#him not caring if a person may be a murderer too and might attack him back behind his back-

[n4talia-chaparro]

i know i gave you an ask not even a day ago but i just HAD to know: what would kupp do if he met my OC fizzy? (if u want a better drawing of her just go to my page but fake blood warning for that art i have lmao) (oh and also shes a phycopathic murder who kills ppl who find out abt her whole murdering thing :D) (she just got a lil too silly)

☁️||꒷꒦︶🍰︶︶꒷꒦︶∪∪︶꒷꒦︶︶🍰︶꒷꒦||☁️

Holy shit she seems pretty

Ahem so-

Gp!Krupp doesn't even know what to expect-

He may think a lady like her can't even hurt a person, well a man. Since he prefers killing the weak ones, the useless, and scared ones but I guess Krupp will struggle to fight with female murderer or.

It's weird to think about it-- Krupp will just shrug it off instead- I think?? Idk. The dude doesn't even know what he's doing, just him being unsure what to do- 💀

[tmnt-tychou]

2003 Romance/Mating Season HC

Rating: Eh...hard PG13? The turtles are ADULTS when mentioned in this HC.

Mating season for the 03 boys is thankfully brief of only a week and a half. They are pretty synced in their cycles and usually go through it all at the same time. When mating season hits and, if they don't have a significant other to expend energy and instinct on, they turn into fucking weirdos.

They become very twitchy and cagey, always eyeballing each other like each is going to attack them. If they didn't notice you there and you tap them on the shoulder, they will jump and give you such a wide-eyed look of terror like you caught them doing something bad.

And they're weirdly itchy. There are a few places in the lair that have big brushes fixed to the wall where they can scratch their shells. Usually it's the lower part of the shell that's the itchiest. If April visits during this time, she practically has turtles crawling over her lap. They want to steal her body heat and beg for shell scritches. It's not even sexual with April, they are just very uncomfortable and want to snuggle with her gentle vibes.

But then Casey saw how they were with her once and was like “Aw HELL nah!” so now April doesn't go down to the lair during 'their time of the year' anymore.

Leo

He is very careful with who he trusts with his heart and his body. You gotta WORK to get this man to open up to you and let you in. Leo favors patience and if you don't have any, it may not work out with him. He is a complex person and has a lot of things to say without using any words. He needs someone who is okay with silence and who knows how to listen to his language. For a long time, he's going to treat you gently, like a bomb that may go off at any time. He is not very good at opening up and letting people in. It takes him a while to learn. You opening up to him first helps set an example.

When he starts to trust, he is very sweet and attentive. He remembers a lot of random things you say to him, how you said them. He remembers certain times exactly the way you looked or smelled. He keeps a scrap book of you in his brain and brings them out to share with you randomly. It's how he shows you're important to him.

He will never raise his voice to you, even if he's angry. Yelling is what he does with his brothers. You're different. Sometimes it's maddening because you know he's mad, but he's being so annoying by staying so calm while you argue. Not that you argue much. When he's infatuated with you, he lets you get away with absolute murder. His brothers are very jealous of the girlfriend treatment you get when it comes to his patience.

He's kind of a pain in the ass during mating season. His territorial instincts go through the roof. Get anywhere near one of his brothers and he gets cranky. You could have the most mundane conversation ever with one of his brothers and he will still get annoyed. He might even growl at them. He will most likely insist you stay at your place and he will come to you during that time. That way he can have you all to himself and there are no other male turtle scents to annoy him.

While he's very alpha around his brothers, when the two of you are alone, he can switch from being on top to being submissive. Leo's hormones send him from one end of the spectrum to the other so he's very wishy-washy about what he wants. Sometimes he wants you to lay back and be his Good Girl. Other times, he'll want you to climb up and have your way with him. And while the rest of the year, he is very quiet in bed, you catch him when his hormones are high, he can get LOUD. Another reason he prefers to spend his season at your place. And he will pretty much live in your bedroom as a kept turtle for a week and a half if you let him. He'll bitch about you going to work where other males are. And if his brothers need him, that's too bad. He's BUSY. The only way his brothers can get him back home is if they start texting you. Then he will have to go down to the sewers so he can murder them.

Donnie

With Donnie, if you want his attention, you have to give a little to get a little. He is practically married to his lab, so if you want some of his time, you gotta pay a little lip service to his first love. Ask him what he's working on and show interest in his projects. He can tell when you're just being polite, so if you're genuinely interested, he will fall harder for you. Once you have given proper time to him, sometimes he will give you proper time back and sometimes you have to remind him that he needs to put time into the relationship now and the two of you have talked about this. If you show up with something specific for you two to do, you will have an easier time getting him away. In fact, if you catch him in a slump, he may be happy for the distraction.

He is a very sweet partner, if a little absent minded. He WILL forget your birthday. Don't mistake, he remembers the date of your birthday, he just doesn't know what day TODAY is. (Maybe not even what day of the week it is. “We're still in March, right? Is it Friday?”) You may have to remind him it's coming up. He will start to get better at it by setting reminders for himself because he doesn't want to disappoint you. It's just that his brain goes a million miles a minute constantly and that thought is but one of many vying for his attention.

He is not good at sex in the beginning. Which frustrates him because he's read all the articles and studied the human female body. Why are you not liking this, sweetheart? What am I doing wrong? He quickly learns that your body isn't a machine where he can just turn the nobs and press the buttons and he's done. It takes him a while to get that it's an emotional thing and he has to be in the moment with you and respond on the fly as you two explore together. He will start scheduling sex so he can practice, which is weird, but okay Donnie. And it turns out to work in your favor as YOU are his new project now and he is very, very focused on you. It's a nice change of pace.

He has the lowest libido of his brothers during mating season. He's usually too busy to even notice it. “Oh, it's mating season?” Pauses to check to see if his shell is itchy. “Oh, I guess it is.” He can ignore the urges for quite a while. Then it will hit him like a truck. He'll suddenly appear at your place, pin you to the bed, and have his way with you for a few hours. Then, while you're an insensate puddle of goo, his dumb ass will get up to go back to his lab unless you find the energy to yell at him to get his shell back in bed.

P.S. Donnie wants you to know the itchy shells have nothing to do with mating hormones. They molt their scutes shortly after. The two things just coincidentally happen at the same time.

Raph

Learning to be Raph's partner is a little tricky. He likes you. He likes having someone to care about and protect. (And he is VERY protective.) But there is also a bit of a feral cat in him. He's weird about being touched at first, especially if you touch him without him noticing. Before you two were involved romantically, he would do that thing cats do when they sink under your hand to avoid being pet. (He still does it sometimes.) He gives Soft For Only You vibes, but doesn't know what to do when you're soft for him. It takes him a while to figure out his shit.

Raphael is weird about touch and intimacy. He likes it, but he doesn't really know how to engage in it. He needs it to happen on his terms, especially when he's first getting used to it. He needs someone who is patient and is okay with letting him come to them when he's ready. But while he's getting used to it, he still wants to be around you. He'll say sweet things to you, make thoughtful gestures, all the proper boyfriend stuff. But the physical touch is something that comes with time.

He is a very fussy, persnickety turtle about sex, especially that first time. He'll come up with all sorts of arbitrary rules about what you can do to him and where you can touch. It's best to let him take charge the first few times. He's better when he feels like he has control of the situation. After a while, if you can manage to get him to agree to letting you take the lead, he will complain the entire time. But if you're slow and gentle, he'll enjoy himself and maybe let you do it again.

He does NOT like his tail played with during intimacy, even though it's typically an erogenous zone for the turtles. If you grope it without asking permission he will BITCH, maybe for days, about how you don't listen to him or respect his boundaries. If you talk to him about why he doesn't like it, you'll find out there is no deeper trauma or anything, he's just wired that way. He doesn't enjoy it.

If you show that you respect him and you tell him you just like to see his tail because you think it's cute, he may bring it out now and then and even let you touch it. But if you try to fondle it in a sexual manner he will immediately withdraw and tell you in great detail how you done fucked up.

During mating season, if he doesn't have a significant other, he gets a little quiet and melancholy. The hormones make him feel lonely. If he has someone who has his heart, he's going to be the most snugly you've ever seen him. Which is still very mild for regular standards. He'll rest his chin on your shoulder or lay in your lap so you can scratch his shell. You might even get a tiny bit of churring if you listen carefully.

He is markably less persnickety about touch during this time of the year. He's more focused on railing you, so you can get your hands on him all you want. (Though you will get your hand swatted if you go for the tail.) Then he wants to lay on top of you and sleep off the sexy times for a few hours. Because that was a lot for him. If you try to sneak out of bed, he gets grouchy.

Mike

This grown ass turtle is always going to be a bit of a child. If you're dating him, prepare to get pranked on a regular basis. His favorite thing is to hide in the shadows and jump scare the hell out of you. He even broke into your apartment to scare you there. You nearly murdered him and yelled at him for an hour. He said he wouldn't do that again...but he's totally going to do it again.

You're going to get dick pics whether you want them or not. They're not even sexy pics. He'll dress it up or put it on a pizza or some dumb shit. You will learn quickly not to open ANY pictures from him while at work. He will also sext you on the regular if you're into that, and be happy to dirty talk you. But it will also get stupid a lot, too. This man is incapable of being serious for too long.

Despite all the bravado and dumbassery, he's very gentle and vanilla your first time being intimate. He doesn't want to hurt you and is so afraid he's going do something stupid and mess everything up. He's pretty much a blank slate ready to learn. If you take the initiative and tell him what you like or which things you want to dry, he will do the same. The two of you can get up to all sorts of sexy shenanigans as Mike is down with whatever you're down with. When you both get comfortable with intimacy, sex with him is always fun and warm and a lovely way to bond with each other.

During mating season, Mike is the horniest of the four by far. (He's also the itchiest. “Oh my God, Babe. Scratch my shell. It's SOOOO itchy!”) If he's not trying to bang you, he's draped over your lap, begging for shell scritches. He will arch up like a cat and do a little shimmy for you. He has no shame.

He also gets super hungry. So it will be lots of sex and snacks in bed. He is going to be SO. Fucking. NEEDY. During this time. An absolute velcro turtle. If you have to go to work, he will whine and moan like a child. And will probably break into your place (again!) and writhe in your sheets and send you lots of dirty pics and messages until you get home.

Legit by the time his season is over, he is being a full pain in the ass with how needy and selfish he's being. But after the fog lifts, he realizes what a butt he's been and apologizes and makes up for it with acts of love and giving some focus on you.

[electronicdelusionstarlight]

You know, I was just thinking about the UA entrance exam.

Specifically, how terribly designed it is, but not for the reason they seem to give in the story itself.

Like, here's how it is: Aizawa is shown criticising the UA Entrance Exam once, during the Sports Festival. And the ONE criticism he makes, is that the use of Robot enemies during the exam would disproportionately affect people whose Quirk work against biological opponents, essentially.

His one criticism, is that the exam is not designed to also cater to people like him, and that's it. The way therefore it's set up, it'd be logical to assume he'd ask for a restructuring to the exam to remove the Robots and substitute them with live enemies, possibly Ectoplasm clones.

This is never brought up again, aside from maybe a stealth bring up during the mid term exams when they switch the exam from fighting robots to fighting teachers.

The exam is, and I just got to it myself while watching this video about how Copaganda paints police training and the relative risk police officers face on the job, set up in a very specific environment:

An empty town, where what is essentially a murder spree is taking place. The ONLY entities in the place, outside of fellow examinee, are robots that have been literally designed to attack everyone on sight, and that need to be destroyed to pass. The points granted from saving people are hidden, so they can be more "genuine" of course, and are, ultimately, also part of the problem.

Because here's the fucking thing.

When the fuck is that ever going to happen.

When the fuck, is a superhero, after their 5 years of Hero training in high school, then entering the work force without a need for a decree in higher education, ever going to find themselves in an environment where they can use LETHAL FORCE on civilian targets? With no restraint or care for collateral damage?

And where they are ENCOURAGED to kill as many criminals as they can, and NOT collaborate with other heroes? Because that's another thing, you need to steal points from other people to pass, by culling the number of limited robots, much like heroes are paid by the arrest and by popularity.

You do understand how fucked up that starts to sound right? The other, the enemy, is reduced as a caricature Droid from star wars, there only to kill and destroy, and against whom your only TWO methods of defeat are outright destruction or sneak attacks on their off buttons.

And here's the cherry on the shit too, because, AGAIN, when is that EVER going to be the case?

Do you know how many heroes show up in the first villain attack in BNHA?

Five.

Two are engaging a purse snatcher, three are doing crowd control, the Slime Villain, who may I remind you was guilty of robbery at a convenience store before he got the hostage, gets THE NUMBER ONE HERO, as well as those same FIVE heroes involved, of which only BACKDRAFT is actually doing anything.

Now, imagine you are a hero school, and you produce 40 heroes a year, just like every other hero school out there. How many of those heroes will see active duty, if the rate of crimes demand FIVE heroes to react to ONE criminal?

And people will say "but EDS, this mentality is later rewarded when All Might retires and it all falls to shit," Except NOT REALLY, because that's an externally forced situation caused by, and I can't stress this enough, a hundreds of yeas old NEET boomer who read too many Doctor Doom comics as a kid and decided to become a supervillain, the riots, the open air warfare, is only caused by AFO forcing the hand and inciting popular unrest, which is an unrealistic thing to expect off any society.

In one of the movies, Class 1-A is sent to open an hero agency on a small island with barely a village on it. 20 Heroes. Until the movie truly picks up, the best they do is help kittens from trees, and Bakugou, the sort of person for whom the Entrance Exam was designed, is useless, left in his tent like Achilles, the perfect cowboy cop who peeked in highschool and didn't realize just how much paperwork and dead time his dream job actually entailed.

So that's the ACTUAL Issue with the entrance exam. It take no account for any other mean to beat the robots but brute force, it takes no account for collateral damage, or the sanctity of life of your opponents, and it tests nothing but how good at ending lives you are.

Which is a problem when you're picking future heroes.

[lydscare]

ponyboy curtis dating/relationship headcanons pt.2

warnings/notes: ponyboy is a softie, half of these are about the gang’s reactions to y’all dating 😭; no warnings 🙌 (pony is a little insecure, though)

a/n: didn't realize that there's a word limit, so here's the second part to my ponyboy curtis dating/relationship hcs 😭

reader is gender-neutral / my masterlist 

BUT he may put his arm around your shoulders, specifically if someone’s flirting with you and doesn't know that you’re taken

hand holding and cheek kisses are definately a go-to pda thing !!

speaking of, he does always get a little red whenever you lightly peck his cheek, he gets this shy little smile on his face :))

random “kiss attacks” all over his face also leave him a blushing, laughing mess

possibly a little suggestive, but he loves when you kiss him down his neck too (in private of course ;))

you guys have had makeout sessions before though

the first time you guys were getting into it (making out, nothing else 🙃) he didn’t know where to put his hands. hold your face? place them on your waist? (heh, that rhymes) he honestly has no clue, so please help guide him through it :’)

behind closed doors and away from prying eyes though, he loves to cuddle

on rough days he likes being held but loves holding you just as much

ponyboy’s definitely held you, your head on his shoulder, laying slightly on him. he’s reading to you, his fingers gently treading through your hair. his voice is very soothing to listen to

there will definitely be days where you both go to the curtis household and just chill in him and soda’s room 

study dates would either take place in the library at school, or in his room on his bed

ponyboy was very nervous when he first introduced you to his brothers. they both mean the world to him, and he really wants you to get along with them

soda takes an immediate liking to you probably because he’s heard so much about you, before you and ponyboy were even dating. he’s interested in the learning about the person who’s stolen his little brother’s heart

“ah, the legendary mx. y/n l/n. i’ve heard a lot about you.” 

“all good things, i hope?”

“please, ponyboy couldn’t name a bad thing about you if he tried.”

“soda!”

one time soda walked in on you two cuddling and being all cute. pony never heard the end of it 😭

soda teases pony relentlessly for y’ll’s relationship, whether you are in the house or not 

“my baby brother is growing up so fast 🥹”

“soda, i’m 14–”

you two will just be heading up the stairs to pony’s room, and you’ll just hear soda’s voice behind you:

“keep it family friendly, you two ;)”

“shut your trap, soda!” 

“whatever you say, ponywony 😘”

darry’s had to step in before because it’s gotten so bad 😭

at first darry didn’t have too big of a reaction when he found out that ponboy was dating someone, more specifically you; not meaning that he didn’t care. just, with his very stressful and busy life, he dosent have enough time on his hands to be concerned about who his brothers are dating. he knew that pony had a crush, but didn't think much of it—until he actually met you.

the minute ponyboy introduces you to him

oh boy

like he shakes your hand, and you thought you offended him or something

“y/n? are you okay?”

*whispers* “i think your brother broke my hand..”

you thought he was going to murder you for even looking in pony’s direction

don’t worry

it may seem that way, but he would never

not even close..

he just wants to make sure that you don’t have any..ulterior motives

then he sees how much happier a person ponyboy seems to be just by being around you

and sees that you’re a sweet kid

and then he reminds himself that you and pony are just two young teens in love, and is pretty much fine with you from then on

admittingly, he was a little concerned that you might have a bad influence on ponyboy overtime, and make his grades somehow start to drop

but then he walked in on you and pony studying in his room and all of his doubts melted away since then

darry would also be the type to peek in through the door crack every now and then just to see you two interacting and being all cute and couplely. has seen you two cuddle up and take a nap together (he was like: 🥹)

over time darry definitely becomes some kind of a big brother/father figure for you

you often find yourself over at the curtis household; it’s just very homey and comforting in being there (despite it being loud, and messy most of the time)

whether it be due to the fact that you have a bad home life or simply because you like the place, darry always assures you that you’re welcomed there (soda says this too, obvi)

over time, ponyboy introduces you to the rest of the gang

you yourself are a little nervous to meet the group of greasers, but that only ends up making poor pony nervous also

“pony, are you sure this is a good idea? i mean, what if they don’t like me–”

“no. no. no. don’t say that. this is going to go great, you’re all going to get along swell and NOTHING at ALL will go wrong”

“pony?”

“yeah, y/n?”

“..you’re suffocating my hand, sweetheart.”

anways

steve’s pretty chill with you

two-bit teases y’all (ponyboy) relentlessly

then there’s johnny, the main member of the gang who pony really wants you to get along with (pony’s probably talked to johnny about you too ;))

and…you do!

it takes a bit, but johnny actually finds himself being easily comfortable with you and opens up quite fast, all things considered

the rest of the gang is also just as surprised by this, that’s when they knew you were someone special (what, with your good looks, humor, and charm ;))

pony’s just so so happy that two of his favorite people get along, and even more so that the rest of the gang seems to accept you happily into their little family

and if you end up hanging out with them over time, it’s even better!

pony’s literally crying inside, he got so lucky 🥹

(wait, i forgot about dally–)

dally obviously contributes to a lot of the teasing, directed to both you and ponyboy. 

“you’re growing up so fast, kid”

they can tend to be not very family friendly comments, which can make things awkward at times

“great i gotta ‘nother kid to watch out for. *mumbles* i hate kids, man.”

he pretends to be bothered by you whenever you end up taking along, but he’s honestly fine with it

he even comes to like you and you’re humor/personality :))

but anytime dallas makes you uncomfy with a particularly nasty comment or oversteps any of your boundaries, pony will tell him to leave you alone

dally is certainly surprised by this, but then sees that you’re helping pony be stronger in the way that pony’s not afraid of him anymore

despite him having more respect for ponyboy after any of these “protective pony” instances, he jokes about you two being sickening

he still has to keep up his “strong & tuff greaser that’s definitely not moved by two teens’ romance” front (stoic bastard–)

also, dally and johnny probably end up taking along with you guys on your dates (you end up having fun anyways though :))

in conclusion, the gang loves you, he gets you into books and you help him grow more happy and confident :))

#couplegoals, if i do say so myself

y’all make me feel so single, i swear 🥲–

[atopvisenyashill]

thoughts on the grand northern conspiracy theory?

it makes some points but i think most of it is deeply silly and relies on far too many leaps in logic and characters acting in a way they would never act all to push a “jon will be king” theory, which as i’m sure everyone knows, i am a big hater of.

The basis of the theory is that the Northern lords are purposefully playing Stannis & the Bolton/Freys against each other so they can take each other out, and free the North up for a Stark King & Northern Independence. That, on its face, I fully believe. It’s the details in the theory that I don’t fully buy into.

It’s basically canon that the Northern lords & ladies are really taking advantage of the chaotic politics & lack of a real centralized leader at the moment to make their own political moves. Some examples here include:

Arnolf & Cregan Karstark are explicitly doing this, something Alys comments on and something several other lords point out: "My uncle declared for Stannis, in hopes it might provoke the Lannisters to take poor Harry's head. Should my brother die, Karhold should pass to me, but my uncles want my birthright for their own." They don't really care about Stannis, they want Harry dead so they can have Karhold.

Alysane Mormont is potentially working off orders from her mother, when she says here, "Five, we were. All girls. Lyanna is back on Bear Island. Lyra and Jory are with our mother. Dacey was murdered." Even though as far as we know before that, all of Maege's girls were at Bear Island (except Dacey, who was with Maege in Robb's campaign).

There's the Umbers refusing to fight each other while picking two different sides, and this theory here that it was likely a plan between Mors and Hother to keep the Greatjon alive.

The Manderly Of It All re: very obviously using his granddaughter's anger as a cover for his own brutal plans for revenge and a Stark restoration.

The North is all clearly playing the game & attempting to oust the Boltons & Freys from power. I also don’t think the grumbling for Northern Independence would have died down since Robb died - if anything, after their King is brutally, viciously murdered, his mother’s corpse made a mockery of, his little Queen now a prisoner, and his sisters married off to enemies & humiliated, I imagine the calls for Northern Independence have gotten louder. This is a people that has suffered not just death and violence, but a lot of humiliation on top of that, and all of that is the perfect recipe for some sort of nationalist call for independence.

But the theory has. Some points that I just cannot co-sign because they make absolutely zero sense to me.

The idea that the only thing stopping Jon from being king is Jeyne being pregnant or the witnesses of Robb’s will being dead is just silly. He isn’t Ned Stark’s son, he is Lyanna’s! That puts Robb’s entire will in question, and you can bet your ass that there will be some grumbling or discussion about whether Winterfell should bypass Ned‘a line despite him having TWO true born sons and TWO true born daughters still alive, or whether it goes to Lyanna and therefore to Jon. The succession question is just NOT as simple as the meta makes it out to be because it completely ignores that Jon is, I cannot stress this enough, NOT actually Ned Stark’s son.

The meta is right that it’s likely Maege & Gallbart got a message to Howland because Theon notes that there’s been attacks by craggoman. But. Howland is one of - possible thee only - person left alive that knows Jon is Lyanna’s son. There is just no way he doesn’t have a strong opinion on whether Jon should inherit winterfell without knowing the truth.

Irrelevant but it’s really mean to Jeyne Westerling. Whatever role she may have - even if it’s to die in the prologue of TWOW - her life and her death are important regardless of whether she’s pregnant! She is the widow of a King, and if she dies by LSH’s hand, it’s going to be a huge point in showing us the violence in the Riverlands. Maybe the continued breakdown in the Riverlands, Lady Stoneheart’s anger, and Jeyne’s defiance of her family is not relevant to the King Jon pushers, but it IS thematically relevant to the plot thank you very fucking much. THE GIRL IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE BOY.

More relevant to this point is there’s just no way in fuck that Lady Stoneheart is trying to crown Jon. “oh she has bigger problems” she is going to crown one of her children if she crowns anyone, likely Arya, not her husband’s bastard who she fucking hated & asked to be banished to a glorified penal colony. Look at Brynden’s comments about Jon:

The Blackfish narrowed his eyes. "Did your father arrange for that as well? Catelyn never trusted the boy, as I recall, no more than she ever trusted Theon Greyjoy. It would seem she was right about them both.

Cat hates that kid so much she wrote letters to her uncle talking shit about him but we are supposed to believe this is proof she wants to crown him? When she's so far gone she's willing to kill Podrick and Brienne off a perceived slight against her? When she's heard several rumors that her daughters may still be alive and well? No. Don't buy it even a little.

Also, Brynden is flying Robb’s banner bc Robb was his family, because he loved Catelyn, and because what else is he supposed to do when he’s in the middle of a siege?? This point is silly and nonsensical.

Harwin as the Hooded Man - i mean. there’s nothing for or against this really, but also the Theon Durden theory aka Theon is the hooded man and doesn’t realize bc he’s having a psychotic episode, is much more believable to me & much more in line with everything that’s happening in theon’s chapter.

So like. Yes, the basic premise of “the northern lords are desperately looking for a stark, any stark, to make king/queen in the north, bc they are tired of All This Bullshit” is something i completely agree with. I do think it’s likely Maege has been in contact with her daughters, & that she and Gallbart made contact with Howland, who is about to enter the scene in a big way. But all that ish about LSH, the BWB, and Blackfish? Absolutely not. LSH is about Arya’s story (and Brienne & Jaime’s), not Jon. Stoneheart doesn’t care about the politics in Westeros; she cares that she followed all the rules and it got her family killed, so now she will break every rule there is to get revenge for her slaughtered children. she is Alyssa Arryn except she has the power to cause a lot of suffering before her tears drown her. she is not wasting her second life crowning jon snow!

[eri-pl]

Silm reread interlude 3: Lay of Leithian canto 6-7

TW: a vividly, suggestively but not explicitely described wolvish violence quoted at the end. Some Sauron-typical levels of wicked but I don't quote the worst of it.

Canto 6

We get another recap, about the Darkening. A description of Feanor's speech: "But all he said both wild and wise, half truth and half the fruit of lies that Morgoth sowed in Valinor". …so, for all that go buy listen to another tale, we are told.

Also, the Oath, in the version when only the sons swear it (and it sounds like they do it in Balariand?): "There their hands they joined in vows, those kinsmen seven, swearing beneath the stars of Heaven, by Varda the Holy […] Who calls these names in witness may not break his oath, though earth and heaven shake". The other names mentioned are the mountain, and maaybe Manwë?

Also, the oath is unbreakable. Huh. We are in a more ancient type of a tragedy, I guess. Well, we are in a fairy tale, but the Feanorians are in an ancient type of tragedy. (However, to be honest, the published Silmarilion too has this sentence with not much change.)

We get a list of them (A&A have different names): "…and Maidros tall (whom after tornment should befall) and Maglor the Mighty" So: Maglor is mighty, unclear if just in song, or he was buff. like him being buff. Also, is there even a single version of this list where Maedhros doesn't get his gloomy foreshadowing?

"Be he friend or foe, or seed defiled of Morgoth Bauglir, or mortal child that in the after days on earth shall dwell, no law, nor love, nor league of hell, not might of Gods, not moveless fate shall him defend from wrath and hate of Feanor's sons, who takes or steals, or finding keeps the Silmarils, the trice-enchanted globes of light that shine until the final night."

OK, so:

It seems like we are still in the Legendarium where Morgoth can create life. Or maybe it's more of a metaphor?

"no law, nor love, nor league of hell, not might of Gods, not moveless fate" sounds so chilling!!! (and is complete wishful thinking bs)

normal verbs, no lisp!

as has been said already, no mention of murder. But they do swear wrath and hate so it's not an improvement, it only makes the Oath easier to not break.

"The wars and wanderings of the Gnomes this tale tells not", says the tale among explaining to us the wars and wandering of the Noldor Gnomes for about 3 pages.

Fingon's banners are white in this version, not blue.

Beren goes to Nargothrond, as in the Silm periodically shouting that he is not a spy.

Either Tolkien really loves the adjective "everlasting" or… huh. anyway: "the everlasting fire of those enchanted jewels all know is cursed with an oath of endless woe, and Feanor's sons alone by right are lords and masters of their light. He [Thingol] cannot hope within his hoard to keep this gem"

And, moving on from the "everlasting", in this version the Oath of Feanor is widely known and Finrod assumes that Thingol knows enough to expect that the Feanorians would attack him. Huh. This does not mean that it is so in the canon, and I still claim that Thingol not knowing makes more sense.

Also, Finrod acknowledges that the Silmarils belong and answer to the Feanorians. Huh. What a mess.

But to each their due: @dfwbwfbbwfbwf you may like this part.

The rest goes more or less as in the Silm. Also, Celegorm has gleaming hair, so yes, blond Celegorm very likely. We get another repeat of the oath, with some variation (in red): "Be he friend or foe, or demon wild of Morgoth, or mortal child, or any that here on earth may dwell, no law, nor love, nor league of hell, not might of Gods, no binding spell shall him defend from hatered fell of Feanor's sons, whoso take or steal, or finding keep a Silmaril. Those we alone do claim by right, out thrice-enchanted jewels bright."

So, the differences:

"seed defiled" to "demon wild" — may be a difference of personality. Celegorm may not care about defilement at thisn point. May be just "sounds better".

"shall dwell" → "may dwell" — this is an important one! The Oath mentioned Men who were said to appear, but Celegorm rewords it to cover everyone who lives on earth (Dwarves, and generally stuff like Ents and so, who were not mentioned in the original Oath, because the feanorians didn't know they exist / will exist), changing the words to match the intent in light of current knowledge about the existing races.

"moveless fate" → "binding spell" Huh. this is a funny one. An "accident" on Celegorm's part? It was fate that brought Beren there, after all.

"wrath and hate" → "hatered fell" — May be poetry, may be just Celegorm preferring a cold, purposeful hate over the passion of wrath.

plural → singular: context. they are talking about a Silmaril, because Beren doesn't intend to steal all 3.

the ending: also very natural.

Celegorm talks about (if they go with Beren) Nargothrond covered in blood and corpses, and Doriath ruined by a battle. Which is clearly foresight, and, ironically, comes to pass even though the people of Nargothrond don't massively go with Beren.

Curufin, things go like in the Silm, people murmur, I love the choice of word, it telegraphs a lot to me [or anyone who knows the Book of Exodus. TLDT they're being wrong and thankless].

Also, Finrod's crown is a silver helmet.

Oh, and also I keep calling him Finrod, but his name is Felagund and Finrod is, in this version, the name of his father, whom we know as Finarfin. I'm sorry, I can't switch to this convention.

Canto 7

Beren and Finrod (well, Felagund) ambush the Orch (which is fine, because Orcs), and the Orcs of course have poisoned spears, because bad guys use poison.

Sauron mentioned! He is called Thû, but just like with Finrod, I don't think I can switch how I call him. Also: "and the road[…] he watched with sleepless eye of flame". Unclear whether it's a spell-security-camera, PJ style or just a poetic description of his actual eyes. Also, sauron never sleeping sounds very in-chaarcter.

Oh, and Men will worship him. When? "in days after". But when? In late Numenor? "and made him ghastly temples in the shade" which is not a thing in the Silm. But not yet, now he's Morgoth's second-in-command.

We get a chilling description of his necromantic minions: "hosts of phantoms and wandering ghosts, of misbegotten or spell-wronged monsters". I love the word "spell-wronged".

We get a description of his throne on the isle, which is "fashioned of blood-darkened stone". C`hilling.

They talk, Sauron is really creepy and explicit about Morgoth's plans for Lúthien. And realizes that those guys are not orcs, because they're not laughing. We get few of the most evil /creepy/whatever lines ever, which I will not utter here (2139 to 2142). Then he asks them whom do they serve, which is again quite chilling. And… were this kind of talk in the Silm, I may have had less problems with reading it with the emotional responses that Tolkien wanted.

And then he switches to a somewhat cartoon villain style: "Death to light, to law, to love! Cursed be moon and stars above! May darkness everlasting old that waits outside in surges cold drown Manwë, Varda, and the sun! May all in hatered be begun, and all in evil ended be, in the moaning of the endless Sea!"

My reactions to this (in order):

team Rocket reference! (Well, not a reference, but it reminds me of) :D

HUH. Either I don't get it, or this text can't figure out what it means by what, or Tolkien just loves poetic terms too much…. or Sauron talks about things he doesn't understand (which would be in character tbh). All seem likely.

you are over the top, Sauron.

Yes, he's got flaming eyes. OK.

Song duel! Finrod's song has some common themes with Lúthien's song when she was escaping from the tree: "freedom escape[..] the prison opening, the chain that snaps". Another reference to the emaning of the title of this lay. Songs of freedom are a repeating motive in this. And not only in this. The song-rescue trope also ties songs and freedom, freeing someone. Makes me think.

Finrod loses, we switch to present tense for one stanza. For some reason? Maybe this is a genre thing, a tool that you are allowed to use in a poem like this.

We end on a dark, but beautifully-described note: "From time to time in the eyeless dark two eyes would grow, and they would hark to frightful cries, and then a sound of rending, a slavering on the ground, and blood flowing they would smell."

"But none would yield, and none would tell." So, ok, we do end on a less-dark note, to be precise.

[bring-forth-your-justice]

Hiii !! I saw ur bsd request so if its okay can i request an Chuuya x reader where reader couldnt sleep tho they just went to the grocery store it was almost 3am but then they got attacked by an ennemy and chuuya saves them since reader is just a normal civil ♡♡

*Me deciding to write this at 1 am* I think I made this a little too comical at the start just cuz I’m laughing at my own inability to sleep… ever. The tone does shift slightly but overall it's not too jarring

I definitely took the request and ran with it so I hope it’s still to your liking even if it went in a slightly different direction anon!.

TW// Blood and violence

Word Count: 3.5k (yea idk why it became so long either)

Staring up at your darkened ceiling you wondered how the youtube video that prided itself in the title, “By the end of this video you’re guaranteed to be asleep!” failed in its one and only purpose. 

It was 3 am.

You had work tomorrow and you had counted about 137 sheep by now, not feeling any less tired than when you started. If anything you were getting antsier. You switched your sleeping position for the 30th time, hoping this one would change quite possibly anything about your current disposition. Yet, of course, nothing. 

So you got up, and in a fit of annoyance, you threw your teddy across the bedroom. You motioned to decapitate the other when you paused and recollected yourself. 

It was definitely the lack of sleep that was making you adapt your boyfriend’s mannerisms. 

His tendency to throw fits when things wouldn’t go his way was something you may have accidentally picked up. Realizing this, you hurriedly made the decision to go wash up and collect yourself before you began to copy his murderous stages in his fits. 

~~~~~~

You ended up wandering into your kitchen somehow. The lack of sleep was clearly affecting you because it felt as though you were periodically blacking out. While you showed some concern about this fact, you figured you would be fine when you got something in your system. Perhaps the hunger ate away at your capability to sleep peacefully.

The moonlight filtered into the room through the brief cracks in the blinds, creating subtle arrays. If only the tranquility of the room would aid in your endeavor to gain some respite.  

“Milk… yea… warm milk might do the trick.” You mumbled to yourself as you flicked on your kitchen lights and ushured out the dim moonlight. Trudging slowly towards your fridge you noticed the quaint roses that sat beautifully on the island. 

They were from your aforementioned boyfriend, Chuuya Nakahara. 

The previous comments regarding him would cause someone to have a mental image of a crazy, and possibly lethal, person. While they would be partially correct, he was more like a shouting pomeranian, a really sweet and loving one. He thought of you constantly and would check up frequently, especially since his work kept him away from you quite often. 

Actually, he had called around 1 am to make sure you had put away your work and gone to sleep. He really cared about you and truthfully it was endearing but you wished he worried about himself too. He was obviously calling you at 1 am so he wasn’t getting much sleep either. You brought up your concern to him softly. Turns out he was on a stakeout mission and would most likely be unable to sleep. 

Ironic, really. 

You weren’t doing anything and yet you couldn’t sleep either. Must’ve been a soulmate, string-tying-your-sleep-schedule-together thing. Next he comes over, you’re going to treat him to some princess-styled pampering. He really needs a break.

After adding some water to the rose pot, you returned to your previous mission. Just because you were in discomfort and dying internally did not mean the flowers deserved the same treatment.  

Opening the fridge you were greeted to the sight of nothing. 

There was no milk. 

And suddenly, you could really care less if you took after your boyfriend. 

~~~~~

With sleep deprivation fueling any and all organs in your body, you made your way to the local grocery store. You groaned slightly at the wind that tickled your body even though the light jacket you wore. It wasn’t cold by any means but the wind at the dark of night always felt sharper, as if warning everyone to be alert.

Chuuya always warned you against going outside at night. It was an obvious thing to be wary of, yet it was something deserving of more concern in Yokohama. 

The city itself was riddled with crime and destruction. It was especially dangerous for those without abilities of their own. With no method of self-defense, at night, the streets became wolves prowling around, hungry for their next victim. And oh were there a surplus of potential victims to be found in Yokohama. You just had to be careful to not be one of them. 

Typically, you would heed Chuuya’s warnings, he practically knew Yokohama’s underbelly like the back of his hand. But the grocery wasn’t too great of a distance away from your apartment, and the walk to it was already feeding into your senses; clearing your mind. You figured the recent stress from your work may have subconsciously been pricking at your ability to sleep. 

If you were quick about it, there really wouldn’t be any need for concern. Plus you were doing your best to be keenly aware of your surroundings. Any sound that echoed through the streets had you quickening your pace and checking yourself, particularly regarding the location of your wallet and phone. 

You would be fine, sure you had no ability but that didn’t mean you were stupid. If anything, living in a city like this had caused you to pick up some tricks here and there. 

Chuuya himself had a powerful ability, and sometimes you would be lying if you said you didn’t want one like it. With his ability, no one could really touch him, or you for that matter - should you be with him. 

Although he wasn’t particularly a fan of that idea. The thought of someone using you as a possible leverage against him left him in a cold sweat. That was the last thing he wanted; his position putting you in danger.

Thinking of your boyfriend’s constantly anxious character when it came to you made your mood shift to one a little more bitter. He’d lost enough in his life, he shouldn’t have to worry about you being another person he’d lose. You would make sure of that.

Your thoughts returned to your surroundings and your destination. You figured you could pick up some supplies to cook up something for Chuuya too while at the store. 

It was a win-win situation, you thought. And with that, plus a slight cheer in your step, you quickly made your way to the grocery. 

~~~~~~

‘All right, that should be it.’ You thought to yourself as you walked out of the mart. The wind was the same as before; scraping your cheek the moment you faced its direction. 

‘Tonight had no reason to be this cruel.’ 

It really was. 

An hour of sleep was all you asked for, and instead, you got handed a side mission to get food. But hopefully, it would be the last thing you needed to catch some sleep.

“Chuuya I hope you’re getting more sleep than me, even if it’s a power nap.” You mumbled into the night with your head facing the stars in fatigue. At the very least, you exhausted a lot of your energy, feeling more ready for sleep now than 2 hours ago. 

You traded the receipt in your hand with your apartment keys in your pocket. The small jingle they made was the only sound heard in the vacant parking lot of the grocery, even the register in the store was as silent as a ghost.   

That all-consuming silence did feel a bit odd. 

A chill went up your spine as you slowly registered the eeriness of the night. It was a feeling akin to being stuck at a graveyard at a time you knew you shouldn’t be there, or rather, you weren’t wanted there. 

“Um excuse me miss-” 

CLANG

The groceries you held were scattered on the ground, some rolling a brief distance before stopping. The voice of the employee had left you a bit more than just ‘frightened’. Perhaps the fact you were so vulnerable was playing up your nerves to a degree you couldn’t possibly calm them; thus, resulting in your current predicament.  

Still shaken from the sudden appearance of the employee, you bent down to grab the dropped products. You noticed another hand helping you; it was the employee. 

“Ha, you’re lucky there wasn’t any glass in there huh-” He seemed young, maybe around your age. He appeared energetic, even in the dead of night with presumably no sleep. He was the only one working the night shift too, you truly sympathized.

“Y-yea, looks like that’s the only lucky thing to happen tonight..”

“My apologies for startling you miss, that wasn’t exactly my intention.” He handed you the last product which you promptly put back in your bag, awkwardly shifting away in an attempt to end the conversation and go home. It felt as though you had already lost two lives in that scare alone, you might as well run home now and preserve the last one. 

Besides, the fact that the boy had snuck up on you without making a single sound in the already stilled night was a tad unnerving. 

“You seem really tense miss, something wrong?” He seemed to shift closer to you, possibly in concern. Yet, the dullness in his eyes had your hand twitching; the jingle of your keys serving as a reminder of where you had to be.

“Ah- you know it's just late and I don’t think anyone could particularly say being alone at night is something you can do while being carefree. Um was there something-”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Uh- what does-”

“Where is he?”

“H-huh..?” 

Your heartbeat filled the void left by the lack of noise in the night. Suddenly, you weren’t just shaking because of the salient winds. 

There was a swift motion in front of you; blurred by your panicked eyes and the speed at which it took place. He stood there, more or less emotionless, whereas your eyes were as wide as plates, staring back at him in horror.

“UCK-!!”   

You dropped down to your knees, clutching your stomach. That warm feeling that filtered out from your body left you cold; the sound of your heartbeat slowly disorienting you.

It was blood, you were bleeding. 

The boy threw a dagger your way, so fast you had no time to process what he had done. If you were shaking before, you were certainly incapable of stability in your current condition. You weren't even sure if you were capable of vocalizing a coherent sentence right now; your voice felt like a dimmed candle, barely heating its radius.

“Wh…wh-y..” You managed to croak out, wincing at the pain simply talking caused you. 

“Eye for an eye. Isn’t that how it works?” His head shifted its weight onto one side as if he was questioning you. Yet there was barely any sign of human emotion in his eyes. He began walking towards you, the sounds of his steps echoing in the barren lot. 

You couldn’t move your head up to look at him, so you had to settle for the sight of his feet making their way over to you. 

‘Badum Badum Badum’

If he didn’t finish you first, your incessant heartbeat would. 

Even with your eyes a little clouded, they stayed locked on the feet of the boy who appeared less lethal than he was. His feet stopped before you. The feeling of his ominously desolate eyes staring you down wasn’t something you could miss. With fear locking you into place, you couldn’t move to look him in the eyes. 

It was then he knelt down to look you in the eyes instead. Being able to fully inspect him now, you realized, his eyes weren’t dull. 

No not at all.

They were simply so full, full of unbridled fury that it was hard to pinpoint anything else in his eyes. That far-off look was just a mask for whatever he held underneath. And what was held underneath was hatred, and for you, it seemed. 

“Quite the catch you got. That boyfriend of yours I mean.” He brought a second dagger next to your cheek. The tip threatened to cut you should you move, and with how much you were shaking, it had already pricked you.

“That Port Mafia bitch cut down my brother not long back, and the law of equivalent exchange states that to obtain something, something of equal value must be lost. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I followed through with what he started.”

Ah yes, the Port Mafia. 

It was hard to ignore what Chuuya did, who he had to cut down, and how his actions affected others. After all, you considered his sins to be yours the moment you gave your heart to him. His work wasn’t something you couldn’t change about him, it was something you accepted was a part of him. You loved Chuuya, he was deserving of your love. And so, you were willing to pay for any sins he committed, because, at the end of the day, you wanted him to have peace...

“Being an assassin has its perks you know. I’ve been silently watching you and waiting for this perfect moment. Once you’re dead, I’ll give him your body in the same condition my brother’s- URK-!”   

...But for Chuuya to have peace, you knew you couldn’t die. 

Mustering all the strength in your body, you swung your keys at him as fast as you could. The keys left a gash on his neck, one which he was clutching with his hands now. The only opportunity you would have to escape with his hands now preoccupied.

You quickly made space between the two of you and ran as fast as you could, stumbling slightly as you got up. The groceries were discarded the moment you got up, they would only slow you down. 

Your pace was bad and your vision was even worse. 

You knew he would find you if you even tried running off in the direction of your home. Although an alleyway was the worst place to go, it was the only place that was close in proximity and provided coverage from the streetlights. 

There was no way you could run anymore. You’d lost enough blood by the time you found an obscure corner to slump down on in the alleyway. The dagger was the only thing holding back the rest of your blood from escaping your body, and it still wasn’t enough. 

The heartbeat in your ears dimmed down to the point you could finally hear the quiet of the night, but you weren’t sure that that was a good sign. Your hands felt cold and weak, but still, you moved to grab your phone from your pocket and called the only person you thought could save you.

“Ch-chu..ya..” 

The ringer continued to resonate in your ear. Not knowing how long your hand would have the strength to hold onto the phone, you prayed he would pick up soon. 

Your hope of him being with you seemed to dwindle with each ring, until finally, a sound. 

“Y/N-!”

Although you could barely move or feel anything, your head still turned to that warm voice you knew and loved. With the phone still ringing for him, there he was, running to you. You weren’t sure if the lack of blood was making you see things too, but you really hoped that was him, even if it felt impossible.

“Chuuya… y-you came..” He got to you in the blink of an eye. Particularly since your blinks were becoming just as slurred as your voice. You felt his arms wrap around you, gently lifting you up off the ground. 

“Of course I would- Hold on, shit-! I’m so sorry, let’s get you patched up quick, just- just hold on okay?! Please, please..”

“Don’t… worry.. I won’t .. leave you..” Before you lost consciousness, you felt his lips graze the top of your head, alongside a drop of what felt like rain. 

His grip on you tightened as you let go of your consciousness. 

You were in safe hands now so you could finally rest easy.

~~~~~~~ 

When you next awoke, it was to the sound of repeated beeps and the hushed murmurs of nearby staff. It was the hospital. Your head turned to look at the heartbeat monitor which had wires that trailed back to your body.

‘Well that explains the beeping- good to know I’m alive at least.’ 

While the beeping was the first thing you took note of, you paid extra attention to the red-headed man resting his head in the space next to your legs. 

‘Looks like it wasn’t a dream then..’ You reflected as you hung your head back, snug against the pillow. 

Truthfully, when Chuuya appeared before you, you’d thought you were seeing things. After all, you had just called him seconds prior, but here he was, resting rather peacefully next to you. 

So he had come for you. 

The moment you attempted to move your torso in order to reach him, an excruciating electrical current shot through you, forcing you back to your original position. Your shuffling woke up your resting visitor as you continued to wince in pain. 

“Y-y/n-! Let me go get the nurse-” Chuuya shot up, as though he wasn’t just resting just seconds ago. Even through your hazy gaze the panic and frustration on his face was something even a blind person could see. 

It had been some time since you had last seen him this way, and you couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness. He was panicked.

 “Chuuya wait! Please stay..” You spoke breathlessly, it felt as though you were slowly drained of all your energy the moment you awoke.

You tried to move your hand to grab him, but all you could muster was a hapless imitation. He stopped before he could grab the door and carefully, he turned back to face you. His eyes were flushed and his head lacked that oh-so-familiar fedora, so his hair ended up appearing messier than it would look any other day. 

Least to say, he looked as well-put together like a bride whose wedding plans all fell short. 

Even if it hurt, you chuckled anyway. A soft smile played on your lips as Chuuya nimbly took his place next to you, hesitant to make eye contact. This was the most quiet you’d seen Chuuya since the day he drank so much wine that he was passed out for a whole day. And again, you laughed, not letting your abdomen’s current condition restrain you. 

Now Chuuya was looking at you like you had grown another head. At that, you tried to collect yourself and finally speak to him.

“Chuu listen, I know you probably think what happened was your fault, but don’t blame yourself ok..? Look at me right now- I’m still alive, a little bruised up- but fine!” 

He looked as though he was angry, but you knew better. He was in pain. He was regretting everything and recalling every mistake that led to this outcome. 

Your eyebrows unconciously knit themselves together in disquitude. You turned your gaze away from him momentarily, reflecting, while he continued to stare at your absurdly white bed sheets. 

After a pause, you starting again. This time, more somber and raw in your tone.

“Thanks for saving me… I… I don’t know what would’ve happened had you not come in time- I mean I think I held up well enough right?” You turned back to him nervously chuckling. 

The air in the room was becoming more thick with the words Chuuya couldn’t say. The wait was intense but you just wanted him to say something. If anything, to know he was okay too. 

“It- I… I was done the mission.. I was going to come over to check up on you when I saw what the bastard had done … and I saw you running- I’m not done with him yet, he’ll get what he dished out tenfold but-” Chuuya paused. His head tilted up to finally meet your eyes. 

“I’m sorry..” 

He mouthed some words but each one was held back as if he was unable to pick what he wanted to say most. So you began to say what you knew you had to express.

“Truthfully, Chuuya- I.. I was so scared. Everything feels like a haze right now because it felt like a horrible nightmare. I don’t want to think about it because I know if I do, I won’t stop shaking..” And now, your hand was quivering at the thought of the night prior. Chuuya’s gaze fell to your hands which he swiftly wrapped in his own, protecting them from everything that plagued your mind. 

“...I’m still scared… but I feel safe with you by me. I wasn’t going to let him take me down with him… because I want to be with you from now until forever.” 

Coming so close to death, you knew the words a person had to say before they regretted not saying them at all. It was better to express every weakness and strength, emotion and secret before everything fell down and all you were left with was the words you held tightly on the tip of your tongue.  

When Chuuya came and held you again, careful not to touch your wounds, the two of you took solace in the beating hearts of the other. Chuuya was scared to lose you, you could tell as much from his embrace. 

“I’ll always come for you.. I’ll always come and protect you. I promise that with everything I am.” 

And if he could read your touch - and you certainly wish he could - it would speak volumes of your love and trust for him. But most importantly, it would tell him; 

‘I’m not going anywhere.’

[mocknerd]

So my idea of a crossover between Death Note and Durarara!! would be to have Mikado find the Death Note.

A lot of people think Izaya would be the Light Yagami figure, but Izaya isn't the master manipulator genius type that a lot of people think he is. Yes, he can and will manipulate and he is certainly bright, but not in some grandiose, "I have everything set up and planned" sort of way. He likes to have the image of that, but it's not who he is. He prefers the randomness of it all. He loves humans, and therefore treats them like the Sims left on free will, with the occasional little tweak on his part. On that same note, Izaya wouldn't kill random people. He could care less if some people get hurt by his actions, or if they decide to kill each other, but killing is not his forte. The only exceptions to his style are those he dislikes (eg. Shizuo, Saika, maybe Celty) and the odd jobs that require him to take such actions in order for him to get paid (eg. the Amphisbaena arc). In these cases, his actions are more direct and involved, with him at the centre of the danger, which may involve the death of a person.

So instead I see him playing as a Ryuk figure to a much more naive and increasingly unpredictable Mikado. Watching to alleviate boredom, and occasionally poking in to get the ball rolling more.

Mikado with a Death Note is a much more interesting concept, because I can see him actually using it, granted with some hesitation from the start. While Izaya may get rid of any non human characters he considers in the way of his love for humanity (would it work on a demon sword?), Mikado would start using it in his reach for an extraordinary life. And we've seen how far he can push for that in the last arc.

I can see him finding it in the park, in the Mika Harima arc. While I considered giving it to him later, I think right from the start could help him settle into the idea of murder for the right reasons. Of course he wouldn't use it right away. Either he considers it a prank, or sees it as wrong to just test it out and kill a random person, or even just wish death upon them. He would feel tempted when he thinks Seiji and Namie killed Mika, but until he has all the evidence, he would resist.

In the Saika arc, the urge would grow stronger, but of course nobody knows who the actual Slasher is, so he has no way of confirming the books abilities by killing them. Takashit would be a good contender, but there is no final push moment there that could lead him to it.

I think the best contender for the first victims would be Horada and his group, right at the end of the Yellow Scarves arc. After chasing Anri (I know its anime only, but lets include it) and getting Masaomi severely injured, I can see Mikado asking who did this to them, and writing his name down in a sort of silent fury. It's not until the news confirms that Horada and his group were found after dying of heart attacks, when the horror of what he had done sinks in for Mikado. He would quickly hide the Death Note, vowing to not use it again, and won't touch it for a while, at least until the Akane arc.

During this time, I can see Izaya being curious as to the cause of these men dying in such a way at the exact same time. So he might investigate it.

On top of that, I can see the Death Note once belonging to Celty in this universe. She is a sort of grim reaper after all, so if she's lost her head, it's not far fetched to believe, that other aspects of her roll were lost too. Maybe Nebula and Yagiri pharmaceuticals had it, but saw no use for it, and threw it away. Maybe after seeing Horada's death on the news, Celty realises what's happened, remembers her Death Note, and rushes to try and find it before anything else happens.

Perhaps Izaya notices this and decides to try and find it himself. And this is what leads to him finding out it's Mikado who has it, at about the same time Aoba offers to help purge the Dollars. Izaya doesn't really do anything about it, and instead decides to watch how things go. And to prolong it a little, he decides to keep Mikado's secret identity as this universes "Kira" safe.

And of course, after being given the idea to "purge" the Dollars by Aoba, Mikado then begins to consider using the Death Note to do so. His next group of victims are the ones who kidnapped Chikage's girlfriend. And from there, he starts killing anyone in the Dollars who misbehaves. This goes hand in hand with his hope for the Dollars to become like an urban legend. Whether or not he sticks to the murder as a last resort, or he just ignores Aoba as an option I have left undecided. I say this as if I'm gonna write the full thing.

1. Mikado kills the guy who attacks Shinra. Izaya, for once, takes a disliking to his actions, because he wanted to make the guy suffer more for what he did. He doesn't specify why though. Mikado, maybe getting a little more unhinged and tactical at this point, warns Izaya that he himself has hinted at causing problems in the Dollars, and that it would be a lot easier if he wasn't around to do that anymore. Izaya has a rare moment "oh fuck, what have I done, oh fuck, this kid might kill me."

From there I don't know fully how things would go. But I do have some vague ideas for big dramatic moments and how other characters might fit into this. Some of them may be illogical and not add up, but I just think they would be cool ideas:

Can't decide if Aoba: knows about the death note, and is in a similar position; doesn't know, but is part of a growing follower base for this universes "Kira" because it's shown to benefit him in some way; or just straight up dies quickly because of endangering Anri.

Assume that Mikado has a way to ensure nobody else gets ahold of the Death Note, because if either of these guys decide they have had enough and steal it for themselves, that would just be boring.

3. Shizuo gets killed because of acting up one too many times and negatively impacting the Dollars image. Yes there is irony in that.

2. Mikado is definitely posting as "Kira" on the Dollars site, confirming why he killed certain people and ensuring the rest of the Dollars stay in line.

It also emphasises how it might be giving Mikado too much of an ego with how much power it is giving him over some of the most notorious people of Ikebukuro, further cementing the Dollars into the history of the city.

It also gives further fuel to Celty finding her Death Note.

5. The van gang could give some funny references, but they are also there to find the killer. Because they are ruining what was once a decent community.

4. Vorona wants to find and kill "Kira", because if they can kill anyone, including Shizuo, then surely they are a worthy opponent. She also has the added benefit of having a fake name.

Other "Kira" hunters might include: Simon, Akane, Masaomi and the Awakusu.

But those are all my ideas for it. They sort of came to me a while back when someone in the fandom was talking about Death Note. Can't remember who, or what about, but I finally got to have my chance to talk about it.

[leconcombrerit]

I keep putting off watching recent episodes of DFF not because I don't like it but because I'm legit scared. I just watch spoilers. No further emotional involvement for now.

I put a lot of faith in this show and I'm slowly starting to think that maybe I should try and snatch it back while I still can. Although "think" might be a bit of a stretch. It's more of a survival instinct at that point.

Look, I don't care what trajectory it takes for most plot points and characters and ships and twists. Whatever is fine, it's done a good job so far, I'm in for the ride. There's just one thing I want -okay, maybe one and a half.

And it's for Non to have a good ending, preferably New as well.

And no, "everyone including them gets a bad ending" isn't a valid alternative for me. My love for these characters themselves put aside, it's the message and symbol that matter to me. I'm weary of the usual way characters like them are treated. Mentally and emotionally exhausted. I think I saw some Until Dawn comparisons at some point, and what happened in Until Dawn is exactly what I fear will happen in DFF too. Because it usually does.

Non, who's mentally ill and kept rolling with the punches over and over again, and New, who lived through trauma after trauma since his brother's disappearance, would traditionally snap (Non's aborted attack during his breakdown, New's whole story arc) and die.

It doesn't have to depict them as villains ; it can be a soft, sad and respectful tale of how people get abused and cornered and go too far as a result. So far they lose sight of themselves. But how many stories have you seen where they get a good ending ? The opportunity to heal and live ? Not many. Redemption and peace can only be achieved through death. It may be "realistic", but I find it very funny that media defaults to realism about this specific matter almost all the time.

What's worse, Phee and Jin are presented (so far, I'm still holding my breath) as the more "morally right" characters. Those you could see getting a good ending more easily.

And if Non, and preferably New, don't get a good ending, Phee and Jin absolutely musn't get one either.

They both have their flaws, sure, but how many times have we been shown that Jin is the least horrible person in this friend group, if not a downright good one at heart ? He's painted in a different light, always singled out. And Phee ? He's selfless, he's not a murderer, he's brave, he's kind, he regrets, he forgives, you get it (unless my theory of choice is right, but I'll go with what is explicitly told here). They both display values that everyone else lack.

But they got it served on a plate in comparison with the others. Those values and principles were developed in an environement that let them grow. We don't know much about their financial situation, but we haven't seen them struggle -unlike Non, New, and Tee's families. Phee talks to his dad and goes to him for help ; what about Por, who gets abused and is visibly scared of his father ? What about Non and New's relationship to their parents ? What about Tee's sick father and criminal uncle ? Where's the support system ? What about Fluke, always on his guard, entrenched in the sidelines, too scared to even allow himself to even think ? I'm leaving out Top (who I think represents gratuitous, unassuming evil) and White (who doesn't fit in the same equation for now) here, they give me nothing to work with so far.

Most of them don't have the strenght to walk the "right" path. They lived through shit much harder than Phee (who, by the way, chose to be with Non knowing, or even because, he was riddled with issues, and for whom Non's fate didn't break other parts of his life) or Jin (who seemed to live in his cute bubble before shit went down with Non, unaware even of his friends' true colors). They get a boost from the start and an easier middle, so of fucking course they'd be better armed to fight for a better end. Non was fucked from start to finish. He didn't stand a chance. New didn't stand a chance. Por, Tee and Fluke probably did, but not those two.

And it's not fair. Life isn't fair either, sure, but I can't help but repeat myself : it's fiction. And if even fiction tells you that if you're too damaged, and/or if you stumbled on a bad path while running away from what kept hurting you on the righteous one, then the only peace and redemption you can hope for is death, then I don't want it. Give me hope, not another "bittersweet" catharsis where it's always the same ones getting the bitterness and the same ones getting the sweetness. I don't want to be told I can be forgiven, I want to be told I can win and heal.

On a sidenote, I'm more lenient when it happens in fantasy settings. The events that lead to the character's ultimate fall and broken mind (sometimes rebuilt completely crooked) are far removed from reality. Your whole family was killed, you fought so many wars, truly horrible things, you name it. But in DFF the trauma is painfully rooted in reality. Many viewers, me included, had trouble watching Non's bullying. His breakdown, his loneliness. This is why I'm so demanding with the show. And as the end is closing in, I get scared.

HOWEVER I still have hope. A lot of elements I noticed could point to and ending I could accept. And, you know. It's not like going along with the trope I described is bad. It can be perfectly executed. It's a fine direction to take. Hell, I used to live for this narrative as a teen. It's just not for me anymore, I guess.

... Well, it was supposed to be a short post, apologies for the long rant, but I needed it off my chest.

[honeylikesyanderes]

Yanderes with a blind reader

thanks for requesting anon!

i hope this is what you were looking for and hope you enjoy!

18+ mdni

asks/requests are still open!

------------------------------------------------------

karma:

karma would be a lot more protective with a blind darling

he would be the type to keep and extra eye on them

and make sure that they're always comfortable whether they're in public or in private

he's also the type to glare at people who make rude comments about darling because they are blind

and if they came up to you and tried to make you feel bad, he would verbally berate them

which is strange because karma doesn't speak a lot

God help whoever dares to lay a hand on you tho

they will be wiped off the face of the earth.

karma is definitely more gentle with a blind darling

especially if they have a history of people bullying/being mean to them.

even tho karma isnt one to be touchy or talkative, he'd let darling touch him a lot and he'd speak a lot

so they can know and really enjoy his presence.

(he also has this super secret fantasy where darling touches his face very sensually while trying to feel his facial features.)

if darling's vision can be corrected via surgery and darling is willing to pursue that route, karma will be 100% willing to foot the bill.

bhodi:

i think bhodi would really appreciate a blind darling

cause he would love that someone liked him for him

rather than his conventionally attractive looks

it really boosts his self esteem

bhodi would become more possessive tho

because darling fell for him bc of his personality and his voice

he wouldn't want anyone to take them away from him

(this is also partly because bhodi has self-esteem issues and doesn't think he's good enough for darling)

that being said,

bhodi would probably turn up his clinginess and stalking from 90% to 200%

he'd try and follow you everywhere (even into the bathroom if he can)

and he avoids leaving you alone with anyone else

he might even force you to quit your job and lock you away in his home

he tells you its ''for your own good'' and that ''the outside world is dangerous''

he just loves you too much to lose you darling

and he doesn't mind utilising your vision as a reason to keep you all to himself forever.

memory:

memory is curious

he hasnt really interacted a lot with humans, due to the fact that he cant cope with their stench

and he's in a little bit of awe when he realises that you cant see.

he's definitely the most gentle with darling out of all of the yanderes

and he is a lot more caring

he will aggressively defend you when his father says something rude about your inability to see

and he most definitely doesn't mind murdering anyone that deems you 'unworthy' or calls you rude names.

he will try to find methods to cure your vision problems

because being blind in a royal court is very dangerous

especially due to the fact that you're the mate and going to be the ruling partner of the next kings

people would attempt to hurt darling

and since memory is pretty good with inventions and science, he'll work something out

and if all else fails, then he'll turn you into a vampire asap

it may not make your vision perfect

but it will make darling's vision at least 70% better

darling would have to wear glasses at most.

max:

max is a little demon.

so dont be surprised if he lies to darling about things going on in the palace that they cant see

he'll be a little bit like bhodi

in the sense where he'll use darling's inability to see properly to increase their fear

then he'll utilise that fear to make darling dependent on him.

from lying about attacks, to telling fibs that they were almost assassinated-

max will do anything to keep himself in control.

he just wants to be wanted by darling.

he just has a terrible approach to it.

(he may also use his lies to trick darling into sleeping with him)

on the other hand, max isnt all bad

when darling eventually falls in love with him, he will be more open to them

he lies less and less

and he will be more vulnerable to them

he will feel a sense of closeness, because (like bhodi) someone that he calls his loves him for him.

he will kill whoever says anything rude about darling and their sight

doesn't matter if its his parents or a maid or a member of the court.

they're dead.

when darling gets part of their vision back after being turned, max becomes more protective

tho he's a manipulative ass and secretly a softboy, he doesn't want any harm to come to darling

no one is allowed to see them unless he or memory are there.

and he also always carries a spare of darling's glasses in case anything happens to the pair that they wear regularly.

[satashiiwrites]

Choices and Regrets, Chapter 11: Hostile Merger

yeeting this because I’ve hit a natural chapter break. This fic is getting finished by mid July so help me.

Title: Choices and Regrets, Chapter 11: Hostile Merger

Fandom: 911, Dark Matter (Blake Crouch book/2024 tv series)

Pairings: Evan “Buck” Buckley/Eddie Diaz, Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz/Evan Buckley (yes you read that right)

Fic summary:

If you could go back and change the choices in your life, would you?  Would you love the same people, go on the same vacations, have the same career? Or would you have regrets? After the lightning strike, an unexpected visitor makes Buck question all the choices he’s ever made. From dropping out of the Seals to never making a move on Eddie because the time hasn’t been right. He’s going to get an up close and personal look at what could have been because another version of Buck is focused on taking his choices away from him—including Eddie and Christopher Diaz.  Aka, the Dark Matter AU.

Tags/warnings: dark themes, dubious consent, explicit sex, kidnapping, murder, major character death, drug use, identity fraud, panic attacks

Athena pulls him into the house before he can fall on his face—which is a concern. The fatigue he’s been battling for what seems like forever makes his limbs feel like they’ve been replaced by lead, and everything hurts. Taking his boots off takes every bit of coordination he has remaining, and he would have fallen if Athena hadn’t shoved her shoulder under his arm to steady him. 

“Baby, just get them off, and we’ll sit down,” she says when he fumbles with the laces and slides the boot off, not caring how it thumps to her hardwood floor instead of the usual neat cubby that has been Buck’s for as long as he’s known Athena that is next to May’s. Worry creases Athena’s face, and her grip is firm as she helps Buck toward the kitchen. 

They barely make it to the kitchen breakfast bar, and Buck slides into the seat more than sits, catching himself on the counter to not slip right off the other side, legs akimbo and stocking-clad feet inelegantly tangling in the chair rungs. Exhausted, Buck slumps over the counter, appreciating the solid feel of the granite under his hands. 

“Let me get you some coffee,” Athena mutters and then busies herself on the other side Of the counter. 

“That would be fantastic.”

“I think I’m going to need some too.”

“You might want to think about something stronger than coffee,” Buck warns, knowing that the story he has to tell her will stretch Athena’s credulity. 

Athena hums, waiting for the coffee to brew. “You mean, like, why Lou’s digging up bodies that look like you?”

Read chapter 11 here on AO3

[remindedtosmile]

PUBLIC / PRIVATE MUSE INFORMATION

lovingly stolen from harvey @mrdelroy. consider this an ongoing project and info + headcanon repository!

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ― [information anyone could know/learn/have access to]

daniel is a nationally wanted fugitive who endeavors to associate his name and image with his crimes. he is suspected of assassinating political officials, known military targets, billion/millionaires, actors, and other public figures.

daniel is known to stalk and approach these victims under cover identities prior to attacks, but does not display clear killing patterns. he appears interested in "unique" and personalized deaths, when possible. bullet wounds are rarely found.

though his initials are known to be "d.m.", there is some speculation that daniel merlo is not his birth name.

daniel has been arrested on suspected murder and conspiracy charges no less than three times, but has not been convicted for any assassinations. his sole murder charge was brought against him when he was a teenager, for killing a peer. he served five years; how his sentence was so dramatically shortened is unknown.

it is suspected that daniel works for governmental and organized criminal agencies, but this information is not substantiated by evidence. others suspect that he operates on a hired basis and may be reached through the unindexed "deep" internet, but it is difficult, if not near-impossible, to find contact information through this means that can be traced to his identity. he appears to place himself within the discoverable reach of those who might be interested in hiring him.

his likeness has been spotted throughout the north american and european continents. these chance encounters are most likely to occur at luxury shopping malls, fitness classes, and medical offices. less frequently, his likeness has been highlighted in crowds at black tie events and celebrity award shows.

SEMI-PRIVATE KNOWLEDGE ― [information only those who are close to him could know/learn/have access to]

he displays neuroticisms that regularly interrupt day-to-day life. his schedule is rigorously structured, leaving only brief lapses of time between odd appointments, changes in location, or security checks on his array of digital devices - though he doesn't seem paranoid or wary of being "caught", and takes delight in prioritizing his own needs. he seems unaffected by the idea of abruptly abandoning one task for another or cutting conversations short.

he struggles to drive vehicles or use guns effectively. (he can, but not very well.) he might not have earned a genuine driver's license at any point, and he feels it would be far too cliché to be spotted at a shooting range.

his mannerisms are erratic and often unpredictable. he appears to don a faux personality with those who are close enough to carry on a full conversation with him - hyperactive, excitable, and dramatically grandiose, it is obvious that this is not truly how he thinks or feels. very, very rarely, he appears cold and withdrawn, quick to shut down any attempts at interaction.

PRIVATE KNOWLEDGE ― [information only a select few could circumstantially know/learn/have access to, requiring prior plotting]

he recalls very little of his childhood, or the training that occurred in his teens through early adulthood. it frustrates him immensely - to know that something terrible happened, but not be able to grasp what. he wishes he could remember his parents' faces if only so he can curse them.

there is a part of daniel - something even he does not fully understand - that doesn't care for any of this. the money, the crimes, the fame. aimless, it urges him to grasp at anything shiny and new, to seek out the cold rush of a job well-done, to jump frantically at any opportunity that piques his interest. it can never get enough. he doesn't know what it wants. he doesn't know what to do with himself if he ever stops.

[doubleddenden]

Second review of the 3 anime finale on Toonami: Rick and Morty the Anime

I will preface this by saying (and I humbly ask for no personal attacks on this) that I honestly do not like normal Rick and Morty to begin with.

Don't read if you don't vibe with that. RnM fans tend to be very... extra, in some regards, taking too much after Rick- so that's the warning, you'll be in for a bad time if you like the base show and wanna read further.

The reasons I dislike regular RnM is because the art style is gross and ugly for the sake of being gross and ugly, and the writing reeks of depressed nihilistic cynicism that shits all over any character that dares to want something normal or even happy, and the comedy writing is just not really that funny beyond a couple of jokes. I hate Rick- I have seen episodes, multiple before, and I just can NOT stand him. "Oh great you didn't know this very impossible to know thing and now you fucked up, great, real classy, you should feel bad and or kys" or "I personally don't like you and I'm going to make it the multiverse's and my family's problem" are not traits I find admirable (and no, he doesn't really get much better, he's still an asshole no matter how much development he gets). The family isn't really much better tbh and all hate each other, something I hate about modern adult cartoons including the ugly art style and grossness just to be gross. That's just my opinion, I get that people like the show (it's been renewed for like a seasons 8, 9, 10, and 11 already), but I honestly cannot grasp it.

So why watch the anime? Well, it was on Toonami, may as well, and I thought with different writers it might be different too. I did mildly enjoy some of the tone shift from one of the other anime shorts, which made Rick vaguely less of an asshole and more like someone that actually cares about his family beyond how they personally benefit him- so I wanted to give it a shot.

Its............ it's uh..... well, it happened. I think I can say that. That's not good or bad. Just... yeah. Mid.

There's a severe tonal shift from (badly written) adult comedy with an ugly art style that thinks "Morty, we gotta fight the Dick Clenchers of Splotchulon 5, Morty, you'll never guess why they're called that, Morty, its- it's because they clench your dick, Morty. Now help me work on my shit machine that shits actual shit" is funny, to something that REALLY tries to take itself super seriously with a ton of angst and drama- like if Family Guy (also hate it) suddenly tried to make a live action season without its bad comedy and references and instead decided to make a dramatic, murder mystery plot line over a season without a SINGLE joke or flashback, played completely seriously. In other words, it is really unsettling to see a show so disingenuous try to be genuine, but just come across as weird and off putting.

And while I can say I didn't hate some of the aspects of it, I can't say I really enjoyed or understood most of it either. Elle is a pretty fun character for a bit, but doesn't really have much personality beyond being in love with Morty and being some kind of time perceiver. The other characters are also weirdly characterized to be less consistent with their regular counterparts- I mean there's still a couple of moments where Rick is an asshole to Morty or Jerry or where Summer is vaguely a bitch like usual, but otherwise they may as well be completely different characters. I guess the canon material would allow this as an AU in the multiverse, but it's still... weird. Very weird. I would prefer anime Rick over real Rick because again, he's LESS of an asshole and kind of mysterious- but mid overall.

The plot is also weird and overly complex for what it's supposed to be. I mean it's better than a plot device powered by an infinite wall of tortured Morties, but we're talking about some sections that confuse me so much, that Kingdom Hearts makes more sense to me.

I wish I could say the animation and art style were better, but this is like saying a piece of stained printer paper is better than a dirty toilet. The animation is just blocky, and the characters transition weirdly to this style- like it's an anime, but they want to maintain the gross art style of the original in a vague way. Elle is actually just fine and looks cute in both her versions, but she is also directly created for this series and isn't adapted for anything. Idk I know I'm an outsider and some RnM fan is really tempted to tell me to kms over that, but hear me out on this: if your thing is to make an ugly American cartoon into an anime, maybe try making it look genuine instead of weird and off putting. I mean, it worked for the Simpsons Death Note episode.

Personally, I feel like this anime was just made as a way to get around the Writer's Strike from last year. In fact, I half expected from this episode or a future one for the real series to look at this and be like "oh yeah, that'll show the writers to demand a fair wage. Good thing that's not canon, right? Looks like shit. " it does not feel like anybody's best work and serves more like a fan's overly angst filled AU.

Well anyway, a 5/10 feels fine. Mid as fuck.

[pianocat939]

Helloo! May i get a Yan rise turtle blurb with a s/o that literally switch their whole personality when they kidnapped them ,s/o was once kind and bubbly full of life before they kidnapped them and now they became cold-hearted and won't hesitate to hurt the turtle for any chance of escape,the reason they behave this way is bcs they have the same situation in the past with a once loved one but more cruel,the s/o have scar's bcs of his past and now they became more tougher bcs of this(sorry if this ask is too long if ur not comfortable responding to this u can ignore)

Hm, I tried to fit it in but this is quite a lot to unpack.

Tw: kidnapping, brief mention of manipulation, tranquillizing + restraining, murder

Roman Numeral Twink:

He’s so hurt that you try to hurt him after kidnapping you. Sure, you don’t live where you are anymore, and you can only leave with him by your side. But do you really need to attack him? Seeing the scars irks him a lot, because it’s an unfamiliar reminder that someone hurt you, cruelly.

Lagging Brain Function:

I think he would know your past experience before kidnapping you, as he is the least likely to kidnap in the first place. If you are to attack him, he’s not phased, because he knows you’re struggling: which makes you more prone to his manipulation. He’ll kill your past kidnapper tho, under no circumstances.

Dictatorship of Turkeys:

He is definitely careful when he kidnaps. He knows every detail of your history/life so all malicious reactions aren’t a surprise to him. Every time you attack, he’ll either tranquilize or restrain you until you calm down; in other words, he’s trying to discourage your behaviour. Which may or may not work depending on who you are.

Macaque Said Cacaw:

He’s similar to Donnie. He doesn’t hesitate to kill the person who kidnapped you before. If you attack him he’ll just dodge until you wear yourself out (bro’s so fucking speedy). Once you are tired out, he gives you snuggles and comfort even if you try to get out of his grasp.

(Typed this up on my phone so grammar + spelling might be off)

[damiansgrayson]

Dick kills for the second time, Jason finds out about the first. (ficlet)

Amy Rohrbach is the one to give him permission when she hands him back his badge and gun. The one to say, “As a police officer…you have more options.”

Her words run through Dick’s mind as he goes to follow up with the reporter; the one who is dead only minutes later by a bullet through the head as glass flies everywhere and Desmond crashes through the window. Dick’s on his feet in minutes, already attacking, trying not to scream in rage as the words fall out. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you.”

Part demand, part secret plea.

“There isn’t one, Nightwing. Not one. That’s the best part.”

Mass murderer. Domestic terrorist. The former residents of his building on floors one through three probably died instantly when the bomb went off. But four and five... the floors fell through on them. They were crushed, trapped, they died of internal injuries and smoke inhalation. And floor six... they burned. 

Roland continues, knowing he's finding weaknesses Dick refuses to give into. “Nor is there a single good reason for me to harm a hair on your head. The essential truth of your nature is that you could take every beating I could dish out. You might even enjoy them. You have absolutely no regard for your personal safety. But the people around you, well! That’s a different matter, isn’t it?

“I’ll take out the people you care about- hell even strangers you stand next to on the street. You won’t be able to shake someone’s hand without marking them for death.”

After his parents, Dick knows all too well about the mark of death. 

“Do you like being alone, Dick? I’ll make sure you can’t save any of them. I’ll make sure you relive over and over your failure to save your relationship, your circus, the residents of your building, Ms Michaels- that’s how I'll take you apart. Loved one by loved one. Innocent by innocent. It will never stop. I can keep this up forever. Every loved one, every stranger.”

He's right. It never stops. Dirty cops are one thing, but then there's the attorney generals, the judges, the jails that never seem to hold. It never stops. 

Punching harder, kicking stronger-- it’s all useless with someone like Blockbuster, who can take the beating without crumpling like most, but Dick continues. Rage flows through him in a messy way, the kind Bruce would say gets people killed, and he’d be right. Dick’s all but seeing red, trying to control himself and failing, trying to picture anything but the people he’d failed to save.

“And you’ll let me do it, won’t you? Just so you don’t tarnish your own moral righteousness. Just like Batman.”

One moment Roland is waxing poetic on threats; the next, he’s choking on his own blood as a wingding rips its way through his throat. 

Moral righteousness be damned, Dick can't forgive himself if he lets himself become locked in a deadly battle with his own form of the Joker. He still runs to the roof and retches before collapsing to his knees. He's failed. Bruce will never look at Dick the same way again. 

What else could he do? 

In a fugue state, he calls Amy about the body. She comes up with some alibi. He hands back the gun and badge and disappears before she can argue. 

-

Back in a hotel room as he gets ready to leave Bludhaven for a bit, he stops. Outside the window of the fire escape he hears someone, blinds closed and obscuring vision. Heavy step, large build. Sound of uniform. Doesn't want to be quiet. Not afraid. Dick readies himself. 

“Hello Dickard." 

Only one person uses the most irritating, immature forms of nicknames for him. “Go back to Gotham, Jason.”

Cursing Babs for tattling to his brother may not help the situation, but it's easier than getting a smug Jason to leave once the window is broken into and he climbs in. She trusted Jason more than others under Bruce's shadow had when he returned. Maybe it was shared hatred of the Joker- the way he'd killed Jason and killed Barbara's old life. Bodily traumatized by him in ways few of the other heroes had been. 

There's a million reasons he's here, but if comfort or concern was one of them, the last person he'd tell would be Dick. “Or what, you’ll kill me?”

“Fuck off,” Dick snarls, misplacing his guilt inside of anger. If he didn't hate himself so damn much, it might feel good. 

Of course the tone goes ignored, just as the words, and Jason launches into, “Remember how I told all of you that sometimes lethal force is necessary and all I got in return was lectures on morality?”

Dick ignores him.

“Remember how the second you wore the cowl you had me arrested because you ‘weren’t a hypocrite like Bruce’?” Dick hadn't so much had him arrested as hadn't stopped Gordon from doing it, but the point was moot. 

“Are you done?” 

“Is your fragile sense of self still intact?”

If it was anyone but him asking, Dick might have answered honestly. “It’s fine.”

“Seems too fine.” Jason says. “Guess I should have expected as much from a cop.”

The words feel like sandpaper on the gaping wound that is Dick’s guilt and before he can help it, he’s stupidly asking, “Are you saying I should have let him live?”

“That fucker?” Jason scoffs. “Of course not.”

“I’m not proud of it.” He says, as if that makes things better. As if a man wasn't dead, however monstrous, and Dick wasn't a killer, however once described  righteous. “I’m not proud of it, but it’s done. It’s not like the Joker.” 

Bruce wasn’t there to fix it. 

Jason stills in a way Dick doesn’t catch on to until the shaky tenor in his voice gives his anger away. “What do you mean ‘not like the Joker’?”

Years have passed and somehow Dick hadn’t realized it was still secret-- had he expected Tim to say something? Alfred? Or the Joker himself? It seems stupid to not have known Jason was never told but he’s the last one to want to admit how much more of a hypocrite he was this same night. “Nothing.”

“No, what? Not like the Joker killing me?” Jason irrationally demands, always jumping to the conclusion that no one loves him properly. “This time people you actually cared about were in danger?”

“No.” Dick huffs, glaring and admitting with a flat tone, “Not like when I killed the Joker.”

��The Joker is alive.”

Dick hates the mixed feelings that come up every time he thinks on those four words. “He wasn’t for about three minutes.”

“What, hit him wrong with your escrima stick?” 

“No.”

“I deserve to know. It’s him. If KGBeast-”

“Get out, Jason.”

“Not until you fess up.”

“I don’t have time for this.”

Within the minute it takes for Jason to draw the gun, shoot it, and Dick to leap out of the way, his temper is already unleashing again. “What the fuck.”

“Please, if I thought you couldn’t dodge, I would shoot you. Now tell me.”

Despite knowing that he's allowing Jason's psychological manipulation to win, his anger overrides pride as he spits out, “I beat him to death with my own hands.”

Jason stands, gun lowering minutely. “Why?”

“He made it look like he had killed Tim.”

“That was enough? After all these years?” Jason challenged, unbelieving. “You’re not that stupid.”

“He took a crack about your death in the middle of it.” Dick looks away, not wanting to see Jason’s expression. "You had only been dead a few months."

Jason, for once, is more silent than he's ever been around Dick when not nose deep in a classic novel. 

“Bruce revived him.” Dick said, heading off the next logical question. “He didn’t want a death on my conscience.” Another death at least, Dick laments to himself.

There's a stillness to Jason's quiet fury as he says, “Bruce belongs in Arkham with him.”

Thinking of how he himself had  allowed Zucco to be riddled with bullets, or how he had manipulated lightning into frying Creighton, Dick can't help but mutter, “All of us do.”

“Would you do it again? Kill him?”

What was the Joker’s current murder count? Every death he saw in the reports was a death that Dick felt differently than before. Small, perhaps a bit broken, he confesses, “Yeah. Yeah, I probably would. But that’s not a good thing.” 

Right?

Jason cracks. “I hate him, Dick." He knows it's Bruce. "He doesn’t give a shit about anyone other than the clown who leaves carnage in his wake, doesn't care how many people die, or get paralyzed- we're just toy soldiers. He's a fucking monster for bringing him back to life. You know that, right? Why do you all act like I'm the crazy one to suggest we put him seven hundred feet under?”

“You’re not crazy.”

“Then why is he still alive?”

Thinking of mitigating potential damage, even if he has no place doing so, Dick asks, “Are you still asking about the Joker?”

Surprisingly, Jason doesn’t shoot Dick for the remark. He wouldn’t have blamed him if anger arose, but instead the man shakes his head, looking out the window for a moment. “It’s not that easy.”

“You don't actually want Bruce dead,” he says. “Sometimes I worry you need the reminder.” 

Jason scoffs. “Hypocrite.”

“I know.” Dick sighs. After a moment, he goes back to the original question about the Joker. “I don’t have a new answer for you."

“Don’t let Bruce stop you next time.”

He deflects. “Don’t shoot up the manor on your way home.”

“No promises.”

“Alfred will shoot back,” Dick points out, although it's not like either would actually harm the other. 

“You going to hide out?”

Dick can't face their mentor. His adopted father, rather. Alfred might calm Bruce down, Babs might do a good job of distracting him, but the confrontation will happen regardless and Dick's too broken to let it happen now, however much of a coward it makes him. “I’m riding out to Donna’s in a bit.”

“At least Diana believes true justice can cost a life.” Triton, Maxwell Lord, Ares… names from the League files that Bruce keeps on its members. Diana tries peace before all else, though. Jason's spent too much time around Artemis if he thinks otherwise. 

Thinking about Wonder Woman only makes him think of Superman, though. There's no League member close to Bruce on the list of people he wants to fail less, and just the thought makes him feel sick to his stomach. 

He has to refocus. It's done. 

Jason’s demeanor toward Dick has shifted, and while there’s some chaos and upset brewing around Bruce, he’s at least postponed his anger at Dick. “If no one else tells you but me; you did the right thing.”

"This isn't some bonding moment, Jason!" Dick growls, yelling again. "I'm not this person!"

Jason rolls his eyes. "Delude yourself all you want. Just answer one question." 

Dick waits, even if he knows better. 

"If you hadn't been taught by Bruce, would you still be holding onto that no kill rule-," Ever one to cross a line to make a point; Jason finishes, "-Or would Zucco have died by your own hands too?"

"I know better than to be jury, judge, and executioner by now." Dick says. At least I should.

"Bludhaven isn't different enough from Gotham for you to actually believe the American justice system works. Even if it did, jails here don't hold either. How many people do you think he would have killed next?" 

Unsure who he’s arguing for anymore, he replies, "I can't prove that he would have."

"You're not that naive, no matter how much you want to be Superman's fanboy."

Dick waits a minute, and Jason doesn’t fill the silence, before finally admitting, "I couldn't let myself become Bruce. I couldn't create my own joker."

"Stop, you're going to make me have to respect you."

Quiet fills the space again.

“Just promise me you’ll go back to Gotham and stay out of the Nightwing costume.” It wouldn't be the first costume of his that Jason has taken, after all. 

“Oh, come on, this would be the perfect time for him to start using guns." Jason’s grinning.

As much as Dick wouldn’t mind punching him, he only rolls his eyes. “Have fun finding a place to fit them."

“I’m sure there’s room where you keep the fake butt padding, but fine. I can’t fit in your tiny suit anyway, some of us have muscles.”

“Some of us didn’t cheat by using the Lazarus pit." 

“Whatever you have to tell yourself."

“See you around." 

[pangolin-404]

hey ...... the wip snippet . i know i already requested one but what if i did another. imagine

Ultrakill | The Kamen Rider Crossover Nobody Asked For <- this one :3

[ask game] :3 woag

ohhh hhough this one . skeleton in my closet that rattles at me menacingly from time to time. there is a high likelihood this one will either never see written completion in a way I see fit, or I will try to draw something for it, because this is one of those ideas that is just. lurking in the back of my brain always but it's never a full beginning-middle-end plot. I think it deserves to be Seen, Eventually

very very little is written in the actual doc and what is written is probably going to be deleted and rewritten. need to find a balance between worldbuilding and actual story because it's from Gabriel's POV and that has weird holier-than-thou bureaucracy. BUT the jist is:

the Council serves as a very powerful organization that carefully picks and chooses who can be a Kamen Rider. it is treated as a highly esteemed position, and Gabriel is expected to never leave his Rider form (though it can exhaust him because they're. not convenient in daily life,) and always be ready to get sent out to deal with crime or patrolling. his identity is stripped from him, and he is not considered a person beyond a Kamen Rider, a vigilante-ish figure who does what he's told without question, a weapon.

V1 and V2 are artificial Kamen Riders built to surpass the power of the Council. I haven't fully settled on who made them, likely human scientists (could add a healthy flavor of robot-war-is-threatening-to-happen in this setting here). V1 is an escapee that was meant to be scrapped because it could not be controlled, and springs around causing mayhem. V2 was either released to destroy V1, or escaped also, although for budding-self-awareness reasons and not kill-all-humans reasons. V2 here is a lot pettier than canon V2 because its predecessor is pretty openly running around and it has self-esteem issues because instead of being too murderous, it's not murderous enough.

Gabriel is sent to destroy the weird threat skittering around, attacking not just humans and Council staff ("angels" are just,, lower-leveled Riders I suppose) but machines that it SHOULD share a common goal with, but it does not care who gets in the way of its bullets. He doesn't realize V1 is a machine and has a crisis about that, and he didn't know V2 existed until it shot in from nowhere to attack V1. overall Gabriel is having a terrible time questioning what it means to be a Kamen Rider etc etc. he has his little gay awakening when V1 beats him in a fight

Mirage is canon. I don't know HOW Mirage would be canon. maybe a hologram or an evil V1 that just. ended up an existential young woman. but she is canon. vital information

I feel like I need to do more tinkering with the setting, what role the prime souls and the ferryman might play, and make a nice and tidy checklist for plotpoints . the kamen rider formula was not built for being written out. this has been in my brain for a year so someday it will be real or else I think I will be cursed

bonus year-old discord WIPs that may or may not be familiar (looking at these is killing me, ). the only reason I am showing these is because the files are now lost so if I ever had to touch the OG comic idea again I'd be doing it from scratch so these might as well see some glimmer of daylight