#he's so short for a reason he has childhood malnutrition

[faunabel]

100% positive my impulsive liar boy oc would've been a tumblr sexy man back in the day

and i'm ok with that

[foundfamily-connoisseur]

PUNCH OUT HCS CUZ I DONT GOT TIME TO DRAW THEM BUT THEY WONT LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

Something something the voices

This is so long I'm sorry

No I'm serious I started derailing I think

LITTLE MAC

Mexican-American! His ma is Mexican and immigrated to The Bronx, where she met Mac's dad (who we have nothing on lol, he dipped before Mac was born).

His ma? Oh yeah, she died :( He doesn't know how, just that he came home one day (latchkey kid) and saw the cops surrounding the apartment. Placed him in an orphanage but got into fights a lot and deemed him a 'problem child' (literally just an autistic kid grieving the loss of his mom)

As said, Lil Mac is autistic! For the most nonverbal and thus uses ASL, but also speaks English and Spanish from time to time(English from Doc, Spanish from his mother and childhood friends who helped him keep up). Spanish is his preferred language tho.

Narcolepsy haver. It usually doesn't interfere much with his actual boxing matches since he's learned to feel when they're coming and deal with them accordingly. Took him and Doc a while to figure out that he had it since they just chalked it up to his prior malnutrition(which also impacted his growth, capping him at a whole 4'9)

Affectionate(?): must be initiated by him. He's very much for hugging and holding hands but if someone else does it first he's like :/. Only people he's ok with is Doc Louis so far.

Trans: transman who figured himself out pretty early when he only played soccer with the boys out in the mud. His mom cut his hair super short as a 'punishment' for always getting dirt in his braids but jokes on her he loved it. Doc has been helping him with hormone blockers, and with the prize money saving up for surgery 🙏 you can do it maccie boy!!! No one else in the ring knows and he'd rather keep it that way thank you (both out of nerves but also why do they need to know 🤨 what are they the fbi???)

Fashion sense: if you try to get this boy in anything but a tank/shirt and shorts he will explode. This man rocks flip flops and sneakers for days and it's all that's in his wardrobe (maybe another hoodie or two). A lot of them are rather worn but he hates the idea of "wasting" money so he uses em till they're literally impossible to wear.

Very spiritual: believes in el Mal Ojo aka Evil Eye and such. (Mostly from his mother and the women on the block that took him in from time to time). If he thinks your vibes are off, he will do an egg cleanse and swears that they work (they do i can attest to that chat).

GLASS JOE

EDS HAVER!!!!! (Ie Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). This man has glass bones and paper

he don't care he will fight till he's dead! That and boxing actually does rlly help him with his joint pains. He finds it kinda funny when ppl worry about him like "sorry guys i gotta lie down real quick i think my ribs went criss cross". He prefers to get around on wheel chair but can get by with crutches(to which he just lays on the bed forever afterward)

Cat dad!!!!: less him having an actual pet cat than him just tending to whatever feline that crosses his path. May or may not have some scratches on his hands don't worry about it.

Actually really good friends with Mac: (we're going to pretend that they aren't literally thousands of miles away shut up). One of the few to make an actual effort to learn ASL rather than pick it up slowly or have Doc translate. In turn, Mac has gone about learning bits and pieces of French, enough so that both can communicate in their respective language and the other can (mostly) understand them.

This man is such a critic like what do you mean the food lacked a certain "je ne sais quoi" or the movie "insisted upon itself". He really wants to be nice but if it has any touch of French, he is going to murder it because it isn't French enough or actually accurate.

Had an ex fiance to which they broke off for reasons he'd rather not elaborate.

VON KAISER

Tics: he has em. They worsen under stress, but occur randomly or if overstimulated

Served in the military before being discharged. He doesn't like talking about and his tics start acting up if the topic is brought up.

Widower: wife died fairly early into their marriage and he was absolutely distraught. They both always talked about having kids, and a part of him still wants that, but it won't be the same without his Engelchen.

Career: he had wanted to be an engineer, but after serving in the military couldn't bring himself to go into it. That, and being a boxing teacher let's him tend to kids, even if it means getting socked in the stomach. He always acts like a strict instructor, both from his own experience in the military and because he wants to keep the kids at arms length. Also his wife being a kindergarten teacher had nothing to do with it nooooo

Close friends with Hondo and Glass Joe. Bear Hugger is a friendly fella but his loud and boarish disposition gets him riled up. Gets along well with Little Mac and if Doc isn't present for whatever reason, he's good at helping Mac calm down if he starts getting overstimulated and vice versa.

He also totally doesn't have Lil Mac be a pseudo son to him and think about his kis could've been potentially his age who said that.

Emotional support animal: German shepherd called Hugo. That's his baby right there

Disco Kid

That man's a fruit your honor!!!! No but fr tho he's a queer man living his best life.

Also a drag queen! (Name pending). Doesn't really care for how others perceive him and goes with the flow really.

Definitely fought with his dad a lot when he was younger, but as he grew his father came around and now they have a pretty solid relationship.

He's a total mommas boy tho he will literally die for her. He also has a little sister who he plays dolls with. (And yes she asks him to say it in his girl voice iykyk)

Gets along with pretty much everyone besides Mr. Sandman really (Aran Ryan is an interesting case. You heard it from the grape vine but they have an on and off relationship).

An art major for sureeeee. Idk what kind but im sensing something

Really good with machinery though. Usually just so he can fix up his car and stereos.

KING HIPPO

He is for sure not human. I always draw him more beastly but he's probably closer to whales/hippos than actual people.

Like hippos, all that's fat is really just pure muscle. No cuz google up a hippo and remove their skin them bitches are SHREDDED!!!

Naturally very affectionate, although he prefers his pals in the minor circuit (and Lil Mac. Yes this is Little Mac supremacy everyone will be his friend).

Absolutely loves cocktails. They come with fruit how can he not. Funnily enough he despises apples though.

Has multiple wives: a primary wife and secondary wives. Has kids with most of them and naturally, the first born son will take his place when the time comes. (He does love all his kids and wives equally tho so don't worry about them).

Surpringly eloquent" while he can't exactly form human speech, his writing is impeccable, both in letter and in word choice. No one knows how he does it with those claws and big ass hands.

PISTON HONDA

This man has so much manga it's insane. This mf probably has a whole room dedicated to his collection. Yes most of them are Shojo and yes he has a lot of Sailor Moon merch and memorabilia. (although he does also enjoy other such Mangas like JJBA and Inuyasha. I'd say he's embarrassed about it but bro was reading Sailor Moon out in the open so id say he's at least fine with reading it publicly.

Has gotten some of the other boxers to read some of his recs and watch some animes with him (he will force you to watch Madoka Magica and Revolutionary Girl Utena. It's only a matter of time.) It's also how he got into other shows like Candy Candy (by Mac), The Golden Girls(by Disco Kid. He likes his oldies what can he say), and pretty much any and every telenovela ever created (Wow wonder who it could be).

Has a pet Shiba Inu that he loves to bits but DAMN does she test his patience sometimes. And he has a lot of it.

Also began learning ASL when he caught wind of Glass Joe doing it, although he practically forced Lil Mac to learn Japanese because damn it, sometimes the dub doesn't do the show justice!!!

Has two older sisters!!! He's the baby of the family lol and it don't matter if he can pick em both up they'll still pinch his cheeks and tease him.

BEAR HUGGER

Trans: a transgender man who's loud and proud. Never bothered with top surgery he ain't cutting off his girls!!! He could pick up the vibe™️ with Little Mac but he's not the type to try and force the conversation. He'll let Mac come to him on his own time, and if not then that's fine too.

Loads of animals: similar situation to Glass Joe, although now it applies to all animals. Bro is a Disney princess. He sticks his arms out and birds fly to perch on them. Can seemingly hold an actual conversation with animals and no one knows if he's losing it or if they are.

Family: an only child, but with loads of cousins who fill in that sibling role. He's actually really good with kids and takes care of his nieces and nephews from time to time. He has thought about being a dad from time to time (he'd really like to have a girl) but always decides against it.

Affectionate: to the highest degree. That man is always asking if ya need a hug and it ain't just a threat for a grapple/ear clap. He and King Hippo get along swimmingly as a result (if only they didn't die if they went to each other's respective home country 😔)

Prosthethic: ya cant tell cuz of his clothes, but he has a prosthetic leg! (Stops a bit below the knee). If he ever takes it off for whatever reason, he always goes "aw man, guess I'm on my last leg" and the crowd goes mild. Thinks it's the funniest shit ever tho and he won't stop making the joke (Little Mac made it worse by giving an actual chuckle. Mac you've doomed us all with your horrible sense in jokes. I blame Doc)

GREAT TIGER

Loves cats: absolutely adores them. This man has a cat onesie I can feel it in my bones. He hangs out with Glass Joe solely for the cat (also the baguettes).

Gossip: he has a horrible habit of gossiping that he's tried to curb but astaghfirullah sometimes he's gotta talk about Don's receding hairline😔 Mac isn't helping him pinche chismoso!!!

Doesn't like going to parties involving alcohol with the WVBA because almost always he's forced into designated driver. Usually he just teleports away because he's not dealing with that yall are calling an uber!!!!

Actively avoids searching up ingredients in things he eats (like gummies) because if he doesn't know it's not Haram.

Sneakerhead: very proud of his collection. Also really into rap music (we don't talk about his career...that never happened chat) and you will hear it blasting from his car.

Sister!!! Stealing this from a fic but he has a younger sister who works internationally. If she's there with him she serves as his translator.

Magic: not limited to clones or what's seen in the game, but it's his preferred type of magic. He can also transform things and people into other things/creatures. He accidentally made Mac into a rabbit and everyone had a field day with that one.

DON FLAMENCO

Chismoso: this man will shit talk anything and anyone. If you talked with him chances are you're part of a gossiping ring with the older ladies who work nearby. I think they're talking about how you're a puta but idk

Former womanizer: this man banged anything that had a beating heart and a pretty body. It wasn't until he met Carmen that he knew what love really was. Once they got together UGHHHH this man was a fucking loser for his Carmen. Took years to win her over but it was all worth it for his amor.

They talk about kids sometimes, but this mf childish that he sees it as having to share his beloved fiance. (They for sure have kids later down the line tho. Give them a minute damn!)

Beef: tbh he doesn't really get along with anyone; he just dislikes them all to varying degrees. He and Mac hate each other on the principle of one being Hispanic/Latino and the other being a Spaniard. Do NOT leave them alone for any reason. Last time they both argued about the spanish word for 'straw' and sent each other to the hospital where they argued some more.

Telenovelas are his life force. If you interrupt his showing of La Rose de Guadalupe, he will literally kill you.

Got Aran Ryan into it by accident: he was watching Teresa in the living room when Ryan was crossing to go to the kitchen for a bite. An hour later he's sat on the couch hand in heads. They both watch it together now.

Great cook: he makes a means paella and he knows it. Always makes it to show off 'Spain Superiority'. Little Mac hates his guts but he's not gonna turn down a free paella.

ARAN RYAN

People joke and say he has brain damage which is why he's so crazy, but he actually does have CTE so 💀

Family: aside from his general knack for recklessness, having a piece of shit mom and an even worse dad (who of course had to die in a freak accident at work) does not exactly leave you the most sound. He has loads of sisters and brothers, being the second oldest of the bunch (with one older sister of which the hate is mutual). It's a big factor to why he doesn't want kids; he's spent a big chunk of his life working to raise them.

Boxing: to him it was both an outlet for his eventually anger issues and a means to raise money in the same punch. It did lead to fucking him up physically, as after a particularly nasty bout with Mr. Sandman, an eye got knocked out of place so he's working with only 50%.

Very jittery: you can never catch this man staying still. Even in his sleep he either tosses or twitches a leg or arm. Trying to make him stay still just makes it worse.

Repressed Bi it's not even funny. His excuse for his on and off relationship with Disco Kid is "well he's basically a lady!" He'll come to terms with it eventually, but that's one hell of a long road.

Superstitious: biggest thing for him is luck. he breaks a lot of shit but mirrors are not one of them!

Low-key misogynistic: "my sister punches harder than ye, boy!" Like damn your sister must be knocking ppls jaws clean off the freak. If he ever finds out that Lil Mac is trans it's just gonna be him like "SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT" cuz now he's gonna get canceled on Twitter dot com by Super Macho Man😔😔😔

SODA POPINSKI

Married!!! Has a tiny little wife that he loves to bits. She will scold him and he's just all :]]]] wife...I luv her sm... he's a total wifeman

They've been trying for a kid (bro you can't just say that...gross). Naturally this man wants a shit load of them god help that woman.

A major reason to why he's been making efforts to curb his drinking habits! Of course he still hits the bottle every so often, but he's for sure gotten better than his first time in the ring.

Cooking skills: surpringly decent believe it or not! Anything with meat he's killer with and he always makes ridiculously large portions. (Yes it's because he wants to make something nice for his lady let me make a wife guy!!!!)

Really likes Beyonce. Major fan actually he goes to so many of her shows.

Horrible with social cues. This man does not understand when he's being too overbearing (to the detriment of his friendship with many alas😔 especially Von Kaiser and Little Mac). Tries to apologize by offering them a soda like 🥺🥤

Speaking of Little Mac, he once tripped over him (6'7 vs 4'9...oh dear). Flash forward to them in the hospital. They both swear to never speak of this again (also Soda gets him authentic mexican cola so like...we're all good here).

BALD BULL

Anger issues galore: got his father's temperament(don't we all???) And in addition to being bullied a lot as a kid, he hasn't really found the best way to manage. Usually he just goes out to a secluded field or heads out to the sauna, but the press has done little favors to his mental sanity.

Cat magnet: not of his own volition. They are drawn to him like flies to honey. He doesn't really mind them and are a nice way to de-stress.

Music taste: while he usually listens to classical music and instrumentals, he loves himself some girlie pop music. You pull out his ear buds and just catch "Girls just wanna have funnnnn" Before he punches you into the sun

Cattle farm: Inherited from his family, he loves all his cows to bits. They are his pride and joy. He has Glass Joe come over sometimes for some cheese and wine.

Isn't particularly close to any of the boxers beyond Glass Joe and Soda Popinski. He spends some time with Lil Mac, usually just to go out and get some ice cream or something. He likes the kids company cuz he isn't as energetic or demanding in the same regard a lot of teens are.

SUPER MACHO MAN

He for sure has a purse dog named princess. It's a white pomeranian with a pink bow i just known it.

Was a child actor! His family got him into the world early, staring as the sweetheart of whatever show or movie he was in. In his later teens, he was the heart throb before he left the scene as an adult to focus on boxing. His parents were at first disappointed, but after seeing the money roll in? They had no problems after that.

Romance: as expected, nothing permanent. He usually just has loads of flings or one time hook ups that never amount to anything, and he doesn't bother looking for anything "real".

Probably has a kid out there somewhere but if he does, he's denying it till his dying breath.

Similarly to Don, he doesn't really get along with anyone. For him it's just a matter of his own superficial nature. He absolutely detests Mac, but is the only one to know ASL fluently due to a former childhood friend. He doesn't use it beyond wanting to be bitchy in secret.

I know he's super tan but I'm not allowing him to be white. He's a lil something...will figure that out later.

MR SANDMAN

Yeah ngl I don't got a lot for him. I don't think i have anything actually. Huh

He mains Kirby in smash.

He used to have a lisp when he was younger

Yknow how some parents will have kids super far apart? Yeah his parents did that what do you mean he was 22 and he got a new baby sister. What the freak.

He absolutely hates Macs guts but also can't take him seriously on account that he's 4'9. Whose child is this. Literally, when he first entered the ring, he asked whose kid was this and that children weren't allowed in the ring. Lo and behind this was the schmuck that knocked the lights out of 12 other fully grown men, and he was coming for your ass next.

BONUS

DOC LOUIS

Took Mac in when he was around 9, formally adopted him as soon as he could. Heard of a ruckus for a missing child some minutes away and when he came back with Little Mac, he thought he found his parents. Then he got the situation explained to him about how he didn't actually have anyone, everyone just agreed to look out for him. There he officially took him in as his son.

Put the kid back in school after learning he hasn't been in since his mom died. He's considerably behind for his age, but has taken great strides to catch up. He's now just a year behind.

Definitely a major learning curve when it came to raising a child, much less one who barely spoke english(if he spoke at all) and prone to outbursts. It's been years since then and he can't imagine a world without that kid.

Had a wife but they divorced after he found out she had an affair. Sent him on a downwards spiral but he managed to pick himself back up. Having a kid to raise really helps him out.

Close to his sister, but that's about it. She's who gave him pointers on how to raise a kid, as they were about the same age. He doesn't think hes have done as well if it wasn't for her.

Former coach of Bald Bull, but parted ways after arguments on what exactly that wanted to do moving forward. They're amicable now, though.

[tinytime10]

So everyone knows that the links are short, even in the linked universe. Time is tall compared to the other links but still barely average height. My head canon for why a lot of the links are as short as they are is malnutrition.  Okay hear me out a lot of the shortest ones started their adventures extremely young. Food being far from the easiest thing to acquire in the middle of a dungeon or when you're being actively hunted by the Hylian guards.  Legend, Hyrule and Wind, probably would have grown to be a lot taller had it not been for that. Of course Four is that tiny because Minish Magic.

 For Wild I think it's just genetics. Twilight and Sky both started their adventures later in life and had fairly stable childhoods, and had access to plenty of nutritious food. They grew in a very normal way. Time had to deal with malnutrition a lot as a child, because the little boy was not eating very much meat growing up. But the reason he's so tall compared to the rest of the chain is because of the Fierce Deity Mask.

 Now with Warriors my favorite boy has one tragic childhood in my head cannons. Growing up on the streets of Castle town and being a Coliseum kid he was starved all the time. He didn't get three meals a day until he was in the military. The thing is he probably used the Triforce  various other magical items so much at a still relatively young age. (I headcan in the war to have started when he was 17 and ended when he was 20) Much like time I can sort of blame the height on Magic and a little bit of genetics.  

I don't know if anybody cares but I thought it's interesting.

[insanescriptist]

Man, I gotta agree with this when it comes to the Pits and Jason's "Pit Madness"; it works as an excuse for Jason's bat-shit characterization in later runs because when it came to Jason, DC threw out his character bible when he got voted off. Sometimes the other comic writers got like three sentences to base his character off of and it's obvious. At the moment it kinda reads like DC's trying to shove him into an edgier Dick Grayson shaped box depending on what you're reading, and it falls flat. Because Jason Todd is not Dick Grayson. Jason's a narrative foil, not the lynchpin of DC.

However I find it interesting that Bruce is hesitating because of the brain damage specifically. It's an interesting line of thought for Bruce to use as a reasoning to not do it. When the pits are said to "heal all ills."

Most of the damage healed by the Lazarus Pits is recent physical trauma ie killing blows. It can only be used by the dying and recently dead (Ra's has been dropped in it dead before, in some of the older comics); it kills the living. This is also where I get to point out that once you're dead, your brain no longer has oxygen and glucose going to it. Your brain cells are dying once what's up there is gone. Which only takes minutes. So since Ra's is still able to think coherently, manage his empire/country/cult and so on, it's very much obvious that the Pits can heal brain damage. But wait, there's more! After all, aging is also damage and when the brain ages, along with the body, the byproducts of brain function are no longer as effectively removed while a person sleeps.

Because of this, one can actually argue that the immediate reaction of "madness," is actually the brain getting healed by the pit. The brain is after all, an organ that takes a lot of care in staying in a constant consistent state; it likes it's soup in a specific way, has specific tolerances and needs or it can't brain. That's kind of why the blood brain barrier exists. Brain doesn't want the icky in blood, it only wants the sugar and the oxygen.

Now then, the "madness," is written to be brief hysterical strength in which whoever it is cannot discern friend from foe. Which again, makes sense. The brain reverts back to base instincts, they feel vulnerable and they lash out. Often killing people. The base instincts I'm pointing to here are obviously Fight or Flight.

And then here we have catatonic Jason Todd.

From the first chapter of Lost Days, we see Jason's brain isn't really functioning, except to stimuli and muscle memory.

And then Talia puts him into a pit.

It's interesting that Lost Days is using an Orange Lazarus Pit, because those are multi-use pits aka a person can be revived in that pit multiple times. The green pits are one time use per person.

Also Jason got pushed in while Ra's was doing his old man bath. He probably tries not to think about that.

More importantly, Jason got pushed in while healthy. Which people go, he has brain damage! That's not okay! And it's not! The Lazarus Pits are known for killing healthy people. Jason has damage, he's short for his age, possibly due to malnutrition as a child (at 15 going towards 16 upon his death, he should not be shoulder height to Talia; the average 12-13 year old would be. Jason's actually older than 16, even without coffin time, since he's been vegging out in the care facility and then living on the streets; he's absolutely tiny for his age) His brain isn't capable of expressing higher and more complex thoughts. But he's been eating well, he's in great shape and he's young. Damaged yes, but otherwise healthy.

So even Jason's "revival" in the pit was a bit atypical in that he wasn't dead or dying of physical trauma. And that the Pit didn't end him!

More importantly, from various Jason recollections across various comics, Jason's memories are intact from prior to his death. He remembers his childhood, he remembers living on the street and other events such as school and being Robin and all the skills that being Robin required! He remembers details clear enough to know the Batmobile's weaknesses! So Batman's assumption of the brain damage might return Jason to life but leave him catatonic is clearly an error-filled assumption!

But what about the hotel room he destroyed after Talia revived him? Surely that was Pit Madness? Didn't he murder the two men?

Brief period of events to recap, Talia and Jason ran half a mile after his "revival" so she could toss him to where he could swim to a spot, gets a hotel, reads Talia's letter and gets the newspaper telling him Joker has been arrested and loses it. Beats up the hotel managers checking on Jason because he's destroying the room, smuggles himself to Gotham in less than twelve hours after being revived, all while avoiding Talia's people, her trackers and doesn't even use the papers she had prepared for him. He took the money and ran after his crying jag. Then he hatches a plan while getting transported to Gotham, gets his supplies, sets up a trade deal on both ends as bait for Batman and then places a bomb on the Batmobile. Decides to not actually kill Batman for his failure to avenge Jason's death. So all week he's been in Gotham, he's been fine enough to not need a panel dedicated to him being pit-mad. Which again, Pit Madness is shown again and again to be immediate violence when people are revived. Only Ra's has said otherwise and he has centuries of exposure.

Let's be honest, the violence is concerning but again, he gave the hotel managers a beatdown. He didn't murder them. (Again, head wounds bleed a lot. They do look absolutely murdered, but they lived afterwards. Talia's agents specify beatdown, not murder. Talia's agents might have murdered them after.) Also there's only two of them and a destroyed hotel room.

Bruce has had arguably worse and longer violent reactions for less reasons than finding out the guy who took you in, cared for you you and adopted you as a son, was your crime-fighting partner ended up not avenging you after you were brutally murdered and replaced you with another partner, another child, another son (presumably.) It's been years and he's still doing the same song and dance with arresting the Joker. Also Jason learning he's lost years of his life due to death, catatonia? Another reason to grieve.

Comparatively Batman has hunted down former henchmen of Rogues to beatdown for any possible information and also just beaten down criminal types at will in order to turn up a lead. Wanna argue? A Death in the Family shows it.

Anyway, it's absolutely thuggish behavior from the World's Greatest Detective. Also Batman ambushes people smuggling medical supplies, because that's exactly what a hero should do. It's arguable who they're smuggling supplies for (government faction vs rebels vs citizens caught in the crossfire) but it's still very dubious actions from someone who's written narratively as a hero.

So even arguably when relatively fresh from the Pit, Jason is less violent than Batman is sometimes. So clearly destroying the hotel room is just an intense episode of grief. Which taking feelings out on objects isn't great, but it's still better than hurting other people because you think they deserve it. Jason only hurt the hotel managers because they were trying to stop Jason from further destroying the room in his grief.

Anyway, Jason's a special guy and has been exposed to more Lazarus based stuff!

Time to get that infamous Task Force Z pic

Tis the Lazarus resin stuff! And also even after, Jason's still not Pit-mad or a zombie!

In fact he apologizes to Deadshot after. Clearly not Pit Mad.

So yeah, you could argue that Jason suffers from Pit-madness consider how his characterization isn't coherent after UtRH and Lost Days.

Or you could argue that Jason is the person least likely to be effected by Pit Madness and has shown that several times now.

You can absolutely hate on #148 for it's terrible writing and cheap conclusion but again, Jason with no Pit Madness upon revival. And again, the Pit healing a mental "injury" in Jason.

Sure you can argue for Pit Madness for Jason on the word of Ra's but you could also argue Jason comes out of the Pits as terrifyingly sane, so all his unhinged behavior is him and his trauma responses that he has less than ideal coping mechanisms for! Kinda what happens when you're the most isolated Robin (no superhero team of his own) and full of C-PTSD from living homeless in the worst part of Gotham, seeing more traumatizing situations as Robin, react to that trauma in what should be a safe space, get benched for it, see a distraction and a possible escape to catch a breather away from Batman/Bruce, get betrayed by your biological mother and then murdered! Not to mention the stuff that's happened to him after he came back to Gotham! Jason's got a lifetime subscription of issues but arguably Pit Madness isn't one.

(But it is fun >:3e)

Okay, we gotta talk about Pit Madness in the comics.

I keep seeing a bunch of people saying it’s not real. Problem. It is. It’s just rarely brought up.

It might not be the earliest reference, but we have this panel with Talia talking about how madness seizes him after dipping in the Lazarus Pit

Batman #244 (1972)

But this isn’t the only time we get reference to this. The panel below also talks about lore of the Lazarus Pits and again mentions that madness.

Batman: Bane of the Demon. Issue 3 (1998)

This gets referenced again in Hush when Bruce is fighting who he thinks is someone pretending to be Jason having been resurrected in the Pits during Hush.

Bruce is thinking about how he almost out Jason in a Pit after his death, but due to the madness the Pit can cause and Jason’s injuries to the head, he thought against it.

Batman # 618 - I think it’s volume 11 in the Hush omnibus (2003)

We see a reference to it again regarding Jason in the Lost Days. What’s super interesting here is that Talia states the Pits did NOT drive Jason mad, but Ra’s warns her that it’s possible the madness can occur up to years after a person’s dip.

I find this particular one fascinating, simply because of the lore that Pit Madness can take hold decades after a dip in a Pit.

Red Hood: the Lost Days #2 (2010)

Now, regarding Jason. There has NEVER been any concrete proof he’s suffered from Pit Madness. It’s very popular as a head cannon simply because Jason’s characterization is so all over the place.

Edit: Please keep in mind Jason was calm, cool, collected, and conniving in Under the Red Hood. Saying he’s Pit Mad there takes away all of the impact and gets rid of his motivations. Please be aware of this.

Now, that’s not saying there’s not a connection between Jason and the Pits. There was an entire arc in Red Hood and the Outlaws (2010) regarding this which also deals with Jason’s time with the All-Caste.

I still haven’t gotten around to reading that part, but it’s where the permanent augmentation theories come from. Oh, and Jason can canonically make constructs from Lazarus Water. Ra’s can too, but yeah… it’s a thing.

Red Hood and the Outlaws 2010 #27 (Released in 2014)

But while there’s no confirmation Jason’s dealt with Pit Madness, you know who has? Cass

Batgirl 1 #72 or 73 (2006)

Cass was revived after taking a blow for someone. And Shiva revived her, but there’s no permanence to it. And to my knowledge, I could be wrong since I’m not as familiar with her runs, this is the only time it gets referenced with her.

But going back to my original point that started this: Pit Madness is real. It’s just rarely seen in the comics. And if you want to use it, that’s fine - just be careful about its use since you can ruin characterization with it.

Edit 2: while there isn’t much of Pit Madness seen in the comics, it does seem to wear off over time. We also know a dip in the Pit temporarily increases brain power and physical strength/ability.

We also know that there’s a Lazarus Pit under Gotham and that its waters leech into Gotham’s water supply.

That’s referenced in Teen Titans vol. 3 issues 40-41 (2007) - forgive me. I don’t feel like looking up those panels

[ameba-from-space]

I had an amazing fanfic idea while listening to what could have been from arcane, but sadly I suck at writing, but I still really wanted to share it so here we are.

Okay the story goes like this, Jason as red hood has just recently started to re enter the family, but things are still a bit fragile and jason gets in fights with almost everyone in the family, especially bruce and tim, so one day during patrol jason is suddenly hit by villain of the week's weapon and pass out, the last thing he hear is his family screaming for him.

Jason wakes up in his room in the manor, but something is different, his room no longer looks like the childhood room that bruce kept preserved ever since his death, this room looks like it belong to someone much older, did bruce give Jason's room to someone else? Jason immediately gets up to leave cause he doesn't want to spend more time in the mansion cause surely bruce was coming to scold him for being careless on patrol, that's when he realizes he is not wearing any of his RH gear, and for some reason he feels shorter? When he looks in the mirror he realizes that he changed, his white stripe is gone, he is smaller, his face is the same but not as full, and he has considerably less muscle mass than he had before, that's when he suddenly hears bruce call him for breakfast, but he calls him by a name he hasn't heard in years, Jay-lad, Jason has never been more confused.

Anyways Jason will proceed from here to discover that there is definitely something wrong with his family, for starters Bruce is acting all nice to him, asking him how is college, calling him son and hugging him, Dick calls Jason little wing and ruffles his hair, Cass smiles warmly at him, steph and Duke ask him if he wants to hang out latter, the demon kid is there too, but he is actually smiling and he has yet to make a single insult towards Jason. Everything is very fucking weird, but there is something missing, where the fuck is tim? No one in the family seems to remember someone named Tim and they ask him if he is okay, Jason let's go for now cause he doesn't want them to figure out he is not their Jason, he does not want to alert them in case this is some complicated plot to kill him.

Throughout the day Jason finds out what is so different now, Jason never died, Bruce reached him in Ethiopia before Joker could do anything more than a few hits, he finished high school and started studying literature in Gotham U, he has taken over a new mantle as a hero passing robin to Damian, he is smaller because of his childhood malnutrition, something the pit had fixed after he was revived, but the biggest change he found was, undoubtedly, tim drake is dead.

Jason never died, therefore tim never became robin, that also meant that tim never stopped stalking batman and robin through the dangerous streets of gotham. Two years ago Tim Drake had been involved in a mugging in crime alley, the mugger panicked and stabbed tim in the gut, he died, his body was only found the next day, his camera smashed to bits, the drakes did a short and private funeral, they left for work the very next day. That was the last anyone ever heard of tim drake. Jason had no idea what to think.

This is Jason's perfect future, this is all he has ever wanted, this is what he should have had, the future that clown took away from him, Jason goes to college, Jason is loved by his family, loved by his dad, and Jason never died. Jason is now faced with a choice, either he figures out to turn things back to normal and goes back to his miserable life or he stays, let's tim die, and he gets to keep his happy life. Jason has to choose between his dream and tim, and he has never felt more lost before.

Hooray🎉, here it is! What do ya'll think? I have some more ideas for this but this is way to long, everyone feel free to add to the story

[al-hekima-madara-blog]

Madara's realistic headcanons

I wasn't sure if people are ready for my realistic headcanons, but finally I just did it. Just in case it's not for everyone.

trigger warning : Involve suicidal thoughts, depression, violence to women and children, panic attack, eroticization of pain, self-hate.

From the time Madara was born Uchiha clan was not anymore a wealthy family. Because of instability, farmers fled combat zone, The lands they owned had become wilderness. Yet they kept their prestige among population and their children still received an education similar to noble family.

He suffered from malnutrition in his childhood, and starved himself to give food to his brothers but thanks to his good stamina it didn't really affect his physical abilities during his youth.

His hair cut, short in front and longer in the back is a result of heavy use of katon which literally burning his locks. But it's part of his charm.

He wore gloves for the same reason, fire makes his skin getting softer and sensitive.

He always has this slightly burning smell on him and all his clothes. It doesn't matter the number of shower or washing machines.

His long mane was not originally for aesthetic purpose, but just carelessness, then an excuse to hide his face and emotions, and finally his trade mark. People were wondering how strong or/and crazy he was to keep such long hair while it was not suitable during a fight. it can be set on fire, wedge in his armour, catch by an opponent...

He was almost blind up to Izuna's death. He expanded greatly his sensorial skills because he needed to rely on it daily.

His insomnia came from overthinking and fear of failure. He rarely sleeps more than 3 hours per night, He occasionally does micro nap (10 min max) during the day.

During his insomnia phases, and if the moon is full to avoid using candles, he read a lot of ancient philosophy, history, military strategy from Uchihas library.

He never married, never had a serious relationship. He had romantic view on someone now and then, but he never pursued it actively. Wars, fear of loosing again someone dear. Plus, he was convinced that his life as shinobi will be short, out of question to leave behind him widow and orphans.

This being said, let's be honest a man with such level of testosterone won't stay virgin all his life. And it's a common knowledge next to any military camp there is always prostitutes. He did his business in total discretion, to the point his clan questioned his orientation. He was a loyal client but cold and distant, ruthless during act, even after years of visiting the same persons.

Like many shinobis, he occasionally was subject of panic attacks. When he felt the symptoms coming, palpitations, pain in his chest ect... he always found a way to isolate himself. His triggers were always fear of loosing people he loves, fear of loosing control of himself, fear of not reaching his objectives. He hated himself when it happens.

He can be very rude and harsh to people. But what he said to others is half as hard he criticise himself daily.

90% of his schedule out of missions or fights were training. His dedication is obsessional.

10% left, during days of celebration, he is pretty good at calligraphy and writing haiku. Because he's a shinobi, he is specialized in death poems that warriors write before going to an important battle. But he burns them as soon as he comes back home. Doesn't want anyone to know about his poetic side at least when he's still alive.

After so many years of receiving punches, his tolerance to pain was extremely high which could be a problem sometimes, while fighting and high by adrenaline he often didn't realise how serious were his wounds.

Considering the number of battles he has been involved his body is covered with scars more or less ugly. And I'm sorry to say it, but I'm sure his face has not been preserved intact. He was kind of reckless during fight and didn't care about his physical appearance.

Paradoxically while he genuinely want to cease war, he find an erotic attraction in fight to death. Like people attracts to extreme sport, he feels the more alive when risking his own.

The reason why there is almost no uchihas kunoichi is practical. They want to preserve their bloodline and a female dead in battlefield is a loss for the future of the clan since they don't married outside their clan. Men would in rare situation when there is no women available but never female uchihas.

They have a practice close to what did Rajput warrior caste in India called Jauhâr , if enemies attack uchihas basement and battle is definitely lost, women of honour are expected to do self-immolation with their children rather than being kidnap, rape or put into slavery.

Like Naruto /Sasuke fight, the valley of the End left him with irreversible wounds, like chronic pains. And probably as well for Hashirama too maybe a slow down to his regenerative cells.

After the valley of the end, it was symbolically the death of his previous life as an uchiha. But he partially lived in his cave. He might occasionally travel undercover to look for informations, and food. It's only after Hashirama's death. He entirely took an ascetic lifestyle, denied of any pleasure, reduce to minimal for surviving. There was nothing anymore who could attached him from this physical world aside his plan. He let the white zetsus doing the main job as spy.

Without Gedo statute he would probably have die before his 40 of general exhaustion. There is always a price to pay when someone burns with such feral intensity his vital energy, submit himself to extreme training since childhood, fighting, lack of sleep, stress, depression. (Itachi can talk about it !)

During his fifty years retreat in the cave when he was not studying for his Moon plan spend 50% of the time within his genjutsu, rewatching endlessly the same memories with Izuna, Hashirama, deceased people he missed from Uchiha clan. And the older he gets, the longer he spend into his illusion. Kind of like an opium addiction.

Mentally he stops ageing at the time Izuna died, around 25. Exactly the appearance he looks when he put Obito into his illusion.

After decades of not seeing Rinnegan appearing he was almost in the verge of giving up the plan of the moon. Black Zetsu was paradoxically the one who save his life many time and put him back in track.

He is not the type to consciously commit suicide, but rather putting himself in suicidal situations like attacking alone an army or neglecting his health. In the cave, he put himself so deeply into his genjutsu that many time he forgot to control his chakra and if black zetsu didn't wake him up he would had just die inside his dream.

And if you want to read more about my Madara's analysis follow me in my main page here

[phoenixyfriend]

Togruta Marking Headcanons (Evolutionary and Epigenetic)

Okay, so the question is:

Do you think togruta markings are purely genetic or partly genetic and partly influenced by the environment?

e.g. a stressful adolescence leads to more complex markings/breakage

This conversation was had in large part on discord with @atagotiak and @dracothulhu.

Striation and Complexity

Now, my take comes entirely from Ahsoka having VERY complicated markings compared to Shaak, but we played around with it and had a lot of fun tangling out some headcanons that aren't really supported by canon, but aren't voided by it either. Also it makes time travel fun.

(Shaak Ti looks at time traveled Ahsoka and goes "Oh dear. You okay, honey?" The answer is always No.)

(This is actually EXACTLY why I was hoping there's a combined genetic/environmental factor, so any given time-travel Ahsoka has a different pattern, to some degree, from her younger self so that they can say "IDK, maybe we're cousins?" instead getting side-eyed for having Identical Marks.)

(Happy AU Ahsoka ends up with smooth rings instead of what almost looks like blue veins in marble? It would also probably make time-traveling Ahsoka’s bad future story seem a lot more real.)

Reference image:

So like these three with their clean lines and stuff probably grew up ok, as much as their lives suck now.

Some of the complexity of the markings is definitely genetic, especially with face markings. 14 yo Ahsoka has some significant complexity there already, and while she’s got early childhood trauma from that one time she was kidnapped, she otherwise seems to have been fairly happy and healthy as a child in the Temple.

On the other hand, her lekku markings do go from fairly smooth and even to really jagged looking.

My thoughts are that facial striation is indicative of stressors in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, but Montral/Lekku striation indicative of adulthood stressors (and maybe some late teens).

The adult/child distinction in striation is imo because their faces mostly stop growing after they hit adulthood, but there's more growth in the montrals and lekku.

So Shaak has a lot of striation on her montrals because adult Jedi Masters, with field work on the regular, encounter a lot of stressful situations (more dangerous missions, raising a padawan). But her childhood and adolescence, while occasionally adrenaline-heavy on missions with her Master, were usually no more stressful than one would get with, say, hunting lessons on Shili, so her markings end up very simple and blocky on her face and more detailed on her montrals and lekku.

If if we assume that the Montral tips are the later stressors showing, then it’s plausible Shaak Ti’s got a lot of little markings partly because of the stress of being a council member. Sure it’s not life threatening but the stress of a high-pressure administrative position is still stress.

(And the three ladies here probably start getting a little more fragmentation in the years after the Zygerria arc, assuming they survived.)

It doesn’t look like a lot, compared to Ahsoka at least, but there’s a moderate amount.

Between the beskar and the complex facial markings and lekku striations, I feel like other Togruta tend to give Ahsoka a lot of respect as a warrior.

Doesn't matter that she isn't wearing Akul teeth! Whatever! She clearly knows her shit!

It could be a byproduct of evolving as a communal species. Like yes, striation is good for hiding when you hunt, but seeing complex patterns on a child's face can indicate an unhealthy home life or otherwise invisible medical problems. In that context, Togruta in general watch out for complex facial patterns as a sign of child abuse.

(Obviously not foolproof but it seems like a reasonable option.)

A more stressful childhood could be indicative of low food security, and then evolution led to the marking complexity to make hunting easier in response. Tddlers and babies with early complexity might have had mothers with food insecurity or high adrenaline levels in pregnancy, too. It’d be difficult to pinpoint a specific pressure that caused it, but there’s definitely a lot of reasons it was advantageous to keep in the gene pool.

(Baby Anakin didn't know a lot of togruta growing up but I imagine most of them were heavily striated, so in those time-travel AUs, he doesn't understand the big deal with Fulcrum's markings until someone explains...)

(Slaves had stressful lives all around, and slavers liked it when togruta girls had complicated markings, they were considered Prettier, so this... worked out for them and Nobody Else.)

(If he noticed that other Togruta he’s seen since, like Shaak Ti or other Jedi or some civilians he’s met, seem to have less striation he maybe just assumed it was genetics and didn’t question it further?)

Montral Shape and Lekku Length

Another interesting thing is just the massive variation in montral shape.

My guess, personally, is that it's regional evolution. Did your ancestors live in an area with lots of trees, or was it more canyons, or maybe grasslands? It was an evolutionary reaction to how sound bounced around in your area.

In regards to lekku, even ignoring the live action stuff, Rebels Ahsoka has smaller lekku than Shaak Ti does. And some of that could be partly random chance and partly because Shaak Ti of age, but some people also think it’s partly malnutrition. I've personally been assuming it's just age and genetics, but...

We do see a significant lekku length disparity by gender, like these images:

To which I suggest:

...trans Ahsoka, whose lekku started growing out a little late because that's when she started estrogen (or the Togruta equivalent). There are a few male togruta with long lekku, but it seems pretty common for them to have short ones, so maybe they're transmasc.

[madam-miss-fortune]

Reasons Why Harry Potter was Abused:

Alright, so, back then, orphanages were already gone. The foster system would have been the alternative to Harry being raised by the Dursleys, and...well.... That's no good. And the Dursleys most certainly did horribly abuse Harry. Especially with that threat.

Physical Abuse

It's canon that Dudley and his gang made a game called "Harry Hunting" where they chased Harry around and beat him if they caught him. It was bad enough that Harry apparated himself onto the school roof just to escape. Apparition is supposed to be difficult and there's a high risk of splinching. And considering Harry didn't know magic was real and shouldn't have known about apparition, it says a lot about how desperate he was. Imagine an elementary school kid suddenly getting into a car and driving without crashing. That's how rare and amazing it was. So it must have been pretty bad. Also, it was made fairly clear that Vernon and Petunia ignored this behaviour, if not outright encouraged it. And Vernon did wack Harry around a few times.

Also, Petunia smacked him with a frying pan at least once on the head. It could very well have been burning hot, but I'd need to consult the book for that. And you know that being hit with metal is ridiculously painful. There was also that time she cut all of his hair off except for the fringe without his permission, which would be considered a form of abuse, clearly.

And Marge canonically let Ripper chase Harry up a tree and poor Harry couldn't get down until midnight.

Emotional Abuse

They called him "boy" and "freak" all the time. For all we know, the fanfic trope of Harry not even knowing his name until he was school age was completely correct.

They told him that his parents were jobless drunks that died in a car crash and his mum was a prostitute. How was that not emotionally damaging?

They didn't care one bit about him and made that obvious by always leaving him out, screaming at him, and treating him like he was dirt under their shoes. And they taught Dudley this behaviour as well.

Physical Neglect

His bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs until he was 11. They only moved him when they thought they were being spied on. And they had two functioning bedrooms! A guest room and Dudley's second bedroom. Bloody hell....

He was thrown into the cupboard and kept there for days to weeks on end as punishment. He very likely didn't receive much food, or light either. The latter likely would have contributed to his poor eyesight. And he probably looked sickly pale, too.

I highly doubt he went to an eye doctor to get glasses, either. Petunia probably got them from the charity bin or something. And even if she didn't, they're years out of date. I have glasses myself, had them since I was 8 (but not the same pair, duh), and I need to get a new prescription every year. I'm getting a new one soon. Eyesight doesn't normally stop getting worse for people with bad eyesight until we're about 20-something. And Harry has always had the same iconic pair, which, by the way, kept getting broken and the Dursleys didn't care. That probably made his eyesight worse, too. Wearing the wrong prescription damages eyes.

He was fed very little. We know from COS and OOTP that Harry was fed only a little of stale soup and tea or whatever. I forgot. But I know that he gave most of it to Hedwig—the kind boy that he is. So he was very malnourished. And he wouldn't have been very tall either. He would have been short and skinny. He was probably as small as a first year for the longest time. And six school years of being fed well doesn't do much to combat 10 years of malnutrition, especially when Harry probably still ate only a little bit at a time to combat refeeding syndrome. And all that progress was destroyed every summer.

His clothing was only ever Dudley's cast-offs, and it was far too large for him. And considering how many presents they buy for Dudley every year, they have more than enough to support Harry, too.

They made him do chores, too. They forced him to make breakfast for them all when he was 11. Sure, yeah, at 11 I made breakfast for my siblings and I when my mom was still sleeping. But more often than not, she wanted to be there to supervise, even though she knows that I've always been perfectly fine cooking. Also, I wouldn't trust an 11-year-old to handle making bacon. Just saying. I'd watch that kid like a hawk. I only learned to make stuff like hamburgers when I was 13, though that was mostly because I wanted to learn and because my family is sexist, but I'm not getting into that.

Emotional Neglect

They hated him. Plain and simple. They ignored him on good days and screeched at him on particularly bad ones. There is one line in the book I distinctly remember. It's the one where Petunia woke Harry up on Dudley's birthday.

"Up! Get up! Now!"

Does that sound kind to you? No. She had rapped on the cupboard door, and I distinctly remember that Harry had to flick a spider off of a sock. What the fuck? And he was used to it!

Conclusion

I won't get into any more of this. I just can't. I've made my point clear. The Dursleys horrifically abused Harry and I'm fully of the belief that he would have been better off at an orphanage. And it's not like they wanted to take him in, either! Dumbledore left him on a doorstep in November with nothing more than a note. But that's another problem. And plenty of people are forced to take in kids they didn't ask for, but do they treat those children like shit? No! At least not all of them.

So, yes, the Dursleys did abuse Harry. His childhood was the stuff of nightmares. And I won't tolerate anyone saying that it "wasn't that bad" or "the Dursleys didn't want him in the first place". Because it was, and even though they didn't want him, that gave them no right to treat him as they did.

I know fanfiction loves to make the abuse worse, but they don't really need to. It's already extremely bad as it is. And I didn't even get into all the effects that this treatment had on Harry's mental state—or should have, at least. Rowling wanted an abused underdog that didn't have any symptoms of one. Damn her.

And I didn't even want to mention how Dudley was abused as well, just on a completely different spectrum than Harry. Any objective person that saw this treatment of both boys would have been extremely horrified and disgusted.

Alright, so, this is it. That's all I have to say.

[thegoldielocks28]

45. "Do I even wanna know?" for Tala and Mathilda (because I'm interested in seeing your version of their friendship when she's with or moving towards being with Spencer) Or if that line doesn't work, either of the others will do as long as it has those two :)

Title: Do I even want to know? Pairing: Sergei Petrov and Mathilda Alster romantically, Yuriy Ivanov and Mathilda Alster platonically. Notice: Written from Yuriy´s point of view. Mostly. Also, I haven't yet read the new manga so some of my headcanons for him might be off, aged or not canon. Also, I kept writing and adding to this for ages, and feel it's a bit of a mess. Hopefully, it shows some emotion that I meant for it to show. Not sure if I will post this anywhere else hm...

Yuriy has mastered the art of ignoring others' eyes on him. Easily walking by as if he's clueless of their attention on him. Even if the fact that they were staring was something he noticed before the person themselves knew their eyes were trailing him.

Observant as he is.

During Yuriy´s early childhood, he’d get looks of hatred and disgust as he lived, or barely survived, in the streets. Wearing old and tattered clothes, pale skin almost grey because of malnutrition, and blue eyes desperately searching for help as passerbys continued to choose not to see him. At times, the hatred in strangers´ eyes was better than being ignored. When they pretended not to see the misery Yuriy was in he ended up feeling like he was already dead.

Soon, Yuriy learned of another kind of fear. The fear that came from those who were threatened by his skill in the bey dish, fear because of the harsh fates waiting for them if they lost to him in the days of the Abbey. Once that first child lost terribly to Yuriy, and was never seen again, his peers started to respect him. Respect born from fear.

As Yuriy and his brothers were manipulated and tricked to threaten the safety of the world, he was looked on as both a hero and a monster. A hero who´d give Russia the top spot in Beyblade again.And as something a little less than human, perhaps closer to a cyborg, leading the world towards its demise while being seemingly void of much emotion. Perhaps only rivaled by how power hungry Kai had gotten together with Black Dranzer. Or even by Boris after that match against Rei. Boris had been Balkov´s triumph card. The man is still recovering from the lack of love he got from a young age, and to learn to handle his growing emotions just as his rage.

Today the world knows how all of it ended, and who to thank for their safety and freedom: the Bladebreakers.

After the Demolition Boys´ loss, people started to look at them with yet a new set of eyes. The eyes of those who viewed them as victims of manipulation, of harsh childhoods. Often with pity. It never suited Yuriy. Being a victim. Rather, he aimed for them to be seen as young, free and brave men redeeming themselves and growing into something better. Growing into the people they want to be now when they have a real shot at it.

Survivors.

Today, Yuriy is well trained in observing strangers and deciding whether or not they´re sincere when approaching his team. If they truly want to get to know them, or if they want something from them. Regretfully the Russians often decide it's safer to assume people are out to hurt them than blindly letting strangers into their lives.

It´s a snowy and cold day in Moscow, Russia. The air is crisp, cold and dry. Chilling to the bone. A good winter's day, with a clear blue sky telling of an even colder night ahead. Probably with stars. The streets are busy with people. Families, couples, children playing around. At a corner of a smaller street a coffee shop recently opened, carrying a foreign brand of coffee to Russia.

To the untrained eye Yuriy´s pale face appears indifferent as he thanks the young woman accompanying him for holding the door open. He's carrying some of the things they bought today. Books. Clothes. Some new toys for his pet dog. However, even if he might look like he'd rather be somewhere else, his eyes tell of a new kind of warmth as he looks at his female companion. An attentiveness few earn from him.

Yuriy´s presence has stirred people to life it seems. Staff greets him with almost spooked expressions and “Hi!”s. They must be newly hired, since the shop has just been around for a few weeks. It instantly sours his mood, as he much prefers workers to treat him like any other customer. From that point Yuriy makes sure it seems like he pays little attention to the people around them, but only after he shows his appreciation with a slight nod of his head. There´s this middle ground he has found as of late. Looking strangers in the eye as they gawk at him while fighting nerves. Some are his fans, and they pay a bit of his paycheck through watching his matches. Supporting him and his family. No matter how Yuriy looks at it, his fans matter, they all do in beyblading. Not all of them are stalkers, or want to hurt him or those closest to him. Even if it is hard to remember that sometimes.

The woman with him takes the lead to a small two-seater table at the back corner of the shop. Fairly isolated, yet with a view towards the street outside. She's always considerate like that. Sitting down with his back against the wall and a good view over the coffee shop, Yuriy´s eyes settle at the woman in front of him. The scent of sweet fruits washes over him. Nothing too overpowering. She takes off her coat, observant eyes darting around the place as she too notices the eyes on them. Unlike Yuriy, she can’t hide her discomfort. Yuriy has already deemed the room safe. The usual quick sweep of the eyes he does every time he arrives somewhere, especially somewhere new. Checking where the exits are, if there’s anyone suspicious around. Old habits are hard to break, and this one he won't try to: it has saved him before. Yuriy lets out a soft sigh as he allows himself to relax in his chair. Body grows heavier as he sinks into his seat. Knees falling apart ever so slightly. The only threat in this room seems to be awed struck fans, and those he can handle. At least well enough to make his friend enjoy their short coffee break.

Although Yuriy appears relaxed, his body language erects a barrier between his safe bubble with his friend and the people around them. Nothing about Yuriy is inviting. He leaves no room for strangers to think it's suitable for a quick chat or to ask about a signature: his focus is on his company. The girl in front of him tries to hide the fact that the attention from strangers gets to her, and Yuriy can´t help but imagine what the fans around them think as they see how she squirms in her seat. How they draw the wrong conclusions. The Russian offers her a hint of a smile in an attempt at making her feel more comfortable. If her attention is on him, Yuriy knows she´ll be able to relax and enjoy herself as well.

Ever since his brother started dating her, no one has seemed to want to accept their relationship for what it is. At first, not even Yuriy. The girl in the chair across from Yuriy is called Mathilda Alster. A young woman with a petite frame, big eyes and soft short pink hair. She is still red in the cheeks from the cold outside. Mathilda holds the hot cocoa she ordered tightly in both of her hands as if her fingers would turn into ice if she didn’t. That, or, it´s another sign of her nerves. Yuriy frowns slightly at the sight. Mathilda has been with them in Russia for over a week, and it seems like even the thick clothes he and his brothers helped her get doesn’t keep her warm enough out in the dry cold. It's the major reason why the two of them ended up shopping for clothes together.

Mathilda can't continue to wear her boyfriend´s shirts and hoodies once she gets cold. It works at their home, but not out and about, as most clothes that's supposed to end by the hips reach her mid-thighs or lower. Every borrowed t-shirt ends up a dress.

And Yuriy can't have her get sick.

”...I don’t really go to these kinds of places often, so it’s making them excited.” Yuriy says flatly, talking about the other people who keep stealing glances at them.

The fans are watching from a respectable distance so far, luckily. Yuriy is a very well-known face in Russia but he doesn't doubt people have realized just who is with him. The red haired man crosses a leg over the other and sips at his coffee, adding a bit of milk after a moment as he finds it just a bit too bitter for his liking. Something his teammates surely would judge him for. They always have their coffee black, black as their souls, as Boris says. A part of Yuriy regrets going to a crowded coffee shop during daytime. He loves coffee, but he´d normally have gotten it on the go or brewed it himself at home. However, Mathilda wanted to go for a snack after they were done with what they needed to do in town... so here they are. Not like Yuriy could deny her that when she looked so hopeful, so eager to spend just a little bit of more time together. Without really demanding anything but some of his time and company.

Before they set out this morning Mathilda had told Yuriy she'd keep him company, and that she had something she wanted to tell him. A secret. It made Yuriy curious. Mathilda might be someone who’d never tell someone else´s secret but she wouldn’t be able to hide that she is in fact, hiding something.

”So, you said earlier that there was something on your mind.” Yuriy asks at last.

Usually, the two of them have these kinds of conversations back at home. During Mathilda´s stays with them it has become a habit to gather around the kitchen table, having tea or coffee with something sweet and just talk. Even if she could just lock herself up in his brother's room and spend all the time with him, Mathilda put effort into getting to know all of them better. Never once voicing she thought their lifestyles were odd, but asking if she could help out with meals and chores while she lived with them. After a few days, they realized that all of them had breakfast, lunch and dinner together at the same hours a day. Even if their work, school, or individual practises were scheduled differently. Mathilda had observed, and made a good schedule that´d suit their hectic life-style. Before that, it had mainly been Sergei and Yuriy who were responsible for any home cooked meal. This change resulted in Yuriy and Mathilda growing closer, spending more time together, and learning each other's habits and likes and dislikes.

Today Mathilda was a little bit too eager to help Yuriy with his errands. She seemed almost anxious to get away from the three other men as she spoke with him in a low voice in the hallway. Asking if she could come with. Mathilda would often be content staying back reading when her boyfriend was at his part time job, or hanging out with whoever was at home, but Yuriy didn´t mind that she wanted his company. He has come to enjoy hers, and found the way she seemed to want to rely on him quite endearing.

However, he's certain whatever she's trying so hard to keep a secret has something to do with her boyfriend. It had left him feeling a bit uneasy for a while, as he's concerned it´d be something negative. Yuriy might not be able to admit it yet but he would miss her if Mathilda ever broke up with his friend. His thoughts straying to if it would work staying in touch even if it happened.

Mathilda´s cheeks end up getting a bit redder at Yuriy´s question. Her embarrassment and shyness is always refreshing, especially since it has never stopped her from doing what she wants in the end.

Leaning his chin in the palm of his hand, Yuriy leans forward over the table. Elbow resting just at the edge. ”Do I … really want to know?” Yuriy asks at last, the corner of his lips turning upward in a smirk.

Judging by Mathilda´s expression this won't be about a break up.

Even if Yuriy´d consider Mathilda to be something like an addition to his family by now, it wasn't always that way. It was something that happened gradually over time, until she was included with no questions asked.

Yuriy had learned to be observant from a very young age. It didn’t take long for the captain of the Russian team to notice that someone was getting uncomfortably close to the tight, sturdy and often very solid barrier of safety he had erected around his team. The intruder was that of a young woman, a woman he knew almost nothing about, during a beyblade tournament where their teams were rivals. Every team was the enemy in a sense.

Yuriy´s eyes soon followed Mathilda every time she was around, looking for any signs of ill intent while a small lump of anxiety grew in his chest. That lump grew in size as he realized she had been around for much longer than he had known. Rude as he sometimes can be, he genuinely decided it must have been because of her lack of presence that he at first didn’t take notice of her. She was always in the background, quiet and didn't take up much space. Not an opponent he´d have to worry about in the dish, but if he was going to be fair, his focus had been on other players.

Eventually he was informed about her, and that they had actually been in the same tournament once before. Alongside the fact that her team had too been victims of greedy and manipulative adults.

As Yuriy continued to observe Mathilda, he noted yet again that Mathilda was neither tall nor had a strong build. Her body, and eyes, showed her emotions as if she was an open book for everyone to read. He also realized that Mathilda was always observing too. Always conscious, self-conscious. With a build like that, and emotions so easy to read, Yuriy concluded that Mathilda wouldn´t become a threat to them physically. Whatever she threw at them in the dish or outside of it they'd know ahead of time and be able to counter. Yet, soon, he also realized that she might come too close in a completely different way than he expected.

Mathilda had her eyes set on Sergei.

With a risk to sound egocentric, Yuriy thought of how there have been people in the past who had tried to befriend, for example Sergei or Ian, with hopes of getting let into the Russians´ circle for their own personal gain or to even end up in his or Boris´ bed. Ian has always been the teammate most strangers assumed to be the easiest one to get close to. Often getting played in return as Ian has through bad experiences learned how people wanted to use him. All it took was for the short man to get excited over a friendship only to realize he wasn't the one the person was really there for. Others thought Sergei could be their key in. For some reason, many interpreted his silence for lack of depth, and assumed he´d accept almost any positive attention shown his way. They often realized their mistake when the usually gentle giant showed signs of irritation, and they realized just how intimidating the oldest and tallest member of the team could be.

It took Yuriy a while to realize that Mathilda was having a thing for Sergei. Even if her skin grew red with embarrassment, her voice cracking, she kept on approaching his brother with small conversations. Eyes were bright with delight as Sergei eventually started to return her greetings. Answered her questions, even if he seemed a bit put off balance by the attention and the fact that the girl didn´t stop approaching him.

Yuriy trusted Sergei to shoot her down if he felt she was overstepping, and he forced himself to let it go, only for him to see the two together more often. The lump of anxiety in his chest grew larger. Now, would this tiny girl, who sometimes stuttered out of nerves, be that cunning, to get close to Sergei with a false promise of.... affections... to later hurt him? Hurt their team? Yuriy didn´t want to take any chances. Yuriy knew Sergei had his walls up just like himself. He might seem approachable, at least the most approachable one out of his other teammates, just for the person trying to strike up a conversation feel like they're facing a cold brick wall. However, Yuriy could tell that Sergei´s walls were starting to crack around Mathilda.

Soon Sergei allowed her into his space, closer than any other stranger, and would expect Mathilda to be around. His steel blue eyes searched for her when she wasn't there when he expected her to be. How the quick meetings in the shared kitchen area of their hotel floor turned into longer and longer conversations over tea and coffee.

At one point Yuriy had felt Mathilda´s Captain Miguel´s eyes on him from across the dining area as they had both observed the same thing, and Yuriy felt annoyed. For once not so much over that Sergei and Mathilda were getting closer, but because of how cautious Miguel´s eyes had been. As if he was telling Yuriy to make sure his team behaved.

It didn't take long for Mathilda´s name to leave Sergei´s mouth around his team. It had made them grow quiet, because it had been rare for any of them to have plans with others outside of their small circle. Boris was the first one to break the silence as he made a crude joke about Sergei´s and Mathilda´s difference in size and that Sergei should be careful not to crush her. Boris deserved the death stare Sergei gave him after that.

Yuriy kept fighting his unease, believing that Sergei knew what he was doing, while also getting ready to act if things got out of hand.

The first time Mathilda ate with them she was very nervous, Yuriy could tell, the whole world could tell, but she still sat there with them and tried. Tried to keep up with conversations even if Boris was rude, and spoke mostly in Russian in a childish way to exclude her. Something Yuriy wouldn´t accept, as he instead used the lunch to talk to her. Gently poke her to see if there was any ill intent, testing the waters.

What in the end convinced Yuriy Mathilda was safe and good for his brother was the way she reacted to Sergei getting hurt. It was a minor injury: Sergei had stepped badly during practise and damaged his ankle. Leaving him with a swollen foot and a bad limp he tried to cover as well as he could among strangers. Somehow Mathilda saw through his pretense and realized he was hurt. The usually quiet girl had stopped Sergei as he and Boris were walking past her in the hallway. Voice a bit high-pitched as she asked about Sergei´s limp, and grew almost pushy as Boris told her it was nothing. As he told her to back off.

Mathilda had spent that evening sitting by Sergei’s feet cooling the swelling of his injury with ice and cold water. Yuriy had only realized this when he returned from a meeting with the BBA. The worry he saw on her face wasn’t an act. The challenge in her eyes as she looked at him and his team while staying by Sergei’s side, daring them to ask her to leave, was her true feelings.

Yuriy´s eyes narrow a fraction. He swirls the tablespoon in his now half-empty coffee cup, and tilts his head to the side while taking in Mathilda's sincere expression. Her face tells him that whatever secret she is hiding her nerves is from excitement and not out of anxiety.

“Our one year anniversary is coming up.” Mathilda starts slowly, her cheeks seeming to get even redder as she tries to word her thoughts as she wants them. “And I'm… trying to decide what I can do for him in celebration.”

Yuriy´s expression softens slightly, his concern fading. “...A year already?” He asks, feeling calm again. The thought that something between Sergei and Mathilda had turned bad had made him feel strangely uneasy. The man mentally sighs at himself. Focus returning to the current conversation and not what he dreads of the future. It feels like he met Mathilda just yesterday, at the same time as he feels as if they have known each other for several years already.

Anniversaries. Yuriy hasn´t thought much about it, but have they ever celebrated things like that, him and his family? They do keep track of a few dates, when things changed for the better for them. Boris is usually the one bringing out the alcohol. They always made sure to celebrate each other's birthdays as well. Celebrating they´re still getting older, living. Being free. Sergei was the first of them to get into a serious relationship. This is all new.

“Sergei probably won't expect anything…” Yuriy trails off slightly. “You have a good shot at surprising him, Mathilda.”

Mathilda has been patient and gentle as she guides Sergei through his first relationship. Yuriy thinks Sergei might not be Mathilda´s first love, but her first in many other ways, and they could experience it together at their own pace.

Sergei rarely wants something for himself, or expects others to do things for him. Emotions that Yuriy has seen grow since he started seeing Mathilda, as the man too learned he wanted her attention in different ways. Sergei had gone from only making sure others were alright to having someone, outside of family, who’d get worried sick about him. Who he would fight wars to keep happy and safe.

Mathilda smiles at Yuriy´s answer, and she seems pleased about what he just told her even if it didn't solve her problem of what to get Sergei in the end. Yuriy wonders what she has planned for her boyfriend. Warmth grows in him as he knows that Sergei now has more dates to remember and celebrate. Just like he too has a reason to spoil yet another person, Mathilda, when he wants to.

“I thought of… kidnapping him for a day, taking him to our favorite places, eat his favorite foods… “ Mathilda speaks, excited. “And-- … “ “You want us to be… somewhere else that day?” Yuriy asks with a slight smirk. The smirk is quite natural as he´ s amused imagining how Mathilda would ´kidnap´ Sergei.

“N-no!” Mathilda exclaims, understanding what her friend means. If they want some more privacy, just for them. “Well, it would be nice but--… “

“I'm sure I can get Boris and Ian out of the house for one evening…” Yuriy continues to playfully tease her.

A low buzz in Yuriy´s pocket makes him reach down for his phone, looking at the screen for just a moment.“Sergei´s off work, he's coming to pick us up on the way home.” Yuriy is thankful as he would rather not get on the public transport again today.

Mathilda nods, clearly thinking time must have passed quickly today, as she too checks her phone. Red cheeks slowly return to a normal shade as her embarrassment fades. Mathilda had neglected her phone simply because she was focused on Yuriy today, and there's an unread message from Sergei there waiting for her. The blonde Russian must have texted Yuriy too, due to the lack of reply on Mathilda´s part.

Just like Yuriy calls Mathilda when he can't get a hold of Sergei.

“I'll go and buy something for the others!” Mathilda says, getting her wallet before walking away. Blue eyes watches her as she checks out the display of different treats. Yuriy can already see Ian grinning at the gesture, and Boris not reacting much but whatever Mathilda gets for him will get eaten before next morning. For once, Yuriy isn´t the first one to notice Sergei. Instead his eyes follow how Mathilda rushes over to him, bag of sweets in hand. Taking in how Sergei´s tall and stiff frame softens as he leans down towards her: listening attentively to whatever she's saying. Yuriy gets up from his seat and pulls on his coat slowly, unable to look away at the sight. They look happy. It warms him, from inside out. He gets Mathilda´s things for her before he moves towards the couple. A long exhale through the nose.

Not everyone is out to hurt them.

[whump-town]

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child

 Warnings for torture, violence, puking, blood, and lots of heart-wrenching whump

Hotch is kidnapped.

(and just so you don’t have to keep refreshing your feed: @ishouldvebeenawelder)

It’s been… at least three days. He’s been given four meals and he thinks, or rather he’s assuming, that averaged one a day. Not that his stomach can handle the stale bread sandwiches thrown at him each time the door opens. He’d thrown up the first one. Stomach cramping painfully around the meager dry bun with a single slice of turkey. 

A man-- lumbering and booming with each step-- had come in after he’d cleared his stomach of its contents. The man had kicked and hit until Hotch felt certain each and every bone in his body had cracked or broken. As the man walked away, his angered speech slurred by the heavy scent of alcohol, Hotch had laughed. 

It wasn’t loud enough to draw any sort of attention his way. It had been a wheezing sound-- easily passible as labored breathing. But he’d laughed for so long and so hard his entire body hurt. It hurt worse. The irony was going to kill him. He’s not sure if it’s just his luck or what but only he would be kidnapped by an unsub who tortures his victims. The humor, of course, is that Hotch has only had one round. One round of the torture.

What do a couple of kicks and a punch or two compare to his childhood? To ducking blows from the man who’s supposed to teach you how to ride a bike?  

Nothing. It doesn’t compare at all. 

This might just be luck.

If he were able to remember. He knows the important things.

My name is Aaron Hotchner. I have a son, Jack. He’s turning five this fall. My team-- JJ, Spencer, Emily, Dave, Derek, and Penelope-- are looking for me. 

But he can’t remember… why.

Cigarettes. 

He's talking to-- He was talking to a teen in an alley. He remembers squinting, his head pounding as the lights from the street poured in. He'd chosen not to say anything when the obvious sixteen-year-old pulled out the pack of cigarettes. She was clearly less than thrilled to be talking to the cops-- lease of all him.

He scared her. He could see it in the tremble of her hands and the way she shuffled about. He’d been so distracted by trying to figure out the exact reason for her fear that he hadn’t seen the attack coming. She’d lured him in-- maybe unwilling or unknowingly-- and he’d paid that consequence.  

The last thing he remembers is the cold, wet ground against his cheek and the stench of the cigarette smoke against his face.

And then the basement-- How much longer until they come? 

His bones have forgotten this pain and his body aches from being held down, beaten, and left on the cold cement floor. He’s too old for this. For all of this. 

There’s an infection steadily growing in the cut on his wrist from where his hands had been zip-tied behind his back. The fever is starting to get to his head but it’s hard to tell if that from the infection, the malnutrition (he really should start eating more), or the complete lack of sleep. 

He’s pulled upright by a strong grip on his hair. Dazed and brain logged with fever he scrambles to find purchase and to get away from the pain. His eyes raise to the figure before him. A part of him, the strong unwavering Supervisory Special Agent, recognizes the danger the man before him posses. 

But fear spikes through his sternum, spreading across his ribs. He’s stuck between the logic and the irrational. The part of his brain that’s always protected him-- don’t blink. Don’t think. Don’t react. And the part that is trembling and so exhausted from this mess. 

“What are you now, tough guy?”

The man’s breath is putrid and there’s just enough of an alcoholic undertone that makes Hotch lose it. He’s thrown headfirst into the wall behind him and his head temple connects with the plaster, he’s painfully reminded of his childhood. His father’s big hands wrapping around his skinny wrist and hauling him up onto his feet. Knuckles breaking open his skin from a slap so hard that it jars his brain. 

Another punch reigns down and he recoils from it despite knowing better.

Dad always hits harder when he flinches. 

The fist connects with his right ear and the world falls silent as he feels the strong, immediate pain. He can feel his grunt tearing up through his throat but he can not hear it. He looks back up at the other man, confusion bleeding into his alarm. He can’t hear.

Fuck. He can’t hear.

The man says something, lurching forward as he does so. It’s meant to scare Hotch but that sort of behavior he sees on a daily basis and without the threat of whatever the man’s said… it falls short. Hotch just blinks up at him. That doesn’t go over well. 

The next blow comes out of nowhere-- or maybe it’s coming but Hotch isn’t expecting the pain that rocks through the side of his face. He spits out the blood pooling in his mouth but he’s not quick enough and the taste, mixed with the knots his stomach is twisted into has him on his hands and knees bringing up stomach acid. 

There’s little to no reprieve as the puking takes his breath and as he’s pulling in one, the UNSUB kicks his ribs. He falls flat on his back, stars dancing across his vision as he lays there in silent panic failing to breathe. 

Reality blurs.

He’s confused. He doesn’t know how he got here to this cold, damp place. The pain that each breath he takes has is not new, this he knows. He knows this ache the way he knows his name. And no matter how many times he repeats his mantra to himself-- My name is Aaron Hotchner. I have a son, Jack-- things just aren’t right. 

“Dad--” his head is whipped back, the grip on his hair forcing him to bare his neck. “Please,” he’s trembling, too weak to even lift his torso and relieve the feeling. Time passes but it has no concept, he has no ability to feel it. He just knows that it hurts. “I’m sorry.”

He wakes up on his stomach, blood running into his eyes. He can’t remember why. 

Placing his fingers to his lips, he repeats his mantra to himself. Feeling the way his lips move over his hand. He is real. This is all real.

A blinding light.

“Dave,” he lifts his head from the cement but curls in as a coughing fit wracks his sore ribs. The whimper that leaves his mouth falls deaf to his ears-- the world fell silent a long time ago. “Dave, why--” the older man is saying something but Hotch can’t hear him. Yelling, Hotch can tell by the way Dave’s chest expands. Yelling and motioning for Hotch to follow him. “Dave, please come back.” He feels a tear fall over his nose, stinging the opened flesh across it. “I’m sorry. Please, Dave, I’m sorry.”

But-- Hotch pulls his arms underneath his body, pushing with all his might but his arms tremble beneath him and give with the weight. His chest hits the ground and tears pool in his eyes. “Don’t…” he sobs into the hard cement below him. Head growing light as his eyes roll back into his head. The last thing on his lips is Dave’s name… he’s still waiting for him to return. 

It’s been two weeks. Two weeks since Hotch went missing from the alley-- not the supposed three days he thinks have passed.

Derek Morgan knows they’re just looking for a body at this point. Something-- anything-- to bring home. Every night he calls Jessica and talks with Jack. Every night he sends the other’s home and tells them they’ll look for Hotch in the morning-- they’re no good to anyone too exhausted to walk. Besides, he almost hopes they’ll find Hotch in the dead of night. That way the other’s won’t have to see. 

He’s not even sure he can handle the sight. The thought alone sends a shiver down his spine. They’re all mortal. From the beginning, they all understood that their lives could ride the line for this job and yet… Hotch has always seemed above that. No matter how many times the world pushed him down the man always gets back up.

Through Boston with Gideon. 

Karl Arnold. 

George Foyet.

The Fisher King.

And Derek Morgan knows that the human body can only withstand so much but… but if anyone can handle two weeks of torture it has to be Hotch.

The thought makes him sick. 

He’s prepared to identify his friend’s body but…

At what cost?

Hotch doesn’t shiver. His eyes half-lidded as he looks at the door… waiting. Just waiting for his father to return. 

He’s spread out on his back. Too weak to curl his thin frame up and find shelter in his arms wrapping around him. He just lays there, numb to the wet ground seeping into his clothes. Numb to the pain. He’s just waiting. He passes time by talking to himself. Whispering into the darkness and imagining his team is here. 

They are. 

Derek’s sitting in front of him, cursing him and fighting with him to keep trying. Emily’s holding his hand while JJ encourages him to get up. Spencer is confused and pleads, downright begs for him to stand but… Hotch can’t. Penelope-- soft, Penelope-- tells him to take his time. 

His hearing has returned but his ears ring. He misses the silence.

The door creaks open but it’s not his father standing in the doorway.

“No,” he sobs, turning his head away. “Not you,” he rasps, hopelessly. And Dave is standing in the doorway. He knows the other man’s build too well. Like science. He knows it’s Dave the way he knows his own name. “Please,” his broken voice cracks. But this he can’t take. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better. I will, I promise.”

Dave pulls in a shuttering breath at the sight before him. His heartbreaks. “Son,” his shoulder’s deflating with the agony of Aaron’s soft voice pleading. “Oh, my boy.” He steps into the room, clenching his fist when as he gets closer Hotch grows more frantic. 

“Look,” Hotch flinches as Dave crouches down and touches his shoulder. “I’m not going to hurt you, son.” 

Hotch looks up at him with tears streaming down his face, mixing with the dried blood caked to every bit of pale skin Dave can see in the low light. “You don’t have to hit me,” he whispers to Dave, clenching the older man’s shirt. “I promise,” his voice trembles with his fear. “I promise, Dave,” his voice turning to a plea. “I’ll be better, okay? I promise.”

Dave pulls him close, blinking back his own tears as Hotch sobs into his chest. “I know you will,” he whispers, rocking their bodies. “I know.” Dave looks up over his shoulder, nodding the officers hovering about to move on. He runs a hand down Hotch’s back before cupping the back of his head. 

His dark hair is thick with blood. 

It makes Dave’s stomach churn.

“We have to get out here,” Dave whispers, rubbing his back. “Can you get up for me?”

Hotch nods even if he doesn’t really know. “I’ll get up,” he replies shakily. 

Dave wants to make a point that it’s okay if Hotch can’t but… he’s not sure Hotch is here enough to understand. He’s spent two weeks being brutally beaten and torn apart-- Dave can’t expect too much. 

Together, they do manage to stand. 

Hotch holds Dave tight. He’s torn between the physical need to be touched by another human in a way that isn’t painful and holding on to Dave so he can brace for any sudden shift in his mood. In case, Hotch swallows thickly around the sickening thought, Dave decides he’s not good enough. In case, Dave hits him too. 

The sun is setting over the mountains and as Hotch steps foot outside a cold chill runs down his back. 

“Here,” Dave wiggles out of his jacket and wraps it around Hotch. Smiling reassuredly when Hotch just looks back at him in confusion. “Come on,” Dave loops his arm back around Aaron’s shoulders. He leads Aaron, slow and steady, over the hill. Towards the sound of sirens and people.

“The UNSUB’s in custody.” 

Derek had heard the dogs barking just up the mountains a ways ahead of him. He’d looked up but with no radio call, he knows better than to press onward. Shots ring out a moment later and Morgan takes off over the ridge, his own gun out. 

He sees the UNSUB with his own eyes.

He’s a giant, wearing flannel and--

“I’ve got Aaron and coming your way Derek.”

Derek had given up. He’d lost his faith. 

He laughs out loud, a good hearty laugh. Aaron Hotchner, that son of a bitch!

His run comes to a staggering halt. Hotch doesn’t look like himself. In fact, he looks small and weak with his arms pulled into Dave’s jacket. His eyes haunted-- even from afar-- as he takes in his surroundings. Assess them for danger. 

“Derek,” Hotch whispers to himself. Was Derek in the explosion? Hotch can smell the fire. He shakes his head-- it all happened to so fast. He hadn’t known there was a bomb under the car. He didn’t know it was going to explode like that. “Is he okay,” Hotch slurs, his foot catching on a raised root.

Dave’s hand tightens but Hotch’s mind is elsewhere, he doesn’t even feel it. 

“Derek was…” he keeps mumbling to himself, unaware that Dave doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand that Derek might have gotten hurt in the explosion with Kate. Someone has to check on him. Hotch needs Dave to check on him. He looks over at Dave. It causes him significant pain but it’s worth it as he manages to say, clearly enough to Dave to understand, “Morgan’s hurt. You have to… help.”

Morgan gets closer and Dave grunts as Hotch pushes himself from Dave’s arms and staggers to Morgan. 

He’s quick and catches Hotch just as his knees begin to cave beneath him. “The bomb,” Hotch slurs, allowing Morgan to ease them both to the ground. “- ‘splosion.”

Morgan looks up to Dave, “what the hell is he talking about?”

Dave shakes his head, sad eyes turning down to Hotch. “I don’t know,” he says, truthfully. He looks back up, waving a hand and whistling as loud as he can. “We need a gurney over here!”

Hotch lays limply in Derek’s arms, just looking up at the younger man. He doesn’t see any blood and that releases some of his tension. “You okay,” he slurs, eyes dropping as fights against the light feeling in his head. 

Morgan looks down at his boss. The strongest man he knows. He’s a mess. Covered in blood and dirt. He takes Hotch’s hand, the two might not always get along but Hotch has always been there when Morgan needed him. “I’m alright, man.” He taps Hotch’s cheek, rousing him. “Stay awake for me, okay?”

Hotch forces his eyes open. 

He can do that. He can stay awake.

The EMTs swarm them and with them come the rest of the team.

Hotch smiles as he sees them, reaching out with a shaking hand to touch-- to really know they’re here and that this isn’t a figment of his tortured mind. When JJ’s thin fingers slide between his, a soft sob breaks from his lips and her own eyes fill with tears. 

She crouches down next to him, brushing the tear that falls from his eyes with a soft stroke of her hand. “We’re here now,” she whispers to him. “You’re safe, Aaron.”

He knows it, too. 

As a needle breaks through the skin of his right elbow he winces and Emily bites out a threat. It makes him smile and a moment later he feels her rest her hand on his shoulder. Her thumb brush against his chin. He can see rather than feel Reid but the intense gaze of the genius is something his mind could never conceive and as a mask is placed over his face he breathes in the cool relief of oxygen. 

He knows he’s safe in their arms. 

“Get some rest.” 

A warm palm is pressed to his cheek and he leans into it.

[an1malcannibal]

hi ok when i watched ninjago as a kid i hated kai for some reason but rewatching it has made me appreciate him like he deserves. anyway do u have any kai hcs ud like to share

So sorry for the late answer! Glad u changed ur mind abt Kai.... he is SO important.... Anyhow, here are some more headcanons!

-I headcanon that like.... all elemental masters are varying shades of Not Human.... every elemental master has certain non-human traits that may or may not get passed down (claws, sharp teeth, patches of scales, weird eyes, etc), SO, because Kai (and Nya but we r talking abt Kai rn) is the child of not just one but TWO elemental masters... he’s one of the most non-human humans in all of ninjago! I hc he has sharp teeth (SHARK GANG SHARK GANG SHARK GANG-), and his eye color is red! With slitted pupils (like a cat!) and maaaaaybe claws (I’m thinking he develops like... black demon claw hands as he gets older, or he gets them after he uses his powers like.... a LOT. Love the idea that the non-human traits get more pronounced as an elemental master uses their powers more.....) so yeah. Kai and Nya are cryptids.

-Kai is completely heat proof (all fire elemental masters are completely fire/heat proof). He chills in lava pits with Cole as its the BEST hot tub.

-Kai, contrary to what one might think, feels VERY cold all the time. He constantly needs to dress in layers to try to keep warm, because his body is constantly expelling so much excess heat, that there’s really non left to warm himself up. AKA.... he naps in the sun like a cat! The ninja have a spray bottle to use when he does something bastardly (get OFF THE FRIDGE KAI-)

-Kai has. A small mullet. No I will NOT elaborate just trust me.

-he has piercings! Like 4 on each ear!

-shoving my Kai height headcanon in here. He is 5’10 (but he wears heeled Chelsea boots in his casual outfits so that can bump him up to 6 ft sometimes). I HATE short Kai like it drives me absolutely MAD with rage. I genuinely can’t imagine him as any less than 5’8 at the LOWEST.

-Kai has mental health issues, as well as adhd/autism (watch how hard I can project guys!)

-Kai paints his nails a lot (usually red or black)

-he is bisexual and a trans man! :)

-Kai weighs like. 130 lbs on a good day. (Childhood malnutrition will do that to ya folks)

-Kai’s hair is naturally super fluffy and spikey and sticks out EVERYWHERE. He styles it now so it’s more manageable, but when he was a kid he looked FERAL his hair was such a mess.

-hehe. Black winged eyeliner? Yessir.

-yknow how they switched his scar around for the redesign? What if he just.... had a scar on BOTH EYES!!!!! I say yessir.

-he fuckin. He fuckin LOOOOVES Britney Spears.... king shit.....

-he likes dogs well enough but he ADORES cats (real recognizes real)

-(yes I’m implying Kai is a cat. He is a cat.)

-Kai is still TEEEERIBLE with technology.... he has no social media’s on his phone and doesn’t even have any actual accounts. He just has 3 apps from the App Store on his phone: 1. YouTube 2. Spotify (or the ninjago equivalent) 3. And Minecraft (he likes to build elaborate structures and houses then blow them up). This unintentionally makes him even more of a cryptid to the ninjago population. Why isn’t the fire ninja on Twitter????? WHY?????

-Kai has really impressive pick pocketing skills (fellas he was like 8. He could not have completely run a shop on his own at 8. He definitely pickpocketed money on the side)

-zanes death hit him so hard because he was in love with him but didn’t realize it. Kai never had time to fall in love or have kid crushes. He never got the opportunity to know what being in love felt like so he had NO clue he was in love with Zane..... it confused him how much it hurt when Zane died. Like a physical wound.

And done! Here r just a few of mine! I have a lot more! U can check em out under the ask tag I think, or the Kai tag! Hope u like em!!! Again sorry for the late reply bro I wanted to think em out! :]

[floxalopex]

I didn't want to say it. But since today it's "the day against food waste". Anyways, maybe it's something made up only by my trauma. After all I told you, I'm a mess.

Let's be as quick as possible.

Spop, to me, likes to introduce as many themes as possible, as many sexual orientations as possible, as many body types as possible...but fails to "deal with them".

About body spectrum.

Premise: I have the body type of "if Glimmer and Entrapta had a child". I went through obesity (not overweight, OBESITY, like 110+ kg) during my childhood, maybe as a coping mechanism I don't know, nor I want to remember. I "solved" the problem when I was 13.

I went through anorexia. Sadly Tumblr is disgustingly filled with advices about fasting, skipping meals, detox and other crap.

One more thing: the ignorant society we live in thinks that "anorexia=fragile little girl who takes classical dance lessons and smokes and is a walking skeleton". It's. Not. That. Simple.

If I saw a male adult man losing 50 kg in 2 months I would easily suspect anorexia.

When I realized I had a problem, that I didn't have my period for months, that I was losing hair and eyesight, that my skin was getting ill, that I was fainting everywhere, that I was suffering signs of dehydratation, that my nails were broken due to malnutrition and that I was losing every curve of my body and I searched for help...they didn't believe me. "Yh but you are still a bit stocky, actually you should lose a bit more" "stop complaining, you should try harder" "you skipped every dinner for three months? You didn't eat anything in four days? Pfff, I did worse" "you are too curvy to be anorexic, you are bulimic at best. What, you don't induce yourself vomit? Well... You are still not looking like an anorexic that's all".

People didn't listen, sadly my family was even complimenting me. I felt trapped. At a certain point I even felt they were right.

I was stocky yes, but I now realize it was because I have a strong built thorax and hips, my shoulders are just strong because I did a lot of swimming in the past. It's not fat. It's my body.

Anyways my parents eventually understood I had a real problem when I fainted once in the middle of the road during Summer. So they forced me to eat again. I did. I do.

But, even if 6 years passed, I have still troubles. I need to set alarms to remember to eat. I have to force myself sometimes. It's nearly impossible for me to eat when I'm in front of others. I feel judged. I know it's just in my head, but still.

About Spop: so, it's Glimmer and Spinnerella. You know what I find amazing? When I see curvy women eating. I don't like to promote obesity, but you know what I mean. It's nice to see a person eating, regardeless of the body type, seeing a person have a strong body. I don't know how to describe it, it's just me maybe. I just, mmm would like to be like them again. To enjoy eating.

I would have liked to see Glimmer and Spinnerella eat ...more.

Glimmer gave her food to Adora once, Castaspella asked her if her mother was giving her enough food (that sentence, with the implication of a severe diet put on Glimmer give me goosebumps). But the way she almost never ate on Horde Prime ship. That's so horrible. Throwing food, I hate myself for having done that. I wish to go back sometimes to shake myself. Food is not an enemy, it's a gift. People would kill to have food everyday. I know that now.

For Spinnerella well, Netossa said she was only offered vegetable snacks by her wife during a game night or something.

I have this impression: you are fat? You must only eat healty.

I'm vegetarian (for my own silly reasons), my diet is almost only plant based. I don't like tempeh, expensive unhealty meat surrogates, I genuinly like vegetables and beans. I'm a bit chubbier than when I was anorexic (thankfully) but when it's Saturday night I eat pizza. Or fries. During a "gaming night", so like a funny occasion, you should indulge in more junky food. It's okay to eat it sometimes, it's food anyways (I don't even like the "junk" term put on it).

Fat people are fat for a lot of reasons.

Hormonal problems, sickness, depression, or the heck, maybe because they like to eat. You should never judge them, nor try to correct them. It's their life, their decision, not yours. A fat person isn't "a bit more acceptable" if they only eat healty food. A fat person is a person. And every person has their comfort food.

I don't have a model body, I'm like a short stocky thingy, and I hate when people say "have you ever done a diet in your life?" "You could be stunning if only you lose a bit of weight on your hips". Like you don't know me and you have no idea of what I went through. And again, lose weight? That's an obsolete definition for dieting, I can "lose weight" even by cutting my arm.

I don't know guys, I would have liked Glimmer and Spinnerella to...eat more. Maybe.

Maybe it's just me being selfish and wanting to see a person with a certain body type acting like a "normal" person. And eat. I don't know.

I wish I didn't offend anyone, I just want to know your opinions about it.

Honorable mentions: I wish with all my heart for Hordak to eat more. Yes, I know that there might be another explanation for that, but I felt touched when he didn't eat his soup. I know it was disgusting (my baby Entrapta is a princess, I bet she never cooked before). But still. You know.

Oh and thanks to the Entrapdak fic writers who address this issue. Trust me, it's very important.

Oh by the way, have this drawing by Botticelli called "Allegoria dell'Abbondanza" to celebrate this day.

Remember: be always grateful for your food.

[captain-jinguji]

Oh my, I need yandere alphabet for Ren😏

I gotchu 😏 @kumanekoworld I saw your request too so here it is.

REN JINGUJI YANDERE ALPHABET

Affection: How do they show their love and affection? How intense would it get?

His way of showing affection, at first, doesnt change. He would still shower his darling in gifts and compliments, making time and taking them places; it almost seems normal. But at some point, it's like a flip switches, and he becomes more clingy. Always has to be around you, going out becomes less and less and when you do leave the house, he always has an arm clinging to you. 

Blood: How messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?

He doesnt even realize how messy it gets until it's done. These overwhelming feelings of expressiveness and obsessives get the better of him and seeing another person threaten you or worse, try to take you from him, makes all rationality leave his brain. At first, he'd try to hide it from his darling, but he becomes sloppy and its not long before they realize it's blood on his shirt, and not paint. 

Cruelty: How would they treat their darling once abducted? Would they mock them?

He would act like nothing happened. As long as he behaves normally, things will go smoothly, right? Pretending that they've always been together and that life was a jolly holiday. At some point, especially if his darling is testing his patience, he might lash out at them and mock their cries and attempts to plead with him. 

Darling: Aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darling’s will?

Oh yes. Love is an intimate thing, even when it's this obsessive. He not only forces them to stay with him, he also forces them to touch him, both sexually and not, because that's what 'real' lovers do. 

Exposed: How much of their heart do they bare to their darling? How vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?

The main reason he would even cross over this line is because he needs love. All his life hes been neglected and played; finding his darling was the best thing that has happened and he sure as hell is going to give his all. He becomes open, and vulnerable, always honest with what he wants from his darling and where they stand with him. 

Fight: How would they feel if their darling fought back?

He'd become annoyed and not understand. He gives you everything and more and you're FIGHTING him? It's almost like he turns into beast mode and he will fight back. It gets ugly with yelling and he will put force into it if you start to get physical. He feels so betrayed and hurt that he not only locks you away, but he leaves himself to cool off. After all, theres no way you actually hate him. It must've been something smaller than that. He'll figure it out. 

Game: Is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?

Kind of. At first, he thinks its cute how strong willed and determined his darling is to escape him, but he does become annoyed. Why wont you love him? Why don't you appreciate him? He will hunt you down each time, he has connections to make someone else get you for him. There's no escaping him. He is Mr. Worldwide. 

Hell: What would be their darling’s worst experience with them?

The worst thing he's ever done to his darling was lock them up for a week straight in his designated dark room, only giving them water and not letting them sleep. The malnutrition and lack of sleep quickly got them, and though they lost a few pounds during that week, Ren was pleased with his efforts. A weak darling is a darling that cant leave him. They relied on him for everything for a while after that and that's what it's all about; him being the the provider, the protector, the one you need to rely on. 

Ideals: What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?

He really wants to keep it as normal as possible. He wants to get married and go on adventures with you. No kids though, he cant have you sharing your attention and taking most of it away from him. 

Jealousy: Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?

At first, he's his natural self. Understanding, carefree, but something irks him inside and he quickly becomes annoyed. He doesnt lash out, at least not in front of his darling; he'll find the man/woman in private to have a 'chat" and publicly ruins them. 

Kisses: How do they act around or with their darling?

Again, he tries to keep it normal. Light kisses and soft touches. Loving words and tight hugs. A typical relationship on the outside. A fairy tale for anyone else. 

Love letters: How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?

He's very blunt. He likes it, he gets it. He charms them with words and sweet promises; soft affections and making himself seem like the best possible joice. Prince charming, in a way. 

Mask: Are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?

Oh yes. To everyone else, including his friends, hes this light hearted, goofy guy. Perfectly easy on the eyes and the heart. But behind closed doors, something that only his darling gets to see, hes a beast. Wild and stalking his prey; fiercely protective over whats his. 

Naughty: How would they punish their darling?

He's not a stranger to actually physically harming his darling and they have had cuts and bruises on them. But he doesnt like to ruin their perfect skin so he usually locks them up, sometimes for days on end, and goes back to weakening his darling physically. 

Oppression: How many rights would they take away from their darling?

He's actually not known to take many rights away. His darling is free to do what they want as long as he knows what they're doing and where they are. It only becomes a problem when they go somewhere outside of, lets say, the city; he needs to be there in that case. Always by their side..he cant have you running of now can he? 

Patience: How patient are they with their darling?

As much as he wants to think he's patient, hes really not. He gets temperamental and annoyed really easily and doesnt like it when his darling fights back. 

Quit: If their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?

If it was an escape scenario, he'd do everything in his power to get them back, and he WILL be successful. However, if they die, I dont think he'd move on from that. Giving his all into someone and 'molding' the perfect darling took a toll on him and he would genuinely be soul crushed. 

Regret: Would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling? Would they ever let their darling go?

No. He absolutely has no guilty feeling whatsoever mainly because he doesnt see a problem with his actions. This is all for love.

Stigma: What brought about this side of them (childhood, curiosity, etc)?

Childhood trauma and the feeling of loneliness. Not having a mother, his father's hatred, and the constant quarrels with both his brothers and childhood friends like Masato and Ranmaru, formed a whole in his heart that he was never able to fill, no matter how many women he toyed with. His darling is the first person to make him feel full again and theres no way he'll let you go now. 

Tears: How do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?

He hates it. He tries to keep the peace and make them as happy as possible with gifts and himself. Why are you crying? What brought these feelings of sadness? Why are you yelling at him? He becomes mad but also concerned; obviously someone mustve hurt you. It just never occurs to him that he's that someone. 

Unique: Would they do anything different from the classic yandere?

He probably gives his darling more freedom than some other yanderes. Again, he wants things to seem as normal as possible to anyone else. 

Vice: What weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?

He does tend to get vulnerable with his darling and let's his guard down, especially on the anniversary of his mother's death. You could easily slip something in his drink or food and have a chance to escape; however, you have to remember that he has ears and eyes everywhere due to his connections so your escape might be short lived. 

Wit’s end: Would they ever hurt their darling?

As much as he hates to admit it, he HAS beaten his darling. He always feels bad afterwards and tends to their bruises and cuts, but its really your fault for trying to leave. 

Xoanon: How much would they revere or worship their darling? To what length would they go to win their darling over?

Body worship is a big thing of his. They are perfect to him, gorgeous, stunning, beautiful. I wouldn't say he has a whole shrine or anything, but his phone is full of pictures and he has paintings of them, both NSFW and not, on his walls. Before they ended up with him, he even went as far as to install cameras in their house and on them. 

Yearn: How long do they pine after their darling before they snap?

Honestly, not very long. He keeps up with it only for a short time before his true colors start to show. Of course, only his darling would know that, which is mainly why no one else would be able to help them out of this situation. 

Zenith: Would they ever break their darling?

Oh yes. He manipulates them both mentally and physically to rely and depend only on him. He's good at it too and it takes less time for him to win his darling over than some other guys. 

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

Abc asks Amethyst - A,M,E,T,H,Y,S,T please?

A) Their full name.

Amethyst Adams; later Amethyst Andrews (canonically speaking, she doesn’t have a middle name)

M) A few interesting facts about them.

Amy doesn’t actually really know her birthdate — she knows that she was born in the summer, but that’s it.  She’s been celebrating her birthday on June 21st because that’s the day she was adopted!

She gave Sweet Pea his brass knuckles and he gave her the necklace she never takes off!

She remembers very little of her life before being adopted — a combination of repressed memories and her biological father’s... interesting parenting decisions

Her most beloved possession is her stuffed giraffe, Fifi

She’s actually fluent in French, which always surprises people

The reason that she’s so short/lightweight is from a childhood of severe malnutrition and some bouts of starvation throughout her life 

She knows that she actually tends to look young and frail due to her lack of height/weight and having fairly soft features, so she overcompensates a lot with her ridiculous heels, revealing clothes, and heavy makeup

Her hearing aids are blue

Despite the gang wars, when Amy is overwhelmed and doesn’t know how to handle a problem, Malachai is always the first person that she wants to talk things through with

E) Species (if not human).

Human!

T)  Do they have any siblings? Family? Loved ones?  

She has one older brother, Archie!  Her biological parents are not in the picture but she very much sees Fred and Mary as her parents.  FP is also a father figure to her!  Her loved ones, outside of her family, are of course the rest of the poly squad (Sweet Pea, Fangs, Toni, Jughead, and Joaquin) and Malachai!  As time goes on in the series, Kevin becomes a part of that too, and she and Veronica do start to repair their relationship, but that’s very much a work in progress!  

She also very much sees the Serpents as her family, although her relationships with some of the older Serpents are... messy, to say the least!  

H) Something they’re exceptionally good at.

Amy is really good with a knife!  Throwing knives, knife tricks, they’re things she’s been practicing since she was a child, and it’s paid off!  

To most people’s surprise, Amy is actually an incredible dancer (and used to be a fantastic figure skater, although it’s been a while now).  She started dance classes not long after being adopted, and she absolutely loved them!  As she got older and more involved with the Serpents she stopped, but it’s still something she holds close to her heart!

other skills she has include: singing, chess, bartending, general academics, darts, shooting, pool, and riding motorcycles!

Y) Is there anything in their life that’s stopping them from succeeding?

I guess it depends on succeeding at what!  A lot of her short-term goals at the moment are stopped (or attempted to be stopped) by Hiram Lodge, Tall Boy, older Serpents who don’t want this girl in charge, people not listening to her, so on, so forth!

Her bigger term goal of becoming a lawyer is still a work in progress but the limited academic resources on the Southside were a disadvantage, though ultimately this goal will be successful!

Pretty much all of her relationship goals are blocked by her own trauma and anxiety and the poly squad’s inability to actually talk about things sometimes lmao

S)  Is there something in their life they regret?

Aside from being born?  Amy’s life is built on regrets, honestly.  She’s hypercritical of herself and carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, she blames herself for everything bad that’s happened in Riverdale in her lifetime, so she has... a lot of regrets.  But her number one regret, without a doubt, is that she wasn’t there for Archie during the Grundy mess — yes it was out of her control, she certainly didn’t choose to not be in Riverdale during all of that, but her brother suffered and she wasn’t there for him (and that feeling of guilt is accentuated by knowing that she’s very probably the only person in his life who can really fully understand what he went through)

T)  Do they have any siblings? Family? Loved ones?  

She has one older brother, Archie!  Her biological parents are not in the picture but she very much sees Fred and Mary as her parents.  FP is also a father figure to her!  Her loved ones, outside of her family, are of course the rest of the poly squad (Sweet Pea, Fangs, Toni, Jughead, and Joaquin) and Malachai!  As time goes on in the series, Kevin becomes a part of that too, and she and Veronica do start to repair their relationship, but that’s very much a work in progress!  

She also very much sees the Serpents as her family, although her relationships with some of the older Serpents are... messy, to say the least!  

ABCs of OCs

[cursed-saphire-hart]

All of those concepts make feel just as bad for her- but anyway, the answer is greatly appreciated! And may I just say...FINALLY - someone who shines some positive light on a character who could be considered "crazy" in any way fashion or form (crazy in quotation marks because I don't really like describing most people that way). She really does fight the stereotype, even if she still has her issues. It's greatly appreciated to have her portrayed in a way that isn't 100% psycho crazy lady

Hehe thank you, I did my research in both the effects of malnutrition, PTSD, and childhood trauma caused by abuse before using those just to make sure i wasn't stereo typing her.

In all the concepts, it was before I decided on the Army Girl (or Red Guard) as my Red Wife, so the army wasn't a sure fire thing to connect the two. I also had to look at things from a more political or cynical side. Generally speaking, Tord wouldn't need to love his wife, if his goal was an "heir" hell he didnt even need her to get pregnant, with cloning being a thing n all.

But while I do love the tortured soul angle, I didn't want it to go too far, since a political marriage can do as much harm to the child as the partner, n I didn't want Tobi to suffer abuse from both sides, since he was literally born with the world on his shoulders as is.

So I decided to go the "Breaking Cycle of Abuse" Angle with Annya instead.

In many cases abuse breeds abuse, and psychological damage does the same. But i have noticed that a "mental anker" some writers use, that signify, or give a reason to why a character isn't beyond saving, is to give them that one thing in there past that was different.

For Annya that was the love and affection from her grandfather, who was a military vet, and who loved her unconditionally while he was alive, to contast the neglect and abuse caused by her parents once he wasn't there to protect her.

Its that anker, that help keep some part of Annya sane and in control, but the fight to both live, and hope of earning her parents affection that brought on the manipulative side of her character. Hence why she values the chance to have her own family some day, to prove she's like her grandpa, who was her REAL family, and not like her parents.

The little bits of trauma as a result of one or the other, feeds into why she never got help for her issues, like how the doctors or teachers only believed what her parents said, hence why she hates doctors and hospitals.

Her mother's habit of yelling at her, numbing her to the drill segments yelling and insults. Her fathers physical abuse making her react violently to men who physically abuse her. And her Grandfather's love showing her how much real family, love and loyalty are things to cherish.

And the fact that Annya also comes from an episode where things are in a majority, better in an alternate world, so odds are, things are crappy as fuck in the normal world for some. Amnya just got the short end of that stick, n it factored into making her overall.

The base of her personality is Survival, Love, Loyalty and Instability, so i try to show those elements.

And frankly speaking, each of my girls have a trop they fill, "The Good Girl" "The Bitchy Girl" "The Flirty Girl" and "The Crazy/Broken Girl" to counteract "The Grumpy One" "The Funny One" "The Vain One" and "The Evil/Weird One" but are only interesting bc i try n show the layers under those tropes.

[our-happygirl500-fan]

Controversial opinion but fully grown Steph would probably be the smallest of the Robins: she’s a gymnast so she’s supposed to be short & also she probably wasn't fed properly as a child due to neglect so she’d suffer from affects from a childhood slight of malnutrition & unlike Jason wouldn't have a pit to cancel it out

Considering Damian's genes he'll probably be pretty tall, Jason's already almost as tall as Bruce, Duke hasn't been given an official height but he'll probably get to a good height since Last Knight shows Duke being very tall, Dick is short due to being an acrobat but he's also older & has been a hero for a while so muscle.

And according to official Bios Tim was already taller than Steph by the time of they were Batgirl and Red Robin preboot Tim being 5,6 Steph being 5,5 heights they've kept in current continuity as well. Though Tim seems to have more muscle since the reboot his weight going from 125 lbs to 131 while Steph actually seems to have lost muscle since the reboot, her weight going from 129 lbs to 110, though considering current continuity Steph has been technically homeless & on the run from assassins several times that might be the reason for that.

Grown up Steph will be the smallest Robin Dick should be relieved that he ended up taller than at least taller than one of them