#ex-gang au

[kingkatsuki]

Heavily thinking about Kaji and record shop worker!reader.

Where he’s so quiet as he browses the rows of vinyl, headphones on and sucker settled in between his teeth and gum. He doesn’t really speak to you outside of formalities when he’s buying something new to add to his collection or asking if you got a particular release in.

You tell him one day near closing that you’d think he was more of a streaming guy, that he wouldn’t be interested in physical music— but Kaji tells you that music always sounds better on vinyl.

You like him enough as a customer to keep some of the more popular releases he’s looking for to the side, and convince your boss to get some of the rarer/less popular ones in.

Until one evening he manages to come into the shop when you’re being hounded over the desk by your ex-boyfriend. He doesn’t get involved, but it’s the first time he’s been in the shop and turned his music off. Standing in silence so he can try to hear your conversation, to see if you’re alright. He notices you crying at the desk when he comes up to pay, and that’s the first time he’s ever asked something about you. Not music, not the shop— you.

From that day Kaji starts bringing in little post-it notes with songs he’s scribbled down that he thinks you’d like— songs he’s listened to that remind him of you. Of course, he doesn’t tell you that though.

It goes on for a while before he starts to bring in mix-tapes he’s made for you. He still doesn’t have your number after weeks of coming into the shop, but he wanted to find a way to share the songs that remind him of you with you. Thinking it was probably a step too far to give you a piece of paper with a Spotify URL scrawled down on it, plus he’d be too nervous you couldn’t read his handwriting. So he leaves you the tapes, each with the tracklist written down in simple black sharpie.

The more tapes he gives you, the more you start noticing the song titles— This song made me think of you, how do I tell a girl I want to kiss her, falling so in love with you.

And you start to really listen to the lyrics, playing the tapes constantly at home while you think about him. Until you’re standing at work and waiting for him to come through the doors, your eyes light up when you see him and he becomes the best part of your day.

[mrgladstonegander]

for my return to duckblr may i offer my bootleg team magic (which doesnt include umbra/magica but shes here too)

team science here

umbra de mancy / magica = basically the same character / fills the same role as in dt17. wanted her to have an Evil Magical Girl look to spite lena's sorceress outfit.

luna de mancy / lena = also mostly the same character. wanted to lean more into what punk style she already had. i love her arc in dt17, but here she reclaims her shadow magic + never has to reconnect with umbra ever. both she and umbra are ruddy ducks

sunny vanderduck / webby = shares an arc with cherry(huey), and while she still has the same role of having luna realize she deserves to have a good life and isn't a bad person, luna helps her realize that valerie(beakley) isn't the best guardian either...

twilight costa / violet = meets luna + sunny earlier on. outwardly she's mostly the same, but she struggles with feeling connected with other communities. american culture and her heritage, being too weird to one of the smart kids, and too smart to be one of the weird kids, being outcased from the rest of the [junior woodchucks]. but once she finds her place with luna, sunny, and cherry, she opens up her silly side more :)

oliver oca / gladstone: despite getting people to be around him with his luck, he knew he was still alone. never really seeing a point in trying to do things, when he knew his luck would handle it for him. his passivity worsens after the casino, where his efforts didn't help him get out. luckily, someone is looking to fix him... (post-development design. spoilers! he loses his luck. mainly connected to the rest of team magic through umbra, luna, and Rorschach Specter]

[fanfictionsrookie]

[crimeronan]

Brain idea hit as a result of Princess AU, When they were really young Luz probably figured out that when you scratch Hunter behind the ear it gets him really sleepy and makes him purr a lot (common fanon Grimwalker quirk from stonesleepers), and whenever he was restless and not getting to sleep she'd do it to help him along. (idk if you've touched upon it in this AU or not)

But, since she was otherwise pretty isolated from other witches (at least never THAT absurdly close) assumed that this is a thing that all witches get and at some point, once Amity gets closer to them... she tries doing the same with Amity and not getting the same result, and Amity just looks at her, lowkey liking it as a show of affection (not that she'd dare show that to let this weirdness continue) but otherwise very confused and a mortified Luz realizing it's a grimwalker thing and not knowing how to explain things without risking talking about the thing she does not want to talk about one bit whatsoever.

this is very funny and cute. i've seen a lot of purring witch headcanons but hadn't ever seen the take of purring being exclusive to grimwalkers, that's Delightful.

honestly i think luz would just very quickly be like "i'm so sorry, i wasn't thinking, hunter just likes it when i-" and amity is like "okay, well. NOW it's weird."

[pico-digital-studios]

What’s your favourite food?

Mr. Needlemouse: I- I'm back! Phew. Sorry, folks. Had to sketch myself a new body part after Miss Basketball Fanatic cooked it.

Nitro: We really did try to warn you that Cindy means business, dude.

Mr. NM: You didn't tell me she'd be wielding a gun full of cartoon-harming chemicals!

Pana: Welp, better luck next time, mate. Ah, yeah! While you were out, Ben and Blu showed up here.

BluBuni: Hi there!

OMT!Tails: Glad you could make it for this next question! Though, you guys aren't part of our group, so how come you showed up in our part of the Q&A?

Benjamin: Ah, right. I heard the current question didn't get labelled, so I felt it'd be a good pick for us to join in for this one.

OMT!Tails: Heh, very well, then.

OMT!Mina: Right, let's see... @btnfstudios asks "What's your favourite food?"

CR!Sonic: Heh, now that's a good one!

Mr. NM: Ah, finally! A question that's not at my expense! Well, as you can tell, I absolutely crave chilli dogs!

CU!Sonic: I figure it'd be the same for all us Sonics in the room.

Mini Sonic: Yep. CR!Sonic: I suppose so.

Pana: Ah, bummer. I'd say I'm more partial to a fresh cheese-and-ham toastie. It absolutely pays off getting the right heat to melt all that cheese, heh.

OMT!Mina: Heh, yeah. Pana taught me how to make some during the times I've stayed over at his world.

OMT!Tails: Well, I'm sure you guys know what I'm fond of, right?

EX!Alice: Mints?

OMT!Tails: Ah, no no no! That's something I have on rare occasions. I actually really love having grapes!

BK!Amy: Ah, so like Knuckles, right? Sweet!

OMT!Tails: Hehe, yeah. It rubbed off on me there.

Nitro: Heh, choc-chip cookies are my absolute favourite! It's always a fun snack before meals.

Smol Devy: Yep! April: Hehe, yep! Of course, my favourite food is absolutely burgers! ^w^

BK!Amy: Hehe, that's lovely, April! Of course, strawberry shortcake remains my favourite dessert!

Nine: You know, I've been starting to get fond of it as well. Thanks for letting me be a taste-tester, Amy.

BK!Amy: You're most welcome!

Benjamin: Well, I've loved having donuts and bananas as my favourite snack between meals! Me and Blu often go to a donut stall in town to get some.

BluBuni: We sure do! In terms of food I'm not so fond of, it's definitely carrots. I've never really been a huge fan, though I don't really publicly state that, so I'm polite about it and ask for alternatives if guys like Bugs are doing waiting.

EX!Alice: Good thought there, Blu. I'm a big fan of pasta-based meals myself, especially if meatballs are thrown in there.

D-Sides Mighty: You know, I'd say I'm a fan of regular hot dogs. Putting ketchup on there really livens the taste!

Kinoko: I mean, me? A Meat-eor Burger and a Milky Way Milkshake are my go-to after a hard day exploring the galaxy!

Trip: And as for me, I've started getting into having strawberries as a light snack. When I'm away from my friends, it always reminds me of my Amy and how sweet she was when we first met back at the water temple.

CR!Sonic: Heh, I mean, orange you glad I held back on arguing with that? I'm glad you've got a tie to your old home there, Trip.

Trip: Aww, thank you.

CU!Sonia: You know, dad got me into chilli dogs pretty quickly during my youth!

CR!Sonia: Heh, same! You see, other Sonia? This is why you and me are awesome girls!

CU!Sonia: Hehe, shucks!

CR!Manik: You know, me, Sonia and dad gave a shot at making our own chilli dogs with help from mom. We didn't nail the recipe the first time around, but we got better!

CR!Sonic: Family bonding done to a T, son!

Hog: Chilli dogs, huh? Is that a common courtesy our, erm, "non-bootleg" selves like to have?

Wacky: Yep.

Hog: I swear I gotta give one a shot someday.

Mini Sonic: Trust me, Hog! It'll be worth it!

OMT!Tails: Ah, yeah! That reminds me! Knuckles and Amy were planning a barbecue today in our back garden, and we were wondering if you guys would like to join in!

Mr. NM: I call dibs on a chilli dog!

BK!Amy: That's such a wonderful thought, Tails! Count me in!

OMT!Mina: And me!

Nitro: Heh, no way I'd turn down opportunities to hang out with my multiversal pals off the clock!

BluBuni: A barbecue? Yay! I'm looking forward to it!

Benjamin: Me too!

EX!Alice: Well, we'd better go and get ourselves set up. Thanks for the question, Brendan!

D-Sides Mighty: And NM? Please don't go hogging all the food before we even get a chance to have it.

Mr. NM: Aww, you guys are no fun. >:(

Hog: Wait, was that a pun or-?

D-Sides Mighty: Nah, it was proper speak.

Hog: Ah, right!

A little later, elsewhere... (extra scripting by @becdoesthings)

CLE: ... What did he call me after he left...?

Cindy reloaded a glock, intent on really putting him to rights.

Nitro: Okay, okay. We'll handle him should he try to mess up the barbecue later. Plus, he's less likely to call you... THAT again now that you did that to him.

CLE: ...Duly noted. I really hope he learns. Cuz I know people that don't learn shit.

Nitro: Me too. Then again, knowing Needlemouse's track record, it's not too likely.

CLE: Disappointed, but not surprised.

Nitro: Same.

[candy-dog55]

The ghost gang meet ghost gang.exe

Clyde meet Slendy (Clyde.exe)

Inky meet Blindy (Inky.exe)

Pinky meet Old One (Pinky.exe)

Blinky meet Screamy (Blinky.exe)

[jennyandvastraflint]

Romcom Paternoster Gang.

Jenny saying "that's the closest I'll get to fucking a mermaid" and starting to pursue Vastra who's already undyingly devoted to her

Strax is basically his canon self, he transcends genres. He gets to counsel both of them and tells each the same thing, "Love is a chemical imbalance in the brain"

The Doctor occasionally shows up as a running gag in various regenerations but it's never addressed, they just have 15 differently looking people show up and call them all the Doctor.

[k00kiecrumbler]

☆ RT-tober Day 17 and 18 ☆

no. 283: RT.EXE AU [ doomed affair...]

no. 506: 5r6c AU [ the chickens 🥺 ; also spinning to Nobody by Mitski ! ]

[ click for better quality ]

[icebrooding]

Fic: Astragalus

The commander wakes to find Aurene by one side, and Trahearne by another. It isn't the world he's used to, where he searched for the shards of his heart alongside the shards of Caladbolg. Part of an AU where Trahearne survives Heart of Thorns.

On AO3

“—ander… up…”

A little groan and a turn of the head.

“—Commander.”

“Five more minutes…” He grumbles, leaning further against a somewhat hard surface; something a bit… scaly? How odd, none of his pillows have been made from scales before… Unless—

Kaushue sits up abruptly. “I’m awake, I’m awake!”

His ‘pillow’ chirps in delight, finding amusement in his bewilderment, and he feels a slight heat in his face, bark radiating an ice-blue glow. He gently runs a hand across Aurene’s back, thanking her for playing the part of impromptu bedding.

“That was quite the fetching sight, you must know,” he hears a voice from above where he sits, “the Pact commander curled up asleep against a dragon hatchling.”

Kaushue looks up, and feels a bit winded at the familiar shades of green and yellow.

Trahearne takes a seat by them on the ground, reaching out to pet under Aurene’s chin affectionately. She purrs, clearly pleased.

“Trahearne…” Kaushue begins, but can’t find the words. “But, Mordremoth… how…?”

The older sylvari raises his brow, confusion writ across his face. “Mordremoth? Commander, are you feeling alright?”

No, he wants to say. He can remember it clearly, the nausea and fear that coursed through him as they had finally caught up and saw the vile, twisted things that Mordremoth had done to Trahearne. He could never forget something like that, could never forget what he… had to do.

He could never forget waking up some mornings, long before the others, and just laying there in silence staring at Caladbolg where it remained at his bedside, shattered.

He startles when he feels fingers gently brush at his eyes. He looks up, confused, and sees the way Aurene and Trahearne both look at him with concern.

“You’re crying.”

“I… am?” He raises a hand to his face, and his fingers come away damp. “I’m sorry, I don’t… quite understand what’s going on.”

“It seems you had quite the nightmare.” Trahearne says softly. He shuffles closer on his spot, pressing up against Kaushue’s side. The commander lets out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding and leans into Trahearne as the man asks, “do you want to talk about it?”

“A nightmare…?” It would make sense. Of course, it had to have just been a nightmare—a horrific, awful nightmare. Kaushue takes a deep breath. “I’d rather not talk about it. Not right now.”

A moment later, he feels fingers rustle through his leaves comfortingly, and can’t help but lean his head into it. A little bit of affection is sorely welcomed. “That’s fine. I came to fetch you, but I think you deserve some more time to rest.”

Aurene chirps loudly, fluttering her small wings. She looks happy—but when does she not? Kaushue has no idea if dragons can smile, but the girl appears to have no other expression. He can’t help but chuckle. “Time for another nap with Aurene? Are you quite sure? I take it’s not some world-ending crisis this time, then?”

“Another update on the Primordus-Jormag situation, but it isn’t so dire that you cannot take a few more minutes.” Trahearne slowly retracts his hand, allowing it to fall between them, where it lands atop Kaushue’s. “…And as thankful as I am to her, I felt I needed a small reprieve from Taimi’s constant communications. She can be very… loud, with her personality at times.”

“That’s Taimi all right.” He loves the kid, he does, but asura in general have always exhausted him, and she is no exception. “You say Primordus and Jormag… so then, Mordremoth really is…?”

“I, yes?” Trahearne gives him a strange look. “It's been several months by now. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

“I’m sorry, I suppose my nightmare muddled my memories. How did it all…?”

The older sylvari pauses for a moment before taking a breath. “We lost many people to the dragon. Many more than I had anticipated.” His fingers slip between Kaushue’s, squeezing him. “If not for you and the others, the casualties would have been beyond catastrophic. Irrecoverable.” 

“I… remember that much.” Although he wishes he could forget just how many brothers and sisters he had to cut down, minds and bodies claimed by that monster.

“I was...” Trahearne takes a deep breath before he continues, and Kaushue can feel his insides twist and turn uncomfortably. “You found me before Mordremoth could fully claim my mind, but… we nearly lost you in the process. As we nearly did Caithe, and Canach.”

Kaushue blinks—he can’t seem to remember any of it. He digs through his memories, but it feels like they’ve all been replaced by those of his nightmare instead. “Nearly lost us?”

“You were so desperate to save me. You talked about some purification ritual you witnessed in Arah—”

“Twitchy!” 

Trahearne jolts at the sudden yell. “…Yes, something about a chicken.”

He clears his throat, continuing. “But there wasn’t time, so you took me back to Rata Novus, even though you knew the risks if I were to turn…”

“This is insanity, I do hope you know that, Commander.”

Kaushue paces back and forth, tugging at his leaves in frustration. “Insanity seems like our only option right now!” He barks.

They have Trahearne restrained to a table, but there is no telling if the restraints would be even slightly worth it were he to succumb to Mordremoth. The man is unconscious, but moans every so often to indicate the pain and duress he is under.

“Mordremoth clearly wants him for something—this isn’t just about my feelings, about—” He tries to fight the burning in his eyes. “And whatever that something is, it can’t be good for us.”

Rytlock goes to open his mouth, but the commander holds up a hand to silence him. “Killing him will do nothing, you’ve seen that Mordremoth doesn’t particularly care for the status of his puppets.”

Canach motions towards Trahearne with his sword. “From what the Pact soldiers kept saying, he’d probably prefer this one dead. Less struggle.”

Kaushue turns to scold his brother for the off-colour quip, but instead decides to shrug it off with a sigh. He wishes Jory were here to help keep things grounded, but he’d already excused her to catch up with Kas and Rox. If things truly were dire, he’d rather they’d have their time together.

It wasn’t like there was much any of them could do now. Anyone perhaps…

He looks back over to the table, where Taimi comes and goes as fast as she can manage, checking between some apparatus or other and the corrupted sylvari. She hums, and rejects when Braham, unable to handle the waiting and clearly antsy, offers to carry her.

“According to my readings, the magic frequency coming from Trahearne is almost identical to Mordremoth’s right now.” She murmurs, biting at her clawed thumb. “If we want any chance at saving him, we need to separate the two, and we need to do it ASAP.”

“So, what?” Braham asks, heaving his weapons up, ready to storm back out. “We go back to the Stand and join the rest of the Pact in beating the dragon six ways to Sunday? I’m up for it.”

“Something tells me that ain’t gonna work, kid.” Huffs Rytlock. “Things are never that easy for us.”

“No, we need to cut it off at the source.” The tiny Asura says, pondering to herself. “He has Trahearne’s mind captivated… Now, how do you go about separating something from your mind…”

Caithe slinks out of the darkness of a nearby corner, glancing at her corruption-ravaged brother on the table. They may never have been the closest, but she would rather not have to put him to rest as well. “Kaushue, do you remember when we met?” She asks, tilting her head towards the commander.

“In the Dream? Yes, what about it?”

“The Shadow of the Dragon,” she says,”we had to drive it off to prevent it tainting the Dream.”

“…Are you saying you think we can fight Mordremoth in the same way?” He asks incredulously. It sounds far-fetched to his ears, but the more he ponders it over, the more sense it makes.

“It’s just a guess, but I believe if we can destroy Mordremoth’s mind, we could still free Trahearne. And all sylvari.” Guilt is apparent in her eyes—she wants, no, needs to do right by her people, even just this once. She does not again utter her fear that the dragon's demise could mean the end for their people. She has voiced it well enough, and knows the commander agrees. It will be better this way, regardless of the consequences.

“Wonderful idea, however, there’s a major flaw in it,” pipes up Taimi from one of the other tables, looking at various implements and objects Kaushue could barely begin to describe.

“We don’t have the luxury of time to head back to the Grove and petition a critically injured tree.” Rytlock grunts, folding his arms over his chest.

Kaushue grits his teeth in anger, hands trembling as he balls them up. “Then we’re doomed, aren’t we? If Caithe is right, which, despite everything, I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt on, there is no other way to truly kill Mordremoth.” He spins on his heel and looks at his friends, sees their worry, their frustration, their anger. They are all in the same boat, but they are looking to him for the solution. He has nothing. Only doubt. “The Pact and our other allies are still fighting in Dragon's Stand as we speak, and if we can’t access the Dream, they will all die out there.” He says softly, more defeated than he has ever felt.

Braham begins to open his mouth, but is cut off abruptly.

“Woah there, big guy!” Cries out Taimi from behind them, leaping off her chair.

They all turn to look, and find Trahearne stirring, blearily looking around the room as if trying to find something. He does not try to pull against the restraints, so Kaushue motions for the others to lower their weapons.

“Commander…” The man weakly murmurs.

Aware it could be a trap, Kaushue approaches cautiously, looking down at his marshal. “Yes?” He asks, voice quiet and gentle.

“I heard your voice. My connection to the dragon,” he begins, pausing to wince momentarily, “it allows me to access the Dream…”

“Can you send us in?” Caithe asks without hesitation, briskly walking up to her brothers. “Like Mother was able to?”

“I believe so.” Trahearne takes a deep inhale, squeezing his eyes shut. “It is hard to resist, but if you can find Mordremoth in the Dream, then…”

Kaushue reaches out, taking one of Trahearne’s ragged hands in his own. He holds tight, squeezing him. “Send me in. I’m going to destroy Mordremoth.”

A hand tugs on his shoulder, and he pulls back to look at Caithe. Her expression is grim, but he can’t fathom why. They have their solution right there. “Kaushue, if you go in, you may never come back.” She says. “Mother was there to pull us back out in the past, but if we sever their connection, Trahearne may have no way of doing so for us.”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “I don’t care.”

“…Very well.”

A dark shade falls over the two, and they turn their eyes upwards to their larger, bulkier companions, faces both set in matching scowls.

“So you’re going on a suicide mission…” Rytlock starts—

“Without us?” —And Braham finishes.

Kaushue lets go of Trahearne’s hand to properly face his companions. Despite it all, he can only grin at them. “Well, one of you still has a legend in the making”, he pokes Braham in the chest, then turns to the charr, “and someone needs to make sure Logan is okay when he wakes up again.”

Braham smiles, even if he doesn’t quite like the idea of being left out, and Rytlock just grunts and shifts on his spot.

“Someone also needs to stay and protect Taimi in case the worst happens.” He glances over at her and she pouts slightly. “Not that I don’t trust her, but one asura versus a hulking great mordrem with the power of an elder dragon? The odds aren’t great.”

Braham heaves his weapons up once more, determination on his face. “Got it, boss.”

A cough to the side makes the commander turn his gaze. “Forgetting someone, are we?” Canach has his sword and shield out and at the ready.

“Sorry, didn’t think you were one for suicide missions.” Kaushue says with a small shrug.

“I’m not. I am, however, one for choosing my fate, and dead-but-free sounds preferable to being some miserable dragon’s little plaything.” He scowls, looking disgusted. “I have had quite much of being a plaything.”

“Then it’s decided,” Kaushue says, looking back to Trahearne. “As sylvari, we’ll settle what Mordremoth started—no matter what.”

Kaushue can’t help but flush a bit as Trahearne’s tale trails off, admitting he was hardly lucid enough to understand what had happened after the three had departed. Not that it particularly matters too much, the fact he is here and sat with Trahearne and Aurene more than enough evidence that they succeeded.

“I certainly hope I thanked them enough afterwards…” the commander mumbles to himself, feeling a bit sheepish. It is certainly a bit awkward to realise just how much danger he put everyone in.

“Well, Canach was very… prideful, in the aftermath. I suppose slaying an elder dragon does that to you.” Trahearne says with a soft chuckle. “I get the feeling from him he’s going to ask for some favour I can’t refuse thanks to him helping save me.”

A chuckle escapes the young sylvari too, only to then turn to hiccups, and then sobbing.

There is a moment before the commander feels Trahearne’s hands gently around him, pulling him against the other man’s chest and into the comfort of those familiar, crisp leaves, the smooth bark that pattern he’s come to know as well as his own. Trahearne’s arms are tight around him, comforting, protecting. One hand strokes his back in slow, gentle circles, the other carding through the dark leaves of his hair.

It is what Trahearne has done for him each and every time he failed at being strong enough to keep it together.

Aurene trills again in upset-sounding tones. Kaushue can only assume she is trying to alleviate his state when she tries to curl up tightly around him and Trahearne.

“Kaushue,” Trahearne whispers softly, “what’s wrong? I’ve hardly ever seen you so upset.”

How could he explain it? He doesn’t want to talk about the things he saw in his nightmare, hopes that if he keeps quiet then it will all just go away.

He doesn’t want to tell Trahearne about what he saw.

“I’m just,” he wails instead, “so glad you’re here.”

The other man’s gaze softens. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out the nature of his lover’s nightmare. He’s had them too, or rather, ones like it. When Kaushue’s sister, Aileana, had come to him in private long ago and told him of what their brother Iowerth had shown her in Lychcroft Mere. It haunted him, followed him into his sleep and into his nightmares.

He shuts his eyes and buries his nose into the man’s leaves, thankful that at the very least Kaushue’s nightmare was just that. A nightmare.

They stay there like that until his sobs slowly ebb away into nothing more than sniffles. And when he eventually pulls back, Kaushue’s face is flushed. He winces at the mess he’d made of Trahearne’s leaves. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs quietly.

Trahearne shakes his head, “it hardly matters. Do you feel better?”

“Yeah… Yeah, I do. Thank you, Trahearne.”

He looks up at his partner, and Trahearne only lets out a small breath, leaning in to give him the briefest of kisses. They both glow a little when they hear Aurene make curious, inquisitive noises from where she still cushioned them both like some sort of chair.

“Oh, that’s right, dragons… Right, right. Primordus, and Jormag…” Kaushue says, not realising how much time they’d let past while Trahearne jogged his memory.

The two stand slowly, and Aurene hops to her feet. She runs about their legs like a cat, albeit a cat perhaps a dozen sizes too large. She nuzzles the commander’s leg for a moment, almost purring in her array of noises.

“Like I said, it’s nothing major. Some minor magical disturbances, but no attacks or anything of the sort.” Trahearne says as they step down from the high platform where Aurene spends her days. “Taimi just wanted me to let you know, since we were both already here.”

Kaushue shakes his head a little, motioning to himself. “Sorry, still a bit dazed, although more’s coming back now. Why are you in Tarir?” He asks, nearly tripping over Aurene as she darts between his legs.

“Part of what I wasn’t lucid enough to understand, but the general idea is that they managed to… syphon the excess dragon magic that remained in me after Mordremoth’s death.” Trahearne frowns, like he still can’t quite grasp it. “I was unconscious for a very long time after you killed the dragon.”

“So they… sucked Mordremoth’s corruption out of you?” The commander joins Trahearne in his frown. It seems rather simple, but it probably was some ridiculous combination of Taimi’s incomprehensible work and the Exalted’s talents.

“Not quite, I don’t think. They managed to divert it to Aurene’s egg,” she trills at the mention of herself, rubbing against Trahearne’s leg too. “It was how she hatched. I think she thinks I’m her father. Or one of them at least.”

Kaushue flushes heavily at the implication.

"It's why Caithe isn't here right now, by the way," Trahearne looks over at him with a teasing grin, "said that Aurene needed some 'father-figure-daughter bonding time' alone. I suppose that's me while you're away."

The commander hides his luminous face behind his hands.

“Anyway," he continues, returning to his original point, "they wanted me to remain here for a time to make sure that none of Mordremoth’s magic lingered in me.” Trahearne says as he reaches down to scritch the hatchling’s chin once more. They have come to the exit of the egg chamber, and Kaushue also opts to fuss the girl before they move on.

They step out of the room, the large door shutting behind them. “What about the Pact, then?”

“Officially, Logan has been appointed Acting Marshal and is in charge of operating things while I am in ‘rehabilitation’.” Trahearne looks up, somewhat sombre. “The truth is that I want to pass the position to him permanently. Tyria isn’t trusting of us sylvari anymore, and he has the qualities that could bring back trust and support to the Pact.”

“I see.”

“I’m not fit to lead an army after what happened. Both in terms of confidence and physical health.” He continues as they walk, kicking up small stones and dirt along the path. “But our little guild, that’s a good fit for me, I think.”

Kaushue helps him along the rubble and up to the mushrooms, following him as they ascend towards the main area of the city. “If it helps at all, I think I prefer things this way.”

They land on the soft grass above and take the sight in around them—it never really gets old or familiar, the towering structures of gold with trees hanging high overhead. Sometimes it’s hard to believe such a grand city thrived for so long out here, unknown to most.

“I can’t say I miss never having enough time to spend just with you.” Trahearne says softly, reaching out for the commander’s hand. They fit together well, ice blue on verdant green

“I can’t either.” He leans into the other man for a few moments, uncaring that the Exalted wandering around could easily see them. Perhaps they wouldn’t be so pleased about PDA in the middle of their city, but if that’s the case then they scarce show it.

“Now,” he continues, looking back and forth between the four sets of golden steps, “if you can’t come back with me just yet, you can at least accompany me out of the city.”

Trahearne chuckles and allows himself to be pulled along by the younger sylvari. “Of course.”

[fantastic-mr-corvid]

just got my au roulette prompts! Some initial thoughts....

1. Mythology - no existing myths jump to mind, but it could be cool to have a wotr story about ascended Cecio where the au is Celia ascended with him, having it be a mythological retelling of their relationship

2. Detective - I think Celia and Co as a group of private detectives would be really fun, and a pretty stark role reversal. Would probably center on Cecio and Rametta as a duo, and it would be fun to have Elena be part of the case and helping with the detective work [the theft happened at one of her art shows or something like that, and they need to work againt the cops to clear her friends name as its a set up]

3. High Seas - also fun, especially if you put Cecio in the navy as a pirate hunter and celia and Co as pirates, all working together [or, more tragically, in the vein of their wotr relationship, cecio the navy officer bumps into celia the infamous pirate and they have to reconcile their very different lives]

Detective is particularly calling to me, and would probably be a gritty noir setting, something like Ramettas first case- ooh could make it a proper same story different world where celia tesoro and conficcare have just died and Rametta has become head of the private detective firm, and with Cecio and Elenas help must solve the murder, and complete the case that killed the others... could even bring in Dulce looking to avenge her brother... ohhhhh... well it seems the first au will be private detectives!!

[merge-conflict]

Everything goes to shit in the usual way, except this time it’s Rogue that calls Johnny for help. Kerry only gets parts of the story from V, in curt, precise soundbites as she gears up. Rogue had helped Johnny piss Arasaka off again, and wherever she has managed to hole up in the city is no longer safe. It follows that all of them are no longer safe, either– news that V delivers with a sardonic smile he recognizes as a cover for fear.

Two hours later he lands his AV on some weed-choked patch of concrete in Northside, and tries not to think about all of the narrow sight lines where he can’t see someone coming. He almost shoots V, who limps out of an alleyway at a fair clip, right leg shiny with blood and hastily bandaged. She’s so focused on moving he’s not even sure she recognizes him when he pulls her up into the AV and keeps her from collapsing.

“ETA five minutes,” she tells him, listing dangerously as he lowers her down to take a look at her injured thigh. High caliber bullet wound, patched with a trauma kit to keep her from bleeding out, although the pale cast to her skin worries him. She picks her head up, brow knitted. “Kerry.”

“In the flesh,” he says. “Told you I’d get you a ride.”

“I’m fine,” she says, clumsily patting his shoulder before hooking her fingers into his jacket, pulling herself upright. She flashes him a smile, and then it’s gone. “Gotta be ready to delta.” A shiver rips through her, and her teeth chatter. “Five minutes.”

He’s already got the AV medkit half out of its bindings when a connection request pings in his vision, and he accepts it instinctively, thinking it must be comms– but instead he feels a wash of dizziness as his vision lights up with an overlay. It’s too much at once, dozens of little dim points of light and a handful of brighter pinpoints, all crowding each other out.

“–gotta fucking delta, just let it go!” Rogue’s voice cuts in, and Kerry hears the gunfire from her comms, a strange echo to the distant pops he can hear from outside the AV.

“She’s almost got it,” Johnny says, voice strained. “Go find V!”

“I got her, Johnny,” Kerry says, blinking rapidly as some of the points of light disappear from his visions, the rest resolving into more manageable tags in his interface. Two light blue dots for Rogue and Johnny, and almost ten red ones, shifting in and out of place as the soft tries to track them. “Looking a little hot in there.”

“Fucking understatement–“ Johnny’s voice cuts out momentarily. “Rogue–“

“I see them.”

“Alt,” V says quietly, as Kerry gives her an emergency infusion of synth blood and a med inhaler. She is lost in the lights of her interface, only her grip on his jacket keeping her tethered to the real world. “They’ll have a jammer here soon.”

“I’m familiar with Arasaka protocol,” Alt answers coolly over the comms, the deadness of her tone still filling him with uneasiness. “The AV is a greater concern.”

“Might be able to fly blind until we get out of range,” he says, feeling a strange sense of calm as his heart starts to race. He’s done it before– he can probably do it again. “What is the range on the jammer?”

“Full strength maybe fifty meters,” V says, slurring slightly as she finally start to relax from the painkiller. “Effective degradation three hundred, dependent on frequency. They could have–“ She bares her teeth lazily, letting her head fall back against the seat she is propped against. “They could have more than one. For you, Alt.”

“Most likely. Stand by.”

“These things supposed to have copilots?” V asks Kerry, falling just short of unconcerned. Clinging stubbornly to consciousness and just as dead calm as he is. Possibly just as worried.

“Hard to rustle up someone dependable on such short notice,” he says, and squeezes her shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Lucky for you I’m worth more than just my good looks.”

She exhales in some exhausted version of a laugh, and Johnny says, “Lucky for all of us, Ker–“

The comms cut out then, Kerry’s interface losing all the info V has been feeding him as it pops up a complaint about loss of connectivity. In the sudden silence, he wonders for the first time what will happen if backup finds them out here like sitting ducks. To keep himself occupied, he straps V into one of the seats and then returns to the controls. Tries not to think about anything other than the next five minutes ahead of him, and then the next five after that.

Finally, the pops of gunfire come closer, and the sound of something large and rhythmic getting closer. A mech, he thinks, probably mounted with the kind of gun meant to punch through AV armor. It doesn’t matter. Nothing he can do about it except be ready to move. The engine is running, the controls are ready, and he tries not to let the warning lights of the on-board soft get to him.

The footsteps– they are definitely footsteps– get closer and closer, but he sees Johnny and Rogue circling the corner. Rogue is in front, limping as she jogs, bloody but upright. Johnny is close behind, one hand clamped against his ribs while he stops to check behind him. Kerry swallows his heart when he sees the behemoth form of Adam Smasher crunching into view, bullets pinging off his armor as he goes.

“Alt,” V says, with a burst of zeal. “Look at her go.”

It takes him another few moments to process what she means. There’s something strange about the way Smasher runs, lagging behind Johnny and Rogue, unnaturally stiff and clumsy. But it’s not until a group of Arasaka soldiers materialize around the building, firing indiscriminately at the three ahead of them, that he really believes it. Then the three of them are climbing into the AV, the entire thing shifting wildly as Alt folds Smasher almost in half to fit inside.

“I didn’t know you were a getaway driver,” Rogue tells him, as she sinks into the co-pilot’s seat next to him, strapping herself in with practiced ease. Gunshots are pattering on the outside of the AV, and he can hear a hollow whoosh behind his seat before explosions flare out in the alleyway, the sound momentarily stunning him in place.

Thankfully, his instincts kick in, and they lift off smoothly. They’re above the rooftop of the nearby warehouse before Kerry belatedly replies, “It’s just a promotional sort of deal, y’know? Gotta create some buzz for my next drop.”

“Take us just out past the plant, I’ve got some people waiting,” Rogue tells him. “Y’know, I might just buy this one.”

He laughs in reflex. “Always good to have a new fan.”

Time blurs. Kerry watches himself fly, pursued by three Arasaka AVs flying blind just like he is, only they’re armed with guns. Somehow he manages to keep them from getting scrapped until Alt can position herself with a clear sight, hitting the closest flier with a facefull of rockets that sends it falling out of the sky. A second one takes a stinger to the belly, but manages to land on the roof of a building before being hit by a second. The third one peels off, out of range of the truck barreling through Northside in close pursuit.

He sets them down within a reassuring circle of Rogue’s mercs, and for just a moment when he’s stepping out of the AV he feels an old and very unhappy echo. The clap of Johnny’s hand on his shoulder shatters the feeling before it can settle in, the clumsy crash of his hip into Kerry made heavier by V hanging precariously on his other side.

“Bout time to take this show on the road, don’t you think?” Johnny asks casually, like he hasn’t just had Kerry upend his life. Like he isn’t charging blindly straight down the same path that got him killed.

Kerry yanks him down by the neck– harder than he means to with his adrenaline still pumping. He wants to hit Johnny, wants to crawl under his skin, but he settles for this: the acrid smell of sweat and explosives, chapped lips and Johnny’s hunger no longer hidden behind overlapping layers of armored shame. After, Johnny looks at him with dark eyes, and Kerry says gruffly, “Yeah, I think so.”

[thebigpapilio]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Persona 5, Persona Series, 極主夫道 | Gokushufudou | The Way of the House Husband (Anime), 極主夫道 | Gokushufudou | The Way of the House Husband (Manga) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kurusu Akira/Sakamoto Ryuji, Persona 5 Protagonist/Sakamoto Ryuji, Suzui Shiho/Takamaki Ann, Sakamoto Ryuji & Takamaki Ann, Sakamoto Ryuji & Suzui Shiho, Kurusu Akira & Sakura Sojiro, Persona 5 Protagonist & Sakura Sojiro Characters: Sakamoto Ryuji, Kurusu Akira, Persona 5 Protagonist, Takamaki Ann, Suzui Shiho, Kamoshida Suguru, Takemi Tae, Nakaoka (Persona 5), Sakamoto Ryuji's Mother, Sakura Futaba (Persona Series) Additional Tags: Inspired by Gokushufudou | The Way of the House Husband, Alternate Universe - Yakuza, Yakuza, Blood, Blood Loss, Cleaning, Minor Character Death, ANN AND SHIHO ARE ALIVE I SWEAR Series: Part 5 of PegoRyu Week 2023 Summary:

Ryuji gets stabbed for his coup d'etat on a corrupt yakuza patriarch. Akira and his dad help him pick up the pieces.

Pegoryu Week 2023 - Prompt 5: Mafia AND Gang!

[burning-thistles-bt]

absolutely in love with apprentice groups...

Spottedpaw, Willowpaw, Redpaw, Frostpaw, Brindlepaw, Tigerpaw, Whitepaw?

Firepaw, Lightningpaw, Copperpaw, Airpaw, Creekpaw, Darkpaw, Runningpaw, Mousepaw, Sandpaw, Longpaw, Cherrypaw?

Graypaw, Featherpaw, Cricketpaw, Ravenpaw, Dustpaw, Lynxpaw, Swiftpaw, Cinderpaw, Brackenpaw?

Cloudpaw, Cliffpaw, Ashpaw, Fernpaw, Tulippaw, Elderpaw, Brightpaw, Thornpaw?

Lizardpaw, Reedpaw, Primrosepaw, Perchpaw, Pikepaw, Robinpaw, Woodpaw, Dawnpaw?

Snowpaw, Mistlepaw, Bramblepaw, Tawnypaw, Sorrelpaw, Rainpaw, Sootpaw?

i eat that sh*t UP

[fanfictionsrookie]

[dumbkiwi]

do you ever read a fic and you can see its bones. like specific phrasings that are from another writer in the fandom or a concept or characterization thats from another fic. not in a plagiarism way but in a. we're all just sharing ideas way. like of course your phrasing will be influenced if you read a lot by an author. of course your plot structure will mirror someone elses. and it feels like such a love letter to the vocabulary we've all built together to talk about these dumb pirates

[pico-digital-studios]

How does it feel being stuck with Mr. Needlemouse, someone that embodies the ruthlessness of a cartoon character from the 40s/50s

Mr. Needlemouse: Hey, got another one over here! And it looks to be from my creator, too! Now, let's see... "How does it feel being stuck with..." Yeah, imma just toss this out-.

Mini Sonic: Hey, gimme that! We're not just turning down questions at random, especially not from a co-writer. Yo, guys! Got another question!

OMT!Mina: Sweet! Now, let's see... @mcgamejolter asks... Hey, that's one of the co-writers of our adventures. "How does it feel being stuck with Mr. Needlemouse, someone that embodies the ruthlessness of a cartoon character from the 40s/50s?" And a hastily-stuck-on "#ask the blur gang" as well.

D-Sides Mighty: You know, he's got a good point. How come we're stuck with this trouble-loving maniac?

Mr. NM: Hey! What was that about me?!

Mini Sonic: Yeah, no kidding. Would you believe he just told me to do the sacrifice to shut down Nega's energiser instead of being selfless about it like the rest of us?

Mr. NM: Look, I'd rather live on causing chaos back in my dimension than be stuck in a world where my abilities only cause humiliation! Ya can't fault me for not being selfless!

CR!Sonic: Being selfless is a core part of being a hero, Needlemouse. Even a cartoon should know that.

OMT!Tails: Alright, alright. Let's not cause any in-fighting right now. I kinda don't like having him strung around any more than anyone else here, though he's mainly here for the free chilli dogs, even if they might not taste the same as they do back home for him.

Mr. NM: Heard that one right! Am I a useless asset? Sure! Heroic qualities? None. But I'm loyal if you feed me, and I'll never leave you because... well, I need the food.

OMT!Mina: I mean, why couldn't we have had the Sonic from Dimension AO-1992 on board with us in our first quest?

OMT!Tails: Oh! What if Wacky was there with us on our first crusade?

Wacky: Oh?

OMT!Tails: Yeah. It would've made us a gender-equal ensemble right from the get-go!

Wacky: Remind me what the first multiversal quest here was about to me.

CR!Sonic: Simple summary; Eggman Nega built a huge device that catapulted five of us from other dimensions over to Tails's one. I wasn't inclined with being his mentor after all the stuff that happened in my universe, but I got time to think, and I wasn't gonna let that world go unprotected if Tails wasn't ready to protect it. Even if I did want to stay behind to do the act myself...

CR!Sonia: Woah... You told me about it at breakfast one morning!

CR!Sonic: Yep! That's the adventure I went on before you and Manik came into the world, my little adventurer!

Wacky: One journey before I joined the crew, heh.

Mr. NM: How come I wasn't invited to your second multiversal mayhem? I could've levelled all the guys easily!

Hog: My guess is that the wave never reached your dimension, what with it being all cartoon and such.

Wacky: And as for my end? The wave kicked out Bizarro from my body and meant I didn't have to keep my eyes shut to block them out anymore.

Mr. NM: Possession poschmession! Cartoons can't get possessed by supernatural entities!

EX!Alice: And do we have to remind you about the case involving Lilith Rose?

Mr. NM: Er, nah.

EX!Alice: Yeah, that's what I thought.

BK!Amy: Yeah, Adventures Sonic would definitely have made a great fit for the role if he could. Cartoon-like, AND has inherited some pain in his life before.

Nitro: Yeah, I got a message that he was considered for Ham's role before being swapped out with NM, for whatever reason.

Mr. NM: I got a contract to follow assigned by my creator first-hand. It's only fair!

Nitro: Eh.

Mr. NM: What? I'm here for a role, and I'm gonna fulfil it! Don't judge me for it.

CR!Sonic: As long as you keep causing chaos for laughs? ...Yeah, we'll judge you for it.

Mr. NM: Oh, come on!

CR!Manik: Let's cut this off here before things get more hectic.

CR!Sonia: Yeah. Thanks for the question, MCStudio!