#do they have a ship name I don't even know

[kissingarthurclaus]

It's actually SO much fun trying to imitate the Arcane rendering/painting style?? I mostly eyeballed it for my first try and I think it turned out really good! I still gotta put together an official outfit ref for my s/i but man...I honestly can't stop thinking about them so here's a couple of little sketches as well!! 😭😭 (little lore dump + taglist under the cut!)

They were childhood friends, maybe even sweethearts, but they were definitely close! Unfortunately, my s/i's family fell on some pretty hard times, and she needed to find some kind of work to help support them. Suddenly she didn't have much time for him, and Viktor ended up alone again. They still cared about each other, but they grew apart, and with Viktor eventually moving topside to attend the academy she was left behind.

I imagine that they meet again just a little bit before Viktor meets Jayce when he's paying a visit to the Undercity and they bump into each other by chance. As an adult, she's running a body alterations shop with her best friend (my irl best friend hehe) where they do tattoos, piercings, even prosthetics! Later in the series, the shop is taken over by Silco but the two of them act as a sort of information hub for the Firelights.

I'm still working on some of the lore, like how she ends up meeting Jayce and Mel too and how they all end up dating but Viktor was the first one she fell for 💖 and a funny story that my mom told me once is actually that when I was a toddler she occasionally babysat a neighborhood boy named Victor!! We played together and bcs I was a baby I couldn't pronounce his name correctly so I called him 'pictor' and kinda bossed him around 😂 needless to say I'm using that in my lore!! I don't know something is just so special to me about childhood friends to lovers and I'm cooked aren't I??

Taglist♡: @me-myself-and-my-fos @tiny-cloud-of-flowers @sunstar-of-the-north @dearly-beeloved @adoredbyalatus

@changeling-selfship @crushes-georg @cherry-bomb-ships @rosieaurora @rejaytionships @tropgothships @little-miss-selfships

@starlos-soulmate @limey-self-inserts @candyheartedchy @space-sweetheart @halsinkisser @clancykisser @squips-ship @berryshipbasket @soulnottainted @homevideorentals @cordshake @emceescha

[utilitycaster]

I’ve never actually watched a campaign of critical role live, like I first heard of it at the start of c3, didn’t finish campaigns 1 and 2 until episode like 80, and decided to just let c3 finish airing so I could binge. You’ve been in fandom since c2, and I wanted to ask two questions. How does criticism of c3 differ from c2, or even c1? Also, since the fandom has grown and the cast is now much more removed from the fans, do you think if they ever do another long form campaign they’ll try and address some complaints people have had about c3? Or will they just continue to do their own thing? It just feels (to me with no point of comparison) that a lot of people have a lot of valid complaints about c3 and I can’t imagine they’d just ignore all of it, but I could just be naive

Let me answer the ending question first, which is that I do not know how much the cast sees and honestly I wouldn't even blame them for ignoring most commentary during the campaign because I think it's hard to actually run a campaign constantly trying to make the fandom happy. I also have some guesses that the cast has their own doubts that are perhaps less harsh than what many of us have been saying, but are present. Like I can't imagine they missed how rushed the emotional beats of this campaign felt, and how bad this party is at making decisions that feel earned and interesting and don't take them 3 hours, even if they might keep that private. I think the flaws of this campaign are also a bit of a perfect storm, namely, Matt had a very specific plot in mind but ran this campaign with too open a hand, and the cast of characters they played could have used a bit more balance. I mean, I'll admit to being unimpressed by a few of Bells Hells' initial premises compared to other parties, but most actually could have become great if they were in a more character-tailored campaign like the previous two. I think without this goal of creating a big culmination in a hypothetical future campaign, this problem of having ill-suited characters for that type of plot and then pushing development aside in the service of that culmination becomes a nonissue.

Now, fan criticism. This gets tricky, because a lot of criticism, to be blunt, sounds similar on the surface no matter how valid it is. For example, "this ship lacks chemistry and development" is basically a criticism people throw at any ship they dislike. Chemistry is ultimately subjective, or at least impossible to measure in a meaningful way (this is why the But Number Go Up crowd hates when it gets brought up, like, doesn't matter how many fics your ship has if I think the characters are cold fish with each other; I'll never like it) and development is not but requires strong meta to back it up and it's hard to prove a negative.

Shipping aside, though: I think the clincher for me is that people who ended up disliking Campaign 2 any time between the ending of the hiatus or after the finale, were as a rule invested in one very specific outcome: either they quit because their ship didn't happen (including the many, many people who thought Fjord and Jester or Beau and Yasha would break up in the finale, apropos of nothing); in the case of Shadowgast that the ship didn't happen in the way they expected; or they quit because Molly was not resurrected. There was certainly a lot of trepidation going into the finale that not all stories would have a satisfying conclusion (notably Caleb, Yasha, and Fjord, all of whom did get meaningful resolution in the finale) but, at least in my circles, no one was arguing that the Nein as a whole felt robbed and that the campaign did them dirty. You had the weirdass Caduceus stans who failed to understand that his story was precisely what he wanted, or the Caleb Should Have Killed Everyone In The Assembly people, but honestly at least in my recollections a lot of those were secondary to various shipping/Molly complaints and grew out of there as a means to bash the campaign for additional reasons, rather than as a root cause for dissatisfaction themselves. Here, we have people who are ostensibly thrilled with the shipping outcome and the endstate with the gods becoming mortal and who were crowing about that up until the finale announcement at which point they, in their own words, crashed out and suddenly began agreeing with everything this campaign's detractors had said re: lack of character-focused arcs and rushed pacing, and I think that's notable.

I don't feel qualified really to speak about Campaign 1 because I wasn't there, but I think in addition to the violent misogynistic hate which Critical Role obviously did not nor should have listened to and taken as guidance, there was the usual "MY SHIP DIDN'T HAPPEN SO THIS CAMPAIGN IS BAD AND PROBLEMATIC" complaints we saw with Campaign 2.

I guess my point is, getting back to that first paragraph about shipping, you can't go off of the phrasing of criticism; you really do need to take it in context.

[reverieblondie]

Cal x Lae'zel

Meeting in Baldur's Gate

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

A/N: Back to pushing my crack ship on everyone! I had such a fun time writing this final part! Though this is not the end of Cal and Lae'zel anytime I can put them together I will! Also I hope you enjoy the hints to Tav and Rolan! Thank you @dark-and-kawaii for the screenshots of course! I hope you enjoy!

The city that was once his shining beacon of hope is in udder flames and ruin. But Cal's trying not to be distracted by all that; he's sprinting to one place. The dock.

That brain thing Lae'zel was on is now in the harbor... She's okay, she has to be okay… Please let her be…

Cal sprints all the way down the boardwalk, looking out at the sinking thing. 

"Lae'zel!" he screams her name, starting to undo his leather armor so he can jump out to find her... Then, a calm voice says his name.

Cal whips around and sees Tav; his heart Sinks. "Where.... is she okay?"

Tav grimaces before she turns around, leading Cal's eyes to where Lae'zel stands on the shore watching. The red dragon disappears into the sky, and Cal leaves his spot to get closer, but he doesn't say her name or touch her. It's almost like he doesn't want to jinx anything.

Sensing his presence, Lae'zel turns to face Cal. She's still damp, and he desperately wants to wrap her in his arms. Laezel looks him over, her eyes shining like gold in this light. He feels his heartbeat rushing. This... nightmare is over... and she stayed…

"I guess... I made a decision…" She says, her eyes not leaving his. 

"I guess you did..." he repeats as he looks her over, trying to memorize this moment…

 Cal gives Lave'zel a smile, and he thinks she blushes with one of her own before suddenly going neutral again. Cal feels a tap on his shoulder, and when he turns around, he sees Tav, the day's hero. looking shy?

Tav shifts a bit on her feet, looking at her fidgeting fingers, "Um... is Rolan okay?"

Lae'zel rolls her eyes, and Cal smiles, "We can check on him if you like. He will be thrilled to see that you're okay."

Rolan was, in fact, thrilled to see Tav, then promptly yelled at her for being a crazy idiot.

He can't help himself; even after all this time, he still finds himself staring at her. Though the offer was made for her and Tav to stay in the tower, they decided to remain in Tav's old residence. Lucky for him, though, they seem to come by the shop every week. It's been an adjustment for her, but she's been doing well from what he has seen.

However, she is still getting used to things like people trying to sell her things as they walk through the city. That man just got done rebuilding his stall.

She's just so strong... It's enchanting…

Cal sighs, leaning against the nearest shelf of tomes.

Lia looks at him confused before seeing who he's fawning over, then gives him a playful swat. "You're still swooning, haven't you confessed already?" 

Cal fakes pain as he holds his shoulder, "It's complicated... and Rolan hasn't confessed to Tav yet!" 

Lia and Cal look over at Rolan, who is staring daggers at Tav from across the shop, his tail waving erratically; Lia gives Cal a look, "He's a lost cause for advice, but you, you like her, and she hasn't harmed you and actually talks to you so I'm guessing she likes you." 

Cal smiles at that thought, "I want to... trust me, I have put myself out there for her, but... I want her to say it first... to know her own thoughts before I put mine on her... I just want to be in her life any way I can."

"Wow, you really love her." Lia looks at him, surprised, 

Cal goes back to staring at Lae'zel, "Yeah... I really do…"

"His stare fills my insides with a storm. His scent makes my teeth ache, and I often think of his sharp nails tracing and marking my skin." Lae'zel looks over at Tav, "And he always makes my heart race so much I feel my blood rise to my face. Should I beat him down for what he stirs in me?"

Tav stifles her laugh, "I don't know if you desire or despise him."

 "Exactly my problem…" Lae'zel slightly laments. 

Tav looks over at Rolan and sighs when she meets his gaze; he quickly averts it and acts like he is working, "They often say the line between love and hate is a thin one.'

Lae'zel’s eyes widen before she sneaks a look at Cal; when their eyes meet, he waves, and she feels her face get red again, "Is that true? Interesting…”

It's a calm day at the shop. Rolan is organizing tomes while Cal simply mans the counter, trying not to look incredibly bored. Then, a sudden flash of silver rips the doors open. Cal immediately lights up as soon as he sees Lae'zel but is confused as to why she is in her armor. Before he can ask, he's suddenly being grabbed by his collar and dragged away.

He's not exactly sure how he ended up here or why, but Lae'zel has thrown him a sword. "Dance with me" was all she said before she attacked. He tried to tell her he didn't want to fight her, but he wanted to show her that he's strong and worthy.

 The Sound of clashing metal mingles with their shared breaths, and sweat pours from them both as they strike blow after blow, neither one backing down nor pulling their strike. Cal uses all of what he was taught, and as Lae'zel watches him move, she slowly gets overwhelmed by him. By his movements, by his sounds, his scent, by his power. Cal has consumed her thoughts... and now he's about to win... but before he can drive his spear into her chest, he stops, his face filled with concern.

"Why pull back!" She spits at him.

 He shakes his head, "I won't hurt you. I want to understand you. Why are we fighting?"

She holds her sword higher, ready for more, "Because we must."

Cal shakes his head and throws his spear down, "I will spare, but I will not harm the ones I love."

Her eyes widen, that familiar storm... that rushes inside her veins... She yells before she lungs forward; Cal winces but no contact... Looking up, he sees her standing before him with her head down. Lae'zel stares at his chest. She reaches forward and places her hand on his chest, feeling his beating heart... "I can't... I don't want to hurt you, Cal. I am... obsessed with you and how you make me stir. I want to protect you... for you to protect me…"

Cal puts his hand over hers; she looks up at his sweating face and sees him smiling. He draws her closer, placing his forehead to hers, "Lae'zel... you are so precious to me... You have shown me how strong I can be, and I want to use it to protect you, to be with you, and to learn from you."

Laezel takes in a deep breath, "What is this"

"I'm hoping, love." 

Cal moves his hands to gently caress her jaw; he lets his eyes roam over her for a moment before he leans into her full lips.

Lae'zel didn't know kisses could be so soft and kind…

"Lae'zel, can I finally ask you on a date?" Cal smiles down at her as he brushes away her sweat.

"What's a date?" Lae'zel asks, confused.

"Just follow my lead, and meet me tomorrow at the shop."

Lae'zel narrows her eyes, unsure, but then she agrees… anything for her beautiful Cal… 

At first, walking with someone while holding their hand seems inconvenient, but as she holds Cal's hand in hers, she finds she doesn't mind.

So this is a date. They are holding hands and talking while they walk around. Lae'zel is questioning why she couldn't wear her armor for this, but Tav forbids it as she throws her wardrobe at her to wear 'Something nice or Cute.' Lae'zel decides that because of her lack of experience on these dates, she will wear what Tav suggests, as long as it shows her neck. Cal likes her neck.

"So, where do we go on our date?" Lae'zel asks irritatedly as if they have been walking forever. But Cal just smiles and holds her hand tighter.

"You take your date to a place they would like." Cal pauses in front of a shop with a wide grin. Lae'zel looks at the shop suspiciously. She sees two Tieflings, smiling wide at them, and her frown deepens at them. Then they hold up a tray of muffins, and Lae'zel gasps before looking up at a very proud-looking Cal.

"Want one? I asked Bex and Danis to make some fresh for us."

"I will have more than just one..." (Lae'zel ate 5 blueberry muffins while on her date)

As they walk through the city, taking in its transitions from day to night, Lae'zel feels her guard lower the longer she walks hand in hand with Cal.

"Leave our city, you ugly hell spawn!"

Lae'zel's head whips to where a stumbling man yells. She looks at Cal, whose eyes show the slightest bit of hurt...

No… nobody slanders her, Cal…

"Excuse me a moment..." Lae'zel says surprisingly calmly. Cal watches as Lae'zel goes to the man and immediately starts beating him down. 

"Lae'zel, don't!" Cal rushes over, peeling Lae'zel off and throwing her over his shoulder while she yells out that Cals is hers and must be respected.

Rolan jerks awake. Bloody nightmares... again... nothing some water shouldn't fix for him to get some peaceful rest. But when he looks over at his nightstand, he is out of water, so it looks like he will have to make a trip to the kitchen. 

Tired, he makes his way to the kitchen and pauses at the sight of Lae'zel, Cal's girlfriend, wearing his shirt with water and food in her arms. He sighs. He could have gone his whole life without this image.

Lae'zel regards him unfazed, "Wizard."

"Lae'zel... What are you doing awake?"

"I never slept; Cal is tired and needs replenishing."

Rolan's jaw drops, "What?"

Lae'zel looks at him confused, "Perhaps if you are unaware as to why maybe you should ask Tav. I'm sure she would tell you or may show you with quite the enthusiasm." 

Lae'zel laughs to herself as she leaves Rolan in the kitchen, pacing from her comment.

Lae'zel returns to Cal's room with a smirk on her face. Cal gives her a look, "You seem proud of yourself?" 

She tosses him some food and places his water down, "I am proud." 

She takes off his shirt and crawls into his bed, letting her skin be warmed by his textured body, "Now show me this cuddling you speak of…"

[kaahmbem]

legend has it that the young witch circe and the once beautiful nymph scylla shared a complicated past...

[adrianicsea]

"Blackjack Griffin couldn't remember the last time he had a bath. Couldn't remember what it felt like to have a naked body pressed up against his. That was all about to change..."

A.P. Bio 4x01

[a-most-beloved-fool]

For the writing prompts;

19. For luck - Rom and Leeta

"And then," Bashir was saying - though in truth, Rom was paying only half attention, far too busy thinking about Leeta - "she came right up to me, and kissed me on the lips!"

"Oh, she did, did she?" Chief O'Brien said, scoffing good-naturedly.

"It's true!" Bashir insisted, though he didn't look insulted by the Chief's doubt. He was smiling into his glass, seeming quite delighted by the disbelieving frown on O'Brien's face.

Rom didn't quite understand what was supposed to be so 'unbelievable' about the story. In fact - "It seems pretty believable to me," he said. "Doctor Bashir's always kissing beautiful women." (Including, at one point, Leeta - though not anymore, Rom thought with some pleasure.)

"Yes, but this one was out of his league," the Chief said, batting his hand playfully across the table.

Bashir just smiled bashfully, ignoring the swipe. "Ah, well. You're right about that. She wasn't really interested in me after all. Turns out, she'd just misconstrued the human concept of a 'good luck kiss'".

"Ohh! A 'good luck kiss'!" Rom said eagerly. Then, after a pause, "Uh, what's a 'good luck kiss'?"

The Chief sat back, idly crossing his arms. "Well, it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It's a kiss that you give someone to wish them luck."

"Oh," Rom said, considering that. Luck was always a good thing to have. Perhaps... "Oh! Leeta!" He stood, sending his chair clattering backwards. "I'll be back!" he shouted, then raced from Quark's bar, ignoring his brother's parting shout out dismay.

He needed to find Leeta.

--

"Leeta! Waaaait!" Rom hollered, shuffling through the crowded promenade as quickly as he could manage, chasing after her familiar voice. "Leeta! I need to give you something!"

This would be easier, he thought, if Bajorans could hear as well as Ferengi could.

But, at last, Leeta stopped, turning to find him. "Rom? Rom, what's the matt-"

The rest of her sentence trailed off into a hum as Rom reached up, pulling her down to plant a kiss square on her lips. One of her hands cupped Rom's cheek, soft. Rom didn't really know how long a 'good luck kiss' was supposed to last for - he really should have gotten more details before running off (for example, does it need tongue? Bashir never specified.) - but he thought that this should satisfy it.

He pulled away, grinning toothily up at his wife. "Hi, Leeta," he said.

She smiled down at him, cheeks flushed and lovely as always. "Hi, Rom. What was that for?" she asked, looking bemused and delighted.

"It's a kiss," Rom said, perhaps unnecessarily. "For luck," he added. "It's a hoo-man tradition!"

"For luck? Rom," she asked, laughing, "what are you wishing me luck for?"

Rom blinked. "Uhhh... For your day?"

Leeta beamed at him, and then leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Well, I think it worked. I do feel pretty lucky now."

Rom grinned. "Me, too."

--

(also if anyone else wants to make a request, the ask game is here. i can't promise they'll get done as quick or be as long as this one is, though!)

[murderandcoffee]

I think that alice and gwen should make out sloppy style

[strobbylemonade]

101 - a dummy's guide to loving and becoming human again

[sukibenders]

Racism and misogynoir are so apparent in fandom, especially when it comes to shipping because why is it when a white male, sometimes female but I see it more with the former, character is on screen with a love interest, particularly woc, especially if they're black, and even with all the emotional scenes or just moments where they look at one another in ways different from the rest, it's met with "No, they aren't dating/the show is not going to put them together" but let the other love interest be white as well and suddenly it all makes sense? Heck, the examples I mentioned above don't even have to exist between the latter for some to STILL go and believe this rhetoric (eg. some Jace and Helaena shippers because, even if these two only interacted with a dance but yet we see Baela console Jace, after he seeks her out, apparently it's to far fetched to believe that Jacela could be a thing?!)

Sometimes it could be a headcanon that, largely, would make sense (and oftentimes was birth due to lack of respect that the poc characters could have been given by the writers *cough* TVD *cough*), and yet you'd still have people dismissing it left and right and spewing hate. At a HEADCANON! And I'm not saying that just because the other person in the ship is poc that you have to ship them, I'm not, but it's very apparent to many poc fans in fandom that unless the characters are swapping spit and doing the nasty, the possibility of them being viewed in any romantic lens feels too much of stretch even though their white counterparts don't have to jump through the same loops.

[thetabase]

I've done wrong things .

I'm making roxy and jane next guess the hermit

[multi-babii]

an edit about charlie and cameron's beef appeared on my fyp and at first i was Lika haha funny but then i got this idea. what if charlie had a crush on cameron and he confessed to him but cameron was like we can't do that we're both guys and it's 1959 so that's a no. so that's why charlie is so mean to him to distance himself but at the same time they still both like each other. idk i didn't think this through properly but wouldn't that be a good fic

[flowerakatsuka]

indirect compliment

[originalcontent]

I can't find art of my ship anywhere so I GUESS that means I have to make it myself, here are some doodles.

[acescorazon]

Cross Guild Kinktober (+ Shanks)

Hiii, i'm back and in case any of you were wondering.... i plan on doing kinktober or die trying. BUT if you see me posting shit late no you DIDN'T.

10/7 **UPDATE**

✧✲✧ :◦━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ◦:

Day 1. Rimming (Mihawk/Buggy)

Day 2. Orgasm denial (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 3. Drunk sex  (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 4. Hate Sex (Croco/Buggy)

Day 5. Body Worship (Mihawk/Shanks)

Day 6. Dacryphilia(Croco/Buggy)

Day 7. Mutual masturbation (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 8. Double penetration (Mihawk/Croco/Buggy)

Day 9. Public Sex (Mihawk/Shanks)

Day 10. Dry humping (Mihawk/Shanks)

Day 11. Marking (Mihawk/Buggy)

Day 12. Degradation (Mihawk/Shanks)

Day 13. Face sitting (Croco/Mihawk) (...fem?)

Day 14. Somnophilia (Croco/Buggy)

Day 15. Humiliation (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 16. Phone Sex (Croco/Buggy)

Day 17. Spanking (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 18. Overstimulation (Croco/Mihawk)

Day 19. Hair Pulling (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 20. Foursome (Shanks/Buggy/Mihawk/Croc)

Day 21. Mirror Sex (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 22. Sex Pollen (Mihawk/Buggy)

Day 23. Praise kink (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 24. Size Kink (Croco/Mihawk)

Day 25. A/B/O (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 26. Brat Taming (Shanks/Buggy)

Day 27. Sex Toys (Mihawk/Shanks)

Day 28. Sensory deprivation (Croco/Buggy)

Day 29. Uniforms (Croco/Buggy)

Day 30. Dirty talk (Croco/Mihawk)

Day 31. Thigh riding (Mihawk/Buggy)(fem)

[starflungwaddledee]

kirbytober 2023 21 + 26 : fav characters + ship [ prev || next ]

putting this at the top because it's extremely important but i received a message implying that some folks headcanon these two as drastically different ages. you may headcanon whatever you like of course, but in my work i firmly think that they're both full adults who are at least 25+. this is abundantly clear in my work. i'm not interested in headcanoning any of them as literal children and i would never touch that shit. dni if you think that sort of ship would actually be okay. don't be a freak. thanks.

very typical to take your favs and then also shove them together but isn't that the point. anyway i have literally never seen anybody else ship them (if you're out there... hello... 😭) despite them both being very main characters and i don't know why?? they could be so cute i think...

they are both industrious adventurers, prolific hard-workers (team task doers), and a little cheekily competitive!

i think that bandee is no stranger to a wide variety of close and intense relationships; he's beloved by many and loves them all equally but distinctly in turn. magolor on the other hand has been sooo isolated and lonely for such a long-ass time, he barely knows how to be friends let alone really care for someone. bandee is smart enough to be suitably wary but kind enough to give him a chance despite that, which i think would knock him off his non-existent feet instantly. in reply, magolor could give him something unique by loving and prioritising him utterly singularly, in a way bandee wouldn't even have realised he was missing

in awtdy (pictured in the sketch page; if you see a tattered looking magolor in my art it's probably this au) in particular they are both thrown into the angst soup together and come out insanely trauma bonded at the hip. their friendship/relationship is central to the plotline; together they're working on a solution to the timeline anomaly, while also hiding that they even really know each other the whole time

[hailsatanacab]

@the-ghost-trader - ooooh, i love this! it has the potential to be so incredibly sad, too, like poor Damian just trying to carve out something normal for himself only for it blow up in his face

BUT, shockingly, i'm not about the angst today! not yet anyway 😇

---

“So, how was your day?”

Despite his answering groan, Damian likes this. This. This whole… thing he has with Danielle. With Ellie. 

And, yeah, he’s not exactly told any of the others yet, but can you blame him? For wanting to keep something, anything, to himself. Wanting to keep this small little slice of goodness he’s managed to carve out, untouched and unmarred by his family, by their other lives, by the rogues, the vigilantes, the assassins, everyone.

“That bad, huh?”

Being with Ellie is freeing. That’s the best way to describe it.

She knows. Damian surprised even himself when he told her—not about the others, mind, but he supposes it’s not hard to put two and two together and Dani has always been smarter than most—but it’s the best decision he’s ever made, and no matter what the niggling little voice in the back of his head says (the one that sounds suspiciously like Father), he can’t bring himself to regret it.

He won’t. Because having Ellie know gives him freedom.

She’s a safe place, a hand to hold, a warm, welcoming presence when things inevitably turn ugly. It’s the freedom to just be normal when everything else in his life spirals into stranger and more stressful missions.

“Richard is being insufferable again. I do not understand his incessant need to know everything about my life.”

“Oh? What’s he done now?” 

“I was subjected to an hour long interrogation about my love life, like it’s any of his business. It’s infuriating!”

“Ugh, tell me about it. I get the same thing from Jazz, constantly. It can be suffocating.” Ellie says as she curls herself tighter into his side. “But it’s just how they show they care.”

“Yes, well, sometimes I wish he wouldn’t—”

“Hey!” Ellie pushes herself up to glare at him, punctuating her shout with a soft whack to his arm for good measure. “What have I said about using that word?”

“Yes, yes,” he placates with a roll of his eyes, “‘Be careful what you wish for.’ I apologise, it won't happen again.”

“Damn straight it won't.”

She maintains eye contact with him for a second longer before tucking herself back into his side, squirming around with a long, contented hum that Damian can feel rumble through him. He smiles and doesn’t complain even when he has to shift to give her more room after a particularly strong elbow jabs him in the ribs. It means leaving the warm patch on the couch, but he’s rewarded with another long, happy moan as she settles and Damian can’t bring himself to mind.

Ellie constantly makes noises. Little mews and hums and laughs and songs known only to her. It reminds him of a cat, sometimes. He likes it. It calms him down; it means she’s happy, so he's happy.

They settle back into the cushions and Damian lets the subject drop, not wanting to spoil the moment. Outside, the wind changes direction and from where he’s laying he can watch as the snow starts to come down thick and heavy. Hopefully it’ll mean a quiet night's patrol.

“Is that why you haven’t introduced me yet?”

“What?” He can't help it, he stiffens at the thought of losing his secret, of the scrutiny he'll be inviting if he lets anyone know.

“Are you worried I’ll embarrass you?”

Damian’s eyes snap down quick to reassure her, only to see her light, teasing grin. He lets out a breath of relief. It figures she wouldn't worry about that.

“Of course not, don’t be absurd. You could never embarrass me.”

“I don’t know,” she muses, her voice taking on a dangerous lilt, “that sounds like a challenge.”

“Believe me, having been subjected to Father’s Brucie persona at every gala I’ve been to, it would take a lot to embarrass me.”

“Alright, bet. I’ll get you, just you wait.”

“You’ve already got me.”

She flicks him on the nose. “You’re such a sap.”

He hums his agreement, enjoying the tinkling sound of her laughter. And then, before he can think otherwise, he asks, “Is that why you haven’t introduced me?”

“That’s different,” she scowls. “You know how hard it is to get there, there’s no signal, and Danny only gets a break like—oh, Ancients!”

Damian gets another elbow to the ribs as she bolts upright, a manic grin on her face that has him laughing.

“What is it?”

“It’s the holidays! It’s nearly Truce Day! You know I said I had a family thing around Christmas?”

“Yes?” 

“Well, do you want to come to it? I can introduce you then! I mean, it’s going to be a bit formal and you’ll have to meet everyone, not just family. There’s going to be some banquets, you’ll have to sit through some long speeches and you have to be on your best behaviour at all times, okay? Absolutely no fighting, it’s called Truce Day for a reason!”

“What?”

“Yeah, it’ll be perfect! I think Jazz is going in a couple days earlier to help with the preparations, so I’ll get her to let Danny know—and fair warning, he will try to give you the shovel talk, but this is great! It’s Truce Day, so he can’t actually do anything about it!”

“I’m sorry, but you're going to have to explain a bit.”

“Yeah, I know, it’s a bit much—but that’s family, right? Danny can get pretty protective over me, which is why going on Truce Day is the best time to do it! He can’t even command the Fright Knight to stab you! It’s genius!”

“Ellie, what?”

“Like, yeah, sure, he’s the king, but even he has to obey the rules of Truce Day—and then once you’ve spent all day with him, he’ll see that you’re a fantastic, wonderful, kind, brilliant, smart, strong, capable person and he’ll get over himself and everything will be good!"

Damian collapses down onto the couch, the wind knocked out of him. This is… He had not expected anything like this at all. For all that Ellie talked about her family, she had never mentioned this.

“Did you… did you say your brother is a king?”

“Yeah! High King Phantom, have I…” The manic grin slips off her face as she turns round and notices Damian. “Have I not mentioned that before?”

“No. No, you have not.”

“Ah. Sorry. Probably should clarify that I’m also a princess.”

“Right. Yes, that follows.”

“And I’m not really his sister, I’m his clone.”

“What?”

Damian blinks and tries to say more, but he has no idea what he’s meant to do with… any of this information. 

Normal. He thought she was meant to be his normal. Nothing could have prepared him for this.

Not that it changed anything, of course, of that he was certain. It’s just… a lot to take in. Overwhelming. But it's okay! He takes a deep breath, and another, and a sense of calm washes over him. Ellie makes one of her little hums as she cocks her head to the side to consider him and he can't help but relax at the normalcy of the sound. It'll be okay, he's dealt with stranger and he can deal with this.

“I’ve, uh… I’ve told you that we’re half ghosts, though, right?”

“What?”