#fabian hush

[cosmic-nebula356]

Alright so- this is Fabian from blush blush

And this is Elle from Crush Crush

In this au of Hush Hush, Fabian is Elle’s brother

I uhh, am way too lazy to explain the rest rn @o@ but that’s why I have this!

[marvelmusing]

Handle With Care

From the Our Souls AU

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Fem!Reader

(His Dark Materials inspired AU)

Summary: Aleksander finds you in a vulnerable state and takes care of you and your dæmon after an altercation.

Warnings: mentions of violence and injury, hurt/comfort.

My Masterlist

Aleksander is drawn out of his study at the University of Ravka, by the sounds of a commotion further down the hallway. He steps outside, closing the door smoothly behind himself once Andromeda has followed him. It appears he isn’t the only one curious about the altercation. A few other people have gathered to watch the Master scold two people.

The sound of someone choking down a sob makes Aleksander’s stomach twist, because that someone sounds frighteningly like you. He increases the pace of his gait, striding down the corridor. His heart beats wildly in his chest when he sees your tearstained cheeks, clutching fiercely onto Fabian as you hold your dæmon close to your chest.

He barely hears what the Master says as he approaches. In the corner of his vision, he sees Zoya with a bruise forming on her cheek and there’s a twinge of pride in his chest at the thought of you defending yourself. He has no intention of listening to Nazyalensky’s side of the story.

“Come with me,” he murmurs softly against your ear.

Settling a gentle hand on your waist, he guides you towards his private quarters upstairs. He’s careful not to touch Fabian and keeps a close eye on you both. His heart aches as you continue crying quietly, your face almost hidden by Fabian’s fur.

Aleksander sets you down on his bed, and you curl in on yourself, keeping your dæmon tucked protectively against your chest. He retrieves a few medical supplies, bandages and ointments, from his bathroom in preparation. Then he sits down beside you. He strokes his hand down your side, attempting to soothe you before he speaks.

“Darling, I need to check Fabian over.”

A whimper catches in your throat, and he sees you shake your head weakly, burying your face into the red fur of your dæmon. Aleksander manages to get his hand underneath Fabian’s body, encouraging the two of you to let go of one another.

“Come here, sweet boy.”

A painful cry escapes you and Aleksander watches you press your arms tightly against your chest in an attempt at filling the space previously occupied by your soul.

“Faby,” you whine, distress choking you.

Aleksander hears your breathing shift into panicked gasps, seconds away from spiralling into another bout of uncontrollable emotion. He places his hand over your ribs, feeling the frantic rise and fall of your chest as your anxiety increases.

“I know, darling. I know it hurts, but he’s right here. Can you hold onto Andromeda for me?”

He feels you grasping at his dæmon, as she licks gently over your forehead, encouraging you to breathe in a soft voice. He hears her murmuring reassurances to you while you cry.

“Andromeda,” you whimper. She hushes you softly.

“It’s alright, dear girl. Aleksander will look after him.”

There are a few patches of fur missing from Fabian’s coat, clumps torn out during the fight, and a bite mark on his left shoulder. There isn’t too much damage, but the wound needs to be cleaned. The dæmon trembles in Aleksander’s lap as he dips a cloth into a dish of water, wringing out the excess.

Andromeda turns to look at him, eyeing the cloth in his hand.

“This is going to hurt them both,” he states.

She nods.

“Can you give him something for the pain?”

“I don’t know if he trusts me enough to drink it.”

“He will.”

Aleksander holds his dæmon’s gaze for a long moment. Then he nods. He pours a tonic into a small dish, placing in front of Fabian’s mouth.

“Drink as much as you can, Fabian.” When your dæmon begins to lick at the liquid, pink tongue darting out tentatively, Aleksander breathes out a sigh of relief. “There we go. Good boy.”

He strokes the back of Fabian’s head gently, encouraging to continue drinking. Once the dish has been licked clean, he turns his attention to the bite mark.

“Now let’s clean this up for you.”

Fabian only flinches slightly as the cloth meets his broken skin and a distant whimper catches in your throat and Aleksander hears you whisper his name weakly.

Whenever dæmon’s consume something, it affects their human counterpart tenfold. He suspects the tonic has made you disorientated, on the cusp of passing out. Aleksander’s dæmon continues talking to you, keeping you conscious and grounded as your fingers play absently with her fur.

Once Fabian’s wound has been cleaned, Aleksander carries him back over to you, placing him down on the bed. Instantly, your dæmon buries himself into your chest and you grasp hold of him tightly.

Andromeda licks your forehead affectionately, lying down beside Fabian. Aleksander drapes the covers over your body.

“The drink I gave him will make you both feel sleepy. Get some rest, darling.” As your mind seems to begin drifting off, your body tenses and Aleksander adds, “The door is locked. We are the only ones here, and I won’t touch Fabian again unless you ask me to.”

As soon as he finishes speaking, your breathing evens out.

»»---------------------►

“Aleksander?”

He turns quickly, neck twinging at the sudden movement. He must have fallen asleep in his armchair by the fireplace. His eyes scour over you, the exhaustion settled over your features, the way you keep your arms crossed protectively over yourself. Breathing out your name, he shuffles to the edge of his seat.

“I’m sorry,” you say quietly, your eyes lowered to the rug beneath your feet as you tuck his robe tighter around your body.

He frowns.

“Whatever for?”

“Last night. I- I acted like a child.”

His gaze flickers down to your hands as they fidget, wringing them briefly before you begin to scratch your thumbnail against your palm. Emotion fills your features, your throat bobbing as you appear to be holding back tears.

“Someone had hurt your soul,” he argues. “I think how you acted was justified.”

There’s a pause as you seems to consider something.

“Don’t you think I should be more mature - less reliant on him?”

Fabian looks half-asleep, still curled up against Andromeda on Aleksander’s bed. He lifts his head at the sound of your distress, though Aleksander can see his eyes are unfocused and he soon slumps back down into Andromeda’s side.

“Not at all. Come here.”

You shake your head.

“You can’t want me,” you insist, tears dripping down your face. “I still need to hold my dæmon to fall asleep at night.”

“Is that what Zoya said to you?”

There’s a moment of hesitation where you don’t meet his eyes. Then you nod. He beckons to you again, and this time you walk closer and allow him to pull you into his lap.

“The bond you share with Fabian is a gift. It is beautiful. Anyone who doesn’t see that is a fool.”

More tears trace down your cheeks, droplets falling onto Aleksander’s shirt as you lean your temple against his shoulder.

“When I was younger,” you begin quietly, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt. “I used to play with the rest of the children who stayed at the Little Palace over the summer. We used to explore together. There wasn’t anywhere we didn’t go.”

He didn’t know you stayed at the Little Palace. He had always assumed you had a family, and a home, to go back to over the summer.

“Not long after Fabian settled, they started treating us differently. One day, they locked him in a pantry.”

Aleksander tilts his head at your admission, his eyes locked on your face as the memories turn your tears into soft sobs that have you trembling in his arms. He tightens his hold on you, as you grip onto his shirt.

“I couldn’t get him out. If it had happened a few months earlier, he could have changed into a moth or a beetle and crawled out through the crack under the door. But because he had settled, because he was a fox, he couldn’t get out.”

“What happened?”

“A kitchen servant found us. She took one look at him, saw a fox dæmon, and thought we were stealing food. She told the master, and I was punished for it. I was too distraught to tell them the truth.”

He rests his chin on the crown of your head and you bury your face into his chest. Anger burns in his chest, and Andromeda’s eyes lock onto his from across the room. They will never let anyone hurt you like that again.

“Darling, I’m so sorry.” He presses the hint of a kiss to your hair and the two of you are quiet for a moment. Then he says, “That’s why you went into dæmonlogy, isn’t it?”

You nod.

“Just because my dæmon is a fox, does not mean I’m untrustworthy.”

“It doesn’t,” he agrees. “Fabian is one of the most goodnatured dæmons I’ve ever known and you have a kind heart. Neither of you deserve such suspicion.”

“Thank you.”

He shakes his head.

“You don’t have to thank me.” He gives your body a gentle squeeze, tucking your head into the crook of his neck. His chin grazes your forehead as his hands rub over your shoulders, up and down your arm. “Stay with us for the day.”

That makes you lift your head up, to look at him. He watches you blink in confusion at his offer.

“What?”

“Fabian won’t be feeling himself until around noon. I don’t like the thought of you being alone while he’s out of sorts.”

“Oh.”

“And, perhaps…” He smiles at you, tracing his fingertips over your cheek, along your jawline. “I want to spend time with you.” That draws a bashful smile to your lips, spreading over your features. He tilts his head at you, admiring you with a soft expression. “Shall I ring for some breakfast?”

You nod.

“Please.”

»»---------------------►

marvelmusing Tag List: @dreamlandcreations @blanchedelioncourt @idaofinfinity @slytherheign @ellooo0ooo @vixenofcourse @dumb-fawkin-bitch @jane-arthur @ilikefictionmen @budugu @watersquirtpewpewboomm @mysweetlittledesire

S&B Tag List: @motheroffae @daddymaster21

Aleksander M Tag List: @nyctophiliiiiaaa @jazmin2211 @wooya1224 @seronsalk

BB Characters Tag List: @rachlovesactors @noortsshift @aikeia @weallhaveadestiny @two-unbeatable-beaters @idohknow @vaguekayla

[acronym-chaos]

The End Inspired ID Pack

[PT: The End Inspired ID Pack].

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom. End ID].

Names

[PT: Names].

Adrian, Alaric, Anatole, Anubis, Ashford, Asphodel, Azrael, Balthazar, Blaise, Bram, Calvert, Charon, Clive, Corbin, Damien, Darian, Delilah, Drusilla, Elara, Enoch, Erebus, Everett, Fabian, Finnegan, Faust, Gethin, Grim, Hades, Halcyon, Harlow, Helene, Idris, Ingram, Ira, Jasper, Kieran, Lachesis, Lazarus, Leland, Lenore, Lisette, Malvern, Mara, Marlowe, Mercer, Mortimer, Nox, Orson, Peregrine, Phobos, Quentin, Requiem, Roderick, Rosamund, Sable, Sabine, Samael, Sepulchre, Sinclair, Solomon, Styx, Thanatos, Thorne, Tristram, Uriel, Valdis, Valeria, Verity, Victorine, Vlad, Winslow, Wren, Yvaine.

Pronouns

[PT: Pronouns].

Ae / Ab / Abyss; A / Ash / Ashes; Bane / Bane / Banes; Cin / Cinder / Cinders; Du / Dusk / Dusks; Ebb / Ebb / Ebbs; En / End / Ends; Fade / Fades / Fades; Gra / Grave / Graves; Hu / Hush / Hushes; Ni / Nil / Nils; Pale / Pales / Pales; Re / Res / Rest; Ru / Rui / Ruin; Si / Silence / Silences; Sle / Ep / Eps [Sleep]; Still / Stills / Stills; Tomb / Tombs / Tombs; Vo / Voi / Void; Whi / Per / Pers [Whisper]; Wrai / Wraith / Wraiths;

Titles

[PT: Titles].

An Epitaph of Silence; The Bearer of Finality; The Collector of Departed Souls; The End of All Things; The Fading Light; The Final Observer; The Grim Reminder; The Inevitable Conclusion; The Keeper of Eternal Rest; The Last Sentinel; The Shadow at the End; The Silence Before the End; The Warden of the Final Hour; Whisperer of the Last Breath; [Pronoun] Who Heralds the End; [Pronoun] Who Watches Over the End; [Pronoun] Who Whispers the Last Truth

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom, end ID]

Requested by anon!

Also tagging: @pronoun-arc @id-pack-archive

[natjennie]

the whole scene with hallariel on the phone. gilear is a dance king or something. the moonar yulenear. fabian's 18 missed calls. gorgug texting him for a ride to school. can riz's mom come, yes I assumed she was coming. I believe aelwyn's wanted here, but we'll keep it hush hush. business class.

[kay-elle-cee]

A restless waves rise and fall microfic (series). 🏴‍☠️ Pirate Jily AU. @jilymicrofics February Prompt 28: Daring || 996 Words

It's been ages since they'd been ashore, and James is itching to get his feet on solid ground. The past few months had been upending in the best way, ever since he and Lily found out she was with child, but James longed for the solid ground beneath his feet and a respite from the ship and all the duties warring for his attention.

They drop anchor in a harbor near the shore and the landing party—Fabian, Peter, Frank, Henry, Benjy—gather around the railing and work the dinghy into the water. James counts the coin in his pouch a fifth time as they wait for Sirius to join them, wanting to make certain this trek wouldn't be for nothing.

In her latest correspondence, Euphemia had impressed upon him the importance of a variety of fruit in Lily's diet as her pregnancy continues. On a ship such as The Minnie, fruit was always front-of-mind in an effort to keep scurvy at bay, but the rations per crew member were small—certainly not enough for a woman with child. He'd done some asking around at their last port and learned of a woman in a nearby French colony who dealt in the fruit trade.

"Are we ready?"

James' head whips up at the sound of his wife's voice and she's standing before him, a smug, defiant look on her face as she sheathes a sword at her hip. Lovely as ever, her buttoned overcoat hanging open around the small bump of her belly, the wind picks up some tendrils of her hair and brushes them across her face as she stares at him, eyebrow quirked as if daring him to say something.

He takes the bait, regardless.

"What are you doing?" he asks in a hushed tone, aware of the wary eyes watching them. The bickering (for lack of a better term) between Captain and First Mate had gotten quite frequent over the last month aboard the ship, with Lily's insistence to continue doing her duties and normal and James' arguments to the contrary. "We agreed you'd stay and man the ship."

"Remus said walking would be good for me." Her smile is sweet but her eyes are a deadly, glittering green.

James' gaze flickers up to where Remus watches them from across the deck, shrugging apologetically. For a brief moment James questions whether it's actually the medic's orders or if his wife had somehow...suggested that he prescribe her such a treatment, but before he's able to really ponder it too much, his eyes catch on the missing member of their landing party next to Remus.

Clutched in Sirius' hands are the ship's maps and a compass, a distinct lack of a weapon on his person.

"Winds have picked up," he says by way of an explanation. "Anchoring here gives me an opportunity to make sure our next course is accurate. Besides"—here, his brows raise—"Evans wasn't taking no for an answer."

A resigned sigh passes through James' lips as his eyes travel back to Lily. Though her body continues to undergo the changes of pregnancy, she refuses to sit out of duties or missions. He had agreed with that course of action at first, but lately Lily was experiencing more pain and he could see her fighting through it as she stubbornly pressed on with her tasks. He really thought her sitting out this little quest was an unspoken signal that they were on the same page, but it appeared that was a discussion that they'd undoubtedly need to have soon.

Still, Lily's face glows with the spoils of her triumph, and James can't help feeling—in this moment—happy that she's gotten her way. His lips turn up slightly at the corners as his gaze sweeps from her to the rest of the landing party.

"Alright, let's load up. This should be relatively straightforward."

A chorus of 'aye's rings out and as Lily turns to make her way to the dinghy, James gently grabs her arm, lowering his voice to where only she can hear.

"The second you start feeling any sort of pain or fatigue, you rest. Understand?"

"But—"

"That's an order, Lily. From your captain."

Lily's eyes narrow, but the way she chews on her cheek as a delicate flush crawls up her neck satisfies James enough that he releases her arm.

"Aye, Captain," she relents, holding his gaze a moment longer before walking over to the railing and kicking a leg over. James watches nervously, already dreading that night's inevitable argument but feeling firm in his belief all the same.

They'd make sure she had everything she needed for their child, but she has to start recognizing her limitations. He'd never ask her to bow out from her duties altogether, but it will only get harder. And for her sake—and the baby's—she needed to stop pushing herself.

A hand on his shoulder startles him from his fugue of worry.

"If it makes you feel better," Peter says, a sympathetic smile on his face as his blue eyes glint with determination, "I won't leave her side."

Some of the tension evaporates from James' body and he claps the man on the back as he moves to the railing of the ship. Peter was the best swordsman on the ship and while James would be very surprised if this meeting went sideways, he's learned enough to know the chance isn't ever zero. Someone to aid Lily should things go south, to keep her from pushing herself to her limit, greatly alleviates some of his stress.

Peter's swinging his leg over the side—the last of the landing party other than James. James expels a breath, shaking out his hands. Lily's decision (deception) to join the landing party had thrown him for a loop, but there was no going back now.

And well, maybe she'd be amenable to his requests once she was plied full of every fruit in the Caribbean.

Read on Ao3

[zahri-melitor]

Dick's memories:

I've been working on this part for 6 months. I wrote a lot of it from memory and then went to find the panels and check I was characterising them correctly (and add the attribution).

There are some big moments in Dick and Tim's relationship referenced here, of course. But wherever possible, I tried to choose slightly less well known moments, or an alternate panel from the main one pointed to in that issue.

Some fun facts:

38 footnotes, referencing 34 separate comics (I use two scenes from the same issue for 4 comics: Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and Gotham Knights)

15 different comic runs are referenced (Batman, Detective Comics, Azrael, Birds of Prey, Nightwing, Robin, Red Robin, Batman: Shadow of the Bat, Gotham Knights, New Titans, Showcase '93, Joker: Last Laugh, Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, and Blackest Night: Batman)

The years covered by the comics are the following: 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

The years missed are the following: 1989 and 1991.

1989: I skipped because I really, really wanted to open with Tim's first actual team up with Dick after A Lonely Place of Dying. Plus, Dick didn't really look and see Tim until after ALPoD. That's why no circus, no baby Tim, no origin story.

1991: Dick and Tim do not interact in any comic labelled 1991. They do appear in a single splash panel together.

I struggled with myself over whether to include 2009 or not, because I wanted moments of brotherhood between Tim and Dick, where they clearly cared for each other, and I didn't want to include any of Battle for the Cowl or the Red Robin fight. There were in the end only three stories that really qualified: The end of Heart of Hush; the 2008 Holiday Special (which has a Feb 2009 cover date); and Blackest Night: Batman. The only issue of Heart of Hush with a 2009 coverdate simply doesn't have any conversation BETWEEN Dick and Tim to use (they're too busy explaining to Tommy how much he screwed up); while I do like the Wonderful Life story, the costume handover was a bit too twee to fit anywhere into the flow of memories plus Owen Mercer's there; and in the end, I used the panel AFTER the panel of Blackest Night. This was a slight cop out in terms of the whole 'avoid the Red Robin fight' aim, but it's the one big moment that shows Dick and Tim were still in sync during that time, and in terms of the scene build it slotted quite nicely into the explosions-building-to-dead-Tim run of memories.

14 different writers created the comics (Marv Wolfman, Alan Grant, Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Dennis O'Neil, Devin Grayson, Scott Beatty, Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns, Adam Beechen, Fabian Nicieza, Peter Tomasi, Christopher Yost, and Scott Snyder)

The most common writer was of course Chuck Dixon, who wrote 10 of the issues; Devin Grayson was in second with 6 issues.

The comic that appears the most often is Nightwing, with 6 issues; Gotham Knights has 5 issues appear.

I had great fun constructing this; I hope while you were reading it many of the scenes also played in your head.

[giggly-squiggily]

Hiyaaa, Squig! You've reached Fabian! How are you doing. This candy heart event thing you do is so cool! I've never done it before, so I thought I'd try! Could I please request 🩷 Be My Valentine: "I know all your weaknesses!"** with MtP Sherliam, if that's okay? Your choice between who's doing the wrecking!

Have a lovely day! ^^

{Candy Heart Prompts: OFFICIALLY CLOSED!}

Heyo Fabian! My dear friend- I hope you're doing alright :) Thank you for the kind words and for the Moriarty prompt- I appreciate it immensely! I decided to go with Lee!William cause like- I had too ajkrkjeajkreajr I hope you like it :D

I don't know where this takes place manga wise so potential anime spoilers below!

“I suggest you think this through more, Mr. Holmes.” William felt his back hit the walls of his study, eyes never leaving Sherlock’s gleaming ones as the detective grew closer. “I know all your weaknesses, and I’m not afraid to share them all if you choose to pursue me.”

“Ah, a sound threat if I believed you.” Sherlock barely held back a laugh as he drew closer, watching the mask William put on slowly crack with nerves. “Alas, I know all your weaknesses as well.”

There was a brief standoff, neither man moving as they sized the other up. Then-

“Sher-” William made the smallest of movements, triggering Sherlock to lunge. “Mmph!”

“Come now, don’t act like you're immune, Liam.” Sherlock growled in his ear playfully, fingers worming into the spaces between each rib, sending ticklish pulses up the blonde’s nervous system. “I know all the spots to go when I want a reaction out of you.”

“E-ever the scoundrel, H-Hoholmes!” It was small, but one giggle was all it took before the dam broke. Clinging to the detective so his legs wouldn’t give out, the blonde pressed his face into Sherlock’s shoulder as he laughed. “Hohoohohld ohoohon nohohoohw!”

“Hmm, no- I think I won’t.” Sherlock snickered, jumping when his back ribs were pinched. “Oh that is it! I was going easy on you, but now the gloves are coming off!”

“Yohoohu weehehahr glohoh-AH!” William’s knees gave out when Sherlock tightened his hold on him, scribbling along his spine. The result left him completely defenseless to the attack- his only option being to keep the noise level down in case Louis overheard them. “Shehehehherly, dohoohohohn’t!”

“Ah, so it’s Sherly now? And here I thought I was Mr. Holmes.” The detective gave his boyfriend a gentle bite on the shoulder, the final attack to send the blonde straight to the ground in a heap of tired giggles. “Hehe, look at that- I’ve bested the great lord of crimes once more.”

“Oohoho hush.” William groaned, unable to hide his smile as Sherlock laughed and laughed.

[new-berry]

Since I may never finish the gangabang (sort of! ) fic here is the first person (in the gangbang it’s not a first person pov).

NSFW (if gangbang didn’t give it away) not true etc etc in this reckoning you get the player you want for getting man of the match and you have to serve the team if you get red carded. In the west ham game (I think) Anthony got both. Anthony /Fabian and the start of Anthony/Alex. There are no spelling mistakes in this.

Anthony looks at Kieran and Dan, internally he groans, player of the match and red carded. Only one of those were in his plans. Finally he says; “fine then. Fabian.”

Kieran narrows his eyes as Dan laughs. And because Anthony is incapable of not running his mouth he goes on “I want to start with the most handsome.”

Fabian preens, posing briefly where he’s leaning against the door from the showers to the changing room. He grins broad and untroubled by the glare Kieran’s directed at him. “It’s true my friend.” Kieran opens his mouth to say something and Fabian talks right over the top of him “you’ll look pretty as well soon,” smiling at Anthony, “with come all over your face.”

Anthony wants to roll his eyes at that line but it causes such a hot curl of anticipation in his stomach. “Not just his face.” Kieran says snidely and Anthony’s cheeks heat up. Okay so Tripps is still pissed off then.

Alex flicks on a playlist as Fabian walks back, towards Anthony standing in the middle of the room. Anthony wouldn’t put it past Alex to have one labelled ‘gangbang’, but whatever he’s called it, it’s a good choice - low tones and bass heavy. Gets his heart pounding, makes his blood start to feel hotter.

There was some chatter before but now it’s stopped. At this moment, anticipation is almost liquid in the air, Anthony can feel expectation prickling like before a game, tingling on the inside of his wrist and in the arch of his foot.

Eyes are carding down his back. It makes the room feel closed in and humid.

Dan threw an arm around him in the tunnel between the field and the hallway. A paused hushed space where they are out of earshot and camera view.

“A tradition is not a law,” Dan reminds him. “You can go home and sleep it off, or hit the gym and box it off.”

“The tradition of getting who you want if you get man of the match?” Anthony reminds him. “Traditions are part of football.”

“Good lad.” Dan says. “Emile’s getting rid of the kids.” A politeness, Anthony can speak to Emile then, about who is invited into the room.

Dan grins as big as Fabian, legs spread wide and Anthony wants to crawl between them and Dan knows it, the fucker. “I’ll go last,” he offers, Anthony’s toes curl in his socks, if he went over there now, nuzzled his face into Dan’s lap his cock would start to get hard. He could go first.

Fabian slaps Anthony lightly on the cheek on the way past and his eyes dart up, “kind of offended you’re looking at him if you asked for me.” Fabian’s voice drops low. “You can make it up to me.”

Anthony feels a shiver start in the small of his back and radiate out, up his spine and down the backs of his thighs. Fabian pulls his towel off and sits on the bench, legs spread and beckons Anthony over.

He allows the shiver. There is a flush of shame that gets burned away by wanting, sitting dirtyhot in his stomach. Only Dan and Kieran are fully dressed, Kieran in the clothes he wore to watch the game, Dan from interviews.

No one else bothered to get changed, just in towels like Fabian, or boxers like Alex, everyone Anthony discussed with Emile, and it’s like that thought has linked itself to his cock, like a livewire. That everyone else had their part in planning this. There is a little bit of water on Fabian’s legs, a few beads in the hair and Anthony wants to lick them off.

His brain stutters for a moment, he can.

Fabian folds the towel a couple of times and puts it down so Anthony has an extra layer under his knees. He looks good, the asshole, hand on his cock, rubbing his thumb over the head, a half smile already in place.

He puts his hand on Anthony’s face cupped under his chin and tugs him forward. Anthony resists the temptation of his cock and licks at the little water droplets, Fabian smells warm and clean. Something that Anthony just thinks of as ‘man’ and ‘adult’. Like walking into a room with wood panelled walls.

His thighs under Anthony’s tongue are hard and have a hint of give. Fabian sighs happily as Anthony nuzzles across the muscles, dipping his tongue into the firm grove along the front, sliding into the inside of his thighs.

His skin is ticklish there and Fabian huffs out a laugh, shaking but not pulling away.

Anthony looks up at the sound, looks his fill up Fabian’s chest, his chin and lips. Even the cologne and deodorant he uses smells good. Earthy, spicy and rich.

Kieran told Anthony once that looking at Fabian naked was like looking at an expensive gold watch. The music playing behind them changes, a little faster, lyrics he doesn’t understand. Fabian grins at him, poisonsweet, “come on kid,” his voice is deeper and his cock is fuller.

He looks relaxed though, like he could be sprawled at a table at a classier nightclub than Anthony frequents.

Anthony takes a breath and leans down, licks a line up his balls to his dick and looks up again making eye contact. Fabian’s smile is confident, the crinkles in the corners of his eyes make him always look a little kind and he puts his hand back on Anthony’s face, curled around his ear.

Kind but he still shoves Anthony’s face down to his stomach, he’s not fully hard yet so Anthony ends up with his nose almost pressed to his neatly trimmed pubes, resting on his lush feeling skin.

Even that feels rich. Oak panelled rooms and expensive carpet under his knees. The sound of rushing water. Anthony’s mouth is full of spit, pooling around his tongue in expectation.

“If you make me wait you make them wait.” Fabian’s trying to keep his voice even, but it’s got a little crack, he tightens his hand on Anthony’s face “you look good,” he says, “come and make me feel good.”

Anthony doesn’t look around the room, despite the gaze he can feel on him. He pulls back enough to suck the top of Fabian’s cock and starts up a rhythm with his mouth and his hand.

It’s not just he’s handsome, Anthony looks up again, Fabian’s mouth is slightly open and he’s breathing deeper, the lines of his abs tensing when Anthony sucks particularly hard.

He’s nice as well. Fabian catches his eye and shifts his hips up a tiny bit, quirks his eyebrows up and Anthony nods. Fabian holds the other side of his face, spreading his legs a little and his thighs are dizzying, Anthony wants to climb on his lap and ride them.

He starts to fuck Anthony’s mouth, little shallow thrusts until they develop a cadence. Fabian won’t stretch it out, likes to get off and watch, chat to the team. Maybe have a second go, Anthony falls out of their rhythm for a second, imagining Fabian shoving his perfect cock into him.

It doesn’t stop him though, Fabian comes in Anthony’s mouth and yanks him up. Anthony shivers as he gets kissed. Crawling onto Fabian’s lap and grinding his hips down.

He leans over Fabian, putting his hands on his face to pull his jaw down, so all the come slides into his mouth. Something else Fabian likes, the sticky swap of tongues.

“Can I ride you?” Anthony pants out. Fabian smiles, eyes crinkling up. “Today or later?” He motions behind him. “I want to, but the others want a turn.” Fabian squeezes Anthony’s ass, slipping his hand under the briefs he’s wearing.

Anthony shouldn’t get a say, other teams don’t after a dumb red. But even for how annoyed Kieran is no one would stop them. Anthony turns over ‘later’. They have shared time with the team before but it’s always ended there.

“At the end?” Fabian’s eyes get all dark and there is a filthy grin on his lips. Anthony will be sticky all over by them. Might be to blissed out to do more than rock mindlessly. Anthony nods without realising he’s doing it, bobbing his head too much.

“I’ll remember,” Fabian says. Good, Anthony might not. There is a warm body behind him and the press of lips on his neck, the rougher rasp of beard gives it away and yeah Alex. His long thin fingers sweep around Anthony’s stomach, tugging him onto his feet.

Fabian helps him off his lap, legs a big wobbly. Alex yanks him close, dick hard on his back. This is good too. Alex bites his neck and Dan reminds him about cameras. Alex just goes lower. Tiny stinging little nips, “get them pants off Fabby,” Dan’s voice again.

Fabian pulls his briefs down to the top of his thighs, stopping for a moment for a rough grope across his cock and down to squeeze his balls.

Anthony whimpers from that and Alex stopping biting to rub his face across his skin. Anthony shudders, all the little nips and bites over-sensitive under his facial hair. “Leave the socks,” Dan calls again.

[verosvault]

🚨SPOILERS FOR FANTASY HIGH JUNIOR YEAR EPISODE 5!!!🚨

Dimension20 "Fantasy High Junior Year"

Episode 5 "Mall Madness"

Timestamp: 1:57:28

Video Length: 3min. & 53sec.

The Shrimp Jump (pt.1 | ‣pt.2)

Fig jumps with her feet on the seat like it's a skateboard!!! 😂😂🤣🤣💀💀

Murph: "You kickflip the motorcycle." 😂😂🤣🤣

Brennan: "Midair, Kristen Applebees, with a Dexterity we know she does NOT have-!" 😭✋

Fig has two 4th-level spells and she throws two 4th-level Fireballs under her! 😭

Zac: "Gorgug, as he sees this, thinks 'everything's gonna be okay.'" 😭😭😭

I LOVE THAT GORGUG LINE SO MUCH!!! 😭😭😭😭✋✋✋✋

Brennan's reaction! 😂👏

Murph: "I have my hand out on nothing and I think it's Kristen." 💀

Riz: "Kristen, I think this is gonna be a good campaign."

Kristen: "What?!"

Riz: "Shhh-" 😂💀

😂😭

Brennan: "Is the point to land in the tartar sauce or beyond the tartar sauce?"

Emily: "The idea for me is that I light the tartar sauce on fire and land in it."

Lou: "The ramp was done to land in the tartar sauce."

Ally: "We're dipping the shrimp into the tartar sauce." 😂🤣💀

Murph: "It's like doing a dive into the pool." 😂🤣💀

Brennan: "You see- Time stands still! Fireballs are raining from the Hangman as Kristen kickflips it so the Hangman is roaring in midair. Fire roars out of the skull at the top of the Hangman"

Fig: *whispers* "Conor, This one's for you!"

Fabian and Riz looks out and sees that everyone's eyes have become dewy with tears as they look out! 😭✋

Mazey puts her hands on her lips!

Max Durden does that finger snap! 😆😭

Brennan: "All of them begin to almost cry in religious awe as this motorcycle, and it hits tartar, and you just hear a whisper from someone whose face you can't see, because it doesn't matter, because they're just speaking what's on everybody's mind. 'This is gonna be a great year.'"

Fig emerges covered in flaming tartar sauce like Daenerys! 😂😂

Murph's laughter after Emily said that!!! 😂😂🤣🤣✋✋

Brennan: "Mother of Dragons. Mother of Tartar Sauce. You come out as the Mother of Tartar Sauce." 😂😂

There's a hush and then a loud uproaring cheer and clapping!!! 😆😆😆

Ragh tells everyone to get up here and he takes his shirt off! 😂🤣💀✋

Kids start hitting the ramp!

Ragh sails over into another yard! 😭✋

Gorgug: "He's too buttery!" 😂🤣😭✋

Gorgug: "Stop doing the ramp!" 😂

Riz: "You don't have to butter yourself. The ramp itself is buttered!"

Torek is buttering kids left and right! 😭✋

Riz: "Okay, no no no! Un-butter the ramp then! One butter!"

Mazey's fur is soaked in butter!

Mazey at Fabian: "Maximum Legend!"

See you at Basrar's!

See you in the cars!

Zac: "We're gonna need more butter!"

Lou: *sighs* "It's tough to be maximum legend when you just watched a dead zombie god slide out of the Astral Plane." 😭✋

See you in the Tartar!

[qu1cks1lversb1tch]

Some of my Marauders era/Harry Potter Headcanons

Professor McGonagall was considered a patient teacher until the Prewett twins and the Marauders, so when the Weasley twins and Prongslet started Hogwarts, she just knew it would be a chaotic repeat of events.

"Well, thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley. Perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? That way, one of you might be on time."

Of course, we can't forget Ron. He was just as much Gideon and Fabian as Fred and George, but to a lesser degree.

He's brilliant and gets a lot of hate for always making Hermione cry (which im totally not ignoring)

Ron is an important part of the trio, even if the movies do kinda portray him as a replaceable, dickish, himbo, carrot top cunt, who purposely hurts Hermione.

THAT'S OUR FOODIE GINGER SNAP BABY RONALD, OKAY!?!?!???

We respect him in this household, even if we sometimes wanna kick his ass so hard he begins to think he's Viktor Krum.

REMUS LUPIN FOLDS HIS SOCKS

He did it as a child and a teenager, but he carried the habit into his adult life. It made him feel in control of something in his life.

James was Sirius's first kiss

Sirius was James's first kiss

Strictly platonic first kiss between a couple of bro's

It happened second year.

"Its not gay, Wormtail, we had socks on."

Peter was terrified of rats before he discovered his animagus was a rat

If Regulus Black was an animagus, he'd be a black cat, for obvious reasons

Speaking of Regulus Arcturus Black, we stan that dramatic emo bitch in this household <3

He was just like Sirius, but in his own way and he catches so much shit because he was a death eater and did bad things.

Before he was marked, he was a boy who wanted to make his family proud. After he was marked, he wanted to escape.

He defected to the good side, but he died before Sirius could know the good thing he had began. He was just a boy.

Draco heard stories from his mother about Regulus and based many of his best traits after his cousin.

He treated house elves with respect, mostly when Lucius wasn't around to influence him. When he had nothing to prove.

He didn't care if they were like Dobby or Kreacher

He simultaneously hated his father and wanted him to be proud, so he took the dark mark at sixteen

Much like Regulus did

He also wanted to defect. He didn't want to be a killer. He didn't want to die.

He was just a boy.

Hermione carried on the soul of Regulus

I will die on that hill.

She was born a few months after he died and they were very similar, except for the obvious differences (blood status, house, family life, you get the gist)

We all know about S.P.E.W.

Regulus would've been the FIRST official member if he had been alive

Lily introduced her pureblood friends to muggle fashion

In fifth year when she saw James in a pair of tight pants, she almost fell out right in the middle of Hogsmeade

After that, she forbade Sirius from letting James borrow his clothes ever again

For self-preservation purposes, I like to pretend THE prank never happened. If you know, you know. If you don't, I can't explain or I'll cry

Marlene McKinnon = blonde Sirius with boobs

Hermione, Remus, and Lily are the voices of reason amongst their friends, while also being just as bad as them in a more subtle way

"Now, if you two don't mind, I’m going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed or worse. . . Expelled!"

BUT ALSO

Snape on fire ring any bells?

I just know James was sitting in the clouds, laughing his ass off while Lily told him to hush

She was also fighting laughter

Revenge often came in the form of a brilliant muggleborn witch

Sirius craves violence. . . And chaos

He would love when witches or wizards got mad, especially at him.

That shit turned him on faster than Remus fresh out of the shower

Sirius and Marlene yelled at eachother like siblings

Meanwhile Remus and Lily were sipping tea like some high society in-laws at Sunday brunch

Sirius LOVED Abba, but refused to admit it, even after Lily caught him singing 'Mamma Mia' under his breath. . . In the middle of class.

I SWEAR I had a point to this. I started writing HCs and then I started rambling??? I could ramble forever, honestly.

Send requests, I have some free time

Let me know if you want to be put on the tag list :)

It's currently empty, so it sure would be cool if I could make a list :)

[itskristal]

JOURNAL 13. LOCATION: NATIONAL PARK

<<Hey! Just checking in again, don't mind me--it's been another long day, and I'm starting to like this little routine. Just writing to someone--whoever you are!--makes me feel a little less homesick. Less lonely.

I've never been this far from Cherrygrove before. I remember we came out to Goldenrod when I was really little to do some shopping and touristy stuff. (I still remember when Dad figured out a strategy to solve Voltorb Flip at the Game Corner and they kicked him out. Smartypants.) I don't think I'm going to visit the Game Corner while I'm here. It just gives me a bad feeling, seeing all the hushed talk and crying gamblers outside.

Minerva insisted on being out of her Ball today while we explored, but I honestly didn't mind the company. I do feel so much safer with her around...and we went to a lot of places!! Shopping--of course, I bought way more TMs than I probably needed--the flower shop, even the underground districts. Some trainers hassled me, but Minerva and Fabian made quick work of them all. I even got Pink a cute little haircut from the salon, which he really liked. ❤️

Some guy also tried to hand off one of his Bikes for free...but honestly? I've never ridden one before and it seemed like a bit of a hassle to carry around, so I turned him down. I'm trying to keep things as light as possible over here!

Oh!! I also got to meet one of my idols today! You know Buena from Buena's Password, right?! OF COURSE you do! Well, I got her autograph, along with a brand new Radio Card for my Pokegear! I only embarrassed myself a little, only got a bit too excited when I told her I listened to Password every day...but security kicked me out after I tried to get a closer look at DJ Mary's setup. I'll be back!!

My team and I spent the rest of today training on Route 35, and now I'm resting in National Park. THE National Park...it really is a beautiful, peaceful place. Even the battles seem quieter here. Believe me or not, I actually ran into a Ditto on my way over here, and it transformed into a goofy-looking version of Minerva before I could get a good picture!! I also ran out of Pokeballs to catch it. Too slippery. Oh well.

The officer guarding the Park's gate has a Houndour with him. I think I'm going to move just a bit further away...>>

[cuteteacakes]

A Night at the Barracks in High Tower

or, "What the Heck was Tristan's Life Like Before he Came to Makoto??"

"Oi, Tristan! Didn't you hear the bell? You'll miss out on a hot supper again!"

"I'll be there shortly, Fabian, just one more paragraph-" The book on flora and fauna from other kingdoms was forcibly shut in his hands. Tristan glared up at the other. "Never mind then, I suppose I'm going to dine with everyone tonight."

"That's the spirit. Our commander has some important announcements, don't want you to miss out~" With a smirk, he turned and left Tristan at his desk, already assuming he was being followed. Tristan sighed.

"At least allow me to mark my page..."

The Great Hall was so crowded that Tristan had to squeeze between two other men, whose elbows bumped into him constantly, a rightie and a leftie on his left and right respectively. He sighed. A hot meal was nice at least...

"Tristan Hawthorne!" A hard clap on his back almost made his fork fly out of his hand. His Commander was smiling, face flushed with drink. "So good of you to join us! You're usually supping with the chefs after we've all left, ha ha ha!"

"It's usually the only quiet time I have to myself-" Tristan mumbled under his breath. He was interrupted again by his Commander, who now stood at the head of the tables and banged his tankard down.

"So! Unless you're sleeping under a rock, Lord Jeremy has been invited to the island Kingdom of Makoto to take part in a tournament with the knight of his choice!"

A chorus of whoops and cheers erupted around the table.

"I hear it's so much warmer than here!"

"I heard the women are drop-dead beautiful!"

"I hear the princess is even more drop-dead beautiful~"

Tristan tuned himself out and focused on his meal. If it was a tournament, of course they'd send someone qualified and not one who was made a knight by proxy like him. He reached across the table for some salt.

"Isn't that the kingdom with all the flowers?" someone asked over all the commotion.

Tristan knocked the salt over. He stood up. His heart was pounding so loudly in his ears he didn't even hear himself announcing to volunteer as the champion for High Tower.

The knights were all staring at him. But Tristan stood his ground. To be able to visit Makoto, to see all the flora he read about, it would be a dream come true!

There was a hush that sucked all sound out of the great hall. Then, someone laughed. The laughter caught on and soon the whole table was erupting in hoots and hollers. Tristan's face burned.

"You? Be the champion of High Tower?" The Commander was laughing the hardest. "Tristan, I'm saying this in the kindest way possible. You aren't cut out to be King Jeremy's champion. You're put to the back of the lines for a reason-"

"Then let me prove myself!" Tristan was adamant. "Let this be my chance! I'll come back the Champion of Makoto!"

"Or come back like a mongrel with your tail between your legs..." someone whispered and the laughter started again. Tristan's face burned even more.

The Commander held up his hand and the laughter subsided. Though there were still a few chuckles, and the Commander tried to keep a straight face as he said, "Fine, fine. You're so eager to show what you've got, so be it! But Tristan," here his face grew serious, even with the taint of drink still flushing his cheeks. "If you bring dishonor onto High Tower, High Tower will be the laughing stock of everywhere. Gavaria and Como have been eager to get their hands in our boarders, and a loss like that is excuse enough for an invasion. Is that clear?"

Tristan realized the ramifications of what he'd just done, and nodded. A lump had formed in his throat preventing him from speaking more. He had to go and open his mouth...

[qnewsau]

High-ranking QLD cops investigated over social media posts

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/high-ranking-qld-cops-investigated-over-social-media-posts/

High-ranking QLD cops investigated over social media posts

The QPS ethical standards command is reviewing social media posts shared and commented on by high-ranking QLD cops over the last few years.

An investigation by The Guardian discovered numerous offensive posts, including homophobic content.

Eden Gillespie reports that Detective Superintendent Benjamin Fadian, at one time a member of the ethical services command, tagged multiple QLD cops in Facebook posts about pornography, dildos and masturbation.

“Tag a mate who likes it up the arse”

In 2017, Fadian, since promoted to his current rank of Detective Superintendent, commented on a post inviting people to ‘tag a mate who likes it up the arse’.

He then tagged someone he knew, posting, “like looking at a portrait of you.”

The next year he tagged the same person in a post about cock soup, claiming it as the person’s favourite meal. Later that year, he moved on to ‘homo milk’, commenting “litres and litres of it for you.”

I don’t know about you, reader, but my suspicions are becoming aroused.

Fabian also tagged a ‘ladyboy bar’ in Manilla as being the person’s favourite place.

The Guardian quotes other senior QLD cops who posted similar material. None of the police responded to requests from Eden Gillespie for comment.

However, Queensland Police said it was aware of the comments and the material was under review.

More on QLD cops

Sprinkle of pink in the ranks not enough to fix Qld Police.

Qld police investigating officers’ racist, homophobic comments.

Queensland Police apology to LGBTQIA+ communities

PLUS

The gay scandal QLD Police hushed up for over a century.

A history of Queensland Police and LGBTIQA+ Queenslanders.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[insteadoflight]

snores

rise from the other bed as my 

tired runs beyond feeling and into a state of being. my mother asks me for help after dinner and i respond i

“am so tired. too tired to be around people”

and she looks at me across the table with sympathy in her eyes and wishes she can do something other than stare and whisper, “okay. another time, then” and i go upstairs to my room where i will lay on my bed until now, when i am falling awake at five am and wondering where all the tired has gone.

brother sleeps through the night in the way that i cannot. 

[meetmymouth]

Fab sees Harry and a friend or his sister and thinks she's a groupie too? ANGSTTTT maybe <3

previously on groupie!reader

Thinking of surprising Harry shouldn't be this scary.

Alas, she finds herself thinking, she feels so terrified and nervous, because aren't you supposed to be a 'special someone' to surprise somebody? She wasn't exactly a friend, despite Harry insisting on it, and they sure as hell weren't anything close to 'together'.

She was simply a groupie. A hook-up. An acquaintance.

Perhaps a tad closer to the friend status.

They were meant to meet up in Harry's hotel room at eleven, despite today being his off day, and it's only half past nine when she walks over to the reception desk and asks for Harry. She gives the magic words, cheese on toast–made up by Harry himself–and she learns that he's actually down at the bar. She then realises she's taking a huge risk by showing up, not knowing if he's alone or with Jeff, or anyone for that matter.

She walks down the stairs with the bar only being a floor down, and looks through all the faces, trying to spot his big head.

She finds him all right.

What she wasn't expecting is him, hugging a girl as they walk towards their table, his arm still around the tall brunette's shoulders. And it stings. It stings, for reasons she has yet to admit even to herself, and she hates herself for it.

She watches from afar as they sit down and laugh at something the woman has said, and she then reaches over and pinches his cheeks.

She leaves.

She leaves, and goes back to Jeanie's flat in downtown.

When nine o'clock becomes ten, and then eleven, and later when it's quarter past twelve, her phone rings showing Jeff's contact name. She lets it go to voicemail, and keeps drinking from Jeanie's champagne, cursing at herself for feeling this way about someone so... temporary. Someone like him.

Someone like Harry was and would always be unattainable.

Despite all that, she caves in, and answers her phone when it rings for the fifth time.

"Are you okay?"

"Why y'asking?" She sips from her champagne, and looks outside, watching the traffic below her.

She hears him sigh.

"You didn't show up. Where are you?"

"I was on a date."

"A date? We were–" he groans. "–We were supposed to meet tonight. And you stood me up and went on a bloody date?"

"We're not together, Harry Styles. I don't know why you're so worried about me going on dates."

Another groan.

She can clearly picture him sitting on the foot of the bed, hand in his hair as he talked.

"Why are you being like this?"

"Like what," she laughs, though it's a bitter one.

"Like... you. Whenever I think–"

"–You think what?"

"Never mind."

"Tell me."

He sighs. "'m not doin' this on the phone, Fab. Come meet me."

She chuckles, his frustration suddenly seeming very entertaining to her. "I saw you with someone," she says in a hushed tone.

"What?"

"Tonight. I came early and saw you with a woman," she hiccups. "I mean– am not jealous or anything, I just thought you didn't see two girls in one night."

A breathy laugh leaves his mouth, making her eyebrows furrow.

"You silly girl," he laughs into the line. "You silly, silly girl. Tha' was my sister, you idiot."

"Huh?"

"My sister, you twatface–"

She groans. "–Stop calling me names! Bastard."

"Shithead. You saw me an' my sister. Come back. Come back and let's fuck."

"Nope."

"Fab–"

"–Send me a car."

Harry pauses. "Okay," he then says, still laughing. "Okay, Miss Fabian. I'll send a car over."

"Hey," she murmurs.

"Wha'?"

"I didn't go on a date."

Harry grunts. "You knob. Come back to the hotel and let me show you what happens when you lie to me."

[zahri-melitor]

Batman Reborn: let's break it down.

So I read eight ongoing Reborn titles: Batman, Detective Comics, Batman & Robin, Red Robin, Birds of Prey, Batgirl, Streets of Gotham and Azrael.

Detective Comics: this was the unexpected standout of the set. 'Tec quite often does good family stories, but it got a massive boost by most of its Reborn run being made up of two things: Rucka's Batwoman run and Snyder's The Black Mirror. These are both very, very worthwhile longform stories. It also supported an excellent backup with the Question & Huntress teamup.

Streets of Gotham: aka Dini does his thing. Streets was exactly what I expected from a Bat anthology book written by Dini. Dini's very good at balancing big casts, and the first half of this run was Dini at his best - lots of walk on characters, complex plots, the only really good Damian Wayne characterisation going prior to Bruce's resurrection, and a lot of fun. Andreyko's Manhunter backup was also fantastic. The second half then devolved into interminable Hush storytelling, which I ALSO expect from Dini at this point, and the Two-Face backup simply wasn't as good. It was still enjoyable! But the non-Hush stories were better.

Batman: now here was a title all over the place. It just rotated through SO MANY hands. Personally my favourite stories were: #703, where for one shining moment we got an issue that managed to have Dick, Tim and Damian on page together, in costume, working together (Thank you, Fabian Nicieza); and the Judgment on Gotham crossover that finished out the plot of Azrael. Both were exactly what I enjoy seeing - stories using their supporting cast well. Other than that, you had the Jeremiah Arkham plot, the Kitrina Falcone plots (oh Kitrina), Riddler going back off the rails (I somehow missed where he decided to flip back to being a bad guy instead of a detective), and Two-Face being betrayed by Gilda. There was just so much going on here, and unfortunately it wasn't focused enough on what was going on for Dick.

Azrael: because sometimes you need a tragedy! Azrael was fun. Overtly religious and leaning into Christian theology in places (and Dan Brown plotlines in others), the entire premise of the book was "Watch Michael Lane have a breakdown as he is corrupted by the Suit of Sorrows" and that is exactly what we got. I liked FabNic's plots better than Jim Hine's, but they both pulled off some fun storytelling (I burst out laughing at times. Like when Crusader revealed The Bees). I'm glad it got the crossover to finish out the storyline. The Order of Purity are very bad news, even for a breakaway sect of the Order of St Dumas.

Batman & Robin: oh. Where do I start. This run is, above all, a lot of lost potential. I found Morrison's writing in this particularly painful and a struggle to get through due to their refusal to keep track of what was going on in any other title, and just everything about the way Damian and Alfred in particular were written. I was also particularly aggravated by the timeline inconsistency that B&R #10-16 by any realistic read come AFTER RR #12 (given the resurrection timeline running ahead of all the other titles), but there was no acknowledgment of this fact in the text, and parts of it contradicted that read...this is what an editor should be keeping smoothed out for such a big event (the Return of Bruce Wayne).

Once Morrison left things improved, but realistically it just turned into three separate writers writing three separate stories that didn't really mesh at all. Cornell's story was just more demonisation of Vicky Vale, Winick's story was just Winick writing a Jason story rather than anything about the two title characters, and Tomasi's story was the only one where I actually enjoyed Batman & Robin as a title... only to be let down by the artist clearly never having seen a reference picture of Rebecca or Aaron Langstrom before. You had a villain construct angel wings. On Aaron Langstrom. AARON. LANGSTROM. He's a toddler who is permanently a Man-Bat. He can already fly. The opening movie night though in Tomasi's story was extremely Tomasi and everything my heart wanted.

Birds of Prey: I enjoyed the storytelling in this, though parts of it were very clearly Gail Simone on board. Since I enjoy Simone, I didn't mind that, but for instance the entire plot revolving around rescuing Sin was very much a 'take that' for Sin being written out. I also quite enjoyed the Death of Oracle plot even if I have certain objections to Cass being left off the list (and boggling at the logistics of Wendy and Damian also being left off). Oracle got herself a new Tower!

I have to say though, I cannot imagine how this run would read if you were not already deeply familiar with Simone's first run on Birds of Prey, because she spent so much time picking up dropped plot threads and playing them out.

Andreyko's double issue to finish the book off was actually more of a tie off to his Manhunter backup plot than a Birds of Prey finishing-up plot, which makes sense as it's Andreyko, but it was a little unexpected in that the proper finale of the series was actually #13, not #15.

Batgirl: hmmmm. Yeah, this was probably the weakest written of all 8 and also the book that's aged the fastest. What I think it was successful in doing: look, I loved the Barbara and Wendy plot. That worked really well and was unfortunately the only points in the story that felt like Barbara was fully in character. I also think it was successful in being Stephanie's story. In fact, it felt like Steph was telling it to me. And in the process, eliding over her own mistakes and boosting up how much she was getting praised for her actions. It reminded me a LOT of Cassie Sandsmark's origin story telling in Young Justice Secret Files and Origins - where the main character is telling me her version of events. I actually kind of wish we hadn't got any of Barbara's thought bubbles around Steph, because when they were, they were pretty un-Barbaraish.

Look, there was some fun storytelling here. It was a light and fluffy title. But I don't think it ever fully succeeded in rehabilitating Steph as a usable character for the wider community, because the book so blatantly refused to grapple with Steph's previous actions. Things that other characters had done to Steph and things Editorial had done to Steph? Yes. Things Steph herself did? No.

Red Robin: I loved that this was one of the few titles explicitly committed to trying to keep on top of everything was happening in all of the other books. I enjoyed Yost's run more than Nicieza's, but FabNic also had some great stuff (the Ünternet issue is understandably popular for a reason). Tam, Pru and Lonnie all played off Tim in interesting ways. I actually enjoyed Tim having his little, deserved, breakdown. He spends most of the title at the outer limits of his smugness, using it to conceal his gaps in self-confidence, and while I enjoy Tim being a brat in that manner, this is another title that is just so very informed by pre-existing history that you need to know that Tim is both not quite himself right now, and WHY that is. He was settling back into himself by the end of the book.

I am extremely sad this got cut off where it did, because it was so, so obviously working its way into trying to find a new identity for Tim and move him into adulthood... and then got cut off at the knees, sending Tim into a tailspin holding pattern for a decade that they've only JUST been able to extract him from.