#i wouldn't have survived there as long as i did if i couldn't organize the storage space

[genspiel]

thinking about how much effort i put into organizing the storage space at my previous job and how it's probably just fallen back into chaos now that i'm gone................

[merriepy]

EMPTY HEART

•. Leon S. Kennedy x gn!reader

tags: angst, hurt/comfort

cw: /

summary: After not seeing Leon - your boyfriend - in over a month, you start to re-evaluate your relationship with him

a/n: I took so long to finish that one, I'm so sorry; no third person pronouns used for the reader; no specific Leon mentioned but written with his re4r-version in mind + reader is < 30

words: 2,7k

The apartment always seemed so very empty when he wasn't around. So very quiet. So very lifeless.

Him potentially dying was the only thing in your mind when he wasn't by your side. Maybe the uncertainty made these thoughts so unbearable. You knew nothing about him, and he was your partner. The word fiancé had only crossed your mind ever so slightly whenever he laid next to you in bed, which wasn't very often since he was out most of the time.

He worked for the government. That's the only concrete thing you knew. The rest was what you had pieced together via reading classified information he left laying around in the apartment (he wasn't the most organized kind of guy) and through the very limited amount of things he told you. In moments of weakness.

Leon hadn't been home in over a month. Fighting bioweapons. Or something. You didn't know what it specifically meant but it definitely sounded dangerous. And it was. While he wouldn't return visibly wounded, you would always new soft scars on his already wounded skin, telling the story of who he was and what his life had turned him into. He would leave on short notice and just return one day without ever contacting you during his leave. You've gotten used to waking up alone, well aware that we might not ever return from his mission. But orders were orders and you knew that even if he wanted to, he couldn't stay with you for his job had to be his top priority.

You had placed down the controller on the coffee table in front of your sofa. Playing videogames did not turn out to be enough of a distraction from the matter at hand, and both everything related to your own job and household chores had already been done. The pressure had made the air unbreathable so you had tried to pull your body over to the balcony to get some fresh oxygen, yet your limbs didn't move. Saying that your relationship with Leon had some negative side effects as well would be an understatement. It was terrible whenever he was gone, knowing that you, his partner, future fiancé even, knew so little about him and had no control over all the dangerous things he was put through was more than awful.

But you appreciate whenever he was with you, laying next to you in bed and his random little signs of affection that had made you fall in love with him. The sacrifices would be worth in the end if he was able to survive all of his jobs, if the two of you would be able to hold hands and finally seal your bond in marriage.

Though his dangerous job wasn't the only thing bothering you. To be fair, this particular point was a you-problem so you would never bring it up anywhere but your so tightly sealed own realm. But you were jealous. Of his co-workers. The fact they're able to seem him so much more often than you, that they knew so much more about him;

though worst was the thought that he could be honest with them. He didn't have to hide anything from them and it ate away at your heart like a wolf feasting on its prey.

Doubts would cross your mind, whether you truly knew Leon. Why would he prefer to spend time with you if he could have someone who he could be true to, someone who was able to understand his struggles on a level you yet could only hope to reach one day.

These thoughts circled through your head on a daily, and they didn't seem to stop; even when he was with you, hugging you in his sleep.

You weren't a noble person, if he was ready to commit to you despite having better alternatives you would take him any day, just because you couldn't remotely stand the thought of him being with another person. Perhaps it was selfish, but you preferred that way more than seeing him leave because you told him to.

The clock strikes 11.

You finally moved up from the couch and gazed through the endless night sky. You read a quote once. 'As long as we live under the same night sky and see the same stars, we will always be united.' It made you wonder if you were truly living under the same sky as Leon because it surely didn't feel like it. He was somewhere, but you weren't. You were here, without him. And he was out on a mission with someone, and that someone wasn't you.

As you finished giving into the thoughts in your head, you went ahead on your normal evening routine including closing all the windows, turning off all the lights and preparing your outfit for the next day. With each passing day you tried harder and harder to avoid looking up at the very few pictures of you and him hung up on the walls for it brought to much pain. You've gotten good at it, rushing by as the dead eyes of the picture stared at you relentlessly.

The last light had been turned off and you were just about to go to sleep as you felt way too exhausted to actually take care of tomorrow's choice of clothing when you suddenly heard the door open up. You knew that realistically it would be Leon but the small thought that it could be a robber who conveniently had the key to your front door and just walked in like nothing did linger in your mind, so you quickly entered the closest room and waited for sounds. Fear traveled through your body as you couldn't hear anything anymore. No steps, no doors opening, no nothing. As you instinctively hid behind the door so you wouldn't immediately be seen when being opened, you heard the doorknob being twisted.

A hard, bright light entered through the soft crack in the door though you knew that you had turned every last light off. You paid attention to the shadow forming on the floor as the person stepped through the door. "(Y/N)? Is everything.. alright?" you heard your partner's voice as he walked into the room. You moved away from the behind the door, slightly upset. "Oh my god Leon, you could've just immediately said something when you entered! I was so scared that you were some criminal breaking in!" You stared into his beautiful, blue eyes and despite the anger towards him and the entire situation surrounding him and his work, you could help but be glad that he was finally with you again.

He took a few steps back to turn the light switch on and the flashlight of his phone off. His silhouette was now a lot clearer and you couldn't see any visible wounds on his face and arms which was a big relief. Though he seemed tired and definitely mentally exhausted. "I just thought something might be wrong," he replied before pulling you into a deep hug. "I'm sorry, darling." You felt his chin resting on your head as he carefully moved his hands over your back. "I've missed you so fucking much, you know that?"

You bit your tongue, quite literally, as you remembered the jealousy that had eaten you up during this time of separation and desperation. But you would never tell him, it was a you problem after all, and he seemed to care so deeply since he didn't let you go and only tightened his hug the longer it continued. It seemed so genuine and real, and it almost convinced your irrational head that he was the one though you knew deep down that it couldn't be swayed. Irrationality, after all.

He had only reluctantly pulled away from you and made sure to place a soft kiss on your cheek before giving you a little room to breathe. "We should go the bedroom. It's late after all, and I have to go to work tomorrow," you suggested as you tried to examine the parts of his body that were revealed to you, making sure he really wasn't injured and you didn't miss anything; and maybe, just maybe, that irrational part of yours was looking for something else as well. "Do you need to eat or something? I maybe have some leftovers in the fridge." He shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm not hungry." "What about your stuff?" "In my trunk. I'll get it out tomorrow." You nodded. "I'll just quickly go to the bathroom and change my clothes. I'll be right with you, darling."

You had made your way from your hiding spot, which you had now identified to be the kitchen, over to the bedroom the two of you shared. It was mostly decorated by you, since you arguably spent a lot more time there than Leon. It filled you with sadness, remembering all the negative things you felt during his absence, and anger, since you now couldn't enjoy his return because of it. You didn't want to experience all of this negativity but it was so much and it didn't seem to stop. The bedsheets felt weirdly cold tonight so you had no desire to burry yourself into them. You were just laying on top of it in starfish position, waiting for the door to open once more. You heard the sound of the city's night life unfolding below your apartment which during this particular time felt somewhat comfortable.

Leon had entered the room not shortly after. He was shirtless and just wore boxer shorts, like he always did for sleeping. He smiled as he saw how you were stretched out on the bed. Before you could move away on your own, he had already picked you up and moved you again so carefully to the side. He was being so extra soft today. Once he had stopped adjusting his position next to you, you took the chance to reach out your hand to caress his cheek, something you had longed to do for so long. As your fingers touched his skin your partner closed his eyes, breathing calmly. "Your hair grew a little bit?" "Don't be silly, it hasn't been long enough for it to grow." "It's been over a month." Saying it out loud. 'It's been over a month.' You couldn't really hide the pain that tagged along in your voice, showing him the surface of your current state of mind.

You wanted to pull your hand away from his cheek, but Leon had stopped you. He had placed his own on yours before placing kisses on your fingers. "I didn't know it had been that long. All I know was that I missed you." His voice sounded so weak and now you felt bad that you were ever doubting him. He seemed so genuinely sad about not being able to be by your side. "It's okay," you comforted him before moving a little closer. You softly placed your lips on his, pulling him to a quick kiss. "I need to wake up in a few hours though," you stated as you turned around to set your alarm for the morning. "So let's talk in the morning. Surely you're not gonna immediately leave again the next day," you joked and even though it was meant to come off as one your tone was awfully serious. And in your mind it was, since you were on the edge whenever he was around due to the uncertainty whether or not we would still be there during the next morning. He knew your stance on this matter but just chuckled along. "Yeah, let's hope."

Leon had reached his arms out with an apologetic look on his face. He had these puppy eyes, always looking so genuinely sad and hurt. You couldn't help yourself and snuggled into his arms, burying your face in his chest in the process. This feeling was something you wished to experience on the daily but it simply wasn't possible, so you tried to be satisfied with what you had. His hand trailed over your head ever so slightly and the kisses he had placed on your arm that was wrapped around his neck shortly after were warm and full love. You knew that he wanted to make it up to you and it made you happy, seeing how he cared despite the questionable circumstances.

Feeling his arms around you gave you the comfort you needed to finally get some proper rest, a proper rest away from all the negative thoughts that had haunted you before. Now that he was with you, everything else felt obsolete.

It was the same, every single time.

He would leave, you would be mad. You would have negative thoughts regarding him and you relationship, he would return before things would get out of hand. You would be content when he was around, he would leave again.

You knew it wasn't his fault. Leon had lost everything and forced into positions he didn't want to be in with no choice of his own. His fingers moving down your curves pushed all the negativity away. "(Y/N).." he mumbled sleepily as he pressed his body as close as physically possible against yours. "I love you. Please, never leave me." Something kept you from responding, maybe it were all these weird fears somewhere in your mind, or maybe because you knew he wasn't yet done talking. "I wish I could be with you every day and leave all of this behind. But I promise I'll make it up to you eventually." His head was deeply buried in-between your neck and shoulder, seeking in this familiar feeling of your skin. "Once this is all over we'll get married, and I'll be the best husband you could ever imagine."

You had to stay strong and keep the tears in for now. Thoughts circled through your mind like crazy. He must be apologising because he cheated, because he had to convince himself not to leave you, because he just wanted to keep you by his side for fun. You didn't want to think any of this, you wanted to believe that he loved you as deeply as he made it seem. A weak kiss followed his words before he closed his eyes. You only now noticed that he thought you were asleep this whole time. And you liked to keep it that way.

Leon only had you on his mind during his absence. A picture of you was in his pocket 24/7 and he always liked to look at it during moments of extreme despair. No other person could cheer him up as much as you did. That's why he knew he wanted to marry you one day. It was the only right thing to do.

You knew so too.

Though acceptance was hard those days. You didn't want to end up with a dead husband in the next few years, that prospect frightened you, yet you knew that if the day would come where you would stand before his casket, you'd regret not making him yours.

"You want me to be your wife?" you asked, hoping that he hadn't yet fallen asleep. His grip tightened ever so slightly around your waist. "I wanted to wait," he admitted quietly. His broken, soft voice reminded you of the Leon you had met those years ago, the aspiring policeman, "until this is all over but... this will be the rest of my life. I want to give you the chance to drop out if you don't want to commit to a life like this." He kissed your neck weakly. "I want you so much. It's so selfish but I can't imagine my future without you."

In the darkness of your bedroom, you searched for his lips. Your fingers softly trailed over them, sealing them shut before you replaced your fingers with your own lips. The kiss was loving, not passionate or anything but it meant so much more to you than pure lust. A single tear left your eye, which was quickly wiped away by Leon's hand.

"Never leave me darling," he mumbled into the kiss before quickly grasping for air. "I would never," you replied as you kissed him on his forehead. "You're my fiance after all."

[lazycats-stuff]

Can you do a teen reader (younger than Damian by 1 or 2 years) x batfam, where he is spider man? (I mean kinda like miles morales, he has electricity powers but his webs are organic too and doesn’t need a web shooters.) he is Bruce’s biological child and his mother died, yk his canon event and what not. So he has to move to Gotham and isn’t happy about. Just distant and all. One night He sneaked out and bought a train ticket and went to New York, and was only spider man and just slept in somewhere. So the batfamily tracked him to New York, and while looking for him, they bump into him as spider man. They have to team up to find a villian but reafer gets hurt in the end and his mask fell off and they see it’s reader? They bring him and just have a talk when he wakes up and they come to conclusion for him to join the family in their fighting in Gotham?

Oh, that sounds good. Yes... Also, 2.7k words and so sorry for taking so long to write this... Hope you enjoy. I changed it a little bit, so my apologies, but I got into my writing spirit lol.

Summary: (Y/N) is Spiderman. The fam doesn't know that.

Warnings: (Y/N)'s mom passes away, funeral, sad (Y/N), he loves his city, angst, running away, fighting with Green Goblin.

(Y/N) had a great life in New York. He was very happy in his city. He lived with his mom and everything was fine. Okay, he did get bitten by a radioactive spider and got cool powers with it. Did it cause some troubles? Oh yeah. Electricity was a bit problematic to control, but he managed.

Did he get grounded because of it? His mom sure thought so. His dad visited with the rest of his brothers every month. (Y/N) understood why he couldn't come more. Being a CEO and all that stuff, (Y/N) really understood. He didn't love Bruce any less. Bruce was involved in his life, which was nice.

He loved his brothers and father, more than anything in this world. Alfred was the best though. Whenever he came, he would bring his food and (Y/N) and his mom would enjoy it too, often asking for recipes. Or they would exchange recipes.

All of those were very fun times. And his time as Spiderman. He really loved it. He loved patrolling and helping the people and maybe get a hot dog from the stands that worked through the night. He loved it all. It was nice that his webs were natural and they, like mentioned before, they also came with electricity.

His enemies hated him, but (Y/N) loved being Spiderman. He loved what he represented in New York and he wouldn't change it for anything in the world. He is a New Yorker through and through.

But life decided to be a bitch and strike that luck and happiness.

(Y/N)'s mom passed away. She was hit by a drunk driver. The worst thing is, the driver survived. When Bruce got the news, he got into the car and drove to New York. (Y/N) was told just before Bruce came and (Y/N) felt his soul shatter.

He broke down in Bruce's arms, crying and screaming. It took him a while to calm down, but he couldn't stay alone. Bruce knew that and he knew that going back to Gotham was not an option now. At all. Bruce called Alfred and explained everything and told him that he would stay to arrange the funeral.

Alfred understood and the brother called (Y/N), wishing that they could be there. (Y/N) thanked them for it and then sat up all night, unable to sleep. Bruce tried to comfort him in the best way possible, but it was difficult. Bruce's former fling, (Y/N)'s mom, was the most important person to (Y/N). Without a doubt.

Bruce knew that he would have to bury her in New York, otherwise his son would have raised hell. Without a doubt. After funeral, (Y/N) would have to move to Gotham. Which is another problem on its own. Bruce didn't know that (Y/N) was Spiderman and (Y/N) didn't know that Bruce was Batman.

Match made in hell, so to say.

The funeral was held a few days after the incident and (Y/N) thought that New York cried with him. The sky was dark and the rain was falling. (Y/N) was torn. There were way to many people who were saying sorry and while he appreciated the care and worry, he just wanted to say goodbye on his own.

His brothers have stood it with him. (Y/N) didn't even have the courage to be next to the grave, while they lowered it, but Bruce held him hand through it, keeping him close to him during the entire process.

At the end, he found some strength and came closer, allowing the rain to soak him. It felt appropriate. When she was lowered, (Y/N) threw a rose in there and wiped his eyes. He took a deep breath as they started putting dirt over her coffin and (Y/N) never felt so mad. Why did this happen to him? To him out of all people?!

Bruce recognized that look in (Y/N)'s eyes. He knew that rage, sadness and frustration in his eyes. It was going to be difficult to let go and have a new life in Gotham. But (Y/N) had to try. He had to put some effort.

" (Y/N), we have to go. " Bruce said gently as he shielded his son from the rain with an umbrella. (Y/N) kept looking as the coffin got buried under the dirt. He swallowed before nodding and following Bruce to the car.

" Why do I have to go to Gotham? " (Y/N) asked and Bruce sighed as he started driving.

" We have been over this. I have a company there and your brothers are there. I know you don't want to leave, I know that, but you have no choice. " Bruce explained as he drove and (Y/N) turned away from him, biting down on his tongue so that he wouldn't lash out against Bruce.

" I know you are not happy, but you will be happy in Gotham. "

" Sure. In a city ran by a clown and a bat. Sounds like heaven. " (Y/N) said sarcastically.

" It's actually a nice city once you live in it long enough. "

(Y/N) huffed, but kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to lash out at his father, he really didn't. His dad was doing something he needed and Bruce wasn't at fault.

It was the driver's fault.

But he was pissed and he just wanted to be alone. Bruce saw it and didn't say anything, driving back to Gotham. It was the most awkward drive Bruce has ever done in his life. The hour was quiet and once they parked in the yard of the manor, (Y/N) took a bag with his personal stuff, his Spiderman suit included, and made a beeline for his room.

He ran past everybody and they all looked at him with sad looks.

" Do you think he will be better soon? " Dick asked, glancing at Bruce.

" I don't know Dick. He is sensitive and he will need some time to process it. I don't think I can even introduce him to our line of work. He found justice, they got the driver. " Bruce said as he rubbed his chin and the boys had to agree to a certain agree.

" He just needs some time. The first few days are the toughest. He will get better as times passes. " Alfred said as he took one of the boxes out.

Those few days have passed and (Y/N) didn't really feel good. He didn't like the fact he is starting a new school year here, without his friends and a sense of familiarity. He would have to start a new, without... He cried a lot during the time and he just wore black. Alfred had to make sure he ate and Bruce was there to comfort him and make sure he is okay.

Another thing that was painful, alongside his mother's death was the fact that he couldn't be Spiderman. He couldn't go out, he couldn't save his fellow New Yorkers or chat with them. He saw the news talking about his absence and he wanted nothing more than to go back to New York.

Nothing more.

But... There is a problem called big brothers plus a dad.

They were always around, watching him. Always popping in his room to make sure he is okay and not hungry, knowing that eating wasn't easy. Everyone popped in to make sure he is okay. (Y/N) was sure they thought he would hurt himself somehow, but he wasn't doing that.

He would often sit down in his room, when he knew that his family was on patrol, he would take his suit out. He would watch the spider symbol, wishing he could be back in New York. Gotham was nothing compared to New York. New York was much better, still is better than this city. New York is alive, vibrant, full of colors.

And then you have Gotham.

But (Y/N) has had enough after 2 weeks. With a little bit sneaking around, he managed to buy a ticket, his suit underneath the normal clothes he was wearing. While his family was on patrol, he sneaked out and made his way to the station to leave. He was happy, but it was bitter sweet. It would remind him of the things he loved and yet... It would remind him of his mother.

He had actually had some money left for a few flowers to lay on her grave... (Y/N) put his head on the window, watching the scenery change. Left his phone at home so that they couldn't track him, so he spent his time looking out the window and stretching.

After a few hours, (Y/N) has arrived. He smiled as he saw his city. He took a deep breath in and walked around, just remembering the time in his city.

" My apologies New York. " (Y/N) mumbled as he started walking to the cemetery. It would be a long walk, but he had time. He really did. Once he came, the flower shop was open and he has paid with cash, making it difficult to track him. After getting a beautiful bouquet he walked to his mom's grave. He put them down and smiled...

Bittersweet beyond belief.

He kept knelt down on one knee, smiling at the gravestone. He smiled and wiped some of his tears away, not wanting to cry.

" Hey mom. I'm back. Dad wanted me to move, but I think I will stay here. " (Y/N) said as he got up and started walking to his apartment. He missed it, he really did. He could only hope that it's unlocked, but his neighbor had an extra key. He knew it.

And she loved him.

While (Y/N) was happy, the family wasn't really paying attention whether or not (Y/N) was in his room. They were thinking that he has slept. They couldn't have been more wrong about it. (Y/N) already had a whole night ahead of him as an advantage.

Alfred went to check and a few minutes later and he called out for Bruce in a panic. Everyone dropped the cutlery and ran upstairs to see if their butler was safe. Jason and Tim nearly tumbled over one another more than once. Damian jumped in first, ready to fight with the non existent intruder.

They were all shocked to see that there was no intruder. Another problem? There was no (Y/N). Jason checked the bathroom.

" Not in here. " He declared, closing the door.

Bruce wondered what the hell happened. Oh no. Where is he?

" Did anyone see him? " Bruce asked his sons, leaning on the wall.

" No... I thought he was in here. " Tim said as he looked out the window. " Where is he even? " Tim wondered. Bruce pondered for a moment.

" Lets go to the cave and check the cameras. " Bruce said as he pushed himself off of the wall. Everyone followed and soon, they were looking through the cameras.

They all paled when they saw that he went to the city. Bruce pulled all of the cameras he could and thanked God for facial recognition. He pulled it all to find (Y/N).

" Why did he escape? " Dick wondered out aloud. Was it the fact that they were checking on him too much? Was he smothered? Did they smother him?

" Shit. " Jason said next to Bruce as the two watched the screen. Everyone turned their heads to look at the screen. A train station. Bruce connected it.

" He went to New York. " Bruce said as he tracked (Y/N)'s phone.

" What the hell? " Tim wondered out loud.

Everyone frowned when the location turned out to be the manor. Everyone was now worried.

" He has to be in New York. He has to be. " Damian declared and everyone had to agree with it. They knew that (Y/N) coming here wasn't his choice and that he wanted to stay back in New York. Bruce couldn't blame (Y/N) for any of it, nobody could blame (Y/N) for trying to run to New York.

" He has an entire night as an advantage. " Damian said and everyone has agreed with him. That is one hell of an advantage.

" I'm not sure whether or not to be proud. " Bruce said, trying not to smile.

" A mixture of both. He passed the security. " Jason mumbled and Bruce chuckled.

" Yeah, I have to be a mixture of both. Lets do some more investigating and then lets go to New York at night. " Bruce said and everyone nodded.

(Y/N) has had fun during the day, but it seems that Green Goblin wasn't happy with the fact that he was gone out of their city. The fight has been going on for a while and (Y/N) was slowly getting exhausted. Ever so slowly.

(Y/N) knew that he couldn't lose his cool now. That's something that Green Goblin wanted him to do this entire fight. Green Goblin was taunting him and by God, (Y/N) was ready to kill. His wrists were hurting like never before.

He was ready to strike once more when he saw a familiar face. His dad and his brothers. Oh God. Were they all looking for him. They landed near him and (Y/N) swore that his heart was about to jump out of his chest. He really thought so.

" Hey Spidey, you need help? " Dick, well, Nightwing asked and (Y/N) shrugged his shoulders. " Could use some backup. " (Y/N) said, voice breathy.

" Arch nemesis? " Damian, well, Robin asked.

" Yup. "

" Sounds tough. " Dick said and (Y/N) got ready to strike once more. He saw an opening and took it.

(Y/N) was struck and he flew back onto the rooftop and something fell of as he landed. He couldn't pinpoint it, but every part of him screamed that something was wrong. He froze when he saw his father, covering them both with his big cape.

" (Y/N), why didn't you tell us? Is this why you didn't want to leave? " Bruce asked, glancing at his son, trying to see if he was injured.

" I... I didn't know how to... " (Y/N) admitted shyly, looking away from his dad.

" I'm not blaming you. But we have to talk about this later. We can't just leave it like this. Put on your mask and lets finish this. " Bruce said with a firm voice and (Y/N) nodded as he did so and with the help from Bruce, got up.

" Lets get the bastard. " (Y/N) said with so much determination and Bruce smiled proudly. He really is his son with that much determination.

The fight was tiring beyond belief, but the Batfamily was determined and persistent. And Green Goblin wasn't expecting the back up that (Y/N) has gotten out of nowhere. Soon, Green Goblin was taken into custody. Now it was all good. All good.

If you remember that (Y/N)'s family was still there, waiting to talk to him. He didn't really want to talk, he just wanted to avoid it. He didn't want to. By God, he wanted to go to sleep. But he knew that talk would happen eventually.

" Now, " Bruce started as he glanced at everyone. " I'm not mad you, but... You could have told us. We told you. " (Y/N) tried to say something, but Bruce stopped him. " Now, what happened happened. However, you can use your talents back in Gotham. "

(Y/N) shifted on his feet, nervous about it.

" No need to worry (Y/N). " Jason started, hands on his hips. " NYPD is more capable than GCPD. "

Everyone laughed at it. To some extent it's true, but (Y/N) wasn't convinced.

" You don't have to lose your Spider symbol. You can keep being Spiderman. You can be a spider and the rest can be birds. " Bruce said as he put his hand on (Y/N) shoulder.

" It's difficult to leave my city behind. " (Y/N) admitted and Bruce nodded in sympathy. The brothers hugged their brother, hugging him tightly.

They all were saying something, but (Y/N) couldn't understand. But he knew that they were all saying something positive.

" Now, lets go home and get you situated. " Bruce said and (Y/N) just looked at the sun.

" It weird to see you guys in this time of the day. " (Y/N) mumbled as he was led to the Batmobile. Everyone laughed at that. It was true. He really didn't want to leave New York city, but he knew that he could help them in Gotham.

He knew it would work out in the end.

[bitchapalooza]

Here's a twisted thought—researching the stages of starvation, Zeff and Sanji were both probably on the edge or beginnings of the final stage where their own bodies were starting to eat itself and their organs would begin to shut down as a result. But I think Zeff was worse off due to his self inflicted injury/auto cannibalism. Which! What if he wasn't actually in his right mind when he did it? After 14 days, that's when the body begins to shut down to put it simply. So before 14 days, that's when Zeff had to have done it. He was perhaps already hallucinating due to the sun bearing down on him being so low on energy and dehydrated. So the auto cannibalism was probably something he did while delirious. And it's possible be doesn't even remember the whole thing. He was too out of it, his body was on autopilot. He probably didn't even make a sound because his body wasn't registering the pain. All he could think about was eating, surviving, so his brain took over and did what he probably wouldn't have done if he were in his right mind. However this wouldn't have actually done anything to satisfy his hunger and malnutrition. His body couldn't properly heal with a gaping wound like that, the blood loss and terrible conditions. He HAD to have developed a nasty infection not long after. There was nothing to disinfect the wound, nothing to cauterize it. It's likely Zeff was in far worse condition than Sanji. I wouldn't be surprised if Zeff was in and out of it for weeks as doctors tried their best to treat his failing organs, the infection that miraculously didn't spread to his bloodstream yet. It had to be a whole year before Zeff was allowed out of that hospital and meanwhile, Sanji had fully recovered after only a couple months(as I imagine maybe his kidneys were just starting to go and he probably did get a little sick from the moldy food he ate; I know it's canonically stated he's never been sick but he probably doesn't think of this incident as being sick)

[dronebiscuitbat]

Oil is Thicker Then Blood (Part 84)

N was on patrol around the perimeter of the workshop, flying low and flitting through buildings as he surveyed the streets both hands now claws as he gripped onto ancient concrete and tail whipping behind him.

It reminded him a lot of hunting, only it wasn't for food, he wouldn't dare touch the oil that came out of the infected, or give it to any one of his family, who knows what it might do to them.

“Update.” A gruff, southern accented voice reverberated through his software, a radio attached to his audio receptors that was far more long-range then anything inbuilt, though now he had to answer to Dale… who… did not particularly like him.

“Clear.” He parroted into the radio, wincing as feedback crackled into his systems, he swore he was doing it on purpose, every time he signed off it would be a split second of screeching feedback… he was going to go deaf at this rate.

He wanted Hal back… But he was still in the bunker, keeping the peace in this time of unrest with his branch of the WDF.

Dale's team was the smallest, it was Dale himself and four or five other guys, the only drones in the whole bunker that had weapons at a higher caliber then 9mm. Using fully automatic rifles that ate through ammo like he did oil.

They didn't talk to him, they rarely even looked at him, unless it was to give him dirty looks as he walked past. Most workers had gotten used to his presence, were even friendly now (Uzi's pregnancy announcement may have helped a bit with that.) But the group he was now working with? Seemed to hate his guts.

It wasn't anything he wasn't used to. So he just bore with it, and did what he always did… not say anything.

Uzi would probably tell him to have a backbone and actually say something about it and stand up for himself, but wouldn't lashing out prove that their view of him was correct? That he was aggressive and dangerous and couldn't be trusted?

He sighed as he flew back towards the workshop, finding nothing out of place for the time being.

Uzi was finishing up a preliminary sketch of the shuttle, 600 charge pods cramed into 230 feet of real estate, the smallest she could possibly do with all they needed to make sure they could all survive a decent period in space.

Which…. was still utterly huge, about as large as the largest commercial aircraft ever made on Earth based from her research, and quite a bit larger then any of their early space shuttles.

But they weren't working from scratch at least, and the thrusters on the landing pods were overpowered as it was, so all they needed was more of them…

So the next course of action was getting the rest of the pods into the workshop, long trips into previously uncharted territory to retrieve them, risky, but risk didn't matter if without it, they'd be buried under flesh.

She sighed, running a hand along her destended stomach, at 4 months now, her core was a light, pastel pink and the inside was constantly shifting and moving. Trying to hide anything at this point was laughable, she had the body shape of a pear and it was only made worse by her already small size, a tired grumble escaped her. As her core gave a hearty kick.

“I hear you…” She mumbled, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes breifly. She'd begun to get weird looks, which made sense, drones normally didn't get any bigger during pregnancy, but no one said anything yet, either trying to be polite or just not caring enough she didn't know… nor care.

“Ya alright?” A gruff, friendly voice wafted into her ears, and she opened her eyes to come face to hair with a bushy brown beard.

“Hal? What are you doing out here?” She asked, turning so that she could look at him properly instead of upside down.

“Shift just got done inside, wanted to check up on you and N, is he here?” He placed a hand on her shoulder, cocking his head.

“I think he just finished his patrol, should be on his way back.”

“Great! Wanted to invite ya guys down to the house, my wife wanted to meet both of ya properly.” He clapped his hands together cheerfully before looking around a moment.

“Where’s the little one?” He asked, and Uzi gave him a small smile in return.

“V and Lizzy have her, she shouldn't be out here in the cold so much.” She explained, before a shiver went down her own spine.

“Neither should you, can't be healthy for the baby.” She blushed, she forgot sometimes that literally everyone knew now.

“I'm fine. Seriously, N worries enough… and everyone else now, ugh.” She reminisced, on a day that N and V were both busy, Thad and Lizzy escorted her from the nest to the workshop, Thad's coat wrapped around her despite her insisting she was fine.

“Sounds like ya have good freinds.” Hal replied, smirking.

“We do.” Came a third voice from the doorway, N leaning into the curtain with a smile, Tera in his arm, giggling as she gripped her little bat plush.

“Mama!” She squealed, and Uzi chuckled as she squirmed in N's arms, trying to get to her.

“N! There you are.” Hal slapped him on the back, a beaming smile on his face, Tera immediately leaned forward to grab his beard. “I was just telling Uzi that I wanted ya guys over! My wife's been asking about ya!”

“Oh! Yeah! That would be awesome!” N beamed back, before glancing at Uzi and backpedaling slightly.

“I-If Zi feels well enough, so that's up to her.”

“Mmm, smart boy, happy wife, happy life.” Hal commented, N blushed slightly, smiling to himself.

“I'm good N, yeah, we can stop by.” Uzi Confirmed, rising up out of her seat and stretching “not much more I can do tonight anyway.”

“Yay!” Came childishly from N, and Uzi rolled her eyes fondly.

Next ->

[lets-try-some-writing]

Unicron softening up because he wanted to have/had bond with Primus at one point and now the roommates he didn't want but now is stuck with? Found family trope at it again, he eventually starts telling stories from his travels..And they bond but Is he going to be dramatic about it? Absolutely (humans have their dramatics from someone after all)

Just the two weaponizing feelings to domesticate him

Unicron: You're killing me. Are you proud of that?

Earth,Moon: Love you too

Unicron: Urk! Stop!

"Father, will you tell me a story?"

Earth asked him for stories from the moment she came into being. Unicron denied her at first. He saw no need to waste his time with a parasite that was quickly spreading to wrap around him like a series of chains.

"Father, look at what I've made!"

And yet, as time passed, Earth still called out for him. She showed him her creations, some of which were more successful than others. He couldn't help but remark and accidentally find himself sharing memories of his journeys with her. She never asked about Primus. She was wise enough to refrain.

"I despise you with every fiber of my being, but you keep my dear Earth alive. For that, I will tolerate you."

Moon was an interesting addition to his prison cell. The Cybertronian Titan had a designation, but when Earth called out to him in her native tongue, he accepted the offered name without complaint. It reminded Unicron of the times he and his brother spent visiting budding civilizations, teaching them to speak and helping them in their struggle to survive.

"You haven't killed her yet. Why?"

Moon was always in his business, constantly prodding and questioning. Despite his hatred for Primus's creations, he understood Moon. The Titan was bored but too loyal to leave now that Earth had come to rely so heavily upon him. Unicron rarely answered his questions, often only making commentary. But Moon became a constant, one that Unicron came to cherish. He appreciated the chance to word spar with someone who wouldn't immediately roll over like Earth.

"It is none of your concern Primus spawn."

He didn't like to think about possibly tearing free of his prison after Moon settled. He told himself it was because Moon would kill him if he ever did, but deep in his spark, he knew it was due to another far more intimidating reason. He refused to match his brother. He couldn't allow himself to fall.

"Father, do you think my children will be as mighty as Uncle's one day?"

Earth asked him about her youngest children, the ones she called "humans". Unicron had long ago thrown the idea of killing Earth out the window. He couldn't end her, not when she basked him in adoration even as she took vitality from him to fuel her own growth. He never informed her that it was because of her feeding that he remained too weak to wake. He knew she would gladly starve herself if he asked. He didn't want to give his wrathful spark a reason to make the request.

"Perhaps. Primus's children are made of steel and starlight. They do not wither, they do not die, not as your children do. If these creatures you call your own are meant to thrive, they will have to overcome the weakness of their flesh."

The first time he offered her any true commentary, he found himself wrapped so tightly in her love that he almost found his spark constricting in its chamber. It was so similar and yet so different from the love he and his brother once shared. Primus and him were bound in spark. Their love was perfect and yet broken. They knew each other better than any other, and yet they could hardly comprehend the other. Earth's adoration was that of an awe filled child, a gleeful storm dancing upon the edge of the sea, so strong and yet so very innocent. He could not help but grow to adore her in turn.

"Father, would you tell us of the stars?"

Millions of years after the first time he denied Earth's request for a story, Unicron found himself sighing. He looked upon the world Earth had forged. He felt the organic growths that grew high into forests and mountain peaks. He sensed the creatures roaming along fertile soil and through clean water. He listened to the laughter of children, eager and hopeful like the daughter that now desired his attention. He looked upon it all and knew he no longer had the spark to deny her.

"Before our battle across the stars, Primus and I traversed all of creation as one. My memory is faint, but we saw many a civilization..."

Earth and her guardian listened closely, and as Unicron told his tale, he found his wrath ease into something akin to peace. One day there would come a time when he would need to act. But for now, for a few blessed moments, he would allow himself a moment to pretend that his brother did not yet live. He could pretend that all was well. There was no need to wake yet. He could wait. He could be patient. He would endure for as long as required. Primus wasn't going anywhere, and his children were nowhere to be seen. Unicron had time, and he intended to spend it wisely.

[gayofthefae]

He's crying. But it isn't just "please come back to me, I love you". It's more complicated than that. I'm currently in the space that he's faking the romantic bits like love at first sight and telling the truth about everything else.

Mike tells him "you're the heart". He's reminded by Will "your words can help" and he knows that the truth won't but he knows what Will, and he once said "If I had said that thing..." and he has the opportunity to say that thing now to save her.

I think these tears are more in the vein of "please work. God, please work." Because this was a strategic decision. A strategic decision made with love, but a strategic decision nonetheless.

That's why Will has to encourage them. It shifts the scene from organically and emotionally begging her to come back to consciously assisting her, although still emotional, of course.

It started "El, please come back to me etc." Then Will reminded him. And he turned around and said "El, I don't know if you can hear me..." He started something new. He wouldn't have said it otherwise because before he was just begging her to come back to him. But then, he was trying to help. Ever the personal-life curse of Mike Wheeler, he tried to help and in the long run it's going to make it worse.

This wasn't just Mike begging her to come back and it managed to help. This wasn't him taking the opportunity of knowing it would help to say it like in the shed with Will. This was choosing his words specifically to help as best he could to bring her back to him. He was just trying to keep her alive. He isn't thinking "I hope you can hear that I love you, even if it doesn't help I want you to know". He's only saying it so it helps. He's saying "please believe me please work please believe me please work".

Other posts have covered how he pulls from others' words - Eddie talking about finding him and Dustin, his own speech to Will in season 2 - that's because he's choosing his words carefully. Lovingly strategic. The ideal combo to give her the most strength. That's why it sounds forced. Because he's choosing his words, not pouring his heart.

In the shed, he told Will how he felt; he told Will a story. Because he knew that the truth was filled with so much love. But here, he knew the truth wouldn't help, would maybe make it worse, so he picked his words carefully crafted to be exactly what she wanted to hear, went bullet by bullet through their fight, quoted the words of more honest people in more earnest moments, and did his best to help. In the shed, he let his filter down; poured his heart out. In this moment, he tried. That's why it felt forced. He had to try.

Even GA and some Milkvans agree, even if you think it was the truth...he was saying it for her, not him. That's why he braces himself for the effort he's about to exert the moment right before he says it.

If it was really the culmination of his arc, since we already know Brenner was the culmination of hers, he would have done it for himself. The reason it feels forced is because it wasn't written to sound unfiltered. Watching this scene, I didn't feel relief on his behalf that he could finally say it, because I didn't see any transition from not being able to say it the whole season...because there wasn't one. I couldn't root for what I didn't know was about to happen because I didn't even know he could say it yet. Because he couldn't. He forced himself to.

I was not relieved on his behalf because he wasn't. I was not proud of him doing it for him because he didn't. He did it for her. But her arc wasn't about that either. So now we're just stuck.

In conclusion, he told her he loved her because he wanted her to survive and he isn't begging "please know that I love you" he's begging "please believe me and please let it help"

[kotemf]

Codywan week - day 6

I'm posting this late but I hope y'all can still enjoy reading! It's my fill for day 6 of the @codywanweek. You can read the story here, on Wattpad or Ao3. Thanks to the all of you who give it a try!

  Prompt: créchemaster Obi-Wan, quiet love, touch starved

Cody never dared to plan what he was going to do after the war. He never dared to hope that he will survive until the very end. So, when the war ended abruptly and he actually had a choice, he had no idea what he wanted to do.

  He ended up working as a security guard in some gallery. He didn't like it there all that much, it was boring, but it was the best he could find. He didn't have any education besides military training. And he needed money.

  Sometimes, Cody wished he stayed in the army. Rex had and he got to guard the Jedi temple sometimes. Maybe if Cody chose the same path, he could still see his general sometimes. Just a glimpse of the man would be enough. Or maybe it wouldn't.

  Obi-Wan was still a topic that Cody wasn't able to figure out. He wanted. He wanted to see his former general, wanted to touch him, to kiss him, to undress him and so on. Just like he did during their shore leave. Only it wasn't real. It was just a way to distract themselves, just a way to keep their minds busy when not on the front lines. Because forgetting about the casualties of the last battle was so much easier with his general on top of him. That's how it started.

  Now, months later, Cody was still in love with his general. Obi-Wan probably already forgot Cody still existed. He made it pretty clear that there was nothing between them, no attachment. That all their relationship was about was some entertainment. And Cody, in his foolish, so, so, foolish mind, made it something more. Even if he had the guts to go visit his general, he was too afraid that the Jedi would pick up on his emotions.

  So he didn't. He built himself a routine, he couldn't live any other way. Wake up from his dreams about Obi-Wan. Workout, while imagining his general being next to him, doing the same. Think about Obi-Wan while eating breakfast. Go to work. Still think about Obi-Wan. Wander the halls of the building, keeping his eyes open. Still with clear pictures of his very naked general in his mind. Going back from work. Still dreaming about coppery hair and pale skin. Going out with brothers. Finally forgetting the damned Jedi after his eleventh drink.

  This day was no different. Until it was. Because hey, his daydreams were never this real. There was no way his imagination was so good. Because the Obi-Wan he was looking at right now was perfect, more perfect than any of his imaginations. 

  This Obi-Wan was real, showing something on an abstract painting of an ocean to a bunch of tubies - no, not tubies, children. Why the actual kriff was Cody's former Jedi general in a gallery with a bunch of children? And why was Boil there too, catching a Pantoran boy before he could get lost among the crowds of people?

  Cody's time to think about it and order his thoughts was cut short. Boil noticed him, of course he did. He waved at Cody. It would be far too awkward if Cody ignored him. This left Cody with no choice but to join the group.

  "Uh... hello?"

  "Hey, Codes, it's been a while." Boil greeted Cody with a half hug. It's been exactly eight days since they saw each other the last time. Cody wouldn't exactly call it long but whatever. "Ad'ike, this is Cody, my annoying big brother."

  "Cody? Like commander Cody?" a Mikkian girl asked. How would she even know that? She looked to be five standard years old at most, there was no way the Jedi taught her about the war and much less the clones.

  "I used to be a commander, yes." Cody nodded, because there wasn't much else he could do.

  "Master Obi told us a lot about you," a Rhodian boy told him. Now that was interesting. Obi-Wan told a bunch of random Jedi - at least Cody assumed they were Jedi - tubies about him. Why?

  Boil gave Cody a look. Cody didn't like it all that much but before he could really think about what that particular look meant, Boil was already talking to the tubies. "I know Cody is fun and all, but did you know there is a play area for children somewhere? Do you want me to take you there? Cody can wait."

  Apparently, Boil was good with children now. He left with all of the tubies. And that meant... Cody was alone with Obi-Wan. So that was what Boil's look meant.

  "Hello, Cody."

  "General." Cody nodded to Obi-Wan who rolled his eyes.

  "Drop that. I'm not even a general anymore."

  "So you take Jedi tubies to galleries now?"

  "Sometimes." Obi-Wan shrugged. "The council was looking for a créchemaster and I took the job. They are sweet."

  "And you told them about me?" That probably wasn't the right thing to say.

  Cody's question made Obi-Wan blush. It was adorable. Cody wanted to kiss him. It was like one of the fake scenarios he imagined before falling asleep, the one where he bumped into Obi-Wan while walking the halls of the gallery, like in some sappy novel, and Obi-Wan blushed and then they kissed and then they magically teleported to Cody's bedroom. It could still happen, if Cody took a step forward, leaned closer-

  "Well, of course I told them about you." Obi-Wan's words cut through Cody's so very professional day dreams. "They like to hear stories about heroes. Besides... I missed you."

  To say Cody missed Obi-Wan would be an understatement. Cody said it anyway.

  Obi-Wan blushed even more at that and his pale skin did exactly nothing to hide it. Cody loved it. "Is that so?" Obi-Wan looked like he wanted to touch Cody for a moment but then he pulled his hand back and firmly clasped his hands in front of him.

  Cody just wished Obi-Wan touched him.

[oiblackestsheep]

Hi! I really love your memes. Have you already done MBTI types as video games?

Thank you so much!! Honestly, I probably have at some point in the many years, but if I have, it's been a long time, so let's give it a go. I tried to get a mix of old, new, classic, and modern games in, and tried not to give every one a SUPER OBVIOUS game. Hope you like it! 😸

MBTI Types as Video Games

INTP: Slime Rancher

It took everything in my power to not do Portal 2 for INTP, because it seems like the obvious choice and I wanted something other than that. Maybe not as puzzle-oriented, but Slime Rancher captures a different side of INTPs like their affinity for unique experiences through Ne, comfort Si that allows them to organize all their slimes effectively, and their inferior Fe that lets them take care of cute little creatures with minimal risk.

INFP: Minecraft

An instant classic that lets your imagination run wild and live your life the way you think it should be lived, without the limitations of oppressive reality. Build the comfiest home with as many floors, rooms, walls, etc. as you want. Your house wouldn't be structurally sound and is impossible to create in real life? DOESN'T MATTER, it's what the INFP wants, and it what they can have in their own little world.

ENTP: Among Us

A creative and random environment where you have to either find the killer or be the killer terrorizing the space ship crew, interrupted by segments of ARGUING ~*~discussion~*~ about who the imposter might be, followed by voting to eject them into space via mob-mentality? Is there any game more chaotic and perfect for the ENTP to thrive in that I'm missing, here?

ENFP: Skyrim

You are the nonspecific protagonist with unique dragon powers that let you literally scream somebody to death, and, once again, live your life the way you want to live it, as chaotic or lawful as you might want. Become a criminal werewolf who leads a dark, murderous cult by night, and is the dean of a magical college by day? YOU CAN DO THAT.

INTJ: Satisfactory

Slowly and steadily building the most effecient space colony to mine resources and build interesting and novel alien technology? What could the INTJ want more. It won't happen overnight, but the efforts of the INTJ compound with each and every day, and one day, they'll make use of every square inch of the planet's surface for their factory.

INFJ: Coffee Talk

A lesser known game to some, but just as impactful, nonetheless. You're simply a barista in a coffee shop, but you have the pleasure of meeting and hearing the stories of a diverse cast of characters that let you into their unique inner worlds. You'll get to explore their experiences and choose your own dialogue to interact with their lives and offer your input that is tailored to the individual character.

ENTJ: Left 4 Dead

The goal is simple and well-defined: survive the zombie apocolypse. But the only way to do it in this game is to have all 4 players work together in perfect syncronicity as a well-oiled machine to cover all your bases as you traverse each level. It requires delegation of tasks, foresight of what's to come, and just a little bit of quick, thinking-on-your-feet, a perfect combination to engage their Te, Ni, and Se, respectively.

ENFJ: Mario Kart

Everyone knows Mario Kart, and everyone loves Mario Kart. Much like an ENFJ, themselves. Mario Kart has a very low barrier-to-entry so that the majority of people can learn to play quickly, and enjoy time with their friends! It's fun, it's casual, and it requires a bit of that tertiary Se to make some quick turns to finish in first. The game resembles the ENFJ personality itself, and it is a favorite of an ENFJ I know for those same reasons (as she doesn't play many video games).

ISTP: Assassin's Creed

(Couldn't find any good covers with Altair that fit tumblr's format, so I did Ezio, the fan favorite (and also probably an ENFJ assassins which is p cool?))

The franchise has undergone a lot of change over the years, so I do NOT mean the RPG elements, but rather the original elements of the games that made them so great! ISTPs would rather have a more focused way to engage the game, instead of the endless possibilities of an open-world, anyway. Quick reactions to stay hidden, a good grasp of the terrain around you and how to use it against your enemies, and a solid amount of Ti to calculate the most logical time to strike makes for a great way to engage the ISTP's top functions.

ISTJ: Super Smash Bros

Again, the goal is simple, fight your friends and be the last one standing. The rules are simple, in fact, they are completely customizable so you can save your settings to define exactly what kind of experience you want to have, and you know what to expect. You can play it simple with a set number of lives and no items, or you can crank the spawn rate of all items up to the max, if you're in a particularly low-Ne, (low-risk) feeling, kind of mood. Still, the goal is always the same. Hone your strategy, defeat your friends (or foes lmao)

ISFP: The Sims

Introverted by nature, they appreciate being able to spend some time alone without having to give up the things they like about the sensory world, including house and clothing fashion-design. These aesthetics were made to be seen, but sometimes they can only be made in a video game, and sometimes you need a break from real people. It's a realistic enough game that they can connect with it in a more relatable way than more abstract types of games, but they still please the Fi desire to live their personal life the way they wish without the limitations of reality.

ISFJ: Animal Crossing

Again, it's a familiar environment, with just a little flaire to excite that inferior Ne. You've got what seems like endless tasks (in a good way lmao) to keep you busy taking care of your island, and also forming positive relationships with your fellow residents! You get to meet new people, help solve the residents' problems, become a pillar of your community, and at the end of the day, retire to your cozy home.

ESTP: Palworld

It's new, it's weird but somehow familiar, it's Pokemon with guns. It might not be the most "original" game, but it was an inspiration nonetheless for the simple fact that it took all of the known successful elements of gameplay that people enjoy from other games, and put them all into one game that, for lack of better words, "just gives the people what they want". What you see is what you get, and it packs a punch.

ESTJ: Dark Souls

Although it is the more introverted game compared to ISTJ, it requires an incredible amount of strategy in order to champion this game. The medieval themes are familiar, but that's the only comfort the game provides due to its overwhelmingly punishing gameplay style that only the thickest of skin can overcome. What says thick skin like inferior Fi?

ESFP: Rocket League

It's extreme soccor (or football for my friends from across the pond), but instead of playing as people, you play as cars with rockets to propel them. Why, they ask? Because you want to, obviously. Realisitic enough that the concept is still based in a familiar reality, but the mayhem and competetion has been dialed up to 11 simply because it makes it more interesting that way. Again, what you see is what you get, AND IT PACKS A PUNCH.

ESFJ: Tabletop Simulator

It might seem like an odd choice, but hear me out. It's social, it's familiar, it's easy to jump into, and you're not limited to the physical copies of games that your friends have at their houses - you've got, like, any tabletop game you could possibly want to play! It alleviates the limitations we feel in real life when we want to play games with friends, but maintains the integrity of connection and fun you have with them. PLUS, you can flip the table after losing a game for comedic effect without making a mess in someone's IRL home.

[the-heaminator]

11 for england, and anyone you fancy alongside >:)

11- "You're going to regret that." :D I went less feral than last time and forgot this in my drafts for a few months enjoyyyyyyy

(please comment por favor.)

(TW gore, cannibalism, romes shitty parenting)

Why did he have to fight?

Rome had named him Antinous, no one called him the name his mama gave him. He had all but forgotten it too, trying to find it was like slogging through a deep mire and it was not worth the trouble.

He hated fighting on orders. He had no choice though, he would not be fed if he lost, and he couldn’t stand hunger as well as he should do. Rome said his mama had spoiled him rotten, that was what he was told, but now he was strong because of it. Yet he always felt bad attacking that scrawny little runt from Britannia.

He was so small, and because he could never win, he was never fed, grown smaller, madder. Less and less human by the day.

And thus it repeated, it was growing impossible to lose against him, small, blonde and feral, all sparrow bones and gnashing teeth with very little substance behind it, Rome had tried and to an extent succeeded in civilising him. He had failed with the runt.

The thing still bared its teeth when scared, or angry, they were sharp little things, he looked like he carried illness, it was not hard to fight him, he was small and weak, and utterly battered by hunger.

Yet a mad little thing, it was a head and a half shorter than Antinous, but older, allegedly at least, practically a mute because his Latin was not good and was beat if he spoke in much else, he tried not to look at its eyes for too long.

Mouse had a brother, taller, stronger and older, but only barely, the runt only spoke with him in hushed whispers. He could beat the bigger one with ease too, neither had been given names yet, they had only been here for a short time, but long enough to be named surely?

 Rome could not be that indifferent to their existence, that was not wise, to ignore his most recent charges would be foolish. But as of yet he called the smaller one runt, because he was more mouse than man, a creature, afraid and skittish, ready to bite and snarl at the slightest touch.

Rome was watching now, he took some type of joy in watching them fight, he already knew the winner of course, it really was impossible for Antinous to lose, the runt could barely hold his gladius correctly and looked ready to collapse out of fear and exhaustion, Antinous was good with a gladius, the sword came from his people and all, he knew how to wield it.

It was insulting how little the runt even tried against him honestly, bared his belly and let Antinous do his worst, no doubt he would escape and go off to lick his wounds in the dark later. Like a frightened little puppy.

He hated such cowardice, he was not going to have his half-bred bastards to be cowards and weaklings, rolled over and took the blow, if he thought it would get him any amount of pity he was wrong.

It wouldn't, not if he was here, he could not afford to raise cowardice or pity. Antinous hated it for something different, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt him if the runt couldn't bring himself to fight.

No no no, he would not have this.

He almost squeaked when he was lifted from his side like an unruly little creature, there was some improvement in him, Rome noted, very little, but there was some. When speaking to him, he no longer snarled and just stayed quiet. Good, he had to learn obedience or he would not survive in such a world.

“Boy, why do you not fight?” He did not expect much of an answer, he only spoke his barbarian language readily, but he got an answer in Latin. Slow and heavy like cold honey.

“H-Hungry, no food.”

“You will only be fed if you win.” Flat, be all and end all “Antinous can attest to that.” 

Rome  turned over to him, blank-eyed and covered in mousey blood, he still needed training, and yelled “Don’t you, boy .” There was menace beneath those words and he almost bolted, he did not want to be here to witness whatever Rome was about to do to the mouse. But didn’t. He was not a coward.

“He can fight and is fed. You need to stop being a coward and fight." Rome knew it understood very little of what he said, too scared and starved and ill to even try. Once more he set him down to fight. Barely sinking into the sand under his feet.

He went in for the blow, and paused halfway through, no, he couldn’t. The mouse was standing now, but barely, a head shorter and so much thinner, how could he fight someone so much weaker than him? He had a heart yet, and it screamed at him that this was not right.

 So much weaker, it wouldn't even be good training for him. He could spare him. He could, he should, it was not worth a death, dying hurt, regenerating hurt more. And you needed food to regenerate. He was always utterly starved after he had to regenerate, and the mouse had no food.

He would be more starved than before, and then he would lose more fights, and then he would be fed less, and over, and over, and over….

It was not right, no.

But orders had to be followed or he would end up on the wrong side of the sword, he was not noble enough for such a thing, to die for someone like that, some thing rather, orders would have to be followed, it was best to not think of him as a boy, and think of it as a creature. He had fought many animals, this would be no different.

Thrust the sword and tore a hole, slashed and cut at his skin, his gladius went through like a hot knife through butter, he knew it would be easy, it always was. Yet it was always a surprise how little substance the mouse seemed to have to him, paper-thin skin and sparrow bones, no fat and barely enough meat to feed a stray mutt. Blood spilling onto the sand, and both of them wrinkled their nose, even Rome had to admit blood should not smell like that, dipped his fingers in the hole, and tasted the blood, it tasted wrong too. Human blood should taste like iron. This tasted bitter. Already rotting and he had been dead barely a moment.

Rome knew the boy could have spared it he knew that, but his mutt would not be falling with such a pathetic creature, he was better than that

   Yes. The mouse was pathetic, Antinous would keep telling himself that, over and over in his head till he believed it.

But it didn’t feel good, bile in his throat and a shiver in his hand. He felt powerful, yes, but the feeling made him ill and light-headed. Was this what being drunk with power felt like? How did Rome like this? It frightened him.

It was an odd feeling, terrifying, intoxicating, a dizzying concoction. Rome looked at him like he was a dog, his dog.

To make up for it today he decided to share his hard-won food with the runt once he was revived, Rome would not be pleased, but he would not kill him for it, hopefully.

Rome knew the boy lived for praise, like a dog, he didn’t often have to punish Antinous, a pat on the head and some food tamed him, a simple creature. He wouldn’t rebel, standing off to the side, covered in blood with a haunted look in his eyes. No matter how strong he was you could only be as ruthless as your heart let you, and the boy was still soft inside.

Looking down at the dead little mouse, gored through the abdomen, called Antinous over, forced him to look down at what he had done, his power “You will do great things, boy.”

“As you say, Master.” He could hear him swallow thickly, he didn’t cry, he was not a child.

He continued, staring down at the runt’s body, decaying faster than it should "You should have no place in your heart for pity, especially not for the weak.” 

He could see the boy wrestling with his mind, mouth slightly open before snapping shut again and thinking longer, fingers entwined and wringing, it wouldn’t wring out the blood, it had started to crust, mouth open again, Rome wanted to see if the boy was stupid enough to try and speak.

And he was, it was not his brightest moment “Forgive me, Master, but why do you make me fight the mouse, he is not well and if he keeps dying he will only get smaller and weaker. Why do you not feed him.”

Still soft in the mind. He looked at the child coldly, and then to the bleeding corpse on the ground. 

Always such a sight to see the small one heal, he was so fast, decaying faster than most, skin rotted fast and fell off in thick black clumps, blood dried and flies swarmed almost at double speed. Brittle bones bared themselves before he started to stitch himself back together, faster than the others too.

Flesh over his bones wove like a loom, thinner and weaker. But alive.

Painfully alive

He didn’t have it in him to get up and curled up in a pained little ball instead, licking his wounds surely, if he was to act more beast than man then he would be treated as such.

It made Antinous feel a little sick, to see the little thing shiver and suffer solely because he was just following orders, because he was too scared to do otherwise.

Rome’s eyes were cold “He is weak, yes, and he is sick, but why be soft with such a thing.” He was looking directly into Antinous’ eyes, “Would you rather he suffer now or suffer forever, finish him off now and he will not have to live like an animal.”

Antinous could feel Rome’s hand on his shoulder, it was a gentle grip yet.

“Besides, he is more animal than human, he is not like us. You are not like him. Pity is for the weak. Are you weak?”

He could feel the grip on his shoulder tightening, he could taste blood and he didn’t know why, swallowed thickly, he should not be afraid of his Master, but he was.

Rome could see the thoughts whirring in his head like a storm, “Then why don’t you name him?”

“Do you think he warrants a name, do you think he is enough of a person to deserve one.”

He felt his cheeks flush red, he should have kept his mouth shut…but well…he had already started to talk, what harm would a bit more be?

“Yes. He does. Sir.”

Rome did not expect such disagreement, not out of Antinous of all people, tightened his grip on the boy's shoulder till he heard him hiss in pain, he could draw blood, but chose against it, spoke so close to his ear that Antinous could feel his breath on his neck.

“Then what would you like to call him?”

Antinous had not genuinely given this thought, he hadn’t expected Rome to humour him, and now he was at a loss for words. Rome dug his fingers deeper into his shoulder, Antinous could feel the skin puncturing, it would have healed rapidly too, had Rome not kept the wound open.

Between the pain, he managed to hiss out “Ask him about it, Master, ask him his name.”

“He does not speak to me, if he wants to play a mute then why should I coax him out of it.” He withdrew his hand, Rome could see the blood stain his shirt.  “He is mine as you are mine, and did I ask for your name?”

He did have a point there, a nasty little point it was, but a point nonetheless.

“You did not.”

Rome was looking through him, he didn’t know why.

"You will regret asking that. Boy." His eyes fixed somewhere behind Antinous.

"Regret what?"

He found out when a sword bit into his throat and the world faded to black, the last thing Antinous saw were eyes greener than they should be.

Greener than any gemstone, any leaf, and they were as mad as they were green. Hungry

Antinous knew he had let his guard down, but could you blame him, he had thought he had disposed of the mouse, it hadn’t even tried to fight, he was now. 

To Rome fighting wasn’t the right word, attacking, desperation perhaps, he had indulged in human flesh  plenty before, the feeling of warm flesh under your fingers, blood pooling and desperate writhing was a feeling you could not match. But this was different.

Simply put this was gluttony, animalistic gluttony, the mouse gutted Antinous barehanded, holding up his heart to the sun like a spoil of war to Mars.

                                    Before biting into it.

Oh, the sweet joy of satisfying hunger left to fester for too long. He made such a pretty noise with his sharp little elbows buried in Antinious' chest. Rome would like to remember that sound. 

[dearlavender]

❦ | ᥣі𝗍𝗍ᥣᥱ ᥣ᥆𝗍ᥙs ᑲᥣ᥆ss᥆m

🅶🅴🅽🆁🅴: 🅿🅻🅰🆃🅾🅽🅸🅲!

[𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐱 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫]

(𝐘/𝐍'𝐒 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄: 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐄)

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

　

"I wonder where she went.. "

The seemingly blonde young man pondered to himself as he stalked through the snowy forest, his chest rising and falling even though he produced no breaths. A small huff rumbled through his chest as he looked all around and still couldn't find what, or rather whom, he was searching high and low for.

He turned on his heel and began to trot away in defeat before two smells reached his nostrils.

Blood and... Amniotic fluid? No, that couldn't be right. She didn't have any scent of sweetness that would've indicated she was pregnant or in labor. Did he truly miss it?

Letting his lips open slightly, he began following the trail of aroma. Ignoring the cold winds that blew at and around his face until he reached his destination.

A broken and rundown tiny cabin and that's when he saw it. A little pool of nearly frozen red liquid at the crumbled door.

Slowly, he placed a hand on the doorway and stepped inside the decrepit home. His large, rainbow-colored eyes glanced around before he noticed a leg sticking out from behind a few boxes.

"So you were here all along, you gave me quite the chase. " He stated as he began to step over, parts of the bloodied woman's kimono that was hiked up her legs becoming more noticeable.

Half-past dead and already nearly frozen, a woman was sat up. The life, or what was left of it, in her eyes was gone and her skin was icy. No wonder he couldn't seek her out before, the blood in her veins and organs had already become frigid. The warmth of her body was gone so she wouldn't be a very tasty meal, no matter how much he tried to enjoy it.

"Too bad, you were such a pretty thing. " He mumbled to himself as he crouched down and brushed a piece of her messy hair out of her face. His ears twitched at the sudden noise of a soft, quiet coo coming from somewhere on the human female.

He blinked a few times as he brought his head down and moved part of her kimono out of the way, finding a small newborn human infant tucked away inside.

How did it survive in the cold for this long? Did she let it take what was left of her body heat so it'd stay alive?

Carefully, somehow, he placed one of his large hands underneath the tiny little thing and let it rest on his muscular arm. His attentive gaze scanned over its small body, watching as its face scrunched up just slightly as he gently ran one of his pointed nails over its chubby face. He'd never interacted with an infant until now, sure, some of the women at his cult would come pregnant but they'd never last long enough to give birth.

How could something so frail and fragile grow into something much stronger?

"Hi there... " He muttered under his breath as he stood up, wrapping his other arm around the baby as they both stared at one another. In a swift moment, he wiggled off the red-colored cozy haori he wore and gathered them up in it. Just to help them bring up their body heat.

His eyes flickered down as he noticed a small piece of paper resting on the child's bare chest. "'Sumire'... Is that your name? " He questioned as he picked it up and read it before discarding the paper onto the ground. He ensured the little girl in his arms was secured and warm before making his way outside the cabin.

»»--⍟--««

"I like flowers, papa! "

"Hm~ is that so? " The blonde demon hummed as he watched the young five-year-old girl mess with a few of the petals that belonged to a flower. Which sat in a pot built by one of his constituents, she didn't know that however, but still gave it many compliments nonetheless.

She was an interesting specimen, but confusing as well. It fascinated the cult leader how she handled her emotions so well despite being so young. Sometimes he'd ask her questions and she'd just shrug her shoulders and smile, a very confusing girl she was.

"That's why you're my little lotus. " He smiled at her as he placed a hand atop her head and ruffled her soft fluffy hair. She added something to his long long life that he had never experienced before and couldn't place his finger on it. It caused a blossoming feeling in his chest whenever she smiled at him or gave him hugs when he wasn't busy with his cult.

But he liked the feeling, it made him believe he wasn't just an emotionless husk as some people would say.

The little girl innocently leaned into his comforting touch as he moved his hand to hold her cheek. Looking up at him with her big emerald green colored eyes as she felt his thumb brush across her cheekbone; while his pretty rainbow eyes analyzed her face. Indeed, she was a fascinating small human.

"Lord Founder? It's time for Sumire's next lesson. "

Both of their heads turned at the sound of the fusuma door sliding open and a nice young woman poking her head inside.

Sumire just pouted as she hung her head, her father was diligent in terms of her education. Making sure some of his followers taught her well. Noticing a dip in her happy mood, the demon gently poked her nose.

"Tell you what, we'll go out tonight if you do good. " He winked at her, causing sparkles to shine in her big eyes. He blinked a few times as she suddenly threw her arms around his neck in a hug before running off out of the room in the same movement. How did she have so much energy...?

A small smile crept up onto his lips as he rested his chin on the palm of his hand before the scene around him changed and the noise of a biwa filled his ears.

A meeting? Now? Why?

.

.

Word-Count: 1013

[pandasmagorica]

4 Minutes questions

And my attempts at answers. Corrections welcome.

This series is keeping me up late lol. I will probably have more posts in the days to come.

Some of these were inspired by @waitmyturtles rant about the 4 Minutes series ending. While I don't agree with her - I didn't see anything to make me not love the series - her post is well worth reading and raised a number of points I hadn't considered.

Why was Manee in the tunnel?

Believe me, I would love to know. But Great's 4 minute dream could be correct. I still wouldn't rule out punishment for an unpaid debt.

Was it realistic that Great and Tyme survived being shot at close range (and Tonkla didn't)?

The Wikipedia page on gunshot wounds states that surviving a gunshot wound, even to one's trunk, is common nowadays due to medical advances.

As for the closeness issue, I'm no expert. I seem to recall reading that at some point in its trajectory, a bullet starts tumbling. This might imply that a bullet fired at close range might do less damage than one fired from further away.

But again, I'm not an expert, and in particular, I'm not familiar with the gun used and the bullets it might take.

The easy answer for why Great and Tyme survived and Tonkla didn't was people arrived in time is that Great and Tyme are considered redeemable in the context and Tonkla is considered irredeemable. But in the context of real world medicine and physics it might just be that Tonkla's bullet hit a vital organ and Great and Tyme's bullets didn't, or that Tonkla was shot from far enough away for the bullet to start tumbling, or that he simply did not subsequently receive medical care. Given that he is shown as dead and four minuting, I'd guess Win hit a vital organ.

Given that Sammon is a medical doctor, she might well know what the likely outcome is for bullet injuries and be able to take that into account when writing the script. But there could also be some artistic license at play. We'll have to wait for Dr. Sammon to share.

What about Den discovering Tyme so quickly?

See the previous answer. What the internal injuries were would affect how long Tyme would have before he went into the 4 minutes. I don't recall seeing what time it was when Warit called Tyme, so I don't know how much time passed between the shot and 11:00:00.

But mobile phones these days allow you to share location. Actually, the thing that I had the most trouble believing is that they couldn't track Tonkla down by his phone. Even if he had location blocked, it's still available to emergency services and they can at least get the general location from the cell towers.

I'm guessing Tyme did something with his phone between the first shot and the final one, when they were interrupted. But it would have been nice to see it.

Why the scene of Great walking away from Lukwa's heart attack?

We know from the hit and run and Title's murder of Dome that pre four minutes Great is cowardly. But sticking around for Lukwa would not have required any courage. Nobody would have blamed him for Lukwa's heart attack.

It shows Great as not just cowardly but callous. He's even worse than we thought at the start of the show. So his reform is even greater.

But we also get another piece of the puzzle as to how the four minutes world works, specifically as to how one might escape the four minutes world without dying.

Remember Lukwa said that she heard her boyfriend call her name. But the man on the stairs above her wasn't calling her name. So he probably wasn't her boyfriend. She heard her boyfriend calling her name without her boyfriend actually being there.

So, Tyme didn't have to be there for Great to hear Tyme calling Great's name.

It's an open question as to whether Lukwa's boyfriend sensed a disturbance in the force, I mean, sensed that Lukwa was in trouble and called out to her the way Tyme called out to Great from his 4 minutes.

As a side note, I don't think Lukwa is aware that Great was a witness to her heart attack and simply walked away. That would explain her not being angry when she recognized him.

What about Tyme's apology on Great's coffee cup?

If Great's episode 1-5 visions occurred entirely within the four minutes from his flatline, then Tyme's actual apology does not line up with Great seeing the apology on the coffee cup post-it note, since Tyme was busy having his own four minute visions at the time.

So, Great probably heard Tyme while Great was in the coma but heart beating stage, but remembered it in the four minute stage. Not simultaneous.

What about the psych at the end?

Before the watch showed 11:05, it showed 11:04:15, at least according to the position of the minute hand, I didn't notice the second hand, so it was already revealing that they were beyond the four minutes. Of course that's assuming they went out exactly at 11:00:00, which is implied but not a given. But 11:05 is clearly in the reality zone.

Has Great been redeemed?

Great has a long way to go to be fully redeemed. He needs to come out about the hit and run. Of course the police already know about it since they covered it up. But he could go public about it.

He might apologize to Lukwa. It's odd we didn't see that redo during Great's four minuting as he redid much lesser offenses. But that's probably a matter of how Dr. Sammon.

As for his outing of the minister, my take was Great and his accomplice (Tyme?) outed him to the press, not the police, and that it would have involved too much loss of face to the police to not arrest the minister. It's also possible the minister was on somebody's shit list, although that's a stretch.

What about Tyme's revenge on Warit?

It was pretty creepy.

Again, Dr. Sammon would know how effective Tyme's action would be in permanently disabling Warit.

But was it ethical. No.

I'm wondering whether people who love or were opposed to Tonkla's revenging are consistent with their take on Tyme's revenging. I'm not going to track anyone down, just saying. I'll have to out myself as being less fond of Tonkla's than of Tyme's. Particularly since Tonkla got a relatively innocent bystander - again this depends on how much agency you believe Great had in Title's killing of Dome and subsequent disposal of the body and cover up - I believe Great had none.

Still, it would have been kinder of Tyme to have just outright killed Warit rather than giving him survivable brain damage. Riskier for discovery, but kinder.

I'm thinking back on a queer film from many years ago - I forget the title, maybe @benigyo knows - about a sexually abused kid getting revenge on his abuser many years later by having sex with him in his open iron lung while the abuser was gasping for air. I don't remember whether the abuser lived or died.

Are Tyme and Great happy ever after?

It's uncertain. Great probably will get off light for being the accessory to Dome's killing, but might still have to do time, especially if he's not using his family's money to pay for legal rep. If I was that minister I might be out for revenge. Same with Warit's family - Fasai could be quite dangerous. Let's call them happy for now.

If we accept the 4 Minutes visions are a natural part of life, were there any fantastic elements in the series?

Yes.

Great and Tyme beginning their 4 minutes simultaneously.

Great and Tyme coming out of their 4 minutes simultaneosly (implied, not seen).

Great hearing Tyme calling to him in the 4 minutes (implied, not seen).

That's more than enough for tonight. I need to get to bed.

[aladaylessecondblog]

Mother II (Bg3 one-shot sequel)

author's note: It was an interesting idea I wanted to play with.

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

When he felt the summons, Raphael was more than a little surprised. He'd given a charm, or perhaps an amulet rather, to Tav. He knew she might eventually need him again, and wanted to make it easier to get his help, should she realize the smart course of action.

'Hold it and speak my name, mouse,' he'd said, handing her that devil-faced amulet, 'And I will come to you, no matter when or where you are. I...always...answer.'

And she'd done it.

A second time he felt her calling his name.

Honestly, he'd forgotten about it since her ascension. It was strange, that. She'd clearly not expected to survive wearing the Crown of Karsus, yet she had, and now she was asking for him.

Raphael was more curious than anything, and followed the call. He found himself in an empty temple--small, but definitely one of hers.

She looked so different now, all glowing eyes and hair waving slightly, as if in a breeze that definitely wasn't there. Dressed like some pale statue, draped in a flowing gown...

"I did not think you would come," she said. There was a shift, and he noted a sleeping infant in her arms. A woman entered the room, bowing her head, and took the infant from Tav, then left.

"One of yours?"

"They are all mine," Tav replied. "You must know that, or you wouldn't ask such questions."

A mother for those who have none. Noble. That had become a large part of her worship - those with no mother, or those who cared for the motherless. He'd even passed an orphanage recently with a statuette of her in a window.

"Why did you call, mouse? What use have you for me now, hmm?"

"To see if you would deal," she replied in a lofty tone, "That is your way, is it not?"

"And why should I deal with you, after what has transpired? What could I have to offer that you couldn't already gain through inspiring your followers?"

He smirked, but she didn't respond to the provocation.

"What would it take to stop you setting your snares before children?" Tav finally asked, after a long pause. And for a moment--just a moment, he saw a flicker of the Tav he knew. The fearful one, the one he'd molded, trained. "What would be your price?"

"Well," Raphael said, taking a seat on the altar beside her, "Let us talk. I'm certain with the proper incentive, I can be made reasonable."

"You are many things, but reasonable is not one."

"Oh, mouse, how you wound me."

[shrinkthisviolet]

Backstory on how you came up with Morgan as a character, and how you decided to showcase her character? (Like, why you chose those scenes in particular for her fics)

Or anything else you want to share about Morgan and her story?

Oooh yay an OC question! I'm happy to answer this :D

So Morgan is a character I came up with while watching Jesse in s2 and going "huh. Wouldn't it be cool if she had an E1 doppelgänger?" And then I read a couple fics that fed that idea. And ofc that then spun into "what would her backstory be? How would she fit into the story?" Etc and so forth.

Funnily enough, I wasn't going to write her story at first. It was just something between me and a mutual of mine...especially once my plans got ambitious and I started envisioning multiple fics spanning who-knows-how-long. It felt too big for me to handle, so I decided from the jump that this was just gonna stay a concept I talked about but didn't write.

...hey past me, about that...😅 (further discussion below the cut!)

Anyway, the first things I figured out about her were that she'd be Eowells's daughter, obviously. I've always headcanoned that Jesse did have an E1 doppelgänger in canon, but that she died in the car crash that killed Harritess. Here, though...she survives it, and she's raised by Eowells.

This fic gave me the idea to make Tina her godmother—the fic doesn't outright make her such (E1 Jesse in that fic is an adult, so it's not pertinent), but it's a similar thing, with Tina offering the E1 Jesse of that fic a place to stay and a job. Obviously there are differences between my AU and that fic, but I did link the fic as inspiration because a) it gave me the godmother idea in a roundabout way and b) it's the E1 Jesse fic that really sparked this idea in a way I couldn't let go. My idea was so much different than theirs, but I wanted to do something with it, more than just as a concept. Still not a fic (haha past me), but...something.

Morgan kept developing. Her name was decided as "Morgan" pretty early on—Jesse Morgan Wells would be her name, following the same principle as Jesse Chambers Wells (Tess Morgan on E1, Tess Chambers on E2), and then Eowells would have her go by Morgan instead of Jesse because, per canon, he knows about Jesse Chambers (in this AU, the Jesse Chambers he knows is not from the comics, but from the multiverse of the show. But...is it Jesse? Morgan? Another Earth's Jesse or Morgan? Who knows...👀 well, I do, but I shan't say. You'll find out in the s4 arc!). I also decided she’d be the same age as Jesse (17 in s2), but a year behind her academically, to add some bones to the jealousy plotline in s2—Jesse has 5 majors and is a year ahead of Morgan? Oof yeah that’s gotta be tough.

Morgan’s powers...started off as super strength. However, this got nixed when I finally decided to make this into a fic series, because...Morgan can't have Griffin Grey's powers, she wouldn't live very long 😅 and I can't pseudoscience her a solution, because then the question becomes "why not use it on Grey, who's only 19 when he dies?" So I waffled for a bit on what her powers should be...and I settled on forcefields. I've never looked back since. They fit her personality...for better and for worse (I have a feeling some of you know what I mean 😅 if you don't, though, I'll elaborate in the notes if asked!)

Another fun wrinkle about her development is that originally, the first fic was gonna be from Tina's POV, in present tense. I still have the fic in my drive, and I often strip it for parts (for the CF AU in particular) 😅 but ultimately, I remembered the wisdom of "the character you start with is often the one the reader gets most attached to", so I decided to stick with Morgan's POV and occasional forays into other POVs once readers were sufficiently attached to Morgan (mind you, this isn't an ironclad rule! But I'm glad I followed it in this case).

From there, I started with s2, since that's where the intrigue came from. I wrote some Morgan & Jesse and Harry & Jesse...and then it occured to me that rather than leave s1 as an implied "yeah this happened but idc" thing...I wanted to actually go back and flesh it out.

And MAN am I glad I did! That decision brought about so many changes that were for the betterment of this AU (Barry & Morgan, Morgan & Iris, Morgan x James, fleshing out Morgan & Tina), and I just...I truly can't imagine the AU without them. Genuinely, there are future arcs in this AU that I can't imagine how they would've gone if I hadn't gone back to write s1 and made these changes because the muse led me that way. It's remarkable.

Writing her taking up the mantle of Sentry was important too. I've talked about how important it is to me that she was named by both her mothers (Tess gave her the name "Morgan", Tina gave her the name "Sentry", even if the latter was unintentional), and that's another reason I'm glad I went back to s1—before this, the implication was that Cisco named her, but I like this better. Sorry Cisco 😅 you can name (almost) everyone else!

Ooh and as for scenes that show her character...I'll pick out a few that I haven't talked about before:

Though, perhaps the most confusing day for her friends was when she showed up to first period absolutely glowing because she’d gotten to meet Dr. Martin Stein the previous afternoon and learned about an intriguing project he was working on, tentatively called FIRESTORM. She couldn’t talk about it to anyone, at least not by name...but that didn’t stop her from gushing about the project in concept to her friends. “We’ve got years before we go into the sort of thing you’re talking about, Mo. Maybe you should slow down?” “Oh, come on!” She insisted. “Haven’t you considered how cool it would be if we could perfect something like that? Think of the implications!” “It would be pretty cool to have superpowers,” another of them pointed out with a grin. “Being able to shoot fire from your hands? Epic!” “Well, yeah, of course that’s cool. But sharing a body with another person? Like…that could be life-changing. Life-saving, even!” They were less enthused about that idea, but Morgan figured she probably could’ve done a better job of selling it.

Her meeting Stein here is, ofc, me setting up their reunion in 1x14, when she's a bit ahead of Team Flash in terms of knowing who Stein is. She doesn't know a lot of details, because the project is hush-hush...but she knows enough that it sparks her curiosity. Because that's another thing—she's a genius for a reason, and I wanted to show that! She's precocious and endlessly curious and follows logical threads down all sorts of trails...and I wanted to show that rather than just saying it.

Another scene:

In the end, she didn’t call Tina about Dad’s treatment of Hartley. It was certainly jarring that Dad, who had once favored Hartley even above her at times, had now suddenly turned on him, but Hartley had always been arrogant, and Dad had always enabled him. It wasn’t so unbelievable to think that he thought he knew better than Dad, sought to prove it, and got burned. And everyone at STAR had been under a lot of stress with the impending launch. If they were acting out of character…well, she couldn’t exactly blame them. Still, it lingered in the back of her mind, unsettling her in ways that she wasn’t quite ready to think about yet.

It matters that Morgan is observant, insightful. This is a trait she picks up from both Eowells and Tina (for better and for worse—yes, being observant can work against you, but more on that later)...and it means she notices that something is off about Hartley. But, since she's a teenager, still susceptible to manipulation, and isn't fond of Hartley, she brushes it off as arrogance on his part (it's an impression he encourages, after all).

Another scene:

But a strange thing happened as they got close enough for Richard to let go of her hand and run toward his parents. Morgan looked up, saw a bolt of lightning coming for them, and cried, “Look out!” She shoved James and Richard out of the way, shielding them both as best as she could. And then the strike hit, and she screamed.

This is when she gets struck! I thought quite a lot about how this could've happened. Ultimately, I decided that since the other metas get their powers by doing something related to their powers, Morgan should too. Thus, she shields James and Richard, taking the blow herself...and she gets struck and gets forcefield powers (it's not real lightning though, just concentrated energy. Hence why she gets forcefield powers and not lightning powers)

And another:

“Someone has to stop them.” “Someone has to protect the people they hurt,” she corrected, clenching her fists. “What that…that superhuman did…it was terrifying. He terrorized and probably hospitalized people. Because of powers that my dad gave him.”

Every hero needs a Call moment, don't they? Well, this is Morgan's! Well, specifically, the scene before this when Jitters is attacked is her moment, but this is her reaction. She's a hero at heart, that's our girl! It shows what kind of hero she'll be...and that her powers suit her so very well.

This next one is a long one, but I couldn't justify chopping it even for this:

There was a lot to figure out about her powers, as it turned out. She and James had already figured out that her powers manifesting was an expression of adrenaline, a defense mechanism that was likely connected to her sympathetic nervous system—thank you, 9th-grade Biology. So her powers had an emotional element—a strong one, judging by her outbursts—and they relied on concentration to remain stable. It was something she needed to improve over time…if she actually wanted to use them. James thought she’d make an awesome superhero and wasn’t shy about telling her so. Morgan, however, had no desire to dole out vigilante justice with non-combative powers she barely understood…especially as a teenager who didn’t want to seriously hurt anyone. “It’s not vigilante justice, Mo,” he insisted. “It’s heroism.” “You’re basically saying I should be this city’s Spider-Man,” she retorted. “Your powers are completely different from his.” “James.” “Morgan. Do you seriously think I don’t see the look on your face? That I’m not listening when you rant about how much the explosion has destroyed so much, how your dad isn’t doing a lot to fix it, and how you wish you could?” “I can’t fight. I won’t. I don’t have time to learn all that from scratch, I’m not…I’m not Spider-Man, my powers aren’t combative like that!” As if to demonstrate, she shot a blast outward—it materialized into a shield. “See?” James nodded, looking sheepish. “Maybe not Spider-Man, then. But what about your other wish? To protect the people superhumans hurt? You’ve got the power of shielding and forcefields, who’s better suited for the task of protection than you?” She hesitated, then sighed. “Sometimes I think you know me too well.” He grinned.

The dynamic duo!! Funny to think that if not for James, we might not have a Sentry (this is also true in all the spin-off AUs) 💞 he's so very important as being Sentry's first guy in the chair, her first cheerleader, and her strongest supporter always (he and Barry might have to fight for that title later, but...hey Barry, James was here first 😂). There's a reason Morgan and James are soulmates in the soulmate AU—they're important to each other!!

And as far as scenes that really show her character. those are the higlights! Thank you again so much for asking this 💞 I love Morgan to pieces, and I love talking about her.

Taglist (send an ask or DM to be added or removed):

@arrthurpendragon @ocappreciationtag @raith-way @vexic929 @ironverseocs

@thechaoticfanartist @goldheartedchaoticdisaster @negative-speedforce @starstruckpurpledragon @angst-is-love-angst-is-life

@miss-eli-starfleet

[a-reader-and-a-writer]

For the title ask game how about "Last Days"

Well, this seems right up my alley 😂 Thank you, anon! 💖

He's known it was coming for a while. Ice tried to hide it from him at first, but Mav knew him too well to buy his act. The cancer was back and this time there would be no stopping it. At first, Maverick was angry. How dare Ice try to keep this from him! After all this time, after everything they had been through together? What they meant to each other? How could you keep something like this from the person you claimed to love? But soon, he recognized the anger for what it truly was: pain. A pain so deep and consuming he just wanted to curl up next to Ice and fade away with him. But Ice would never forgive him if he did that. Especially not now that he was starting to make some progress with Bradley again. So, Mav did the toughest thing he had ever done in his life. He held his chin high, put a smile on his face, and resolved to make every single one of Ice's last days the best they could be. And he did. For the next month, they checked off every remaining item on the bucket list Ice had made when he first got sick: they had drinks with the all of the surviving members of the Top Gun class of '86, Maverick convinced Bradley to come by to see his uncle for the first time in almost five years, they flew together for the first time in the plane they had started building just weeks before Ice got diagnosed the first time, and they got married. As Ice deteriorated, it became harder and harder for Mav to stay upbeat and positive but he tried. And when it became clear it was nearing the end, Maverick drove Ice out to the beach one last time. As they sat there watching the sun setting into the sparkling blue water, Ice pulled out a notebook and pen. Though it took him longer than usual to get out what he wanted to say and his handwriting was more shakey lines than letters, Maverick always knew what he was trying to say. So, he waited patiently while Ice struggled to get his words down then took the pad when his husband offered it to him. It read: I know you hate goodbyes but I don't think we can put ours off much longer. This isn't how I pictured our story ending yet I wouldn't have had it any other way. I got to love and be loved by you and that was more than I ever hoped for. You gave life purpose outside of a cockpit and you gave me a reason to come home after every mission. So please, don't grieve my death. Instead, cherish my life-- our lives --together. And just know, where ever I end up next, I'll never stop being your wingman and I'll never stop loving you. Maverick only made it through the first line before tears began to blur his vision and by the end, he was sobbing so hard he couldn't really finish it. He gently climbed into the seat with Ice and cried into his neck as his husband rubbed his back and held him as tightly as he was able. Two days later, Ice passed away in his sleep. The second he woke up, Maverick knew. He felt it like a knife to the chest. And when he turned to look at the love of his life, there was no denying it. The funeral took a while to plan. Though Ice's death hadn't come as much of a surprise, he had been a Navy Admiral and it took a long time to organize a service fitting to his position. But the day soon came and Maverick found himself standing before his husband's casket. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he would be able to pin his wings as was expected, but a reassuring nod from Bradley gave him the strength he needed. After the ceremony, everyone else began to drift off or leave but Mav stayed behind, staring at Ice's Admiral portrait. And just as he reached out and brushed his fingers across his husband's face, a warm breeze blew through the cemetery. Smiling with tears in his eyes, Mav whispered, "There's my wingman."

send me a made-up fic title and i’ll tell you what i would write to go with it

[codenamebaphomet]

So we've been out on the road all day and then we spent some time at my mom's house so I couldn't upload these till now. I did this a year ago but I wanted to redo this better.

Jela's eyes and how and why they change.

This is how his eyes normally look, no matter if he's happy, annoyed, sad or even pretty pissed off. This is just normal state in human form.

Seeing this pretty much means shit just got real. He's beyond pissed off. Listen, this man is the most chilled person you could ever hope to come across, it takes EFFORT to get him angry and it takes a special kind of EFFORT to get him so angry that his eyes turn into this. He isn't just gonna kill you, he's gonna make you suffer through it and make sure you die slow.

Having said that, his eyes also change to this when he's trying to intimidate someone or something. They'll also change to this state when he summons his weapon or when using any arcane abilities. That doesn't mean he's pissed off, it just happens. For non-divine it happens because magic can and will take its toll on the body and sometimes some magic can force certain physical traits to "surface" without the person being able to control it.

However, Jelani is divine so he should have complete control over it. Truth is it's a sub-conscious action. Remember, he's had that identity crisis his entire life and since berserkers's eyes faintly glow when they conjure up their weapons and/or armor he took that observation and sub-consciously makes his eyes change to that. So when he summons his weapon or uses any arcane abilities his eyes will change to that.

They also turn that way when he's injured or in some type of survival mode. Obviously he can't just go around with his eyes like this everywhere but he for the most part he can't exactly control it until he's conscious of it and even then he's got bigger shit to worry about.

*The iris is supposed to glow faintly but I got lazy so just pretend.

((This is actually my favorite look to him because it legitimately scares the fuck out of me/creeps me the fuck out. Dude, if I managed to piss off some 6'6", 237 pound eldritch deity and he's staring at me with THOSE eyes I'd piss out all of my organs. I don't like looking at 'em too long 'cause I have a far too vivid imagination and they creep me out severely but I can't help but love 'em at the same time.))

This is incredibly rare to witness. In fact, his eyes have only ever changed to this, while in human form, only three times in his entire life.

Fighting off the horde or raiders that killed his grandfather.

Fighting and killing Iain.

When fully infected by the Halo virus.

This happens when he's reached a point of no return or more like he doesn't fucking care anymore and to say that's the equivalent of DEFCON 1 is the understatement of the millennium.

*There is a caveat though. His eyes changing to this while he's in HUMAN form is cataclysmic and all around not a good thing. However, this is how his eyes normally look while in divine form so it doesn't mean anything is wrong while in divine form. Human form though...eh, that's fucking bad.

Post Halo virus:

When he got infected with the Halo virus he went through all the symptoms but the one that left a permanent mark was the ocular trauma that affected his right pupil.

Basically his right pupil internally burst. It's only noticeable while his eyes are in that state while in human form or while in divine form. I gotta do some more research into how that would affect his vision in that eye while in divine form. The Halo virus targeted deities so obviously while in human form it wouldn't show unless his eyes change to these two examples.