmless in theory. A prank.

The first was modest: swapping the wine in his goblet for vinegar. She hadn’t stayed to see his reaction, but her informant in the tower, a chatty maid with loose lips and a penchant for drama, regaled her with the tale of Gortash’s sour expression mid-toast. He hadn’t said a word apparently—just quietly endured it with that ever-present smirk of his. A dangerous smirk, as she’d later realize.

Days later, she returned to her apothecary cart to find it decorated with garish ribbons, the sort one would expect at a wealthy merchant’s ostentatious wedding. There was even a poorly scrawled sign that read, “Congratulations, Madam [Surname], on the Grand Opening of ‘Fungal Frolics’!” The crowd it drew was both irritating and embarrassing. But when she spied Gortash watching from the shadows, that smirk firmly in place, she vowed revenge.

Thus began the war.

The next prank involved a carefully concocted mixture of herbs and powders that caused harmless, though unsightly, blue stains to bloom on one’s skin. She ensured it found its way into his gloves, the dye only activating hours later under the warmth of his hands. By the time she passed him on a busy street, his fingertips were unmistakably azure.

“Striking color, Lord Gortash,” she quipped, walking by as if she hadn’t noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes.

But Gortash was not one to be bested, especially in games of subtlety. She awoke the next morning to find her supply of medicinal herbs replaced with gaudy flowers. It was a childish move, but the note attached—written in that flourish she detested—was what grated her most. “A healer with no herbs is like a merchant with no wares. Do enjoy the blossoms, [Name].”

She gritted her teeth and began plotting her retaliation.

The exchanges escalated over the weeks, each one more clever and infuriating than the last. Gortash turned her rain-collecting barrels into fountains of foam by some alchemical trickery. [Name] retaliated by sneaking a harmless but foul-smelling potion into the pipes of his tower baths, ensuring every wash left him reeking of sulfur.

Yet beneath the annoyance, something else began to grow—a thread of tension neither of them openly acknowledged. Their paths crossed more often, their words laced with double meanings, their gazes lingering longer than they should.

It was during one of these encounters that Gortash upped the stakes. He invited her to an elaborate banquet, sending a courier with a formal letter sealed with his crest. She nearly laughed at the absurdity of it but attended anyway, curiosity getting the better of her.

The dinner was elegant, far more so than she anticipated, but it was also a trap. The wine she was served turned her teeth a deep shade of purple. She realized it only after a passing servant subtly tried to avoid laughing. Gortash, seated across from her, raised his glass in a mock toast.

“To clever minds and sharper tongues,” he said, his voice smooth as silk.

“Oh, you’re going to regret this,” she replied, though her lips curved into a grudging smile.

That night, as she plotted her next move, she realized the humor had shifted. What started as a lighthearted rivalry had become an intricate dance. She could feel it in the way he looked at her, the way he angled his head when she spoke as if hanging onto her every word. And though she hated to admit it, she wasn’t immune to the effect either.

The culmination of their war came a week later, though neither could have predicted it. [Name], fed up with his arrogance, snuck into his quarters late one night. Her goal was to leave behind an enchanted object—a simple charm that would cause any mirror he gazed into to reflect him as a bedraggled, wild-haired version of himself.

But Gortash was waiting.

“Do you often break into men’s chambers uninvited, or am I a special case?” he asked, leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed.

[Name] froze, hand still clutching the charm. “I could ask the same. Do you always lay traps for unsuspecting women, or is this just for me?”

He pushed off the doorframe and approached, his steps measured. “Only for you, I’m afraid.”

There was a weight in the air, a shift neither could ignore. She tucked the charm into her belt and met his gaze, refusing to back down even as he stopped mere inches away.

“You’ve gone to great lengths to get my attention, [Name],” he murmured, his voice low.

“And you’ve been insufferably smug about it,” she shot back, though her voice lacked its usual venom.

His lips twitched into a smirk, but it softened quickly. “Tell me, is this war of ours truly about pranks? Or something else?”

The question hung between them, heavy and unspoken for far too long. [Name] wanted to laugh it off, to insult him, to do anything but admit the truth. Yet as his gaze held hers, she felt her defenses cracking.

“I suppose that depends,” she said finally, her voice quieter than she intended. “What do you think it’s about?”

Gortash reached out, his hand brushing the side of her face. It was a simple gesture, yet it sent a shiver down her spine. “I think,” he said, his tone laced with uncharacteristic sincerity, “we’ve been avoiding the answer for quite some time.”

For once, she had no clever retort. Instead, she let the silence speak, the distance between them narrowing until it disappeared altogether. And as their prank war dissolved into something far more dangerous and intoxicating.

[Name] couldn’t help but think she had won after all.

~Fin~

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

One more BG3 fic left in the queue--won't be the last, but the end of this streak, promise!

[m-for-musings]

BG3 meets VTM

So I'm a weirdo and I decided to glue together two of my hyper fixations: Vampire — The Masquerade and Baldur's Gate 3.

I've been playing VTM for 15 years now, and also acting as a Storyteller (GM) to it, but I'm prone to mistakes so if a vampire clan does not fit a character please let me know, let's jump into this weird, totally unhinged, theory together.

P.S.: I know that theoretically any clan can Embrace any individual, this is just a little joke with clan stereotypes and a silly way to imagine who would be Embraced into which clan and why. ALSO low-res clan symbol pics because I'm on my phone.

BG3 characters, but as Vampire Clans

(in alphabetical order)

Astarion: the whole Szarr clan would be a Hecata lineage. Rich, powerful, and full of sassy little bitches that turns into abusive sires that employs weird (and sometimes incestuous) "family" dynamics while also being obcessed with necromancy.

Gale: prodigy wizard doomed with a hunger for knowledge and driven by the promise of unravel the mysteries of the occult, while also being a "yes-ma'am"? Tremere it is.

Halsin: a shape-shifter who sometimes struggles with his bestial side and feels awkward in urban environments, just like a classic Gangrel.

Jaheira: she pretends otherwise, but it is clear that she has a network of spies under her command, and a deep knowledge of her home city's dirtiest little secrets and hideouts. Even her personal life is shrouded by secrecy, secured against (most) prying eyes. She comes and goes in a blink, sometimes disappearing without leaving a trace. A true Nosferatu elder.

Karlach: good old Brujah, with the head as hot as the heart, passionate and strong-willed (and stubbornly resolute) to fight for her goals and ideals.

Lae'zel: nothing screams more "Banu-Haqim" than a fierce and straightforward gith with a strong sense of purpose and justice, a thirst for retribution and loyalty to the elders that she seems worthy.

Minsc: threading a fine line between bold and oblivious, the embodiment of "The Fool" tarot Major Arcana. Completely unpredictable and impulsive, torn between the unhinged and the wise, finding sense where others see pure unbridled chaos, he would become a Malkavian.

Minthara: she has enough poise and status to be a classic high-borne Ventrue, being able to proudly recite her sire's lineage all the way up to the very first of them. Born to rule, with a commanding presence and unwavering will. BUT!!! She is also vicious, ruthless and ambitious enough to get the attention of the clan Lasombra, and their shadow-bending powers also fit the Underdark pretty well, so I'm torn between those two clans for her, although strongly prone to Lasombra.

Shadowheart: either by following Shar's principles or by completely defying the goddess, The Ministry is fit for her, be it for good or for evil, to tempt or to liberate, to expose secrets or hide it, to manipulate or to seek the truth, to be part of a cult or a leader to a sect. She can't fully abandon the spiritual aspect of life, be it for fullfil her desires or to serve her goddess.

Wyll: the Prince of the Gate is the last romantic. He has an innate sensibility, grace, charm, beauty and an unbridled appreciation for arts and love-tale's romance that can be found among the most classy Toreador.

[refigiowen]

Graycloak Office [DRAFT / W.I.P]

"You see, but you do not observe."

Overview

Graycloak is at the top of all offices within Eden, specializing in counterintelligence and tracking down enemies of large corporations. They mainly work for the mega corporations such as Klepto Corp., Asiyah Association, and Briah Corp.

Alongside their jobs of finding spies within large corporations, Graycloak Office takes (partially) direct orders from the Pale Garden by identifying anyone who manages it to unlink themselves from the NeuraNet so that they can be hunted down and eliminated. These individuals are not large in numbers but all wield Singularity Grade technology or powers that appear as a byproduct of the unlinking. Those who unlink themselves often experience rapid changes in terms of appearence and body structure.

(Acording to the theory of the head of Graycloak Office, Miss Yukiko, this is because "the link stuff lowkey has to do with the soul and it like, reflects the soul of that person. Ya understand me?")

The currently known Unlinked:

Aleph "Ahab" Reish

Named after it's inventors daughter this android was given a mission by it's creator that it could never complete: To be just like his daughter. After years of working towards it's goal it started to feel hatred towards it's creator, and not knowing that he had already passed away by the time this hatred was formed, began to hunt him down like a whale for granting it a life that could never be complete.

Aleph was built using modified RiftCorp. technology and is able to create pocket dimension on command.

Gabriel "Erlkönig" Reed

A father who lost his son to a deadly sickness. Unable to get his son to a good enough hospital due to his low rank in his corporation he watched his son pass away in his arms in the middle of street. Now blaming himself for carrying "the soul of the city" within him he actively attacks Asiyah Association buildings and is in a one man war against the corporation.

With his unlinking came the ability to see into other realms and to interact with them. This made him a target of RiftCorp as well.

[REDACTED] "Dying Butterfly" [REDACTED]

A woman who's past has been completely erased at some point in her life.

Rumors speak of a tall woman working for RiftCorp. who's pistols shoot the same butterflies that took thousands of innocent lives years ago. Nothing regarding her unlinking is known.

[The rest are currently W.I.P as i am unsure whether or not i like this idea yet. Part two of Chapter 0.8 will follow soon.]

[chrysopoeias]

ough idunno if you take several but looking directly at U with🧡 and 💖(For FMA ofc...)

🧡: What is a popular (serious) theory you disagree with?

That the women in Madam Christmas’ employment are Roy’s sisters, and he would never date them (or anyone else). I think this started to make those women not a threat to royai’s relationship. But it has become so popular, it is in every fic, it’s assumed canon and real that the spies are Roy’s sisters. It’s so ingrained that even characters who are based on Roy have this ‘many sisters’ and their dynamic copied from fanfics into original work. But they are not his sisters. This is completely made up fanon.

The young women working there when Roy is 30 are not the same young women working there when Roy was a child growing up with Chris. He did not grow up together with the current staff. Also Roy lived in East City for years while his mom’s business and staff are in Central. It’s not as if he hung out with them often anyway.

Like you do not even need the sister excuse for royai’s relationship to be exclusive/committed. Or just go with Roy’s reputation being (somewhat) true, that he is not a virtuous virgin, he sleeps/has slept with others lol.

💖: What is your biggest unpopular opinion about the series? 

Since last time I’ve browsed there, people on r*ddit are still slapfighting each other daily on weather 03 or brotherhood is superior (seriously, it’s been over a decade, are you not tired of this topic?) my controversial take it that the manga beats them both.