#duke talks about stuff that doesn't matter

[a-man-in-the-crowd]

hihi i love everything about this post BUT i heard you mention the original william wilson being a cardsharper and came running to yap forgive me LMAO

i have like a huge card hyperfixation and when i read william wilson the main thing that rlly stuck with me is the card scene and since then i've been trying to think how that might relate to nevermore. after all, strategy games are a huge motif in this comic.

a theory i've seen going around is that will is supposed to be wilson, the dopplegänger, and montresor takes the place of the narrator. there's a lot to talk about there, but something i wanted to mention was that while will is never shown to play cards, monty is.

and, forgive me for perhaps reading a bit too much into this, but based on his 'ace in the hole' comment, it'd seem he's specifically referencing stud poker but like idk maybe he's just using whatever poker-related phrase to get his point across, it doesn't rlly matter i'm just yapping

in william wilson, wilson exposes william as a cheater at an underground casino (? idk some underground betting place). if the theory that will is wilson and monty is william then, well, i can only wonder how monty's been cheating. just a thought idk

back to the ace in the hole thing, i'm taking this to mean monty sees people as cards, things to use when need. if ada's his ace, what does that make will?

i think will is monty's wild card. wild cards are basically any card that by that game's rules can act as any other card (e.g: to make a straight/flush or five of a kind) yk. like will. who's always turning into who he needs to be to assist monty.

another way to look at it is that will is already playing cards without making it obvious.

basically every card game has the concept of keeping your cards to yourself, or at least not giving them all away. like in this scene that keeps me up at night!

whether from monty's instruction or by his own accord, will very deliberately chooses to reveal an ability that even he would think is useless. after all, who needs more of him? we know he has serious self-esteem issues, there's no way he thinks his duplication ability is useful. he can afford to reveal this ability, or card, because no one cares and if anything it'll make people deem him less of a threat. no need to pay attention to him!

he also has crazy good memory, too. he perfectly mimicks duke's appearance, save for the colour of his bowtie that no one would have noticed were it not for eulalie already being suspicious due to her rods (i don't doubt eula would have noticed anything amiss even without her rods, but it definitely helped that she had them), and the same for lenore. mind you, he's barely seen either of these people and of the two times he's met duke one of them was out of his uniform.

this trait of his probably wasn't written with cards in mind and rather for plot convenience (which is fine, of course) but if i REALLY wanted to fit this in to my card game nonsense, it's worth noting that memory is very important in a lot of card games. you gotta keep track of which cards have been played or given out, the number of cards in each player's hands, etc etc. all those little details. much like how will is very accurate in keeping track of the details people's appearances.

and one last thing. yk how the main colours in playing cards are black and red? i'm just saying!

anyways yes you get it!! the fact will uses ribbons as his weapon?? he entangles other people?? i'm thinking maybe it reflects how in life he always wanted people to be dragged into his shit and not the other way around, or how whatever stuff he got pulled into eventually hurt the people around him but like honestly no clue

Fellow William analyst, greetings! I hope you are well, I hope you don't mind a question/ask.

I am curious about your thoughts on the lack of reaction we see of Will at the "one life" reveal at the dinner scene, if you haven't already shared your thoughts before! We know Annabel wasn't shocked, but what about Will?

It took me longer to answer than I thought, sorry

I'm not sure I can say anything new, but yes, it's pretty damn suspicious. The composition of the frame stylized as broken glass, makes it easy to draw Will with everyone, and a frame later we see him with other panicking students, so RnF didn't show his reaction quite intentionally.

But I also want to talk about his behavior further. In the next episode, Will doesn't behave the way you expect him to. Given his weak-willed personality, it seems like he should be scared and overwhelmed by the prospect of a survival game (like Morella for example) but he's confused at best, and moreover, confused by everyone else's reactions. He even tries to justify the deans, basically gaslighting the rest of the students.

Will is not afraid, but he does not understand why others are. I have only two possible explanations: either he knew, or he just doesn't care, just like Annabel. Or maybe both.

Maybe he has played these games before. Maybe he doesn't plan to fight for a second life (at least not in Nevermore, again just like Annabel). Maybe because he is somehow connected with the academic staff with all his doll aesthetic, there is no second life for him in general, he just works there. There are many options, but here I would prefer to focus on his parallels with Annabel - two characters whose reactions we don't see in this frame.

This is actually not the only scene where they are absent, contrary to common sense. In episode 6 we see the merit board for the first time. Most of the names on it are blurred, but some can be distinguished. Among them are Lenore, Annabel, Duke, Morella, Ada, Prospero and Will. All of them, except Annabel and Will, are present in the room at this moment.

I wouldn't have paid much attention to this scene if it weren't for Prospero. Why is he there? He doesn't speak a single line, and we haven't been introduced to him as a character yet. His presence here is useless. So maybe the idea really was for all the characters whose names were visible on the board to be in the scene(or at least have already been introduced, like Annabel).

So what about Will? My main problem with shapeshifter characters is that they can be anyone, anywhere, at any point in the story. Especially if they can also create their own copies. He could have already been introduced and we just didn't notice.

Now let's talk about the games these kids love to play so much. We know that Annabel is a talented chess player, and Montresor constantly uses card game slang. But did you know that it was William Wilson from Poe's original story who was a cardsharper? I just think it's such an interesting detail. Nevermore`s Will has never been seen like this, but considering how much of a board game aesthetic this webtoon has, I think it's important to note this.

And finally, there is a similarity that also makes them very different: both Annabel and Will have ribbons as an essential symbol, but it has a completely opposite meaning for each of them. For Annabel, the ribbons are a symbol of madness, fear, and perhaps her golden cage. It appears in her hallucinations after Lenore's fake death, as well as when Ada shows her her main fear.

Will, on the other hand? The ribbons are his weapon. He uses them to tangle other people. Curious, although his spectre is obviously a marionette, he doesn't have a control bar for strings, he controls the strings himself (not always successful but still).

No matter how weak-willed Will is, he's the only one in Annabel's group who isn't influenced by her. She blackmails Montresor, Prospero respects her as a leader and friend, Ada admires and envies her. But she doesn't have anything on Will. In the chess allegory, he will obviously be a pawn (and I`ll write a whole post about it, I swear), but not Annabel's pawn. I have an idea that sooner or later, Montresor will think of using Will to find dirt on Annabel in revenge. After all, given their spectre abilities, it's easier for them to find out lenabel's secret.

So, let's summarize what we found. Absolutely nothing. This post turned out to be longer than I had planned, because I was a little carried away, but I hope you found something interesting for yourself in this stream of thoughts.

Here, take funny little Will everyone. He deserves to be noticed.

[pekozumi-trash]

I think we as a society need to talk more about how Disney's Chicken Little ends with a little girl getting lobotimized into an incel's tradwife gf for being too mean

[incorrectbatfam]

Stephanie: Why is Cass not on the schedule for Tuesday night?

Bruce: 'Cause I can't have you patrolling together on those slow nights anymore.

Stephanie: What? Why?

Bruce: Because all you do is stand on the rooftops talking, not running routes or watching your suspects.

Stephanie: That is not true. We always get our stuff done.

Tim: No, it gets done because I do it.

Stephanie: Did you complain to Bruce, Tim?

Bruce: It doesn't matter. The fact is, you and Cass work better when you don't work together.

Stephanie: I am SO mad at you.

Tim: How do you think I feel? Every Tuesday night it's you, Cass, and me, and I do seventy-five percent of the work while you guys talk about true crime podcasts.

Stephanie: You're such a hater.

Cass: Why am I not on Tuesday next week?

Stephanie: Because Tim is a baby.

Bruce: You and Steph aren't allowed to patrol together anymore unless it's a Friday or Saturday night.

Cass: What? You can't do that.

Bruce: I'm literally your dad.

Stephanie: So you're making me work with Tim and Duke every Tuesday night?

Bruce: I can't make you do anything. You're free to explore other vigilante opportunities. Maybe you'll find some other place that'll put up with your shenanigans.

Stephanie: I'll be back. Come on, Cass.

Stephanie and Cass: *leave*

Tim: Way to stay strong, Bruce.

Bruce: Well, I find that, as a father, you have to be firm. They'll be fine, you'll see.

Duke: Hey, Bruce, Steph just gave me tickets to a taping of The Voice on Tuesday night so Cass is gonna patrol for me.

Bruce: Stephanie!

[celestialgalaxyglow]

Batfam and Danny, Part 12

Danny: Hey Alfred, I was going through some old files and I was wondering if you could explain something to me.

Alfred: Sure thing Master Daniel.

Danny: How long were each of the Robins, Robin?

Alfred: Well Dick was Robin from the time he was 14 till he was 17, when he decided to become Nightwing. After that your father was Robin from the time he was 14 till 16, when the Joker... killed him. He was gone for six months but by the time he retuned Tim had become the new Robin so your father become Red Hood. Tim was Robin from the ages of 14 to 17, Till Steph came to us and he gave the mantel of Robin to her and became Red Robin. Steph was Robin from the age of 17 to 18, she gave up the mantel to Damian when he was dropped off by Miss al Ghul and took the name Spoiler. Damian took up the mantel of Robin upon his arrival at the age of 10 and has been Robin for the last two years.

Danny: Ok, how old is everyone?

Alfred: Dick is 25, Jason is 22, hopefully you knew that one, Tim and Barbara are 20, Steph, Cass, and Duke are 19, Damian 12, Master Bruce is 34, and my age is classified information.

Danny (laughing): How do I gain clearance to access that information.

Alfred: I grant the clearance.

Danny: Can I have clearance?

Alfred: No.

They laughed.

Alfred: I must ask Danny, what brought along this line of questioning?

Danny: It's the way Bruce talks about the former Robins. The official reports state their ages the way you told them, but between the lines, and the way Bruce talks about their times of Robins I imagined they were all around ten when they took up the mantel.

Alfred: That's a reasonable conclusion to reach. Even though everyone, except Damian, were already teenagers when Bruce took them in, he's always talked about them as if they were little kids. And in all honesty he still does.

Danny: Hmm, interesting. Wait so Bruce took on Dick in when he was 24?

Alfred: Yes. Not even a fully grown adult, the brain doesn't fully develop till the age of 25, but yet Bruce decided to adopt a kid 10 years younger than him.

Danny: Our family is strange.

Alfred (sipping his tea): That it is.

Later at Jason and Danny's apartment.

Danny: Dad can I ask you something?

Jason: What is it kid?

Danny: How did everyone react when you came back to life?

Jason: Oh, that is a story! So after I fought my way back to the Land of the Living I woke up in my coffin and dug my way out. I was a bit disoriented, but somehow made my way around the manor to the front door. I remember nocking and Alfred opening the door and that's it. This part I got from Alfred, I feel into his arms, he called for Bruce, and I was sent to a medical bed in the Batcave. When I came to, Bruce, Alfred, and Dick where next to me. They were happy to see me again, but very confused as to how I came back to life. I explained my story, and Dick started laughing, saying only I of all people would fight my way back to being alive. Bruce on the other hand would not stop apologizing for my death, no matter how many times I told him I forgave him. That's also when I learned that Bruce had killed the Joker.

Danny: What about Tim?

Jason: Tim was hiding behind a wall. Poor kid thought I'd be mad at him for stealing my job as Robin. I told him I wasn't mad and that I was done with all the vigilante stuff for the time, and wanted to take a break. He was also a little worried that Bruce would kick him out but we all put a stop to those concerns, he was part of the family and he wasn't getting rid of us that easily. Anyways, the next day Bruce tackled my legally dead status by creating a fake body of me and putting it in the coffin. So when the police asked questions, they saw a very alive me, and a very fake body in the coffin, and Gotham being Gotham, they didn't ask further question, and my legally dead status was revoked.

Danny: Really? No further questions? Like where you've been for the last six months?

Jason: Nope. But I was allowed to keep my death certificate.

Danny: What about Gotham high society and the general population?

Jason: We told this story that some madmen had kidnapped me and that I managed to escape and make it home. Everyone bought it, or at least knew better than to question it.

Danny: Honestly, that checks out.

Jason: Anyways, after that I started helping Tim train, and after two months of rest I decided to jump back to work and took up the name of Red Hood, and started infiltrating Gotham's criminal underground and quickly rose the ranks. Keep in mind I didn't tell anyone, so Bruce got concerned about this new guy taking over Gotham's criminals and sent Tim to spy. I quickly caught him and brought him for an "interrogation." I expected Bruce to send Tim so I prepared an evil monologue and everything. After I was done monologuing I removed my mask and started lecturing Tim about how easily I caught him, and that Bruce, Dick, and I taught him better. Tim got mad and we started having a screaming match. Shortly after that Bruce arrived and saw us. Bruce was not happy that I decided to go back to vigilante business without saying anything, but he was proud of the work I was doing, so I got away with it. And that's more or less everything.

Danny: I love this family.

Jason: Yeah, we're great. I still have a grave, right next to grandma and grandpa. ... Please don't tell Bruce I called his Martha and Thomas, grandma and grandpa, poor guy will start crying and hugging me while calling me his son.

Danny (laughing): Don't worry I won't.

(Master Post)

Current ages

Bruce - 34

Alfred - [Classified]

Dick - 25

Jason - 22

Tim - 20

Barbara - 20

Steph - 19

Cass - 19

Duke - 19

Danny - 16

Damian - 12

[eyelessfaces]

about time we found each other again.

leto atreides x reader

summary: even years after your wedding got called off, leto is not sure he truly really got over you.

warnings: implied cheating (I am so sorry lady jessica I love you), death of a parent, angst, probably inaccurate dune lore stuff my most sincere apologies I did my best

tags: f!reader, arranged marriage, first love, love confessions, estrangement, time jump where the second part takes place a few years before the first movie (this doesn't matter at all tbh)

word count: 2.1k

this is my first time writing for leto so I hope he's alright lol<3

When you came to meet Leto Atreides for the first time, it was instantaneous; maybe you couldn't rightfully affirm it with conviction yet, but some deep part of you immediately knew that you desired him to be the one by your side for the rest of time. 

He had been the only other person around your age when you and your family attended a special meeting on Caladan, and you could very well feel your heart beat faster and your cheeks burn hot at each of his furtive glance thrown your way and each slight smirk over either of your faces when your gaze met his. 

Maybe leaving your home land and being sent to eventually move to Caladan wouldn’t be as bad as you had thought, after all.

And it wasn't. You quickly, borderline scarily quickly fell in love with Leto, you were sure of it by now. His manners were those of a man of respect, and he was kind and compassionate, he didn’t have the over excessive pride you would expect from a destined duke.

And ultimately, you grew to also be almost pretty sure that he felt the same way towards you, from the way he listened to you with no feigned interest whenever you shared stories with him, from the way his warm brown eyes so gently looked over at you, from the way he always made sure you were treated right.

You remembered it to be a warm evening when he officially confessed his love to you. 

You had been walking mindlessly through seemingly never ending fields, talking about anything and everything for what felt like a lifetime, eventually stopping to lay down and watch the sun set. 

Leto had settled on gently putting flowers in your hair while you told him about your childhood on your home land, smiling radiantly as he admired you lovingly, brushing your cheek with the back of his hand before he leaned in to kiss you. 

Your own hand was quick to find his dark curls neatly slicked back as he hovered over you, the tip of his fingers delicately tracing your face and neck before he pulled away from your lips when it became absolutely necessary. 

From there, the sunset and everything else became insignificant, everything could be crumbling around you and you wouldn’t pay it any mind; nothing mattered, not when Leto promised to love you until his very last breath here in the middle of nowhere. 

So when you eventually had your parents visit you on Caladan and announce to you that you had been sent there for them to agree with the Atreides upon arranging a marriage with Leto, you couldn’t be happier and it couldn’t be more convenient; you would have chosen him anyway, if given the choice.

Leto had the competence of making everything seem so easy, and he turned out to be quick to ease your worries about your upcoming future as a duchess.

Even under the looming political pressure of your marriage, this wedding meant a starting point for the rest of your life, a part you could not wait to share with him, even if it meant a lot of responsibilities and changes.

Then so suddenly, all at once, it all fell apart, everything. 

It was late in the night when you and Leto were laughing and dancing, rehearsing for the forthcoming wedding. Servants had knocked onto your shared room door, and Leto’s hand left your waist as he scurried away to answer the door, opening and making way for them to enter the room. 

They came in with a polite nod, one of them unrolling a parchment letter, reading out loud to the both of you.

The letter was from your father, announcing the news that your mother had died while on a mission, resulting in the need of your presence at your home land to take over her legacy and responsibilities for a while.

You didn’t understand what it involved right away, maybe from the shock of the sudden, dreadful news, the loss of your mother too hard to swallow.

You didn’t understand that it meant that you and Leto were bound to be no more, that either of you were now assigned to different fates and responsibilities, that the marriage was therefore called off for the moment being.

And you quite certainly didn't realize that the night you spent tossing and turning around your shared bed with eyes wide open until the sunrise was the last night by his side, that the morning you left was the last time you would see him.

Until years later, what felt like a lifetime.

When you came back to Caladan for political and business reasons, it was only because of the absolute necessity of your presence, otherwise you wouldn't have shown up.

Finding him again after so long drowned you right back again in the same hollow feeling you endured the moment you were drawn apart years ago, and while you mirrored his polite nod and smirk, you couldn't help but still feel the pain of being estranged so brutally, of seeing him again after so many years.

He was wearing the slowly appearing gray streaks of hair beautifully, and the beard suited him like he was made for it; it made his handsome face look a bit more harsh and severe, but he was a duke now, after all.

You lightly cleared your throat as you made your way to leave the meeting once it was over, troubled as you could feel the weight of his gaze burning holes through you all along. You could feel your heart pound through your ribcage the exact same way it used to when he held you when you were younger, and you ultimately came to the rotten conclusion that your stay here in his presence would be a tough, challenging time for you, and that dwelling on the past had been a bad idea, exactly like you had anticipated it to be. 

—

It was wonderful out there, just like you had remembered it to be. The view from the balcony offered you an endless panorama over Caladan and its lush lands, and while you loved your home land with your whole being, you couldn’t deny missing living on Caladan.

The fresh breeze of the night was nothing but pleasant, and even though you were slowly starting to feel goosebump growing over your skin, you figured the view of the sun starting to set was more important.

“I thought I could stay focused while in your presence.” you recognize his voice all too well, and you wonder if the shiver running down your spine is caused by his sudden apparition or the wind hitting you. “I was deeply wrong”

“Leto,” you chuckle sheepishly, blushing as you turn around and face him.

A bittersweet smile has quirked upon his face, and he steps further and approaches you. The years have been unkind to him, lines of wisdom and experience growing upon his face transforming him into a man hardened by duty. Yet, beneath the rough facade, you can still see the eyes and soul of the man you once knew and loved.

“Why only now?” he asks, a certain helplessness painted across his face.

“What?”

He sighs as he looks away, licks his lips as he walks besides you and grips the barrier of the balcony with both hands. You only hear the wind as you watch and wait for him to do, to say something.

“This should have been yours. All of this” he mutters, gaze fixed on the sight before him. The clouds look like cotton ripped apart and spread through the wide sky, and the sun setting over Caladan turns them into an abnormal color, one you wouldn't even be able to define. “I waited for you.” Leto declares, head turning to look back at you like he is trying to figure out how you feel or waiting for you to say something.

Your eyes close as a small exhale leaves your mouth. “Why should it matter now, Leto” you scoff, turning away to try to escape his gaze, heavier than you remember.

“It has always mattered” he declares, following your steps as you try to inch away from him. He calls your name in a weak plea, his hand coming to rest over your arm. “Look at me. Please”

You do. You turn back to him, and he looks at you like you will be slipping away from him any moment now, like you're just a ghost, like you're water in his bare hands. “Tell me you did not think of me all those years and I'll leave you alone.” he whispers feebly, face close to yours as he still holds onto your arm, and you can feel your breaths mingling from how close he is to you.

His unwavering gaze is locked on yours, desperately waiting for you to say something. Eventually, your lack of response speaks for itself, and he nods slightly. “That's what I thought.”

“Leto.”

His hands come to cup your face, holding it steady as with a sigh, his forehead rests against yours. Your eyelids fall shut under the weight of it all and you exhale softly, your hand wrapping around his wrist, stroking along his forearm.

“I have loved you since I met you. I should have found you and married you regardless.” he mutters, barely louder than a whisper. His declaration makes something flutter deep in your core, and you grimace like his words feel sour to hear. You should have done it differently, should have come back to Caladan after everything went back to normal after your mother's death.

“And your wife?” you rhetorically ask, with a dubious scoff.

“She's not– we never married.” he shakes his head, pulling away from your forehead to look back at you, your hand falling to your side again when you let go of his arm. His gaze and the way his eyebrows are angled weakly are conveying everything you need to know, confirming every conclusion you made. 

Your lips part slightly, some part of you refusing to believe in what he's indirectly telling you, refusing to believe that he gave up on some part of his life waiting for you.

“We were promised a marriage together, a life together” he continues, taking hold of your hand, fingers lacing with yours tentatively. “I always hoped you would come back and we would resume our life together where it stopped.”

“Now still?” you weakly ask, equally pained and somehow flattered that he never really got over you.

Again, the lack of answer and his previous actions prove the point, and you hold his hand tighter when you swallow with difficulty. Your other hand slightly trembles when you reach to touch his face, settling to rest at his bearded cheek, and you smile weakly as you trace the lines that you never got to witness appear. 

“We were so young” you smile, drawing one out of him. The corners of his lips turn upwards as his hand covers your own over his face, pulling it to bring it to his mouth to kiss your knuckles softly, the feeling of his warm breath over your skin taking you years back.

“Don't go back.” he begs against your hand, his voice wavering a little. There’s a glint in his eyes as his gaze darts up at you that makes it impossible for you to consider refusing and giving up on him again. “You belong here.”

Your eyebrows knit in uncertainty as you tear your gaze away from him, looking at the endless view again. You can't help but overthink every consequence coming back to Caladan is going to involve, for you as much as for Leto, and especially for his own concubine that is at this point already long forgotten by him.

This is unfair, but some part of you acknowledges your younger selves feelings and remembers how devastated you were to leave him; leaving again while knowing that he still cares after so many years and regrets not marrying you may hurt even more.

“This will make people talk, Leto.” you wince, looking back at him.

He shakes his head carefreely. “Let them.” he affirms with a dismissive scoff as his hands settle over your hips. You grin softly as he pulls you closer, and a soft exhale leaves your mouth when your arms wrap around his neck.

He takes a while to admire your face, how it has changed despite still remaining the one of the woman he fell in love with long ago.

When he kisses you, it is the exact same way he used to when you were young.

—

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[anaconamor]

is this real? - jude bellingham x reader.

quick sum: breakup, attempt of a makeup. but you're not here to play around, wanting security, but it doesn't help when jude can't find out what he really wants. is your love really worth the shot?

wc: 2.7 k | masterlist | jude's masterlist

psa 🗣️: hi! i'm back this is kinda angsty and kinda meh :( i still hope you enjoy and like tho! also I will be starting a small jude series in the upcoming weeks, which I'm super excited about! in the mean time here is this :)

“Hi, buddy. Hi! How’s my big baby?” you say in a gentle voice to the German shepherd who couldn't stop licking your face in excitement, his tail wagging and almost crying. It was a month since you had seen Duke, and it was safe to say he missed you as well. He was a birthday gift from Jude about a year ago, since you had asked for one, and Jude wanted a guard dog when he wasn't home. 

You remember the day vividly since it was during the summer, a few weeks before his season ended, and you had the opportunity to travel with Duke around the holidays you took. Duke was a momma's boy, he wouldn’t ever leave your side no matter what. If Jude was here he would acknowledge him but he refused to leave your side. Duke was the biggest and softest sweetheart, he was so friendly and always so happy, so you wondered how he was after you and Jude split. 

Duke came into your embrace and let you hold him for a good five minutes before you got up and made sure he had his breakfast. You practised a few tricks and rewarded him with treats after. He continued to follow you around as you picked up your suitcases and took them upstairs. He tilted his head to the side confused before he whined and touched your leg, “I'm not going anywhere buddy, at least not yet,” you leaned down and kissed his head. He ran up the stairs and watched as you ragged up the three suitcases. 

Duke layed on the carpet as you went into the closet and began to retrieve your jeans and leggings from the drawer, along with your other skirts and shorts you had. Those all barely fit into one suitcase, having to lay on top of it in order to close it. One task was done but you still had to retrieve the other parts of your stuff. You wanted to make sure no trace of you was left behind. Wanting to leave a blank new canvas for Jude’s life. 

After putting that suitcase in your car, you walked back upstairs and started to take your shirts from the hangers. You never realised just how much clothes you had. Any of the shirts or dresses Jude had gifted you, you set them aside in a different pile in a box labelled “do whatever you want” for Jude to decide. You were being petty but you didn't care, you didn't want anything to do with him anymore, all the jewellery and stuff he gave you went into that box, including that damn promise ring…

“Y/n we need to talk…” Jude sighed, he shifted towards you as you sat on the park bench overlooking the small lake. “What's up? Is everything okay?” you ask, your full attention towards him. Jude covered his face, his breathing becoming uneasy as well as his heart. He wanted to avoid it but when you saw his state, the goosebumps appearing, you knew what he was about to do… it was a sign and you felt it.

“I-I-I wanna break up,” he stuttered, avoiding how you stared shocked with wide eyes at him. You let out a small gasp as tears brimmed your eyes, “But why? Have I done something?” you say shaky. You had the urge to reach over and comfort him, wipe his tears away, and reassure him you were here for him, but now you could just stare at him. Stare at his bloodshot eyes, his eyes completely dark and uneasy. 

“You haven't done a single thing, baby, I have to do this… I'm moving away and I just can’t do long distance, knowing that I'm holding you back. I also want to focus on myself and my career, I can’t let this move go to waste, it's a dream and an opportunity…”

Your gaze averted to the white swans in front of you, watching as they cuddled into each other, and swam away. You said nothing, having difficulty processing his words. It seemed like he made up his mind, and you always said you wouldn't hold him back… but now all you wanted to do was fight for your relationship. Fight for him. “Say something…” Jude said, watching intently as your bottom lip trembled. 

You sniffled and wiped your nose and tears away as you stood up. “What’s there to say… you’ve made up your mind. I’ll just go along with it” You smiled and shrugged upset, turning around and beginning to walk away from him. You heard as Jude shuffled around, and jogged towards you. “Wait wait wait, what do you mean? You have to say something, Y/n!”

“No, I don’t. All I can say is I hope it goes well with you Jude, that you have the best season ever in Madrid… And no, you would’ve not held me back… I know what I want, but now it looks like you're not a part of it,” you avoided his pleading eyes. Your gaze returned back to the white swans who now drifted away from each other. “Don't do this Y/n…” Jude begged, grabbing your chin gently, facing you to him where he had tears running down his face.

“Don’t make this harder than it already is, Jude. I’ll miss you but I won’t beg for you to stay, hold you back like you say. I’ll respect your decision…” Jude just stared at the girl who he loves to walk away. Jude cursed at himself, jogging to you because he made a mistake, a regret. But it was too late because you quickly disappeared. 

The first few days were rough, you avoided any light or noise, just staring out at the wall in front of you. But you grew angry at yourself and the world. Jude had left you, and everything inside you felt broken. You couldn't shake away the tears anytime you saw him pop into your head. Jude was a constant reminder he would always be there. 

For Jude it was worse, he showed up to training late, spoke only to his brother and mom who grew concerned, and even lost his spot in the starting eleven for their last game. Jude was devastated and without you there, he couldn't piece his life together. Jude wouldn't sleep, especially now that your sweet scent was gone from his pillow and sheets. If someone had asked Jude if this was where he would have been a year ago he would have laughed at their face.  

Jude had come back from a last meeting with his club, he was exhausted and only wanted to sleep. But he was taken back when he saw the house spotless, and it was strange that Duke didn't greet him at the door. But he smelled that sweet scent again, lingering all over the living room and kitchen, were you here?

Jude tried and tried to contact you, asking how you were or what you were doing, but there wasn't any sign of you. He would just watch your stories when you'd post but it looked like you were always with someone… He was beginning to grow frustrated, why couldn't you respond back to him? 

Jude walked up the stairs, seeing the bedroom door you once shared open. He looked around the room and saw different clothes piled everywhere. “No no, this can’t be happening..” Jude said out loud causing you to get startled. You avoided his gaze and whispered a small ‘shit, fuck’. You weren’t expecting him to come so soon home, or was it that you were here for more than you intended to be? Jude’s eyes directed to you, who was standing there looking effortlessly elegant and beautiful, his Y/n…

“I've set all the clothes and stuff you’ve given me in this box… you can do what you please with them, I don’t want it…” you say in a soft tone, cutting the silence from the room. Jude shook his head, still trying to process everything, “This can't be real… There is no way this is happening right now… This is just a dream right.” Jude paced back and forth, a hand on his forehead as he nervously chuckled.

Why was it so difficult to process what you were doing? Why was the image of you packing causing an ache in his chest? Why did it feel like you were packing away every memory and throwing it away? You were packing your stuff away and Jude knew it would be the last time he saw or heard of you. “Jude… Calm down…” you say, just watching as he sits on the bed in denial. “This day was bound to come… We have to move on, you know?” 

“It’ll be okay Jude-”

“No, it won’t. I can’t move on knowing that I still love you and the fact you're here packing everything away is hurting me, Y/n…” Jude stressed, just wanting to feel your comfort, your hands relaxing his tense body and whispering that you would stay. “Jude you broke up with me. I'm giving you space to figure yourself out but you can’t hold onto hope one day things will change. This is what you wanted, no?” you said, testing the waters. 

Jude went silent, unsure of what to say. He wanted to blurt out to stay, to not leave, that he loves you, but he had trouble doing so. Duke stood and came to your side, going between your legs and sitting, he was protecting you, Duke sensed you were feeling sad and recognized you felt like crying. “No, this wasn't what I wanted… I thought if I did what I did, it would benefit both of us but for me, it isn't… Fuck I can’t even drink my coffee without thinking of you there!”

Jude stood up, his height intimidated you as he towered over you, and you became shy and nervous. “I can’t sleep knowing the pain I caused for both of us or the fact your scent isn't in my sheets anymore… I can’t go and pass by the park we visit because it reminds me of you. I can’t help the fact I lost my best friend and girlfriend at the same time because I thought I was doing the right thing in protecting our hearts… Or it's the fact I refuse to let you go because I love you still.”

“Protect us from what exactly? Jude, I thought we were doing fine! We discussed how our relationship would work once you moved to Madrid. I have a year left of uni, graduating early so I can start my career early because that has always been my plan. You wouldn't hold me back from anything, I knew what I was getting myself into when I started dating you… If you had these doubts we could've talked it out, maybe save ourselves from all this!”

“I was scared you would lose interest and get tired of all the back and forth. Scared you would get unhappy knowing that the long distance would affect us both. I wouldn't know how you felt, and you drifting away, us growing apart, I didn't want that,” Jude insists, his hand connecting with your jaw and running his thumb along your cheek. You leaned into his touch, relishing the feeling, and fluttered your eyes closed, a sense of safety and home. 

“In a relationship, there’s stuff we need to sacrifice to make it work, and I was willing to do that because I love you. I want to see you succeed Jude, after all these years, the hard work, and dedication, you deserve this. Which is why I think it's best if we leave things as it is… We’re so used to and wrapped around each other we-”

“No no no, please-”

“You don't know what you want Jude! You pick and decide and live life as it goes! And I can't put myself through that because look at you now, you first claiming you couldn't do long distance and now saying we could work it out. What if two months in you realise it wasn't what you wanted? Are you becoming unhappy and breaking up once again? I refuse to be put through that, be treated like a test or lab rat just for your self-satisfaction. I also deserve to be happy,” you state, frustrated wiping your tears away and stepping back from him. 

Jude knew you were right, he hated it because it meant that now his biggest nightmare was becoming true. You were done, you were just done, you’d be willing to move on. Jude knew you for who you were, a girl who would listen and observe and not comment, but when you talked you spoke to let the message be clear and heard. So hearing this from you was quite humbling. He didn't know what he wanted, he was confused. 

“You’ll meet new people in Spain, this is just the beginning of something exciting and yet scary. Try it out Jude enjoy it, because this depends on how your future will be, around the people you're surrounded with… You never know, you may just find yourself where you should be… And I will always be here for you like I have, but right now it's better if we just focus on ourselves…” you say frowning, your palms sliding against each other to soothe your nerves. 

Jude just let out a breath and cried, his shoulders shaking and lips trembling which caused you to tear up knowing what you said was hurting him. But in all honestly it was the truth, “Come here,” you said, Jude didn't hold back and wrapped his arms around you, his head hiding in the crook of your neck as he let himself be completely vulnerable, holding you tight so he could relish the moment forever. Duke whined and laid his head on your legs, confused. 

Four months later here you were in England, mostly busy at Uni and an internship you managed to get after getting a referral. Duke and you enjoy walks in the morning and sometimes evening, going to dog parks to clear your head. You hate to say it but the breakup had taken a huge toll on you, you refused to admit it though. It was hard to lose the only person who had been there from day one. 

Jude was thriving in Spain, quickly fitting into the team and contributing to many goals and some assists. Best and youngest player, with many nominees to awards, It looked like he was doing better and happy, but you wouldn't know since your messages became less and less through those four months. You hated feeling a bit angry, jealous, and frustrated because he was doing better than you. 

But that would vanish because, at the end of the day, his happiness was yours as well. Even though you were miles apart, there was always something that brought the two of you together, which was Duke. You relished the good memories with Jude and cried to sleep because it wouldn't happen soon again. But a moment of honesty, you had to move on and not hold onto hope he would come back and chase you.

You learned to live with the fact but it was still hard to process. Maybe in another lifetime, you could have what you did with Jude, but for now, you were okay. It might be hard, but if something is worth fighting for, then it will occur, they just needed and required a huge miracle. You might have lost Jude but it meant you could learn from that and become a stronger person. 

Having been invited to an art gallery and museum, you got ready for the evening. Had the patience to complete a perfect blowout, and do your makeup. You also had the chance to wear your new black dress that fit perfectly for the evening. “How do I look Duke?” his head propped up and barked, which made you giggle. 

You turned to face the mirror for one last look, fixing your necklace, hiding the J initial that was still there, and spraying your favourite perfume. Your doorbell rang, and a few knocks were heard as you approached the door. Unbeknownst to you, Jude was on the other side. You opened the door to reveal him. “Jude!” you gasped, Duke coming to your side and shaking his tail when he saw Jude. Jude’s eyes roamed your body, his mouth slightly agape feeling breathless.

“I was hoping we could talk. Can I come in?”

[breadandblankets]

how i hc duke's relationships with the other (main) bats

bruce: mentor/friend/weird HS teacher u bond with kinda thing, i think bruce on his end still feels simmering guilt for not being there for duke when he needed him, duke feel simmering resentment towards bruce for being another adult that left him, this will boil over at some point but then they'll get over it, they will never be that dumb nuclear found family thing, i think doug and elaine would like bruce tho so maybe one of those friend of the family situations where u call someone ur not related to aunt/uncle

cass: very very good friends, would probably consider her a sister from another mister if u will, i would hesitate to call her a best friend *gestures at all of war* but i think she's up there, i really love the headcanon that there is some tension on duke's end because cass has the ability to be more efficient but she actively chooses not to, i think for a long time duke is going to be holding some unhealthy and unrealistic standards both for himself and also people around him, like everything else this causes tension then erupts before it gets resolved, cass i think would know about said tension the whole time but have no idea how to bring up the issue or how to even think about resolving it so it drags on

dick: i think duke holds a grudge for the robin war thing, and i think he fucking should iykyk, (the way he just leaves duke on a roof??? with cops????, i was shouting at my fucking comic) idk i think dick would probably make light of it for a while but duke would be real fucking clear that he remembers and won't be forgiving and forgetting any time soon, i think they're acquaintances at best but realistically, coworkers

damian: like cass Extremely good friends, found family if you will, honestly i think they got a lot of their interpersonal issues out of the way before duke becomes signal, so really its a matter of time before they actually become friends and not just acquaintances, they're old man young to me, i think they do old man things like feed birds in the park and play Go together, i think damian is probably one of the only people duke doesn't hold to his standards, he thinks damian deserves to be a kid, making damian be a kid is probably some of the only time that duke is forced to relax by proxy, therefore duke and damian's friendship is strongly encouraged by bruce who is out of his depth for what to do with both of them and throwing them at each other seems to be working (👍 parenting)

tim: i honestly don't think they know each other well, like i think they may have talked once??? so i don't have shit to base their relationship off, generally i think they're amicable if distant, like a coworker you say hi to at the coffee machine

babs: i Need them to interact, honestly it would be really funny if duke meets babs for the first time as oracle and he's just like??? you're my favorite librarian? and babs is like !! we missed you when you stopped volunteering!!! and duke has to be like yeah that was the joker, i think they would have a good relationship, they don't work together all that much cause oracle doesn't run duke's ops and duke isn't usually on the night shift but they know they can call each other in if they need. one of duke's few trusted AdultsTM

jason: i think rocky at the start, duke would definitely have some Memories of the red hood, that would probably be a hill to overcome, but i generally think that jason will eventually move into a more positive position in the city even with the shadows of all that stuff following him ofc. they are absolute Assholes to each other in a way that is clearly affection, jason will let duke get away with anything up to and including murder, duke will never let jason get away with anything, its like a typo in the group chat

steph: re same as tim, and babs practically nothing to base the relationship on BUT i think they would get on like a house on fire, like cass: sister from another mister energy, steph is giving duke the "you just found out ur dad is a supervillain" support he needs, they are the only bats successfully going to college they probably go to events on campus together, idk they have so much potential as the forgotten robins and all that, i think they should bully bruce together that would be so fun.

[nevermorgue]

more modern au stuff cause that's the vibes tonight - Ada works in a really shitty restaurant. She doesn't like talking about it and will almost always lie about her job. She tried applying to where Duke works (a performance restaurant/bar) and got rejected. - Will brings movie theatre popcorn home for Montresor after like every shift - Will keeps spare clothes in Prospero's flat from how often he sleeps on his couch. - Berenice and Eulalie love getting their nails done in matching patterns. They even got Pluto in on it when they all did a Halloween theme. - Morella has one of those mermaid tail blankets - She also has Lenore water her plants when she works late - Annabel Lee is writing a book. She doesn't really talk about it, but will go on and on about it if prompted. - Montresor had a motorcycle. Keyword: had. He crashed it and fucked up his body for a while. As of right now, he is bikeless. Although he claims he'll "get the old one fixed up". He doesn't even HAVE it anymore - Prospero, on occasion when he can, will sneak a pastry out of work (idiot works at a bakery despite not really needing to work) for Annabel. He gives her something different every time, knowing she will say "it's good" every single time no matter what it is. He is trying to figure out which one she genuinely likes the most. - Ada was asked to model ONCE for a photography student and she loves bringing it up whenever she sees anyone with a camera - They left Will at the roller rink once and didn't realize until Montresor needed to "borrow his apartment again." They went back at midnight and he was still sitting outside. Just waiting. - Speaking of, yes Montresor kicks Will out of his own tiny apartment for his nightly endeavors. Frequently. Hence why Will is a reoccurring guest at Prospero's. - Duke can and will buy whatever hoodie he sees if it gives him Pluto vibes. Pluto has too many, but it's okay because Berenice likes to steal them.

[gabessquishytum]

Lord Time and Lady Night casually drop it over the dinner that Dream is getting married next weekend. The fiancé is alpha Roderick Burgess, and Dream is absolutely terrified. The old fucker has been trying to court him for a long time. Dream has flat-out rejected him, which, obviously, didn't help in the slightest: Duke Burgess is rich AF, has the title, and Dream's parents consider him a good match. Dream knows that there's no way for him to cancel the wedding - his parents would make him go down the altar even if it's the last thing he does in his life. But he can pull a runaway bride before it's too late! He understands that it's a matter of time till he's found; besides, omegas are not allowed to live on their own. There's only one solution - Dream needs not only to escape but to be mated. If he gets a mating bite, he'd be legally bound to another alpha, and neither his parents nor Burgess would have a say in his life. Easier to be said than done! No sane alpha would dare to mate Dream Endless, the son of Lord Time, no matter how beautiful he looks and how enticing he smells. Moreover, Dream doesn't want to escape one prison just to get into another one - he wants someone good and understanding. Things that Roderick is not. Anyway, the time is running out, and Dream runs away into the night. He rides as long as he can, but even his horse Jessamy, as awesome as she is, needs some rest. And food. And so does Dream, for he couldn't take any supplies from the manor to avoid suspicions. Reluctantly, Dream decides to spend the night in The White Horse Inn. It is far from the manor, and if his absence goes unnoticed until breakfast, he'll be able to rest and buy enough stuff to wait out a few days in the forest. Or, if he's lucky enough, to meet someone agreeable to mate him. Hob Gadling, the innkeeper, recognizes Dream from the start. But even if he didn't, Dream's attire and manners just scream he's nobility who has never been to such places. And he smells like an unmated omega who is prohibited to travel on his own... Still, Hob doesn't need a title to tell when an omega is distressed, and Dream is clearly in trouble. Hob welcomes him like a dear friend, serves him dinner, ensures the omega's horse is comfortable at the stable, and goes back to try to find out what's happened to his guest. Maybe he can help? He also tries very hard not to stare - the stories of Dream's heavenly beauty turned out to be true, and Hob's only an alpha... Dream realizes it's now or never. He must seduce Hob! Even if Hob refuses to bite him, perhaps Dream would be of no interest to Burgess if he's 'second-hand.' To secure a bite would be better, though. If only Dream knew how to lure this strong, kind, and caring alpha into bedding him...

I'm obsessed with this - the mere image of rich, sheltered and shy omega Dream desperately attempting to seduce Hob is absolutely charming. Dream knows plenty about drawing-room small talk, about the weather and one's health and the state of the roads... but he knows very little about passion. Or what an alpha might truly want. He's almost in tears with frustration as Hob kindly rebuffs his clumsy attempts to flirt. He's desperate and tired and kind of a little worked up because Hob is actually kind of sexy.......

Hob kind of wants to laugh, but he's not that mean. So he takes Dream through into his own private little sitting room and makes him explain the whole story from the beginning. He's not promising anything, but he will try to help if he can.

About an hour later he's between Dream’s legs, thinking that this isn't exactly the kind of "help" that he'd envisaged providing. But Dream is no longer just a desperate runaway. He's an omega growing into himself, becoming himself. He's got his hand fisted in Hob’s hair and he's demanding more. Hob obeys him without question. If the church was open at such a late hour he'd take Dream down there right now and marry him on the spot, both of them smelling like sex and cum and all.

And when Dream demands to be bitten in his haughty lordly voice, well. Hob IS only an alpha... what can he do but obey, and make sure that this beautiful, spirited omega remains free of Burgess? Hob intends to be Dream’s mate of course, but he also intends to set Dream properly free. Help him be the person he was always meant to be. He can't wait to see how it all turns out.

[happysheeppolice]

I just think it would be really funny to put a person whos good with their emotions and others and aren't afraid to tell people what's their problem in the batfamliy roster.

like just imagine it

[Bruce shutting off and ignoring everyone]

said person: do you think he does it because he's afraid he's gonna hurt us or because he doesn't know another way of communicating he's feeling distressed?

--

person(gonna call them pip) : tim, you know that playing around with people's emotions won't help with your own, right? nor will sleeping it off.

--

Pip: Damian, growing up in whatever the league of shadows is, was not healthy at all for your mental health.

--

I like to think this happens in casual conversations. You will be talking about the new movie you had just seen one moment, and the next pip will just go "Do you think you hate them because you relate to them? because really, that character was objectively nice and really enjoyable"

they will call you out with the most casual tone and move on.

--

Pip might have very alive and healthy parents, but that does not mean they didn't insert themselves into the Wayne family.

they were new to gotham and befriended this really nice guy around their age, okay? how were they met to know the guy was a Wayne? Also, how were they met to know who the Waynes are? they're new!! also, he said his name was Duke Thomas , so they really had no way of knowing. don't blame them!

--

I also like to imagine that they don't even know a lot about psychology they just understand people like that. it's just easy for them.

no I do not know how they ended so close to the batfamliy but they are here and no matter how many times people try to push them away they will come back you call you out for trying to push them away with no reason.

-

"how does pip know about some of this stuff? aren't they a civilian?" I DONT KNOW OKAY. they just know. they were there at the moment and said their line leave them alone! I just made them up because it's funny to think about :<<

(pip was just made up while I wrote this post)

[gilverrwrites]

You got me thinking a lot about Tim lately. How do you imagine him a little older, early-mid thirties? I think he would be a bit bigger muscle wise. Nothing like Jason, but a bit slimmer than Dick, but he has more definition and when you look at him you'll notice he's strong.

He would grow into his perpetual tiredness in a hot way. He's got that rich vibe and is smooth too. I don't think his voice would be particularly deep though.

I lost where I was going with this. I had to punch my pillow because I imagined older tired Tim in glasses swoon

I'm also the boob lady. May I be 👙?

Glasses feels right. Too much screen and book time. He can't rely on contacts all the time, no matter how high-tech they may be.

And yeah, perpetual tiredness. Enough so that there are at least a few theorists out there who are convinced he's a coke addict or something. Sunken back eyes, dark circles. He's constantly giving resting ‘fuck you’ eyes, and he has pretty gauntish cheeks too. He doesn't smoke but he looks like he smokes, you know?

Stays clean shaven most of the time.

Probably not until his late thirties, early forties, but I think he’ll start greying around then. He’ll have a good few years of it just being on the sides before it starts to spread, kinda like his dads in some versions. Jay likes to make fun of him for it even though he has had some level of white hair since his twenties. Dick dyes his, only Tim knows, he doesn't say anything.

More muscle, but one day Damien and Duke will surpass him in height, so he’ll always be the shortest male Robin once grown. (HC, he's shorter than Steph, but he just beats out Cass.)

I'm a skaterboy Tim truther, and his style stays mostly the same, outside of business stuff anyway. Lots of vintage tops and sweaters, plaid, layering, baggy jeans, beat-up sneakers. But when he opens his mouth you know its aesthetic, cause he talks posh.

[some-pers0n]

i, magical anon, request a List of Ocs. thank you ma’am have a nice day

My OCs?? Damn well I guess I gotta talk about 'em some more sometime. They're all mainly WoF OCs (unless you want me to count my Grootkey thing) soo..here we go! Haven't touched most of my OCs in years so sorry if I've forgotten things or just go "I found this one in a folder ig"

Paramic (They/Them)

Paramic is (was?)(hard to tell if they're alive or dead) a self-made animus who was initially an excited, overzealous student at Sanctuary'a academy. One day when out surveying the landscape nearby the Deltra Spray River, they found a pair of claw caps that were animus chanted to tear a hole in reality and allow them to pass through. Paramic, who's always been fascinated by the concept of alternate universes, explores them. Things then spiral. Badly. Very badly. Now they're in a weird paradox/time loop thing and it's not too fun. They're still a good dragon though!

(Art credits to DrawesomeJulia)

Navigation (He/They)

Navigation is kinda currently in a weird limbo area in the story and I kinda wanna revisit him sometime to try and give him an actual story. The only real thing that matters is that he's an adopted animus dragon who literally doesn't give two shits about whether his actions are good or not (whereas Paramic keeps trying to convince themselves that it's alright). Navigation is just a bastard and I love him a little

(Art credit to Dreambreaker)

Miasma (She/They/It)

Miasma is dead and is mostly just cursed to wander the Forgotten City of Night forever as an aimless spirit and only really exist when some poor sap comes along and dies in her general area. Her current body belongs to a HiveWing who tried fleeing to the land where Clearsight came from (Pyrrhia) and only managed to get a bit father than the shore of the peninsula for Miasma to Get 'Em. They don't remember anything really. They're a mash of both OG Miasma who existed 2000 years ago and the HiveWing. They got a pet snake named Talus too

(Art credits to Floofy)

Marlin (She/Her)

Marlin is different in the way she's technically a canon character. She's my interpretation for Albatross' wife. Albatross and Marlin got married, but due to Albatross being aromantic it felt a bit...off. Marlin didn't pay it any attention and was content being pretty friendly with him though. Marlin is a dragon from a pretty low ranking house and she was arranged to marry him because her parents told Queen Lagoon that their family were more capable of producing animus dragos (and also paid a good fortune). Marlin's just a sweetheart...

(Art credits to AvianReptilez)

The Thorns and Roses Gang

So, my first ever actual longfic was an OC fic about these three (though mainly candy cane there in the middle). Lemme go through them all. Idk how well Thorns and Roses holds up, but I think it's a half-decent fic if you're into OC stuff ig. It's not big on plot and is mainly about Radiant trying to better herself while the events of Arc 3 happen around her and her friends

(Art credits to VuIkun)

Radiant (She/Her)

Ah ol' Radiant. Shit childhood. Horrible one. She grew up in Wasp Hive in an academy as an orphan. This was because her parents were flamesilk revolutionists, who had their egg confiscated when they were executed. Radiant was abused pretty horribly and it shaped her perception of the world drastically. She believes herself to be inherently unlovable so she acts rude, crass, sarcastic, etc etc. She does get a nice friend group by the end and betters herself just a bit, becoming content with life and a bit happier at the end

Locust (He/Him)

Locust is a duke of Hornet Hive and his family is notorious for both their prestige and status, but also their colour. The LeafWing-HiveWings and all. Locust was living at Hornet Hive all alone and wanted a friend, but also had a bit of a savior complex and when he saw Radiant he wanted to help her out so bad. He hired Radiant as a "servant", when really it was like getting a roommate. By the end they become a lot closer and are nice friends, with Radiant going from literally hating him with every fiber of her being to then go chasing after him into a battlefield

Adonis (She/Her)

Adonis was a servant of Locust's parents and lived in Mantis Hive. She's generally a pretty bubbly and preppy individual, though one who's been led to believe in the abusive values of the HiveWing oppressors. Through the help of Radiant (where they meet each other eventually) she unlearns these ideas and begins to live her life freely. She's just a silly friend :] Love her

Tide (He/Him)

This guy (+ a couple others who I like and call the Scorpion Den gang) shows up in TAR as well. Tide is an ex-prince of the SeaWings, who just got sick of Coral's shit, ran away, and nearly died in the desert before stumbling upon the bar belonging to his now-girlfriend. He's laid-back and generally a sorta "whatever" guy, but he will put down his talons if stuff is going down

[not-another-robin]

Welcome to Nars Hell. Long ass post about the BatDog

I'm taking this comic as her canonical origins completely.

Why do I say her? I think it's a typo, but they literally say "she" in the comic when Alfred takes her from the shelter. I'm a big personal fan of butch dogs so I'm sticking to it. Less perceptive batfam members still misgender her but it literally doesn't matter she's a dog

Ace is Alfred's little baby. His skrunkly. His best friend his good time boy.

Likewise, Alfred is the only person in the world Ace listens to. The only bitch in this house she respects.

She only responds to British accents. Yes this results in the family doing their best (worst) Alfred impressions on the regular to get her to do what they want.

She is a terrifying guard dog to almost everyone except Alfred. To Alfred she's a spoiled puppydog who wears sweaters and cries if she doesn't get a special dinner plate like everyone else

Alfred talks to her like a person. Like he holds conversations with her. The family insists it's adorable but he's just having a civil conversation with a colleague

Ace has preference for Damian, Cass, and Duke. She is their little sweetiepie as well.

She would protect Damian with her life and tries to do so often. Fuck that mailman's life forever he's coming for her baby

Damian is the only one other than Alfred she'll listen to, but only when she wants to. No she won't get off of you Damian baby needs to sleep.

Cass she can chill and hang with. Cass is the only one who lets her sleep in the people beds

Duke can play with her like a real dog. Like, with chew toys and stuff. It's weird to watch. He has a million nicknames for her too

She's doesn't necessarily like Bruce but she protects Bruce like it's her job. THAT'S her boy. Alfred hired (adopted) her to protect the emo man so that's what she'll do

She is trained in service dog stuff! She can open doors, alert to medical emergencies, and even bring pills.

[delusionalmultifandomwriter]

Batfam Sleep Noise HC

requested?: no

I should sleep because i literally have to get up at 5am but inspiration hit me

HC: What does the Batfam listen to while falling asleep?

Dick will listen to simple Talk Podcasts where the people talk about random topics. He needs something light to fall asleep. He is not picky though, he will start the first that pops up on Spotify and go with it.

Jason listens to Harry Potter Podcasts. Jay is a big nerd for Harry Potter and likes these podcasts where they will analyize the movies frame by frame. He will also listen to Back to the Future Minute.

Tim listens to TED talk but he never comes far because he will pass out immediatly most times. Podcasts come in truly handy for him when insomnia hits hard. Some nights when he feels lonely, he will listen to Boyfriend ASMR but he will take that secret to the grave. Sometimes he cries while listening to it and hugging his pillow.

Barbara also listens to TED talk. She also likes all sorts of tech podcasts. She will not only listen to podcasts while falling asleep but also during any other situation.

Stephanie likes to listen to meditation podcasts and noises. She will totally fall asleep to the sound of rain, forest noises or the sound of the sea. Steph is zen.

Cass prefers to fall asleep in silence. When insomnia hits her, she will listen to True Crime and History Crime Podcasts. Cannibalism, serial killers, child molesters, nothing is too hard for her. The family is totally questioning her sanity and how she can even listen to stuff like that but noone dares to fight her on it.

Duke listens to slow music. Sometimes it is LoFi but it doesnt really matter to him. Occassinally he will listen to childrens audio books because he used to listen to them when he was younger. He likes the Harry Potter audiobooks as well as other classics and Disney audiobooks.

Damian listens to the Clone Wars Audiobooks. He will listen to them over and over again because they are his comfort audiobooks. He religiously avoids the episode where Fives dies and the one where Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order (i mean, who doesn't?). On the rare occassion he will listen to something else, he will listen to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It brings a strange sense of control and normalcy to his truly extraordinary life.

Bruce falls asleep in silence or while listening to white noises. Fight me on that, i dare you.

[blackjackkent]

OK. Iron Throne time!

This is one of those things that is a) mildly easier with the extra person we have in our squad and b) not really THAT different from how it went with Hector, so I'm not going to play-by-play the mechanics again.

However, there are a few differences between this scenario and how it ran for Hector, starting with the voice that pops into Rakha's head as soon as she arrives:

"Halt."

Narrator: A cold, suckering wetness grasps at your mind. A voice, familiar to you from the Underdark, wraps itself around your brain.

"You must act with haste. Duke Ravengard is held within these walls. He must be extracted."

Unlike Hector, Rakha did not accept any help from Omeluum in the Underdark, so this is not a familiar voice in any respect. It in fact takes Rakha a few precious seconds to place it - the illithid from the myconid colony who offered to investigate the worm in her head. What in all the hells is it doing here?

But that question doesn't even matter, because what it says is far more important.

Duke Ravengard is held within these walls.

A flicker of adrenaline pulses like lightning through her veins. Wyll's father is here, and still alive. Mizora didn't kill him when the pact was severed. They can still rescue him.

But the water is pouring in fast.

"Tell me what to do," she responds inwardly. She is conscious out of the corner of her eye of Wyll's eyes going wide and his breath quickening.

Images flicker through her head - of rusted steel walls and locked doors, and lizard-like creatures patrolling.

"Duke Ravengard is held in the security wing," Omeluum intones. "Be careful. There are many hazards. This structure is collapsing. Act with speed. Act with efficiency. Good luck."

-----

So here's the thing.

None of that dialogue made it at all clear that Omeluum is actually a) here or b) in danger. All it said was that Ravengard is and needs to be extracted. And actually finding Omeluum requires you going way out of your way and through a locked door in the facility.

And Rakha talked to it in the Underdark for a total of about ten seconds and DID NOT trust it at all.

Much as I hate to say it, I don't think she would be at all compelled to hunt for and save Omeluum despite it appearing as an item in the quest log. (Omeluum is a bro and I love it and Hector did save it, but I just can't see why Rakha would even realize she could try just from this dialogue, let alone necessarily wanting to.)

Her focus, in any event, is entirely on the Gondians and on Ravengard. So let's get to work.

-----

We have eight turns to play with (in D&D speak, about 48 seconds of real-time, which is definitely a fact that breaks down a little in this scenario if you try to look at it too closely).

Lae'zel has the fastest movement speed, followed by Minsc, so they are on Gondian retrieval duty, while Jaheira clears the entryway and Rakha and Wyll go after Ravengard.

Haste potions for everyone except Jaheira, who is being kept on the task that requires not much moving around because I love her to death but she is SO slow. (The game claims she has the same movement speed as Rakha and Wyll but I don't buy it; she ALWAYS seems to be moving slower than everyone else.)

Lae'zel and Minsc and Jaheira's portions go off without a hitch, more or less. (Truly the most exhausting part of this whole process is watching the three billion turns go by of the tons of sahuagin that start spawning and all the Gondians trying to run away and eliciting every attack of opportunity in their path.) I am rather proud of some strategic stuff I did with making use of my character pathing to elicit reactions from the sahuagin and make it safer for the Gondians to get out. :D

Shoutout to the one Gondian who thought it was a good idea to PUNCH AN OIL BARREL on his way out. I truly do not know why he did this, but it set off an explosion which then a) damaged his comrades and b) triggered the lever to shut the door he was trying to get through to leave.

???? Why.

-----

CORRECTION from later in the fight - it apparently caused BOTH doors on the pathway out to both shut and LOCK. And the levers to open them are both on the inside where none of my controlled characters are. Let the bards sing of Featherweight Falson and his utter idiocy for centuries to come.

The Gondians had better all be lining up to give me a real nice evening after this. I did manage to get them all out in spite of their idiocy; the strategy involved Lae'zel taking two of her three attacks to smash the first door down and then shooting an arrow at the lever to open the second. I also spent a lot of healing potions on these dumbasses.

But I did it!8

-----

Anyway, Wyll and Rakha's portion is where the interesting stuff happens.

As soon as Wyll opens the door on Ravnegard's cell, an unsettling, rolling burst of laughter rolls through the air around them. Mizora's laughter.

Rakha shudders involuntarily, but the adrenaline and the effects of the potion she swallowed don't allow her to slow down. She can see that Wyll has gone wide-eyed, frantic, yanking the door open to let his father free.

I think Rakha can probably tell immediately that Ravengard is charmed. The game shows it as a bunch of light strings sort of puppeting his body, and I'm guessing Rakha, with her sensitivity to the Weave, can see it too. So she's already on her guard and hurling a health potion at Ravengard to try and prepare him as the devil herself shimmers into view.

"Wyll, my pet..." she purrs, malice in her eyes and her smile. "I was hoping you'd bound along. A bargain's a bargain. And I've come to see it through."

She looks past Wyll towards Ravengard who is still standing just past the door of his cell, trembling and blank-eyed. "Mea furia," she snarls. "Kneel for me!"

Slowly, jerkily, Ravengard stumbles, then falls to one knee, staring at Mizora's feet.

"What are you doing?" Wyll hisses, his voice full of fury and desperation.

Mizora clicks her tongue, mock-innocent. "Exactly what you asked for," she says brightly. "Now stand back and enjoy the show!"

She vanishes, and in her place appear a horde of magic-glittering spiders, which descend on Ravengard.

-----

Wyll and Rakha, in keeping with the fact that both of them are in High Adrenaline mode at the moment, managed to have a pretty badass little sequence here on their next turn.

Rakha hurled another health potion on Ravengard, then darted out of the room to clear the AOO from the Sahuagin blocking the door. Wyll used the help action Ravengard to free him from his compelled kneel, then Eldritch Blasted all the nearest spiders to knock them out of AOO range and kill some of them before they could burst on his father.

And then everyone ran like hell.

And you know what? I know I'm on easy, I know, I know - but I did some pretty smart stuff here and I got everyone out and I'm proud of myself. :P

-----

(For some reason, when everyone escapes, this cutscene always puts Minsc in the driver's seat no matter how I order the party or who was actually the last one out of the Iron Throne. I had to do a temporary save leaving him behind in the exploding prison in order to make the cutscene use anyone else - specifically Wyll who was who I wanted.)

Wyll hurls himself behind Rakha up the ladder, soaked in the briny water that is now flooding the last corners of the shattered Iron Throne. The Gondians are out. His father is safe. With a last wrenching effort he pulls himself into the submersible and lets the hatch fall shut behind him.

Ravengard stands at the window, watching the prison fall away behind them. Seeing Wyll out of the corner of his gaze, he turns and meets his son's eyes in silence. Then he turns, wordlessly, and takes a seat, leaving Wyll to look out through the reinforced glass alone.

Behind them, the last charges detonate within the Throne's carcass. Chunks of broken stone and metal burst out in all directions as the submersible slips away into the dark water.

[ashen-char]

i feel like max would totally freak out during her first gay awakening like... she's always been in heterosexual relationships (+with guys who didn't treat her well btw) so she would totally panic bcs?? she's always thought of herself as straight and suddenly she starts feeling something for a girl?

she would totally blush at a compliment or just simply bcs of the proximity of her girl crush around, although i think she wouldn't be straightforward and confess her feelings bcs well... it's max.

she would either ignore those feelings and try to move on (while ignoring the girl and hurting her by distancing herself) or she'd talk to frankie or sam about it (and they would support her 100%!!)

i feel like frankie and duke would tease her about it, tho. sam would totally be surprised at max's confession but would have a serious talk about it, saying how she's proud of her and would support her no matter if she was gay or not. i think that rich would also play an important role in here since he's always been like a "dad" to sam's kids (and don't forget how important his character was in the last season!!🤠) but also bcs he's gay himself and he would give max some advice, tell her his journey with his own sexual orientation and feel proud of her. i feel like her real dad would have some "but's" if he ever found out about it (idk he just looks like a total homophobe to me lol + considering how bad of a dad/ex husband he is since he always fucks something up). max would be hesitant about telling him about it, tho. knowing how he always lets everyone down i wouldn't even be surprised if she wouldnt tell him.

um, what else... i think max would totally be into rainbow stuff. yk, rainbow hats, rainbow umbrellas, bracelets, socks(😭) anything that reminds her of gay pride. i feel like she would be bisexual/lesbian (i'm a lesbian myself so obv max being a lesbian would be so 🥰🥰) but yeah she would totally have a lot of things in her room that have colors of her flag AND obv she would put a big ass pride flag above her bed. idk the thought of it just makes me happy 😭🤞🏻💞

thank u for listening to my ted talk . i'd love to see more similar stuff to this written by you on ur page and i hope you're doing ok <3 ^__^ i love ur works!!

long ask/response so read more below

oh god, max would be so confused at first. after a few times hanging out, max would catch herself flirting and realise that she's not even joking. that she wants to be around you way more than normal, in a way that's different than being comfortable with her other friends. because being around you doesn't make her comfortable! she feels really awkward and her heartbeat gets all funny and she worries about screwing up her words when she doesn't usually give a fuck about what others think. max finds herself worrying about what you're up to, if you laugh at her jokes, if you'll think what she's wearing is pretty. if you think she's pretty.

honestly, she doesn't even care about the guys she dates as much. there's so many times where max basically uses them as a prop, makes out with them because they're there and talks about them like they're not there. so it's even more confusing to name these feelings because it's completely not like her. and yeah, that feeling of being unsure would make her push you away. but feeling empty without you being near her would slowly eat at max's resolve, and she'd go to the people in her life who always help her figure stuff out.

when max talks about it to sam, sam helps in that half-cringe but very thoughtful way she always does. she'd tell max about a woman who tried pursuing her, mer (in season 3, i think? when max was in chicago for college iirc). frankie would probably walk in during this conversation, and max would be annoyed at both of them—sam for being gross and telling her about someone pursuing her (ew, no one wants to hear about that from their mom) and frankie for being so nosy—but max would eventually settle down and listen.

sam would tell max that whatever she's feeling is great, that the only thing that max might regret is not exploring these feelings and figuring herself out a little more. frankie would say something about how it's fine to not know what you are and just see how it fits and how you feel, relating it to how non-linear their discovery of their gender identity was. frankie would help her realise that everyone's story isn't the same, as frankie tells her these stories about their other LGBT friends. some people feel like they've always known and some people go so long but then have a sudden realisation, like max, but that's all valid and normal. but yes duke and frankie would totally make fun of max for freaking out and acting like this over a crush at her big age.

especially with rich and the other trusted adults in max's life (like phil who would be so happy for max too, and ask all about you), max doesn't need to tell xander about it! his absence in their lives means that he doesn't get to know the real them until he shows an interest in knowing them. if he doesn't act like a dad then he doesn't get to be one, yknow?

when sudden awakenings happen and you reflect on your past, it's funny to see what you've missed. max would look back and think 'shit, i totally had a crush on shego' or something as she looks back at her cartoon crushes. even super close friendships she had growing up, max will realise 'hey maybe it wasn't het of me that i wanted to impress her that bad' or 'wow, i was really jealous when she got a boyfriend'.

ultimately when max accepts that her identity is actually an exciting thing that she gets to discover about herself, she would adore pride. i think learning about the history, the many struggles it took to get this far, and the support of the community is bolstering for any baby gay. but especially with how sam talks to them about feminism and to be proud to be women, it'd be something max thrives in. figuring out whether she identifies as bi or pan or even a lesbian is something that she knows will come in time - for now, she'll be overwhelmed with the love and support she has from the people around her, and a new community with people just like her. (i think max would find the lesbian flag super pretty)

*insert max doing an 'am i gay quiz' nick from heartstopper-style*

thank you for the ask! i love these ted talks!! people loving these characters gives me so much motivation to write em, seriously.