#he is the literal embodiment of a burnt out gifted child

[r0yalgrimmartz]

The little shit bags- I mean darling cherubs💕

I never intended on making designs of Chazz and Kore's little crotch goblins. But uh here we are.

((Bonus: Ekou with snazzy sunglasses))

Tbh I'm impressed how I have the energy to sketch all three designs, so either it's a sign I'm gonna burn out soon or what 💀

Anyways the kids.

Kenji: Fucking whore. Jk. Kinda. Big momma's boy, kinda had beef with Chazz for a little while when Kore and Chazz were separated for two years during his childhood years, but he speaks to Chazz more often now and has a better relationship with him. Literally is the embodiment of a gifted and intelligent student now is a severely burnt out and tired moody bitch. Has more fucking break ups because he literally doesn't fucking understand relationships well and has a lot of inner problems with himself. Eventually gets better, working on himself. Massive bipolar disorder. Is an asshole because...literally he is one, not because of his bipolar. Very confrontational and argumentative when he is being accused for shit he has never done. Can't see Duel spirits, but can hear them?? Assumed he was just hearing things. Also a big lover of dueling. Very competitive but can be hella petty if he loses. Hates the smell of hospitals and medial equipment, it makes him physically ill and very anxious (lore related lmao).

Himari: Resting bitch face 24/7, is genuinely very sweet and shy. Is she glaring at you from across the room in a terrifying manner?? Oh don't worry she's squinting her eyes trying to read the board behind you. Very passive, rarely loses her temper. Has the fucking literal patience of a Saint. Unless you catch her on a bad day and you set her off, don't be surprised if you find yourself smacked through the wall. Works out a lot, mainly to distract herself or pass time originally. Plus used to have trouble with carrying heavy shit due to her previous weak and frail physique, so wanted to be able to carry shit better (cough also to impress this crush she has on a girl cough). Loves to dress feminine and girly, tries to style her outfits a lot. Literal daddy's girl, yet gets embarrassed and shy when Chazz is kicking off with some kids or parents who might be mean or accusing Himari, and she has to physically remove him before she dies of embarrassment. Literally loves her dad but at times think he might go overboard, hence why she talks to her mom about certain issues and probably dating advice (don't even fucking say anything you seen that episode with Chazz tryna Duel Alexis to be his girlfriend, you should know why). Let's her emotions out when it comes to dueling, especially with how frustrated she gets or angry. Literally considered her Duel monsters her friends during her childhood due to lack of friends, only to look back and cringe. Doesn't realise her Duel spirits watch over her a lot and try to protect her.

Ekou: Accidental child. Literally was not fucking planned, he came as a fucking surprise. Yet was the most chill and easiest of the three to raise. Kinda. Despite how he was always found in odd places he shouldn't have been in. Definition of...that one weird kid in class you don't talk to but he is surprisingly chill af. Comes out with the most horrific and outlandish shit at times that everyone fucking turns and side eyes massively. Also, comes out with useless trivia about probably classic horror movie or slasher movies, adds nothing to the conversation. He just enjoys the cheesy block buster campy slashers and horror movies, no matter how dumb or ridiculous they are, he gets a laugh out of it. Also, attracts a lot of the evil and bad shit a lot. Like Jaden 2.0, yet no fucking idea why. Ekou tends to find himself in what seems to be friendly little duels only for it to be duels where he nearly dies (specifically these happen during his mid to late teens). At this point he's not phased anymore he's more so expecting it and is like "so what is it today, three monkeys trying to disguise as a man while standing on one another or some giant bulking cloaked mysterious man who threatens my friends and loved ones?" He just at this point tries walking away to avoid it yet his ass gets dragged in. Surprisingly fucking smart, he just can't be bothered to do the homework he gets given. Definitely collects magical girl figures. Mainly cause he finds them cute and adorable. Also owns a pet fucking fat tailed gecko he absolutely cherishes and adores. Takes care of it a lot, legit carries it everywhere with him, she just chills on his shoulder, in his jacket or on his head. However, like his dad, he can actually see Duel spirits. It kinda just happened one day when he was like five and he got startled when his duel monster was chilling next to him in bed. Actually treats his duel monsters well, talks to them a lot which...alarms people assuming he is just talking to himself. Also wears snazzy fucking sunglasses cause why not.

Will I ever post more about them? Probably not- I'll probably focus on the current cast etc. Unless I do post more about them then shoot me dead pls.

[redemptionarcsucker]

I was thinking about my post from yesterday, and what is infinitely more interesting to me than Brandon calling Helia a pacifist (somewhat out of spite) is the fact that Helia definitely heard him, and chose not to refute it. Instead, he decided to prove him wrong by being the only one who could actually hold back the monster. When you think about it, literally every scene which has Helia playing a big role involves him having to prove himself. Like with the whole Shaab stone thing, when some of the others are critical of his leadership. The interesting thing here, although, is the fact that he NEVER defends himself when people doubt his abilities, but sort of quietly does his own thing and people eventually grow to respect his abilities.

We can even see this as late as Season 6. When Helia feels like he’s let Flora down, he channels this energy into taking down a bunch of werewolves, instead of maybe accepting the fact that it is alright to not be perfect at everything. This is one of the reasons we barely see what’s going on with him, since he never seems to calculate his self-worth on the basis of how other people see him, it’s entirely based on how useful he feels. 

What is fascinating and kind of hilarious about this is the fact that he technically could shut everyone up by going all out. This is why I love the idea of prodigy Helia, because this mentality is typical of highly gifted people, since you start to feel kind of dissociated from your own self and capacity, especially when people praise you. It’s uncomfortable, it’s like imposter syndrome but you’re both the imposter and the standard. In that episode in S6, when Icy freezes his heart, there’s something specific that Helia says that reveals a lot about the specific brand of darkness that bothers him. He picks a fight with Riven and says something along the lines of “it being time to put RIven in his place”. One could take that as a simple goading, but think about how quickly Helia beat Riven - at hand-to-hand combat, no less, something he has hardly engaged in throughout his time onscreen. Helia KNOWS he could easily beat any or at least most of the guys, but for the most part, he couldn’t be bothered to. I’ve not a whole lot of love for the later seasons of the show, but this episode was a great example of Helia’s relationship with heroics itself. He tells Riven to “get over” himself, really highlighting the fact that despite his fairly self-assured facade most of the time, he does harbour SOME frustration for the more showy aspects of the Specialists, since that is generally what leads to him getting overshadowed most of the time.

This isn’t to say that every decision he’s made is entirely rational, but it always seems to stem about of a need to prove to himself more than anyone else that what people say about him is wrong. THIS IS WHY HIS STRUGGLE IS UNIQUE. His insecurity is built on things that happen externally, but his focus when coping with it is completely internal. Similarly, when he makes mistakes that impact other people, he deals with it by punishing himself. This is so so fascinating because it’s somehow the exact opposite of Sky’s law-abiding heroism, and even Riven’s videogame-esque worldview. When he volunteered to save Sky, he was defo doubted. It makes sense, because even his self-assuredness seems to come from a somewhat unstable sense of self. Nobody knows what Helia’s deal is because he never really feels the need to prove himself unless it is absolutely required, and ofc it was required when Sky almost fell into oblivion. Same with the Shaab stone stuff. Helia the hero seems to have a different self-perception altogether from Helia the general dudeo. 

I would think that after years of dealing with him, his friends and Flora will have realised this about him, and generally stay out of his way when he feels the need to prove something to himself. But the S6 incident is surprising to them because he’s never felt the need to prove his comparative worth, that he’s BETTER than anyone else, especially on his team. Riven is always ready for a fight we know, but getting there-is-nothing-friendly-about-friendly-fights Helia to a duel must have been exactly what he’d been waiting for so long, since even after all those years, nobody was probably still sure of what Helia’s actual skillset was. Again, SUCH A GIFTED PERSON THING TO DO. It also checks out that he’s so supportive of everyone else’s improvement while being great at what he does but still unsure of himself.

[sunshinewrit-ing]

Norse Mythology

ig: @sunshine.writing

As with every culture, there are many different interpretations and I tried my best to use the most popular ones. There are also many different versions and spellings for the names of the gods and goddesses, but I used the anglicized and most popular spellings. 

Aesir and Vanir

The Norse gods are divided into two families, the Aesir family, and the Vanir family. The Aesir family is the larger of the two and is mostly connected with war and government and includes the gods Odin, Thor, Loki, Baldr, Hodr, Heimdall, and Tyr. The Vanir family includes the fertility gods and goddesses such as Njord, Feyr, and Freyja. Both families reside in Asgard but don’t see eye-to-eye as shown through the Aesir-Vanir war. 

Besides the Aesir and Vanir, there are also female deities known as Disir, Alfar (elves), Jotnar (giants), and Dvergar (dwarves).

Aesir Gods and Goddesses

Odin - Odin was the King of the Aesir clan and known as “the father of all gods.” He’s depicted as a one-eyed, bearded old man wearing a hat and a cloak. He was said to have slain the first being known as Ymir before carving up his body to help create the Earth. He was one of the most powerful and revered of the gods and associated with wisdom, knowledge, healing, death, and war. He also ruled over Valhalla. 

Thor - Son of Odin, he was regarded as the strongest of all the Norse deities because he was tasked with safeguarding Asgard. He was the most popular of all the gods and worshipped by most Vikings. He was the god of thunder and lightning and wielded the Mjolnir. He rode a chariot drawn by two massive goats called Tanngnjostr and Tanngrisnir.

Loki - Loki was considered a “blood brother” of Odin. He was known as the trickster god and was equipped with the ability to shapeshift into different forms. He was the chief engineer behind the death of Balder.

Frigg - Frigg was the wife of Odin and the queen of the Aesir gods. She was the only one allowed to sit next to her husband and always stuck by her partner even though he had many extramarital affairs.  She was worshipped as the goddess of the sky and associated with wisdom, marriage, family, and fertility. She was blessed with the power of divination but never revealed her visions to anyone. 

Baldur - Son of Odin and half-brother to Thor, Baldur was the god of light and purity. He was described as fair, kind, and handsome, whose beauty was unparalleled. He was the epitome of all things wise and good and often praised for his mercifulness. Also thought to be immortal, he had been prophesied to die and was slain by an arrow made out of mistletoe, his death orchestrated by Loki. 

Heimdall - Heimdall is the son of Odin and no less than nine mothers, and is the watchman of the god. He dwelt at the entry to Asgard where he guarded Bifrost. 

Tyr - Tyr is the god of War and the Lawgiver of the gods. The bravest of the gods, he makes the binding of Fenrir possible by sacrificing his right hand. He’s the son of Odin and the son of the giant Hymir.

Idun - Idun is the goddess of spring or rejuvenation and is the wife of Bragi. She was the keeper of the magic apples of immortality which the gods must eat to preserve their youth. 

Bragi - Bragi is the skaldic poet of the Aesir and his name means “poet”. He’s the son of Odin and possibly the giantess Gunnlod, and the husband to Idun. 

Vili and Ve - Vili and Ve are the two brothers of Odin who helped to slay Ymir to create the remaining seven realms. They’re the sons of Bestla and Borr and were raised in the realm of Nifelheim. 

Forseti - He’s the son of Baldr and Nanna, and is the god of justice and reconciliation.

Gefjun - She’s the goddess of agriculture, fertility, abundance, and prosperity. Her name can be translated to “Giver” or “Generous One.”

Sif - Sif is the wife of Thor as well as a giantess and the goddess of grain and fertility. She was one of the Asynjur and mother of Ullr.

Fjorgynn and Fjorgyn - Fjorgyn, also known as Jord, is a giantess and the mother of Thor through an affair with Odin. Her masculine form Fjorgynn is the father of the goddess Frigg, the wife of Odin. 

Sol and Mani - Sol and Mani were the beings who drove the sun and the moon in their courses through the sun. They were sister and brother, and both were fair and beautiful. Sol had to travel at great speed, pursued by a wolf named Skoll who would eventually devour her. Mani kidnapped two humans named Bil (waning) and Hjuki (waxing), children of Vidfinn, and forced them to travel with him. Like his sister, he was also being chased by a hound named Hati Hrodvitnisson. 

Ullr - Ullr is the god of sports, particularly archery and skiing. He’s the son of Sif and Egill and step-son to Thor. 

Hoenir - Hoenir is a warrior god and is the travel companion of Odin and Loki. He was also part of the creation of Ask and Embla. He goes with Mimir to the Vanir as a hostage in order to seal a truce to the Aesir-Vanir War. He’s the god of indecision, avoidance, and mystery. 

Vidar - Son of Odin and Gridr, he was known as Vidar the silent, the possessor of the iron shoe, the enemy and slayer of Fenrir, the avenger, and he who inhabits the homestead of his father. He’s a warrior god and an excellent fighter. 

Hodr - Hodr is the blind god of winter and warriors. Oftentimes he’s depicted with a bow and arrows, or the spear that Loki used to trick him. He was the son of Frigg and Odin and twin brother of Baldr. Sometimes he’s thought to be a god of darkness.

Vali - Son of Odin and the giantess Rindr, Vali was born for the sole purpose of avenging Baldr. He kills Hodr and binds Loki with the entrails of his son Narfi. He’s the god of vengeance.

Vanir Gods and Goddesses

Freya - Freya was the goddess of fate, love, beauty, gold, war, and fertility. She ruled over the meadow of Folkvangr and owned a torc or necklace known as the Brisingamen as well as a cloak made of falcon feathers. She rode a chariot drawn by two cats and was accompanied by a board called Hildisvini most of the time. She practiced Seidr, which is a form of magic that allowed her the ability to control and manipulate the desires and prosperity of others. 

Freyr - Freyr is associated with sacral kingship, virility, peace, prosperity, sunshine and fair weather, and good harvest. He’s the son of Njord and the god of fertility, rain, and sunshine. His twin sister is Freyja.

Freyja - Freyja, twin sister and counterpart of Freyr, was the goddess of love, fertility, battle, and death. Her father was Njord. Pigs were sacred to her, and she rode a boar with golden bristles. 

Njord - Njord is the god of seas, wealth, wind, and fishing. He was the father of Freyr and Freyja. 

Nerthus - Nerthus is a goddess associated with fertility. She was also associated with peace and prosperity. She was the wife and sister of Njord and the mother of Freyr and Freyja.

Gullveig - Gullveig is a sorceress and seer with great love and lust for gold. She was speared by the Aesir, burnt three times, and yet thrice reborn.

Odr - Odr is the husband of Freyja

Norse Creatures

Dwarves - Also known as dark elves, they’re small creatures that originated as maggots from the corpse of Ymir. They live underground in Svartalfheim (literally means “home of the black elves”) and are said to have crafted the finest weapons and jewelry such as Mjollnir and Gungnir. In certain myths, they’re portrayed as turning to stone if exposed to sunlight. 

Draugar - The Draugar are the undead. Some myths describe them as creatures who drink blood, they’re more similar to zombies than vampires. They possess superhuman strength and can increase their size at will, but have a constant stench of decay and appear as a dead body. They often live in their graves to defend the treasure they were buried with but can also enter communities to torment those who wronged them in life. They’re said to be able to enter the dreams of the living to torment them, and would leave behind a gift so the victims knew the encounter was real. 

Elves - Elves are separated into two different types; Dokkalfar, or dark elves, and Ljosalfar, light elves. Dark elves are thought to be the same as dwarves and light elves are described as more beautiful than the sun. They’re generally described as having an ambivalent relationship with humans.

Fenrir - Fenrir was the son of Loki and the giantess Angroboda. He was raised by the gods of Asgard to stop him from wreaking havoc across the nine worlds but the gods ended up deciding to chain him up. It’s believed that when Fenrir breaks his chains to get his revenge, it will lead to Ragnarok, the end of the world. 

Fossegrimen - Also known as the grim, he’s a water spirit who plays the fiddle mimicking the sounds of the forest, wind, and water. He can be bribed to teach his skill with an offering that he deems sufficient. He’s also known to lure women and children to lakes and streams where they drown.

Huldra - Wardens of the forest and part of a group of Ra that protects various locations. Female Huldra are described as beautiful and seductive, with a long tail of a cow and their back covered in bark. They can disguise themselves as young women to walk in the world of men but their power of illusion is broken if someone sees their tail. They lure young, unmarried men into the forest and keep them as slaves, lovers, or sometimes they’ll suck the life out of them. 

Jormungandr - Also known as the Midgard Serpent, Jormungandr is another child of Loki and Angrboda. He is a snake or dragon that lives in the sea surrounding Midgard. He is described as an enemy of Thor and during Ragnarok, the two are fated to slay one another. 

Jotnar - Jotnar, meaning “devourers”, are giants with powers that rival the power of the gods. They’re the enemy of the gods and the Jotnar embody chaos. Many of the Asgardian gods are descended from Jotnar such as Odin and Thor. 

Kraken - Aquatic monsters that are believed to live off the shores of Norway and Greenland. They’re depicted as gigantic octopi or squids. They mostly ate fish but when it rose to the surface, it was believed to cause large whirlpools which would help it attack ships.

Valkyries - The female helping spirits of Odin, depicted as elegant maidens who ferry the slain to Valhalla. Their name means “choosers of the Slain”, which hints at their more sinister side, the fact that they also choose who lives and dies in battle. They would sometimes use malicious magic to ensure their preferences.

Sleipnir - Odin’s mighty eight-legged horse is the child of Loki and Svadilfari. It had eight legs so that it could have one leg in each of the Norse worlds. 

Mare - The Mare monster gave people bad dreams at night by sitting on them in their sleep. Often they were witches whose souls took the forms of animals, but normal people, particularly adolescents, were also thought to become Mare when their spirits wandered. It was believed that when the Mare touched a living thing, people, cattle, or trees, it would cause their hair to become entangled. 

Trolls - There are large ugly trolls that dwell in forests and mountains, and small gnome-like trolls that live underground in deep caves and caverns. They’re depicted as not very intelligent and malevolent but can show kindness in exchange for a favor.

Norns - The three principal Norns served as the caretakers of the tree of life, but their care only slowed the death of the tree. 

Ratatoskr - A squirrel that runs up and down the tree of life delivering the messages of the gods. He enjoys stirring trouble between the wise eagle that sits atop the tree and the hungry dragon that swells in its roots. 

The Nine Realms

Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil is the mighty tree whose trunk rises at the geographical center of the Norse spiritual cosmos. It’s believed that the nine worlds are all held in the branches and roots of the tree of Yggdrasil. It’s commonly said to be an ash tree.

Niflheim - The realm of fog and mist. It’s the darkest and coldest region of all the realms. It’s one of the first two realms and is placed in the northern region of Ginnngagap. Hvergelmir is located in Niflheim, which is said to be the source of the elven rivers. As Yggdrasil started to grow, it stretched one of its large roots far into Niflheim to draw water from Hvergelmir. 

Muspelheim - The land of fire. Muspelheim was created at the same time as Niflheim but was created far to the south. It’s a burning hot place filled with lava, flames, sparks, and soot. It’s the home of the fire giants, fire demons, and is ruled by Surtr.

Asgard - Home of the Gods. The most commonly known realm, Asgard is located in the middle of the world, high up in the sky. It’s the home of the gods and goddesses and is ruled by the chief of Aesir Odin. Inside the gates of Asgard is Valhalla, the place where half who die in battle will go for the afterlife and the other half go to Folkvangr.

Midgard - Home of the humans. “Middle earth” is located in the middle of the world below Asgard. Midgard and Asgard are connected by Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge. It’s surrounded by a large, impassable ocean that is occupied by the Midgard Serpent. The first two humans were Ash and Embla and were sent to Midgard after being created from tree logs by Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve.

Jotunheim - Home of the giants. Jotunheim consists mostly of rocks, wilderness, and dense forests, and lies in the snowy regions on the outermost shores of the ocean. There is no fertile land in Jotunheim. Jotunheim is separated from Asgard by the river living which never freezes over.

Vanaheim - Home of the Vanir. Nobody knows where exactly the land is located or how it looks. 

Alfheim - Home of the light elves. Alfheim is located right next to Asgard in heaven. The god Freyr is the ruler of Alfheim. 

Svartalfheim - Home of the dwarves. Svartalfheim means dark fields, and they live under the rocks, in caves, and underground. Hreidmar was the king of Svartalfheim until he was killed. 

Helheim - Home of the dishonorable dead. Hel is where the dishonorable dead, thieves, murderers, or those the gods and goddesses feel are not brave enough to go to Valhalla or Folkvangr. Helheim is ruled over by Hel and is a very grim and cold place. Any person who arrives at Helheim will never feel joy or happiness again. 

[chameleonsoul-writing]

The one where we explore all the facets of what makes me, me. one by one....

Write about your name. Where did it come from? What does it mean?

    While Emily was the third most popular baby name of 1995, I’ve always felt at home in it. Maybe it isn’t the name when it stands alone, but Emily Louella Lanthorne certainly has a ring to it. I’ve always made a joke that the universe made me a girl so I wouldn’t face insufferable embarrassment. My mother and father had the name Tantor picked out if I was a male, and while it was picked years before the Disney animated film Tarzan was created, it never really had a ring to it. My middle name Louella is something I’m sure my mother made up. A combination of my Grandfather’s name Louis and my great-grandmother Elenor. My mother monster mashed the two most important branches of our family tree into one. My last name Lanthorne is a little more muddied. It’s an old English word for lantern and I’m unsure whether we have any family history in the business, but I’ve always taken it as my sign to light the way for anyone who comes along my path.

2. When and where were you born?

I’m not sure where exactly I was born, but I’m sure the firework smoke was thick in the air. I like to imagine my mother drugged up on epidurals watching the bright lights of fireworks going off in-between contractions. I’m a July 5th baby which means for many years of my life my birthday was coupled in with beach trips and hot dogs. Over the years I’ve learned to stop resenting the light show and have instead decided to revel in the beauty of the lights.

3. Write about your Mom. What would you want people to know?

I know everyone writes about their mom being the most selfless person in the world and the epitome of unconditional love. I would want every to know that my mother isn’t perfect. She’s rough around the edges. She’s made mistakes in her life and in mine. She neglected me when I’ve needed her most, and she’s been selfish in ways I haven’t been able to understand even years later. But she is the greatest gift I have ever received from the universe. She has taught me what it means to grow, and to backtrack, to lose everything, to admit your mistakes and continue on growing. She’s naive in the way that a child is. She believes in people like she’s never been hurt, she believes in people the way children do. I’ve watched her destroy herself, literally crumble to ashes and take down everyone with her, in order to take care of the people she loves. She will give you everything she has, every penny, every ounce of effort, blessings, and spirit, and when you come knocking one more time she’ll give you the very last breath of air from her lungs. She’s a no questions asked, pick you up from a drop location, discuss it in the morning phone call at 2 am. My mother has been the reason I cry myself to sleep and my one of my warmest hugs. She’s shown me humility is far more meaningful than being right and that asking for forgiveness is the easiest way to communicate “I’m sorry I fucked up”.

4. Write about you Dad. What would you want people to know?

My dad is hard for me to write about. I hated him most of my life growing up. I resented the way he treated me, the way he wasn’t ever there unless it served him, and the way he fought with my mother. But when I look back on my relationship with my father I can see the love oozing from the cracks in my perception of our relationship. As an adult, I look back and I know the weekly Friday Pokemon sessions, the buttered white bread Kraft dinners, and the way he threw himself into our small interests were the way in which he was screaming I love you. I know now that he rested with demons and regrets that I couldn’t understand when I was young, but he never let us go without. It’s funny how when you’re older you can look back and make connections between the way people struggled and the way they make sure the people they loved would never have to. When my father was growing up he was dirt poor. When he moved from Ohio to Orlando his parents forced him to sell all his toys in a garage sale. I think that’s why every Christmas it didn’t matter what we asked for, he always figured out how to make it happen. I want people to know that I love my father, even when I don’t know how to deal with our past

5. Do you have any siblings? Write about them.

Rebecca is really truly the embodiment of everything I wish I could be in life. I know that younger sisters are supposed to look up to their older sisters but it’s always been the opposite for us. Rebecca has always and will always be true to herself. She’s a magical pixie entity that gives zero fucks about what society thinks. She conscious in the way she consumes, she thinks outside of herself, and she never takes things too seriously. She’s been my balance for a very long time, and I wish I had been a better sibling to her. I know for a very long time in our relationship I let her down. There were so many things I should have been there for that I wasn’t. I hope I have the rest of our lives to make that up to her.

6. Where did you grow up? What do you remember from that place?

I grew up on 120 Margo Lane Longwood Florida. I grew up in the same house that my mother did and it’s the only house I’ve ever know. I remember 3 giant pine trees that made shade for our trampoline. I remember the giant hill that I learned to ride my bike on in the back of the neighborhood and later fell down causing a concussion. I remember the merry go round and the swings that eventually replaced it. I remember the trail that I ran on, biked on, cried on. I remember the microwave that only worked in increments of 40. I remember watching my mother renovate the entire house, one summer at a time. I remember the smell of cigarettes and Michelob ultra, and I remember pressing my ear against the wall listening over the screams to make sure they weren’t hurting each other physically. I remember playing PlayStation early in the morning while my mother made her infamous burnt bottom biscuits and my dad scrambled eggs.

I know that this has been an anchor for when I’ve felt lost and when I had no where else to go. It was a place I was embarrassed by for so long in my life, a representation that we were never quite wealthy enough, but now I find myself missing the humble halls of where I grew up.

[lovelytormentor]

PART ONE: Poison Ivy and Dick Grayson.

Authors: @AdeptAcrobat and @HypnoticToxin 

Author notes: An unlikely encounter between supervillainess, Poison Ivy and the playboy socialite, Richard Grayson. 

Dick Grayson

"Nobody tell Bruce that I 'borrowed' his car..." "Or that he's not getting it back."

Poison Ivy

["Affluent boys make for easy prey," Pamela thought, ignorant to his heroic identity.] 

You're a friend of Mr. Wayne? 

[Pamela had unfinished business with the billionaire aristocrat, therefore stringing along those susceptible to agitating Bruce would become a certified resolution to the "heartthrob bachelor" repaying his debts. A perfectly sculpted eyebrow arching as she scrutinised the boy and his lavish car. Her disposition undeniably charming. For now.]

Dick Grayson

That alluring voice was quick to capture Dick's attention. It was as beautiful as it was painfully familiar. His eyes instantly spotted that crimson hair - unmistakably belonging to Ivy, but of course he couldn't let on that he knew her, so he played the part she expected him to. Continuing to lean against the car, a charming grin crossed his lips, 

"I guess you could say friend." 

Nonchalantly shrugging, he continued, "He adopted me, back in the day."

Poison Ivy

[Transfiguration was an adopted strength amongst Ivy's natural adroitness. In the bids to appear more 'mundane' her emerald complexion altered to a porcelain pigment but such changes were immune to Pamela's scarlet mane, which retained its signature vibrancy. Tantalisingly slow strides swept the temptress off in the direction of this winsome character; Ivy manoeuvring in hypnotic oscillates to accentuate her hourglass curvature. When in proximity of @AdeptAcrobat, her svelte fingertips walked across the bonnet of Wayne's vehicle before diverging their route to @AdeptAcrobat's surprisingly robust arm. Playing this sensuous enticer was Poison Ivy's forte, even without the use of pheromones and considering @AdeptAcrobat's confession about being of  close relation to Bruce, she would ensure the boy would succumb to her very presence.] 

I didn't know a billion dollar bachelor in too tight of suits could have a heart.

["How repulsive" was her immediate response but Ivy exhibited no indifferences, instead perpetuating her seductress facade.] 

Tell me, adoptive son of Bruce Wayne, how many females use you to get close with him?

Dick Grayson

A trail of minuscule goosebumps followed Ivy's fingers as they grazed over Grayson's exposed bicep. Had he not been aware that the striking woman standing before him was a dangerous eco-terrorist, the acrobat would have easily fallen for her sensual disposition. Playing the self-indulgent, socialite son of billionaire Bruce Wayne came to Dick rather easily - this was a role he had embodied plenty of times before. 

"Too many." He commented, stretching backwards to purposely accentuate his defined muscles. 

"That's why I prefer to stay single." 

Shrugging in a nonchalant manner, he elaborated, "Why stick to one woman when you can have your pick of the litter?" 

The words burnt his mouth like venom, he hated implying such derogatory activities.

Poison Ivy

[Infernos blazed behind those emerald irises; the internal firestorm fuelled by the gallons of @AdeptAcrobat's disparaging utterance. Insolent. Pathetic. Moronic. /Man/. Another self-entitled tycoon, ungrateful to the natural splendour, was engrossed by the excessive needs for a materialistic lifestyle – including the outlook of women being objects in a prize pool. The notion made Pamela seethe, therefore eradicating any ounce of mercy she would have bestowed upon the wealthy adoptee. Ivy stepped over one of @AdeptAcrobat's legs, leaning inwards to the muscular specimen with a mind of a generic simpleton.] 

Is that all  we are to you? Helpless damsels? Objects of masculine pleasure? 

[Fingertips which previously travelled @AdeptAcrobat's well-sculpted bicep repositioned in the cottons of his grey shirt. Clenching into the fabrics, she utilised this procured clasp as leverage to reel the magnate child from his slouching posture and compact into the bountiful curvature of the floral temptress. The second hand slithered around @AdeptAcrobat's shoulder and digits tantalisingly caressed the nape of his neck.] 

Well I just staying by my side because a /woman/ is the only one who can save you now. 

[Before @AdeptAcrobat was gifted with an opportunity to protest, Pamela had already manoeuvred her intoxicating lips against the mouth of her prey. Venoms,  fortunately not the fatal sort, excreted from her luscious brims and surged into the systems of @AdeptAcrobat. Such poisons were specific to rupturing brain cells, where the effected was still conscious but lost the ability to govern themselves and instead susceptible to mind control. Ivy retracted from the lip-lock, purring.] 

Now get in the car, Grayson. We're going to pay your 'father' Bruce a little visit.

Dick Grayson

Had the temptress gazed deep enough into Grayson's eyes, she would have seen the glass, hiding the true man beneath, but he was playing her - or at least, that's what he thought he was doing. It was near impossible to resist shivering beneath the alluring touch of Ivy's fingers, the acrobat knew the effect she induced in men, even Batman had failed to resist in the past. Suddenly, clenched within her fist was the collar of his shirt, and Dick was viciously pulled into a sensual kiss. The natural reaction would have been to push her away, but the pheromones and toxins took mere seconds to surge from one body to the other, giving the hero no chance in preventing his impending doom. 'Fight it, Grayson, you're better than her. Think of the damage you could do under her control.' These thoughts repeated themselves over and over again in his mind as he began to lose control of his willpower. Previously piercing blue eyes had now been replaced with dilated pupils - he could still see, but it felt as though someone else was controlling his limbs. With a stiff nod of his head, he climbed into the luxurious car, allowing Ivy to follow. Grayson's mind was urging him to utter some sickeningly lustful words to the eco-terrorist, but he quite literally bit his tongue to prevent this, eventually drawing a small amount of crimson blood, the metallic taste filling his mouth. Part of him was still in control - this fight wasn't over just yet.

Poison Ivy

[The degrees of mind control fluctuated between each individual and their mental resilience. Batman was a cardinal example of the nonconformist characters, whose cerebral barricades contained enough strength to withstand any exposure to enslavement toxins and combat the intrusive plague as if it were a smaller dosage. Pamela's ignorance to @AdeptAcrobat's double identity signified her choice to fervently kiss the socialite while excreting those venomous blights to a lesser extent. Presuming  @AdeptAcrobat was a conventional stereotype of the everyday, million-dollar man, this ecoterrorist refrained from further questioning his durability, and that became a prefigured downfall. Still, the bachelor showcased signs of obedience from the distending of pupils to the courteous nods of compliance when instructed by the sultry voice of his oppressor – the exterior behaviours of @AdeptAcrobat were satisfactory to the likes of Poison Ivy. She glided effortlessly around the sports vehicle, fingertips trailing along the embellished contours of the onyx structure. It wasn't long before her appreciation for the four-wheeled pollution dispenser ceased and she instead climbed into the passenger seat where her curvaceous physique was greeted by leather. Those explorative digits persisted with the inner framework and mechanics to @AdeptAcrobat's borrowed automobile and eventually entwined around the gearshift.] 

Come on, /lover/. I want to see how much horsepower this bad boy truly has.

[The seductress vocalised words like "lover" and "darling" to reinforce the bond between captor and captive.  It was a mental stimulant that activated reactions to her potent toxoids and fortified @AdeptAcrobat's pliability. She awaited the boy to turn his key and kickstart the roars of a finely crafted motor. As of this moment @AdeptAcrobat wasn't just entangling within the webs of her vines but also preempting another death in the Wayne family. His.]

Dick Grayson

Grayson was able to count himself lucky that his identity had remained a well-kept secret, for had Ivy known she currently had Nightwing sat beside her, the situation would have certainly been very different. With stiff movements in comparison to the crimson haired temptress' more fluid ones, Dick pulled the seat-belt across his broad torso, and gripped the leather coated steering wheel until the skin of his knuckles became pigmented with white. Whilst Pamela was indulging herself in appreciating the car - which actually belonged to Bruce, the vigilante had a few seconds to regain control of himself, mentally talking himself out of Ivy's mind control. The more he was able to resist, the more he felt in command of his actions, with his eyes returning to their usual bright blue. However, at the use of the term 'lover', the feeling of uncontrollable, and inexplicable lust began to bubble to the surface once again, and Dick's grip on the steering wheel was forced to tighten in order to remain in control of his actions. Key turned in the ignition and the engine roared to life. At Ivy's will, Grayson sped off with complete ignorance of any speed limits; he wouldn't have long to formulate a viable plan to get himself out of this situation. Over his years as Robin, and even as Nightwing, numerous encounters with the eco-terrorist had taught him that those under her control weren't mindless to the extent of not being able to speak without being spoken to, so he sparked a conversation - one that could have potentially held benefit to his own motives.

"Why Bruce Wayne? The guy may be rich, but I don't know what someone as beautiful and powerful as yourself would want with him." 

Grayson kept his voice slightly monotonic; it was hard enough for him to address Poison Ivy with such ardour.

Poison Ivy

[At the twist of a key this sporting vehicle was galvanised into ignition – emitting a thundering purr that was detectable from across Gotham City. As the engine was revved Pamela eagerly jerked the gearstick from parked to drive, altering the transmission so both, socialite and seductress, could bolt down the barren avenues with a falsetto screech following their every sharp turn. Obedience suited the gentry hostage. After the self-professed entitlements and imperious announcement which degraded the existence of women within his social cliques, witnessing the boy mindlessly serve a female had its benefits; for more often than not, the male species were intolerable swines that acted on impulse as consequence of their brains located within their trousers. Coercion ensured @AdeptAcrobat's submissive qualities would eclipse that domineering persona while maintaining an ounce of self-determination. Had Pamela desired a absentminded pet, she would have amplified the toxins excreted through her venomous injection but to an extent, the ecoterrorist indulged in controlled conversations, where she could at least converse on basic degrees of their enslavement. Hence why @AdeptAcrobat was bestowed with an honour of free speech despite his prior remarks leaving Pamela inclined to sever @AdeptAcrobat's tongue.] 

Well, my lover, Bruce Wayne is a parasite plaguing my earth. Another big name, with large pockets and consumed by greed. 

[Pamela, again seething, at the notions of the billionaire bachelor who only last week commissioned the funds for the expansion of an educational institution on her terrains. The floral temptress adjusted her position on the leather in order to find a comfortable placement where those slender arms could entangle around the one bicep in proximity with her being. Draped around the preocccupied Grayson, whose speeds breached three times the regulated limited, was  a hazardous ploy but it didn't bother the ecoterrorist for the pair were already gambling with death. She kept her appetisingly plush lips caressing the shell of @AdeptAcrobat's ear – a benevolent gesture to enhance his bewitchment even though Ivy wasn't expelling any toxoids.] 

What I want with Bruce is revenge and you, my ignorant, little prized possession, are going to assist with first getting me inside his compounds. Because you wouldn't want to disappoint me, would you? I do /loathe/ disappointments. 

Dick Grayson

As his mind sped to come up with a viable plan to stop Ivy from getting to Bruce, that wouldn't compromise his true identity, the young socialite was harboring some regrets for his prior words - perhaps he had played his part a little too well, his crude words inadvertently landing himself under the thumb of his nemesis. Although thankfully he now held the upper hand. There was another twitch at the use of a pet name, but this time the vigilante found himself to be more resistant than previously, which meant the seductress' toxin was gradually being expelled from his system; thus returning Grayson's psyche to its usual form. Just as he was going to reply, Ivy's hands began to roam his defined bicep, not to mention the sensation of her lips grazing his ear. If this had been any other situation, and any other woman, it was needless to say that Dick's reaction would have been more... keen, perhaps. He wracked his mind to recall how those enslaved to the will of Ivy spoke to her, and all he seemed to remember was that the mindless males worshipped their mistress. 

"I'd never disappoint someone as beautiful and perfect as you." 

Feigning a tone laced with lust, and flashing the crimson haired temptress a charming grin, Grayson continued to drive, disgusted at his words. Only when he reached the prolonged driveway, leading to the historic Wayne Manor, did a plan hatch in his mind. It may not have been highly thought through, but options were now limited. With complete disregard of his own safety, the young hero swiftly and fiercely locked the steering wheel to the left, the powerful car immediately responding by veering off-road, striking a signpost advertising the Manor but ultimately, and more crucially, colliding with a solid brick wall - belonging to an abandoned annex, once the lodgings of the groundskeeper. All Dick could hope was that Ivy was merely knocked out by the crash, but he had attempted to angle the vehicle to take a majority of the hit. Airbags were released, and the acrobat was thrown forwards, his head swimming as he desperately tried to regain his composure before his passenger did.

Poison Ivy

[Approaching rapidly from beyond the twilight horizon was that acclaimed estate – an heirloom to those titled Wayne. The manor was a fabled beauty, exalted by its neoclassical architecture betwixt with Hellenic finishes that exaggerated the traditional western man's desires to display an ignorant sense of culture and antiquity. Habitually, Poison Ivy felt indifference to vicinity despite its grandeur magnificence for the sheer fact, if the lodgings were deconstructed to its simplest roots, it would be another piece of concrete blocks that stood upon the grounds of earth genocide. Therefore, by lack of deterrence for Wayne Manor, this malicious ecoterrorist persisted in the grooming of her handsome hostage. Chartreuse lips followed the contours of @AdeptAcrobat's jawline, hovering the angular frame with an occasional kiss embedded to his flesh while simultaneously, the limb entangled around @AdeptAcrobat's flexed bicep heightened its already steely clasp. The floral seductress was essentially latched with little means to relinquish her prey until 

 … 

An unanticipated screech resonated throughout the atmosphere, accompanied by a violent jerk leftwards. The vehicle instantaneously veered off course, darting directly into a collision zone. In sight, between an array of blurred colours was the groundskeeping den and with no manageable time to counteract the predicament, Poison Ivy and Dick Grayson ploughed into the brick obstacle. Considering her blatant disregard for road safety, without a seatbelt encapsulating her lithe frame, the vixen was untangled from @AdeptAcrobat and launched westwards, smashing into the passengers window before the inflation of airbags. Fragments of shattered glass lacerated Ivy, while the impact which developed from copious momentum had brought the villainess to a state of unconsciousness.]

Dick Grayson

Years of vigilantism had given Grayson more experience with car crashes than he would care to admit, however at this moment in time he was certainly thankful for it. The carbon-fibre door was loose on its hinges, and all Dick had to do to release himself was gently maneuver his leg to the optimum point from which he could deliver a sharp kick, directly to the hinges at which the door met the (now slightly less so) sleek body of the vehicle. Clenching his jaw tightly to avoid making an audible indication of pain, the socialite reached across to unbuckle his seat belt. This gesture allowed his head to turn to enough of a degree to see Ivy, unconscious against the airbag. Although it wasn't the most pleasant of circumstances, Dick couldn't help but feel some relief at the temptress' state. Now freed of the constraint, Grayson cautiously rolled himself out of the car, lying on the luscious grass, now tainted with tyre-tracks, as he attempted to catch his breath. Slowly sitting up, he pressed a grubby hand to his forehead in an attempt to make his head stop churning. Only when he retracted his arm did he spot the crimson patch of blood that had come from his face. "Perfect." He grumbled to himself, wincing as he rose to his feet. Dick made a mental note to seek medical attention, but obviously his current priority was Ivy. Pulling out his phone, he dialed the number of Bruce Wayne, who picked up after two rings. "It's Dick. I need you to come down the drive, I have someone for you to collect... And maybe an apology to make." With his ex-mentor now en-route, the acrobat hobbled over to the passenger's side of the vehicle and worked on delicately removing the seductress from her seat. Not only did he not wish for her to regain consciousness, he also wanted no further harm to come to her. If all went according to plan, Ivy would wake up behind bars.