#except it's a destiny duo

[fruit-sy]

Stelle looked at the exchange between Hook and Fersman. She can't help but feel light seeing them smiling happily. Perhaps monetary gains drove her to help most of the Belobog citizens, but she can't help but make an exception for little Hook.

Seeing them had made for an interesting observation.

'A father, huh.' She wondered, 'Is this family love? Something that can drive you to go above and beyond for the other person? Even though it was all for naught in the end?'

Although Stelle had only begun to exist, she had enough knowledge to get by the world around her. Even so, she has yet to experience a lot of things a human would go through.

After lingering on the thought for a while, she came to a simple conclusion, 'I don't think I'll ever know what having a parental figure feels like.'

Perhaps Kafka counted in some respect, since she is the one who pushed the stellaron inside Stelle. But perhaps all she is to her is just a variable. Towards whatever unfathomable future "Destiny's Slave" has foreseen.

Her thoughts drifted to Kafka's words, "... You'll meet companions who treat you like family, and embark on surreal adventures with them. This is your future that Elio has foreseen."

Did she consider the Astral Express her family? She isn't sure. While they are kind and understanding, it feels like they still have walls put up around them. It probably doesn’t help that her… tendencies tend to repulse the people around her, she thought sheepishly.

‘I am good at my job, and I’m fairly certain the Astral Express won’t kick me out, at least.’

… Maybe Pompom would kick her out, on second thought. They were appalled when she had come covered in sweat and grime and tracked dirt all over the parlor car. That day still made her shiver.

Shaking her head, she looked back at the duo who were beginning to call her over.

The future certainly seems unfathomable.

Extra :

[phantobats]

I NEED to see your version of a reverse robin au!!!!

To be honest, I have been thinking of starting my own Reverse Robins AU, so here are my ideas for that under the cut !

In this universe, as Dick Grayson is not the first Robin, all of the Robins are instead called Squires, to fit with the Dark Knight theme Bruce has going on.

Bruce Wayne's Journey to Becoming the Dark Knight

At the age of 19, Bruce Wayne, driven by a thirst for justice and a desire to master the skills needed to combat crime, joins the League of Assassins. His exceptional talents quickly propel him through the ranks, catching the attention of Ra's al Ghul, the enigmatic leader of the League. Impressed by Bruce’s prowess and potential, Ra’s offers him a place at his side as his heir, along with the hand of his daughter, Talia al Ghul.

Clouded by ambition and the promise of power, Bruce accepts, and by the time he is 20, he becomes a father to Damian. Bruce and Talia, though deeply involved in the League, raise Damian together. However, unbeknownst to Bruce, Damian is secretly subjected to the League’s brutal training methods.

Years pass, and it is only when Bruce accidentally witnesses a young Damian brutally decapitating an enemy that the full horror of what his son has become strikes him. Horrified, Bruce realizes that the League is no place for his son or himself. In a desperate bid to save Damian from a life of violence and darkness, Bruce fights his way out of the League, taking Damian with him back to Gotham.

Returning to Gotham, Bruce reflects on his actions and the person he has become under the League's influence. Burdened with guilt and a desire for redemption, he decides to channel his skills into becoming the Dark Knight, the Batman, a symbol of justice and atonement for the city that has always been his true home.

Damian Wayne: The First Squire

Damian, torn from the only life he has ever known, is furious at being taken away from the League. He demands to become his father’s squire, determined to prove himself worthy and regain the sense of purpose he once had. Bruce, though wary of Damian's brutal tendencies, sees this as an opportunity to guide his son onto a brighter path, away from the shadow of the League’s influence.

As Damian grows, Bruce tirelessly works to temper his son’s lethal instincts, teaching him the value of mercy and justice over vengeance. However, as Damian approaches adulthood, he begins to struggle with the immense pressure of being the heir to the Batman mantle. Despite his father’s teachings, the weight of expectation becomes overwhelming, and Damian starts to revert to his old, violent ways, hoping that by doing so, he can distance himself from a destiny he feels ill-suited for.

Bruce, recognizing the signs of Damian’s internal conflict, decides to send him to join the Young Justice team, hoping that interacting with peers and learning from others like Black Canary will help Damian find balance. With Black Canary’s guidance, Damian finally opens up to Bruce, revealing his fears and his desire to forge his path. Understanding his son’s plight, Bruce supports him in seeking a new identity, one that reflects who Damian truly is rather than what others expect him to be.

Damian takes on the identity of "Onyx", a precious stone, often associated with protection and absorbing negative energy

By adopting the name Onyx, Damian symbolizes his role as a protector who absorbs and neutralizes the darkness around him, taking something once associated with darkness and turning it into a symbol of strength and defense.

Tim Drake’s Journey: From Obsession to Tragedy

Tim Drake's story begins with an obsession. Fascinated by the mysterious figure of Batman and his squire, Damian Wayne, Tim starts following them around Gotham, trying to learn everything he can about the legendary duo. Damian quickly notices the young boy's persistence but says nothing to Bruce, curious to see how far Tim will go. Damian secretly admires Tim's courage and tenacity, even if he considers it somewhat reckless.

Tim’s persistence eventually pays off when, while attending a high-society gala, he observes Bruce Wayne and Damian closely enough to piece together their secret identities. Empowered by his discovery, Tim becomes even more determined, shadowing them more frequently. One night, during a solo patrol, Damian finds Tim in a dangerous situation. Realizing the gravity of what he has uncovered, Tim blurts out his knowledge of their identities, prompting Damian to drag him back to the Batcave to tend to his injuries.

Bruce, impressed by Tim's intelligence and resourcefulness, reluctantly allows him to assist with investigations. Tim eagerly takes on this role, preferring the intellectual challenge over direct combat. His analytical mind and sharp instincts prove invaluable to Batman and Damian, who continue their nightly crusade against Gotham’s criminal underworld.

However, when Damian decides to strike out on his own as an independent hero in Blüdhaven, Tim's life takes a dark turn. The Joker targets Tim’s parents, brutally murdering them. Devastated and fueled by a desire for vengeance, Tim becomes the second Squire, determined to use his skills to bring his parents' killer to justice.

Despite his best efforts, every investigation into the Joker’s whereabouts turns up empty. Frustration and anger begin to consume Tim, leading him to act more impulsively. When he stumbles upon what seems to be a solid lead on the Joker’s location, he recklessly pursues it on his own, determined to end the clown’s reign of terror. The lead, however, is a trap, and Tim is captured.

Over the following months, the Joker tortures Tim, breaking him both physically and mentally, and eventually warping him into Joker Jr., a twisted reflection of the hero he once aspired to be. When Batman finally confronts the Joker again, he is horrified to discover what has become of Tim. In the ensuing battle, the Joker kills Tim, leaving Batman to mourn another lost Squire. However, Tim's body is never recovered by Bruce.

Unbeknownst to Batman, the League of Assassins finds Tim's broken body and resurrects him using the Lazarus Pit. Ra’s al Ghul, seeing the potential for another brilliant detective in his ranks, manipulates Tim, warping his memories and convincing him that his quest for vengeance is far from over.

Enraged and manipulated into believing that he must destroy the man who failed him, Tim flees the League and returns to Gotham, swearing a bloody vendetta against all criminals, but most of all against Bruce Wayne, whom he blames for his suffering. He takes on the name of the "Wraith", reflecting Tim’s transformation into a shadow of his former self, driven by a need to haunt those he holds responsible for his pain.

Jason Todd’s Journey: From Desperation to Redemption

Jason Todd grew up on the harsh streets of Crime Alley, a place where hope is scarce and survival is a daily struggle. With his father having mysteriously disappeared and his mother dying of an overdose, Jason was left to fend for himself in one of Gotham's most dangerous neighborhoods. The recent rise of crime gangs, fueled by the chaos wrought by Wraith's birth, has turned Park Row into a literal warzone, with violence and despair at every corner.

Desperate for a way out and hoping to make some quick money, Jason decides to steal the tires off the Batmobile when he finds it unattended. However, Batman catches him in the act. In a moment of sheer desperation, Jason pleads with Batman to take him in. He explains his dire situation—his father’s absence, his mother’s death, and the unrelenting violence that has consumed his home. Jason argues that with his deep knowledge of the streets and the gangs that rule them, he could be of real help to the Dark Knight.

Batman, who has been struggling with his own demons since losing his previous squire, sees something in Jason that he can't ignore. Despite his hesitation about involving Jason in his dangerous crusade, Batman reluctantly agrees, allowing Jason to become the new Squire. However, Batman remains cautious, initially keeping Jason away from the frontline battles, focusing instead on training him and using his knowledge of Crime Alley to gather intelligence.

As time goes on, Jason proves to be an invaluable asset. His familiarity with the criminal underworld of Park Row gives Batman a strategic advantage, allowing them to dismantle several gangs and push back against the crime wave that has overtaken the area. Jason's raw talent, combined with Batman's training, quickly turns him into a formidable squire.

No longer the desperate kid from Crime Alley, Jason finds a new sense of purpose and belonging. Jason proves to be a valuable asset not just in the field but also in the world of high society.

He, though initially struggling with the elite environment of Wayne Enterprises, gradually earns respect through his hard work and ingenuity. His background as a former street kid gives him a unique perspective, allowing him to connect with people on a different level. Over time, he makes a name for himself in the business world, becoming a key figure in Bruce Wayne’s efforts to bolster the public image of Wayne Enterprises. Bruce is immensely proud of Jason’s progress, seeing him as a symbol of redemption and success.

Despite this, Bruce’s attention is increasingly divided due to the resurgence and unmasking of Tim Drake. This leaves Bruce more focused on the complexities surrounding Tim, limiting his ability to be a father figure to Jason. While Bruce continues to mentor Jason in his role as a squire, Jason yearns for a more personal connection and sees Bruce as more of a mentor than a father figure.

When Bruce adopts Dick Grayson, Jason steps into the role of an older brother, providing support and guidance. His bond with Dick helps solidify his place in the Wayne family and allows him to channel his own experiences into nurturing the younger boy.

Tragedy strikes when Bruce seemingly dies, disappearing into the time stream. The loss of Batman leaves a void in Gotham and creates uncertainty about who will take up the mantle. Damian and Jason, both deeply affected by Bruce’s disappearance, struggle with their own visions of the future. Jason, who believes that Bruce might still be alive, decides to embark on his own investigation, driven by hope and determination.

As he steps away from the role of the squire to forge his own path, Jason emerges with the identity of Phoenix that reflects his growth and evolution from a troubled past to a dynamic, independent hero.

Dick Grayson’s Journey: From Orphan to Squire

After witnessing the tragic deaths of his parents, young Dick Grayson is taken in by Bruce Wayne, who, along with Damian Wayne and Jason Todd, initially tries to shield him from the truth of their secret identities. Despite their efforts to conceal their true selves, Dick’s perceptiveness reveals their identities, as the injuries and circumstances are too evident to ignore.

Instead of immediately taking Dick on as a squire, Bruce and his team focus on helping him cope with his grief and trauma. They engage Dick in sparring matches and other activities to channel his emotions and provide a sense of normalcy and belonging. Dick, with his resilient spirit and natural charisma, becomes a bright presence in the manor, helping to lift the spirits of everyone around him during a dark period.

When Bruce mysteriously disappears, leaving Gotham in uncertainty, Jason, driven by a belief that Bruce might still be alive, sets out to investigate. Feeling the weight of responsibility on Damian’s shoulders, Dick cannot stand by and watch him bear the burden alone. Determined to help, Dick steps up and becomes the fourth squire, fighting alongside Damian and making the experience more bearable for both of them.

With Bruce’s return, the dynamic within the team shifts. Damian resumes his role as Onyx, and Dick has to adjust to the new arrangements. Although he misses Damian as a mentor, Dick adapts quickly to working with Bruce, continuing to prove himself as a valuable member of the team. His journey from a grieving orphan to a dedicated squire highlights his resilience and ability to thrive amidst change.

[dunmanticarchivistsmain]

Alright I’ve had a good night to sleep on Wild Life and I’m ready to cook up my headcanons on Life lore.

Despite the name that was a relatively tame first episode; everyone’s spread out in a usual fashion, claiming high ground, resources and allies.

The opening teams this time are such a treat; you’ve got Jimmy, Scar and Lizzie. Treebark. Obsession Duo. GrumboMan. BET. BigB off by himself (whyyy)

Aaaaand there’s the Gs (now upgraded to 4G with impulse being Grownman or Guy). What kind of destiny is so intractable, so unyielding, that after 4 seasons of death, betrayal and pain these 3 cannot deviate from their orbits around each other?

It's almost strange to see, especially after the healing that was Secret Life. Why the regression, why the diving back into what seems like an unhealthy relationship?

It's only after watching Scar, that I realised. Pearl semi-won Secret Life. She may not have carried one of her chosen Mounders to victory, but her personal arc of healing was completed by relinquishing the bloodlust and desire to win, her half hearted ally Scar earned his victory, she made new friends and had a mostly good time being in the thick of things. I'd like to think Scar came out of his victory the most sane of all the winners, so far he seems a little on edge, but he seems much sharper in his survival skills (aside from the falling please never change Scar <3) planning defenses and gathering allies etc. Interestingly he put Pearl on 100/100 relationship immediately, despite having never interacted (?) with her at all this first episode except sharing the first deaths.

Anyway back to Pearl, what's her headspace going into a new life series, having mostly achieved her goal of getting a friend across the finish line?

Primarily I see her as cautious, with her familiarity of the twists and turns of the seasons changing, she wants to know what ground she's treading first. Circumstance or destiny has brought old faces to her side, ghosts made manifest. So she tests. She tests if they remember, as she does. No better than known quantities, as a control for what may have changed. Clearly they do. They remember it all. The gaslighting, the gatekeeping. Just not the girlbossing. I think Pearl has made her peace with that. That part of her is a rotting corpse chained to her soul. That part of her died when he killed them.

And then there's Impulse. The one who seems on the cusp of remembering, of being drawn into the nexus of unbreakable fate. He has always been a contender, an aspirant to the pantheon. He positions himself as the useful one, at the very least a player in the games. So far he's contributed a lot of time to the team, digging obsidian, herding cows, figuring out the wildcard. But is he really stuck in? Between the moon and stars which side will he lean if perchance....one were to bolt?

Because this is not a stable configuration; for the first time in 5 seasons, Pearl has not outright said: I want my team my partner my universe assigned person and I to win. In fact when Cleo brought up loyalty, of all the people she who could best have a claim to it, Pearl outright shoots down the idea that day one alliances last despite having never being the one to break them up and having always wanted them to hold. I think victory means little to Pearl now, she has won, she has lost, her team has won, her team has lost. So what drives Pearl, in a world of chaos and uncertainty? I don't really know but if I had to guess?

Defiance.

She has never been a conformist, and she only cleaved to people's flawed expectations as a subversion. Pearl has been on a malicious compliance arc lately on hermitcraft and I am having some tasty hopes that will continue (copium intensifies). Grouping up with an old team? That sounds like great groundwork for expectation subversion if you think she's going to be like previous season, loyal and almost self-sacrificial. Why would she, to a group that treats her like trash?

Very much enjoyed the opening episodes this week, they are such fertile soil for headcanons and interpretations. Looking forward to the weekly twists and turns with all the cast and crew.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from a book "The galaxy will know, before long, one way or the other, that defiance yet exists in this crooked house of lies" ~The Path of Heaven, Chris Wraight

[mio-nika]

Disgusting (comic) AU. Over-arching plot, characters profiles and relationship dynamic breakdown.

Plot:

Mostly based on a modmad "What if Ace Attorney Investigations: Simon Blackquill".

Post Dual Destinies, Phantom spends some time in prison (like a month). And now let's get him out (temporary), so he can sell his employers with comfort. And also pair him with Simon, because they don't hate each other enough. Phantom get's his Bobby mask because artistic continuity, if I change his face we are bordering on Original Character territory.

I'm not smart enough to write actual spy plot, so they are existing in some limbo doing something spy-like. I'm mostly here to inflict the massive amounts of psychological and emotional damage on characters and fans.

Main Protags:

Phantom - after his meltdown in court, getting shot and the conviction his brain got chopped in much finer mush. With his blood, fingerprints and face being recorded he has no way of going back to his classic "run and hide" bullshit. Doesn't like to be out and about. Prefers to be locked up in jail, since he gets solitary and full protection.

Simon - is suffering. Understands the assignment of being paired with the guy who actually knows how to run underground spy business. But still does not like it. AT ALL.

Athena - since I'm not a fan of women centric whump (it's very rarely good and I can count the good examples of it on one hand). I'm using her as a plot device and brain can opener. She's not involved in operation, bc Simon cares about her to much. But sometimes spends time with Phantom as a psychotherapist.

Relationship chemistry:

Everything is very bad. I mean. Except psycho duo, but they are kinda. A well oiled machine.

• Simon <- -> Athena - they are something that I call platonic soulmates. Two people who's lifes are so deeply intertwined, that they can never be apart. They are friends. They are siblings. They are uncle and niece. They would be together from this point to the eternity.

• Athena -> Phantom - she feels disdain towards him, but also pity. I mean:

I truly think that the therapist in her. And the saviour complex would destroy her "he killed my mom". So she kinda goes as "I would help you, but only if you yourself would try to change. Bitch you live like this".

• Phantom -> Athena - fear. I mean. She can read his mind. She can feel that he feels. She is the reason why his life was destroyed. And I'm not only talking about last trial. She made original reading from his bomb threat.

Her abilities to read his mind is probably horrifying to him, since his entire persona based on hiding. But I also think, that he would gravitate to her. She thinks he can change. She's also mentally not normal. She's a therapist. There's a lot of reasons why he can be scared, but also longing for understanding.

• Simon -> Phantom - disgust, babeey! There's probably a lot more, but this bitch does not talk to me. So I'm just observing him from the side.

• Phantom -> Simon - we went so far from good doggie woof woof, that we came back to it.

I'm calling it "fucked up backward loyalty". It's half "I has no reason to make him even more mad, we are trying to work here". And "please please please give me any type of attention". It's the same way as with Athena. Before every human interaction Phantom had for *we don't know how much* time was filtering through his role. Basically "it's my funny friend Bobby", not "it's my funny friend Phantom". So I think he got kinda. Lonely. Not even lonely, more like deep social dissociation. Simon hates him, but he hates HIM, SPECIFICALLY, not Bobby. And the hate is extremely powerful emotion it's almost like love.

Anyway. Local spy got his brain hard rebooted. And mistakenly imprinted on two people who hate him. WHAT CAN GO WRONG

[turtle-sister-april]

Oh, let’s make it look like a ghost from the game destiny or like chopper from Star Wars rebels.

And let’s add a little laser pointer to it so it can be used to play with mayhem and ray.

Greetings, April. Are you ready to have a mini-vacation in space? Nardo will open a portal to Xino's space shuttle.

GASP, feel lucky, you'll get to see a black hole! That's where I was last time.

Hi @donniesexceptionalmind

Funny enough I was just about to go bother you in your lab about it. Oh, this is going to be so much fun.

Let’s go!

[lxdystxrdustt]

so, this is it! sorry if it’s quite short, i’d just like to start slow to make sure i like what I write. hope you like this! warnings: nothing, pure fluff. no use of y/n. 586 words

there has never been a minute in her life that ellie had ever spent away from you. you two have been best friends forever, thanks to your mothers mutual friendship. you’ve met at the ripe age of three months, and then you never got separated again: you two were a perfect duo: where ellie was awkward and introverted, you were social and friendly. where she was harsher, you always found a way to smooth down her sharp angles. so, when ellie realized she was in love with you, she couldn’t help but think that it was destiny: who better than her best friend to be completely head over heels for? who better than the person who had always supported her and had always stuck to her side? and of course she was scared of telling you. what a fucking cliché, falling in love with her bestfriend and not wanting to tell them to not lose their friendship. except, she wasn’t sure she could hold her feelings for much longer. not when you looked so lovely, making some stupid joke in the middle of class, and giggling behind your hand. not when you knew her like the back of your hand, and you could predict her thoughts just before she’d say them, just like ellie did with yours. so, the night before the start of your senior year, while you were sprawled out on ellie’s bed, with your head in her lap, watching some shitty film that neither of you was really following, too caught up in sharing gossips and hopes about the next day, she just felt it was the right moment to tell you. “i love you” she blurted out, interrupting your passionate rant about some guy who neither of you could stand. “what?” you asked, removing your head from your friend’s lap, and moving into a sitting position. ellie felt her cheeks burn, and she was sure she was turning extremely red, but she repeated what she had just said nonetheless: “i love you. i’ve known about it for a bit now. and i know this could ruin our friendship, and i mean it would be fine, because then at least you knew how i felt about you. well okay maybe it wouldn’t be so fine because you’re my best friend and i would die knowing that i was the reason for which our friendship ended but i couldn’t just hold this in, it was starting to feel so heavy and we’ve always shared everything with each other and i just…couldn’t. please, say something.” she pleaded, and you just stared at her with wide eyes, at a loss of words. then, a slow grin spread on your face, and a warm sensation flooded your belly. “you love me?” you ask, almost dumbfounded. ellie just nodded, still looking at you with her big hazel eyes, almost begging you. so, slowly, you moved towards her, getting so close that your noses touched, and your breaths blended. you put your cold hand on ellie’s warm cheek, stroking lightly with your thumb. “i love you too, ellie.”. and then, without giving her the time to say anything, you put her lips onto hers, and melted into the softness of her mouth. she replicated the kiss with such a care that made you fizzy, hands moving to bury in her hair, and her warm fingers closing around your waist, grounding you. and right there, you understood that, as long she’ll be near you, you would always feel at home. 

[lauri-rosehearts]

Its been a while since I’ve actually sat down to discuss EAH lore or anything EAH related in general. I got a good amount of promps but right now I wanted to focus on one that was submitted to me by @birdbombs714 regarding my thoughts on Alistair and Lizzie’s relationship

Thank you so much for this idea! And happy birthday! (Edit: Where I live it’s already almost 1am so in my time zone, it’s technically the day after as I’m posting this so I’m a bit late. I’m so Sorry. I meant to post this sooner 😭) Thought I’d dedicate this one to you as a little gift if you will! Hope you enjoy :)

Something I find really interesting regarding Alistair and Lizzie in general is the fact that they’re one of very few “future villain and hero” duos that dont seem to have any sort of tense relationship. On the contrary, all the wonderlandians seem to have been good friends from a very young age. But as the characters destined to be the next Alice and the next Queen of Hearts, its very refreshing seeing these two just being friends with no real hard feelings towards each other. Like it honestly makes me wonder what kind of relationship their moms had.

You know I love going into the parents lore when it can provide an expansion on the children’s lore so lets talk about Alice and the Queen of Hearts real quick, both in the context of EAH and in the Alice in wonderland story. In the context of EAH, I don’t think they were ever super close friends like Alistair and Lizzie, but I do think they had a good deal of respect for each other even before committing to their stories. There never seems to be any implication that Lizzie’s mom hated Alistairs mom, which I actually find quite fitting given their characterization in the original story. What’s interesting about their dynamic in the original Alice in wonderland story is the fact that their dynamic isn’t really influenced by something personal like a good amount of fairytale hero and villain duos (for example: Snow White and the Evil Queen). Instead, it’s influenced by the fact that Alice finds herself in a place where all rules and logic work differently, hence why she runs into so many weird and frustrating misunderstandings with the characters. The Queen of Hearts is a temperamental tyrant whose bad side is very easy to get on given the amount of people she executes for petty reasons. Alice just so happens to especially gets on her bad side for the simple reason that Alice doesn’t know how to navigate the logic of the world shes in, and as a result she accidentally does and says things that go against the logic and customs of wonderland and as a result, especially piss off the Queen.

With that said, lets talk about how this translates over to Lizzie and Alistair. I’ve talked about this in the past, but I wholeheartedly subscribe to the theory that the reason Alistair’s last name is “Wonderland” instead of “Liddel” like Alice in the original story, is because during the Evil Queen’s takeover, Alice probably either disappeared or died (this is also potentially supported by the fact that we see all of the wonderlandians’ parents at some point with the exception of Alice), and so, Alistair was sort of co-parented and raised by all the other wonderlandians parents in Wonderland. And so, they renamed him from “Alistair Liddel” to “Alistair Wonderland” as a sort of tribute to both his mother and the world. We know Alistair canonically grew up in Wonderland unlike his mother, so he’s used to the logic and customs of the place despite the narrative of his story’s legacy saying otherwise. He quite literally grew up around Lizzie and the others and I actually attribute this to Lizzies relationship to her destiny. We know from her bio information that while she wants to follow her destiny, Lizzie wants to be a less villainous, kinder Queen of Hearts than her mom, and even then it’s implied her mom wasn’t actually that bad and became a lot more temperamental as a result of the wonderland curse (hence why I also think in the context of EAH, Alice and the Queen of Hearts didn’t dislike each other that much. ). Because Alistair and her were raised right alongside the other wonderlandians, Lizzie has no reason to dislike Alistair the way the Queen of Hearts does to Alice in the original story. On the contrary, she considers him one of her closest friends. Obviously, she probably has other reasons, but her friendship with Alistair is probably one reason she wants to be more lenient in her future reign.

That analysis aside, I definitely think they’re just friends, nothing romantic. I know some people ship them but I personally prefer Lizzie with Maddie and Kitty over anything. Also this is a 100% on the writers but when compared to Lizzie, Kitty, and Maddie, Alistair and especially Bunny’s characterization suffers pretty greatly, I feel. Mainly because most of their individual screentime is dedicated to their romantic feelings for each other, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but the way their relationship is portrayed frustrates me so much so I don’t really pay much attention to it. As a result though, it makes shipping Alistair with anyone else in his friend group also really hard, because when compared to someone like Lizzie who has a lot of development, he doesn’t feel as fleshed out, yknow. This isn’t Alistair slander, its just my personal view. When thinking of the 5 wonderlandians as a group, I think of them as a sort of found family more than anything. And as far as romantic shipping goes, I mainly focus on Lizzie, Kitty, and Maddie as a sort of poly relationship. But anything is valid as long as its not illegal, obviously.

I apologize if this feels really unorganized and convoluted but I had a lot of thoughts and I was trying my best to fit them in this post in a way that felt correlated 😭. But anyway, I don’t talk about Lizzie that often even though shes my favorite wonderland and overall right up there in my top 5 favorite characters in Ever After High so this enabled me to talk about her a pretty good bunch ❤️

[ups3tti]

Hi yeah sorry me again with more DOTD thoughts, it still makes me lose my mind sometimes I know this is probably all in my head just because I think about these two characters a concerning amount but it always interested me how Cole paralleled/contrasted Morro on a scaled-down level. I can't get this out of my brain in a way that makes total sense but bare with me here. I just can't get over the going-it-alone-out-of-anger/desperation-and-the-terrible-consequences-that-followed. He goes after Yang out of anger and desperation and unleashes the souls of departed enemies (accidentally) on his friends. He fought through all of Yangs students on his own to reach Yang himself in a confrontation surrounding an interdimensional rift, and we get yet another scene of a Sensei trying to talk sense into a student except this time Yang is the one forcing Cole to let go and not the other way around, sending Cole back to life instead of to another death. After everything is said and done he has a bright green scar/rift on the left side of his face which always reminded me of Morro's bright green hairstreak on the right of his. The visual parallel is less important to me but still neat yk. Also one being sent high into the air and one being sent deep into the sea, floating temple vs. underwater tomb, yeah. You don't have to tell me that I'm overanalyzing this and looking for connections that probably don't exist because I know I am, but I still lose it everytime. Cole only survived because Morro was able to remind his friends and Sensei that he even existed and it sent them to go find him and give him the strength he needed to keep going. It just makes me think about how Morro could've turned out in different circumstances constantly. Like, what if he had sources of worth and love that weren't tied to the idea that he was the green ninja. What if he had friends to keep him grounded like Kai or family to worry about or an identity of his own before ever being introduced to the idea of the green ninja like everyone else did. God day of the departed should've been so much longer I wanted SO MUCH MORE out of it ALSO also would've loved to see Cole and Morro actually interact. In my head they're such a duo and I care about them greatly I'm also definitely not insane over Wind and Earth and their twin connection to death and also destiny and legacy. Definitely not. Topic for another time I've rambled too long

[morroodle]

How I feel about various Morro relationships:

I'm bored and I wanna ramble. I headcannon morro as aroace (definitely not me projecting) and don't really care for shipping him but there are some I don't mind, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on various pairings both platonic and romantic (and some qprs)

Morro and Lloyd (green cousins)

Platonic: yes yes green cousins my beloved they mean so much to me

Morro and Kai (destiny duo)

Platonic: is it really platonic if they hate eachother? God they would be hilarious together. Theyre both little shits and they would bounce off eachother so well

Romantic: I kinda love it. Theyre just,,, "you should be addicted to shutting the fuck up" "you wanna fuck me so bad it makes you look stupid" and it's so funny. I like it more casually, as a background or light thing, not so much serious

Qpr: they would never

Morro and Cole (ghost duo/sandstorm)

Platonic: they would be very chill friends. Morro helps Cole with ghost things, Cole helps Morro with being alive and they bond over music. Morro isn't cuddly but sometimes he needs Cole to squish him back into his body

Romantic: yea ok. I think it would be sweet and very similar to their friendship

Qpr: oh yea now that's the good shit. Gimme gimme. I am mentally ill.

Morro and Zane (blizzard?)

Platonic: yea ok. I think they could be friends in a very chill way (pun not intended), and morro would love once zane becomes more sassy. They cook together :D

Romantic: ehhhhh??? I don't see it but if it happened to be in a fic I wouldn't care

Qpr: same as romantic

Morro and Jay (storm duo?)

Platonic: not so much a friendship as it is morro constantly terrorizing Jay. Jay loves showing morro new modern stuff but morro is too much of a little shit for that

Romantic: they would never

Qpr: no

Morro and Nya (wojira duo)

Platonic: yes absolutely I love them dearly. They are besties your honor

Romantic: no

Qpr: no

Morro and Pixal (I don't think they have a duo name)

Platonic: yes absolutely. Kinda similar vibes to him and Nya. Morro is absolutely invited to girls night

Romantic: no why

Qpr: again no

Morro and Wu

Your honor that's his dad

Morro and Garm

There's so much potention for fun shenanigans AND emotions. Wu's his dad and Garm's his uncle. Garm absolutely snuck him cookies when he was little

Morro and Harumi (I think they have a duo name but I don't know it)

Platonic: hell yea hating Lloyd besties. They would get along so well when they're both evil and they would slay so much

Romantic: hard no

Qpr: I don't see it

Morro and Echo (citrus)

Platonic: sure. I really like how it's done in the fic too weird to live too rare to die. Echo is wholesome and morro is not.

Romantic: honestly don't care for it. I don't mind it and there's definitely yummy art but I don't know where this paring came from

Qpr: maybe? I feel like they could cuddle

Morro and Benthomar (Seabreeze)

Platonic: similar to echo? Except I understand it less I think. Again no idea where this pairing came from

Romantic: again similar to echo except I think I like it a little more

Qpr: I don't really see it but my mind could be changed

I think that's all the main ones? Idk if I think of more I wanna talk about I'll add on. In conclusion ghost duo qpr my beloved

[gothicbarbie]

BL's I'm Watching in December

(From favorite to least)

The Sign - God, I love this series. It has everything for me. BillyBabe have amazing chemistry and I love how their pairing is written. Hate to love is my favorite trope and they do it so well cuz it’s also laced with banter, flirtation and tension. You can see them genuinely falling for each other. And on top of that, we have a really interesting storyline with lots of questions and mystery. The production value of the series is super impressive too.

City Boy Log - Technically this isn’t a BL, but to me it counts. It’s scripted and centers around two BL pairings. I binged the whole thing in a day and loved it. The chemistry between the main duo is just so good and I love how bold the actors are. I also really like the simplicity of how it's filmed, it feels super natural. It’s a very fun watch and I would love to see them get an official series.

Playboyy the Series - Yes, this show has hot scenes (tho I find some more awkward than they are probably intended to be) but I like the series because of the overall storyline. There are a hell of a lot of characters and it can be a bit confusing but I think I am following it lol. I like quite a few of the pairings and plots that are happening and I def. want to know where the show is going to go. There are some great sex positive messages and discussion about consent that are really nice to see too.

Pit Babe - Really enjoying this series. It started very strong and while I find some storylines to be a bit draggy, it’s really fun to get an omega verse BL. I think they could do a bit more with it, but they seem to be slowly moving in that direction. Again, this series has an overall storyline arc that is mysterious and I’m curious to know where it’s headed. I also love the chemistry between Pavel and Pooh.

Last Twilight - I’m not as in love with this series as others seem to be but I still really enjoy it. It’s nice to see a series that sort of starts more with friendship that blossoms into something deeper and I find the plot of one character being the caretaker for the other to be very sweet and also unique. The scenes where JimmySea just touch hands are so powerful so I am loving their slow progression.

Breeze of Love - Binged this whole series in a night, and it was a great. Very fun watch. Weak kissing scene but sort of expected and it didn’t take away from the series much for me because I did like the chemistry of the main pair. I think some things could have been better but I liked it.

Twins the Series - This series can be dumb at times, and some storylines are a bit blasé but overall I am having a lot of fun watching it. I really like the chemistry between the main duo.

Destiny Seeker - This one ended a bit ago but I finally got a chance to watch the series and I loved it. Mostly for the main pairing who were so fun to watch. Have I mentioned I love hate to love pairings?

The Egoist (movie) - Not a series but a movie that I also finally got around to watching. I was loving it, at first. It was fantastic. The chemistry was great and the storyline hit hard. Hated the ending though, so a bit of a warning for anyone that is curious, if you don’t like unhappy endings, don’t watch lol.

My Story - Filo BL’s can be a bit cheesy at times and this one was no exception. I do think it started a bit better than it ended and I had to fastfoward quite a bit of the show, but I did like the chemistry between the pairings and enjoyed watching it.

Cooking Crush - Was unsure of this series at first, and I am not a big fan of cooking type shows, but I think this one is got a lot better starting with ep 2. I have always liked OffGun too and I am enjoying the cutesy moments and stuff at least. So we'll give it a chance to grow.

Unforgotten Night - An older series I am finally getting around to watching. Loved the first ep, then the next few were kind of bland. I didn’t hear great things about it, so we’ll see how it fits in at my end of year ranking (prob. will make the 2024 list tho since I am watching SLOW lol...) but I do really love the premise of the series. More friends with benefits type bl’s please!

The Day I Loved You - Another filo BL that I watched this month and it was quite enjoyable and cute. I liked the first half much better than the second half, it got a bit sad/depressing for me but I still think it was very well done and reminded me of a bit of heartstopper. Would def recommend people to check it out.

For Him - This one is okay, it doesn’t really have much of a point to me right now? lmao. But I think the sex scenes are well done and it’s holding my interest enough to keep watching.

Cherry Magic Thailand - I want to like this one, but something about it is just off for me. I like TayNew but am not in love with them and I think this version is a lot less cute and quirky like the original was. It just feels a bit awkward to me and I find Tay’s inner voice to be a bit silly? I wish it was more serious and sweet and less cringey lol. I also find New’s character to be a bit pathetic considering he is a 30 year old man… I understand it was following the OG SL, but again, I feel like that series just did everythin better lol…. But, I’ll give it a chance.

You Are Mine - This one was alright, I enjoyed parts of it, other parts I found kind of slow. It's def. not going to be an all-time favorite for me, but it was worth watching.

My Dear Gangster Oppa - Love Meen. Love the main duo’s chemistry, they feel natural together. Loved the first episode… but then, I just kinda stopped caring. The whole gangster/mob stuff just didn’t interest me and I found the overall plot of the main pairing to be a bit rushed. Wish they had built that up a tad more. But it was alright.

Brothers the Series - Another past BL that I’ve only seen a few eps of so far, so it’s hard to judge, but it’s okay so far. I do like the chemistry between the main pair and am curious to know where they are going to take things. But I am going very slow with this one.

Sahara Sensei to Toki-Kun - Only seen a few eps of this one and so far I’m, not really that into it. It’s okay and has some cute moments, but I don’t really like the chemistry between the main duo all that much, and I find it quite creepy he has a crush on a teacher tbh… But, we’ll see where it goes. Not one of Japan’s best imo.

VIP Only - This series is okay but I find it kind of boring. I like the main pairing okay, but I’m also not feeling the storyline that much, it’s just a bit bland to me.

7 Days Before Valentine - Sort of interesting premise and I like the chemistry between the angel dude and the main guy (if it’s even going to go there?) but there are some dumb/weird scenes and moments and the storyline is frustrating too. We’ll see what happens.

I Will Knock You - Older series I am finally attempting to skim through but it’s very meh. The chemistry is just okay. The plot is pretty boring. The main guy is a bit of an ass and hard to like right now but I also kinda like the banter? Maybe? IDK.

Middleman’s Love - Wanted to like this series because I like the characters and the chemistry but it’s just been dragging and dragging since ep 1. I didn't expect it to take this long for something to happen between the main two and the main character can be really annoying and frustrating and a bit TOO dramatic. They use him to be funny but he just comes off obnoxious? Bit of a bust for me. The series just doesn’t have a purpose...

Bake Me Please - Don’t like this series at all really. I don’t think the main couple has any chemistry. Ohm’s character is frankly annoying! And their relationship went from 0 to 60 in like 1 scene. I would just stop watching alll together, but it’s got so few episodes that I might as well just finish it.

Tie the Knot - This one is at the bottom cuz I barely remember what it was about but I just remember I skimmed the majority of it lol.

[4rainynite]

EAH Dorm Headcanons pt 19

Helga & Jackie

One's a lost traveler with a sweet tooth and the other's a cold-hearted ex- criminal.

Both these girls have mean streaks in them! While Helga will lie and act all innocent, Jackie will be straight forward and take anything from you by force or trickery.

I honestly believe Helga & Jackie would not get along due to both are the leaders of their duos and would butt heads with one another.

Helga's side of the dorm:

Helga is the future Hansel, and she has a rep around the school for her sweet tooths and lies. The Crumb cousins are Headmaster Grimm's lackeys and will worship him to levels even Apple White won't cross. When, the cousins aren't following the headmaster you can find them antagonizing students with evil destinies (Raven & Ginger) or stuffing their faces with sweets.

I can see the decor on Helga's side of the dorm similar to gingerbread house (heck, might even be made of gingerbread), with candy and pastry themed furniture that lean heavily on the pastel color scheme.

Helga has many antique gumball machines and canisters filled with candy. Helga makes it clear that no one is allowed to her candy except for Gus, even then she is stingy with her treats.

With all the yelling she does, Helga has cough drops in her dorm. On hand for when she feels her throat going raw.

Helga totally has a mini fridge -No! A full-size fridge in her dorm to store her candy and other sweets.

She uses the floorboards to hide snacks and has many hiding places on her side of the dorm.

In the books Helga and Gus had green in their color scheme and hiking boots before they appeared in the show. So, there are hints of green in the furniture and a huge hiking boot collection.

Jackie's side of the dorm:

Jackie is a snow elf who spent her days along with her brother Northwind working at a snowflake factory that was extremely boring for the two. The two tried to take over the kingdom in 'Epic Winter' only to fail. Sometime later the two were given a second chance (like Courtly) to either continue being prisoners at The Top of the World or attend Ever After High School and do community service there (they picked the latter). Jackie only accepted to get away from manual labor (and because Northwind wanted to go).

Jackie takes great pride and her culture, so she wears traditional 'The Top of the World' clothing and brings trinkets to remind her of home.

Jackie is one of the few students who brought furniture from home to the dorms.

In her free time see likes to make snow people and other arts and crafts as a hobby she picked up at school.

Seeing how sporty her outfit is I can see Jackie being into Winter sports like snowboarding, skiing, bobsledding, and etc so she keeps sports equipment in her dorm.

Due to their ability to transform into animals the twins don't have pets, but if they did it would be penguins (because they look like tiny butlers).

Jackie owns a coffee/ hot chocolate machine that she keeps in her dorm (Helga is forbidden to use it).

[sapphic-scylla]

Most Fun Ways to Play Persona 5 Royal

Ever since my much needed and surprisingly worth it departure from Destiny 2, I’ve had more time for other games I enjoy and P5R has been the main game that I’ve shifted over to, but a lot of people claim the game to be fairly easy (Twins fight, Lavenza, and Hard difficulty endgame not withstanding) and I wanted to offer a few of the ways that I keep this game fun.

Restrict your Persona loadouts to a single persona for the entire run. What kind of trivializes this game is the amount of adaptation you have access to and how nasty a lot of the builds you can create are. Obviously, you kinda have to give on the fights I mentioned a little to make sure you have some kind of a chance against Lavenza because she doesn’t pull punches, but the rest of the game can be completed with a well built and leveled Arsène.

Solo or duo runs. Teammates can take a lot of pressure off of your shoulders and save you from a lot of damage. Combat this by doing a solo run. Or if you like having a teammate, pick one to keep throughout the run and have a replacement teammate when you don’t have access to that specific teammate yet.

Theme your Personas. There are SO many personas in this game and so many cool persona designs. I have my personal favorites that I run regularly and I’ll definitely do a Top 20 list shortly, but not enough of them get the attention they deserve. So I theme my loadouts, particularly around mythology of origin or gender identity or the set they are a part of (like the Four Horsemen or the Fates or the Heavenly Kings).

Restrict your access to counters or items. The combat system can really straddle the line between making it very easy to succeed or making it difficult as long as you work it. Disallowing the use of weaknesses, technicals, or the Baton Pass system (Doing all at the same time is rough, but you do you) is a way of ramping the difficulty, so you actually have to think around your opponents can really make the balance a little more fair. Items also get really overpowered late game because of the almost infinite access as long as you’re watching your money.

Affinity Runs. As cool as your teammates are, they do get outclassed late game by a LOT of your options as the wild card, so force yourself into a lane. Pick a magic type (not Almighty damage) and restrict yourself to only use personas that have that base magic or attack type.

Be the Mom friend that Joker truly is. Let your friends truly shine and go full support. No attack or damage moves allowed. Only supporting your friends. The only exception fight in this run is Shido due to the final portion being a 1v1, so make sure you plan for not attacking until then.

Restrict yourself from the Big Boys. As fun as P5R is, there are quite a few Personas that give WAY too many benefits and make the game borderline unplayable. The ones that specifically come to mind are Satanael, Yoshitsune, Izanagi-no-Okami, Abbadon, and possibly Lucifer. The lack of weaknesses can make it very hard to die and Tyrant’s Mind, Country Maker, Myriad Truths, Victory Cry, Hassou Tobi, Null/Drain/Repel Physical, and really any unique Almighty attack makes death practically a joke.

The fun of P5R is the truth that the difficulty is what you make it to be. There aren’t only 5 difficulty settings. It depends on how gutsy you are willing to be with restricting yourself. Obviously, there are some challenges that just aren’t possible due to boss enemy resistances or game design or just outright impossible if you include Lavenza in your quest for glory, but the sky is the limit.

[ok4ru]

The Eraqus and Xehanort swapped AU… 👀 @autumn-may-main @clankythecranky

So, in the Dark Road Swap AU, I decided not to change anything for the first part of the story so Xehanort still grew up on Destiny Island and was raised by Player.

But, this time Xehanort is a successful child of Destiny Island and also has the kingdom necklace since in this AU it's a pass-down gift in the Ephemer bloodline.

Sadly, Xehanort manages to lose it while going through the door of darkness.

But, he makes it to Scala and enjoys his time with also the people there. With one of the people being Eraqus. Eraqus was wary at first cause reeked of darkness but didn’t mind he had a new friend! A fast and close relationship grows between the two with also their love of chess and Scala ad Caelum's ancient history.

(Also maybe Grandchildren of Masters but hey, Xehanort doesn't know who his Grandpa is yet and only Eraqus so…)

Now I decided to make Eraqus more like Brain and have more of an interest in stuff and digging into it a lot than he usually should to the point it drives him crazy but Xehanort is always there to stop him. But most of the time Eraqus is just his normal self.

Xehanort also makes friends with Baldr and starts to bond over feeling light and darkness in people's hearts. They become close friends and Eraqus joining aside from them.

Now as for the Baldr and Hoder: I decided to switch to Baldr and Hoder which is funny because Hoder is originally associated with Night and Darkness but Square Enix uses that for Baldr's role instead of her so I guess I'm going by the original role.

Now in the story, one day Baldr informs Eraqus that he thinking of going to find his sister since he hasn’t seen her in a while, and the Mark of Mastery is coming up, and doesn't want her to miss it.

Eraqus got an off feeling about it but shrugged it off and encouraged him to find her.

During the main everything kinda plays out the same, that gang has to look for Baldr as well as their missing Upperclassmen. Except in each world, Xehanort and Eraqus started to feel a bit of dread and uncomfortableness building up every moment.

Not making it any better that learning Baldr is dead and they don’t know anything about whether their other classmates are safe since they also went through the Corridor of Darkness.

The boys find themselves in darkness alone, nothing else, not knowing how or if they’ll get home. Before Xehanort can tell Eraqus to put his armor on he sees Eraqus's almost lifeless body lying there. Eraqus gives up, he is tired. He told Xehanort to go without him and I told you, I wouldn't go as far as you…

Xehanort was baffled by his yet he wasn’t having any of it… “Not on my watch.” He said.

He helps Eraqus get his armor and tries to drag them out of there…

Xehanort thought to Eraqus's words but tried to not feed into them as much. “Maybe it’s just the darkness talking…” The boy could hold on any longer and ended up collapsing on the ground…That was until Master Odin found them.

The next day back in the classroom Eraqus seemed to be doing much better but a bit tired but still the same old Eraqus. It kinda gave Xehanort a bit of whiplash.

Everything after that, the duo fights the upper-classmen and Vor dies in the hands of Hoder which…Damn :(

Now as for the battle, I decided to do two things: The talk between Hoder and Xehanort is the same but Hoder starts to realize that Xehanort may not be as similar to her as she thought at the end…

As Hoder is being held down by Master Odin's chain she mentions to Eraqus that she realizes Xehanort seems to be his light while Eraqus seems to be always in his shadow…

Eraqus didn't really wanna hear this because to him it wasn't true. Defended him and said he would never be jealous of his best friend…Right?

Hoder begins to taunt Eraqus making him angry and leading him to strike her down.

Xehanort was shocked it was like the whole world was silent at that very moment…

So was Eraqus. He couldn’t even believe himself…Xehanort felt a sharp bit of pain in his heart and slowly started to realize…Those feelings of dread were from Eraqus but Darkness hadn’t taken his heart… Oh no, it was only the beginning of his heart going down a dark road…

I’ll go into debt about Xehanort and Eraqus’s relationship so more later this post is already long…

Edit: The first part of the story didn’t even get paste but it is here now!

[lynnedwardswrites]

I'm on my way to a retreat my writing group holds every 6 months. There are half a dozen of us that I'd consider the "core" group members, and maybe 3 times that many any given month on their way in or out or showing their face once in a blue moon. It's a pretty chill group, all in all, with vibes that range from "I have a master's degree and 25 years of experience" to "I wouldn't show you my work even if I had written anything lol."

The unifying factor here seems to be a casual, hobbyist writer vibe with the occasional dream of publishing, often held back by time constraints, insecurity, or just... not actually being motivated enough to write except as an escapist hobby. Which is all good and fine, don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against hobby writers. They make great art and great friends

Except then there's me.

I'm over here writing 4-6 hours a day, 4-5 days a week, 2 years running with one story, The Story, foaming out my mouth. I'm writing because The Story is nipping at my heels and if I don't keep moving it'll consume me. I'm writing because My Story is tearing its way out of me in a wash of blood like a newborn child, The Child, The Chosen One with a destiny and a life of its own that I have power only to birth and release.

It's an incredibly egotistical way to view (and present!) my own work but I don't care because the above drama accurately represents how I experience it and how important it feels to me. I've got years and years of development left, on the thing itself and my skill as a writer, but that time doesn't matter because The Story Has To Be Told.

*The writer is huffing. She pulls back a little, with an apologetic smile for getting so intense.*

Anyway, I don't think my writing group realizes that I'm working on a different plane of existence, either. They make comments like "yeah because none of us like showing our writing haha" when I'm over here very carefully measuring how often I share my work so I don't accidentally dominate the group, but still get maximum feedback utility from every piece I share. They're over here making sure the kids who don't actually write still have a fun time at the retreat, and I'm trying to figure out how to warp every prompt and speed write into an opportunity to make progress on my wip.

And... and I guess I'm lonely??? So lonely I'm screaming all this into the void on the hellsite, just desperately hoping for One. Other. Person. who will get it. Who will squeeze my blood-covered fingers in a way that squelches because theirs are dirty, too. If you know that person, if you are that person, show your face! Take my hand! Write me something as brave and messy and indecent as this self-absorbed internet gesticulation. And if you're not them, help me find them??? I need them??? The other side of my coin, the one who writes the same way but from the other side of some fence???

If I was half the expert I need to be, I could probably pull up some frenemy trope historical duo to get you the vibe I'm looking for, but instead it's just a very chaotic HELP.

[random-mailbox]

Random-Mailbox's Favorite Sailor Moon Fics - Week 16 - Christmas Part 2

When working on the stories to include in this week’s post, the list kept growing, and growing… and growing. And even though I try my best to not have giant posts, this one will be an exception. @riverlethe made an excellent suggestion of capping it at 12, to use “Twelve Days of Christmas” song as my loose cultural inspiration. So here is how we got to the final number. 

As always, my apologies in advance for spoiling some of these for you (Fic Titles are linked to either FFN or AO3 entries).

The Gift of Giving - Silent Serenade

Growing up in an orphanage, Holidays for Mamoru were not his happiest season. There was a tradition of adding gift requests from kids to the “Tree of Joy” for adults doing their shopping to hopefully fill. The one time Mamoru had requested something, it was a book, which some benefactor has managed to fulfil. This story explores how that one small act of kindness shaped the person he is today.

Christmas Law - @keyofjetwolf

Usagi is on a mission, and has all the girls on her side, to make her one Christmas wish come true - a kiss under the mistletoe with Mamoru. Whatever it may take.

The Twelve Roses of Christmas - SailorSong

As Usagi tries to get all the gifts ready for Christmas, she keeps coming across discarded roses. Coupled with Mamoru suddenly acting nicer than he has ever before, our protagonist is in for quite a Holiday Adventure. 

I dare you - Princess Destiny

Bored Senshi decided that a game of “Truth or dare” will stave off their boredom. Usagi, after choosing dare, gets asked to kiss the mall Santa. 

Tis' Christmas Gift Giving - @billyjbradshaw

Absolutely adorable one shot about the progression of Mamoru and Usagi’s relationship over the years, as they move from uneasy truce to friendship to something else entirely.

I Saw Mama Kissin' Santa Claus - SailorSong

The break-up in this post-Anime’s R season story extended past defeat of Wiseman. Everyone now knows that Usagi will one day become Neo-Queen Serenity and that Chibi-Usa is her daughter but no one knows who might be her significant other. We watch as Usagi and Mamoru try to find new footing and their path back to each other.

12 Days of Christmas Crumbs - @sessediz

Super cute collection of Holiday themed one-shots that revolve around our favourite duo and their working their way into each other’s lives.

Baby's First Christmas - @kaleidodreams

In this super cute story, we get to watch the first family of Crystal Tokyo celebrate Small Lady’s first Christmas, and all the preparations that go into it. 

The Perfect Present - @she-dreams-in-pink

With a friendly competition between Usagi and Mamoru on who gives the best presents, Usagi is on a mission to find something absolutely amazing for Mamoru.

Covert Christmas Ops - @linlamont

Hotaru and Setsuna go on an adventure night before Christmas to try and figure out who did Haruka accidentally give something that was meant for Michiru, running into the other senshi and the future king of Crystal Tokyo in their pursuit. 

All I Want for Christmas is AU -Chapter 1: Have Yourself an Ugly Little Christmas - @queenrisa14

This story came out a few days too late to be included in the Ugly Christmast sweater post, HOWEVER, I really didn't want to have to wait and whole year before adding it to the rec list. Mamoru loses a bet at work and is forced to wear Ugly Christmas sweaters for his shifts, something he considered a terrible punishment until a friendly sales clerk at one of the shops makes it her mission to help him find only the best ones. 

A Christmas Gift - @lyraterra

Usagi and Mamoru bump into each other at the airport after their flight gets cancelled due to a snow storm (very timely for the craziness of travel everyone had to put up with in North America over the last 7 days). With Usagi dropping her keys in the snow, Mamoru suggests that she spend the night at his place until they can sort everything out. This is another absolutely wonderful reveals story from @lyraterra but with a Holiday twist.

Next week's post will go up on Jan 2 and will be a collection of New Year's themed stories. I will try to come up with the full schedule for January posts by then.

Here are the links to the previous Tumblr posts in these series to explore more amazing works based on different themes - make sure to check them out if you haven't had a chance! (Click on title name to go to the post)

Week 1 - Groundhog Day

Week 2 - Established Relationships

Week 3 - Sex Positivity

Week 4 - Unfinished Stories

Week 5 - Darker Stories

Week 6 - Potions 🧪

Week 7 - Reveals

Week 8 - 👻Halloween🎃

Week 9 - Wrong Perceptions

Week 10 - Non-Senshi AU

Week 11 - In-Progress Fics

Week 12 - Mutual Pining

Week 13 - Enemies to Lovers

Week 14 - Slow Burn

Week 15 - Christmas Part 1 - Ugly Christmas Sweaters and Santa!

[wordymcnerdy]

Attn Warrior Nun fandom writers! I was fleshing out some post-season 2 headcanons for a one-shot last week and accidentally stumbled into the set up for a whole other fic I can’t stop thinking about but am never going to write myself, so Ima just go ahead and drop it here in the frailest hope that some lovely, talented soul might be inspired to run with it and make my dreams come true:

So here it goes. 

We begin with Lilith. By the end of the season she's effectively burned all of her bridges in service of a master who was eviscerated in front of her, and in the immediate aftermath she seems to be experiencing some capital R Remorse about that - helping Bea to save Ava, watching Avatrice say goodbye, hoping when she and Bea meet next they'll be back on the same side, etc. Where does she go from there? I like to imagine she goes full Angel (in the Buffyverse way, not in the religious way) and takes her penance to the streets. In a cruelly ironic twist, she's now effectively performing the duties of the halo-bearer - utilizing her truesight along with her OCS training to track down the remaining wraith demons and punch them out of the possessed and straight back to hell - except of course that it doesn't feel remotely like fulfilling a lifelong destiny. There's no honor in it, she's just flailing desperately to try and make up for some of what she's done, and to finally do right by Ava. So there she is, out punching the shit out of some wraith demons, when who should wander into her path all full of wraith demon in need of punching?

Bitch, you know it's ya girl SHOTGUN MOTHAFUCKIN MARYYYY!

(Come on, y'all, duh she's alive. Vincent told Lilith Mary's dead like 10 whole minutes after telling her she was alive to save his ass and manipulate her into a trap, and now we're gonna take the fucker at his word? Sure, Jan.) (Yes, I'm aware of the BTS stuff at play, and maybe Toya never wants to go back, I'm just saying, the WN team could not have left that door open wider for her in case she ever does. No body, no proof, no details, just the word of one lying, manipulative sack o' dicks? Be serious now.)

So Lilith frees Mary of her demon and then takes care of her while she recovers. Mary's done some shit while she was possessed and has some guilt of her own to work through, so they trauma-bond, and now it’s really on because we’ve got us a kick-ass demon-fighting duo. Neither of them feels right about returning to the church - especially not with Father Sack-o-Dicks back wandering the Cradle like he didn’t fully murder Shannon, spend the entire first season gaslighting them about it, and then proceed to spend the whole next season attacking, endangering and otherwise fucking with them - but they're sure as shit not gonna stop fighting.

Smash!Cut to that final shot in the epilogue of the finale. Beatrice smiles as she walks away from the OCS, presumably to do what Ava told her and go live her life. I've seen a lot of different theories on what flavor of fluffy lil Eat Pray Love travel/adventure/vacation she's headed off on, and those are all super fun, but for me, man... I feel like that's what Ava would do, not what Beatrice would do. Ava’s loosened her up at bit, sure, but she's still Bea, or at least I still want her to 😏 Bea. (I'm SO sorry about that, I swear it just snuck up on me) We clearly see Beatrice struggling internally all season, and I actually don't think that has anything to do with her feelings for Ava. I think Adriel and Vincent took a fucking wrecking ball to the whole foundation of this mission Beatrice had dedicated her life to. If anything, Ava coming along when she does makes things easier, because it gives Bea something clear and tangible to fight for, but now with her gone, she has to finally reckon with what it is she's doing with her life. Again, there are good arguments to be made for any number of directions that reckoning could take, but I'd like to believe that when the dust settles she's going to find that she hasn't actually lost any of her faith, or her dedication to the fight. She’s still our Bea. She just needs to break from the constraints of these institutions she's at best begun to question and perhaps even become disillusioned with. She needs autonomy, and a new path. And I mean, you’re starting to see where I'm going with this, right? Beatrice can't contain her smile as she exits the Cradle, not because of what she's leaving, but because of what she's running toward - freedom, and her sisters.

TL;DR - in the aftermath of season two, an elite team of tactical former-nuns comes together to fight against evil and for each other.

Lilith

Mary

Beatrice

They are

Birds of Pray

Please please please somebody write it I'm so serious about this!

PS How psyched is Ava gonna be to join them when she gets back?

PPS Obviously I want Camila in here too. But also I’m kind of into the potential for conflict with her taking on more responsibility within the OCS but also feeling hurt/abandoned when she find out everyone’s hanging out without her?

PPS Just spitballing here but hey maybe Jillian Salvius would be interested in employing their services to take down Kristian or undo some of the harm he did with her money or whatever, and ya know, if that were to lead to her joining the team in an Oracle-esque capacity? That could be cool. And if perhaps in time she wanted to work on getting field-trained as well... idunno, maybe Lilith specifically would be interested in training her... (hey! stop looking at me like that! those two had an *energy*, okay? I cannot be the only one who noticed!)