#i base all my red and blue characterization from that one fic
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nicolilylucy · 1 year ago
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every few months i get really into pokemon and start thinking about red and blue pokemon again and then i get the sudden urge to binge reread peaks and valleys by clefairytea its so real its happening again this is me rn
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lunacornfan2k24 · 4 months ago
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✈️ Give a shout out to a fan artist / fic writer / etc. in the fandom that you appreciate!
Oh there’s so many great creators in this fandom! Unfortunately, I don’t really read ieytd fanfic unless it’s a short one shot because I don’t want to risk plagiarizing any plot points or characterizations from others and I feel like anytime spent reading would be better spent writing but here’s a few artists in the fandom that stick out to me and who’s work I adore every time I see it
@intergalacticsodatab aka CosmicSnakes on ao3! They were the first person ever to make fanart for one of my fics. I remember freaking out during my lunch break at Regal that they had made art inspired by my writing. They designed the masks in Just as Good in Red based off of the in-story description.
@agent-calivide Not only was calivide right there with me posting the first fanfics on ao3 and they’ve so much art for my ieytd fics it’s insane! They’re also an amazing writer! She’s so talented and all of their works are gorgeous!!! She was also the first friend I’ve made in the fandom ☺️
@agent-fee-nits Moki has made the coolest comic versions of Safe and Sound from ieytd 2. I absolutely love their art style and was honored when they drew Agent Phoenix wearing the outfit from the movie premiere in one of my fics
@ladydanger420 Chell writes fantastic nsfw short fics and one shots in their series spycraft and subterfuge. She’s also an wonderful artist who drew fanart of the premiere outfit with their Phoenix, Rosie
@bluefoxproductions Blue fox is one of the og creators for ieytd and one of the first people I saw that let me know that the ieytd was out they and was on tumblr it was just very very tiny. They also have a super cute Phoenix design!!!
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khaleesiofalicante · 8 months ago
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Ah, here we are! 
This is your mandatory post about my new fic and next fic ‘L’appel Du Vide’ (LDV) - also known as the mavid rwrb au. As usual, I thought I’d share some info about the fic so you guys know what you’re getting yourselves into. So, here you go. 
Is this fic based on the Red, White, and Royal Blue movie or book?
I’d say both. But it’s primarily based on the book because I like the book better and there is more material for me to work with. 
2. Do I need to watch the movie/read the book to read LDV?
Not at all. If you’ve not read/watched rwrb, you don’t have to. It won’t affect your reading experience, I promise.
3. Does the fic have the same plot as rwrb?
Yes and no. This fic is an adaptation because I have to change the story to fit my characters. For example, Max is not going to have a bi-crisis like Alex did and David’s backstory is different because god knows Albert ain’t no Arthur Fox! So, the characterization and flow are quite different. But since it’s based on rwrb, many of the ‘key scenes’ are there - but they’re just adjusted and changed to fit my characters. 
4. How many chapters and whose POV is it from?
Similar to the books, the fic will be from a single POV - Max’s. But I will include a David chappy because we haven’t gotten his POV in so long and I’m mad about it. There are 20 chapters in total - this might change slightly if I decided to experiment with the outline. 
5. Is it true this fic has smut? 👀
Apparently so 👀 Look. It’s in the outline. I intend to write it. But this is my first time writing smut and some of you know I struggle with it and am self-conscious about it. I also find it weird to write sex scenes about people I know (I KNOW MAVID OKAY?). But this is a writing challenge and one I’m willing to explore. So, let’s see how it goes. Max and David’s relationship begins as a sexual one as it does in the rwrb book. So, there will definitely be sex scenes for sure. I just don’t know how smutty or explicit it will be. Y’all know I hate saying erection! And trust me, there will be many erections in this story. 
6. What’s the posting schedule?
Ah. This is the tricky part. I’ve decided to do a weekly posting schedule for this fic. In other words, one chapter per week. I’m going to be a bit busy in April and May. So, I know I won’t be able to commit to two chapters a week. I might try to whenever I can. But I’m setting one chapter a week as the target. 
Are you excited to write it?
Very much so! The last few fics I’ve written (TLND, IALS, FMF, LBAF) have been very heavy - both in plot, themes and writing. Even the posting schedule was so intense. While there are definitely heavy themes in LVD, I see this fic as more of a rom-com. So, I think it’d be fun to write! And I love writing Max pov when he isn’t suffering hehe. I really want this fic to be a fun one!  
A gentle reminder that this is not a malec fic, so please do not ask me for their povs or scenes or try to make this fic about them. I’ve seen that happen with my other mavid fics and so I hope it won’t be the case for this one. 
Finally, a quick shoutout to @gospi and @ladyoflilies who have been bullying me and supporting me behind the scenes to write this fic and have been excited as as I am. 
The first chapter will drop tomorrow (it’s already written and was written months ago!). Until then, here are some (theme) songs for you to listen to. See you tomorrow! 
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mqole · 1 year ago
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hbjhkgvhj ok here are uh. some character designs i did abt a year ago
these are all based on the incredible @kayzero's fic zero win game, which is a rewrite of ztd with akane as the protagonist, and it has possibly THE BEST characterization of akane ive ever read- listen just. just go read it you will be enriched i promise.
im not putting an image description bc i dont know where to start (sorry!!) BUT ill put a bunch of character design notes below the cut for people who are insane like me <3333
ok first of all. i know when i sent these to kay the other day they said there were some details canon to zwg that i missed (akane's lil hoodie pocket, aoi wearing white to contrast junpei's black (which is SO inspired btw.)) so just. PRETEND those are there bc i forgor <3
i spent the most time on sigma, phi, akane, junpei and aoi just because they've had multiple iterations of designs. it was fun to take bits and pieces from each version of them, so thats why they get a feature page
you can see a lot of my little pink notes with criticisms of the ztd designs there. in general, i really dont like the ztd designs, they all feel unnaturally bland to me (although thats probably also the artstyle).
most people whove looked into the colour symbolism in zero escape are probably familiar with the whole red/blue thing: that is, theyre colours representing the morphogenetic field. akane and aoi are the most obvious examples of this. 'aka' means red, and 'ao' means blue. in the first nonary game, akane and clover wear red - the colour for transmitters - and aoi and light wear blue, the colour for recievers. in 999 proper, akane wears purple, to symbolise how she can recieve AND transmit, while junpei wears red and blue by themselves. you can do a whole analysis of these colours and i will not put it here thats a whole SEPERATE post
anyway! the actual designs!! i'll start with sigma. i wanted to reconcile his vlr design with zero ii's design, and initially i planned on giving him a coat, but it didnt really have a nice silhouette, so i ditched that idea. instead, i turned his jumpsuit from vlr into a polo shirt - much like what he has in ztd - and gave him some zero-y accessories: the white turtleneck, the belt and the gloves all come from zero's design. once id included the white turtleneck, making the pants white felt really logical. in character design, its generally best to limit the palette of colours as much as you can, so it was a good excuse to reuse a colour while also paying homage to his ztd design. i also cut his hair bc hes a scientist and he'd do that.
phi's design is a lot more like her vlr one than her ztd design. the blue coat was her hallmark accessory, and im shocked that they ditched it for ztd, so i gave it back - along with her boots and hair accessory. i kept her pants and glasses from ztd, as well as the way the bottom of her shirt is tucked into her pants. they just have a much nicer silhouette to me. between my first pass of colours and my second pass, phi's colours changed the most - i realised i had too many blue guys in the lineup, and wanted to make the colours stand out individually. so i leaned into phi's orange-ness. giving her hair accessory, pants and boots an orange hue instead of a blue one, as well as shifting her coat to a more teal colour really helped make those colours pop.
AKANE MY BESTIE!!!! her design was probably the one i had the most fun with. i basically just took her ztd design and purpled it. I did want to include some more details though - her neck scarf was in both her 999 AND vlr design, so it felt wrong not to include it. i also added some gold highlights to her design, just to complement the purple - her boots are also toned yellow, so it felt fitting. the cut of her sleeves, as well as her hair, felt really natural: i gave her the side ponytail from ztd, while letting more of her hair fall to the side to retain her silhouette from 999. i stole the sleeves wholesale from vlr akane, but can you blame me. look at that robe. its so pretty.
overall i have mixed feelings on ztd junpei as a character, but i think his darker turn is at the very least a fun direction to take him. I do like the jacket he has in his concept art. IT SURE WOULD BE NICE IF THE MODEL ALSO HAD A JACKET. his design went relatively unchanged overall, i basically just retoned his hair, gave him a button-up instead of a t-shirt, and puffered his jacket. the red and blue from his vest in 999 is reused here, but in darker, more muted tones. you can see in the corner of the drawing i played around with swapping the red and blue, but the red focus felt too edgy for junpei. the blue also pops really nicely against his dark clothes, so i kept it.
anyone who has spoken to me for more than ten seconds will know how insane i am about aoi kurashiki i mean come on my name is santa. i think a lot about his two designs: that of the first nonary game and in 999. in the first nonary game he wears a blue scarf, harkening to his role as a reciever, but in 999 he wears monochrome. my personal interpretation of this is that his 999 fit was him purposefully disguising his connection to the morphogenetic field. so post-999, since he doesnt have to worry about that, i gave him his blue back!!! his general fit is the same- his pants and shoes are artistry so obviously i kept those, and i ended up making the rest of his look black to contrast his 999 design. if i were to redesign him now wearing white, id probably go a different direction altogether. that third little drawing ive included has some test outfits for him, carlos, and maria, but i never really went anywhere with them. also i gave him dark roots to show his relation to akane a bit more. and also because i like projecting my roots always grow back SO fast
that brings us to the 4 characters introduced after vlr: carlos, mira, diana, and... maria??? yeah like i said go read zero win game. do it. maria is such a fun character. she was, coincidentally, ALSO the only character where i had to design someone from scratch. you can see i fiddled a little with colour palettes, trying to figure out how to give every character a unique look. diana and carlos' designs actually go almost unchanged here- i think dianas design in particular is actually pretty great, and works as a nice foil to luna in vlr. carlos is just kind of normal. he can have his silly polo shirt.
miras ztd design is. ugh ok look its FINE but i hate the boobie designs in zero escape because they always feel like they were designed seperately from the character. mira in zwg is still a sussy baka, but she's a lot more cordial- i enjoyed seeing her more as a snake lying in the grass. I ended up giving her green because its a fun colour to give characters who youre meant to distrust. SO MANY TIMES reading zwg i was like "oh maybe mira's chill - oh wait maybe shes not - oh wait maybe shes chill again" and i love her for that honestly. she still gets boobies because i love women but i gave her a fun little long sleeved corset top. the amount of skin she shows directly correlates to the amount you should trust her (i am only half joking.)
i wont talk about diana because honestly the only change i made was giving her a little blue strip at the bottom of her skirt, but i'll talk about maria and carlos together. carlos i kept as a little pink boy because i love him and i love pink and listen its my character design ill do what i want. maria in ztd AND in zwg experiences reverie syndrome, which is connected to the morphogenetic field. her and carlos' designs both incorporate red and blue again- (just realised diana also has red and blue. pretend that was intentional) -to show their connection to the field. yes yes i know its pink but listen its red enough. like aoi, i gave maria and carlos both different iterations of their designs. i'm less sold on carlos', but i did actually like the baggier, heavy designs for maria. with those ones she looks more depressed than she does wearing overalls, so im calling that a win. maria's was the design i was least satisfied with overall, but hey i did these like a year and a half ago and ive gotten much better since then soo.
if youve read this far this is once again a reminder to read zero win game by kayzero on ao3
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marley-manson · 3 months ago
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12, 18, 21, & 23 for hawkeye?
Thank you!
12. What’s a headcanon you have for this character?
The majority of the sex he's had in his life has been gay because it was easier to find willingly casual partners and hookups in the gay scene in the 40s, and he canonically had a shitload of casual sex pre-war. He also enjoys the company of gay men more than the straight world, so that's where his closest social circle comes from, at least post-war. All the het sex during the war is yet another way of making do - not because he's not into women but a) he doesn't enjoy leading them on and b) he'd prefer to be having more gay sex than he gets. And c) he canonically doesn't like that the nurses are all military, as he alludes to in The Interview.
I recall seeing a post once that was like 'when would he have the time to have a bunch of gay sex when he dated carlye' but that relationship lasted 2 years at most (took place during a surgical residency which are 2 years) and he's at least 30 by the time he was drafted, he had time to have plenty of sex with other women based on everything about him and how he talks about his love life (eg people assuming he'd end up married to a stripper), and I'll also headcanon that he dove into the gay scene extra hard afterwards to try to get over her.
18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?
Like most of his relationships with the cast, I think he's p great with everyone. Love his professional respect with Charles and early Margaret and compassion with later Margaret, love his friendship with Henry and refusal to treat Henry like a boss, love his older sibling/parental vibe with Radar, love his two bffs, love his animosity towards Frank (very admirable) and his solidarity with Klinger and gentle respect with Mulcahy. Potter's the sole exception in not really liking that relationship, but even there I enjoy aspects, like Hawkeye's protectiveness towards him when he acts like an idiot (The Young and the Restless or Red White Blues).
I think I'll go with his dad though? I love that they have a very positive relationship, Hawkeye is very effusive in discussing his admiration for him and telling him he loves him etc, and it's sweet. Daniel sucks in some ways in how emotionally reticent he is lol, but I love how Hawkeye deals with that and gently scolds him for it.
21. If you’re a fic writer and have written for this character, what’s your favorite thing to do when you’re writing for this character? What’s something you don’t like?
I love writing his point of view because it unlocks Fun Writing where I can describe things in colourful ways with lots of funny metaphors and jokes. I'm a close 3rd person writer so I can't do this if I don't think it fits the character.
I also enjoy his shamelessness and the way he's so open about everything, it makes his reactions to things more unique (at least in the fanfic world where writers often like to default to emotional reticence and insecurity) and interesting imo. If he doesn't like something he will say something, if he wants something he will pursue it unless he has a good reason not to, etc. It's fun to imagine how he reacts to things because of that.
There's not much I don't like about writing him, but it does kind of suck that I have such a solidified sense of characterization for him because it makes it hard to make some premises I'd otherwise really enjoy work in my brain, because I can't imagine Hawkeye behaving how he'd need to for it to work. Eg Hawk/Frank endgame, or Peg/BJ/Hawkeye trainwreck, or post-canon miserable Hawk/BJ relationship. I just think Hawk would have the awareness, experience, and self-respect to hit da bricks, unfortunately.
23. Favorite picture of this character?
I absolutely can't narrow this down to one favourite screencap lol, but here have one of my favourite moments:
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lucky-clover-gazette · 4 months ago
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How do you think Volo would interact with the FSA boys?
oh YAY thank you for this ask >:)
i'm going to mostly answer this with both the manga characterizations and my personal characterizations in fics (in my fics they're adults, not related or clones, shadow and vio are characterized how i like them, etc.)
i'll do the easy ones first. i think in general, volo would dislike the four links on principle for being the goddess's chosen heroes. obviously. either volo is jealous, or just overall resentful and uncomfortable with the entire situation post-game.
he would almost certainly keep up the fake merchant act with green, blue, red, and zelda. privately, hero stuff aside, he would have a neutral tolerance for them, kind of how i imagine he feels about most of the people in hisui. not particularly interested or attached, and oftentimes annoyed, but mostly just not paying them much mind at all. he's got more important things to think about.
conceptually, i think that volo would vibe with manga shadow's entire premise. he would relate to shadow in his dealings with vaati and ganon (giratina), but he would disagree with shadow sacrificing himself to save the heroes. volo would have tried to dethrone ganon in shadow's position, not destroy him, and he wouldn't have cared about helping the other links or princess.
i don't think volo would have any strong feelings about the shadow i write in my fic. my shadow doesn't actually have a very big ego or god complex or anything, he's usually characterized as desiring attention and belonging more than any kind of power. the subversion of his dynamic with vio, in my writing especially, is that shadow is a pretty chill guy with conventional moral values, and vio is... vio. if shadow was to be assigned a role in a story based on who he is alone, he would be the hero, not the villain. a strange and theatrical hero, but a hero all the same.
volo is strange and theatrical too, and i do think a core aspect of his character is his desire for attention and belonging. however, he wants to acquire those things in a very different way from the shadow i write, and he does not possess conventionally heroic qualities at all. so much of the volo we see in the game is an intentional deception, which means we don't actually know a lot for sure about his true self. however, based on his mask-off moments and the way he went about his plan and constructing his fake persona, i don't think "fixing" him as a villain would work in the same way as "fixing" shadow typically does/did in the manga and my fics.
volo would fucking despise manga vio. specifically, he would hate the fact that vio does ultimately attempt to break the mirror and abandon shadow, and that he (and the others, but specifically vio) reform link at the end. a couple reasons for his hatred of the character:
he'd really like vio from the forest scene to the confrontation at the volcano. he'd probably be like "holy shit this is the realest bitch i've ever read, fuck being a hero, let this theatrical nerd go apeshit with the evil demon"
but then he'd basically flip his perspective when vio fakes killing green and continues to lie to shadow. volo says in the game that he resents the way the world is unfair and causes pain--i think it's safe to assume that some part of that is due to the way other people have treated him in the past. i can definitely see volo relating to shadow's attachment and trust of vio, and the sort of high he got from having vio on his team. the devotion of it all. so to see this heroic character balance his conflicted interests and ultimately choose his destined responsibilities over the stuff he'd gotten up to with shadow, would piss volo off. after all, volo is the guy who got so engrossed in his unique hyperfixation, and doing it in his own way, that he chose to work retail part-time instead of joining the survey corps under people who thought they knew better. the man genuinely believed that he could do a better job being god, than god itself. he'd see the way manga vio enjoyed being around shadow, and doing non-heroic shit, and then the way vio eventually kinda just gave up and lost that part of himself, and hate it.
volo would feel less hatred, but not much else, about most of my fanfic vios. especially in the fics that are mostly just ab ship stuff with shadow, i don't think he'd give a shit. i don't really see volo as a person who thinks often about romance, given the fact that his only real friend is a sentient egg. he would hate my vios less, because i don't think i have written a single fic in which vio ended up exactly how he did in the manga, but he'd still kind of just be like whatever about him.
corruption but it's unchill au vio could probably give volo an existential crisis. that vio has crazy beef with god, but his solution isn't to defeat and subjugate god and then become god himself--instead, he and his friends tell god that her creations could do better, and then use the power she gave them to banish her from the realm entirely.
i don't think volo ever considered that an option during his storyline, because he was so convinced that the world wasn't worth saving, and he had no one truly on his side. like, it must have been so deeply isolating for him, to share his true self with no other human beings at all. vio in cbiuc has shadow, and as i repeat multiple times in the fic's prose, it matters. i think volo would be a little jealous of that. maybe if volo had been less of a misanthropic freak and teamed up with some people, he could have found himself in a world worth living in, with people who understood and loved him. one of the fic's main themes is "misery loves company," and volo spent his story both very miserable and very alone. so maybe seeing vio's arc in cbiuc would make a post-canon volo realize that it's the company he's really missing.
(maybe eventually i'll tackle that in a fic about volo, but i'm still kinda detoxing from the process of writing cbiuc even like months later. that shit tormented me.)
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finerafin · 1 year ago
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HI YES HELLO CHUCKER RECS YOU WILL REGRET THIS
so I can't link to any of these because anon but they're all on ao3 and should show up with a quick search/if you're willing to just scroll the tag for a little bit
here are some of my personal favorites:
you mentioned heavy weather already, but basically anything else by shir_khan is worth a look, Chemistry (oneshot, 6k words, Teen) is a favorite of mine.
I Want You By My Side by hartxstarr- oneshot, 765 words, Gen
short, sweet, and fluffy. Church and Tucker slow-dancing in the base.
you give me fever by apocalypticchick- oneshot, 12k words, Explicit
basic premise is that instead of getting alien pregnant in s2, Tucker gets alien sex pollen'd instead... and Church is the one who steps in to help ;) I don't know if explicit fics are your thing, but I threw this one in on the off chance they are because it has some of the best characterization for both of them I've ever seen. Church POV, lots of pining, some great lines from the rest of the team while they're there. (if explicit fics ARE your thing, it's a pretty worthwhile read for that too)
you are a walking graveyard by Cinead- multichapter (complete), 44k words, Explicit
ghost hunter au! The Reds and Blues run a Buzzfeed Unsolved-esque show, which turns out to not be quite as fake as they thought it was. Can't give much more away without spoilers, but it's a fantastic ride from start to finish, written by someone who's got a great feel for the characters. Classic rvb idiocy, interspersed with heartwarming team dynamics and scenes that gave me genuine feelings. (Warnings for character death and some sex scenes)
Machine Learning by Cosmobot- oneshot, 4k words, Teen
in the author's own words, "the s12 reconciliation scene but Tucker gets to yell more and also it's gayer". Church and Tucker actually talk about what him leaving did to the team, with the added subtext that they're crushing on each other super hard. Great character voices!
live by the pointy shit, die by the pointy shit by stellulam- oneshot, 5k words, Teen
this one isn't actually chucker, but it's a great read if you just want more of them interacting. Tucker is in recovery on chorus after getting stabbed at the end of s12, and Church not-so-begrudgingly keeps him company, and they learn a few things about themselves and each other on the way. Also featuring some of the fragments! (seriously the dynamics in this one are SO CHOICE)
Full disclosure, I might have snuck one of my fics onto this list eheheh...
Happy reading, hope you enjoy!
So I only have "you are a walking graveyard" left to read and half of that list I already knew but they are always worth a reread and everything here is excellent. Thank you so much!
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screechthemighty · 2 years ago
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So I wrote most of this last night and then finished it today after some of the most agonizing 23 minutes of my life. How are y'all doing? Is everyone enjoying the horrors? Anyways!
Disclaimer: TriStamp is so far my only exposure to the franchise and all characterizations are based on that. I also definitely played fast and loose with the canon and sprinkled in some of my own bullshit for sake of the scenario but listen, it's a fanfic. Just pretend they got to get a good night's sleep before the horrors happened. AO3 link will be where it always is!
(does it ever really stop?) | a trigun stampede fic
Content Warnings: Discussion of Livio's suicide, suicidal thoughts, religious/cult trauma, general self-loathing and depression. AO3 version contains a self-harm reference in the fic description.
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It wasn’t pretty normal for Vash to be awake at odd hours. He never seemed to need as much sleep as humans. Usually, he spent those nights in his room, reading, mending any damage to his things, maybe checking up on his siblings if he felt restless.
The nights that he spent wandering around his home aimlessly were the bad nights, the nights when he really, genuinely couldn’t sleep. It was usually his thoughts that kept him up, racing faster than he could keep track of, but that night it was two sounds. Two gunshots that wouldn’t stop echoing in his skull, overlapping in a chorus of destruction. Rollo lying dead in the sand. Livio…
Maybe his wandering wasn’t so aimless. Maybe he knew exactly who he was looking for.
He hadn’t seen Wolfwood in a few hours, but Vash had an idea of where he’d go. Smoking may not have been allowed on the ship, and they tried to discourage everyone from doing it, but realistically, they couldn’t stop it entirely. There were places to go when the conditions were right, and they also happened to be good places to be alone. Vash walked the halls barefoot, his red jacket swapped out for one of his blankets, the way he usually did. The Ghost of Ship Three, the scientists jokingly called him. He’d accidentally startled more than one person that way.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t do that to Wolfwood. That’d probably just get him a bullet to the face.
The first two spots were empty, but he could see a light at the third, and a dark-clad figure slouched against the railing. He had to go through an airlock to get to the maintenance catwalks; Wolfwood was still standing defensively when Vash emerged, one hand on his weapon. He barely relaxed when he saw who it was. “Where did you come from?” he asked roughly, pushing his sunglasses off the top of his head and back onto his face.
Too late. Vash had already seen his eyes: pink-rimmed close to tears, full of pain. Suddenly, everything Vash wanted to say was gone. “I couldn’t sleep,” was all he could manage.
Couldn’t sleep because of those gunshots. Livio’s frantic last moments still shook him deeply. He hadn’t just been in pain, he’d been in agony. He’d been terrified. And if it had affected him, how much more deeply must it have affected Wolfwood?
Don’t you have something you want to protect more than anything?
And that first gunshot. Rollo’s blank expression. Blood-stained sand. Gripping Wolfwood’s jacket and demanding to know why, why, why -
Mercy.
Vash stood at the railing an arm’s length from Wolfwood and stared out over the sands.
There’s no way to return his humanity. Keeping him alive is torture.
Torture.
Vash thought about vials of blue liquid, the weapon Wolfwood couldn’t put down, endless piles of cigarette butts. He thought about men who could kill with a smile on their face and men who couldn’t. Of course they couldn’t. How could they?
Bad men didn’t carry so much pain in their eyes.
That’s not for you to decide. He’d meant that. He stood by it. But he was starting to understand that it hadn’t been so arbitrary on Wolfwood’s part.
“I was just thinking - “
Wolfwood scoffed quietly. “That’s your first mistake.”
“Probably.” Vash glanced Wolfwood’s way. “Wolfwood, I…”
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, for whatever it was. You can tell me. You don’t have to keep carrying it around. It doesn’t have to be torture. You’re not…
You don’t have to…
He was seized with a sudden urge to grab Wolfwood’s gun and throw it off the ship. He doubted Wolfwood would let him, but he wanted to, so badly it made his hands shake. He clasped them tightly as he spoke. “...I’m really grateful that you trusted me back there. I know we haven’t always…”
“Don’t.” A cigarette butt bounced off Vash’s temple. Wolfwood was staring at him straight-on now, glaring more than usual. “Don’t bullshit me, Spiky. What are you really getting at?”
Okay. Fine. Vash looked him in the eyes, best he could with the layer of sunglasses in the way. “Do you think living is torture for you, too?”
Silence. Even the humming of the ship felt suppressed under the weight of the question. Vash couldn’t see Wolfwood’s eyes anymore, not in this lighting, but he could see other things. The sudden tightness in his jaw. The way one hand clenched into a fist. His shoulders straining against the seams of his jacket, bracing, bracing, waiting for…
What, exactly?
What did they do to you, Nicholas?
“‘Course not,” Wolfwood said, looking away as he did. “My life’s just fucking peachy.” He pulled another cigarette out of the box. “Anyway, why do you care?”
“Do I need a reason?”
“Most people need a reason.”
“I’m not most people.” Vash couldn’t help smiling. He wondered if the moon revealed the reaction in his eyes. His own sunglasses weren’t just for show, after all. “Technically, I’m not even people.”
Wolfwood waved him off before pulling out his lighter. He didn’t immediately light the cigarette, instead stopping to twirl it around. “I’m not gonna jump off here,” he said, “if that’s what you’re really asking. I’ve got shit to do.”
“And when that’s done?”
No answer. Just the click of a lighter catching. The small flame lit up Wolfwood’s face, though his eyes were still hidden. “You don’t have a right to ask. You and your fake smiles.”
Vash frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You haven’t smiled once since I’ve known you. Not for real. They’re all…” He used his index fingers to force his mouth into a smile. “...hollow. Just the mask you put on to convince everyone that everything is fine.” He let his hands drop. “What about you, Humanoid Typhoon? Is it torture for you?”
No one had ever asked him directly before. Or not that directly. People had danced around the subject, reassured him that it was okay to eat, scolding him for not taking better care of himself. But no one had ever come that close to asking if he…
But he didn’t. He didn’t really, not anymore. Not since the crash. It was just that…
It can be,” he said finally. “It can hurt. But…if me hurting means someone else doesn’t have to, I can live with that. And you know what? If I still deserve to eat and laugh, so do you.”
You deserve to live, too.
Wolfwood didn’t say anything. When Vash looked his way, the other man was staring into the distance. Vash could almost see his eyes in profile. They still looked so heavy. “You really piss me off, you know that, right?” Wolfwood said finally.
“Yeah, I know.”
It was quiet. Wolfwood didn’t ask him to leave, so Vash didn’t. It wouldn’t feel right to. The smoke from Wolfwood’s cigarettes danced out into the night air, snatched away by a breeze.
A sudden impulse seized Vash, driving him to scoot closer and snatch the box of cigarettes right out of Wolfwood’s pocket. “Oi - “ Wolfwood flinched back, then scowled. “You'd better not be trying to make me quit.”
“I want to try one.”
“Seriously? You’re how old and you’ve never smoked?”
Vash shook his head as he pulled out a cigarette. “It’s not allowed on the ship.”
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”
“Nope.” Vash put the cigarette between his lips, trying to mimic how he’d seen Wolfwood and Roberto do it, then held out his hand. “Light?”
Wolfwood stared at him for one heartbeat, two, three, before relenting with a heavy sigh. “You’re not gonna like it,” he said as he flipped the lighter, this time lighting it in one smooth motion before leaning over to light the cigarette for him. “And if this does some weird shit to you, they’d better not blame me.”
The cigarette lit. It occurred to Vash only then that he really didn’t know what he was doing. He stared helplessly at Wolfwood; the other man sighed again before making a show of taking a drag off the cigarette. Vash tried to imitate him and -
Regretted it immediately. It wasn’t good. He was just lucky he managed to get the cigarette out before the coughing started; it was still lit, and he wasn’t sure he wanted an open flame falling near the ship. Wolfwood started laughing immediately. “Told you.” He plucked the half-smoked cigarette from Vash’s hand before patting him strongly on the back. “Leave the vices to us humans, okay?”
Vash tried to talk, wheezed, then tried again. “Okay.” A few more coughs shook his body before he took a deep breath of cool night air. “Okay. Fair.”
Vash wasn’t sure the conversation had really accomplished anything. But Wolfwood’s jaw wasn’t so tight, and he was smiling. It was soft, and a little bit sad, and something told Vash it wouldn’t last long. But it was there now.
That was a start.
.
Wolfwood had spent most of his life under the thumb of a cruel god and his blood-stained angels. He didn't believe in any of that, of course, not in the same fanatical way Bluesummers did. But Millions Knives controlled every aspect of his life now. The Eyes of Michael never left him. For all intents and purposes, they were some cosmic force controlling his every move. The closest thing to a god that he could prove existed.
But it turned out that self-made god had a brother. A brother who was nothing like him, who was soft and kind and more like the words in those old Earth Bible than anyone Wolfwood had known since being forced into the Eyes.
And who was probably the dumbest person Wolfwood had ever met. Who the hell was he to come out there asking about whether or not Wolfwood wanted to be alive? As if he wasn't the one with a death wish? I can live with that, he said. Like fucking hell. How could he say that and still look so…
Wolfwood glanced Vash's way again. The gunslinger had taken to staring up at the stars, now that his lungs had recovered from his first and only smoke in 150 years. You could see the plant markings in his eyes when his head tilted at the right angle. At other angles, his hair looked much fairer. Almost white.
Wolfwood had to look away again. A sick feeling curled around his ribs, pain worse than what he’d felt when he was strapped to the table in that lab. All that blood, and what did it accomplish? He’s gone. You failed him. He’s gone and it’s your fault.
That made him a monster and a hypocrite. What had he said to Vash? That he was nothing but empty talk, all promises he couldn’t keep? If that’s Vash…shit, Nicholas, what does that make you?
Vash straightened up suddenly, his eyes widening. Immediately, Wolfwood scanned their surroundings, one hand reaching out to grab Punisher. "What?"
Vash didn't answer, instead turning to run inside the ship. "Hey! Spiky!" Wolfwood raced after him, because what else was he going to do, but he definitely wasn't happy about it. "Vash!"
It was a pain in the ass keeping up with him. This was Vash's territory, and he clearly still knew it well after all these years. Wolfwood nearly lost him around one corner, but caught up at a doorway just in time to see…
"...shit."
The Plant room.
The space was flooded by a soft blue light. Dozens of canisters lined the walls, all occupied. He’d never seen so many in one place before. For a moment, all the Eyes’ constant rambling and preaching froze him in place. He shouldn’t be holding Punisher in here. He shouldn’t be in here at all. He was too unclean, too unworthy, too…
The sound of Vash’s voice and the whir of machinery jarred him from his stupor. “It’s okay, it’s okay…shh, shh, I’m here. I’m here.” He dropped his blanket as he stepped up to the canister. “It’s okay.”
I shouldn’t be watching this. But Wolfwood couldn’t look away. The Plant wasn’t entirely unfurled, but he could see…hands, a face peering out from the winglike appendages that made up the bulb. It–she–pressed a hand against the glass; Vash returned the gesture with his flesh and blood hand. “See? Everything’s fine.”
The Plant stared at Vash for a long moment before her eyes darted over to Wolfwood. He was frozen again. Did she know? The thought was irrational, stupid, he didn’t believe like that, but for a horrifying moment, he did. He truly believed she could see him for what he was, that Vash would too the second he turned around. But when Vash did face him, he didn’t look bothered at all. “That’s just Wolfwood,” he said, beaming. “Don’t worry. He’s like Brad. Nicer than he looks.”
“Hey, don’t go lying to her about me,” Wolfwood said. At least his voice didn’t shake. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. It was just a nightmare, I think.” Vash turned back to the Plant and rested his forehead against the glass. “It’s been a bit much lately, hasn’t it?”
The Plant returned the gesture. They just stared at each other for a long time before her hand retreated back. “There you go. See?” Vash backed off, but kept one hand on the glass. “Nothing to be afraid of.”
Wolfwood couldn’t look away again, but this time for completely different reasons.
He’d meant what he said earlier: Vash rarely smiled for real. It was so easy to see how it didn’t reach his eyes, how they looked so forced or exhausted. A weak lean-to against a whole sandstorm of shit. But he was smiling now, really smiling, as his face gently glowed alongside the others. And it wasn’t just the smile, either. The scene was so achingly familiar. He’d watched the bigger kids tuck in the little ones for years. He’d been the bigger kid tucking in the little ones. Being responsible for them was the easiest burden he’d ever carried. He’d just never realized that Vash carried it, too.
“Sorry I ran off,” Vash added apologetically. “I try to look after them whenever I’m here. The people here are kind to them, kind as they can be, but I’m the only one who can talk to them.”
“...’s fine,” Wolfwood said. What else was he supposed to say?
Vash’s smile widened, all bright teeth and sudden enthusiasm, with the same mischievous spark Wolfwood had seen earlier when Vash nicked his cigarettes. “Come here.”
“I shouldn’t…”
“Don’t be silly. Come here.”
Wolfwood didn’t believe. He really didn’t. But it still felt wrong, wrong, wrong to follow the walkway to where Vash stood. “You can say hello,” Vash said. “It’s okay. They don’t bite.”
Say hello to the Plant! Sure! Why not?!
Wolfwood swallowed nervously, the gesture aggravating the harsh ache in his throat. Under Vash’s expectant stare, he reached out, hesitantly, and rested a hand against the glass. It felt cool under his fingertips. The Plant stared at him from her partially-retreated posture. Maybe it was his imagination, but she didn’t seem all that impressed. Not that she had any reason to be. He knew what he was and she must have known, too, she must have seen into his soul and found it wanting. She must…
The Plant reached out with one finger and tapped it against the glass, right at where his nose was, before fully folding herself back up.
…did she just fucking boop me?!
Vash laughed, not unkindly. “See? Not scary at all. I actually think she likes you.”
“Is that what that was?” It broke the tension, that was for sure. Suddenly, he wasn’t Nicholas the Punisher anymore; he was just another human oddity gawking from the other side of her fish bowl. She might not even remember him once he’d left. What the hell had he been freaking out for?
Get it together, Wolfwood.
“Do they have names?” he asked, trying to fill the silence before his thoughts got away from him again.
“Sort of? Not like…Nicholas or Vash or Meryl. It’s more like a feeling. I can’t give it a word.” Vash finally stepped back to the control panel, sending the canister back to its place. “Some of the scientists tried, but nothing ever fits.”
“They mean a lot to you, huh?”
Vash nodded. His smile faded, replaced by that sad, contemplative look. “I know what people must think. If I love them so much, why do I want to keep them like this? I know not all the humans are so…” He sighed and leaned against the control panel. “...gentle with them. It’s not…ideal. I just think there’s another way.”
“To save them both?”
He nodded. “I have to try. They both mean something to me. I can’t give up on any of them.” Vash met Wolfwood’s eyes. There was something desperate, scared in them. “Does that make sense?”
It did. That was the worst part. It was the thing Wolfwood had been gnawing away at ever since their talk on the balcony. If me hurting means someone else doesn’t have to, I can live with that. He’d tried, he really had, but he couldn’t dismiss it as Vash’s usual bullshit because…
That orphanage was the only reason he was still living. The only reason the weight of Punisher stayed on his back and he kept coating his hands in blood, over and over. Because he loved them more than he hated what he had to do. More than he hated himself.
But love and guilt were starting to become more equal lately. Every step took them closer to July City, and he knew what he knew must be coming for Vash when they got there. Gentle, stupid Vash, the only person left alive who thought Wolfwood was worth something. He wasn’t sure he could live with himself when this job was over. But he knew he couldn’t live with himself if he let anything happen to those kids. And that dissonance was suffocating him.
Damn it, Needle Noggin.
“Yeah,” Wolfwood said. “Yeah, I get it.” He turned back towards the entrance; he couldn’t bear to look Vash in the eyes any more. “Vash?”
“Hmm?”
“There’ll be something else after. More shit to do.” He left out the ugly parts–that it wouldn’t be anything good, that it would just mean more blood and pain and guilt, that the after would come at Vash’s expense–because Vash didn’t need to hear about that part. Not tonight. “For whatever that’s worth.”
He couldn’t see Vash’s face, but he could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke: “Okay. Good.”
It was one of the real smiles. He could tell.
It hurt. But maybe Wolfwood deserved that.
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pigeontheoneandonly · 3 years ago
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OC Profile
Tagged by the ever-lovely @ghostxofxartemis.  Thank you!!!
Tagging: @dr-ladybird, @swaps55, @rpgwrites, @pushingsian, @dafan7711​, @awhellstothejoe​, @pip-n-flinx​, and anyone else who would like to share.
I haven’t done any Nathaly shit in a loooong time so let’s go!
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My favorite art of her ever, by the insanely talented @kauriart​.  Seriously I still stare at this thing an embarrassing amount of time.
I’ve responded to all of these prompts as of her current statuses in Labyrinth (my ME2 novelization).
General-
Name: Nathaly Zelena Shepard
Alias(es): Zey-Zey by her dad’s family, Nath by people who refuse to acknowledge her hatred of nicknames, Bo by her N7 peers, Nathabee by her ex-fiance Todd (and I can feel the murder rising in her disclosing that to you all)
Gender: Female
Age: 31, currently
Birthdate: April 11, 2154
Place of birth: An Alliance Kodiak en-route to Arcturus Station.  Her mother was reportedly Very Surprised.  The unfortunate private caught on the same transport was reportedly in therapy for years.
Hometown: None, but Phoenix back in UNAS on Earth, or Hellas Naval Base on Mars, probably come closest
Spoken language(s): English, Spanish, and Prothean (thanks Cipher) natively; Dherak, Hessarin, and Vinassi fluently; can get by or communicate a bit in a bunch more.  She did well enough in her basic language primer while training in spec ops to get recommended for additional training at ALI, and she kept taking lessons remotely up until her death, more-or-less for fun.  As she puts it, languages are “her sole academic talent”.
Sexual preference: Bisexual
Occupation: Currently mercenary.  She hates it.
Appearance-
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Red
Height: 6’4”
Scars: Cybernetic and surgical scars from her resurrection.  The damage to her body mostly obliterated earlier scarring.
Favorite-
Color: Changes by the week
Hair color: She likes her natural color well enough, but as a teenager dyed it all kinds of unnatural shades
Song: [I haven’t developed nearly enough headcanon around music in ME to begin to answer this]
Food: Tamales, the way her abuela made them
Drink: Scotch, cold with ice. No, she doesn’t care how it’s supposed to be served.
Have They-
Passed university: She has a degree in philosophy from New Stellar University, an online school, which she earned during her first few years serving as a marine
Had sex: yes
Had sex in public: …yes, technically, though she believes/hopes nobody saw them.  Not her finest moment.
Gotten pregnant: yes
Kissed a boy: yes
Kissed a girl: yes
Gotten tattoos: yes (sadly, also lost, though strangely not thanks to her death)
Gotten piercings: yes, though currently only her ears are pierced, the others closed up
Been in love: yes, more than once
Stayed up for more than 24 hours: yes
Are They-
A virgin: no
A cuddler: Not really.  Sometimes when she really needs it, but she’d never admit it
A kisser: Absolutely
Scared easily: lol no
Jealous easily: Not… really
Dominant: no
Submissive: no [sidenote: that one fic is a very particular dynamic in a specific context, and I wouldn’t overall characterize her as a sub]
In love: yes
Single: Hell if she knows
Random Questions (tw for self harm/suicide mention)-
Have they harmed themselves: Not intentionally
Thought of suicide: No
Attempted suicide: No.  She’s occasionally wondered if there’s something wrong with her that she hasn’t ever considered it, given some of the shit she’s been through. (What can I say, her issues run deep but occasionally have stranger manifestations.)
Wanted to kill someone: The better question is how many times she’s wanted to kill someone and acted on it.  The answer is not zero.
Have / had a job: She flipped “burgers” at a fast food joint at the Hellas Spaceport as a teenager (Phytoburger, “Home of the best beef that’s never lived!”).  She then enlisted as an Alliance marine at age eighteen, and served until her death at age twenty-nine.  Right now, she will firmly insist she’s not employed rather than make any claim of working for Cerberus.
Have any fears: Lots, most unadmitted to herself. But a big one is a fear of leaving people behind
Family
Sibling(s): None
Parent(s): Hannah and Paul Shepard.  Hannah still serves in the Alliance, while Paul was medically discharged after an accident when Nathaly was fifteen, and currently lives on Mars
Children: That’s a fascinating question! And oddly not especially related to the one about pregnancy further up.
Significant other: Kaidan(?) Shit’s complicated
Pet(s): Several fish, her favorite of which is a VERY grumpy walking catfish
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kae-karo · 4 years ago
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for the ship thing dabihawks kaeluc and zhongven :3
HELLO HI HELLO LOVE 💜💜💜
[send me a bnha or genshin ship and i’ll answer some questions based on whether i ship it!]
dabihawks !!!!! did u mean my bnha otp??? my overwhelming majority of fic content for bnha????
What made you ship it?
u know what’s really funny i don’t know if i can find it again but i think i saw some joke in the bnha tag on tumblr at some point abt how ppl shipped it as a crack ship even tho they’d never met in canon and then they met in canon AFTER that person made the post and i think that’s half of what got me shipping it, and i actually went out of my way to get and read the manga JUST so i could put dabihawks into the (un)lost (x)
What are your favorite things about the ship?
hopefully this makes sense but like...it’s just so raw? like. it has all these deep elements to it - sure, you have the enemies to lovers, maybe childhood friends to enemies to lovers tropes, but like. there’s this really intriguing way they’re juxtaposed even in canon with each other that makes them so remarkably similar and still so different? and as characters they are SO much fun to play with and get them to interact and learn and grow from those interactions. they run the gamut of possibilities in fic, too - like sure any ship can be portrayed in whatever way, but they have so much canon-compliant possibilities for their characterizations? like you can make them toxic as hell, you can make them lean on each other or begrudgingly become allies or literally whatever and you can still tie that back to their characters in a really believable way? which i think is such a unique and really intriguing type of character. not to even get started on their backstories and how those can come into play to give them this really intense depth to both their own characters but especially in relation to each other. gods i could go on and on lmaooooo there’s a reason i have them in so many of my bnha fics
Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?
are there unpopular dabihawks opinions? idk lmaoooo. i feel like it’s probably bigger now, but when i first started writing in dabihawks it felt pretty small (for a bnha ship), and i think everyone was p chill? i think this question is always a little funny for me bc there are rarely any opinions i have that are so strong that they vehemently come into conflict with other ppl’s opinions like i’m not deadset on ‘one of them tops always’ or whatever lmao
kaeluc kaeluc kaeluc i love them i ship them otp content right there
What made you ship it?
how cliche is it of me to say the VERY first scene we even saw diluc where he came and rescued kaeya from the abyss mage??? (x) it is extremely cliche but that’s the one. i hadn’t even started playing genshin yet i was watching over @revyourriley​‘s shoulder while he was playing and we deadass looked at each other after we saw that and both went YEP WE SHIP IT
What are your favorite things about the ship?
gods what’s not to like abt kaeluc???? the childhood friends to enemies to lovers??? *chef’s kiss* the fire and ice / red and blue / quiet polite loner and outgoing mysterious smooth-talker like man i could go on and on. not to mention kaeya as a character in general is just supremely sexc not just bc u kno he’s sexc but because he’s got this whole wealth of possibility as a character that’s as yet unaddressed. some AMAZING potential for angst and regained trust and reconciliation and rediscovering buried feelings or seeing the other in a totally new light or like gods i can’t get enough of these two tbh
Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?
LMAO i mean. the fact that i ship it at all is unpopular. although hot spicy take at least for me, i view p much everything through a writing lens. this is just how my brain works. so when it comes to ‘oh are kaeluc adopted brothers or sworn brothers or what’ and all that discourse, i have two thoughts: first, that i will listen to chinese fans’ explanation of the meaning of sworn brothers when it comes to understanding their canon relationship. and in some ways, their canon relationship doesn’t matter to me all that much unless the game decides to address it in more detail. and second, that when i am writing fic, they’re whatever the hell i want them to be for the sake of my plot. sometimes they view each other as brothers and that hasn’t changed, sometimes it’s changed over time/they’ve grown apart. sometimes they really only view each other as childhood friends/allies. sometimes they’ve never met in my fics. it just depends on what kind of story i’m trying to tell. is that unpopular? i really don’t know lmao
zhongven!!! okay i do ship it but it’s not all that high on my list of ships lmao like i usually ship zhongli and venti with other ppl first
What made you ship it?
honestly the art? the connection they have as immortals and archons and the only two remaining of the original seven? very inch resting potential right there
What are your favorite things about the ship?
immortals with a long and intertwined history as the only two remaining original archons? very spicy food for thought. the most polar of opposites in personality and appearance and methodology of interacting with their people??? there is so much depth to their history and each of their respective pasts to delve into which could be so intriguing to write
Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?
hmhmhm given that this isn’t something i ship like actively, probably not? I Just Think They’re Neat lmaoooo
[send me a bnha or genshin ship and i’ll answer some questions based on whether i ship it!]
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thedreamparadox · 3 years ago
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Do you have any tips on writing dreamers ? ( elliot claris will and helen ) i am working on swap AU but I don't feel confident I my understanding of those characters . If not than ignore this and have a nice day
Not many, honestly. I'm winging a lot of my characterization because like, the only Dreamer I had the slightest clue to when I started doing fics was Helen 'cause violin-ing.
I've got some general rule of thumbs for writing them though.
Helen: Writing style leans into Alice in Wonderland. Is a teeny bit of a crybaby in the early plot but totally has the ability to work through that and be brave (she wouldn't have a red Ideya otherwise). Has dad based trust issues because if I'm already relating super hard to the violin kid I might as well go all in lol. Absolute Twin Dreams fangirl to the degree some people I knew in high school were super into Phantom of the Opera, just more lowkey about it. Has a good eye for color so tends to use more definite color descriptors (ie magenta or rose instead of just pink).
Will: Writing style leans into Little Nemo (the comics far more than that one weird movie). Walking cinnamon roll who has some minor self confidence issues but is mostly suffering in his dad not being around as much anymore. Inherently a good natured kid who just wants to help. Maybe a little gullible, but more than smart enough to look at Reala and NiGHTS and go 'wait they're related.' Uses less descriptive language overall compared to Helen.
(Note: Both of the JoD kids were written to have some language in their style that reflected 'storybooks' to a point because it was a stylistic thing I wanted to lean into. I didn't go for anything stylistically for the NiD kids because I didn't plan on writing a full series worth of stuff for them originally.)
Claris: Her entire family is theater or some kind of performance geeks. Doodles a lot but is not an artist. Has chronic stage fright issues up until the end of NiD. Would absolutely throw hands with a Nightmaren solo if pressed, especially if her friends or family were in danger. Definitely owns a VHS of Cats and several various Broadway cast recordings. Probably reads a lot of fantasy books.
Elliot: Has some self-confidence issues revolving around basketball because poor kid's go performance anxiety. Curious to a fault, even in the face of danger, though tends to be really indecisive before he makes any given major decision. Kind-hearted and a little socially awkward. Not a good artist, but he tries. Way better with words than he thinks he is. Absolute Sonic fanboy. Massively. He dyed his hair blue like, come on lol
My characterization of the NiD kids is a lot shakier than the JoD kids mostly by sheer volume of writing. General rule of thumb is the gals are action girls even if they might freeze up at first and the guys are just good dudes that just want to help.
When it comes to writing in general, I'll quote my orchestra teacher from high school: do your best and fake the rest. (this is good life advice too lol)
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fl0ating-tree · 4 years ago
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as a fic writer yourself what are your thoughts on passerine?
*tiktok audio* ohhh i've been waiting for this one....TURN IT UP
i read passerine twice through entirely and then gone back and re-read/looked at some parts that i really liked to look at how they were written and what worked well about them. it's one of my favorites! although it's not my all time favorite.
personally, i thought it was an incredibly compelling story. my only gripse with it would be the fact that it's essentially completely unrelated to the dream smp and i think it would work better as an original story- but that's less of a critic and more of a compliment when it comes to AUs. and also the whole voices thing. if you've read it you'll know what i mean, but once i read the twist about the voices it honestly just made me feel like a lot of the build up for that stuff was just red herrings or plotholes.
overall i'd give it an 8.5/10. the ending gets a little complicated and there are a few parts i felt were rushed, and reading it a second time you notice some plotholes, but the imagery and emotion in it are amazing!
i go a little overboard under the cut about writing stuff if u want more detail lol (also spoilers under the cut), but tl;dr: AUs as complicated and indepth as passerine are bound to feel ooc, but overall it's a really amazing story and i think the author should definitely pursue novella writing!
if an AU is as long and intricate as passerine is, it's likely that it would just work better as its own story unconnected to preexisting characters for a few reasons. the main one being the fact that, to be a good story, the characters have to be ooc.
passerine has it's own entire universe set up. none of the things that make c!wilbur who he is can happen in passerine, while a lot of other events happen that shape passerine!wilbur never happens to c!wilbur. same goes for tommy, techno, and phil in both universes. the events in c!wilbur's life that make him who he is can't possibly happen in passerine because it's such a detailed fic, and because it spans over such a long time for the character's life that you can't have character traits be developed "offscreen" or before the timeline of the fic like most AUs have it. that's why the characters may feel ooc, yet their reasonings still make sense for their character in that fic.
most AU fics for the dream smp is based on the characterization of the characters in the roleplay, with a little influence from other smps or streaming personas. that's why even in AUs you'll see very apparent character traits. techno is stubborn and strong headed. phil is parental and trustworthy. wilbur is charming and passionate. tommy is hyper and excitable. these are character traits that are very intrinsic to the characters of the roleplay. AUs often follow these character traits because the time in which the AU is set is late enough in the characters lives that these character traits can be justified- they've simply been established off screen.
this is why foster fics or royalty fics can easily feel ooc. based on the nature of the fic the characters lives are completely changed. these base attributes of a character don't happen, so they aren't characterized that way. it's hard to have an extremely independent and self-sufficient tommyinnit in a royalty fic because he's a member of the royal family, he's never had to be self-sufficient unlike dsmp!tommy.
if you want a more "in character" au things like highschool AUs, where power dynamics are easily translated and characters are decently past the age of personality development that you can have them characterized how they are in canon without having to show why they're that way, work well. AUs that change smaller things, like wing AUs or superhero AUs, work well too because they only ADD to the character rather than changing their lifestyle or backstory.
passerine also works so well because it doesn't over explain itself. a problem a lot of fics fall into is wanting to make sure the reader is never ever confused. and while an extremely confused reader isn't a good thing, a vaguely confused reader can be used to your advantage. passerine does that really well. there were a lot of small details that made you wonder why isn't a character doing this, or what's the justification behind that; and rather than explaining it in detail, passerine lets you figure it out yourself. the best example i can remember is the blue valley battle. i kept wondering why techno, a little god of blood, didn't simply deal with it himself at the border. it was later clarified, but even now i constantly wonder what passerine!wilbur's thought process for that is. it keeps the reader thinking about the fic, which is a great way to promote your story because now people will discuss and share it for other opinions!
as for my complaint with the voices secretly being dream, it just didn't really make sense? "it made it more fun for dream"...why? was what he was doing not fun enough? why was he insisting that wilbur kill tommy? why did wilbur and techno have them, but not tommy? especially with the whole "wilburs gonna kill tommy" prophecy thing i was waiting the ENTIRE fic for wilbur to kill tommy. its the whole chekovs gun. i feel like that introduced a plotline that was never built upon again and then just written off as "the villain was just messing with the protag"
but once again, an amazing fic, and id definitely recommend it!
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maxbegone · 4 years ago
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IT’S FINALLY HERE!
In an effort to spread some love to the fanfic authors in the Schitt’s Creek community, this post is a compiling of some of our favorite fics! Thank you to every single person who decided to participate in this dedication of love! And to the fanfic authors out there - thank you for being so wonderful and sharing your stories with us! Here’s to many more countless hours of reading - day or night! 
There are repeats! I understand that may seem a little redundant, but I wanted everyone who participated to share their favorite fics regardless of repetition, author, pairing, AU, size, etcetera. 
A very special thanks to everyone who participated! 
@bestwisheswarmestregards // @brighter-than-sunshine  // @danieljradcliffe @darnitdraco  // @imargaery  // @justwaiting23  // @leopxld-fitz // @lickrustdavid // @loveburnsbrighter // @oceanavinfinity @poorguysheadcanon​ // @ratchet // @roguebabyinyourstore @stuck-on-your-heart // @thisbuildinghasfeelings​ // @vulcantastic​ @wlwbaudelaire​
I’m going to go ahead and put everything under the cut, because this should be quite a long post! 
**If there are authors on tumblr whose handles were not properly added, please send me a message!
@bestwisheswarmestregards​
Fic 1: Ace Of Hearts by loveisallyouneed21
Why I like it: It is just really sweet and made me really happy. Plus I like seeing Patrick as an asexual being one myself. I don’t see a lot of ace characters in the media so seeing someone portray Patrick, a character I love, as one makes me really happy. 
Fic 2: An Unexpected Arrival by @justwaiting23​ 
Why I like it: It was one of the first fics I read in this fandom and I fell in love with it. Plus the Brewers are in it and I love anything with the Brewers. 
Fic 3: Hammock by @maxbegone​ 
Why I like it: This fic makes me so fluffy inside. Early morning and snuggles are one of the best combinations. 
@brighter-than-sunshine​
Fic 1: Your Wings Prepare To Fly by @icmezzo 
Why I like it: I’m not the biggest fans of AUs/ Fantasy takes on fics, but the characterization of David and Patrick is so good here. It’s such a beautifully written fic, and I just couldn’t get enough of it when I first read it! A definite reread.
Fic 2: Today and All the Days that Follow by @unfolded73​
Why I like it: This one is one of my all-time favorites, because it explores so many of the relationships between all the characters… I especially love the bits including Stevie and Alexis. 
Fic 3: Little Reminders of our Love by @justwaiting23​
Why I like it: The whole idea of David and Patrick leaving each other notes was too adorable not to recommend this fic!
@danieljradcliffe​
Fic 1: Watching Through Windows by @helvetica-upstart​
Why I like it: Some fandoms have those fics that just inevitably change the game and define what fanfiction can be and for me, this is that fic for Schitt's Creek. It is a staple that everyone's read and continues to talk about and recommend a year after it was published; I'm sure we will continue to talk about it for years to come and to recommend it as new folks come into the fandom.
Fic 2: Until Now Gives Way to Then by swat117 
Why I like it: I just read this one-shot recently thanks to your (feel free to edit this how you need for your post) recommendation of their other fic, 'Exposed Brick.' This is a fic that (for me) completely captures why David and Patrick fit and work so well together and how their pasts have made it possible for them to be who they are as a couple in SC. I haven't read another fic that resonated with my own interpretation and appreciation of their relationship as much as this one. This author truly and completely sees them for all that they are.
Fic 3:  Red White and Blue Jays by @grapehyasynth​  
Why I like it: I saw this fic published earlier this year and wanted to read it so badly but figured I should read the source material (Red, White, & Royal Blue) first so I did and absolutely fell in love with that book (who wouldn't?). I attribute this fic for inspiring me to read Casey McQuiston's book and so when I went to finally read it, I had extremely high expectations and even still, this fic exceeded them. The author does an amazing job of incorporating aspects of the original book (RWRB) while keeping the story true to the characters and relationships we know and love in Schitt's Creek. I read the entire fic in one sitting and then instantly, read it again. It is laugh out loud funny while being romantic as hell and keeps David and Patrick incredibly in-character throughout.
@darnitdraco​
Fic 1: Red White And Blue Jays by @grapehyasynth​
Why I like it: this fic is the reason I bought Red White and Royal Blue. Going into the fic, I didn’t know what the book was about so it was all new to me but it was great nevertheless. Now that im almost finished with the book, I love this fic even more. I know its an AU but I think the characters are written well and I pretty much love any fic when Rachel isn’t made out to be the bad guy. Its 13 chapters and I will 100% be rereading it after I finish the book. 
Fic 2: Nothing Burns Like The Cold by @wildxwired​
Why I like it: This is a one shot and definitely Patrick Centric. I thrive on Angst and Hurt/Comfort. I personally feel like it is Patrick coming to terms with a things he didn’t have control over and him getting closure on things of the past. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot but please read this guys!! 
Fic 3: sometimes good things fall apart by @blueink3 
Why I like it: I have reread this multiple times and it gets better each time. Its only 4 chapters but it isn’t rushed. As I said above, I THRIVE on angst and hurt/comfort. This has both, AND protective Patrick. It is a spin on what could’ve happened after the barbecue and it has a happy ending so don’t worry.
@imargaery​
Fic 1: Dodgeball is f*cking stupid by alldaydream
Why I like it: This is a one-chapter piece that comes in just under 6k and yet the author manages to build a super rich AU experience and tell a complete story that is at once heart-wrenching, sweet, sexy, and thematic. If you want angst that doesn’t last too long, that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy, this is the one-shot for you. I go back to it as much as I go back to some of my favorite D&P scenes from the show.
Fic 2: if not for you by goingmywaydoll
Why I like it: When it comes to fanfiction about our boys, there’s almost nothing I love more than a high school AU. This is that. But it’s also a ROAD TRIP. What better scenario is there for a slow burn, mutual pining, dialogue heavy love story with plenty of bed sharing and nobody bothering them?
Fic 3: Beneath the Winter Snow by Distractivate
Why I like it: Can you tell I love a good AU? This one’s about the Olympics and it imagines a world in which Patrick and David have already fallen in love, had a relationship, and have broken up. This is a story about them finding their way back to each other--which isn’t hard because they have to be around each other all the time and work through their issues. It’s written with grace and thoughtfulness, and walking with Patrick and David as they learn to communicate with one another and work on healing makes the reunion that much more satisfying.
@justwaiting23​
Fic 1: hit me with your best shot by @ignisgayentia​
Why I like it: This is a bit of a random one but it has stuck with me ever since I read it. It’s a short little AU about David and Patrick meeting at a baseball game where Patrick is one of the players. It’s really sweet and does such a great job of keeping the voices in character, especially with the flirty teasing and awkwardness and is one of those fics I go back to over and over again.
Fic 2: Spills & Thrills by storieswelove
Why I like it: This is one in a series of ‘Meet-Uglies’ that the author has written which I adore but it’s my favourite one out of them. It has the perfect mix of awkward interactions which make you cringe and also really sweet and fond moments between the two of them.
Fic 3: You Can Plan on Me by odofidi
Why I like it: This is a sweet little piece of marital fluff about the first Christmas after the wedding. It fits exactly with my idea about what married life would be like for them and is really sweet, plus I always love it when the Brewers are able to see Patrick so genuinely in love with someone like that so it’s definitely one of my very favourites.
@leopxld-fitz​
Fic 1: best wishes, warmest regards (sent with confetti effect) by reymonova (costiellie)
Why I like it: This fic is just pure fun. The character voices are always perfect, and it’s such a nice addition to the series. This story is full of incredible one-liners and I think about “th*nk y*u” at least once a week. A must-read for anyone who loves a good Stevie-David friendship moment. 
Fic 2: Going Down by @concannonfodder​
Why I like it: This is a perfect AU. Rich David? Check. New York? Check. Patrick’s gay awakening? Check, check, check. This fic feels as real and in-character as any canon events of the show, and the author does an incredible job at lining up a love story for the ages all over again under completely different pretenses. Plus, who doesn’t love a “stuck in an elevator” trope? I would watch 10 movies based off of this.
Fic 3: I’ve Never Liked A Smile As Much As I Like Yours by hagface
Why you like it: I live for college AU’s, and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love how the author repositioned characters and events for a new setting, and David as a picky art major is all I ever could have hoped for. Character interactions are pitch perfect and there’s a true “paint me like one of your french girls” pining moment that was truly glorious. A great read!!
@lickrustdavid​
Fic 1: Tonight I’ll Drift in A Dream With You by torakowalski 
Why I like it: It’s rare to find such a well-written fic with a great family dynamic that makes you feel like you’re almost just reading a script for the actual show instead of an idea. There’s something soft and comforting about reading cohabitation with Alexis and David and Patrick doing there own things on separate sides of the motel room. 
Fic 2: A Week with the Brewers by @justwaiting23​ 
Why I like it: The dynamic with David and the Brewer’s is genuinely authentic and it’s made me flash back to some of my own experiences with partners parents. The fact that Patrick’s totally willing to have sex while his parents are there while David is mortified at the idea is also great and realistic. I feel like this fic also shows how partners grow and learn to communicate with one another and trust them. 
Fic 3: Welcome to Cabaret by @vivianblakesunrisebay​
Why you like it: The concept of David being more included in the whole Cabaret experience was something I definitely appreciated, since during the show I was kind of bummed with the lack of him. Stevie is wonderfully written in my opinion, and I really liked Patrick going on dates with the choreographer and watching David figure out how to cope. 
@loveburnsbrighter​
Fic 1: Small Projects by GCLane
Why I like it: My ultimate comfort fic.  Soft relationship feels and loving, passionate discussion of fiber arts, plus nuanced discussion of coming out and fitting in and what it means to be queer.  Also David trying new things and doing his best, which is also fun (he learns to knit!)
Fic 2: You and Me and This Temptation by @leupagus​
Why I like it: Another comfort fic!  Musician Patrick/manager David.  It's funny asf and super sweet at the same time.  Plus it does justice by Rachel, and made me totally love her.  Also, I was never sold on AUs of any kind and this is the fic that converted me.  I re-read it when I need cheering up and it never fails.
Fic 3: The Moment I Touched Down by rockinhamburger
Why you like it: Patrick learning about David's past and being the sweetest most sympathetic bean :(. This one is full of tragic backstory and good emotional hurt/comfort.  Super cathartic to read, and it makes me want to wrap David and Patrick both in big hugs and protect them from the world.
@maxbegone​
Fic 1: my heart was broke, my head was sore by @blueink3
Why I like it: This was the first fic I read since coming into the fandom. It’s canon-divergent, which, as it turns out, I kind of love. It’s so beautifully-written; a story about David meeting the Brewers much sooner than he anticipated, under unforeseen circumstances that take Patrick back to his hometown - and David is right along with him. And just like in every universe, Marcy Brewer is an angel.
Fic 2: Cleanser by @cypress-tree​
Why I like it: Hello and welcome to my comfort fic! This is just the most soothing story. It’s my wind-down fic, and every single time I read it, it makes me want to do my own in-depth skincare routine (that I already do morning and night). But it’s not just about that - it’s about Patrick taking a look at his identity as well. It’s all so tender and sweet, and so intimate in its own lovely way. David pampers Patrick a little bit and shows him that “femininity” and “masculinity” do not have rigid divides. And the first time I read this, I was wearing a mask from LUSH.
Fic 3: keep my spirit strong, you do by fishypots
Why you like it: Content warning; eating disorders, food issues. This hit me square in the chest. It resonated with me in a way I knew it would but struck so much more within me. By the end of it, I was smiling because of how represented I felt. I know this is a difficult topic for some, but I needed to share this fic. As someone with dysmorphia and struggles with disordered eating, it was such a comfort to read about David, who is a character so vulnerable and his partner who doesn’t pester him with questions. Instead he listens, he does a little research (it’s Patrick, of course he does), and remains by him. It’s all written so realistically and tenderly, and without any jabs or awkward nods toward body image. This will forever be at the top of my list.
@oceanavinfinity​
Fic 1: I Carry These Heart-Shapes Only to You by ladyflowdi, ships_to_sail
Why I like it: It is a work-in-progress au set in Paris during WWII. Patrick is a soldier on leave, and David is a gallerist who sailed to France to help Alexis (as usual). The characters are so, so true to canon, and the world building of Paris in that era will whisk you away from your current place. I love it.
@poorguysheadcanon​
Fic 1: bright lights by falconeggs (series)
Why I like it: my favorite schitts creek fic is definitely the series “bright lights” on ao3!
@ratchet​
Fic 1: In the Temple of Artemis by MoreHuman 
Why I like it: This story has Stevie exploring (with some help) the identifier of Aromantic after navigating what she thought were her romantic feelings for David. Really sensitively written, with a scene that almost perfectly puts into words my feelings about David & Stevie’s soulmate-esque relationship.
Fic 2: David Rose, Your Husband Is At Guest Services by @patricksdavid​ 
Why I like it: Husbands! At Costco! Giant muffins and comically large bags of doritos! 2071 words of pure domestic fluff! What more could you ask for?!
Fic 3: Fifteen Hundred Miles by MoreHuman 
Why I like it: Okay so. This is very new as part of the Reel Fic Fest, but I needed to include it. I love Wild, both the book & movie, and I am very much a “deal with my problems by hiking/biking in the forest” so this spoke to me immediately. Patrick and David meet as strangers hiking 1500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. There’s nature, pining in nature, tent shenanigans, tent emergencies! Stevie being an excellent friend from afar, a cribbage board, journaling, secret trail register entries, David in flannel, and an ever-present toque. It’s just a really satisfying and calming 30k words with literally 2 characters. I read it twice in 12 hours.
@roguebabyinyourstore​
Fic 1: Fifteen Hundred Miles by MoreHuman 
Why I like it:​ I like a good AU as much as the next person, but this one is just STUNNING. The descriptions of the pain and struggle endured by both men, both physical and emotional, was vibrantly visceral. David and Patrick’s relationship bloomed organically and you are hooked on their journey through the wilderness as they grow closer and eventually fall in love. Plus it’s Patrick’s POV. What’s not to love?
Fic 2: Getting Over Getting Older All The Time by Distractivate  
Why I like it:​ You’ve heard of slow burn? Well meet glacial burn. This masterpiece takes us through 10 years of friendship, of missed opportunities, of pining and heartbreak. But most importantly it shows what we all knew - David and Patrick will find their way to each other regardless of time and distance. Also Patrick’s POV, I sort of love Patrick Brewer.
Fic 3: You Could Be The One by bigficenergy 
Why I like it: ​I have a soft spot for early relationship David and Patrick. But almost no fic does it quite like this. This fic highlights points from our boys’ developing relationship scored by the incomparable Carly Rae Jepsen. This fic is so true to the characters, their voices and their story, that it’s all one giant headcanon for me. This fic is part 1 of a larger series and I highly recommend all of them.
@stuck-on-your-heart​
Fic 1: a kiss from a rose by mihaly ( @davidroseshusband​ )
Why I like it: This was the first multi-chapter fic I read when I joined the sc fandom, and I hadn’t read fic of any kind in over a year. It’s a brilliant story where Alexis stars in a reality-dating show. All the characters are portrayed so perfectly in this fic, and you can hear their voices in every piece of dialogue. It’s sweet, it’s hot, it’s everything you could want in an AU. This story helped me fall in love with fic again so it has a very special place in my heart. 
Fic 2: Rose’s Eleven by leupagus
Why I love it: This story honestly feels like a movie. I know the concept is based on a film franchise, but the writing in this fic is truly exquisite. It’s so complex and gripping, and there’s a heist which is always a good time. Despite the very different world these characters are in, they are still true to themselves, so it’s very exciting to see how they interact with one another in this universe. This is such a fun read from start to finish and just thinking about it makes me want to go back and read it again.
Fic 3: Simply the Vest by orphan_account
Why I love it: If you couldn’t tell, I’m obsessed with AUs. This fic is such a satisfying AU because it incorporates several tropes that we all know and love. In this story, Patrick is an FBI agent, and he has to go undercover as David’s boyfriend. So right off the bat there’s fake dating! And then it has pining because our boys are dumb! AND THEN it has a little smut if that’s your cup of tea. And while all this is happening, Patrick is being capable and looks very dashing in his FBI vest.
@thisbuildinghasfeelings​
Fic 1: Happy to help by @vivianblakesunrisebay​
Why I like it: This was the first Schitt’s Creek fic I fell in love with when I started exploring what was out there after bingeing the show for the first time. It’s basically a deep dive into Patrick’s POV from Motel Review through Grad Night. It really helped me appreciate Patrick as a character when I was fairly new to the show. I think I formed a lot of head canon regarding Patrick’s life and backstory based on the things I enjoyed in this fic. And it’s just incredibly well written.
Fic 2: turn down the lights, turn down the bed by @hudders-and-hiddles​ ( @wild-aloof-rebel​ )
Why I like it: I love this take on David and Patrick remaining just business partners until Rock On. I can be a bit of a canon purist, so I’m really picky when it comes to AU fic. However, there are actually quite a few I enjoy in this fandom. My favorite thing about this one is that it has the exact right amount of angst, to the point where it’s almost physically painful, but in the best possible way. Especially because you know how it’s going to end. This is angst with a happy ending executed perfectly. And it’s so good that it holds up to multiple rereads.
Fic 3: my heart was broke, my head was sore by blueink3
Why I like it: Another canon divergent AU that I love. This one diverges from canon after Grad Night, at which point Patrick has to go home for a family emergency and David goes with him. What I really love about it is how it puts Patrick in a position to be truly vulnerable and gives David the opportunity to kind of be the strong one and really take care of Patrick. This is something we don’t get to see to this extent in canon until maybe Meet the Parents, so it’s nice seeing it here so early in their relationship. Also, it’s just so beautifully written.
@vulcantastic​
Fic 1: no other version of me i would rather be tonight by wardo_wedidit
Why I like it: I’ve always enjoyed the concept of love languages, and it was so sweet watching David do so much for Patrick to show he loves him. Of course, it stems from fear and anxiety that David isn’t doing enough for Patrick (especially with Alexis egging him on), which reads very realistically to me. I think we as the audience tend to forget that David  has never had anything like this before, has never experienced the love of someone like Patrick. He’s still learning how to accept that love and return it, in his own unique ways. This fic does a great job of examining that.
Fic 2: Exposed Brick by swat117
Why I like it: To me this is the perfect “Patrick and David visit New York” fic. Patrick is characterized so beautifully here; we not only see how he aims to please throughout his relationship with David but in his interactions with Rachel and his family as well. I imagine there was a lot left unsaid on the show regarding Patrick’s uneasiness about moving to New York and David’s ultimate decision to stay with him in Schitt’s Creek--this is explored wonderfully here. Plus, as a new New Yorker, it was really nice to read about all the iconic places in and around Manhattan.
Fic 3: we’ll take the world together by sonlali
Why I like it: I am a sucker for stories that examine David and Alexis’ relationship before the start of the show. This fic in particular is heart-wrenching, touching on the trauma both siblings likely experienced before we as viewers knew them. I love the idea of David as protector of his younger sister, and to see that sentiment returned by Alexis now that they have grown (physically and emotionally) while living in Schitt’s Creek is beautiful to read.
@wlwbaudelaire​
Fic 1: you’re my peace and my quiet by chocobos
Why I like it: This fic is just so soft and sweet and always puts me in a good mood whenever I reread it. It’s wonderfully written and I can truly see this as an actual scene in the show. 
Fic 2: Terrified But The Truth is This by ryry_peaches ( @loveburnsbrighter​ )
Why I like it: As someone who’s had a headcanon that David is autistic since I started watching the show, this was the first fic I saw pertaining to it. I was happy to see how well it was portrayed, especially giving how poorly I’ve seen fics portray autism in other fandoms, and it even made me see the episode “Girls' Night” in a completely different light. 
Fic 3: Putting Down Roots by @this-is-not-nothing​
Why I like it: Absolute domestic fluff is my jam and this fic delivers it and then some. It gives me everything I could want in a post-canon fic where David and Patrick are happily married and living in their cottage.
Again, thank you to everyone who made this post possible! I am so happy we were able to spread some love and cheer to the fic writers of this community! Sending so much love to each and every one of you, and I’m hoping this provides some new material for the community to discover as well! 
196 notes · View notes
wyndryga · 3 years ago
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black widow (2021) review
aka liveranting while i rewatch it at 1.5 speed. spoilers ahead
i dont think this movie was smart enough to have symbolism. blue curtains are just blue curtains
inaccurate fireflies. meant literally nothing despite being the only attempt at symbolism
american pie is the main song of the movie. about a russian spy organization.
no on screen confirmed police deaths. lame.
david harbours character sucks. brings nothing but bad 'comedy' to the movie
first onscreen death is an asian woman, by brutal stabbing, after getting hit by a car. her final act is saving the white woman who killed her. preventable death by seconds
ot fagbenle's character is never named in dialogue. had to google him to find out his character is Rick Mason
lack of romantic subplot b/w mason and widow appreciated, but likely only because this whole movie is a zerosum plot with no larger impact
how tf did taskie track the vials from budapest to buttfuck nowhere when mason is supposedly good at his job
taskie's fucking helmet. with the hood up it looks like a gd ski mask
props for expandable weapons backpack though, that was cool
movie does a poor job showing off taskie's mimic abilities. incredibly mediocre combat sequences
mimic abilities possibly soley tech-based, taskie isnt shown fighting without the helmet. weak lame and boring
2nd piece of media after a criminal minds episode i watched recently where supposed ballistics experts dont know what arrow wounds look like. tf is wrong with these people
black widow says the 'maybe in english next time' line despite A. russian being her first language B. yelena's explanation being extremely simple C. being a fucking superspy with high intellect
chastises yelena for giving an EILI5 answer despite literally just asking her to do so
somehow naiively belived she was the last widow for more than like a decade. why tf is nat dumb as shit
rediscovers a world threatening top secret spy orginization with a floating fortress and at no point calls up walking tank tony stark because 'we arent talking' despite others suggesting she call him
top super spy too stupid to check for a body. like jfc no body no death, this is comics get your shit together
second onscreen death is a south asian woman who gravely injures herself trying to mindlessly stab at widow who is saving her from falling, then kills herself under mind control seconds before yelena rounds the corner with a cure. facial disfiguration. preventable death by seconds
widow has moral crisis over stealing a guys bmw while being chased by a fucking apc
entire plan is 'driving away'
the tic-tac-toe games were funny. i can smell the fics being written
dreykov's daughter line was a red herring to nat's parents this whole time lmfao. cunt really failed at blowing up a child and didnt check for any bodies. how can you be this bad of a spy
widow surprised shes not considered a heavy hitting avenger despite having a god from space on her team and trying to get into the hulks pants
literally just assumed that the red room was gone and all those other girls were fine
shits all over yelena referring to her as a sister despite her entire relationship with barton and the avengers being found family
yelena critizes everything about nat's public persona and past directors' bad characterization, nat and current director make zero changes throughtout the movie
talking about highly classified information and being killers in front of random civilians
sex/child trafficking fearmongering throughout the movie
5 year old nature valley bar my beloved
karl marx knuckle tattoos. jesus fucking christ
red guardian learns hes escaping prison, traps other prisoners. lame.
"we're both doing a really good job! :) 👍" best line
period jokes. why is david harbour here
is immediately useless and has no info
'no offense'
literally a manchild designed by someone who heard about communism from an american politician in 1945
'did i do something wrong' bro you. trafficked children. jfc.
no one here has any morals but nat keeps acting like they should
just gonna waltz onto the property huh
widow really feels the need to say 'no funny business' are you five. did a five year old write this script
straight up asks about booby traps
tbh i felt claustrophobic just watching the red guardian suit up
alexei is just. ridiculous. swinging wildly between morally bankrupt, secret heart of gold dad, misogyny, and 'i love my fake wife'. such a stupid character
widow constantly asking stupid questions like 'what are you doing' when its very obvious what other characters are doing
'i can blow up children but i draw the line at animal abuse'
melina somehow oblivious to her mind control discoveries being used on children and tested inhumanely
former widows are just dumb as hell huh
thank you david 'piss hands' harbour for the worst rendition of american pie ive ever heard
i know arctic camo is a thing but these white suits are so gd impractical
the red room generating its own cloud cover really doesn't seem sufficient to keep it hidden for two decades from the likes of tony stark and his satellites
cant believe this whole movie was a character assassination against martin scorsese because he pissed on feige's ego
third (possibly fourth) onscreen death(s) are two male black doctors. false authority trope, deaths """justified""" bc they were about to kill yelena
why only one earpiece set. i thought yall were professionals
Antonia is trans as hell
PHEREMONES?????
mcu has gone full a/b/o
taskie doing the wakanda pose when accessing t'challa's fighting style feels like a microagression
leader of spy org easily baited into revealing all his secrets
'girls are an overabundant natural resource' jesus christ this movie is half character hitjob half fearmongering about nothing
pheromone lock beaten by.....breaking your nose...........
red room has the exact same flaw as the original helicarrier from the first avengers. who the fuck thought backup engines were unnecessary
one normal guy in body armour is enough to demolish a military planes tailfin
fifth and final on-screen death and the only non-poc is main villain dreykov, with particular attention paid to his glasses, a clear parody of martin scorcese's iconic frames
pretty sure you cant survive a drop opening a chute that late but whatever
god i hope taskie comes back in a later movie
red guardian grows as a character by learning to shut the fuck up
fucking fireflies
straight up could not tell the difference between madame hydra and agatha harkness at first
yelena vs clint is apparently going to happen despite nat telling yelena they were friends and worked together
overall a forgettable movie, zero stakes and no real larger impact on the MCU story. basically a two hour intermission. props for costume design and score, the choir chanting in russian was amazing
really seems like this movie is the MCU's divorce from ScarJo and Florence's rise as her replacement. yelena is portrayed as more intelligent, funny, attractive, and competent than nat in every way, has the best lines, and is immediately critisizing and one-upping the actress and character. fans dont want to see scarjo anymore and marvel knows it. i bet the same thing is gonna happen with the hawkeye show and theyre gonna kick Jeremy renner to the curb. while hopefully also introducing kate bishop as the new hawkeye.
cant believe i watched this movie twice lmao
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imbellarosa · 4 years ago
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Hiii! I was wondering if you read fanfic?? And if so, what are your fav tropes/works??
Hi!!!! I read A LOT of fic from A LOT of fandoms! My fav tropes are either flat comedy or enemies to friends to lovers or friends to lovers or something like that! I only read happy endings, but I don’t mind some angst in the middle. Idk what fandom you’re looking for so I’m gonna give you a list of some of my all time favs from EVERY fandom, and I’ll add one that I’ve written!
Walk That Mile by purpledaisy- 150k words 1D enemies to friends to lovers road trip AU across the US for a fun, banter-y time with some real communication issues that really get resolved well. People always say that a rom com should have a good answer for “why can’t they be together NOW?” And this one does it really well! No real angst, and a lot of fun. 
Have Love, Will Travel by @kingsofeverything - 97k words 1D YouTubers on a roadtrip AU! If you liked the first one on this list, you’re gonna love this one too! Sweet and long and full of the memories you would make on a road trip. Lots of laughs with this one, and I wish I could see the “Have Road, Will Travel” video series irl! 
Tell Me Now, Tell Me Now by @vanillabeanniall - 55k words 1D Miraculous Ladybug AU but you don’t need to watch the show to ADORE it - I know that I sure do!! Funny and sweet and SUPER ironic, with superheroes and Paris mixed in and great characters! Who wouldn’t love it?
So Let’s Cross the Lines We’ve Lost by thecoloursneverfade - 165k words 1D friends to enemies to friends to lovers uni AU that was one of the first that I read in the fandom and really made me fall in love! Good friends, some angst, hard convos that lead to real growth, and lots of really great characters. This feels real, for a lack of a better word, and is always compelling. 
Ain’t That A Kick in the Head by keysmashlesbian, wreckingtomlinson (karasunonolibero) - 23k words 1D comedy AU ft. football player!Louis, Disaster gay!Harry, memes, frogs, head dives, Blue Coolattas (whatever those are), and a very sassy Red Robin waitress named Fiona. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve read it, and I always laugh, and I always find something new to fall in love with. 
Leave it To the Breeze by @hattalove - 82k words 1D GBBO AU. This one feels like a warm hug. It’s gentle, fun, has great characters, believable angst, has you rooting for more than one of the characters to win, and is also hilarious, somehow. I’ve read this fic over and over and over, and I especially do it when I have time before a new season of GBBO. Also, have snacks!! It makes me hungry
The Section by bananaheathen - 11k words 1D Uni AU with grad student TAs, sophomore undergrads, art classes, movie analysis, and final essays as methods of seduction. Also, nicknames, nude models, a Halloween party, and absolutely shameless flirting. I loved it, and laughed the whole way through. 
I’ve Heard it Both Ways by @adoredontour - 26k words 1D Psych AU. I love this one. I love the fic, I love psych, I love the author. I’ve read most of her works, but this one has such a special place in my heart. Go read it!! 
Play it All Night Long by janine_tangerine - 43k words SPN radio AU with DJ!Dean and bartender!Cas, with music, annoying coworkers, sassy siblings, and lots of love. WHOAH WHATS THIS A LIVEJOURNAL FIC??? I know but I read this ages ago, and it has music EMBEDDED WITHIN THE FIC! It was my first introduction to Bob Dylan, who remains one of my favorite artists of all time. 
Crossroads State by Mercy - 51k words SPN slice of life AU with Mechanic!Dean, Teacher!Cas, Law Student!Sam, and lovely lovely moments. All sweet, some tension, but no real angst. I read this forever ago, and still come back and back and back to it. 
Peace and Good Luck to All Men by KismetJeska - 31k words SPN College Au. DO YOU MEAN THE BEST CHRISTMAS FIC EVER OF ALL TIME??? I read this on the first day of December every year, and it makes me laugh every time. Cas falls in love with his sister’s boyfriend, Gabe and Luke are in a seduction competition, Michael is tired of everyone, and Dean doesn’t know what hit him. 
For All You Young Hockey Players, Pay Attention by @thursdaysfallenangel - 144k words SPN enemies to lovers hockey AU. Just. Please go read this. Gorgeous and still one of the best fics in the whole fandom, imo. Cas is the new transfer on Dean’s team, and Dean doesn’t like change. 
The Complete Works of Emmanuel Allen by @violue - 54k words SPN small town AU ft. writer!Cas and local business owner!Dean. Dean meets his favorite author, but does not know it’s him. Shenanigans ensue, with a lovely warm feel. Dean builds a mausoleum and owns cats and lives in the woods. Cas needs a change of scene. Sam thinks everyone needs some more company. 
The Mirror by cloudyjenn - 25k words SPN parallel universe AU. This was one of the first fics I ever read, and I still love it. Dean touches an enchanted mirror and travels through universes in search of an answer to a question he hasn’t asked. Full of love, family, and companionship. 
Asunder by rageprufrock - 24k words SPN AU with Social worker!Dean, Doctor!Cas, Sober!Sam, and RUBY!!! Ugh I love this fic for Ruby alone. This one is more bittersweet. Dean hasn’t spoken to Sam in years due to his struggles with addiction. Sam, now sober, is getting married, and has invited him. Dean can’t face his family alone. 
But It’s a Good Refrain by lady_ragnell - 23k words Merlin Radio AU! Merlin has an anonymous gossip radio show, and someone calls in to put Arthur on blast! Morgana is a fan, Arthur is not amused, and a sort of enemies to lovers thing occurs. Just lovely, and it makes me laugh every time. 
And Like the Cycle of the Year, We Begin Again by @katherynefromphilly - 208k words Merlin canon compliant. This is the Season 6 we should have had. If you’re at all into this fandom, go read it - it’s still an all time fav for me. Hundreds of years later, Arthur walks out of the lake. Merlin has been waiting. 
Give The Dragon a Chili by @supercalvin - 47k words Merlin magical AU based on the story in New Zealand of the cat stealing someone’s underwear. Merlin’s dragon is sort of a thief. 
Fundamental Imperfection by Starlingthefool - 12k words Merlin famous author AU. Arthur likes Dickens. Merlin does not. They get into it on a panel, and twitter stan wars ensue. And enemies to friends to lovers where literary arguments are an expression of love, and stories are magical. 
The Student Prince by FayJay - 145k words Merlin Uni AU. What a classic!! It’s a magical realism royal enemies to friends to lovers AU ft. a dragon in the walls, a lovely gay soc, Gwen as a Muggle, and some really great characters and moments. Do yourself a favor and go read this one. 
Call it Love by @dalek-in-heels - 30k words Merlin RPF. UGH THIS ONE!!! Okay 1.) the author is one of my best friends, and she’s amazing! 2.) lovely fic that takes place at the end of Merlin, and still has one of my all-time favorite misunderstandings in fic ever. “Yogurty Heart” is my favorite way to say I love you. 
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by @watsonshoneybee - 35k words Sherlock AU canon compliant through season 3. This one is sad, but the title is taken off of one of my favorite books, and the writing is gorgeous - as is the characterization. Happy ending, though! I promise! So the journey is all worth it! 
In All of the Lives We Are by @dalek-in-heels - 20k words The Magicians canon compliant through the first half of season 3. Sarah does it again and writes one of the best fics I’ve ever read. Art as therapy, a sweet love story in more than one universe, and finding the will to keep going through the worst days. The writers of the actual show should have read this fic and put it on the screen. This is my canon. 
A Happy Ending? Sure Enough by me (imbellarosa) - 8k words The Magicians canon compliant up to season 4. This is the only one of mine I’m putting on the list, because I still really like this one! You need some context, but not much? Idk, just if you want to see how *I* write! 
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internalsealpanic · 4 years ago
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I Will be Your Tim Drake for Tonight (1) (Jason Todd/ Reader)
Summary:  Preferring to do anything but your physics project, you decide to accepts Tim’s proposal. It’s simple. He does your project, you try to figure out whether Jason Sionis is criminal. Easy, right?
masterlist
A/n: This takes place in a world where Jason is adopted by Black Mask. Inspired by Building Interest by Zoeleo.
The events and characterization in this story are very heavily based on Zoeleo's Long Term Investment series. It is fantastic and I really highly recommend all of her fics.
a/n: For clarification, Reader does have psychic powers but it only lets her sense people's emotions physically. No mind-reading. Her power is more like an overactive sense of empathy which may force her to dissociate into someone else.
There will be violence and mentions of alcoholism (used as coping mechanism for physical pain) and chronic pain.  
As for the additional warning, an animal is harmed but it is barely described. I could not bring myself to actual describe it but the aftermath is described.
I also just converted this from an OC so I apologize for any grammatical mistakes.
Without further a do: 
Your skin itches as you make your way through the crowd. It wasn't the suit. After all, Alfred Pennyworth was incapable of doing wrong. It was the sea of hands patting your back, petting your head, and pinching your cheeks made every inch of skin want to slough off. Tim owed you. He owed you big time. Then again he's back at the manor tackling your physics project and making sure Gotham doesn't set itself on fire while Batman is on  ‘vacation’.
You should be fine. It’s not like Brucie asked you to investigate a suspected criminal who also happens to be Roman Sionis’ heir. Nope, no pressure there. Thanks Bruce. You’re clad in blue contacts, a black wig, makeup, and a stolen suit. As safe as you felt in someone else's skin, you still felt like you were gonna fall over. Maybe it's because you were dumb enough not to bring your cane.
The room was dizzyingly full of people. Your mind goes haywire. Jumping from one mind to the next. Dipping into every emotion it could stick itself into. It was almost overwhelming enough for you to forget about the ache in your leg. You knew this night was gonna be far longer than you could stand.  You needed a drink. Or 9.
"Hey, no drinking! You're underaged!" Dick nearly shrieked, plucking your fifth(?) flute of champagne. You wouldn't be in a few months. Really he was being quite unreasonable to the drunk person in front of him. Looking him dead in the eyes,  you wave another server over and take 2 flutes of champagne.  "I'm fine Dick. I've drunken harder stuff than this."
"No," Dick said firmly snatching the 2 flutes from your hand.
"Big bro pleeeaaasee" You drawl sweetly knowing Dick was a sucker for that move.  Dick tries to look unmoved but you could see in the slump of his shoulders that he wanted to give in.  "I'm having an episode," The word episode felt strange and wrong but there really was no other way to describe it. "and I don't have any painkillers on me." You added hastily.  
"Fiiine-" Dick whines, resolve crumbling to dust. Handing back only one flute of champagne, he scolds: "Just don't get shit faced. We're here on a mission."
"Yes, motheeeer,"
Without missing a beat, you down it, feeling the tearing in your head beginning to fade.
"Jesus, calm down," Dick said taking the now empty flute from you.  
You are less than surprised by the fact that he isn't fazed by being called mother at this point. It might just be the alcohol. The Powers might not understand the concept of fun but they sure do have taste in alcohol.
While Dick lectures you on safe alcohol consumption and Babs laughs unhelpfully, You feel the press of another person's mind.  The other 2 seem to notice it too. Being pulled out of their reverie, they turn to greet them.
"Target at 2'oclock" Babs whispers but your mind had for some reason forgotten how English worked. Instead, it drifted to the simple mind coming closer to them. Almost too quickly,  you dropped down to your knees. Your joints complained but you could feel your mind smooth as you placed a gentle hand on the dog's fur.
The dog whuffs with glee as if to say "Yes! There! Pat there!".
Absorbed in the dog's uncomplicated happiness, you began to piece yourself back together and the pain in your head receded.
" Who's a good girl? You are! You are!"
The dog yips happily. Its smooshed face pressing into your hand. You forget the party until-
Dick coughs clearing his throat, laughter bright in his blue eyes.
You, for the first time, notice the person beside the dog. It was their target, Jason Sionis,  stretching out his hand to shake yours.  
"Oh- Uh- it's just your dog- She's- Hi, I'm Tim Drake." you shoot up to shake his hand. You notice the patches of scabs and scars on his knuckles. You’re pretty sure Dick or Tim could give him a run for his money if they didn't have makeup on. Though that just might speak more to their-as Damian puts it- incompetence.
Your eyes flicker to Dick momentarily as he tries so hard not to laugh.
"Well, it was nice to make your acquaintance," Jason says flatly as he turns his attention to Dick and Babs for a more coherent discussion.  You weren’t entirely certain that you offended him but you were probably close.
You want to say that it's his eyes that you notice first. They were a striking shade of ultramarine,  a terrifying facsimile of the ocean. They made you shudder. You would have rather noticed how nicely he filled out his suit. The man was made of muscle under that well-tailored suit.  You file the image for further appreciation later.  But, unfortunately, you are far too accustomed to checking your brothers for wounds for your eyes to not immediately flicker towards the scar on his face. It takes everything in you not to stare at the scar cleaving down the flesh of his cheek rigging the right side of his face into a permanent grin. Thankfully, he leaves them saying something about having business somewhere else.
Sure, the guy falls into Gotham’s pattern of ruining your face and turning to a life of crime but so far he hasn’t really shown anything concrete.   Plus, he’s really nice to his dog. No one that nice to a dog could possibly be the Red Death, Black Mask’s shiniest, and rumored to be his most brutal, new enforcer. Then again, your mother always did treat Anatoli like a king.
"Tim was right. You can act like him. You even got him shoving his own foot in his mouth down pat. Great job. " Dick chuckles patting you on the shoulder jostling you out of your thoughts.
You sigh. "The next time I go undercover I'm going alone. I don't even know why you're here."
"I think you've demonstrated why."  
You- annoyed, embarrassed, and feeling the marching in your skull coming back- jab "Alright Fabio , you befriend Mr.Pretty boy-" .  
"That's pretty mean eve-"
"I didn't mean it to be mean-"you honestly didn't but you were byelingual at this point.  "-I think he's pretty. Scars are sexy and all of that carp. "
"I am very concerned."  
"You should be. I'm out of booze and the dog just walked away. " you hissed rubbing the side of your head before stomping off to look for more drinks.
You feel your head jack rabbiting again. The staff had, as per some evil person's request (Likely Dick or maybe Babs), cut you off from the booze. You find yourself wandering around until your feet take you outside. The cool night air and the nearly freezing bricks sooth you warmed skin as you slide against it.  
"What? Did you come out 'ere to watch my dog piss?" a slightly familiar baritone voice chuckled.  
"As fun as that sounds, I just escaped Dick Grayson. I believe that, in itself, is reason enough to go outside and take in the 'fresh' Gotham night air. " you snark, looking up expecting him to grin at you but was greeted with a look of concern. You’ve seen it before. Your hand almost automatically makes its way to your nose.  You felt a thick liquid brush against the pads of your fingers. If you looked at them, you’d likely see them covered in blood.
You shrug and brush your deep red sleeve against your face. You probably didn't get all of it based on the crooked grin on his face.
"Shit kid, they'll think I punched you." Jason chuckles good-naturedly. You know he's not nervous. He’s charming enough to talk his way out of it.
"Relax, Dick will likely say I deserved it if they do think you punched me but that is highly unlikely seeing these episodes are an open secret after I bled on Mrs. Yavorski's satin dress a few years ago. "  
"Well, in that case, you want a smoke? Should take the edge off." Jason says it as a joke holding out a pack of cigarettes to you. Everyone knows Wayne kids are good kids.
You, feeling particularly cheeky, take the cigarette between his lip and take a long drag, inhaling and letting your eyes slide close.
He makes a quiet choking noise. Away from the sea of minds, you can feel his eyes on you. Wide and disbelieving. A cocktail of interest, embarrassment, excitement, and delight swirls in his mind. It might have been attraction or it might just have been amusement. You shouldn't be too surprised by the reaction. Tim is quite the knock out even when he looks dead on his feet. His confusion only lasts five seconds before you cough out   "Christ, it's just as bad as Bruce said it was."
You hand him back the cigarette laughing and coughing into your sleeve.
"So, did your brother tell you to apologize?" He says, clearing his throat not really looking you in the eyes. You can still see the faint speck of color on his face.
"Well,  he didn't say it. He doesn’t really have to and I do have manners contrary to popular belief. Plus! In my defense, your dog is cute. "
"Lizzie is, isn't she?" Jason smiles patting Lizzie on her head. It was a soft gesture. Something you really didn't expect from a supposedly hardened criminal let alone someone raised by Roman Sionis.
You crouch down to Lizzie's level and put your hands on the dog's face. Lizzie happily nuzzles into your hands.  
"You have a dog?"
" Depends, does Dick count?"
Jason snorts. "Do you ever think before you speak?"
"Not when I'm drunk and bleeding, no."
"How drunk are you?"
You mime counting.  "As far as Dick knows, I'm 1 to 2 flutes drunk. As far as the staff knows, I'm 7 flutes drunk."
"I should probably get you back to your brother then" Jason laughs, pulling you by the arm. You notice for the first time just how big his hands really are.  
"No, I-"
Gunshots. Pain. Panic. They ring in equal measure to you as a black van pulls up in the alley.
"Fuck! Box!"
A man in a dark suit crumples to the ground. You recognize him. He was part of Jason's security team. In a flurry of movement, Jason's by his side. You think he's checking the injuries- which in your opinion is at once the smartest and dumbest move you could do in this situation- but he-is in fact-checking for a gun.  
Gun in hand, Jason begins shooting at the men.
You think to grab a stray brick or something but you knew your best chance was to crouch low and maybe convince Jason to do the same. But based on the murder radiating from him, that was highly unlikely.
Lizzie runs out in front of them to protect Box and Jason. It goes as well as expected.  
Lizzie whines into your touch. The tendrils of your mind desperately trying to keep Lizzie there. You want to scream. Your mind surges trying to dip into someone else but Jason's anger and grief consume you. You want to charge at them, rip their throats out, tear them limb from limb. But it's Jason who does it. His body launches forward faster than you could speak.
The men in masks were just as fast. One of them incapacitates him with a well-placed metal pipe to the head. His whole body hits the pavement with one loud thud. Your breath catches.  
"There's two of them,"
"What do you mean there's two of them?"
"The boss said black hair, blue eyes, and a fucked up face"
"Did he say what kind of fucked up?"
"Not really"
You want to squawk about how nosebleeds don't really count. Given,  it is bleeding like it’s auditioning to be the next Niagara falls.
"Just take them both!" barks a rough voice from the van.  
You think to make a break for it but fast as you are(not really). Your head was still ringing and you couldn't really take them out on your own.
You hold your hands up in surrender. "I'll go quietly. I know the drill. "
The men look at each other clearly confused by your cooperation but not really willing to question it.
They throw cuffs on your wrist and literally throw you into the van like a sack of potatoes. Not that they treat Jason any better. He looks dizzy and pale.
"Are you-"
With a heave, he throws up on "your" shoes. You want to laugh. You really do. You also just want to cry.  
Tim is going to kill you. No, Alfred will. If you’re lucky-which you never are- Dick will suffocate you with a hug before they ever get to you.  
Maybe just maybe, the kidnappers will do it for you.
Yeah, right.
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