#cyber core - Willow

[theotherrookie]

Being a shadow wielding elf was exciting and fun, but it often came with the issue of having to wait for those less fortunate who couldn't simply store whatever they may need in the void. With nothing to do and forced to save her energies, Erica was by all means very bored.

She let out a huff, before jumping from the ceiling where she'd been hanging up until a moment ago back to the wall to look over what Rook was doing. "How many more times do we have to do this? We've already got all our stuff ready!"

"We don't and one last check is in order." Rook replied, retrieving a box from the pocket dimension, "We don't get to come back another time if we mess this up. So start with grabbing some freshly baked nuts."

"Yay!"

"Is this really the time, Rook?" Lucien asked, retrieving a couple of Deku nuts for himself.

"Wearing that hoodie made you really cranky, you know? Grab some and pass the rest around."

Lucien shot her an annoyed look, but did as asked. He balanced the box on his arm as he leaned over so Willow could reach into it. She has yet to look up for a moment from her beloved drone, but he knew better than to test her patience.

"We're ready for takeoff." the cyborg announced after storing a couple of bombs in the drone.

The Twins kept to themselves in the corner. They knew they'd receive their orders at the right time.

Erica huffed once again as she made sure her baseball bat was in her backpack like the past three times she had checked. "Is everyone ready?"

@pushspacetocontinue

[theotherrookie]

"I am right!"

"She is right." Willow confirmed, "And you don't want to instill the doubt that you might not be heading straight to bed. Not even I am immune, you would regret it."

It was difficult to trick somebody who could move through the shadows. Hopefully, some hugs would persuade Erica to be off duty just this once, even if everybody might want to check their pockets for fruit that used not to be there before. Breakfast was an equally pressing matter for the elf.

At least Erica didn't seem to mind getting her hair ruffled. She hopped back to Willow's side once they were done with the hugs.

"You guys sleep well too. And don't forget about breakfast!"

"I recommend checking your pockets." Willow added, before stepping through the portal, Erica trailing after.

The Twins visibly relaxed the moment they realized Willow was gone. It was nice to have one less scary person around.

"It's nice to know there's still somebody who likes arsonists." Rook said, before looking at Lucien, "Looks like your ride home is gone."

"Then I will have to take a shortcut through the Nether." Lucien replied. He made it a rule not to touch things he didn't know, thus refrained from helping out this time, "I just need a boat."

The look that Rook gave him in return was priceless.

"Honestly, I think you'd make for a rather cozy blanket." Lucien replied, "But I digress. How do we ensure all of that isn't going to blow up the moment it's left unsupervised?"

"Don't set it on fire, you goddamn caveman." Rook retrieved her phone, then closed the box, "I'll just keep it in my pocket for now."

A portal helpfully opened nearby, then.

"Come on, guys."

"That is true. However, we should be able to contain the rebellious ones this time."

Willow's gaze trailed back to Antonio for no specific reason at all while she shrugged on her coat. Her attention shifted again when Erica gently tugged at her sleeve. It was time to go indeed.

"Yes, it's quite awful." she replied, "Luckily, we're mostly done with him now. We can save on bleach this time."

"You can't escape the bedtime." Erica said, before giving Travis a big hug, "No maybes. We're going to have one when it's all said and done."

That determination was one of the elf's best traits. They definitely had great plans to look forward to and she wasn't going to leave without giving Antonio a hug as well.

Rook smiled fondly. Up until a while ago, she wouldn't have been able to fully accept the concept, but it was now comforting to know that she had a new family to count on who would always have her back.

"You are. And, well, I'm happy to have you guys, even if I know this means you'll be all taking turns pushing me to have a proper sleep schedule."

"I'm afraid it's inevitable. Leofric is guarding the Monster and I doubt we'll be able to persuade him." Lucien replied.

"I guess we really have no choice." Rook shrugged and started putting everything away, "We'll finish this in the morning."

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, January 19th - Monday, January 20th

BUFFY: Hey, Will, don't look, okay, but... (Willow looks) No, don't look! That guy over there is totally checking you out. WILLOW: Oh, that's Oz. He's expressing computer nerd solidarity.

~~What's My Line~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for a new editor. Join us if you enjoy lists and hyperlinks! Find out more.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Eerie Silence by veronyxk84 (Buffy, PG-13)

Left wanting to want. by SonOfACrossBow (Willow x Oz, G)

Sugar, spice and everything nice by Liana_Medea (Buffy/Angel, Willow, G)

Howl by smells_corrupt (scribbledmargins) (Buffy/Spike, not rated)

No Unwounded Soldiers by smells_corrupt (scribbledmargins) (Willow, Willow/Xander, not rated)

Early Season 3 SPN Ficlet by BrandiIndigo (Supernatural crossover, Buffy/Dean, T)

I'm A Liar, I'm Whatever You Said by bunniesarebad (Buffy/Spike, Explicit)

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... by zinjadu (Spike & Scoobies, T)

A Birthday Surprise by Nymue (Angelus/Spike/Buffy, not rated)

Crying Scared by MadeInGold (Angel/Spike, T)

Made in good faith without fraud or deceit by test_kard_girl (Faith, Lilah, Lindsey, T)

Faith, Hope, and... by Grundy (Silmarillion and LotR crossover, Faith, Willow, Xander, Anya, T)

Hallow's Eve Dreams by RoxyRuminate (Buffy/Angel, M)

i'll be your mirror (reflect what you are) by fangyouverymuch (Buffy/Spike/Faith, T)

Waste of a Time Loop by hydranjenna (Buffy/Spike, M)

Litttle Things by Cumultus9 (Faith & Tara & Kennedy, G)

Poetry: Writing a Haiku for Every Buffy episode as I rewatch (part 14: BtVS season 5) by Senorpuddin (ensemble, not rated)

Big Bad Battle Royale - Round 6 by DapperDunedain (Willow & Glory vs. the Mayor, not rated, canon-typical violence)

[Chaptered Fiction]

From Out of the Darkness 3/9 by forsaken2003 (Xander/Spike, R)

A white hat for the size - Chapter 1-2 (COMPLETE!) by Bacner (DC comics crossover, Faith, G)

Облажаться [Russian translation of HollyDB's "Screwed"] - Chapter 1-10 (COMPLETE!) by Flyora (Buffy/Spike, Explicit)

The Thirteenth Apocalypse - Chapter 1 - MissUnderstoodLyrics (Good Omens crossover, Buffy, Willow, M)

Dog Days of Summer - Chapter 1 by angelsummers (Buffy/Angel, Scoobies, G)

What Happens at Willow Creek, Ch. 1 by Alyot (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Gifset: Buffy and Spike in Season 7 by clarkgriffon (worksafe)

BtVS screenshots captioned - part 6 by ofteaandsparrows (Buffy/Spike, Scoobies, probably worksafe)

Vidlet: someone give this girl a break by strangewerewolf (Buffy)

Gifset: Happy Birthday! Buffy Anne Summers by andremichaux (Buffy & Joyce, Buffy, worksafe)

()

Spuffy but make it a silly intimate couples pose 💕 by bertolts (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

moodboard: autistic ace tara maclay by courtillyy (worksafe)

Trans Giles art by yarboyandy (Giles & Lavinia and Sophronia Fairweather, worksafe)

Joke vidlet: petty bitch angelus you will always be famous by innit1

Vidlet: and the crowd is !! …. Confused. And a bit sad. by innit1 (Buffy/Spike)

Drawing: Happy birthday Buffy! by youhavethesun (Buffy, worksafe)

A 70s Spike vidlet by soddingspike ()

Drawing: "I just wanna hold you tight I just need peace of mind..." by o-cm-draw-o (Buffy/Spike, probably worksafe)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer anyone??? by puzzledoppossumart (vampire, worksafe)

BtVS S7 screenshots captioned with text posts by satinsafefromreality (Buffy/Spike, anti Bangel, worksafe)

Collage: Time to get spooky! by she-is-the-slayer (Tara, worksafe)

A Spike vidlet by vampire._.slayer ()

Buffy Birthday Sketch by budmade (Buffy, worksafe)

Spuffy core - playlist by Ash (Buffy/Spike)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Ok I’ve just gotten to season 6 of Buffy the vampire slayer and what the fucks up with all the rape stuff??? by nonbinary-cyber-outlaw

Spin the Bottle by rose-faye33

Make you pause episodes by jengafat

Caleb was so cunty by elegantpaperoperator

Ok I’ve just gotten to season 6 and what the hell is up with all the rape stuff??? by kai-enby

Buffy season 5 is the shit by Smoke-Thin-Mints

Why is this scene [in "Forever"] so effective? I still can't get over it years later. by sKullsHavezzz and others

Bonus Episode - Buffy Season 3 Recap! | The Sunnydale Diaries

[Recs & In Search Of]

Fandom Recs (videos and stories: Buffy, Buffy/Spike, Buffy/Faith, Angel/Cordelia, Dawn, Fanged Four) by apachefirecat

Fandom Recs (videos and stories: Buffy/Spike, Scoobies, Fanged Four) by apachefirecat

Rec request: buffy taking care of spike during never leave me, showtime, or in early season [7] by camellcat (and recs by others)

Spotlight Saturday: Darsilla (meta, art recs and fic recs) by februaryfangfest

Spotlight Saturday: Sparla (meta and fic recs) by februaryfangfest

Spotlight Saturday: Drangel (meta and fic recs) by februaryfangfest

[Community Announcements]

The collection for the Buffy/Giles writing event closes on January 31st (post includes a prompt)

Join the Buffyverse Discord Server!

[Fandom Discussions]

My real point is that whenever Giles talks about Watching as a calling... by coraniaid

s6 buffy feeling confused and unsure over whether spike is angelic or demonic by lesbianmarrow

[anti Angel] She says "I love you. I don't know if I trust you." by sparklyfaerie, autumnknight

how tactile and affectionate Spike is with Dru by sparklyfaerie, pearlofthewoods

the poetry and fated-ness of spuffy by raisedbythetv89, sparklyfaerie

AtS's overarching villain and its themes by Stoney

I don’t like when people refer to it as “Dark Wesley” by Ok_Exchange5924

Is it just me, or is seeing the Buffy cast age kind of bittersweet? by shukii89

How did they not go crazy? by suikofan80

Every one of Buffy's big 3 punches Xander at some point by thatblondeyouhate

Realizing Fred could have left by Erawk

Wiilow and Gabrielle [Xena parallels] by not_firewood_yeti

I think it would have made for a really good story if they... expanded on Moloch by AbHayXV

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

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[spectralpixelsredone]

Why Is Salem's Court So Small?

In RWBY, Salem’s Inner Circle, the primary antagonistic force, is a small, tightly knit group of operatives working to advance her apocalyptic goals. Despite their mission to collect the four Relics, destroy Huntsman Academies, and hunt Maidens to unlock the Vaults, the group remains strikingly limited in size, currently consisting of only Cinder Fall, Tyrian Callows, and Mercury Black, with potential new recruits like Jax and Gillian Asturias. This small roster, supplemented by past members like Arthur Watts, Hazel Rainart, Tock, and The Hound, and associates like Emerald Sustrai, Roman Torchwick, Neopolitan, Leonardo Lionheart, and Adam Taurus’ White Fang, contrasts with the typical portrayal of vast villainous organizations. Why does Salem maintain such a compact court, and how does this choice enhance the narrative? Several strategic, thematic, and narrative factors explain this deliberate design.

Strategic Secrecy and Operational Efficiency

Salem’s Inner Circle operates from the Land of Darkness, a realm tied to the God of Darkness and the Creatures of Grimm, where secrecy is paramount. A small group minimizes the risk of exposure, aligning with the Covert Group with Mundane Front trope, where the organization may deny its existence to maintain deniability. For instance, only key operatives like Cinder, Watts, and Tyrian interact with the outside world, as seen in their covert operations in Vale, Mistral, and Atlas. This exclusivity ensures that Salem’s plans—such as orchestrating Beacon’s fall in Volume 3 or hacking Atlas’ systems in Volume 7—remain hidden from Ozpin’s forces. A larger group would increase the likelihood of leaks, as evidenced by Lionheart’s eventual betrayal in Volume 5, where his cowardice led to his death by Salem’s hand.

Moreover, Salem leverages external proxies to amplify her influence without expanding her core team. Roman Torchwick’s criminal network in Vale, Adam Taurus’ White Fang, and Raven Branwen’s bandit tribe in Mistral serve as Unwitting Pawns or temporary allies, executing tasks like Dust theft or the Haven ambush without requiring permanent loyalty. This structure, seen in Cinder’s recruitment of the White Fang in Volume 2, allows a lean Inner Circle to manage a broader network, maintaining efficiency while keeping the core group small to avoid Critical Staffing Shortage issues.

Elite Operatives and One-Man Army Capabilities

Each member of Salem’s Inner Circle is a One-Man Army, possessing exceptional skills that reduce the need for a large roster. This aligns with the Badass Crew trope, where a small team’s individual prowess outweighs numerical strength:

Cinder Fall, the Fall Maiden, wields devastating magical power, orchestrating Beacon’s destruction and killing Pyrrha Nikos in Volume 3’s “End of the Beginning.” Her Grimm arm, granted by Salem, can steal Maiden powers, as seen in her partial theft from Amber.

Tyrian Callows, a Faunus serial killer, is a Lightning Bruiser whose speed and lethality allow him to slaughter Robyn Hill’s supporters in Volume 7’s “As Above, So Below,” framing Penny Polendina. His fight against Qrow in Volume 4’s “Punished” showcases his ability to nearly kill a veteran Huntsman.

Arthur Watts used his hacking expertise to destabilize Atlas, rigging elections and disabling Mantle’s heating grid in Volume 7. His Ring of Power enhanced his technological dominance, making him a one-man cyber army until Cinder betrayed him in Volume 8.

Hazel Rainart, with his Numbing Agent Semblance and Dust-enhanced strength, decimated Huntsmen in Mistral, as noted by Qrow in Volume 5. His ability to battle Salem herself in Volume 8’s “Witch” underscores his Juggernaut status.

The Hound, a Grimm-Silver-Eyed Warrior hybrid, tracked Penny in Atlas with unnatural intelligence, only falling to Whitley and Willow Schnee’s ingenuity in Volume 8.

Tock, a past member, hunted Silver-Eyed Warriors with her Invulnerability Semblance, challenging Maria Calavera decades ago until her defeat, as shown in Volume 6’s “The Grimm Reaper.”

These operatives’ extraordinary abilities mean Salem doesn’t need a large army; a few elite agents can achieve her goals more effectively than a legion of lesser minions, avoiding the Suspiciously Small Army trope.

High Stakes and Exclusivity

Salem’s Resignations Not Accepted policy, exemplified by Tyrian’s threats to Emerald and Mercury in Volume 6, creates an atmosphere of high stakes and exclusivity. Only the most loyal, capable, or desperate are chosen, as seen with Hazel’s recruitment after his failed attempts to kill Salem or Tyrian’s rescue from imprisonment. This selectivity ensures a Dwindling Party, where disloyal or expendable members—like Watts, killed by Cinder’s betrayal, or Lionheart, executed for cowardice—are eliminated. The small size reinforces the Eternal Employee trope, where members are Always on Duty, trapped by Salem’s promises or fear, as Mercury’s wavering loyalty in Volume 8 suggests.

The group’s exclusivity also ties to Salem’s manipulation, promising personal goals—like Cinder’s quest for power or Watts’ revenge—only after her objectives are met, as stated in Volume 4’s “The Next Step.” This control, coupled with her Manipulative Bastard tactics, keeps the group lean, as defections (Emerald, Hazel) or betrayals (Neo) weed out the uncommitted, maintaining a core of dedicated operatives.

Narrative Economy and Character Focus

From a storytelling perspective, RWBY employs an Economy Cast to prioritize character-driven drama over a sprawling ensemble. A small Inner Circle allows for deep exploration of each member’s motivations and arcs, avoiding Ghost Extras or Thriving Ghost Town scenarios. For example:

Cinder’s arc evolves from ambition to desperation, as seen in her defiance of Salem in Volume 8 and betrayal of Neo in Volume 9.

Hazel’s Heel-Face Turn in Volume 8, sacrificing himself to save Oscar and Emerald, stems from learning Salem’s true goal to destroy Remnant, revealed in “War.”

Tyrian’s unwavering loyalty, rooted in his worship of Salem as a goddess, contrasts with Mercury’s growing doubts, hinted at in his departure to Vacuo in Volume 8.

Neo’s Vengeance Feels Empty realization in Volume 9 leads to her ascension in the Ever After, abandoning her vendetta against Ruby.

A larger cast would dilute these arcs, risking New Jobs As The Plot Demands scenarios. The small size also contrasts with the heroes’ dysfunctional dynamics, where Team RWBY’s trust issues and emotional vulnerabilities, exploited by Salem’s forces in events like Ironwood’s betrayal in Volume 7, highlight the villains’ strategic cohesion despite their Teeth-Clenched Teamwork.

Thematic Resonance and Salem’s Isolation

Salem’s small court mirrors her tragic, isolating existence as an immortal cursed by the Gods, as revealed in Volume 6’s “Lost Fable.” Her inability to form lasting bonds, compounded by the loss of her daughters and her hatred for Ozma, is reflected in the Dwindling Party of her Inner Circle. Defections (Emerald, Hazel), deaths (Watts, Roman, The Hound), and betrayals (Neo) underscore her loneliness, aligning with the More Despicable Minion trope, where her unsympathetic nature contrasts with her followers’ complex motivations. For instance, Hazel’s protective instincts toward Emerald and Roman’s loyalty to Neo humanize them, while Salem’s joy at the prospect of Remnant’s destruction in Volume 8 reveals her nihilistic despair.

This thematic choice ties to her ultimate goal: summoning the Gods to destroy Remnant and end her immortality, a secret hidden from most of her followers, as seen in Hazel’s shock in Volume 8. The small court symbolizes her inability to trust or connect, reinforcing her Vengeful Immortal archetype and making her small roster a narrative strength.

Addressing Fridge Logic

The Fridge Logic of why such a powerful figure maintains a small court is answered by these factors. Unlike a Skeleton Government or Two-Teacher School, where limited staff feels implausible, Salem’s Inner Circle is deliberately compact to maximize secrecy, efficiency, and narrative impact. The occasional appearance of past members like Tock or potential recruits like Jax and Gillian, freed by Tyrian and Mercury in Volume 8, suggests a broader network, but their limited roles keep the focus on the core group. This avoids Conservation of Ninjutsu, where numerous minions would weaken their threat, and ensures each operative’s actions—like Tyrian and Hazel’s slaughter of Mistral’s Huntsmen in Volume 5 or Cinder’s theft of the Relics in Volume 8—carry significant weight.

Conclusion

Salem’s Inner Circle is small by design, reflecting strategic secrecy, the elite capabilities of her operatives, high-stakes exclusivity, narrative economy, and thematic resonance with her isolating immortality. By relying on a compact team of One-Man Army agents, supplemented by proxies like the White Fang, and maintaining strict control, Salem maximizes her influence while minimizing exposure. This approach, rooted in canonical events like the fall of Beacon, Haven’s compromise, and Atlas’ destruction, sidesteps tropes like Suspiciously Small Army and enriches RWBY’s storytelling. The small size of Salem’s Court proves that a handful of carefully chosen misfits, driven by her manipulative genius, can cast a shadow far larger than their numbers, embodying the terror of her nihilistic vision for Remnant.

(Also simply put Salem prob. killed all of them, when she had a cult she killed the ones who did not comply, so she's prob. a bad boss as well.) To quote- "

Due to Salem's immortality, various incarnations of the group have existed; their fates likely either being imprisoned when caught carrying out her orders, or killed by Salem herself when she no longer finds them useful.

Proven in "The Final Word", as Salem doesn't even ponder as to where Watts was after Cinder gave her the Relics. As the only locations left to attack for Relics didn't need his tech savvy, Salem no longer had a reason to keep Watts around."

[theotherrookie]

Having spent her formative year in the outskirts of the Citadel, Willow knew well how to disappear and find a quiet spot to wait the commotion out. It was child's play, even. However, it wasn't a mere matter of stealth– Anybody could carry an unconscious guy around. You also had to look like you belonged in a given place.

While she was dressed to impress, her style wasn't the kind that worked with the crowd who typically wouldn't be renting a room in a place called 'Vinland Suites'. Then again, punks weren't welcome in most places. But she had her looks, her pride and all the money in the world. And a pair of bloodied gloves she couldn't use anymore.

But at least she had accomplished what she had been meaning to do all along in this rollercoaster of a day off. It just so happened that fixing up a phone was a far more pleasant activity than patching up a human was. Willow leaned to rest her head against her hand as the device occasionally ticked when a component snapped back into place, or was repaired. Nanotechnology was truly a wonderful thing and having suffered no wounds so far, she was happy to spare some for her door to the sensible information of the enigmatic guy she had left to rest as comfortably (and as far away from her) as possible on the bed.

The cyborg hummed, pondering once again the many questions going through her mind.

@foxedthecards

[theotherrookie]

"To think I was the one held at gunpoint."

But as she wasn't anymore, the katana was returned to its sheath and hidden under her coat. She even went as far as to pat the handle under the fabric before covering the distance to have a closer look at the device. The comment on her weapon was, of course, met with disdain.

"It's an accessory, Solomon. It compliments my looks and it sends a clear message."

That she wasn't one to be messed with, her ego hardly needed introductions. Willow brushed her hair back, before making a great show of pulling back her own sleeve to consult a device strapped to her wrist. It was bulky with numbers flashing over the screen.

"…But I suppose I could make room in my schedule to provide my assistance. Let us be on our way."

theotherrookie​:

Well, that made Willow lower her own weapon, though only because of the absolute outrage that she felt at the description. An alien android? How dared they.

“Perhaps you should review your vetting process for such reports. I’m not an android, I’m a cyborg.” A rather pretty one as well. “And, by all means, I am native to this planet as much as you are.”

There was still the matter of those murders to answer to. But she had to set the record straight. An AI of her level was far superior to some wandering killer android.

She sighed, sheathing the katana, “But I supposed I should at least introduce myself. You may call me Willow.”

He put his gun in the holster at his waist. 

“So you are. My mistake.” His lip curled as he revaluated his line questioning. “Willow. Though you aren’t the target, I do raise concern at you walking the streets wielding that blade. Add that to my list.” 

Solomon lifted his wrist. He pushed back his glove–below its cover gleamed an electronic device, strapped like a watch to his arm.

“There goes my lead,” in a hushed complaint. Then, louder for the communications to receive. “Trail’s gone cold. Reporting a negative identification. Continue your search.”

A voice crackled back, “Affirmative.” 

He readjusted his sleeve and looked up to Willow.

“Perhaps you can help me. And I’ll…forget that toy of yours.”

[theotherrookie]

Once you're stripped clean, what's at your core?

Rook

acerbic wit

you're a mentor — an old scarred wolf, an injured soldier, a disgraced paladin. your teachings read as shamelessly pretentious, speaking in rhymes and biting down hard into anyone stupid enough to make the wrong move. this isn't your first life, nor your second, nor your sixth — you'll make the most of your time shackled to this world, no matter how many loops it takes to get it right. with every defeat, you reincarnate; a little smarter, a little quicker, crueler and nastier. will you choose to be brutal, equalizing, that final strike in the face of your enemies? will you go soft, become tender and domesticated? the choice is yours. it's not like i can stop you.

Willow

cauterizing rage

the house has burned around you, and you’re the only one left standing. is it gratifying to be the survivor? fear and anger are weapons in your capable hands, used only to serve your agenda of fighting back when deemed necessary. you're a powerful person, built from the ashes of your despair and your family's mistakes. with time, you'll bloom into someone softer, like the full blossoms that grow each spring and wither away with the leaves in fall. they won't disappear if you take your eyes off of them. you're enough.

Erica

spun gossamer

the easiest thing to do is stay quiet when something’s up. you’re not bothered, and you know what? you shouldn’t be! it’s none of your business, even when it’s entirely your business. it’s difficult (read: impossible) to tell if your cheery demeanor is a cover-up for something sadder, or if it’s simply your natural state of mind. you see a lot of things: people coming through town, people leaving the house and never coming back, lies and deceit of the highest degree. what happened to you? will you ever be that kid again? your presence smells like cotton candy, and your fingertips sparkle like stars. whatever white rabbit you’re chasing isn’t going to lead you to wonderland if you don’t start reaching out when you’re not feeling okay.

Fae

flightless bird

the thought of your found family is what motivates you in your own little world. you touch the clouds, and the soil gives way under your footprints... this is utopia. if you were to erase one thing, it would be your memory. experience is important, but ignorance is bliss. identity, in heaven, should give way to happiness. you'd give anything just to sit by the swings and eat ice cream, but this isn't that kind of world. you have to get up and wash the dirt off of your scraped knees. i think you have an escapism problem.

Lucien

behind the mask

you aren’t slick about whatever you think you’re hiding. glass shatters in your midst, blood spills, children scream. like some of your friends, your personality of choice is entirely artificial. the difference between you and them is that you can get away with it. you’re unknown, perhaps even to yourself, and your goals are complex and unknown. anyone stupid enough to fall for you is setting themselves up to be frustrated and confused, owing to your being ultimately unknowable. i hope you can find an identity that makes you comfortable.

Tagged by: @foxedthecards (Thanks!)

Tagging: Steal it.

[runemyth0]

You know what, let's see if I can collate all the fic ideas that have been infecting my brain as of late...

- Let's Play 'The Owl House'!

Cole Lector is a human learning magic from Eda the Owl Lady at the Owl House. He attends Hexside with his friends, Jerbo and Viney, and is completely oblivious to the advances of the popular girl Boscha. Everything is going great... Except it's all fake.

Post S2 finale fic, featuring the Collector playing the role of Luz while he plays Owl House.

- A Chorus of Me

After Hollow Mind, Hunter begins to see bits and pieces of the previous Grimwalkers' lives, culminating in their spirits living in his head. Together, they confront Belos on the eve of the day of unity.

Canon-divergence fic where Hunter gets the spirits of the past golden guards stuck in his head and they stand up to Belos (and probably get wrecked).

- Post DoU Fic

Gus learns the human swears. Amity bakes a cake with Camila. Willow fights a tree. Hunter gets a new outfit.

Post S2 finale fic of the Owl Crew adjusting to life in the human realm.

- TOH Digimon AU

Instead of Owlbert stealing her book, Luz clicks a pop-up ad that says it'll make her a hero, then she ends up in the Digital World. Literally what if the owl house, but it has a cyber theme instead of a horror theme.

- Round Two

When Luz falls through the door at the end of S2, she gets Peggy Sued back to before she came to the Demon Realm. She decides to try and fix everything with her knowledge of the future. Time loop shenanigans/angst ensue.

- The Truth AU

At the end of S1, Belos reveals his true identity to Luz and gaslights her into joining his side by promising hidden knowledge and to show her 'the truth' of the Demon Realm. Inspired in part by Tag Team AU, because I can't get enough of that Luz/Hunter sibling interactions.

- Double Swap AU

Luz and Gus role swap AU. Also possibly Amity and Willow role swap at the same time? Alador is divorced, Amity is a dork, the core friend group is Gus, Luz, and Amity, with Willow coming around eventually.

[theotherrookie]

How adorable are you?

"As I said, this calculator is quite unreliable. Erica deserves a far better result." Willow says.

"That's very sweet, Willow!" Erica grins as she gives her double a hug, "Thank you!"

Rook is once again blushing. "Wait— How did that pic get in there?"

"30% adorable, 70% naughty." Fae smiles, "You have been warned."

Tagged by: @foxedthecards (Thanks!)

[theotherrookie]

@foxedthecards continued from here

Willow eyed the shorter man at her side, carefully considering for a moment if he was trying to mess with her. People usually had some idea of where they were when they walked into bars, unless they were already intoxicated.

She raised a gloved hand to motion to a poster nearby indicating some sort of open mic event was scheduled for the evening. That should give him a good enough idea of what was going on. "Are you one of the people performing tonight?"

Something told her the answer would be a negative, but that served her right for attempting casual conversation with strangers.

[theotherrookie]

3. Bad habits? for Rook, 8. Something they’re in denial about? for Willow, 11. Harshest thing anyone has ever said to them? for Erica, 31. What was the worst memory from their childhood? for Fae, 40. If they could apologize to anyone, who would it be? for Lucien.

3. Bad habits? for Rook

Rook has many bad habits that tend to pop up when she's under a lot of stress. She will work herself to the bone and skip meals and sleep to avoid thinking about whatever is bothering her. She also takes out her frustration on herself whenever the reason she's upset at is a mistake she made. One notable way to do this is by not tending to her wings properly.

She also tends to isolate and tell herself that it's for everybody's best she does so until the crisis has passed and tends to be more reckless in the face of danger.

8. Something they’re in denial about? for Willow

Willow claims to have a good grasp on her own emotions but that's mostly due to her never taking the time to address them. Her responsibilities aside, she's hardly a carefree person. Her world rejects her existence, she had one too many near death experiences and she feels awfully isolated inside her own body if there isn't at least some technology around her to latch onto.

So it's no wonder that she gets really cranky whenever she's left with nothing to do or when her day off is coming up. The thoughts start creeping up and she has no way to drown them out.

11. Harshest thing anyone has ever said to them? for Erica

Erica has been called all kinds of names by the survivors during her years as a zombie. The necromancer who reduced her to a feral reanimated corpse also did and said some nasty things about her that may not be repeated. But if you asked her, the worst comments are the ones about her intelligence. She's just as smart as the other ladies and is perfectly capable of figuring out things on the go and her bouncy personality doesn't take away from that.

Plus, she finds there is something fundamentally wrong in thinking being lighthearted and friendly is signs of stupidity.

31. What was the worst memory from their childhood? for Fae

It's a bit hard to define the exact timeframe of a fairy's childhood, but any time she had to watch her people and her father head off to fight some other group are her least favorites. Again, there have been many instances of this so it's hard to pick a specific episode. She looks back on those times with contempt thinking of all the time that has gone wasted in those endless fights.

40. If they could apologize to anyone, who would it be? for Lucien

Out of those he hasn't had the chance to apologize to yet, Lucien would probably want to apologize to his mother. He should have stopped caring about what his father wanted way earlier, especially considering every thing he had done to her.

He's doing what he can to make her proud, even if he hardly knows what she was like.

[theotherrookie]

She's a 10 but she's sometimes too hot to handle, literally (for Rook), she's a 10 but she sometimes stalks your phone (for Willow), she's a 10 but she can bench press the town hall and that makes me feel like a weakling (for Erica), she's a 10 but she's way out of my league (for Fae), he's a 10 but damn he tall (for Lucien)

"That's because you shouldn't touch me." Rook snaps, "Now, wanna see me boil an egg with my bare hands?"

Willow shrugs, "Do you want a cat or not?"

"No! Don't do that! Just do your best and it'll be enough!" Erica says while bench pressing a bench.

Fae smiles, "Perhaps. But you never know! Come forward and we'll go grab a cup of coffee or a bubble tea."

"Yes, I’m tall. But I'll let you be the big spoon." Lucien smirks.

Don't mind Rook charging at him with a baseball bat.

[theotherrookie]

"I would never joke about such a thing." Only about turning people into fruit.

Still, she was keeping a close eye on Hacker as the process continued. The last thing she needed was him getting himself hurt– Because she was tired of playing nurse in the backyard. It couldn't have anything to do with her showing genuine concern the one time her directives weren't pestering her.

"Perhaps I should have a room prepared for you." She added, "Once you can fit through the front door, it should be easier to provide the appropriate care."

theotherrookie​

“You gave me no choice.” Not that she’d actually do that. Probably.

But that odd look left her content enough to keep quiet while she waited. They wouldn’t have to sit through this if she had been allowed to throw in a neural chip as an extra. Though Willow had the insight not to point that out.

“Accessing optical implant. As you should be able to see by now, the nanites are hard at work. I can’t literally see them like you do right now, of course. My nature simply grants me a certain level of awareness.”

If only it was just the nanobots. Everything remotely technological around them was glowing.

Yeah, what they were already doing was pushing it as it was. He wasn’t going to let her put a chip in his head that would potentially give her access to his brain. Apparently threatening to turn people into bananas didn’t do much for establishing trust, go figure.

Sure enough though, he could see the nanites working in his optic’s vision, so that was interesting. He was starting to feel something happening as well and he was actually getting smaller too.

“You weren’t kidding about the lightheadedness…” He winced and rubbed his head.

[theotherrookie]

🤔 for all our ladies and for Lucien

Rook

"I could do flaming kicks. The fire doesn't do anything, but they'd look cool. Sanji makes it look cool. I should work on my parkour more, though."

Willow

"My back hurts. I better go down to the infirmary and check my nanites levels. I might be due for another shot."

Erica

"The kids are doing homework. I'll go say hi to mum and dad."

Fae

"We need a better band name— Darling, stop talking to me."

Lucien

"…I could start selling herbal teas. Oh! I need jars!"

[theotherrookie]

It would be amusing to see our best friend to dress as us for Halloween

"That'd give the guys a heart attack!" Rook grins, "I would rock the outfit, but I wouldn't look super imposing from down here. Willow?"

"No."

"I'll carry you, Rook!"

"Thanks, Erica. I know you always got me."

[theotherrookie]

🧠 + Rickroll everyone! - for Willow

Traffic within Cyberspace has been subjected to a slowdown for the past few minutes, as the users are obsessively posting and asking about where the music is coming from and why they can't pause it.

And there comes Willow, ready to put up her best performance yet.

We're no strangers to love

You know the rules and so do I

A full commitment's what I'm thinking of

You wouldn't get this from any other guy

"You specifically requested I did this to 'everyone', didn't you?"