#hes just a orphan this boy never even had a normal family

[wisteria-lodge]

What are your thoughts on how Harry sees Draco as worse than Dudley during the early books? I seen quite a few people who believe that it was actually Dudley who was worse since Draco’s bullying was mostly verbal while Dudley’s was more physical.

Dudley does physically bully Harry, his "favorite punching bag" a lot. There's the taped-together glasses because Dudley punches him in the nose, his favorite sport "Harry Hunting," and a lot of what Snape dredges up during Occlumency lessons are "early memories he had not even realized he still had, most of them concerning humiliations Dudley and his gang had inflicted upon him in primary school." We also know that Dudley has much more sway over the school than Draco does - people won't be friends with Harry because they don't want to get on Dudley's bad side.

All that sounds pretty bad. So why do we get "Harry had never believed he would meet a boy he hated more than Dudley, but that was before he met Draco Malfoy." When at that point, Draco's crimes consist of -

Trying (unsuccessfully) to get his parents to buy him extra presents

Insulting Hagrid

Being insensitive about Harry being an orphan

Insulting Ron

Calling Hagrid and the Weasleys "riffraff"

Implying that Harry's parents were also riffraff and this got them killed. (this one is quite bad)

Trying (unsuccessfully) to steal Harry's candy

Being a Malfoy and a daddy's boy

Laughing in potions and generally being Snape's hype man

BUT Draco still manages to get under Harry's skin REALLY fast... and it's because Draco makes him feel inadequate. During their first conversation at Madame Malkin's, Harry doesn't know basic things about the Wizarding World, which makes him feel "stupid," and when Draco starts comparing the Hogwarts houses, Harry is "wishing he could say something a bit more interesting." He's still picking over this conversation when he meets back up with Hagrid, giving him a play-by-play:

"...and he said people from Muggle families shouldn’t even be allowed in—”

During Potions, Harry seems to think Snapes 'bezoar' questions are another instance of him not knowing obvious things about the Wizarding World (instead of just Snape being an ass.) This is apparently confirmed by Malfoy's reaction: "He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter."

Harry is then very anxious about Quidditch, because "Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly," and it seems to be a very big deal socially. But he's putting himself in the same category as kind-of-pathetic never-been-on-a-broom Neville. This time he doesn't even have to see Malfoy's reaction, he's imagining it.

“Typical,” said Harry darkly. “Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy.”

Even things that aren't actually a problem, or aren't actually things Draco is doing - like getting regular care packages from home - seem to really bother Harry, to the degree that "[He and Ron] were half hoping for a reason to fight Malfoy."

So: Draco makes Harry feel underprepared and inadequate, and this gets to him because he thinks it might be true. Dudley normally doesn't bother to come at Harry in a psychological way - the few times he does (teasing Harry about having no friends in Book 2, teasing Harry about dreaming about his "boyfriend" Cedric in Book 5) are also the only times he's able to send Harry into negative spirals.

Because the thing about Dudley is that Harry has him figured out. By the time the first book starts, Harry knows all Dudley's favorite strategies and just, has a very detailed understanding of what it looks like inside Dudley's head:

Dudley began to cry loudly. In fact, he wasn’t really crying — it had been years since he’d really cried — but he knew that if he screwed up his face and wailed, his mother would give him anything he wanted.

Harry knew perfectly well that Dudley only put up with Aunt Marge’s hugs because he was well paid for it.

Dudley was in shock. He’d screamed, whacked his father with his Smelting stick, been sick on purpose, kicked his mother, and thrown his tortoise through the greenhouse roof, and he still didn’t have his room back.

Harry knows that the reason he has no friends at school is 100% to do with Dudley and 0% to do with him. It also seems like Dudley was able to physically bully Harry a lot when he was younger, but by the time we meet Harry, he's easily "dodging" all of Dudley's attacks.

Dudley’s favorite punching bag was Harry, but he couldn’t often catch him. Harry didn't look it, but he was very fast.

The rest of them were all quite happy to join in Dudley’s favorite sport: Harry Hunting. This was why Harry spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering.

Harry dodged the Smelting stick

And Dudley - yeah he's around all the time, and he makes Harry's life difficult. But he's not important. Draco, on the other hand, is hugely important to Harry - which becomes super clear when he dreams about him.

[Harry] was wearing Professor Quirrell’s turban, which kept talking to him, telling him he must transfer to Slytherin at once, because it was his destiny. Harry told the turban he didn’t want to be in Slytherin; it got heavier and heavier; he tried to pull it off but it tightened painfully — and there was Malfoy, laughing at him as he struggled with it.

We learn later that this is foreshadowing, and one of Harry's Voldemort dreams. But on the first read... this is an anxiety dream about being - unprepared, overburdened, strangled by a destiny he doesn't want. And his brain has chosen Draco to symbolically represent this anxiety, and I get why. Draco is supported (by his parents), he is prepared (because he grew up rich in the wizarding world), and he just seems 100% comfortable with who he is and his place in the world. Which is all stuff that Harry really, really wants. Draco sucks, same as Dudley. But Harry doesn't want what Dudley has. He can't say the same about Draco.

[batmansbasement]

Fic Idea For Tim Drake And Jason Todd, and the Drake Family Dynamic

TW: Mention of drug abuse, overdose, infidelity, genetic addiction, general socialite behavior

The fics where Jack and Janet Drake are terrible parents who neglect and abuse Tim do make for good found family angst, yes.

However.

I propose to you something new and much much better. Yes, Tim's parents may not be winning any parent of the year awards, but they did teach their son how to be ruthless in the face of insults to their name. Together, Jack and Janet Drake are known as the sharks of the socialite world. You bleed a drop of blood and they'll sniff it out and sink their teeth into it, tearing you wide open.

Janet is a known social climber, she started at the bottom of the food chain and made her way to the top through coldness and apathy, using her mind to snap back at people when they dared to insult her or her family. Jack had been raised in the socialite world, and knows the ins and outs well. He knows that every smile is fake and every person is putting up a mask, and he knows how to see behind them.

This being said, I add in another popular fic trope. Young Tim and Jason meet at a gala, but Janet and Jack do not care that they talk, they actually encourage it. They always taught Tim not to take advantage of the way he was raised, or to think of himself as better because of something he was born into such as his wealth. When the Drakes found out that Brucie Wayne had taken in another boy, and that he was from Crime Alley, they did not believe a single thing the papers said, and promptly did not think much of it.

They were a little confused when their son developed an obsession with the Wayne's boy a few months later, but Tim had always been a little odd, and had always been fascinated by the Wayne's, what with seeing Dick Grayson's final performance, even if it was tainted by the awful events that occurred that night.

Of course a welcoming gala is hosted for the new son, Jason Todd, a couple months later. And of course the Drake's will make their appearance for it would be rude not to do so. They would be seen as prejudiced if they did not show, for they are welcoming this poor orphaned boy who lived on the streets and is now taken in by a rich man! How could you be so cruel as to not welcome him!

(The rich love to seen empathetic and thoughtful. It makes them feel better about how terrible they to those who need help)

(The Drake's, again, do not care much. The boy is just like any other, and they have a lovely son already. However Tim is so very excited, and the couple already knows the cruel things that will be said tonight, so they suppose it would be refreshing for Jason to talk to people who were not faking sympathy for his situation)

That's not to say that the Drake's were not sympathetic, just not in the ways that the surrounding crowd was.

At one point, Janet nearly scoffed after hearing some old bat tell Jason that "she truly felt for him. Truly, his situation was just awful, how could a mother set that kind of example for their child? He must feel so lucky to be living with someone as amazing as Brucie Wayne now. Not living on those filthy, disgusting streets anymore."

The poor boys face had turned so red Janet thought he might blow a gasket, and his expression was one of disgust so plain she felt she had to help him. How people could just assume the way they did, she would never know.

She looked down at her son, who was also watching the entire situation play out, and felt her lips upturn slightly. Tim had taken to watching people like a fish took to water, he was a natural at gathering information and reading people, as well as telling them what the wanted to hear.

Janet squeezed his shoulder and whispered to Tim, "Go, he looks like he needs a friendly face at the moment."

Tim's smile is bright and happy as he bounds over to Jason, and as they strike up a conversation, Jason's face slowly goes back to a normal color and he starts to form a smile of his own. Tim had always been bright and aware, and she was proud to call him her son. He was empathetic without giving pity, something she knew she hated receiving after talking about her own upbringing.

Satisfied with how things turned out, she leaves the two boys be, and turns to the crowd to find her husband. No doubt he's stomping down rumors left and right at the moment, he never did stand for the lies that circled the socialite community, no matter if they were about his family or someone else's.

Jack and Janet are talking to an older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Eldine, when they hear affronted gasps from a small gathering towards the other end of the ball room.

Jack and Janet both seem to realize at the same time that their son is presumably still with Jason. Jason, who has been called many names throughout the night, many unfavorable. And their son, their lovely Tim, who they taught to never hold back when insulted, or when someone he cares about is insulted.

To say they rushed to the center of the crowd was a bit of an understatement.

Sure enough, in the middle was a small clearing, and there stood Tim, shielding Jason with his body, and Eli Barnum, a man who was as sleazy as he was rich. Barnum stood red in the face, looking livid. Tim looked proud and defiant, and Jason looked shocked and worried.

Janet and Jack were at the boys' side swiftly.

"Timothy, could you please explain the meaning of this?" Jack's voice was strict and punishing to unfamiliar ears, but upon hearing it Tim relaxed minutely.

"He-" Tim was cut off before he could even start.

"Your son," Barnum spat, spittle flying from his mouth in his rage, "is the most disrespectful brat I've ever seen. You ought to teach him a lesson in respecting his elders, before someone else does it for you."

Jack tensed, and Janet's nostrils flared dangerously.

"Mr. Barnum, it would treat you well to not interrupt my son when he is speaking. It is impolite and frankly barbaric. Timothy, tell is what happened." Janet sounded every bit as terrifying as the tabloids said.

Tim looked from his mom, to Mr. Barnum, to his dad, to Jason, then back to his mom. He then looked back to his mother, eyes flashing with barely concealed rage.

"He called Jason a street rat. I was merely reminding him of what a rat really is."

Janet Drake smiled down at her son and nodded, while Jack looked back at Jason and tilted his head in question. Jason nodded shyly to confirm that this is what happened.

After the confirmation, it seemed as if the entire Drake family became a stone wall blocking Jason from the putrid man in front of them.

Janet pursed her lips, somehow managing to look down her nose at Burnam while being shorter than him.

"Is this true, Burnam?"

Burnam sputtered, his face turning impossibly more red.

"It's not like I'm wrong! Kids a gutter rat, shouldn't be mixing with people like us. We all know his mom was a druggie! And we all know how that is, runs in the blood! He's bound to end up just like her, useless and doped out by the time he's sixteen! Not to mention the diseases he probably carries from his time on those filthy streets, he's like a stray dog, probably riddles with fleas and pestilence!"

Janet hummed, felt her blood pressure rise beyond what she thought possible, and it worsened when she heard the heavy breathing coming from behind her. Jason appeared to be hyperventilating.

She knew how horrible people could be to those who were raised in less than favorable positions. She'd experienced it first-hand more than enough to last a lifetime, but to see it directed at a child, who had already been through so much at such a young age, sparked an anger in her so bright she felt as of it would burn her alive.

Or she would burn alive those who she directed it at.

She could tell her boys felt the same way. Tim was stiff as a board under her hand on his shoulder, and his breathing was nearly as bad as Jason's. Jack's body was poised like he was bracing for an impact, ready to attack.

"If I do remember correctly, Eli, your mother and father divorced after your mother found your father...ah...how did you put it...doped up? With another woman in his bed, and here you stand. Your hands are shaking, your face is hallow, and your teeth are the most horrendous shade of yellow I have ever had the displeasure of looking at. Perhaps it runs in your blood?"

Barnum's face dropped, paling at a rapid rate. The surrounding crowd was so silent you could hear a pin drop, and Janet's voice seemed to echo off the walls.

Then her son spoke up.

"Oh, right, it must be a familial connection, I'm sure of it, mother. It is his father's business that he inherited. It's the same business that is suspected of 67% of illegal opioid dealings in Gotham! Remember that, mother?"

Janet smiled cruelly, "Yes, Timothy, I do."

Jack clapped his hands with force, "Well then, we must have this man escorted off the premises immediately! How could someone such as him be around our children! What a terrible influence! Security!"

Burnam was dragged out kicking and screaming while a crowd of paparazzi surrounded him, and the Drake's looked down at him like he was little more than scum on the bottom of their shoes.

After all was said and done, Tim turned back to Jason, only to find he was taking to Bruce using wild hand gestures and looking about one breath away from a panic attack.

Then Jason looked up at caught Tim's eye, and smiled widely before dragging Bruce over to The Drake Family.

"Dad. Dad, these people are the coolest people I've ever seen in my life. That was the most insane thing I've ever witnessed. Oh my god."

Bruce smiled at the Drake's, and everyone could tell it was Bruce, not Brucie. They had found a secluded enough corner, and most of the attention was still on the paparazzi and the new gossip, so they were mostly safe from being heard.

"Thank you, for standing up for my son."

His smile was sincere, and Janet felt her heart melt just slightly, but didn't let it show on her face.

"It was stupid to leave him alone like that, Bruce, you know full well what these people are like."

Bruce nodded in agreement, "Yes, that was quite idiotic of me, I must admit, and I can assure you it will not happen again."

"Be sure that it doesn't" Janet snapped, before softening slightly.

Jason watched the conversation like a tennis match, head bouncing back and forth, before grinning up at Janet like she hung the moon.

"You are a total badass, Mrs. Drake."

At those words, Jack let out a loud chuckle, trying to stiffle it but failing, and Janet felt her lips quirk up.

"Jason, laguage!" Bruce admonished, but Jason didn't seem to hear him.

"And Tim! That was so cool, dude! How did you know about the whole drug thing? Even Bruce was shocked when he found out!"

Tim felt himself freeze up slightly. Batman was shocked about something he found out? He was totally going to freak out about that later. But not now. Robin is talking to him.

"It was really easy to put the pieces together after looking at the company stocks. There were too many suspicious transfers to unknown places, and after hacking a couple security cameras, I found out where he was spending his free time. Or, I guess how he was spending his free time."

Bruce raised an eyebrow at the young boy. "You hacked security cameras? Is that not illegal?"

Tim stared him head on, not backing down, ans Janet couldn't help but be proud of her little dragon.

"You've never done anything illegal, Mr. Wayne?" Tim's voice was sweet, his eyes wide and innocent, but the threat was loud and clear.

Bruce froze for a moment, and Jason's draw dropped to the floor. No way this kid new.

(The kid definitely knew.)

Jack shook his head, grabbing Tim by the shoulder and squeezing warningly.

"Sorry, we made the mistake of teaching him about blackmail, and he got a little obsessed. Timothy here probably has dirt on the entire high society at this point, and probably many more people that his mother and I are aware of."

Tim nodded in agreement.

Bruce took this in for a moment. "And you're both okay with this?"

Janet chucked slightly, "Truly, Bruce. I'd like to see you try and stop him."

Tim smiled something feral. "You can try, but I promise you'll fail."

Slowly, Bruce nodded, and Jason let out a laugh.

"Hey, Mrs. Drake, can you teach me that really scary glare you did at that man? In case there's someone else like him in the future?"

Janet looked down at the young man and felt incredibly fond. It was impossible not to, with his gaping smile and his boyish attitude.

She nodded, "Hm, yes, it's best you learn the art of intimidation sooner rather than later. However, for right now, if anyone acts even remotely the way Burnam did tonight, I want you to find Tim, who will find Jack and I, and we'll deal with it, sound good?"

Jason nodded quickly, while Jack looked down at his watch.

"Ah, darling, we should be getting home. It's nearly two in the morning!"

Janet nodded, and looked down at Tim, who looked sullen about the prospect of leaving but nodded nonetheless.

"Well then, it was an eventful night, but I cannot say I'm sad to see it come to an end."

Bruce chuckled at Janet's statement, humming, "No, I can't say I'm too disappointed either. Again, thank you all for tonight. Tim is welcome anytime at The Manor, I'm sure he would fit right in with my boys."

Jack nodded, "Thank you, and of course the same goes for Jason and your other young man, Dick, correct?"

Bruce nodded, "Yes, that's him. I'll see you all around"

Jack and Janet nodded, and Jason and Tim said goodbye to eachother, exchanging numbers and arguing about something, (all the adults heard was something about Wonder Woman and a toaster), before heading their separate ways.

The night all together didn't go as horribly as it could have.

Tim made a new friend, and Jack and Janet felt less worried because of it. They knew their son was odd, and although they loved him dearly, the knew not everyone felt the same amount of affection towards his more terrifying habits.

So all together, it was a success.

As Jack and Janet settled in for bed, they didn't hear their sons window open down the hall, or the sound of him exiting it.

Tim made sure to be absolutely silent, and as soon as he entered the city, he disappeared into the shadows completely.

He had some birdwatching to do, after all.

Fin.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE MORE FICS BASED ON THIS OR GIVE RECS🙏 I NEED MKRE GOOD PARENT JACK AND JANET PLEAAASSEEE

[startheskelaton]

Can you tell us more about Landlot(Sparkplug's ex boyfriend)please?

Oh gosh I'm gonna go on a huge tangent about this guy, mostly because I feel like it.

So Landlot is the newest version of a character that belonged to my own ex boyfriend. However I was the one to properly flesh out his character, the most my ex did was give him a color pallet and basic personality.

For context, One Spark first started as a fanfiction called "End of the rode" made by my ex. It was a post apocalyptic transformers au where the Optimus and Megatron are dead, the autobots are trying to make another arc to get to Cybertron and the decepticons are now led by Starscream. The story only really got a proper threw line when I suggested adding a character I had thought up, Sal Witwicky, the orphaned daughter of Spike Witwicky. Sal's deal was that she resented transformers because they not only destroyed her world, but let her family die, now she's one of few surviving humans. She gets found by Hound and reluctantly agrees to go back with him to the autoboot base.

At one point, Sal was supposed to be horribly injured by Ravage (who was only there because I really liked Soundwave, and his addition helped fill in plot gaps), to the point she was about to die. However they put her in a experimental protoform body... she would now be known... as Sparkplug. (I also came up with this plotline)

Why am I going on about this? Well because it's important to why Land lot exists on my current story. Landlot in the old fanfiction was a twin and was one of the first transformers built on earth, post Sparkplug getting put into robot body. He was supposed to be the leader of his group, as he was kind of a hotrod wanna be. He was also vary clearly a self projection character for my ex, similar to how I tend to project onto Sparkplug. I had offered the idea for Sparkplug and Landlot to be a couple, I can't remember if my ex was on board for the idea or not, however I do remember it being the only thing close to romance in the whole story.

So here we are a good maybe 6 years later. I had a lot of trauma from that relationship to the point I still dream about him, and the moment I realize it's him in my dream, I try and get away from him, not wanting to be with him at all. I won't say I was a saint during that relationship, but I do resent him for being able to find some sense of peace with intimacy. A lot of shit happened... So when I decided to remake the Transformers AU, I was mean to Landlot.

So who is Landlot in the One Spark AU?

Well he's a 1970's Plymoth GX, who emerged with his twin sister, Defender. They emerged pretty soon after the matrix awakened the energon on earth. They emerged vary close to the autobot base and were taken in and trained like any normal sparkling would be trained back on Cybertron. He fit in vary well as he remined a lot of the autobots of the older days, just a bunch of guys who turned into cars acting like heroes and messing around. He would become a poster boy for the transformers born on Earth.

How did he end up dating Sparkplug? Well I'll tell yah. Despite a lot of my art showing people dotting over Sparkplug, that wasn't the case for a majority of the autobots, yes a good amount of them formed bonds with her, but it was only because they were related to prime. Bot's like Ironhide, sideswipe, Blur, Proceptor and a good amount of other autobot's being vary against Megatron and Soundwave being allowed to join, and some are still convinced that Sparkplug is just part of a secret plan of Megatron to try and take over earth again.

So a lot of bots stayed away from her, and this bias would trickle down to the new earth born bots on the base. So Sparkplug never had any friends her age, the closet being Rumble and Frenzy who were basically teenagers when she was born. However Sparkplug did grow up to be rather pretty... well... as pretty as you can be while being a weird combination of two bots. Even though she tried to talk to the other young bots, her awkwardness and bluntness only made them stay away from her. However Landlot slip in, seeing an opportunity to have a cute/shy girlfriend. Sparkplug fell hard and fast for him because she had never had anyone interested in her romantically. He would try and mold Sparkplug into a sweet, dotting and helpless shy girl that would hang on his arm to make him look cooler. Because how badass would it be to show that he was able to get the notorious Megatron's daughter to be his side chick.

Eventually, Sparkplug got tired of getting the short end of the stick and decided to break up with him after seeing that he was trying to get with other bots behind her back, bot's that vary clearly didn't like her.

So that's where they stand as of now. Landlot is still a celebrated leader for his heroics and fun personality, while Sparkplug just only got passed to go on missions and was put on the most mind numbing job imaginable.

sorry that this is so long, I just really wanted to share all this info

[hbheavensent]

Beelzebub/Vortex

Boy oh boy they are so deceptively healthy!!! Let's get into it ⋆.˚

For Bee's design, I really wanted to keep her general "overwhelming" look. I've always sorta loved how Beelzebub looks, it makes a lot of sense for the Gluttony Sin to be A LOT to look at. That being said, I took away her fire motif as that is sorta given to too many characters and I changed her colors to match her "formal" look (which I HEAVILY prefer). I also put a little splatter marking around her mouth like she has food on her muzzle, which I think is sorta cute :333 ALSO I wanted to bring in the BEE in her design, esp her Big Fuckoff Demonic form. So I turned her normal tail into a little stinger in both looks and kept the antenna on her ears. I also decided a horrible maw of teeth on the underside of her tummy is a good move, just in general it adds some body horror. Also, naturally, I put some meat on her bones and she will no longer be ✨weirdly fatphobic✨. She can be chubby and still the hottest girl in the room and it's weird that she was skinny in the first place. As for her personality, I still want her to be surface level very pleasant and fun loving. For sure some mean girl vibes and very manipulative as all temptations are. She's the type to get someone high and one they're having a Shitty Time to leave them alone because they're a "buzzkill". Her dating Vortex is a majority because she's bored and she's had other partners in the past. Of all of the sins she's the one that "hangs with the color class" the most. Once Vortex doesn't scratch that itch for her, she'll be gone pretty quickly without a any real explanation. She's always chasing honey so to speak, a new high. I also wanted to focus in on her making The Pounds in Gluttony for Hellhounds, like I touched on in Loona's post. She not only is the reason for so many orphans/unwanted Hellhound pups, making parents of these kids be in compromised positions and having them addicted to substances, but she also made the shithole that the pups would go to. And while there's something to be said about her making the thing in the first place, she only cared enough to create the idea and not monitor it, why would she? Hellhounds live and die so fast, she's eternal, it's a speck to her despite her having more empathy than most sins.

At the very least, she's not judgmental, she knows that it certainly isn't her place to be. This is also probably a good place to talk a bit about what I'm doing WITH the sins. I'm going with the telling of them being former Angels that fell after The Apple Thing. Lucifer being the only one acting of his own volition to DO The Apple Thing and basically groom Lilith and Eve into a relationship before they even had FREE WILL (why does not one talk about that?? help????) Anyway, Bee was the third to fall and it was mostly due to messing with Earth's Plants and MAKING illicit substances able to be made. * I MIGHT change that, since in The Bible, Beelzebub falls because they go against Adam's wishes but it doesn't make sense with the timeline I'm workin with * The Sins are destined to be what they are the second Sin is created, Beelzebub can't help how she acts as much as Mammon couldn't help picking up a dollar on the ground. It's a compulsion at the end of the day and an eternal punishment that SOME have taken better than others. Bee is a prime example of leaning into it fully and trying to keep upbeat, sure she may never see Heaven again but she's having a hell of a time. Just hope she never gets sober or has a party go poorly because THAT is when it's dangerous. (I plan to showcase this eventually and give her a reason to dislike Loona/Blitz). But there's more Sin Stuff to get into laterer and NOT right now. AS FOR VORTEX, my sweet boy. I always really liked how normal he was in cannon. Just a Good Dude who can be a bit silly, which is exactly the type of guy Bee would go for (this century). Vortex comes from an Actually Together Family in the Lust ring and still works for Verosika as a guard when she's in Hell (currently reworking succubus magic so we'll get there when we get there). So, due to his family, Vortex is accidentally sort of ignorant of how MOST Hellhounds live. Loona has a earring in her ear where her Pound Tag was ripped out, Vortex has a earring there because he saw a bunch of other Hellhounds doing that and only realized after that fact because of Loona WHY Hellhounds have earrings there. Vortex also sorta fell into this relationship with Bee, and he very much sees it more seriously than she does. I don't think Loona talking to him about it would be enough to convince him that Bee is a bad person, sorta has rose colored lenses on for his girlfriend, but this is a DOOMED relationship. For Vortex's look, I didn't change much really- I just realized he looks SO much like Loona. Literally "siblings or dating". So. That sums up what I did with him besides what's literally in the image.

AND as a treat for such a longggg post-

Here's the silly height lineup we have so far

[g1rld1ary]

Hi! If you're still taking Lockwood and Co requests, can I plz request an imagine where Lockwood finally becomes vulnerable in front of the reader and he lets his emotions out in front of her and she soothes him 🥹🥹🥹?

reaching out - anthony lockwood x reader

wc: 1664

cw: canon typical death mentions, family trauma

thanks for waiting lovely! hope this is what u wanted xxx

Lockwood was a puzzle. You'd been working with him for a while now and still couldn't truly understand him.

As a boss, Lockwood was great. Never too hard on you whilst still pushing you to further your skills, but always putting your safety first. As a friend, he was similarly brilliant. The perfect listener, he always had a smile saved up for when you needed it. Even as a housemate he was perfect; Lockwood never took too long in the bathroom or left messes around even though it was his own house.

As a boy? Lockwood was indecipherable. Always gentle but never vulnerable. Always a listener, never a talker when it came to personal truths. He was your best friend but you knew nothing about him.

It was definitely an atypical relationship you shared, but you weren't unhappy with it and it seemed that neither was he. You proceeded in your usual way for a year while you were in the company until one particular case.

Lockwood had been off all week and you weren't sure why. You were in the middle of a case; a tragedy where all but one in a family had been killed and were haunting their own home. It wasn't one you needed a whole heap of research for, but George still wanted to take the precautions of getting the building layout and checking for the possibility of any other ghosts, and for once Lockwood didn't fight him on it.

George and Lucy had gone to the archives to get the research while you and Lockwood were doing all the other errands; stocking up on supplies, doing a daytime tour of the house then getting groceries on the way home.

Shopping for supplies and weapons was totally fine, the both of you chattering away as normal. It was only when you approached the cast iron fence of the Victorian-style home that Lockwood grew quiet again, retreating into himself. You spared him a puzzled expression but didn't dwell on it there.

A sad-looking woman met you at the front gate, draped in black. She introduced herself as the deceased wife's sister, explaining her red-rimmed eyes. She led you both through the garden up to the house, sniffling quietly as she explained what had happened, a horrific freak accident that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Stepping through the threshold into the house, you could feel the gloom as if it were a tangible thing. What clearly used to be a loving home was already dark and lifeless, the photos on the wall mocking instead of nostalgic.

You could hear noise from down the hall, glancing curiously in its direction. Your host picked up on what you were looking at and explained it was her nephew, the only survivor.

"Will," She called, "Come here." Moments later a little boy came waddling up the hallway, toy truck in hand. Your heart clenched as you took him in, he couldn't have been older than six or seven, far too young to be orphaned like this.

"We're packing up his stuff today, he's living with me right now. I'm not sure he understands his family aren't coming back." Your eyes felt hot like you were going to cry just listening to their family tragedy. A glance at Lockwood said the same thing. You took the lead for the rest of the house tour, unnerved by Lockwood's silence.

As the two of you were leaving the house Will chased you both down the stone path, tugging on the tail of Lockwood's long coat.

"Please help my mum and dad and my sister," He said, eyes still wide with youth and innocence.

"Of course," Lockwood replied, ruffling the boy's brown hair gently. You thought he sounded uncharacteristically choked up.

"You alright?" You asked a while later, far from the house. You were both on the way to the grocery store, your hands shoved in your coat pockets to hide from the cold.

"'Course," Lockwood replied shortly, eyes straight ahead on the street. You tried to catch his gaze but he refused to look at you, changing the topic to what snacks you could sneak past George. You indulged him reluctantly, not pleased to move past his clear struggles so quickly.

You wandered home in near dusk, not doing much to get home before sunset. The groceries had been spread between the two of you so neither of you was carrying too much of the burden, but you suspected Lockwood was carrying enough emotional weight for the pair of you.

Silently, under the light of a ghost lamp, you looped your arm around his, providing a comforting touch. He didn't say anything, but you could have sworn he was leaning into you more than he ever had before.

You made it back to Portland Row in good time, only braving a few minutes out in the darkness.

Hours later, you crept through the house, painfully aware of each creak of the old floorboards. You peered around the door into the library, watching Lockwood sit in his armchair, bored as he flipped through a gossip rag.

"Hey," You said as you sat, curling up on the couch and surrounding yourself with a blanket. He smiled in response, greeting you quickly before turning back to what he was reading. "Are you okay?" You knew you were coming off intense but you were really worried about him.

"Yeah, 'course. Why?"

"I don't know, you've just seemed really off today. Down." You studied your fingers to avoid making uncomfortable eye contact.

"I'm fine," He said, almost aggressively. Realising his tone, Lockwood backtracked, "It's nothing, just--" Silence.

"Just?" You urged him, braving the jump to look in his eyes. It was immediately intense, a profound sadness replacing what was usually jovial charm.

"I was him," Lockwood said and you were immediately confused. You tilted your head, trying to work it out but Lockwood continued, explaining it for you.

"Will. I was the leftover. My whole family is dead, and I am the one left alive."

"Oh God, Lockwood," You whispered, patting the spot next to you. He followed you over, taking the blanket you offered.

"My parents died when I was really young, about the same age as Will. They were the first ghosts I ever fought." You couldn't contain your soft gasp, hand creeping over your mouth as you took in what he was telling you. "I had an older sister, too, Jessica. She was six years older than me, died when I was nine. An accident with some of my parents' old supernatural artefacts. I've been fighting ghosts ever since."

Somehow you'd started holding his hand, rubbing smooth circles over his palm with your thumb. You could hardly believe what you were hearing, you had no idea Lockwood's life was so devastating. All you'd learnt while working at Lockwood and Co was that his parents had probably passed away, given the house was his. You'd never heard about a sister.

"I'm really sorry," Was all you could say, not taking the risk of misstepping.

"It's fine." His voice broke on the second word, tears rolling down his red cheeks in a moment. You'd never seen Lockwood cry. It was devastating, but also unfairly beautiful. Crystal tears in honeypot eyes.

Before you knew what you were doing you were holding Lockwood, arms keeping him close as he shuddered through sobs. All you did was embrace him for a long time, letting Lockwood express the emotions he kept so close to his chest all the time.

It must have been at least ten minutes later when he pulled away, clearly embarrassed and rubbing furiously at his eyes.

"Sorry," He mumbled, looking anywhere but at you. You put a hand on his thigh to pull him back down to earth.

"Don't apologise. I want to be here for you. You're my best friend, Lockwood, I love you." Lockwood smiled at that, unlike his usual thousand-watt grins, more muted but undeniably genuine.

"Thank you," He said, the warmth seeping back into his tone.

With the moment mostly passed you suggested it was probably time for bed for both of you.

"And you stay home tomorrow. Lucy, George and I will go put Will's family to rest. Take the night off, okay?" While you firmly believed it was in Lockwood's best interest to avoid what was a clearly triggering event, it was also for your own safety. Lockwood and Co was disorganised at the best of times, having Lockwood lose it because he was thinking of Will and his younger self would only endanger every one of you. It was for the best that he stayed home. To your surprise, Lockwood didn't fight you on the order, despite being your boss. He just nodded, lost in thought.

"You remind me of her," He said suddenly.

"Who?"

"Jess," He replied, "She would have liked you." You smiled softly at that, a warm glow igniting in your chest.

"Goodnight, Lockwood," You said instead of addressing the scary genuine feelings blooming. He didn't reply, instead pulling you into a tight hug. His arms around you were warm, holding you in place as his head rested in the crook of your neck.

You realised suddenly how few hugs Lockwood had given you in your time at the company. Partly because it was a little unprofessional, mostly because Lockwood was typically too repressed to manage his emotions in such a healthy way. You enjoyed it though, it kind of felt like you two were meant to be like that, two halves of a damaged whole. When he pulled away his smile was just for you, bathing you in the love he'd never been able to express.

[teklarn]

devoted little thing, pt 1. - j. todd

masterlist!

jason todd x fem!reader

link to the fic on AO3 -> here

genre: angst (series)

summary: After the death of your boyfriend, Jason Todd, your life has never been the same. You abandon everything you've ever known: your job working for Batman as a detective, your home, your friends. That is until three years after his death, your life is saved by a mysterious vigilante calling himself the Red Hood.

You assume it was a one-off; that the infamous anti-hero just happened to be in the right place at the right time. But you're finding his calling card everywhere. He's around every single corner―you can't seem to get rid of him. The mystery of his identity brings you back to Bruce in hopes of finding out who he is. But as intimidating as the Red Hood is, with his blurry morals and all, you can't help but find yourself falling for him.

Your devotion to your late lover, Jason, is strong, but it feels so nice to be touched again―how could you say no to the man who saved your life?

warnings: non canon compliant, heavy themes of depression and anxiety, slight yandere themes to come, slight stalking, suicidal thoughts, heavy angst, death, unedited.

-

He had always been angry. So damn angry. At you, at the world, at Bruce. 

And you knew, dammit. You had known deep down that his anger would cost him dearly one day. 

You just didn't think it would put him in the ground. 

Tears erupted from your eyes like a waterfall, Bruce and Alfred the only other people present as they dropped your beloved into the ground, his youthful face illuminated by the silver moonlight spilling over the graveyard. The three of you stayed silent. What was there to say? At any other funeral, people would say the usual: He died too young. His life still has meaning. He's looking down on us right now. He'll guide you. 

Damn it all. Damn everything. As you stared at that coffin, the dark wood splattered with raindrops violently crashing down, you couldn't help the anger boiling in your veins. Sad as you were, you couldn't help but think to yourself: Was I not enough? Not enough to stop him from chasing his anger down into a well. A pit of darkness so deep and inescapable even you couldn't pull him out of it. 

Bruce rests a hand on your shoulder, lifting the umbrella higher to further shelter you from the violent downpour. You pretend not to notice the way his cheeks are rosy from the cold, or how his eyes are watering the longer he stares at the grave. 

Death curls its bony fingers around your throat―it whispers sweet nothings in your ear. Once upon a time, you'd been just like Jason. Alone on the streets, an orphan with no direction in life. But cursed with a talent for solving any mystery you could get your hand on, Bruce welcomed you into his family, where you had met Jason. Someone who knew what it was like to be alone. Someone with the same resentment towards the world. The only person who understood you was in the ground now. And, just hours before his death, you had fought. 

Jason was no easy-going boy. There were some days where you pondered that perhaps Jason liked to bicker with you. He liked the thrill of fighting, of winning. Your relationship was perfect by no means, but it wasn't toxic. Not until his anger got the best of him, like it had hours before his death. The fight had started like many others and had ended the same way: with him storming out the door, cheeks reddened with fury, hints of tears glinting in his eyes. 

On any normal day, you would have chased after him. Told him not to run away from his problems. He would have returned with a scowl on his face, but at least he would still be home. It was the one time you didn't chase after him. The one time you let him slip away. 

And dammit, the guilt was stabbing your gut like rusty knives. 

You resisted the urge to shove Bruce's hand off your shoulder, instead opting for the respectful option of turning away, claiming you just needed space. Which wasn't entirely a lie. You didn't want to be near Bruce, nor Alfred, but if they hadn't been standing at Jason's grave, you would have stayed there and cried all night. Until your eyes were puffy, until the rain left you a shivering, soaking mess. Until Death came to claim you itself. 

Back inside, when Bruce and Alfred finally rejoined you, you'd already showered and changed into a dry pair of clothes. It had taken all the strength left inside your soul to take care of yourself. To not throw yourself onto your bed and drown beneath the plush sheets. 

You couldn't look Bruce in the eye. The fire flickered, casting shadows on his harsh features, the flames dancing across the walls. His eyes were angry. His eyes looked like Jason's. 

On long, hard days, Jason would rant about Bruce. About his antics, his supposed cowardice, his lack of courage when it came to doing the hard thing over the right thing. On those days, you yearned to tell Jason that he looked just like Bruce. That the only real difference between them was that Bruce would choose his morals over everything. 

Now, Bruce's eyes darkened. There was hate behind them. Thoughts swarming, filled with white-hot anger that mirrored your own. That same anger that mirrored Jason's. You couldn't do it. You could barely keep yourself on your feet. 

"Is everything all right?" Alfred asked, his gaze averting from his master to you. The wrinkles in his face made you sick. It felt wrong to see someone so old, so wise, someone who had lived life to the fullest of years. In fifty years, Jason should look just like Alfred. With wrinkles and smile lines pressed deep into his features. Crows feet should crinkle at the edges of his eyes and his smile should reflect accomplishment. 

You tried to shove the image from your head, but staring at Bruce and Alfred was like looking at future versions of the man you loved. The man you'd just buried underground mere hours ago. 

Blinking away tears, you waved off the poor butler. "I have to go. I'm sorry." 

Weeks later, you felt entirely, hopelessly useless. And Bruce had allowed you to rot. Your bed was your only comfort aside from your imagination. You'd pull your pillows close, running your hands over the smooth cases, digging your fingers into the wrinkles the same way you'd fist Jason's shirt when he'd hold you. Bruce's disciplined antics hadn't ceased, but he was shockingly understanding. 

Well, maybe not shockingly. To him, he'd lost a son. To you, you'd lost a best friend, a lover, a soulmate. Whatever your naive little mind could conjure up. Jason was everything. 

As the days dragged on, your anger subsided. All you wanted was him, now. One more minute to apologize for your attitude, one more second just to run your fingers over his olive-toned skin. Just a moment. One fleeting, desperate moment to say three words: "I love you." 

Your mind was a prison of grief, your body was a shell housing a half-dead soul. Periodically, Alfred came in to set plates of food on your nightstand. Your mouth watered, but the food remained untouched for the most part. Guilt prodded at your stomach. Bruce should find a way to drag you out of bed. He should force you to stop mourning; to find a distraction. Perhaps a new case for you to dive into. 

You felt like throwing up. 

Just the image of Bruce's face brought back the image of Jason's. An older, colder version of Jason hardened by the vices of the world. And Alfred, sweet Alfred could place a reason as to why you refused to look at him, too. 

It was all because of Jason. Because he deserved to live, to be old and die old. He deserved to be ninety and to rot away in some hospice, waiting for death to greet him like an old friend. His hairline would be receded and his face would be marred with age spots and freckles from years of baking under the sun. 

"Miss?" A knock at your door sounded, and the familiar voice of Bruce's friendly butler flooded your ears. 

A quiet sob slipped past your lips. Loneliness was consuming you like a disease, but who could you talk to that would be worth your time? Who would understand you, who would bring you back to life the way he always knew how to? 

A soft, "Mhm?" was all you could manage. 

You heard Alfred peel the door open with a creak, and the smell of steaming hot food invaded your nostrils, the mouth-watering spices wafting into your room and filling the space with warmth and love. He set the plate down on your nightstand, exchanging it for your un-touched dinner from the night before. 

"Master Wayne is requesting your presence. Would you...care to join him after breakfast?" The hesitance in Alfred's voice made your guilt ten times worse. You were bloated with regret and sadness―it was spilling through your mouth, your eyes. Your very being was drenched with remorse. 

"I can join him now," you say weakly. You didn't care much to make yourself presentable. Bruce had known both you and Jason's since you were children. You'd both been welcomed into the family under the same circumstances. Jason, being only a few years older than you, had been the first to make you feel truly at home. Everything seemed to revolve around Jason and it made you so...so angry. 

"He insists you take your time getting ready." The gentleness in Alfred's tone told you everything he meant to portray. Take all the time you need. There's something important he needs to tell you. 

When the door clicks shut, you don't know how, but you manage to crawl out of bed. The feeling of your feet on the scratchy carpet is foreign, even the hot water running down your body feels like a new sensation when you're able to drag your ass into the shower. Damn, how long had it been since you last washed up? 

The depression had a chokehold on you. It had sunk its teeth and nails bone-deep, slowly slurping the life from your veins. Your body obeyed nothing but sloth. It was a shock even to yourself that you had offered to meet Bruce downstairs. 

By the time you wipe the steam off the mirror and see yourself, you look the same as you had the day you buried Jason. Your eyes are still painfully puffy, your skin dry from tears dragging down your cheeks. You throw on suitable but casual clothing, and you have to admit, it feels nice to put yourself together after spending weeks sinking into your mattress, practically binding your body to it. 

Downstairs, Bruce is already waiting. Alfred has your coat ready. Your footsteps halt on the stairs as hesitance builds its way through your body. You can still barely look at Bruce without seeing Jason. You train your eyes on Alfred instead, hoping that you'll find his wrinkled face easier to bear. 

"What's going on?" Your voice cuts through the silence, echoing painfully along the empty walls of the manor. 

Bruce sighs, but you keep your eyes down or on Alfred. You can't look at him. You really can't. He takes your jacket from Alfred and holds the arms out for you. "We're relocating you." 

"What? Relocating me? What does that mean?" Confusion ebbs its way into your mind. 

"Both Alfred and I have concluded that it isn't healthy for you to stay here anymore. You need something new. Something―" 

You cut Bruce off. "What the hell do you mean by relocating me?" 

Alfred straightened. "There's an apartment Master Wayne has purchased within the city. We thought it might be better for you to be surrounded by people. There might be an opportunity for you to―" 

"To what? I don't need to be moved, I'm fine where I am. What about all the cases I've solved in the past? You don't think I'm fit to do it anymore?" You knew they were only trying to help. That this was the only way they knew how after you'd completely shut down. But your anger couldn't be snuffed out. This outburst was new. It wasn't you. "What? Are you trying to get rid of me? Am I too much of a reminder of him? Don't try to run away from your issues again, Bruce." 

You didn't want to say this. You didn't want to be so...mean. But dammit, your mouth was moving too fast for you to think. Even when Alfred and Bruce's faces flickered with sympathy and a strange sense of understanding, you didn't stop your insults. 

"I don't need to move. I don't need to run away." Your brows knit together in anger. 

"Then what do you need?" Bruce dared to ask. 

"I..." Your voice caught in your throat. I want Jason, I want his comfort. I want his words, his arms, his love and unconditional understanding. 

Bruce's stern features tightened. Instead of the father-figure you'd come to know, he was just a businessman right now. Cold, calculating, demanding. The strength it took you to meet his gaze was all you needed to snatch your coat and toss yourself into his vehicle.

The apartment wasn't shaggy, but it was homey. It felt much warmer than the emptiness you'd been accustomed to back at the estate. The ride here had been riddled with painful silence, you nor Bruce or Alfred daring to speak. A part of you wanted to apologize for your outburst. It wasn't their fault, they were just trying to help. You knew damn well that was the truth. 

One bathroom, one bedroom, a generous kitchen, and a balcony three stories up, overlooking the trash-littered street below. Gotham wasn't a beautiful place, but maybe it was just what you needed. To be around people, surrounded by the environment of people just as lost and as broken as you. 

The lack of elegance made you appreciate the apartment that much more. Bruce knew you didn't need anymore empty space to fill. And this...this was what you needed. 

Still, some wretched part of you couldn't stand the thought of decisions being made for you. You wanted someone to blame, someone to yell at. Something to take out your anger on. 

"We'd like to keep in touch." Bruce handed you a transmitter. One of his high-tech ones made just for you. It was an order, not a request. You snatched the transmitter from his calloused hands and stuffed it away. 

"How do you know I'm not going to kill myself now that no one is watching me?" You snickered. Your chuckle was humorless. It was a painful truth they hadn't thought of. Or...they had, judging by the tension pulling on their features. 

You didn't want to ask how or why. 

Don't make this about you, you scolded yourself. Gray emotions swirled within you. 

"We'll deliver your things tomorrow morning. Just allow yourself to get settled in." Alfred nodded to the transmitter. "If you need anything―anything at all―don't hesitate to reach out. This will be good for you." 

You must have pushed the awkward farewells from your mind, because somehow you ended up on the floor of your new apartment, sobbing at the emptiness. The void of your new home felt like a region in outer space that even an alien wouldn't belong to. Your mixed emotions, the pain running through your chest, it was all a constant reminder of what you lost, of who you were haunted by. Of the person you'd never see again. 

The emptiness inside of you was a permanent reminder of the person you had once loved the most, and how he had died thinking you were angry at him. 

This is good for me, you reminded yourself. 

Tears spilled from your eyes. 

This is good for me.

-

link to the fic on AO3 -> here

[rollinouttahere-writes]

could I get A E I J N for Ace please

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

Ace is a BIG quality time kind of a guy. He wants to do things with his darling. Like going for a ride on Striker, exploring a new island together, or even just hanging out in his cabin. He lives to spend time with you, and he'll drag you along to whatever he wants to do in the name of bonding time.

He's also a touchy guy. When out and about, he's either holding your hand or has an arm slung over your shoulder. In private, he's much more cuddly. You won't be able to get further than arm's reach from him. Every inch of him is pressed against every inch of you. Ace is strong as hell and just as delusional, so he'll make excuses for any lack of enthusiasm from you while easily keeping you in place.

It's all very intense, Ace doesn't do anything in halves. You are his everything, and he's going to make sure that he becomes your everything, too.

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

At first, Ace is very much keeping up a front around you. He wants and needs for you to think that he's this perfectly happy and normal guy. He has a sort of fake-it-til-you-make-it kind of mentality, but he never quite makes it. Eventually, cracks start to show, and then they shatter. His darling will feel like they have whiplash after witnessing their happy-go-lucky captor switch to the miserable, self-loathing persona.

Once the dam breaks, you become an unwilling pillar of emotion support. You're exposed to every facet of his extremely tumultuous character. It feels like you're being guilt-tripped to the extreme by him, but it's genuinely unintentional on his part. He can't help it. He needs to let you in, body and soul, even if he's dragging you in against your will.

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

Ace doesn't have a plan. He's going through the motions in life, and that also applies to you. He wants you to be there, sure, but he doesn't really have an end goal. He just wants to be with you forever. Marriage doesn't really cross his mind. Not because he's against that, he just feels like you guys pretty much are married already. What's a couple of rings and a sheet of paper really going to add to that? That being said, he would happily go along with it if you were fully in the throes of stockholm syndrome and brought it up, but that's really only because he's through the roof excited that you've finally accepted him.

Don't worry about him pushing to have children. While he does like children and is honestly great with them, he is terrified of actually having any. He doesn't want to pass along his problems to them and perpetuate a cycle of misery. That being said, he wouldn't be as opposed to the idea of taking in some random orphan that's in need.

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

Oh boy. Ace has intense jealousy issues. His deep rooted insecurity comes out full throttle, and it gets scary fast. Fortunately, it only applies to potential romantic rivals, so friends and family are safe at the very least. If he does snap, you don't have to worry about him hurting you, but that can't be said for whoever had the nerve to approach you. He doesn't give them a chance to back off. Once they've gone far enough to actually make Ace jealous, they are already past the point of no return. He'll beat them within an inch of their life, and possibly burn them to death if he was angry enough.

After this is over, and you are thoroughly traumatized from watching that, Ace pulls a 180 and starts babying you. In his delusional state, he believes that you are upset because that disgusting waste of life was bothering you. You'll learn quickly to avoid people when you're out and about with Ace.

Naughty: How would they punish their darling?

He can't do it. He already struggles with guilt from just keeping you with him. He could never actually harm you. The worst that can happen is that he might yell at you if you've been fighting back a lot and had frequent escape attempts. He'll be up in your face, and his yelling is genuinely terrifying after only ever dealing with his softer side. As soon as it's over, Ace feels like a monster and starts love bombing the hell out of you to try and make up for it.

[emryx]

When two NPCs with maybe 5 total minutes of screentime have you so obsessed you give them a child 🏃🏻

BEHOLD—my Teiago fankid, Elias de Riva (plus an info dump about him and his parents below because I’m very normal abt them but you can skip that and jus look at all the art if you want 🫣)

Realistically, it’s really hard to imagine a scenario where these two have a kid. But that’s what fanart and hcs are for 🙌 As of right now, I hc that around the time of the dialog from one of the crows abt Teia and Viago being "on again" is when he's conceived. But they don't really find out until after the ending of Veilguard. Any symptoms Teia might experience beforehand are just written off as stress or straight up ignored because of how much they have on their respective plates with the Antaam and the gods. Viago even calls her out for never going home and insists she takes a contract to “kill a vacation.” So I don't think it'd be too far fetched for her to look the other way until things are settled in Treviso again because of timeline stuff.

No clue how they react after the initial news rn but that can come later. They start being a little less childish with their back and forth break-ups at least once the seriousness of it all sinks in lol

Viago did not like the idea at first, I know that much. Mans was STRUGGLING with Elias in the early stages. Babies are loud, unpredictable, often inconsolable little heathens that he can't analyze or have a consistent system for. It would drive him nuts. A tiny human who can't yet care for itself and constantly needs to be held and directed, paired with his touch-aversion, OCD, and need for set routines? Yeahhh…Teia understands, but on one hand that woman just went through 9 months of her own hell and she's shoving that boy into his arms sometimes regardless of his bad days LMAO

It helps, in the end. Pushes him to gradually get used to it over time. Viago starts to realize there is somewhat of a system to the whole dad thing and fatherhood grows on him because I said so.

He holds a lot of resentment and hatred towards his own father. As a bastard of the king and one of his drunk mistresses, I doubt Viago’s upbringing was too great. The whole “demon teeth” comment was enough to hint as such. He wouldn't be thrilled about taking care of a baby, but the thought of entrusting his son to nannies? Strangers?? No. That's something his dad would and did do and he’s better than him. This is his kid; He doesn't care if it's gross, he'd rather feel uncomfortable sometimes for the sake of Elias’s comfort than stoop as low as the king.

On top of spite, the paranoia with poison extends to Elias in a way; one of my favorite hcs I’ve seen is Viago being exposed to assassination attempts on the king or his mistresses/servants while he was growing up before joining the crows, whether it’s via stories or witnessing first hand. The thought of entrusting Elias’s life to anyone else gives him flashbacks to being a child himself, scared to eat or drink anything prepared by anyone because of how many times others were killed that way around him. Even doing extensive checks and handpicking a trustworthy nanny is not reliable and doesn’t guarantee safety. We love a paranoid dad.

Teia on the other hand? | think she'd like a family tbh. Maybe she didn’t react well to first finding out she was pregnant, but otherwise the idea grows on her quickly compared to Viago. As an orphan, she didn't get much of a family—the crows became her family, Caterina as her "nonna" and some of the older Talons as her weird uncles. Being able to experience what she never had with a child she can ensure has a good life feels fitting for her character. Heals a bit of her own inner child too, yk? 🫠 She’s such a caring woman despite her occupation and she’d make a good mother. Scary, but good LMSKSKX

Life as a crow is harsh. Being the child of not one but two Talons?? On one hand that kid is very protected but on the other he has a huge target on his back. If Viago was worried about people thinking House de Riva and House Cantori had an alliance, I can only imagine what a wholeass child would stir up. They both would prepare him well for the future in their own ways. It’s not canon to him, but the thought of Elias being ridiculously resistant to poisons because Viago started building his immunity up so young is funny to me 😭

Anyways ramble over. Some creative liberties were taken, such as his eyes being more golden like how Teia’s are described in Tevinter Nights. I may give Elias his curls back because he looks goofy next to Teia and Viago with his emo hair JAKAMC

I love their little family…

[silviakundera]

Melody of Golden Age ep 1-2 watch comments

"Even a ghost claiming lives has personal desires."

Empress Dowager ruling behind the curtain

Head of the Imperial Guards!ML is slightly unusual, that's more commonly the role we see in second male leads/supporting character who backs up the ML.

But because they've made him the ML, he's of course Super Respected & Very Serious Business Guy

I appreciate how OTT melodramatic the ML is. His intro is The Double-esque.

I also appreciate that we can actually tell that armor is supposed to be heavy.

Decent costuming & sets - not historically accurate but the story isn't trying to be. It looks decent (not just cheap fabric & props), creates a sense of time & place. You can tell the clothes have a sense of weight, like they should. tbh my expectations were low, so I didn't expect it to look so good.

So the guy over the Inspectorate is a dick. Noted.

ML has the backing of the Empress Dowager. So tons of political players resent him. A bit precarious.

FL is non-descript but that's not necessarily a bad thing. She just acts like a normal person. After just trying 2 dramas where the actress does this thing where she opens her mouth & eyes wide as she talks and constantly looks unsure/startled and almost sounding-out her words, it's refreshing to see an actress just... talking

Assassination attempt! FL is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Inspectorate dude most definitely a dick.

LMAO the slo-mo on the ML and the not-at-all-scary dogs 😂😭

ML was the son of a convicted official, huh? Who rose to captain of the guard? not bad, my dude, but who was his benefactor and will they turn out to be SECRETLY EVIL???

FL knows ML from somewhere but is he pretending not to remember, because he just that dramatic

Young orphan boy wants to become FL's disciple. He's cute and hopefully not Secretly Evil (look, SOMEONE is gonna be secretly evil, let's just face facts)

FL is gonna be sister in law to ML but is that truly all she "remembers" about him? ugh her sister has that cutesy way of speaking that grinds my gears. Please!! don't purse your lips and talk wide-mouthed like a child 😭

FL family are not fans of marrying their fav daughter to the dramatic guard leader. FL's concubine mom: "It's quite good to be ignorant and uneducated!"

so there's a reason ML doesn't want this marriage bestowed: the prime minister can threaten their family, pressuring the married in daughter to spy on ML and share info

but engaged sister has fled with a scholar! 😱 how predictible! Except our ML and FL already met, so she will need ML's participation in the subterfuge

LMAOOOOOOOOO ML cannot move a finger without slow mo and an orchestra. can't even trot his horse down the street 😭 buddy is just going for an evening ride stoppppppp

ML is being so omnious and unnecessarily threatening, he knows that girl fled right?

The way they have ML and FL face off so far isn't bad, compared to other low-grade idol dramas - he is above her in status and the way he speaks to her very much reflects that but it never feels to me like he is treating her like a child, simply a lowly constable (he's just That Bitch). She asserts herself with frustration & anger, but she doesn't throw temper tantrums, stamp her feet and pout.

Bad guys are in masks. 🕵

Oh yeah, I knew it - ML is betting on the bride's family to cancel. He knows that 3rd sister won't show.

FL just like, "I'll be the bride" - girl I know ya'll don't want to die for defying the monarch but he literally knows who u are. Like you've had 3 conversations and he knows your name. What's the plan??

lmao he shows up just to be intimidating and point a sword in her face. I would try to sell him on fake-spying.

Huh. He actually doesn't need any convincing! Doesn't press about deceiving the monarch and lets it go. There's been multiple indications that he's a drama queen who had created this image but he has a soft side underneath. He's given her a way out twice now when it would have been easy & convenient to let her die.

ML is right that this marriage isn't much of a threatening conspiracy when everyone knows what's up. He's ridiculous but also sensible.

I hate her sister-friend, do not stay PLEASE go home. you are on my last nerve.

oh naturally ML and FL met as children and there's a token. there's always a childhood token.

ML can't even walk into a room without dramatics asdgghjkl

tbh I feel like he is actually a lot nicer about things than he could have been. other than some threatening, he's just gonna let her live there as long as she doesn't spy on him.

[ghost-bxrd]

Dragon AU idea, Nightwing is the one who re-taught Dick to smile and be emotionally venerable. If the boys are still orphans, when Bruce first adopted him he was still worried about what the young king wanted from him. So when he was still suspicious of him the tradition was every official member of the royal family would get a dragon when they came of age. So he gave Dick his egg even if younger then normal, if he still didn’t trust Bruce by him giving it to him the boy would still find a companion in the dragon.

Dick coming from a different land didn’t know this, and was understandably confused what he was given. Bruce explained it to him, and Dick was actually interested.

When the little dragon hatched it was a long process but it taught the young boy who lost his parents overtime to value the past but to remember the present.

(Side note: the little dragon I imagine was known for playing pranks and being a little snot to Bat, hanging off the larger dragon and head butting the older much to its chagrin. Also chasing staff much to Bruce’s headaches too.)

When Jason was adopted, both Bruce and Dicks dragons had made the young peasant boy excited when he’d see his for the first time. As both talked highly about them as both dragons helped them through their times of grief.

That’s why it stung more when his was given away. That was HIS. But just as much the other way when all they could see was the small egg that would never hatch…

Ouch, yes, that would sting a LOT 🥺

There could be so many variations to a dragon rider au depending on what you’re going with. But most of it would boil down to Jason‘s feeling of betrayal over having his dragon stolen 😭

[bluepenstemon]

1,011 years ago, the divine warriors died, signifying the start of a new era.

most guards leave home at 6 years old to become pages at the guard academy, which is located in o’khasis. they, then, become squired at 11 and are either squired in o’khasis by an o’khasisian guard or they finally go back home to be squired by a guard there. at 16, they go back to o’khasis to be tested on their skills and if they pass, they get to become a full guard and go home or start traveling around to find a village to protect. some guards are assigned villages, some go home, and some wander around; it depends on the guard.

garroth gets enrolled in guard training at 6 years old, to become the general of the o’khasian army. he becomes a squire at 11, then graduates from the guard academy at 16. garroth and nicole are both 16 when they fake their deaths and run away from their respective villages. garroth, after meeting azura and finding out she is from a small town miles away from o’khasis, he goes to brightport to hide out. then, he finds an even smaller village of phoenix drop and becomes a guard there, certain that his family will never find him. it takes him 5 years to become head guard of phoenix drop, but he’s been head guard for about two years when we meet him, so he is 23 when we meet him and was thus born in 988.

garroth is 2 years older than zane, who is 3 years older than vylad. and thus, zane was born in 990 and vylad was born in 993. zane is 14 when garroth “dies” and vylad is 11. vylad actually dies when he is 15 and becomes a shadow knight in 1,008. garroth is devastated when he hears the news that his brother has died while he is gone and worries about his mother, but decides to stay away. zane is 21 in 1,011. i haven’t decided whether shadow knights age slower, age normally, or don’t age, so we’ll figure that out at some point. for now, we’ll go with they age normally. therefore, vylad is 18 in 1,011.

garroth meets zenix at 16 when he moves to phoenix drop. zenix is an orphaned boy, who garroth adopts as his own. zenix is 5 years old when garroth meets him and thus was born in 999. garroth looks after him for a year and then zenix decides he wants to be a guard just like garroth, so garroth sends zenix to the guard academy. he comes back at 11 to be squired by garroth. he is 12 when we meet him in season 1.

aphmau arrives in the fall of 1,011 (the year starts in spring, we’ll be using the calendar for my original novel just to be easier for me). no one knows how old she is, certainly not her, but when donna does her physical evaluation to make sure she’s not injured or sick, she gauges aphmau to be about 20, so they say she was born in 991.

dale is older than garroth and is 25 in 1,011, meaning he was born in 986. molly is a year younger and is 24 and was born in 987.

brendan is 18 in 1,011, so he was born in 993. kiki is 2 years older than him, so she was born in 991 and is 20 in 1,011.

we’ll say it takes aphmau about 8 months to become lord of phoenix drop. usually, villages wouldn’t just accept an outsider, certainly not only after 8 months, but phoenix drop is desperate and aphmau is really helpful.

when aphmau becomes lord, she tries to persuade the villagers to get married. she specifically targets dale and molly, who she see have crushes on each other. she matchmakes them and they get married in 1,012. 4 months later, they give birth to brian.

so apparently, aphmau adopts levin before she meets laurance and i want brian to be 16 when he betrays phoenix drop, so everyone gets stuck in the irene dimension in 1,028. in my last few posts, i had levin being 4, but in minecraft diaries, he is starting to read full sentences when aphmau leaves for the irene dimension, so we’ll make him 6 when she leaves. this means levin is born in 1,022.

in 1,022:

garroth is 34 (zane is 32, vylad is 29).

zenix is 23.

aphmau is 31.

dale is 36.

molly is 35.

brendan is 29.

kiki is 31.

aphmau meets laurance soon after she adopts levin. laurance is a year younger than garroth, so he was born in 990. he also goes to the guard academy at 6 and becomes a squire at 11, going back to meteli to be squired by one of the guards there. he becomes a full guard at 16. 5 years after, he becomes head guard of meteli. so when we meet him, he’s been head guard for 11 years. he is 32 when we meet him.

cadenza is laurance’s younger sister. i don’t quite know how old to make her, because i want her and laurance to grow up together, but she’s also treated like a child when we meet her. maybe she’s 4 years younger than laurance, so she was born in 994 and we meet her at 28. like i said in my last post, aphmau does remark that hayden’s overprotectiveness is weird because she’s a grown adult.

we’ll say aphmau meets nana a couple months later in 1,022. we’ll say nana is 20 in 1,022, so was born in 1,002.

alexis and kyle are born a year after levin in 1,023.

donna and logan get married in 1,023, after alexis is born. donna was born in 995 and is 27 in 1,023. logan was born in 994 and is 28.

nicole is 36 when aphmau meets her.

we’re gonna age dante up a little from the previous posts. he’s gonna be 20 in 1,024, so he was born in 1,004. he graduated at 16 and has been wandering for 4 years.

this makes a 16 year age gap between him and nicole which is less icky than it was, so i like this better.

levin is 2 when aphmau adopts malachi, so she adopts malachi in 1,024. malachi died 919 years ago in 105. he is 7 when he dies, so he was born in 98. he is 924 years old chronologically when aphmau finds him, but physically 7.

aaron is 4 years older than aphmau, so he was born in 989, so he is 35.

lucinda is 30 when aphmau meets her, so she was born in 994.

yip is 3 when aphmau finds him, meaning he was born in 1,021.

katelyn is 35 when aphmau meets her in 1,026. she was born in 991.

brian is 16 when he kidnaps nicole.

the war between phoenix drop and scaleswind occurs in 1,026. everyone gets trapped in the irene dimension in 1,026.

in 1,026:

garroth is 38. (zane is 36. vylad is 33).

zenix is 27 years old.

aphmau is 35.

dale is 40.

molly is 39.

brian is 16.

brendan is 33.

kiki is 35.

levin is 4.

laurance is 36.

cadenza is 32.

nana is 24.

alexis and kyle are 3.

donna is 31.

logan is 32.

nicole is 38.

dante is 22.

malachi is around 9.

aaron is 37.

lucinda is 32.

katelyn is 35.

leona is a couple months old.

then, a 13 year timeskip happens to everyone except: aphmau, garroth, laurance, aaron, katelyn, emmalyn, and kenmur. it is now the year 1,039.

zenix is 40.

dale is 53.

molly is 52.

brian is 29.

brendan is 46.

kiki is 49.

levin is 17.

cadenza is 45.

nana is 37.

alexis and kyle are 16.

donna is 44.

logan is 45.

nicole is 51.

dante is 35.

malachi is 22 (chronologically 934).

lucinda is 45.

yip is 16.

leona is 13.

dmitri is 7.

nekoette is 6.

rollo and lello are 5.

luca is 4 months old.

i hope this is the last time i make this post.

[fictional-orphan-smackdown]

PINK VS. PINK, GO!

All propaganda and what each competitor is from under the cut

Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney)

The case in which his father died is the root of all the tragedy in the first 3 games. He even thinks he killed his father at first which is very sad and he has lasting trauma from the incident (his father died in an elevator during an earthquake. edgeworth is shown to panic and shut down during earthquakes or something similar like airplane turbulence and he avoids taking the elevator whenever possible)

Miles Edgeworth is the most repressed individual you'll ever meet. He is a chess player and everytime he has a chess board he puts the red pieces (him) cornering a blue piece (HIS RIVAL/THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE). He told the aforementioned rival his ex girlfriend died by telling him "her metabolic processes are concern of only historians". He dresses like a victorian child. He is a steel samurai fan. Almost christmas means it wasn't christmas

Sakuya Sakuma (A3!)

OUGH okay hello I’m gonna yell about my little guy here. Obviously he’s an orphan; parents died when he was really small, passed around to different family members, and BOY does it affect him. He’s not colossally depressed or anything but it does give him abandonment issues, a general sense of loneliness, and a latent fear that if he’s too sad or angry then he’ll get sent to live somewhere else. Even after he joins his live-in theater company, though he does start moving past it there. Despite all that, he always strives to be kind and caring and cheerful, yes in part because he felt like he had to be but also because he just generally is. He’s so very loved in the place he’s at to the point that a number of grown adults (he starts the series at 17!) openly admit that they look up to him. TRULY one of the characters ever I’m so incredibly normal about him

ok so i havent been caught up in years so forgive me if i get the details wrong but he's just a ball of sunshine despite all he's gone thru (multiple foster homes, never really feeling like he belonged anywhere). like he literally put his everything into acting because it was the only place he could go that wasn't back to a foster home (the company has dorms for the actors), to the point where he was doing "solo" shows (he had a bird as a supporting actor) just to bring in enough people to keep the acting company from shutting down completely. also it's the way that he FINALLY found a place to call home and people to call family and he was SO DESPERATE to hold onto that when his fellow troupe members threaten to leave (at least once for each of them for a minimum of 5, but only one at a time. u would think they would catch on at some point and not do that). also the sleepover cg in act 1 makes me feel like crying like they're finally on the same page and ready to work together and they look so comfortable and vulnerable with each other and it just AUGHH because they only did that after sakuya decided to sleep on the stage on his own and got caught by another troupe member who dragged in the rest of them too like hello?? crying

[wheelsvoid]

HOME ; STRANGER THINGS

⇢ you don’t have a place to call home, or a family, and you keep it a secret from your friends. however, they find out and find a way to help you without your knowing

masterlist

genre: platonic, angst with a happy ending

word count: 1,674

warnings: one curse word, and the reader doesn’t have a good life outside of school so keep that in mind ofc

request: “Heyyyyyy for a platonic stranger things imagine could be like an orphan and friends with the gang and no one knows about Rs's situation but El looks for r one time and finds out about Rs's bad living situation (maybe homeless?) and the crew rally around their friend and hopper adopts r?”

tried my best, here you go!

Jealousy was something I was very familiar with. I knew it well enough to call it a friend, but I hated it enough to wish it would leave me forever.

I never knew myself to be such a jealous person until I made all the friends I did. I was typically quite kind, and forgiving, and I only got angry when justified. Still, my jealousy never left me.

All my friends had homes, and at least someone to go home to. I had nothing and no one. Their lives weren’t perfect, but the little voice in my head always told me that mine was worse, even if it wasn’t fair to compare.

I found ways to hide my lack of a real life. I often stayed at Lucas’ house, or Mike’s. I had sleepovers, and their parents didn’t mind. I stayed long enough to look as though I was hanging out, but I left before they could think to call my mother or father.

It was embarrassing to depend on others for a bathroom, or a bed, or food, or anything necessary to live a normal life, but I had nothing else.

They never had to know, anyway.

I was the first one at Starcourt Mall today, seeing as I had taken the early bus. I watched as all my close friends left the large vehicle with smiles on their faces, smiling back at me when they saw me leaning up against the wall.

“Y/N!” El ran up to me in excitement. She gave me a hug, and I laughed as I hugged her back. When the boys got closer, with Max by their sides, Lucas, Will and Dustin each gave me a high five, and Mike gave me a fist bump with a grin.

“What took you guys so long?” I raised a brow, sending a teasing grin as we made our way in the mall. “I’ve been here a whole hour longer, waiting.”

“Oh, we’re so sorry that you had to wait.” Lucas sympathized, dramatically holding a hand over his heart.

“It was Mike’s fault, anyway.” Max said. “He got into an argument with Nancy over who got the last pancake.”

I laughed loudly. “Typical.”

And the energy was up the entire day, too. We went to the movies, sneaking through the back thanks to Steve (who grew more regretful for letting us do so the first time every time we saw him). Afterwards, we went back to Scoops Ahoy to each grab an ice cream.

I was glad for my job, from Tuesday to Saturday every week, so I could pay for my own ice cream. I worked after school each day, not having to worry about a curfew or anything of the sort. I only had myself, and the longer I worked the better. I liked feeling as though I was in a normal environment for a teenager, even if it was just a café.

On the way out of Scarcourt Mall, Max turned to me. “Hey, Y/N, wanna go to your house this time?” We typically went to one of our houses after our meet ups, and hung out the rest of the day. However, the thought of doing so this time scared me. I had no place to call home. “I just realized, we’ve never been.”

For a moment, my eyes were wide and I went pale, but I relaxed a second later. I played it cool. “No, thanks. I’d rather go to Mike’s, I wanna see Nancy anyway. And my house is a mess today. Maybe another time.”

At this point, I was digging my own hole. Another time? I couldn’t keep denying them. They’d figure it out eventually.

Max, Lucas, Will and El frowned in confusion, but Dustin and Mike were blissfully unaware of my slip up. “Sounds fun.” Dustin cheered.

And it was fun. I spent as long as I could at their house without seeming lost, or alone. I tried my best to fit in. And I was hopeful that I did.

How could I have known that I’d worried the others, leaving them to talk as I left to go fill in for my coworker on a Sunday?

———

“I’m worried about Y/N.” Will admitted. “They were acting… weird.”

“I noticed too.” Lucas sighed, leaning forward from his spot on the couch downstairs.

“Wait, what do you mean?” Mike frowned in confusion.

Max turned to him, raising a brow. “You didn’t notice?”

Mike stared, “no…?”

“They looked…” Max had to think about it for a second. She had to think of the right word. Then it hit her. It was fear that she’d seen. “Scared.”

“Why would they be scared?” Dustin asked. “We go to each other’s houses all the time, right?”

“Not Y/N’s.” El said. “We’ve never been.”

For a moment, everyone was silent. They were either lost in their thoughts, or unsure of what to say.

Will spoke next, sounding hesitant. “Are they okay?” His voice was so soft, it could only be heard due to the quietness of the room.

———

After school the next day, Mike had come up to me and told me that El wanted to hang out at her house, but since I hadn’t given them my phone number, she asked him to tell me. I was glad that El wanted to hang out, and I was glad that she wasn’t scared to ask.

I told him I’d love to, and he grinned, telling me he’d call her and let her know I’d be over after school.

Since I had nowhere to go, I began my walk from school, all the way to Hopper’s cabin in the woods. It was a long, exhausting walk. But I was glad to make it before it’d gone dark (and lucky it wasn’t that long of a walk).

When I saw the small cabin, I felt relief. Despite my aching legs, I began jogging to the front door. I was more than excited to see El after not seeing her all day. It would be nice if it was safe enough for her to join us at school.

I knocked on the door, waiting patiently for it to open. Hopper opened it, and it wasn’t a surprise for me that it was him. He had to, to keep El safe from any unwanted visitors. He could play it off as the only resident in the cabin if he wanted to.

“Hello, Hopper.” I grinned. “Can I come in.”

Hopper smiled like he was expecting me, but there was something else shining in his eyes that worried me. “Sure, kid.”

I had always liked Hopper. He was kind to me, and grew kinder over the years, too. He was special.

As I walked in, putting my bag down that held all of my belongings, I looked around in search of El. I saw her door, which was opened only a couple inches, quickly guessing for her to be in there. As I took of my shoes, Hopper stood a few feet away.

“Before you hang out with El, would you mind if we talked?”

I looked up at him, somewhat surprised but mostly confused. As I finished untying my laces, I nodded, kicking off my shoes and getting to my feet. “Yeah.” I said, but it sounded like more of a question.

Hopper led me to the living room, and I glanced at El’s door which did not open any more. He sighed as we both sat down on the couch that fit perfectly in the room.

He was silent for a while, like he was thinking of what to say, before his voice broke through the silent space. “The kids told me that you seemed… off yesterday.” He said.

I held my breath. Had they figured it out? Did I mess up? How much did they know? How did they—

“They just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I stared at him, unsure if I looked as calm as I wanted myself to. I was sure I was showing some of my fear. Still, I nodded. “I’m okay, why wouldn’t I be?”

Terrible answer. Now he’ll never let me leave. Shit.

He looked at me, frowning. “Well, they told me that you’ve never given them your number, and that you never let them stay over.” He said softly, “and that you never talk about your family, and that you get nervous whenever they bring anything up.” He sighed. “We’re just worried, kid.”

I held my hands together, unable to look away from them now. I didn’t know what to say. Why had I gone silent? I’d never be able to play it off now.

But what if I needed some help?

“What’s going on at home?”

I chipped away at my blue nail polish, which Max had lended me. “I have no home.” I said.

I could feel Hopper’s eyes on me. “None at all?”

I let out a shaky breath. “None.”

He was quiet for a second. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I… didn’t know how.” My voice was quiet now. Gentle. “I didn’t want to ruin anything.”

Hopper put a hand on my shoulder, causing me to look at him. He looked sad, and sympathetic, but mostly heartbroken. “How would it ruin anything?”

“I didn’t want them to have anything else to worry about.” I said. The weight on my chest felt a little bit lighter. “I didn’t want to… make things worse, I guess.”

They already had so much to deal with.

“I promise you,” he made a point to look me in the eyes. “That nothing you could ever say or do would ruin anything. They would always help you. I would.” I couldn’t control the way my lip quivered, and as Hopper squeezed my shoulder, he asked me a question that made me feel like I could breathe again. “You want to stay with me?”

A tear slipped from my eye and I nodded, “yeah.”

He smiled softly, pulling me in for a hug. “Okay.”

[akasen-littera]

Some Mr. Verity backstory headcanons

Honestly, we know pretty much next to nothing outside of his life as the Mr. Verity and I believe this is rather on purpose: all there is to him is his endless dedication for the hunt to the paranormal for that all his life has been and probably will ever be, or so he believes, so I kind of thought about some hcs about his backstory:

His name is Abraham. I kind of hc'ed his name before as Theodore but when I saw someone pointing out that he is a foil to Abraham Strach, I believe Cellbit subtly pointed that his name is Abraham as well, since we know that in his driver's license is registered as "A. Verity".

There simply isn't a period in his life prior to the paranormal: His oldest memory is him, knife in hand and backed against a wall as he pants, staring at the blood zombie he just killed. He doesn't remember anything prior, if he had parents, family, nothing. A boy who came out of nothing and with nowhere to go.

The agents that found him reach the conclusion that he's an orphan or maybe the cult they killed claimed the lives of his parents too, it's impossible to know. As the order valued secrecy above all in his period, they just send him to an orphanage and hope that the kid somehow forgets it all and lives a normal life.

However, he knows about the supernatural, he could never forget it even if he tried, so he does a bit of detective work on his own and it takes years to finally find them again, but he does so anyway.

To say the least, the Ordo is in equal parts ashamed and astonished to have been discovered by a teenager, who all but pleads to let him enter, they refuse at first, after all, he's just a child, but after Verity gives them some strategic pointers on what to do on a mission, which ends up saving the lives of a whole squad of agents, they relent and let him enter as kind of an assistant.

Verity spends little time doing stuff that isn't related to the paranormal: he's either training his body or his mind and when the question of who's the most promissing sharpshooter, fighter or investigator of the Order pops up, the answer to that question is always Verity.

The previous leader of the then Ordo Veritatis was a man much like our Verity, being the one who personally trained him and was as methodical and focused as Veri. Still, in that period of time, knowing other agents identities was prohibited because of security and perhaps even self-preservation reasons, rule that the then leader of the Ordo Veritatis upholded.

As such, he was a kind of father figure to Veri, however, he was a bit emotionally distant but quite similar to his pupil in many ways.

Verity dedicates himself wholly to the fight against the paranormal because that is all that his life is and will ever be: He doesn't believe that he has a "future", he doesn't believe he could learn a trade and have a normal job, he knows that all there is to him is his talent (or perhaps talent is the wrong word, talent implies a natural predisposition, and Verity knows he worked to turn himself into whatever he is now, he chose this).

His first mission is uneventful, his group quickly annihilating the creatures that plagued a certain place, and seeing the sheer power of the group, they get drafted in more and more missions together. Verity knows he shouldn't, but... he grows curious about his teammates. One evening, in a moment of respite while in a mission, the topic of the masks is brought up and one of the rowdier and louder ones of his team thinks they're a fucking terrible idea that they honestly get on the way of his breathing and before any of them can protest, he yanks the mask off. There's silence at first, before another other removes the mask and Verity is stunned with the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen in his life saying that he agrees that the masks are dumb. He looks at the others, waiting for fellow disapproval only to see others taking them off. He's the last one to take it off and it's the actual first day he actually meets his teammates, the ones who he had been investigating and risking their lives together for months now.

Christopher Cohen, Aaron, Chizue Akechi, Francisca Parker and Arnaldo Fritz quickly become the most important people in his life. He knew it was arrogance and it could get you killed in the battlefield but he felt invincible with them, all of them working like the most powerful and well-oiled machine he ever had the pleasure of being part of. The life expectancy of an agent is... not great, but they were the legendary agents that won against any creature or cult no matter how strong. Verity sometimes even wanted for his next mission to be with them because he knew everything was going to be alright as long as they fought together.

However, the Annihilators, as they dubbed themselves, wasn't the only team he participated on and in many of those teams, despite the best of his talent and skill, it was not enough, people still died, he still had to report their deaths, give news of their ends to families who had no idea how their beloved ones simply... died. Verity asked himself all the time if there was more he could do to become smarter, sharper, strong enough to protect all of them and make the fight against the supernatural a little less frightening. The answer he often gives himself is "I don't know."

He tries to live on because of others, because of the image of the all-seeing strategist and leader of the Ordo, he tries to incorporate those lost lives in his mania to fight. If they can no longer breathe and taste and dance, he will take all those blows and pain that will never be onto himself. If they become a memory, he carries their memories like ghosts in his mind. It's all he can do: fight and remember them.

He feels guilty for surviving at times. Logically, he knows that those things are bound to happen in the battlefield, but he often feels that it should be him, the barely-a-person to die in the jaws of a monstrosity from the Other Side than... actual people with lives and future.

Arnaldo once told him that, despite his claims, Verity is someone who loves all of the agents of the order, and deeply, but he struggles to see that

Verity has a severe case of workaholism and survivor's syndrome. To work and investigate is both a way of deepening his perception that he needs to be punished for surviving and of dissuading his anxieties.

It's doesn't surprise anyone that he's appointed to be the next Mr. Verity, like it's a throne that he has earned ages ago, and yet, the news doesn't exactly fill him with joy, only responsability, his burden solidified. He accepts it in the name of all those who died before him, of all those who he remembers

That man needs to retire RIGHT NOW and spend time with his daughter istg

[blorbologist]

For the Spotify prompt: Ashton and either Essek or the Bright Queen with number 42 (the answer to everything)?

42. Kids Again, Artist Vs Poet

[Went a bit of a bittersweet direction with this but ohhh boy]

Ashton Greymoore isn’t an orphan. They aren’t really a ‘normal’ kid either, though. Normal kids don’t -

Wait. Hold up - maybe it’s easier to start with what Ashton is. Because Ashton is: a kid, sixteen as of a few days ago, a huge pain in the ass per his dad and the teachers, and really fucking confused.

They thought they had it all figured out. So what, they didn’t look like their old man - lots of kids didn’t! Didn’t change nothing! I mean, hypothetically he could be an orphan once - but who gives a shit about who those parents were. He has a dad.

Ashton Greymoore doesn’t know why he has the name though. Greymoore. Kids tend to match with their parents. Or at least one of them. When he asked, he just got a cryptic bullshit answer about the name being an heirloom. 

He has a lot of those - heirlooms. A wardrobe full of shit, like an old-ass helmet and a piece of yellow-painted metal. There was some cooler stuff in the dresser, but he might have gotten it all confiscated when he got caught with the immovable rod in class.

Apparently weird ass dreams are something else they inherited. Or were given. Whatever.

Except they’re popping up when he’s sure he’s awake, and when he’s fucking around with his friends, and when he’s playing hookey, and when he hears a storm overhead and when he tugs at vines on a fencepost and when he listens to howling late at night and when he sees a rat and when he’s eating cookies or scones or fish for some fucking reason -

Ashton Greymoore isn’t an orphan. They aren’t - they have a great family, and awesome friends, and all that shit. So why do they feel like they’ve lost everyone?

“Ashton!”

Of course they didn’t hear their fucking dad coming. They measure their breaths. Completely fucking fail to when the knock knock knock sounds right above their head, bounces off all the metal shit in here with them.

“I know you are in there, young man. Would you like to come out, or should I come in?” There’s a pause. “Or would you prefer I left?”

He doesn’t feel like giving an answer. Which is a mistake, because a classic fuck off would have solved his problems - but, shit, being quiet is concerning.

Dad doesn’t even need to touch the wardrobe to open the doors - Ashton doesn’t need to look up as the faint magelight flickers down. Really no point to it: his eyesight is way worse in the dark, just like how his ears are round and his skin isn’t purple.

There’s a flutter of robes as his father floats to the floor. A soft sound as he lets himself land. They’ve never been the hugging sort of father-son duo, but the quiet company is always a big relief.

“Ashton,” Essek says carefully. “I, ah. Am probably due to explain consecution to you.”

Send me a character / pair of characters / AU & a number from 1 to 100 & I'll write a little something inspired by that song!

[mylittlegemlins]

Spy x family hurt/comfort ideas for destroy your soul:

-loid and yor are expecting a child, anya is jealous that they don't love her as much as their own child.

-Loid, speaking seriously with Sylvia: " fuck it, I'm going to keep them and if you want me to continue being your star spy, you're going to give me missions that don't involve falling in love with women or adopting children, one is enough for me. "

-Loid thinks about the joy his wife and daughter bring him: God, when was the last time I did something just for… fun? Why I didn't do it befo-... oh right... This is a mission

-Loid wonders how Yor had never dated anyone until she was 27, then Yor interprets something very literal and Loid thinks, oh that's why.

-Since Loid saw that Anya had too much stress after the sandbox test, he is very worried about her mental health. Anya stares into space because she's busy thinking about what he thought. But he thinks that the poor girl she is dissociating due to a trauma and he tries to repair her with kisses and hugs.

-The mission ends on the night of a full moon, so Anya has no idea if her father plans to get rid of them, or how, or when, she just stays close to her parents for as long as she can.

-Yor begins to question if she is going to be married to Loid until death do them part, since she barely knows Loid... Well, she knows him a little... For a year... But she is not sure of her feelings for him.

- -Loid finally decides to take Anya to the doctor because bleeding from the nose every time you get overwhelmed by loud noises might not be normal. Anya is just terrified that the doctors will open her brain and see that she has her powers, somehow. he also discovers that she is very low in weight and height for her age and worries even more.

-you love me? Direct question to destroy the heart of the best spy in the country, especially if it comes from a child, especially if it comes from an orphan, especially if it comes from his daughter who has never lived more than 4 months with an adoptive family because they did not get attached to her. Answer honestly, she will know if you lie.

-The Strix mission ended. Loid abandons Anya and breaks up with Yor without much explanation. only to regret it 15 minutes later and run to find them.

-Anya obtains 7 tonitrus having already 7 stellas. And she knows that expulsion is closer than the prize. So she runs away from home.

- Anya is finally ready to tell Loid a little about her birth mother and the orphanage, and it hurts.

-Anya never had a birthday party because there was no budget at the orphanage. Loid is able to hiring even the boys who cry if that makes his daughter happy

-Yor is hospitalized due to a fight and telling your husband that you have appendicitis is easier than explaining to him that some criminals shot you 3 times in the hip and who the hell you're still alive.

-Bond has to bite one Forger to save them from some imminent danger he predicted but the rest of the family panics and gets very angry with Bond.

-"If you keep getting close to dangerous guys you are going to get really hurt one day." Ergo, Anya gets hurt.

-Did you know that adoptable children in real life know that their chances of being adopted go down as they grow older because most only adopt babies? Anya knows it.

-Loid and Yor have no choice but to sleep together because their daughter is terribly ill in the hospital and her last wish is to sleep with them together. Or she actually has a common cold and they took her to the emergency room because they panicked when her fever went up 0.1 degrees.

- Damian wants to hang out with Anya but he would never let Emilie and Ewen find out.

-Loid comforting Anya during an anxiety attack because he thinks it's because of her past and only he knows.

-Instead of directly saying that he wants to keep his family or give up being a spy, he begins by extending the mission for 4 more months, and then another 4 more. And when he realizes 4 years have passed.

-Yor asks Loid about his dead ex-wife because they will never go to leave her flowers or he doesn't have old photos of her and baby Anya. Loid has many photos to fake.

T/W torture

-Anya biological father is a voluteer or one of the scientist because she was made by artificial insemination so that she was born, Anya's mother was kidnapped from a rural town where her language was almost extinct.

-The scientists remove Anya's mother's tongue so that she cannot communicate with her other than through her telepathy.

-The scientists being really mad the first time that her powers didn't work during the full moon.

-Still has nightmares about the electroshock in the laboratory every time she failed the tests. Her parents try to console her but she can't tell them anything, even if she wants. still hurts.