#just a mentor and her two war criminals

[o3o-lapd-o3o]

athena dealing with odysseus & diomedes over the 10 years at troy

[bibibbon]

MHA chapter 426

4 more chapters until MHA ends and wow!!!

Honestly this chapter was mainly the conclusion of the todoroki family arc which I still hate how it played out and ended. The whole todoroki family NOT INCLUDING ENJI deserves so much better than what horikoshi gave them.

Hawks is the new HPSC leader?!?! I feel like the system should of just been destroyed considering how much it hurt everyone and hawks by no means has any proper character development to take this role. Hawks hasn't really broken down his flawed beliefs or truly developed from his mentality that ended up getting one of the most redeemable league of villains members aka twice killed. Also he barely reflects on his actions and all of this feels so underwhelming and unprepared for.

Todoroki family deserves better. The ABSLOUTELY vile ending the todoroki family received is horrible like I really feel like they should just runaway and live in a house without endeavour and actually take up on endeavours attornment bs. Like the only one who gets it is natsou who has every right to live with his girlfriend and keep her far away from that environment and oh my Rei deserves so much better both narratively and by the fandom.

Enji still sucks. Yeah I can't lie nothing this man can do can make me like him and it doesn't help that hori has written all of those retcons to humanise him and make him pitiful. I feel like when it came to the todoroki family arc enji took on a whole lot of screentime WHICH HE SHOULDNT OF!!! That should of gone to shoto and the rest of the family and an easy way to fix it is to simply have killed enji in the first war arc (as was initially planned but hori changed it later on) ALSO I SAY LET TOUYA REST AT THIS POINT!!! having him just mechanically alive and stuck is horrible honestly I think that death is much more of a merciful fate for him at this point.

So lady nagant chose to go to jail?!?! Her reasoning for it is actually so sad though and it really shows how much hero society traumatised her. Like the woman didn't want to be free so she can't be used by anyone and would rather spend time in prison over it. I wish that she was hawk's mentor from the begining because the vibe those two give is absolutely amazing and it would enhance the parallels and relationship they have if they were. Honestly I hope hawks actually does a good job but Iam still all for the destruction of hero society and I doubt hawks is actually going to reform it properly also the hero society is so deeply flawed that I don't think there is a proper way to reform more like just scratch everything out and start fresh.

Spinner is back. I hope I don't see him have a breakdown when he realises what happend to the league because I can't handle that. Also that begs the question I thought that spinner had become somewhat brain dead after all he's been through so how did he turn back from being a giant nomu?

I can't handle the sibling angst too bad that touya and shoto didn't have a better arc. The whole shoto trying to know touya better and him revealing that soba is also his favourite food softens my heart. In another universe where enji doesn't get a redemption touya gets one while justice is served to the todoroki family.

Gentle criminal and la brava getting justice. (The only good part of the chapter fr)

in conclusion this chapter was horrible if we look at it from a story perspective due to how badly MHAs already established plot points and themes are handled!!!

Also what happend to the random character in the last chapter!!! I hope we get closure on that soon

[sapphic-agent]

Rewriting the Gaang in LOK

Basically how I would have written the adult Gaang. Pretend the comics as they are don't exist.

Katara: Breaks up with Aang sometime post-finale to do some soul-searching. Travels the world on her own and sees how people are struggling after the war. After talking (beating) some sense into a few government officials, she realizes that the best way to help people post-war is through politics. She becomes an (unofficial) ambassador, helping and negotiating aid for small villages that tend to get overlooked and does this for a number of years. She joins up with Zuko and Aang after they found the United Republic of Nations and becomes Councilwoman Katara, representative of the Southern Water Tribe. She eventually gets voted chairwoman due to her passion to improve the lives of the citizens (and because her fellow council members are too scared to vote against her). She heals on the side when she needs to, but only out of obligation since she can't stand to see people suffer; she puts much more effort into getting raising funds for a hospital full of healers. A few years later, Haru moves to Republic City and is just as awestruck by her as he was the day they met (the pornstache has been removed by divine intervention). They meet up a couple of times; for drinks after work, walks around the city, and they even attend a few galas together. They eventually start dating and get married two years later. They have their first daughter Kya (who's an earthbender), a son- Tyro (who's a nonbender), and another daughter Suma (who's a waterbender). They live a happy, peaceful (if you could call Katara stopping the occasional criminal before the police peaceful) life together where their children are well-loved and as part of the Southern Water Tribe as they are the Earth Kingdom. Aang's death hits their family hard, but they all come together and support each other. Katara personally mentors Korra, even convincing her family move to Republic City so that the Avatar knows the people she's meant to protect (the White Lotus protests, they fail❤️). She teaches Korra Waterbending, but also teaches her empathy and appreciation for other cultures (and that sometimes, selfish world leaders need a good punch to the face, a lesson Korra took to heart even though she absolutely wasn't supposed to see it).

Aang: Is torn up after Katara breaks up with him. He's hurt and confused and doesn't know what to do with himself. He retreats to Ba Sing Se where he talks with Iroh and learns that he unfairly pushed his feelings onto Katara. Wracked with guilt at hurting someone he cares about so much, Aang realizes that he has a lot of growing up to do. He focuses on his job as the Avatar, working closely with Zuko, Kuei, and the other leaders to heal the world after the war. The first time he sees Katara again is when she arrives to help with the United Republic of Nations. He apologizes to her and Katara forgives him, promising they'll always be best friends. His role in Republic City is more or less the same, though at some point he develops feelings for Toph. But he fears doing to her what he had done to Katara, so he tries to ignore them. But Toph, never one to beat around the bush, point-blank asks him if he's ever gonna man-up and confess to her. They start dating, and Lin comes a few months later as a surprise. They have their hiccups- Aang especially needing to reconcile with the fact that there's a chance she might not be an Airbender- but they manage to resolve them. Lin is an Earthender, of course, but Aang loves his little girl to pieces (which is good, because Toph would kill him if she suspected otherwise). Tenzin is born three years later, an Airbender, and Su Yin is born two years after that as an Earthbender. Lastly there's Bumi, a nonbender. There's always the urge to favor Tenzin, but Aang knows he can't. They're all his children and they deserve to be treated as such. So he teaches them all about their culture, takes them all on trips. The kids fight, but Aang is always quick to help resolve it (as it turns out, getting Lin and Su to stop fighting is a lot harder than getting the four nations to get along, go figure). Aang loves his wife and kids and wouldn't trade any of them for the world. He dies peacefully at age 66, surrounded by his children and the love of his life.

Sokka: Fucking hates politics. He'll leave the negotiating and speeches to his sister, thank you very much. If the room of government officials isn't a war room, he wants no part in it. After the war, he spends most of his time in the Southern Water Tribe. He works with his father to rebuild and relearn their culture, and writes frequent letters to his sister. Though, something about his life in the south is unfulfilling. Maybe he misses Suki, but there's something about inventing that calls to him. He can't do much of that in the south pole, so he leaves for the Earth Kingdom, helping villages struggling with heat, agriculture, transportation, etc. In the United Republic of Nations, he becomes lead engineer of the city, utilizing bending to make quick technological advances. He and Suki reunite in Republic City where Suki becomes the police chief. They get back together and have a daughter, Lian. The three of them live a simple life together, until Suki gets gravely injured in the line of duty when Lian is twenty. They decide to retire to the Southern Water Tribe where Sokka takes over for Hakoda as chief and prepares Lian to take over for him.

Toph: When Toph hears that Twinkle Toes and Sparky finally started that fancy new city, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity to cause a little chaos. Closing her metalbending school, she decides to relive her days as the Blind Bandit by founding pro-bending (thanks @ecoterrorist-katara for the idea!). Zuko's a hater and tries to shut it down because "safety," but finds no help in Aang who really, really loves the idea. He goes to every one of her matches and Toph feels both smug pride and... Something else. But she tells herself it would never happen, Twinkle Toes likes girls like Sugar Queen and she was the furthest thing from that. But she isn't totally oblivious, she can feel his heartbeat pick up when he's around her and how he's started to stutter when he's talking to her. So she bites the bullet and they start happily dating. But the arrival of Lin uncovers issues she didn't even know were there. Lin cries loudly and for Toph who relies heavily on her sense of hearing, it's hell. She was also unprepared for how much her body would change. She finds herself not wanting to be around her daughter. But Aang realizes this and urges her to talk to someone. After some arguing, she does. Aang is attentive, so Toph can take breaks when she needs to and Katara and Suki are always ready to get her out of the house when she's overwhelmed. Things with Lin get better and when Tenzin comes around she doesn't suffer nearly as much. Su Yin is similar. It's hard with Bumi because she's older, but Aang and her friends are there to support her. Toph can be distant with her children- her closely monitored childhood always present in her mind- but sees how Aang can be doting and allow their kids freedom. She follows by his example, trying to find a balance between hovering and absence. Aang's death is the worst day of her life- she was there, she felt his heart stop- and she retreats into the swamp for a while to grieve. But she returns to Republic City when Katara begins to mentor the new Avatar. Not to be outdone by Sugar Queen, she becomes Korra's second teacher. It's hard to be around Korra sometimes, but she likes the girl's spunk and attitude, even if she is a brat.

Zuko: Zuko struggles after the war. The obligations of the Fire Lord are crushing and daunting and the fear of turning into his father feels like it's constantly looming over his head. Mai doesn't understand why he's struggling so much and he can't figure out how to explain it to her, so they break up. She goes to Kyoshi Island to spend time with Ty Lee and figure out what she wants in life. Stressed, burnt-out, and heartbroken, Zuko asks Aang to kill him if he ever starts to act like Ozai, but Aang steadfastly refuses, berating him for even suggesting it. Aang assures him that he'll never turn into his father and that he has his friends to rely on. He follows after Aang to Ba Sing Se, working in his uncle's tea shop as a much needed break. He opens up to Iroh about his fears and Iroh affirms that even having these worries proves that he'll never be Ozai. He spends time in Ba Sing Se working in the tea shop and negotiating with the Earth King when he meets Jin again. She's as carefree as she was back then and Zuko is both envious and in awe of it. But he knows he can't have a relationship with her, he can't burden her with his problems. But Jin is gently persistent, lending an ear when he needs one and assuring him that he isn't burdening her. When she asks him if he wants to be with her, he confesses that he does- more than anything- but also admits that he has no idea how it'll work. She tells him that if they want to be together no one should stop them. A year later, they're married and she's crowned Fire Lady Jin. There are some protests to their relationship from traditionalists, but Ambassador Katara (Zuko is so sure that she was never actually given that title, but he can't prove it) is quick to shut them down citing that the Fire Lord marrying an Earth Kingdom girl is a sign of unity. They have their daughter, Izumi, and she's Zuko's entire world. Zuko's greatest fear is that his children will end up like him and Azula, so he refrains from having more kids. Jin respects this, but urges him to talk to Azula. So he does; his sister curses him out, but seems to enjoy his company in her own way. They'll never have a good relationship, but Zuko doesn't want her to feel alone so he makes time at least once a week. It's shortly after Aang's death that Zuko relinquishes the title of Fire Lord to Izumi, his grief over his lifetime friend far too painful. Eventually, though, Katara and Toph bully him into training the new Avatar. It's not a role for a retired Fire Lord, but Zuko knows that the world needs Korra to be strong and it's his responsibility to make that happen as much as he can. And so, he becomes Avatar Korra's third teacher (if you told him 60 years ago that he'd become the Avatar's most sane instructor, he'd think you were high on cactus juice. But with Katara punching dictators in the face and Toph breaking every rule ever written, someone has to be a good influence).

Occupations if you missed them:

Katara: (Unofficial/Self-proclaimed) Ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe, United Republic of Nations Councilwoman and later Chairwoman, Healer (on the side), Waterbending Master to the Avatar

Aang: Avatar, United Republic of Nations Councilman

Sokka: Engineer and Inventor, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe

Toph: Pro-Bender, Manager of the Pro-Bending Arena, Earthbending Master to the Avatar

Zuko: Fire Lord, Firebending Master to the Avatar

Suki: Police Chief of Republic City (I'm sorry I didn't make a detailed background for her I got lazy, I promise I don't love her any less😭)

Defending my ship choices:

Harutara: Come on, y'all know what I'm about at this point. They're my everything, how could I not have them together? Plus, there's something really poetic about Haru falling for her as an adult the way he did as a teenager: watching her inspire those around her. I headcanon that he's enamoured with the sound of her voice because it's the voice that liberated him and his people and he attends all her speeches

Taang: I actually wasn't sure about this one. I'm not an active Taang shipper, but I do think they'd really balance each other out. Toph is the hard ass Aang needs to challenge him and Aang would bring out the softer side in her. Toph would never let Aang favor one kid over the other and Aang wouldn't let Toph neglect their kids. So looking at it like that, I felt them being together would be best for the story

Sukka: It's not as perfect in canon as people make it out to be, but I still love them. I wouldn't want any different for them

Jinko: This one actually made more sense than I would have thought. Jin is very different from Mai, so I can really see her being what Zuko needs considering where he would be mentally. I like Mai, but I feel Maiko really made her way more one dimensional so her living with Ty Lee and finding herself feels like a better end for her (and if they start dating, that's no one's business). And we've already seen Zuko go out of his way to make Jin happy so it's not like we're getting another Kataang situation. I'm happy with this for them

The Kids:

Yes, I purposely made Kya an Earthbender. And yes, Katara still gives her her mother's necklace. Because that's her firstborn daughter no matter what element she does (or doesn't) bend. One thing I hate is that Bryke made the Kataang kids primarily part of the culture that they bend. That's such a slap in the face to biracial kids, not to mention poor Bumi who doesn't seem to belong to either for some reason until he ends up an Airbender. So yeah, all of the Harutara kids are part of the EK and SWT. Suma is a name I made up because it sounded pretty

I know it's weird to think of Lin and Tenzin as siblings, I felt so odd writing it. But I love them both so I couldn't just not write them. I made Bumi the youngest so he could be spoiled because he deserved better in canon. Su and Lin have a better relationship, but they still butt heads because they feel the need to one-up each other due to them both being Earthbenders (and later Metalbenders). Lin still becomes a cop, but their big fight never happened because Su was never neglected to the point of becoming a criminal. All four kids are taught Air Nomad culture and traditions and taken on trips because Aang is a decent father

I named Lian partly after Yue, since Yuèliàng means moon in Chinese. One of my gripes with LOK is that Katara and Sokka's family are meant to be the leaders of the SWT. Kya or Bumi should be the chief in canon, but Bryke just... Didn't do that for some reason. So fuck it, Sokka's daughter is chief now

Nothing really changes about Izumi, although I'd say she's a little friendlier. I contemplated giving Zuko more kids, but I actually think his decision not to have more kids was one of Bryke's better choices. It makes sense, so I didn't feel the need to change it

Other notes:

The Gaang teaching/helping raise baby Korra is something I live for

The Red Lotus is swiftly dealt with by Katara, Toph, Zuko, Suki, and Sokka when Korra is a kid. They never stood a chance. I was actually going to have Sokka still die during the attack in the SWT and Suki kill Zaheer in revenge, but eh I decided not to off Sokka

The Civil War still happens, but differently. I don't have the patience to go into that, just know that Katara is HEAVILY involved

Welp, that's everything in my brain

[deadsetobsessions]

Batfam as characters in one of those manhwas if they each got killed and transmigrated (by themselves, there is no shipping in this post):

Alfred

The Head Butler

The hidden veteran

The grandfather with a lot of money

Bruce Wayne

Tired Dad of the Villainess (bc let’s be real he’s got a pretty decent track record of making sure his kids don’t turn into outright war criminals)

Father of the male lead

Maybe the cold northern duke but this man would not be falling in love with anyone tbh

Dick Grayson

Male lead frfr

The villainess

Older brother of the villainess (he’s damn versatile)

Tragic second lead is also a good contender but only

Knight Captain of the empire or whatever but only bc Dick was a cop once

Wise mentor/friend (who’s probably an immortal)

Crown prince in disguise

Barbara Gordon

Master of the magic tower

Merchant guild leader

Spy network owner

King maker

Shadow ruler

A crown Princess, but only bc Barbara Gordon’s letting whoever the king/queen is remain in charge so she doesn’t have to deal with the annoying courtiers

Cassandra Cain

The OG female lead

The OP SAINTESS (the good ones)

THE LOVE INTEREST (bc I have a major crush on her kickassery)

The villainess’ royal ally/friend bc Cassandra deserves to be treated like royalty dammit

Crown Princess that had to take over the kingdom bc her parents sucked at their job

Aura Master who’s underestimated bc she’s small

Magician of the tower, second in command

Information Broker, maybe

Jason Todd

The villainess (good route OR bad route)

The mercenary king

The dragon slayer

The male lead that’s probably a red flag but he’s hot and totally respectful of the love interest so you just kind of poof the homicide away. What murder?

Crown Prince that raises the education levels of the kingdom

Tim Drake

The villainess. Like. THE villainess. War crimes for the good of the people? Yes.

The villainess that takes over the kingdom and overthrows her shitty king-father

Revolutionary co-leader

Prolly opens coffee franchises to make hella bank

Spy network owner?

That one male lead with the super tragic background but is also like committing crimes to help his kingdom or something

The Sleeping Beauty Prince

Stephanie Brown

CROWN PRINCESS

The villainess that was neglected but turns everyone to her side but the end of the manhwa

Revolutionary Queen

Mercenary Queen

Aura Master/Sword Master

Legendary mage or the tower (Steph would be a menace with magic let’s be real)

Salon Owner

Duke Thomas

The main lead who is seen escaping the palace guards in the first two episodes/chapters

Roguish Crown Prince (full of respect women juice obv.)

Rebellion leader who used to be the king’s trusted knight in shiny armor

Mercenary King

Damian Wayne

Sword master, genius prince of the kingdom

Beast tamer

Dragon warrior (let’s be real, Damian would lose it over having an actual dragons)

Serious Crown Prince (with kennels of “hunting dogs” that we all know is there for him to cuddle)

Cold Northern Duke but he’s cold frfr bc his family isn’t with him

Former assassin turned Duke of the east or something

The famous painter

Alternatively, they all say “fuck it, I don’t fuck with monarchies” and start a revolution.

I wrote this pretty late so it might be off lmfao

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Two top women gladiators fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America's own.

Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America's increasingly dominant private prison industry. It's the return of the gladiators and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom.

In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, she considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games, but CAPE's corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo and the obstacles they lay in Thurwar's path have devastating consequences.

Moving from the Links in the field to the protestors to the CAPE employees and beyond, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system's unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, and a clear-eyed reckoning with what freedom in this country really means.

Dystopia, speculative fiction, science fiction, adult

The Nightrunner series (Luck in the Shadows, Stalking Darkness, Traitor's Moon, Shadows Return, The White Road, Casket of Souls, Shards of Time) by Lynn Flewelling

Endorsement from submitter: "First genre books I read with queers! Written in the early 90s, so has era typical language. I would say this book has romance in it, but is primarily a political intrigue fantasy. I say this is a positive!!! I don't mind a romantasy, but I tend to find them focusing more on the romance than the fantasy, this has both without one getting lost in the background details! Alec and Seregil will steal your hearts and probably any juicy gossip you have lying around!"

When young Alec of Kerry is taken prisoner for a crime he didn’t commit, he is certain that his life is at an end. But one thing he never expected was his cellmate. Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things–none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them. Soon Alec is traveling roads he never knew existed, toward a war he never suspected was brewing. Before long he and Seregil are embroiled in a sinister plot that runs deeper than either can imagine, and that may cost them far more than their lives if they fail. But fortune is as unpredictable as Alec’s new mentor, and this time there just might be… Luck in the Shadows.

Fantasy, epic fantasy, adventure, political intrigue, series, adult

[ramblings-from-the-ether]

Prohibition AU | Character Profile: Giovanni

The Roaring Twenties is a time of conflict, crime, and chaos—but chaos is opportunity, and the inexplicably salmon-haired Giovanni Potage is a professional agent of it. Currently under Naven’s employ after falling out with a much larger gang, he leads the majority of Bliss Ocean’s soldiers with little other than a vandalised baseball bat, a cooking pot of tricks, and a reckless confidence only matched by his sheer dumb luck and unconventional faculties.

Background.

Giovanni Potage was born to a small immediate family of two mothers in the Chinese diaspora of the US, and close relatives to the legendary crime family known as the Roughhouses. His upbringing was largely informed by honoured family traditions and festive gatherings, the ripples of the Great War overseas, and the growing cultural obsessions of baseball and motorsports in the States. The values of respect, diligence, and unity were deeply instilled in him since childhood, just as much as his taste for brazen rebellion and troublesome aptitude for making a weapon out of anything he could pick up.

Hungry for excitement, surrounded by an extended family versed in crime, and perpetually cruising for a bruising, Giovanni was soon enveloped by a strange aspiration: To become the greatest criminal name in the United States of America. He quickly found himself in a notorious, nationwide criminal group known as the Banzai Blasters, where his natural charisma and unusual, uncanny instincts would soon earn him a small company of deathly-loyal soldiers and an early promotion to captain (and help him to survive the job, at that!)

Giovanni first met Naven by proxy of Molly, who he had befriended early into the Prohibition during an operation gone-awry, and who he proceeded to protect from the chaos of said operation. When the organisational fallout of that night’s events revealed to him the true penny-pinching, dog-eat-dog mentality that suffused the Banzai Blasters’ ranks, Giovanni swiftly left the gang, bringing along his loyal crew of “boys” and a gang-spanning grudge with him. Naven quickly saw the unique assets and potential of the young rogue, and would soon approach him with a new, once-in-a-lifetime job offer. And what kind of aspiring criminal legend could refuse?

Relations.

Though he serves Naven and Bliss Ocean with diligence, Giovanni’s loyalties lie ultimately with his own “boys”. Notable among them is his younger cousin Trixie, of the Roughhouse crime family; as well as the resident foundling, Molly Blyndeff, who he has developed a remarkable compassion for, even serving as a sort of surrogate guardian towards her in her family’s absence. By proxy of the two, he also maintains a somewhat rivalrous acquaintance with Phoenica Fleecity and Dr. Sylvester Ashling.

Within the family’s inner rankings, Giovanni’s almost aggressive amiability—and frankly, his utter lack of social awareness—have also earned him the friendship of the equally-eccentric Rick Shades, the ever-friendly Indus Tarbella, and even a somewhat-amused Zora Salazar. As a largely-amateur criminal, he also admires and is close acquaintances with one Ramsey Murdoch, who has (resignedly) taken to mentoring Giovanni and “making sure the kid doesn’t get himself killed”.

Bliss Ocean Report.

In a business where saying or doing the wrong thing can cost you immeasurably, secrecy and anonymity tend to be valued luxuries; which I suppose is why my colleagues in the underworld find so perplexing my decision to place the notoriously loud, painfully unsubtle Giovanni Potage under my employ. But I do have my reasons, and he does have his traits that set him apart from the common gangster.

Given the young villain’s penchant for making general mayhem, it’s easy to miss just how excellent Giovanni is at making targeted mayhem when he wants to, especially when working in tandem with a team (or a teammate, failing that). Though not necessarily a gifted strategist, Giovanni is a remarkable improviser with seemingly no bounds to his creativity in combat, capable of fashioning life-saving plans out of the most ridiculous of circumstances. His talent with his favourite baseball bat especially is not to be underestimated…although his choice of embellishments for the signature weapon (knives??) can certainly be questionable.

Giovanni also appears to possess some stranger attributes which admittedly interest me somewhat, on top of simply being quite useful. Catastrophe seems to tail the teen wherever he’s directed to create chaos, but no matter the destruction that inevitably befalls the crime scene, he’s never been dragged away with more than a dozen or so scrapes and bruises (and the occasional concussion or dislocated shoulder). Ramsey pins the blame for the damage done on his “lucky” number, 13, which the otherwise-chronically dyscalculic Giovanni keeps count of with a strange obsession. Given his uncanny survivability and tendency to inflict the most devastating attacks at nigh-miraculous moments, I’d argue the accursed number is what’s keeping him alive.

Then there is the matter of…Giovanni’s soup. His soup, which is not only the strongest and spiciest I have ever smelled and tasted of a meal (and seasoned to perfection as far as anyone can attest), but also capable of spontaneous resuscitation, temporary adrenaline production, and sometimes even a minor increase to natural healing. Giovanni has attempted to explain this away as the work of a ‘family recipe’, which explains…well, nothing, and the effects aren’t even always consistent or guaranteed. Nonetheless, he’s never seen without a cooking pot full of it on hand, and he swears it has been a major boon in those missions that come to bullets and blows. I still dare not challenge this claim.

But Giovanni’s greatest asset to us, by far, is his charisma and his compassion. Just during his time working for the Banzai Blasters alone, he’s managed to earn the veritably undying loyalty of six of his peers, largely simply by being true to himself and kind to those around him. He has also taken it upon himself to care for our goddaughter Molly, who I think could benefit from his guidance and infectious confidence more than anyone…despite his criminal aspirations. Giovanni Potage is a chaotic, contradictory character indeed, a wild card to be sure; and personally, I’m almost as eager as I am nervous to see what becomes of his career in Bliss Ocean.

- Naven

[just-another-josh]

Kara

Today is a good day.

No, today is a great day.

Lena continued to remind herself of that over the course of the last two hours.

It was an incredibly important day for her and her wife. Not just that, it was an important day for their family’s legacy. Today was one of those milestone days, the type that signified potential fully realized, the recognition of years of hard work and achievement. A cause for celebration with champagne, victory speeches, and overindulgent parties.

Lena knew this, she believed this.

And yet, all she wanted to do right now was punch Cat Grant in her stupid, Botoxed face.

Four months ago, Cat pulled Kara aside after a CatCo staff meeting and informed her EIC that she intended to run for president in the next election. “If a Cheeto-skinned, glorified game show host can become President of the United States, I should be a shoo-in,” she had reasoned with her. In order to avoid any blind trust complications and because presidential campaigns are very expensive, Cat decided to put CatCo Worldwide Media up for sale.

Lena was greeted by an ugly-crying Kryptonian when she arrived home that night. Cat’s departure was a double blow to her wife: Not only was Kara losing her mentor, but now she had to contend with a new owner who may or may not share the same journalistic integrity as Cat. Nightmares of another Andrea Rojas or Morgan Edge-like monster lording over the bullpen kept the hero up into the early morning hours after Cat dropped her bombshell.

Lena made a solid effort to reassure her wife that everything would work out for the best but when the company was put on the market the next Monday morning, the announcement quickly led to Lena’s assurances becoming hollow promises.

By the end of the week, the bidding war for the media giant had been whittled down to three frontrunners:

Roland Daggett: owner of Daggett Industries with reported ties to organized crime in Gotham.

Simon Stagg: owner of Stagg Enterprises who was currently involved in no-less than a dozen federal investigations for improper disposal of waste generated from his chemical plants.

The final bidder was no stranger to National City or the Superfriends; Maxwell Lord: owner of Lord Technologies and an all-around asshole, who appeared to have crawled out from whatever rock he’d been hiding under.

Lena knew that none of these parasites gave a damn about the fourth estate, nor would they want Supergirl watching over their shoulders while they engaged in whatever reprehensible activities men of their caliber got up to. Lena had no doubt that they’d use CatCo to steer whatever narratives that would profit them the most; much like Morgan Edge intended to do six years prior.

Bottomline, Kara was going to be out of a job if any of those criminals got their hands on CatCo.

Kara did everything she could to talk Cat out of selling to any of them, but Cat had no other viable candidates to sell to. Kara spent the better part of ten days straight trying to get Cat to see reason but was met with failure at every turn. Lena watched Kara sink further into depression as the days passed and it broke her heart.

On day eleven, Lena had had enough of watching her wife suffer. She had Jess arrange an emergency meeting with her finance and mergers/acquisitions department heads. There was only one item of business on the agenda, did L-Corp have enough in its coffers to purchase CatCo. She knew acquiring the media giant was going to cost a lot more than it did when she stole it out from under Morgan Edge. Luckily, the answer was a resounding yes. Since regaining her position as CEO of L-Corp, Lena had led the company to an unprecedented level of profitability. A proposal was quickly drafted. The minutia of the proposal was almost identical to the last time L-Corp purchased the conglomerate, save for one big difference: Kara, not Lena, would be named CEO of CatCo Worldwide Media; not just the print media, but TV, streaming, and online content.

Proposal in hand, it took Lena the better part of the evening (and early morning) to convince her wife that she was fully capable of doing the job. Hell, she’d been doing it for the last eighteen months as Cat became less involved in the day-to-day operations. Kara’s objections to Lena spending Lena’s money to save Kara’s job were quickly shot down, “You forget darling, it’s not my money, it’s our money. We’re married, what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine, you dork.” Finally seeing the light, Lena sent her wife to deliver the proposal directly to Cat; it took her less than twelve hours to accept their offer and approve moving forward with the sale. To say that she was relieved that L-Corp, and by extension Lena and Kara, would be running the company that she built with her own blood, sweat, and tears would be an understatement.

Now, Lena sat in CatCo’s executive conference room. Kara seated to her right, Jess to her left, and half of L-Corp’s legal department bracketing them. On the other side of the table, Cat, and her legal team. Lena had been fortunate enough to avoid attending the negotiation meetings in person; instead choosing to have her attorneys there as her proxies. Occasionally, she’d join the proceedings remotely whenever her two cents was needed. Today, however, was the big day. All the principles needed to be on-hand to sign the final contracts. Lena was initially excited to finalize the deal; if for no other reason than to see the beaming smile her wife had been sporting all day turn brighter than the sun.

Her excitement was quickly tempered when they stepped into Kara’s office and were greeted by Cat with a “Good morning, Mrs. Luthor. Good morning, Kiera.” Lena would have done a spit-take had she been drinking anything at the time. For a moment, she tried to convince herself that she had misheard her. That theory was quickly thrown out the window when Cat called Kara “Kiera” three more times before they reached the conference room. By the time they sat at the conference table to go over the final details before signing, Lena was seething.

After taking several deep breaths and getting her blood pressure under control, Lena tried to mentally talk herself down from doing or saying anything rash. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard Cat address Kara by that name, but it was the first time that it got under her skin. Why? Hormones. She was five months pregnant with twin Kryptonian girls.

For the most part, the pregnancy had been uneventful; after the hell that was first trimester, of course. She’d adjusted to the rollercoaster of emotions, eating 15,000 calories a day to keep her and her baby girls nourished, and the near constant fatigue. Most days, she basked in the experience of being an expectant mother; the flutter of kicks throughout the day, impeccable hair and skin, an insatiable libido, and a doting wife that would fly anywhere in the world to satisfy her food cravings. Yep, without a doubt, the second trimester had been treating Lena well.

Except for today.

Today, her lower back was killing her.

Today, her ankles were obscenely swollen.

Today, the twins were using her bladder as a trampoline.

Today, she felt like a swollen, bloated, beached whale.

Today, Lena had a short fuse, and Cat had no idea how close she was coming to lighting it.

As was standard practice for Lena with all business-related deals, she insisted on reading the final contract cover-to-cover before signing. Although she trusted her legal team, she refused to agree to any contracts that she herself hadn’t personally vetted. Her lawyers had been with her long enough to take their boss’ anal retentiveness in stride, fully understanding that it did not reflect on the quality of their work. While Cat herself remained non-plussed by the delay, her attorneys did a poor job of hiding their impatience. Picking up on the tension in the room, Lena’s senior attorney suggested that both legal teams take an early lunch and after receiving nods of approval from both Lena and Cat, the two teams exited the conference room.

Shortly thereafter, Jess received a text that appeared to be of an urgent nature. After receiving an ‘OK’ from Kara to use the Kryptonian’s office, she swiftly exited.

Kara and Cat continued to make small talk while Lena scoured the sales agreement line-by-line; occasionally securing her black, thick-rimmed glasses when they inched down her nose. Reading the contract had managed to curb her murderous thoughts; allowing her to convince herself that she was overreacting to Cat’s flippant disrespect towards Kara. She reminded herself that this was something Kara found perfectly acceptable, and if the time came when her wife did have a problem, she was more than capable of speaking up for herself. Lena took a deep breath and consigned herself to let bygones be bygones and drop the matter altogether.

Until…

“So, Miss Grant, I assume that once you’re elected, you’ll be giving us an exclusive post-election interview?” Kara playfully asked.

“Now, now, Kiera. As the president-elect I am obligated to give equal time to all media outlets. I mustn’t show any favoritism,” Cat said in a patronizing tone as she waved her finger at Kara as if she were chastising a small child.

Fuse officially lit.

“Darling, I am simple starving. I could really go for a Philly cheesesteak sandwich from that place we found in mid-town,” Lena said through a strained smile; trying her best to hide the anger coursing through her veins.

“D’Elia’s?” As Lena had predicted, Kara was predictably excited by the suggestion.

Lena nodded. “Yes, that’s the one.” She locked yes with her wife for the briefest of moments before averting her gaze back to the contract in front of her.

Kara’s face shifted from excitement to suspicion quickly, now focusing intently on her wife. Lena knew the Kryptonian was probably using her enhanced senses to see or if something was up. Lena cursed herself for thinking she was going to be able to hide her agitation, knowing full well that her wife would hear her increased heart rate and her uneven breathing. Lena blushed under Kara’s scrutiny and offered up her best smile.

Kara clearly wasn’t buying it. “Nahn rraop voi?” she asked with concern in her voice.

“Ju nim voi,” Lena reassured her. She leveled Kara with a look that told her to drop it.

Appearing to take the hint, Kara subtly nodded. “Funyuns too?”

Lena stared at her wife incredulously with a raised eyebrow. “Is that a legitimate question?”

Kara held up her hands in mock surrender. “A thousand pardons.” She turned to Cat. “Can I get you anything, Miss Grant?”

Cat rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Please, Kiera. In all the years you were my assistant, did I ever order anything as vile as a cheesesteak sandwich?”

Lena had to suppress the growl bubbling in her throat. She removed her glasses and massaged her temples in the vain hope that she could stave off the headache that could feel coming.

“A salad with a cheeseburger on top of it is somehow different?” Kara leveled Cat with a snarky smile. A deadpan look settled on Cat’s face. Kara shook her head. “They have salads…yogurt dressing and all.”

Cat seemed to perk up at this news. “Well, in that case, I’d love a salad.”

Kara nodded and turned her attention to Lena. She bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her wife’s forehead before super-speeding out of the room; Lena anchoring the papers in front of her to keep them from scattering.

As the breeze from Kara’s speedy departure subsided, Lena let out a long breath. After quickly organizing her thoughts, she straightened her posture and locked eyes on the woman across the table, sizing her up like a lion would a gazelle. Cat shifted uncomfortably in her chair, clearly unnerved by the intense look in Lena’s eyes, yet defiantly maintaining eye contact.

“Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Luthor?” Cat said pointedly.

Lena folded her hands on the table, leaned forward, and using her well-honed CEO voice said, “I was just thinking about the remarkable difference in CatCo’s current market value compared to what I paid for it in 2017. Remarkable considering you purchased it from Andrea no less than three years ago for $250 million less than I paid for it.”

“The last three years have been very successful,” Cat said, clearly gloating. “And in all honesty, CatCo’s dismal market value three years ago was a direct result of Miss Rojas’ incompetence. The woman had no business being a journalist, she’s better suited to run some kind of multi-level marketing scam.” Cat scrunched up her nose like she’d smelled something foul.

Lena couldn’t argue, she wholeheartedly agreed with Cat’s assessment of Andrea. The woman had no concept of ethical business practices, let alone journalistic integrity. Lena was well aware that Andrea would run CatCo into the ground when she offered to sell it to her. Lena was more concerned with pissing Kara off at the time. A brief surge of guilt overcame her for the briefest of moments. Although she and Kara had long ago forgiven each other for their respective transgressions during their year-long schism, Lena still promised herself she would do something nice for the hero when they got home this evening as an unspoken “I’m sorry”; most likely something that would make her wife’s toes curl.

 “Still, it’s amazing what you’ve been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time.” Lena praised.

“Thank you.” Cat seemed pleased with the compliment…and herself.

Lena leaned in closer to Cat. “So, tell me, owner to owner, what’s the secret? How in the hell did you turn a sinking ship worth $500 million into what Kara and I are shelling out $1.4 billion for?”

The question clearly threw Cat for a loop, her eyes flitted around the room as she considered her response. “Well, you can’t be afraid to ruffle a few feathers. People don’t like the truth sometimes, but that’s the responsibility of a free press, exposing people to the ugly truths that surround them.” Cat’s smile regained its cockiness. “Accuracy is more important than expediency; being right is always better than being first.”

“I have firsthand experience in that regard,” Lena sighed bitterly.

A look of recognition passed over Cat and she nodded benevolently. “That’s right. Your mother’s escape.” Cat shook her head and snorted in disgust. “I should have fired both Snapper and Jimmy for their incompetence.” Cat quirked her head questioningly. “I must say I was quite shocked when I heard you and Jimmy were an item at one point given his…negative opinion of you in those early days.”

“I still am shocked at my utter stupidity.” Lena grimaced. “Luckily it wasn’t a permanent affliction.”

Cat said nothing in response to Lena’s lamentation and the two sat in comfortable silence. Cat’s features softened and her lips slid into a warm smile. “That whole mess perfectly illustrates why competent leadership is so important. A good EIC would have put a stop to their recklessness.”  

Thankful for the opportunity to shift the focus away from her relationship with James, Lena quickly replied, “I heard Kara tried to stop them.”

Cat’s smile took on a thoughtful appearance, a glimmer of fondness shown in her eyes. “That’s what makes her so remarkable. Even then, with only a few months’ experience under her belt, she still stood up to those jackasses. Her internal compass told her that something wasn’t right, and she refused to let her inexperience stop her from speaking up.” Cat’s look of pride was matched by Lena’s. “That’s what a competent leader does, sticks to their guns even when those in power tell them they’re wrong.”

“So, you think Kara a logical pick for CEO?”

“Absolutely,” Cat responded passionately. “Credit where credit is due, she’s been singlehandedly running the company for over a year now. She’s been performing tasks well beyond her job title and doing a damn fine job in the process.”

“So, would you say Kara has earned your trust and respect?” Lena set her trap.

“Unequivocally,” Cat said with no small amount of adoration, but her features quickly took on an aura of incredulity. “If I didn’t know any better Mrs. Luthor, I’d say you’re having doubts about putting your wife in charge.”

A feeling of pure satisfaction and anticipation surged through Lena as she now had Cat cornered, though she showed no signs of it, her poker face was impenetrable. (There’s a reason poker had been banned from Game Night, Lena could out-bluff everyone)

She almost felt sorry for the older woman.

Almost.

“No, Miss Grant, I have no doubts regarding Kara’s ability to run CatCo. I’m just confused.”

“About what?” Cat asked with an annoyed tone.

“I’m glad you asked.” The smile that spread across Lena’s face could only be described as sinister. “You compliment Kara’s leadership skills. You say that she is the best choice to run CatCo. You say that you trust her. You even go so far as to say you respect her.” Cat nodded, a look of absolute confusion on her face. “And yet, you continue to disrespect her on a daily basis, both privately and publicly.”

Cat sat silently, eyes the size of saucers and her mouth agape.

“What’s my wife’s name, Miss Grant?” Lena asked in an even tone.

Cat stared at Lena as if she was speaking a foreign language. Lena continued. “’Kara’. Say it with me, ‘Kara’.” Lena enunciated phonetically, making no attempt to hide the disdain in her voice. “K-A-R-A. If you’d like, I’d be happy to write it down in crayon for you.”

Cat was clearly flabbergasted, evidenced by her complete lack of response.

Lena took a deep, centering breath; her anger ebbing away ever so slightly. “Miss Grant, I don’t know you that well. When I met Kara, she spoke almost to the point of reverence about you. It became very clear early in our friendship that you were very important to her, so when you came back into her life, I viewed it positively.” Cat seemed to relax at the shift in Lena’s mood, her features loosened as she followed Lena with rapt attention.

Lena continued, her voice tinged with melancholy, “My opinion soured the first time I met you.” Cat looked at her questioningly, Lena rolled her eyes in response. “Our bridal shower,” Lena deadpanned. Cat gave a slight nod. Lena shook her head and continued, “As I was saying, our bridal shower was the first time I heard you call Kara ‘Kiera’. I just assumed I’d misheard you and let it go. When you called her ‘Kiera’ at our bachelorette party, I figured you’d had too much to drink. When you called her ‘Kiera” at our wedding, the only reason I didn’t cast a spell that would make all your hair fall out is because…well…it was our wedding, and I wasn’t going to ruin the day.”

Cat seemed to sink a little further into her seat as Lena listed off each slight, her face stoic.

“My favorite was the night Kara was awarded her second Pulitzer. You did such a beautiful job during her award presentation. Hell, you even introduced her using her proper name,” Lena paused, a look of mock astonishment on her face. “But no more than two seconds after she stepped off the stage, you called her by that goddamn name again!” Lena, face dusted pink, slammed her fist on the conference table, startling Cat.

Her anger rising, Lena gave Cat no time to recover as she leveled her index finger at the clearly unsettled blonde. “Kara is an extraordinary woman. She has saved this planet both as a writer and Supergirl. For fuck’s sake, she saved the universe from being wiped out of existence! Do you have any idea the enormity of something like that? I assure you, you do not.” Lena slowly rose from her seat and leaned over the table, hovering over a floored Cat. “She is a daughter, a sister, an aunt, my wife, the mother of my unborn children, and goddamn superhero for Christ’s sake! You will show her the respect, grace, and compassion that she is owed. You will commit to me right here and now that you will never, EVER, call her ‘Kiera’ again.” Lena picked up the contract and shook it in Cat’s face. “And if you fail to agree to that, I will burn this and piss on the ashes!” Lena mic-dropped the stapled papers.

Cat, wide-eyed and mouth agape once more, stared blankly at the discarded contract. Lena, satisfied with her tirade (for now), gently lowered herself into her seat. She retrieved her glasses and put them on. After grabbing the contract from its resting place on the conference table, she thumbed through the pages until she found where she left off and resumed her reading.

Lena was content to sit in silence while Cat continued to process what had transpired. She felt a great deal of satisfaction being able to defend her wife, even if it meant the deal might fall through. Lena knew that Kara would be devastated if she had to leave CatCo, and as much as Lena wanted to spare her wife from a broken heart, there was no way in hell she was going to let anyone disrespect her. If worse came to worst, they could buy a smaller publication and build from there; Lena feeling confident that any media organization run by Supergirl would garner a sizeable following, not to mention Kara’s skills as a publisher.

“Have you ever met Perry White?” Cat’s passive voice broke through the silence.

Lena set the contract back on the table, removed her glasses, and studied Cat for a moment. As far as Lena could tell, there was no trace of hostility or arrogance in Cat’s appearance. Lena had no idea why Cat was bringing up the former Daily Planet editor. Her curiosity peaked, she decided to follow Cat down whatever rabbit hole she was leading her. “No, I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure. Though I’m not too broken up about it seeing as how he was more than happy to label me as the anti-Christ after Lex was sent to prison.”

“The man was a pig,” Cat said, a slight tremble in her lips. “When I first started at the Planet as his assistant, he insisted on calling me ‘Caity’.” Cat paused, apparently waiting for some type of response from Lena; a raised eyebrow was all she received. “This went on for weeks. ‘Caity! Coffee, black! Caity, where’re my cigars? ‘Caity, get off your ass and get me some lunch!’. Until one day, I psyched myself up enough to correct him. He told me that he knew what my name was, but he didn’t care. From that point on, he started calling me ‘Caity-Cat’.”

“Did you report him to HR?” The look on Lena’s face was ice-cold, but the hint of warmth in her voice belied a touch of sympathy.

Cat scoffed, “God no. Filing a complaint against the EIC for one of, if not the largest newspaper in the United States would have been career suicide.” Lena could only shake her head in disgust, Cat nervously fiddled with her fingers and huffed, “It was a barbaric time. The entire industry was run by a bunch of testosterone-laden animals.” Cat chuckled quietly. “It’s unfortunate Perry retired before the Me Too movement, I would have loved to have watched him get skinned alive.”

Lena couldn’t help the snort that escaped her. Cat grinned brightly at her reaction. Lena quickly regained her composure and dramatically cleared her throat. “So how did you deal with it?”

 “I used it,” Cat said confidently. “Every time I heard the name ‘Caity-Cat’, I used it as motivation to push for a better career. I made a vow that I would make such a name for myself that that son of a bitch would have no choice but to show me the respect I deserved.” Lena could see a flash of steely determination in Cat’s eyes. “Come hell or high water, I would prove that I was worthy of his notice.” Cat swallowed thickly, her eyes becoming glassy.

Lena picked up on the bitterness in Cat’s voice. She could see how much the memories of her time under Perry White pained her. She couldn’t help the swell of sympathy generated by Cat’s remembrances. Whether she liked it or not, Lena felt a kindred spirit in Cat. Both had navigated a world heavily dominated by misogynistic, deplorable men who did everything in their power to ensure their failure. She understood Cat’s motivation to prove that she belonged in that world, no matter its futility.

“Did you ever accomplish your goal?” Lena asked, already knowing the answer.

 “In a way.” Cat thinned her lips, a far off look on her face. “A year after I got CatCo off the ground, I ran into Perry at some awards dinner. By happenstance, serendipity, or whatever the hell you want to call it, we went to get a drink at the bar at the same time. I said hello, and he grunted out ‘Catherine’.” Lena shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, unsurprised by the man’s apparent apathy. Cat grinned playfully, clearly feeling like she swallowed the canary. “But by then it didn’t matter. I’d grown far beyond needing his respect or approval. By that time, I had already accomplished more than that sack of shit ever could. I didn’t want, didn’t need a damn thing from him.”

Lena let Cat relieve her triumphant moment, happy in the knowledge that Cat was able to realize her self-worth without needing validation from anyone else.

“So, is that why you scall my wife ‘Kiera’? In some misguided attempt to motivate her?” Lena’s gaze bore into Cat with an intensity greater than Kara’s heat vision. “Because from where I’m sitting, it seems history repeating itself.”

Cat blanched at Lena’s assertion; a barely perceptible shiver ran the length of her spine. Cat let out a long breath before meeting Lena’s probing stare before answering wistfully. “When she started as my assistant, maybe…but I think it got to the point where I wasn’t even aware I was doing it.” Cat looked away from Lena, clearly angry with herself. She fell back into her chair with an unceremonious thud, her shoulders sagging defeatedly. “But it really doesn’t matter, still makes me a hypocrite.”

Lena answered Cat’s unasked question with a raise of her eyebrow and a slight tilt of her head.

Cat folding her hands on the conference table and leaned closer to Lena. “Please understand, I am so proud of Kara. She has exceeded every expectation I could possibly have of her. She has grown into a remarkable woman; and it has nothing to do with the cape and tights. She engenders trust and respect to a level I have never seen before. I’m used to my staff going above and beyond because they’re scared of me, but her, they do it because they adore her.” Cat’s eyes were glassy with unshed tears.

Lena’s features softened at Cat’s admission, a warm sense of satisfaction blooming in her chest. She started feeling the slight sting of welling tears in her eyes after hearing such kind words about her wife. Stupid pregnancy hormones.

There might be hope for Cat yet. At the very least, she’d avoid tasting Lena’s fist.

“Have you considered telling her that?” Lena pointedly asked.

Cat grinned sadly through trembling lips. “I feel like that ship’s sailed,” Cat said with a shaky voice. “How…when…I mean…I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

Lena didn’t even try to hide her enjoyment watching Cat ramble. “One, it’s never too late, two, use your words, and three, there’s no time like the present.” Lena motioned towards the closed door leading to the bullpen. Cat looked at the door confused. “Kara, I know you’re listening. You can come in now,” Lena said quietly.

Before Cat could react, the door opened and a sheepish looking Kara entered the conference room, two flimsy cardboard boxes filled with wrapped sandwiches and bags cradled in her arms. She set the boxes down and turned to face her wife. “I wasn’t listening.” Lena leveled Kara with an arched eyebrow in response, Kara quickly folded under her wife’s stare. “Well, I didn’t listen to everything.”

“Do tell, zrhemin.” Lena suppressed a grin.

Kara made to adjust glasses that weren’t there, quickly shifting to scratch her cheek.  “Fine. I’ve been listening since ‘piss on the ashes’”. But in my defense, I could hear your heartrate was elevated and I got worried.”

Satisfied, Lena shrugged. The color had seemed to drain from Cat’s face after Kara’s confession, her eyebrows hitting her hairline. An awkward silence followed. Cat and Lena appeared to be in a stare down while Kara tried to avoid looking either one in the eye. Lena emerged as the victor of the silent battle; Cat turned to face Kara.  Kier…Kara, I owe you an apology…”

“Miss Grant, you don’t have to apologize,” Kara cut her off with a wave of her hand.

“No, Kara, I do.” Cat took a focusing breath and swallowed thickly. “Your wife is right; I haven’t always been very nice to you. I’ve been disrespectful, callous, and sometimes, downright abusive; none of which you’ve deserved.” Kara was beaming as Cat spoke, now the third person in the room being brought to tears. “Sufficed to say, I will work harder to…be more positive with my feedback…and, at the very least, call you by your given name.”

Cat hesitantly approached Kara and after an awkward amount of positioning, embraced her in a tight hug. The floodgates opened and all three women had tears streaking their faces: Cat and Kara for obvious reasons, and Lena…well…goddamn hormones!

Kara and Cat pulled back from their embrace and messily wiped away their tears, a few sniffles coming from both women. “Thank you, Miss Grant. I accept your apology,” Kara said, a slight tremble in her voice.

Cat smiled at her warmly. “Kara, I think at this point you can call me Cat.”

Kara gasped in shock before devolving into clapping and squealing excitedly. “Ok…Cat,” she said with an overdramatic swagger.

Cat and Lena exchanged an eyeroll but didn’t comment on the Kryptonian being a spastic dork.

Cat leveled Kara with her best boss-stare, quickly pulling the hero out of her giddiness. “That is until I win the election. Then you’ll have to address me as Madame President.”

[yanderes-galore]

Maybe a platonic concept of Catherine Halsey with a darling who she views as her own offspring? Making this even worse cause she ignored her own daughter but found a new one in the form of her darling 💀

Sure! Here you go :) Hope you enjoy this! It's... full of angst.

Yandere! Platonic! Catherine Halsey Concept

Pairing: Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Overprotective behavior, Manipulation, Projection, Lucid yandere, Angst, Isolation, Trauma, Dubious/Forced companionship.

It's unknown why Halsey decided to be so fond of you.

She had a daughter with Captain Keyes and then proceeded to not acknowledge her.

She doesn't feel fit for a parent, even keeping emotional distance from her Spartans.

Halsey is incredibly intelligent, reclusive, and sort of self-centered.

She's mostly devoted to her work more than anything.

To many she seems devoid of emotions and morals due to her detached personality.

She can be manipulative due to being used to keeping secrets.

She only ever trusts herself with her work, like with the Spartan-IIs.

Halsey isn't the best person, this is seen in her experiments and the Spartan program... even if she feels guilt for it.

She was even the creator of Cortana... so their yandere types could be similar in the future.

She doesn't care what rules she has to break, as long as it yields results.

Halsey's obsession is most likely driven by her guilt.

She feels broken when she hears Miranda Keyes died during the events of Halo 3.

Even more so if you take into account the Spartan Programs and Cortana.

Maybe you work under her... and she ends up taking a mentor-like role with you.

An attempt to ease her aching heart.

You're like a fresh start for her.

Despite the fact she's considered a war criminal by many.

Her sins can't be forgiven... you no doubt know about them, too.

Halsey has her own intentions towards you... but it's hard to tell what exactly that is.

She doesn't plan on making you into a weapon like her Spartans... but she also knows she can't be a healthy parent towards you.

Halsey is lucid enough to know she could hurt you.

She isn't delusional about you... which may just make her actions worse.

Due to her guilt she just can't seem to let you go.

Even when you end up hurt through her work, she can't part from you.

She's hurt so many already... she knows that.

Despite this, she continues to focus on her work... she continues to trap you beside her.

She tries to be caring, she tries to meet your needs...

Even though you're an adult and the UNSC and ONI want to separate you two... she refuses to cooperate.

Her yandere behavior is both sad and sinister.

Sad because she doesn't want to harm you too and misses her daughter.

But sinister because she's aware of everything she's doing.

Empathy is a rare thing with her.

She's a woman of work, thinking only of the end product of her work.

She treats her obsession similarly.

She only thinks of the outcome when it comes to your bond.

Halsey knows that in the end... you'll love her too.

Yet it will take time... and pain... in order to get there.

Like most of her work....

She ignores your tears, she ignores your pleas, she just reassures you everything she does is to love you.

She treats the obsession she has for you like another study.

She holds you and treats you like a mother theoretically would.

It doesn't feel right... it never does.

You're a replacement for what she's lost.

Keyes... Miranda... the Spartans...

You are another attempt to forget her sins.

Complain all you wish... Halsey ignores it.

She wants to right her wrongs... yet the blood and tears on her hands won't wash away easily.

She's self-centered as always....

In an attempt to care for another, she may just create a repeat of the past.

One way or another she knows you'll be hurt and she may even lose you.

Keeping you locked away and under her care only causes another form of hurt.

Your attempts to reason fall on death ears.

You call to her, sitting in a glass cell, pleading for her to come to her senses.

Yet the old woman shakes her head.

She refuses to lose you like the others... so she'll protect you...

Which only hurts you and her in the process... a never-ending cycle of suffering... but at least you're safe under her care.

"You won't die like the rest... I'll be right here. I'm not leaving you... not this time."

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

I am!!!! Immensely enjoying your blog!!! Because yes yes YES by all means call out the nonsense both canon and fandom pull on Ishvalans!!! I haven't gone to check recently but when I checked a long time ago, the Ishval tag on tumblr was filled with white Amestrian Royai angst... and nary a shred of Ishvalans... BUT ANYWAYS

I don't know who the anon that talked about Scar's religious, theological, and academic pedigree because it's so so so good and I will think about it forever and also it made me think about an AU I haven't touched in a while (because not many are interested in Ishvalan centric thing, much less an OC thing I guess) and I won't rattle your ears about it here obviously I don't wanna bother you with it but man. I had this mixed OC character who's actually Miles' daughter who had Complicated feelings on him bc he was gone far too soon from her life due to getting arrested and held for who knows how long while her Amestrian mother died during that time and she just... fell through the cracks, and in that AU I characterized Miles as “yeah be a model citizen and change how Amestrians view Ishvalans :)” to his young little daughter who faced much bullying and discrimination at school, couldn't pass on any part of their Ishvalan heritage, and as a result the girl... felt insecure in her own blood and belonging and eventually finds a mentor/father figure in Scar and that ask about Scar's role in being a record-keeper and studied his people's history just reminded me of the dynamic the two had in my AU. I think I've rambled enough about my own AU despite saying I won't so I'll end the ask here but thank you for being a ray of hope for me and also hello anon I love you whoever you are!! (I might come back and maybe even off-anon!) Have a nice day, both of you!

Ahhh, thanks for the kind words! I'm always excited to hear how this blog has offered people something the fandom at large doesn't bother with. Scar and the Ishvalans/Ishbalans are so sorely ignored.

I haven't touched the Ishval tag on tumblr, but going by the abysmal results on other platforms that make Ishval and the genocide of Ishvalans all about the damn war criminals, I can't say I'm surprised. It likely hasn't gotten any better since you last checked. :/ Man even what little Scar posts and fanworks I can find often somehow revolve around the war criminals (he's just flavouring for their angst/battles/found family bonding and that content in particular tends to be mad derogatory).

:0! Oh shit, a pair of anons like ships in the night. I hope you two manage to find each other. If you're reading this, cool Miles/Scar shipper anon, you have a kindred spirit here too.

You're welcome to expound on your AU and your oc! If anything, thanks for sharing. Interesting that Miles gets arrested; had he been rounded up by the State for being half Ishvalan, or had he done something that his superiors wanted to punish or suppress? And poor kid got functionally orphaned, all while carrying the burden of "healing" the racism rampant in Amestrian society. It's perfectly in-character for Miles to teach his child that they have to prove to the world that the bigotry they all suffer is wrong, that they are 'worthy' humans all along. He himself seems to think that the racism and fascism Ishvalans are made to suffer from Amestrians is all some "big misunderstanding". That alongside the relentless bullying would mess anyone up, let alone a child.

Finding a mentor in someone who actually loves his people, and who can guide her in seeing where the true problems lie, listen to her pain, and teach her about her heritage (and how to fight) would be a boon to any Ishvalan kid. Scar would make an amazing guardian. 🥺

Aw, you're welcome! I don't know what else to say, but your message made me smile! I hope this blog can continue to be a bright spot for you for as long as you need it. Crossing my fingers that you and the other anon get to connect with one another real soon.

Hope you have a nice day too!

[wyauwu]

Ace Attorney: Kristoph Gavin

just wanted to put down some notes for a kristoph fic i wanna write whenever i need to take a break from my two pmd longfics

a compilation of four different cases kristoph gavin takes during the seven-year gap. one with apollo, one with beanix, one with ema, one with klavier (not necessarily in that order)

apollo: a month into his employment at gavin law offices. apollo's very first investigation. kristoph notices apollo's incredible skills of observation. if he didn't know any better, he'd almost call it supernatural. he was going to be quite the invaluable asset during trial preparation...apollo becomes a mainstay at kristoph's side from this point forwards. kristoph finds great amusement in making 'justice' puns. kristoph is slightly surprised that apollo doesn't bat an eye at investigating crime scenes, even though it's technically against the law. most rookies are. it's a welcome one. clay terran is the one accused of murder. gumshoe is the assigned detective. either that or (NOT PHANTOM) fulbright takes this case, and gummy shares the spotlight with ema. actually yeah i think i like that better.

ema: ema is willing to help kristoph bc he's phoenix's friend/friend with benefits/romantic partner??? she doesn't quite know what to make of them. kristoph keeps her guessing. this is the first investigation that ema's lead, so gumshoe is there as a sort of...senior consultant ig. not quite mentor. ema has picked up a bit of a smoking habit at this point. it's unbecoming of someone in the force, the smoke irritates kristoph's eyes and nose, the smell is going to linger on his suit, and not to mention the dangers of second-hand smoking...he manages to convince her to put down the cigarette in exchange for stress eating. 'wright gave me these...snackoos, the other day, would you like some?' the day ema hears about kristoph's arrest, she has the sudden urge to pick up smoking again. she won't though. people she admired being criminals? that's. fine. she's used to that. she's not going to let it ruin her. (the snackoos taste like ash on her tongue.)

klavier: klavier calls kristoph to help him figure out a particularly tough case. kristoph jokes about it being repayment for him not being able to face him down in court during klavier's first trial. klavier...isn't sure if he finds it funny. featuring: the gavinners (kristoph is fine with klavier's music career, it's quite illustrious, even if he personally isn't a fan of the genre (too noisy!) but a band? he's disapproving. too many people makes it hard to maintain perfection. and! the commercialisation of law enforcement that comes with a themed band is...well, he's not fond of it, to say the least.) a somewhat comfortable somewhat uneasy brotherly dynamic, daryan (kristoph despises his unruly conduct and lax work ethic, but begrudingly respects his adherence to code and nearly encyclopaedic knowledge of anything foreign affairs), and gavin-typical perfectionism (it runs in the family) also something to do with atroquinine? probably the murder weapon. klavier gets his inspo for his atroquinine song during this case

beanix: phoenix happens to be visiting the office as kristoph goes out for the investigation. kristoph decides to invite him along. 'why not come along? after all, it's not very often you get to relive the glory days, yes?' it's a taunt, a trap, accepting would be to invite pain into himself. phoenix knows this. phoenix accepts. homoerotic passive aggressive mental war ensues. there's definitely some clashing of investigative styles, but even if there's conflict, the unholy union of 'the turnabout terror' and 'the coolest defence in the west' when focused on one goal: finding the client innocent/the truth is merciless and unyielding. this is incredibly distressing to sebastian/eustace, who is the poor soul who has to try and hold back the veritable force of nature about to crash into and tear the prosecution's case apart, by any means necessary. kay is the assigned detective. she's excited to finally meet 'that man', but she's also confused by the whole thing that he and kristoph have going on? she thought phoenix and miles were together... whatever, she'll ask him later. (phoenix might decide to bring trucy along? i will decide that later.)

[magicalgirlagency]

Which Magical girl Villains are your MOST favorites?

Sailor Galaxia from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (went above and beyond to murder all of Sailor Moon's comrades and brought them back to life to kill the princess they've once sworn to protect);

Daruizen from Healin' Good PreCure (a genuine douchebag who felt no remorse in terrorizing a chronically ill girl and gaslight her into becoming his host);

The Trix from Winx Club (the cuntiest war criminals I have ever seen. Need I say more?);

Kishuu from Tokyo MewMew (because there's nothing worse than a guy who just won't stop terrorizing you and getting off on your despair);

Toffee from Star vs. The Forces of Evil (a seasoned general with the ability to regenerate himself with a mysterious past connected with the Butterfly Dynasty; he was kind of a monster Magneto, using his brains to achieve his goal of revenge. In the end, turns out that he was right all along);

Queen Crysallis from MLP:FiM (a dangerous parasitic bug-like beast who preys on love and affection, depleting the victim's life energy in the process);

Emperor Belos from The Owl House (a painfully realistic villain. Saw himself as a Messiah, gave magic users the illusion of free choice, orchestrated their genocide and an apocalyptic dimensional merge);

Scanty & Kneesocks from P&SwG (I love the irony of demons being more refined, polite and elegant than angels);

Finn Fish from Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne (She was the first deceitful mascot/mentor, not Kyuubey. She tricked Maron into believing she was doing the right thing throughout the entire series, and revealed herself as an agent of Satan. It's time to give credit where credit is due);

Mephisto & Praxina from LoliRock (major Jessie & James vibes from those two. Pretty curious to see how Praxina will fare as a major villain in S3, though).

[aeschylia]

OC INTRODUCTION

NAME || FANDOM || FIC NAME

ELIAS GREY || CW THE FLASH || MENDACIOUS

AGE ᝰ 23

PRNS ᝰ he/him/his

SEX ᝰ male

ORIENTATION ᝰ gay

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ jaime morgan

FACE CLAIM ᝰ mark mckenna

PREMISE ᝰ elias grey is a failure of a quantum physicist, living out of a decrepit garage and lying to everyone who has the misfortune of knowing him (it’s really just cisco). but after the particle accelerator explodes, he finds that there’s a grander fate set out for him, one wreathed in — you guessed it — even more deception. in other words: the patricidal son of a criminal joins up with a speedster from the future to save barry allen, kill the unkillable, and save the galaxy. sounds like a hero’s origin story, right? wrong. elias grey is no hero, no matter how badly he wants to be.

IN-WORLD OCS ᝰ marcus durand (damson idris), jaime morgan (mike faist), abigail grey (krysten ritter)

KRIE ORTIS || STAR WARS || TEMPEST RISING

AGE ᝰ 17

PRNS ᝰ she/her/hers

SEX ᝰ female

ORIENTATION ᝰ lesbian

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ none

FACE CLAIM ᝰ whitney peak

PREMISE ᝰ the jedi order’s final archivist is well-known for her kindness and staunch pacifism. the council’s got nothing to give a girl who was two minutes away from being reassigned to the educorps. but a rising tide lifts all ships, and a war is on, which leaves krie ortis exposed to the darkness of the galaxy. she soon finds she’s well-suited to it, and perhaps she always has been. in truth, krie ortis is not what she says she is, and the visions yoda’s been having about her future are not so heroic after all.

CAZ SOLUS || STAR WARS || WAYFARER

AGE ᝰ 20

PRNS ᝰ he/him/his

SEX ᝰ male

ORIENTATION ᝰ ace-aro

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ none

FACE CLAIM ᝰ louis hofmann

PREMISE ᝰ some things should just stay dead. the nomadic matukai order’s greatest secret comes in the form of one caz solus, with a cheerful disposition and a busted-up cleaning droid assigned to do it’s job, and clean up his messes. he’s got a sordid past that nobody can really remember, least of all him, and his crossing paths with the jedi order in the midst of the clone wars only spells trouble and absolute annihilation for everyone in sight. after all, the matukai order’s greatest secret is one that could tear the galaxy to shreds, and leave planets more barren than the dead edges of wild space.

TOBI YAMAKO || MY HERO ACADEMIA + VIGILANTES || 608

AGE ᝰ 16

PRNS ᝰ he/him/his

SEX ᝰ male

ORIENTATION ᝰ straight

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ none

FACE CLAIM ᝰ ryusei yokohama

PREMISE ᝰ you know the hero system is fucked when japan’s best vigilante is only 16 years old. tobi yamako’s been dabbling in the criminal underworld since he was nine, after a battle between a hero and a villain devastated his apartment and nearly killed his mother. with a uncommon quirk and a scathing view on hero society as a whole, he’s forcibly recruited to yuuei by hawks to save him from a lesser fate at the hands of the hpsc. what the world at large doesn’t know is that tobi’s roots run deeper thank anyone could possibly fathom.

ERIN “FITZ” MOORE || SUPERNATURAL || NON OMNIS MORIAR

AGE ᝰ 25

PRNS ᝰ she/her/hers

SEX ᝰ female

ORIENTATION ᝰ bisexual

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ dean winchester

FACE CLAIM ᝰ emmy rossum

PREMISE ᝰ john winchester’s last call before disappearing wasn’t to his sons, but to his alienated brother-in-arms, louis callahan. but callahan didn’t receive it; his protege did. and after a gruesome, unspoken altercation that put callahan out of commission, fitz can only do what she thinks her mentor would want, and protect the winchester brothers. but it turns out that there’s a cesspool of bad blood between callahan and the winchester family, and dean has no love lost for the strange girl who strongarms her way into his brotherly reunion and refuses to leave for anything short of john winchester’s safe return.

JOSEPHINE FOWLER || PRISON BREAK || SCHEMA

AGE ᝰ 30

PRNS ᝰ she/her/hers

SEX ᝰ female

ORIENTATION ᝰ straight

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ michael scofield

FACE CLAIM ᝰ adria arjona

PREMISE ᝰ fox river state penitentiary isn’t the hellhole everyone thinks it is, not since josephine fowler was hired as the newest inmate program coordinator. deadset on giving these criminals a chance at redemption and a new life on the outside, she’s gained a reputation in the prison that michael scofield scarcely predicted and can scarcely avoid in his escape plan, since his brother is apparently her number one defender. but there’s more to her than just the good samaritan act she puts on, and her interest in michael is far from romantic — in fact, it’s downright murderous.

GAEL GRIFFINS || ARROW || UNDERDOG

AGE ᝰ 27

PRNS ᝰ she/her/hers

SEX ᝰ female

ORIENTATION ᝰ bisexual

LOVE INTEREST ᝰ oliver queen

FACE CLAIM ᝰ grace van patten

PREMISE ᝰ gael griffins is a child of the glades, raised on the constant smell of smoke and swelling shrieks of police sirens. her hands are never free of blood, either by the clinic she runs or her nighttime activities as the vigilante asclepius, predating the arrow in her journey to clean up the streets of her city. but oliver queen’s unexpected return brings some equally unexpected problems, especially when her history with the merlyn family turns sour, and her relationship with oliver queen gets more complicated than it ever rightfully should be.

KAZUE DOJIMA || MY HERO ACADEMIA || APHELION

AGE ᝰ 15

PRNS ᝰ she/her/hers

SEX ᝰ amab, mtf

ORIENTATION ᝰ straight

FACE CLAIM ᝰ tao tsushiya

PREMISE ᝰ kazue dojima helps run a comic store in musutafu prefecture. a childhood friend of katsuki and izuku, she drifted away after a mysterious incident five years ago that she refuses to talk about to anyone. she’s not interested in becoming a hero. in fact, her quirk is best used in the medical field, and she’s content to become a doctor and help her cop brother out on a few cases. but her brother suddenly goes missing, and a singular heroic act on her end draws the attention of yuuei academy. suddenly, everything is imploding around her, and the only way out is backwards — the only direction she doesn’t want to go.

JUN OKUHARA || JUJUTSU KAISEN || AD INFINITUM

AGE ᝰ 15

PRNS ᝰ they/them/theirs

SEX ᝰ afab, gnc

ORIENTATION ᝰ unlabeled

FACE CLAIM ᝰ jeon jung-seo*

i’m aware that jung-seo is korean. jun is wasian. working on finding a better face-claim…

PREMISE ᝰ yuji itadori is dead, and with him died the one chance of destroying sukuna once and for all. in a last-ditch effort to kill the king of curses in the most morally abhorrent of ways, the higher-ups of jujutsu high contact one of their ex-sorcerers who fled to america. but he’s down for the count. his kid, however, isn’t. jun shows up on the doorstep less than a week later, thinking they’re in for the time of their life, getting to hone their cursed techniques ever since their dad forbid the topic years ago. but that’s not the case. jun has one directive: either find a way to clone yuji itadori, or pay for their father’s mistakes.

[anghraine]

Meanwhile: I have so much I have to do, and so much I want to do, and suddenly my brain was possessed by an incredibly niche AU fanfic plotbunny.

It's not only for the Guild Wars video games (hardly the most popular series out there!), and not only GW1 fic in particular (the first game was on a far smaller scale than GW2 and had a much smaller userbase with maybe five fics on AO3). The fic concept specifically appeals to me as a way to unfridge Althea Barradin, an NPC I latched onto in 2005 out of all proportion to her screentime and frankly how well her lines were written. But it's not only that she's an underwritten GW1 character, or even just that she's one who only appears in Guild Wars: Prophecies—the very first GW game. She's actually only alive in the tutorial zone and is a mentor to PCs of one specific class that happens to be my personal favorite, mesmers (they're elegant spellcasters specializing in chaos magic, illusion magic, and other sneaky, unpredictable stuff).

There's a cataclysmic war crime committed against your people at the end of the tutorial, and a time jump to two years later, when you discover that Althea disappeared in all the upheaval and has not been seen since. You get a quest to discover what happened to her, only to find out that the answer is "dragged off and burned alive by the war criminal invaders." The worst resolution for my teenage pixel crush :( Anyway, you briefly interact with her ghost and gather her ashes to take to her father so both of them can find some kind of peace.

BUT

I sometimes think about how Althea's father (Duke Barradin) was originally next in line in the royal succession. He has already stepped aside for a popular war hero to become king instead when GW1 starts, and there's even a quest in the tutorial to make sure he and his people are faithful to the war hero king, Adelbern. At that point, Adelbern seems to be a good stabilizing authority figure after a lot of internal conflict, but he can be a bit short-sighted and self-aggrandizing in ways that become disastrous when his subjects are massacred in a massive magical attack that devastates the land and people (even GW2 acknowledges that this was so destructive that the aqueducts ran red with the blood of his people).

Adelbern is very obviously not equipped to handle the absolutely dire situation he ends up facing. He's already snapping under this incredible strain in GW1 and disowns his adult son (and it seems only child) for rightly questioning him, only to break even further when said son dies tragically. From what can be pieced together, he only went further downhill after that, becoming more unreasonable, absolutist, and desperate until he completely lost his mind.

Meanwhile, Duke Barradin—Althea's father and the guy who got skipped over for Adelbern in the first place—seems a far steadier and less egocentric figure. He gracefully accepted Adelbern as king before the game, and serves him with loyalty and discipline for the rest of his life, rather than taking Adelbern's ascension as a personal affront or holding a grudge or turning on him in the face of his own tragedies or anything. So I occasionally wonder what would have happened if Ascalon had kept to the traditional succession and Duke Barradin had become the next king, rather than Adelbern.

The cataclysm and invasion still would happen, but I think Duke Barradin would have been more resilient and less obsessed with his personal power and authority. He seems deeply fond of his daughter and I suspect wouldn't have disowned her over a tactical disagreement. Basically, from everything we saw of this guy, I think he'd have handled this situation a lot better than Adelbern—but this is such a niche scenario that requires so much information that I didn't feel like writing it.

But yesterday I was re-reading an idle post I'd made a couple of years ago that mentioned the concept in passing and suddenly realized that in that scenario, Althea would have been the heir rather than her canonical fiancé, Prince Rurik. Instead of tragic war victim Althea whose awful, awful death in an atrocity of war matters mostly because of how terrible her father and fiancé feel about it, she would be Princess Althea, the heir to a now desperate and struggling kingdom. We'd get Althea prioritizing saving her people above everything else, while Rurik gets the horrible death that illustrates the stakes of the war.

In a way, that would even make a bit more sense, logistically. In the game, Althea is a fancy illusionist strongly associated with her theatre just outside of Ascalon City, at this point the seat of Ascalonian power. Even after all this devastation, it took decades for the Charr armies to get far enough into Ascalon to seriously besiege it (before the remaining population was reduced to undying vengeful ghosts, too). It's not beyond belief that a warband could have reached the theatre, and it's also possible that Althea might have been in a more dangerous location at the time of the Searing, since lots of people were dragged off, including children. Just a bit odd in terms of where you would expect a fancy civilian noblewoman specifically to be, even a powerful and highly skilled spellcaster like Althea.

Rurik, on the other hand, is an intimidating warrior, and he's heavily involved with Ascalon's military, especially the Ascalon Vanguard that he himself leads. There's every reason for him to be fairly near the battle lines even without expecting the Searing. The fact that he's one of the main leaders of the Ascalonian military defense would hardly save him from being sacrificed in this terrible way.

(And this might still be a better end than the one he actually gets in canon, in which he's resurrected as an undead servant and forced to serve an evil lich until you kill him for good, freeing him. Getting reduced to ash by the Charr would at least spare him that.)

Despite a certain degree of pathos, though, Rurik was always a bit annoying IMO. He is a very archetypal honorable warrior dude, not as hidebound as Adelbern nor as blind to the reality of the threat they're facing, but his personal approach still tends towards an attitude of "if hitting my problems with my sword doesn't solve them, I didn't hit them hard enough." The PCs really have to handle anything that needs more diplomacy or subtlety.

Althea, though, is a very different kind of person—subtle, tricky, versatile—so I don't think a Princess Althea would necessarily be nailed to the same path as Prince Rurik is in canon. Mesmers in GW2 canonically use their powers of illusion to make themselves appear they're in a particular place when in reality they're skulking invisibly somewhere else, which could easily keep her from being an identifiable target where Rurik was striding around a snowscape with a giant flaming sword when he was killed. I don't think the premise requires Princess Althea dying the same way at all.

I can imagine, for instance, that the AU king might send a reliable, competent, and trusted figure like Althea to ensure the refugees get across the mountains, especially if he wants Althea "safely" out of the country. But as an illusionist, Althea could definitely take precautions that were not available to Rurik, and would be expected to do so.

So there's this whole "okay, if Althea isn't killed like in canon or even like Rurik is in canon, and I manage to completely unfridge her, how does her survival and the AU in general affect the GW1 plot? What is changed about the later canon revelations of what's going on in this era from Eye of the North and GW2?"

I don't have time for this and it's so incredibly specific that it's difficult to even explain to anyone else, but it's also possessing my brain ;_;

[thenecropolix]

After playing through Hollis's Hotstreak, finishing Boss 1, and getting through the Casino Mission, I just want to applaud all the fanfic writers that did one-shots of Hollis apologizing to Raz because oh my god

At the beginning, I was quickly having a hard time liking Hollis cause of how dismissive she was, but then actually playing through the level and hearing her speech? Perfection

It makes me appreciate those fics where she acknowledges she was in the wrong, especially when the writers throw the interns into the mix... speaking of which, I can definitely see why people like the interns, but also god it was hard to see them egg Raz on and then only doing shit last second and acting all buddy buddy cause like HE'S JUST A LITTLE BOY LEAVE HIM ALONE—

Props to the voice actors and designers because I do adore their voices and character designs, but as I stated before, playing through that level makes me happy their are people who've written fics where they own up to their shenanigans

Which also reminds me: I would love to see someone explore how some of the interns mentors talk to them about what happened with the casino mission; I specifically have the idea of Compton and Sam or even Morris and Milla talking about what happened with Raz and seeing how much of an impact the little guy has had (consider the conversation with either one where they're not mad but disappointed at the two respectively)

This also relates to another idea I thought of specifically with Nona: more specifically, consider a fic where she hears about the hazing and then invites herself to give Hollis's class a demo on hydrokinesis or just honing ones powers in general and just absolutely fucks with all the interns as a lesson for messing with her pootie (bonus if she shamelessly shows favoritism for Raz); let the little old lady put the fear of God into those teenagers who are all too aware now that they hazed the grandson of a war criminal (alternatively, just consider the interns getting more work from their respective mentors as a form of punishment for doing that)

[chewbokachoi]

Tagged by @voidika and @thesingularityseries for this one - 15 Lines!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture their character/personality/vibe. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you’re free to include those as well.

I'll do Cassan and Ryu

CASSAN

"What do you mean this is weird? You didn't want it and how was I supposed to know Ryu tasked me with being the handler for a billion year old war criminal?"

"I don't got a license."

"I'm not allowed to be unsupervised in any prison or jail--that's how it is for everyone why are you freaking out I was trying to be funny!"

"Well this is certainly a step backwards down the stairs."

"I mean, yeah, I can tap into her skills, but she became paraplegic for two months before dying. No, I'm not going to become paraplegic forever, probably just a few minutes, but if I piss myself I'm blaming you."

"I blame you."

"It's magical epilepsy. No, not magical as in prince charming will kiss me magical, but more of defies all science and treatment magical."

"What do you mean I'm not allowed to bite people anymore?"

"Stupid kissable looking nerf herder."

"Your family's not going to like me, and this is if we ignore that my mentor's a war criminal and that my adoptive father's first proper sentence was 'Fuck the Lin Kuei.'"

"...Telling me he's the one who created the universe was supposed to be a deterrent?"

RYU

"So, congrats on landing halfway between tragedy and statistic."

"I'm legally barred from telling you when her next shift is. But, what I am allowed to do as the manager of this store is tell my customers they should come back and buy lots of things on a daily basis."

"Lin Kuei, Shirai Ryu--same goals as far as I'm concerned, which is how many more people can you get killed for your petty grudges."

"Please don't marry him because then I'd have to give him the family discount."

[sunnyie-eve]

3 | Can't Do It

Series: The Benefits 

Paring: Coriolanus Snow x OFC Plinth!

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: small death

| MASTERLIST |

~

As the two were out headed to the academy finally, Aurelia spoke up to Coriolanus, "I still can't believe you did all that. Normally you aren't the type of risk taker."

"Well, I wanted to show her I care about my tribute. After all, I took your advice." He glances over at her as they walk side by side.

"I didn't tell you to get into the truck to be taken off with them. I sure as hell didn't tell you to take me with you." Aurelia laughs as they enter the academy.

"But you are a risk taker, Plinth. Might I add, you got to show off Wovey and how she's just an innocent shy girl." His words causes Aurelia to grab his arm to stop him from keeping walking to class.

"Are you okay? Are you feeling well?" She places the back of her hand in his forehead to check for a fever.

"I'm completely fine, Auri. Why do you think I'm sick." He laughs removing her hand.

"You aren't yourself this morning. What have you done to the Coriolanus Snow I know. Agreeing my tribute is an innocent shy girl... you would never talk about district people like that." She eyes him not knowing if she should be cautious of him.

Snow didn't know how to respond to her. She wasn't wrong whatsoever with what she was saying. It was all a hundred percent true about him. He couldn't care less.

"Maybe you're rubbing off onto me, Auri." He slightly lies but tells the truth a bit too.

She doesn't respond to him so she just walks off heading to class with him following behind her. Entering the class everyone but Highbottom looks at them.

"Your little excursion was in violation of about five Academy rules, Mr. Snow, Miss Plinth. Chief amongst them, endangering a Capitol student." He says keeping his eyes on what he was working on.

"What? Who? Aurelia?"

"Both of you. I'm moving for the Gamemakers to disqualify you both as mentors immediately." He adds so the two look at each other at their seats.

"If I may, you said we had to get our tributes right preform, not that we had to stay away." Aurelia speaks up.

"I'll add insubordination as well."

"Hold their hands, introducing them to people, you both make it look as if we're one and the same as those animals." Arachne looks over at the two.

"Coriolanus and my sister didn't show those people anything they didn't already know." Sejanus speaks up, "That the tributes are human beings. Just like us. That's why nobody wants to watch the Games. It's because people know deep down that winning a war 10 years ago doesn't justify starving people's children, taking away their freedoms, their rights."

Dr. Gaul ends up coming in speaking up about with Coriolanus and Aurelia did saying they were good at games. And that the games would continue because of their performance at the zoo.

She ends up asking what are the games for so Snow says what he thinks while Aurelia shook her head, "My question to you is why have them at all?" She asks so Coriolanus looks at her telling her to stop with his eyes.

"My sister is right. Are they right to have in the first place?" Sejanus adds.

"You two have a problem with my Games?" She asks so Sejanus goes off on her about how they're just kids who had nothing to do with the war. "Miss Plinth, do you have anything to add to your brother's words?"

"They're innocent kids who had nothing to do with the war. Hell, if anyone was to fight to the death, I'd rather have guilty adults that are criminals do it. But that's not your way of thinking is it?"

"Perhaps the Capitol students are ill-suited to be mentoring tributes. Perhaps the Game's time has passed." Highbottom speaks once again.

"Dean Highbottom is wrong. My classmates, too." Coriolanus speaks ups so Aurelia looks at him, "Maybe Sejanus and Aurelia is onto something here. Maybe we should be viewing those tributes as human beings. I mean, you saw those kids in the zoo, they just... they just wanted to get to know Lucy Gray. If we need people to watch, we should be letting them get closer to the tributes before the Games. To make the stakes personal."

Aurelia then nods her head at him, there was the Coriolanus she knew.

"Who will watch the Games if they care what happens to the tributes?"

"Honestly, everyone would." Aurelia hated to admit it but that's how people were, "If they thought the tribute they cared about had a chance of winning."

"People need someone to root for and someone to root against. We need them to invest. And if we bend a few Capitol laws, we could even have them place bets." Snow adds which kills Aurelia's soul.

Place bets on people like a horse race? Or any race at all. Rooting for someone wasn't bad but rooting for someone to lose their life was terrible.

"I'd like you to write up a proposal of these thoughts tonight, Mr. Snow." Dr. Gaul tells him so Clemensia speaks up saying that they were class partners so she had to be apart of it.

Dr. Gail laughs at her, "It'll be an interesting test." She starts to leave then turns back around, "Miss Plinth, I expect you to help Mr. Snow. You have a way of making people care about things." She adds then leaves the class.

For lunch in line Sejanus kept staring at his sister, "What do you want? I don't agree with Coriolanus on placing bets on people." She huffs taking her full tray.

"Are you going to help him still write the paper?" He follows her to go sit down.

"I don't want to." Aurelia speeds up going to take a seat.

"You trying to fatten that poor girl up so you can finally start taking bets?" Sejanus makes it to the table.

"You think they'll give those kids a scrap if we don't give them a reason to do it? How do you think your tribute will have a chance if he can't eat?" Coriolanus tells him so he takes a seat.

"He was our classmate. Back in 2. He and Aurelia were closer than the two of us." Sejanus tells him so Coryo looks at her.

"My first kiss." She confirms what he thought.

"It's not your fault it's him." Coryo tells Sejanus.

"See, I know. I'm so blameless, I'm choking on it. My Father bought him for me, you know, at the Reaping, just so he could show me that I could never go back to 2. But being Capitol is gonna kill me."

"So do something about it." Coriolanus takes more of his sandwich to put away for Lucy Gray.

"Quite the rebel."

"Oh yeah. I'm bad news." Coryo tells him.

"Yeah, he's the one who came up with the idea to get in the truck with the tributes. I didn't plan on doing that." Aurelia does the same with food to take to Wovey.

After school a few mentors went to the zoo to see their tribute. Wovey took the food from Aurelia and thanked her. As the two were chatting Marcus went over to them, "What are y'all trying to do?"

"What do you mean? I'm being nice and caring. You know how I am." She gives him a dirty look since he ignored Sejanus.

"Well you've been in the Capitol for some time so you can change."

"I haven't for your information. Do you want something?" She holds out some food for him but he walks away.

"You know him?" Wovey asks her.

"Yeah, we used to be classmates before I moved here." Aurelia sighs looking over at him sit alone.

Suddenly Brandy and Arachne start screaming and Brandy stabs Arachne in the throat with a broken bottle she was teasing her with.

"No, no, no!" Coriolanus rushes over and Aurelia goes to help as well. Yeah she hated her but she never wished death upon her even if she deserved it.

"Oh, shit." Aurelia says as she gets in her knees seeing how the bottle was.

"Somebody help us, please!" He calls out and the peacekeepers shoot at Brandy.

As they shoot both Aurelia and Coriolanus duck down but he moves from Brandy to cover Aurelia before he's dragged off along with her. Sejanus stood alone looking over at Brady no longer breathing before looking over at his sister in the distance.

At home that same night their father refused to talk about what happened at the zoo, "I'm just glad you two are okay." Their mother looks at her children.

"Coryo cover Aurelia when they started shooting to make sure she was out of the way." Sejanus tells her.

"Is that true?" Their father speaks up.

"Yes." Aurelia nods her head playing with her fingers. "Ma, is it alright if I go by Coryo's house? To check on him?" Aurelia asks.

"That's fine sweetie. If it gets too late just stay the night there. I'm sure they have plenty of room for you."

Going over to Coriolanus place, Tigris opens the door then automatically pulls her into a hug, "I'm glad you're okay."

"Thank you, I just wanted to check up on Coryo."

"He's in his room." She lets her in so Aurelia goes to his room knocking on his door before walking in.

"Just wanted to see how you're doing. I mean she died right in front of you." She walks over taking a seat in his bed.

"I feel like it's my fault. I suggested we get closer to them."

"It's not your fault. She did it to herself. She was playing/teasing Brandy like she was an animal in a cage. You remember how some of them wanted to kill you on the truck. They hate us and you can't push their buttons. They know they have nothing to lose since they won't be going back home after the games." Aurelia gets up to go stand next to him.

"Grandma'am thinks they're all rebels and that's I'm lucky Lucy Gray didn't poke my eye out when she could."

"Lucy Gray is nowhere near that type of person. She doesn't seem like that type of girl." Aurelia disagrees with that thought.

"She told me to use her before she can use me." He looks at her.

"Again she didn't seem the type. Coryo, don't just use her. Help her and believe in her." Aurelia says they sees he had paper out and a pen, "You're already starting?"

"Yeah, I've had some thoughts after everything..." He sighs then looks back at her to see her with tears in her eyes, "Lia..." He pulls her to sit down in his lap as she starts to cry.

"I can't do this."

"Yes, you can. You can do about anything. I know you." He rubs her back.

"No, I can't watch someone die that I have to look after. I hate this." She tries to calm down so he wipes her tears away.

"As much as it sucks, Aurelia. At least you aren't in their place."

She knew he was completely right so she stops crying trying to relax then makes eye contact with him, "Don't look at me like that. It makes me feel small." She laughs wipes more tears away.

"You are small." He pitches her side and she suddenly remembers she was sitting in his lap starting to feel odd.

"I should get going." She gets up.

"Let me walk you to the door." He gets up as well and walks with her, "I'll see you tomorrow." He opens the door for her.

"Yeah, good luck on writing the paper."

"I'll just say you didn't feel well so you couldn't help me write the paper. Plus I know you want nothing to do with it." He says causing her to smile.

"You know me so well. Thank you, Coryo." She turns to leave, "Oh, an idea for the paper... a good thing for it. People can send gifts to the tributes to help them. The ones they have hope for." She adds before leaving and he was going to stop her but Tigris called for him