#just please put fucking respect on oracle's name

[papaiyatree]

ong seeing this wasn't even dramatic to me, i literally just let out a chuckle and thought to myself "this could've been avoided if we had her on the mission as oracle"

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes. Please look at tags and warnings on ao3 before reading.

Merlin

The Walls of Camelot by spqr

"Camelot will fall tomorrow,” Arthur says, on the first day of the eighth month of the siege.

DC

IRIS Log #1548 by deadchannelradio

Disclaimer From Your Friendly Neighborhood Oracle:

The following is a transcript of Patrol Communications Audio written by state of the art transcription technology, IRIS (Interpretation of Recorded Intelligence Software). IRIS was created to provide easily searchable records, automatically, and eliminate the need to transcribe each patrol audio log manually. That being said, IRIS is still experimental, and may not always be entirely accurate. - (01:25) Red Hood: (Mild static) (Out of breath, slurred) You motherfuckers. Put some fuckin-

(01:25) Batman: (Shaking) Red Hood-

(01:25) Red Hood: Shut up. Put some fucking respect. On my name. Start fucking copying me. I just got thrown fucking. Um. 40 feet. Into a fucking uh. What's it. Ditch. I'm still fucking conscious.

(01:25) Batman: Red Hood, do not move, we're en route-

(01:25) Red Hood: What'll I win if I stand up.

(01:25) Batman: (Loud) Do not stand up.

we shall be free; we shall find peace by mediant

Clark has accepted what it means to be Lex's prisoner - the pain of the Green, the experiments, the hands on it. The long years buried in its containment cell, let out only to act as Lex's weapon, as Lex's tool. It had fought back at first, but years have ground it down and away to almost nothing.

Then Lex hands it a baby. And Clark realizes that while it may have hurt humans, and lied about what it is, and it may deserve to be locked away - Kon deserves to be free.

Untamed

The Absolutely True Story of the Yiling Patriarch: A Manifesto in Many Parts by aubreyli (+ podfic)

Wei Wuxian’s hand jolts, spilling a drop of wine onto the tabletop. “Love?” he croaks, then clears his throat and tries again. “Lan Zh— uh, Hanguang-jun, in love?”

“Have you not heard the story?” the other young woman asks, looking pitying. “You must, it is a truly heartrending tale of star-crossed romance and mutual pining — go to any storyhouse in town, everyone has been requesting a reading of this book.”

“There’s a book?” Wei Wuxian says blankly.

-- In which the junior disciples (namely, Lan Jingyi, Ouyang Zizhen, and a reluctant Lan Sizhui) turn to RPF in an attempt to rehabilitate Wei Wuxian's reputation so that he and Hanguang-jun can get together and get married and live happily ever after. It's... surprisingly effective.

Clone Wars

patron saint by spqr (+ podfic)

Funerary practices? Master Ti writes back. I’m not sure what you mean, Master Kenobi. Used biomass is the property of Kamino and thus is recycled into the cloning process.

So that’s how the revolution begins—with dead brothers, but not the way you might expect.

Miraculous Ladybug

drowning (in plain sight) by buggachat

Everybody had expected Monarch's defeat to be a moment of triumph. Nobody had expected Gabriel Agreste, unmasked and mind frayed from continual abuse of the miraculous, crying out to all who would listen and making Paris certain of one thing:

His son, Adrien Agreste, is one of his sentimonsters.

And now he's missing.

Nobody can find him— not even the superheroes, and not even his closest friends. But Marinette, Nino, and Alya aren't ones to give up so easily. They'll find him, no matter what it takes.

(But, geez, would it kill Chat Noir to lend a hand?)

[iphoenixrising]

More on the Robinpile Soulmate au

You know, babes, people and their wonderful, encouraging comments on that work in progress are fucking beautiful, so.

I’m going to put a little snippet down that’s probably going to rip at your heart strings and spoil the story a bit for you if you decide to read this small bit. So, just FYI Spoiler. 

But, if you’d like a little more on how that story is going to go, welp. here you are *bows*

Note: not formatted or beta read. 

After so much careful planning and preparation, Plan C is a go. 

Robin is running over rooftops, scanning every shadow for a hint of Red Robin in Gotham. Nightwing and the Red Hood, Black Bat, Batgirl, and Signal are all in crucial parts of the city, on the lookout as well.

He, Jason, and Dick have spent weeks preparing for this, hoping their last-ditch effort would be enough to convince Tim his time as Robin hadn’t been in vain, that he was still, would always be a Bat. 

That is the goal tonight, not to try convincing him to give them a chance as soulmates because that is likely impossible, but they could start a much more important mission, to try in their own ways to give him back something they’d all taken. To try to show they knew what they’d done to him, and perhaps could start them on the road to make it right.

(He hopes there’s still a chance.)

Fabrication didn’t take long, but the coupe de gras certainly did. 

Word Red Robin would be in Gotham on the down-low gave them a chance to finally act, and Oracle promised them she would do her best to stall their soulmate until Robin could get to him.

And it’s a pang of pain, a lightning strike, when he catches up with Red on the roof of the Wallstone Apartments. The memory of the cut grapple line in the foreground of Robin’s thoughts.

“Please help,” Robin makes himself fall off his grapple to his knees, bent over, panting. “Red Robin, please.” 

(Not all of it is an act, not with how hard he was running to get to Red before he vanished into the city.)

The older vigilante kneels by him, out of immediate reach. 

“Where?” Is Tim’s Red Robin voice, a hand almost reaches out, clenches tight at the last second to draw back, and Robin sees the aborted move, has a flare of hope.

“Cannery Row–” and Robin rocks to the side, looks up at that closed expression, dares to let the fluttering in his chest give him strength.

Hands and arms around him, steady him, pull him up on his knees. He thinks about the grip Red Robin has on his shoulders to hold him up, how tightly Tim is able to hold on. A finger taps his mask so the whiteouts slide up, taking away some of his nightvision. He’s not concussed, is perfectly fine, but through his research, an injured (seemingly) teammate in need is one of Tim’s weaknesses. 

“Robin–”

“We need you, there is too much happening in the city tonight. We are all stretched too thin,” and there is nothing but the truth in his eyes, his demeanor, the way his gloved hand tightens in the cape over Red’s shoulder. 

“All right, stay here, call Hood or N to pick you up–”

But Robin staggers to his feet, “I can’t. I must get you to the safehouse. Everything we need is there.”

He keeps himself from a triumphant bellow when Red Robin paces him to the edge of the roof, grapple already in hand. 

Luckily, Cannery Row is close enough they don’t have to go far, just their past hanging between them, the connection that’s agonizingly cold and silent even when they’re side-by-side. 

Robin lands it this time on the roof of the familiar warehouse. He taps the comm unit on as he touches down, hopes Red won’t notice. 

They climb through a service elevator shaft, the two of them prying open the doors once they hit the underground floor. 

“Give me the details,” Red’s whole body tense as they lower themselves down into the darkness.

“Black Bat is in the Central Business District, Hood is by the Iceburg Lounge, Nightwing is in the Diamond District. Father is tracking down leads for a case, Batgirl is on her way to the Steel Mill. We still have no coverage for the situation in the City Hall District, but you cannot go alone.”

When they get the doors pried open, when Red Robin was close enough for his cape to brush against his, the underground is revealed in shadows, just as he, Jason, and Richard left it a few hours earlier.

(This is a newer Batman Incorporated holding. Robin is banking on the fact Tim might not know this, his heart starting to beat harder, faster when they get closer to the first stage of Plan C.)

The lights kick on as planned, and in the large expansive floor, a drop-cloth-covered something waits.

That’s all.

Red Robin is looking around for anything, searching for traps, evidence, something to give him an idea of what he’s walking into, back pressed against the elevator before he starts to step out. 

His vigilante instincts aren’t going crazy, but he stays close to the shadows as he sneaks out, leaving Robin behind in the elevator shaft to stay or follow.

(Where Damian has the next step in the plan waiting, a duffle bag he’d hidden in the panel of the elevator shaft. He’s fast and silent, throwing off his gloves, gauntlets, cape, and utility belt–)

His instincts still aren’t blaring dangerdangerdanger and his wrist computer isn’t picking up any foreign tech when Red Robin finally gets to the drop-cloth with a frown, wondering if they’ve come across a piece of shady tech or something. 

Which is really the only explanation for why Robin would come to him at all, everyone else busy in Gotham notwithstanding. 

He grips the cloth and pulls hard, muscles tense for whatever fuckey waits for him underneath. 

When he gets an eyeful, his knees go terribly weak for a long painful moment as he stares at–

The Red Bird.

“Oh...fuck,” because his eyes are instantly hot and full, making him blink rapidly behind the whiteouts.

And it gleams in the overhead lights, red and black and shiny, looks like it did the day Bruce showed it to him in the Cave, ready to tear into the night. 

His chest hitches and the possibility this could be a cruel joke hits him hard enough to choke.

(It’s because he rejected them. This sick shit is because he refused to let bygones be bygones.)

“Open the door, Tim. Everything you will need tonight is ready for you.” 

It’s Dami’s voice echoing behind him, not Robin’s, and Red can’t bring himself to look away, too many things churning in his brain pan around the shock and anger and regret and grief. It might be stupid for him to reach out, to make his wobbly knees work, to open the door with a bigger hand than the last time he did this. 

The inside is immaculate, even after years of disuse that Red Robin has to wonder how and why and what the absolute fuck is happening here?

But on the seat, folded neatly with all the bells and whistles, the shuriken R on the red tunic gleams bright in the halogen glow. His throat gets tight when he realizes it’s his original red, gold, and green–the colors of joy. 

The colors from the best years, before it all started to go horribly wrong.

A noise comes out of him, something low and pained before he can rein it in, before he can remind himself he’s already moved past the point this should still mean something. 

(But it does, it always has, it’s always meant so much, especially back when he was just a kid in a silent, empty house. It meant he had a place, a purpose, a presence at his back when things got to be too much, too overwhelming.)

And it’s stupid how helpless he is, how some part of him –small and weak as it is– can’t stop himself from reaching out to touch, to grab, to try to hold the fuck on.

(Not because of the name itself, never that, but everything he’d lost the second it had all been taken away. A final nail in the coffin, back to being that boy in an empty house.)

When he reaches for the suit, he holds it in both hands like he’s seeing things, chest stuttering on a breath when the scent of new leather and Kevlar proves he hasn’t been drugged or the sleep dep severely fucking with him. 

Stepping from the shadows, no longer in Robin but a black suit of some nameless ninja, Damian Wayne is holding the hood and face covering he’s going to wear for the night, waits until he sees how his soulmate will react to this possibly disastrous plan. 

He takes careful, tentative steps closer, taking in the hunched shoulders, bowed head, reaching into the Bond when it is ice cold in his chest.

“Wh-what the fuck is this?” Hoarse and painful from his, their Tim. And Dami’s hands automatically reach out in desperation to comfort before he remembers himself and hesitates. 

Even if the Bond on his side is closed, cold, silent, Damian breathes in and attempts to send calming, soothing feelings, tries to let his own emotions, his hope, his affection, his protectiveness, his respect, his reverence for this man be available should the Bond at any moment open even slightly. 

His soulmate’s rigid control to close himself off from them comes from years of training, of trying to protect himself is such a point of pain that some part of him thinks the three of them together could crash through if they tried, could break down those walls by force. 

But he’s here tonight, had worked so hard with N and Hood and Father and Batgirl and Black Bat and Oracle to plan it all, set it all up, because he’s different now, has learned what his actions had cost him, has realized he can’t go back to the old ways. 

Instead, he hopes they will have this last chance, will give Tim enough reasons to open up without fear, without pain.

(“It started with taking the cape,” Dick thinks aloud once the three of them are together after a long night, finding comfort, “he thinks he was kicked out of the family, so...this shouldn’t have been about soulmates in the first place.”

“I do not understand, Beloved,” Dami yawns, buried himself deeper against Jason’s chest.

“It’s not about gettin’ him like that, Sweets,” Jay replies, stroken a hand through his hair. “Might never happen…” 

“But, we could give him back some of what we took. He could finally come home again–”

Dami’s eyes open, “we...could give him back his place in the family. Or at least try to do so. Is that what you are saying?”

“Hm,” Jay grunts out, arms stealthy when he wraps them both up, rolls to put himself in the middle, “sounds like we godda last resort, now don’t it?”

“We’ll call it Plan C since it’s our last chance.”)

Plan C, indeed.

“Tim,” and he gives them only a few feet of space, no domino, no hood, no face coverings, no masks, holds up both hands in what he hopes is a peaceful gesture. 

Red Robin spins with a growl, muscles tense in fight or flight, ready to throw the fuck down because why fix up the Red Bird and bring it here of all places? What game is this? Haven’t they broken him enough?

But Damian isn’t in the tunic he was wearing less than ten minutes ago, and Red Robin stops cold at the obviously planned costume change.  He takes a careful step away from the very familiar suit Damian is wearing now, one that looks crazily like B’s when he was Tengu, trying to get himself back enough to take the cowl from Jean-Paul back when shit was crazy but even then he still had Nightwing at his back and–and…

What is wrong with him? He hasn’t thought about any of this in years. 

But still. But still, his eyes go to the gleaming Red Bird, and those better times well up from within, a place so deep, he’d convinced himself he’d left all of it behind. 

(Nightwing and Spoiler, school and the Cave, new baddies in Gotham to throw more crazy into the Rogue Gallery mix, teenage angst and sidekick wins, people at his back and front even in the worst of times. Being Red for the Titans was good, so good, but not ever the same. Not like it was when he was that Robin.)

He’s still holding the tunic in both hands, fists clenching it tight like something would have to pry his hands open to take it away (again) when what he really needs to do is throw it back in the Bird and get the absolute fuck out of here. Because this isn’t his anymore, apparently never should have been if the last few years were any kind of indication on the Tim Drake policy. 

“This is cruel, even for you,” is snarly and low, is simmering anger trying to cover up old pain, pissing him off even more because he’d finally gotten to the place where he could forget for a while. 

(And he’ll get there again. Even after all this.)

He makes his fingers unclench, throws the tunic back on the driver’s seat, but none of that covers up how hoarse his voice is, how tight his chest feels.

Dami just moves one hand, slowly pulls out his phone, thumbs the pass code to unlock the screen, and turns the device around to show Red what’s doing on the main screen.

His brain doesn’t process the image that’s him, one of the few existing pictures from years ago when he was still with Young Justice, the one of the core four making stupid faces, torn up from whatever space battle they’d just come back from, half-insane with sleep deprivation and injuries, only back to the planet for moments to celebrate not dying with pizza and Zestis, arms thrown around each other with rips and bruises and blood still staining the uniforms.

Why the fuck it meant something to Damian is the real question. 

“I was wrong, when I came to the Tower,” Damian takes a tentative step toward him, still holding the phone out like a distraction that was really a message. “I told you I wanted to know this man you are now. The man that is one of my soulmates. However...however, I was wrong, Tim. You were my soulmate even back then. You were mine, and even if you weren’t, you were already part of the family when I came to Father, and I did not even give you a chance. I did not see how important you were, what lengths you went to make that symbol your own.  I was terrified, young, foolish, but that is no excuse. What I should have been doing all this time is learning who you were back then before I attempted to approach you. Only by knowing that boy could I hope to understand this man.”

Wait, what now? How is this happening right now? All the awful things he’d secretly wanted to hear from the blood son, another chosen one. Another crux of his tangled emotions.

“I already told you I don’t need fucking soulmates. I rejected you.” He bites out, trying to breathe, trying to shove those emotions back down where they belong, trying to pretend the sight of the car, the tunic, the things he used to call his own, can’t touch him anymore. 

(But it still has power, so much fucking power to break him down to this, that scared kid in an empty house.)

After all these years, he’s moved on...right?

“I know, Beloved,” Dami puts his phone away, green eyes never leaving Red Robin’s tense form. “But this? Tonight? This has nothing to do with soulmates.”

Which is absolutely not what he expects to hear.

“Tonight is about my predecessor, Beloved, not my soulmate. This is for the Robin that stood in Gotham before me,” and it’s gentle in ways Red Robin never imagined Damian could be, not with him. “This,” and Damian sweeps a hand over the car, the suit, “is for the brother we never should have driven away. The one who gave this name his own brand of honor and power, the one who carved a place for himself in the family. Not as the third Robin in line, but as the first Tim Drake.”

Red Robin’s hands fall enough to be less of a threat. Other than that, he isn’t moving, is listening even if it’s grudgingly, even if it’s with disbelief, even if it’s with skepticism, and Damian smiles softly, so softly, at this beautiful, broken man before him.

“My place?” Is hoarse, a warmer edge that isn’t blank coldness, isn’t so much control. “In case you missed it, my place hasn’t mattered in the last few fucking years–”

“Hasn’t it?” And Dami’s eyes are so green, dark jade that catches in the light, easy to pick out. “Hasn’t it mattered?”

The obvious drawback is an opening, a misstep in the detective’s assumptions that Dami takes the opportunity for what it is.

“I know how it must seem,” and he makes himself stop stepping forward when every instinct in his body screams to approach, to reach out, to take this man in his arms, to whisper endearments, to apologize until the tears dry, until Tim’s arms can unlock, until he can start with the smallest measure of belief with splashes of powerful violet.  

“I know the years we’ve let you draw further away. I know there’s been disdain and cruelty until that’s all there was between us. And I did not choose to acknowledge it, my wrongdoings. It was easier to hide, Tim, just as it was for Jason and Richard and Father. We were cowards, but not once in all these years have you ever been simply forgotten.”

And here is where preparation for their detective is perfectly done when Damian whips out his utility belt computer and quietly holds it out, his hand trembling ever so slightly.

The evidence is there in clips of Todd sneaking into a familiar penthouse apartment with a bag of coffee in hand or taking a First Aid kit from under the kitchen counter to restock it, it’s there when video shows Richard in the Batsuit, in Nightwing, in Officer Grayson, in workout clothes, in jeans and t-shirt with both hands always pressed to the glass case with Tim’s first Robin suit, it’s there when Father sits on the bed in Tim’s old room over the years with a familiar shining, shuriken R flipping over the fingers of one hand. It’s there in the attempted hacks of Titan’s Tower when the Batcomputer pings with alerts of a bad fight for the Titans. It’s there in all the protocols when Ra’s starts movement against Red Robin, when their worst enemies are cataloged to the nines and contingencies from each member of the Batfamily are so obviously ready.

(With some pride in himself, Dami is the one that came up with the plan to take down Brother Blood, while Jason’s shoot-now-ask-questions-later is crucial to dealing with The Light. Grayson’s  experience with the Fearsome Five, Father’s methodical touch to deal with The Insiders.)

It’s there in the smallest details they’d silently done over the years (these things happening without the need to point out how necessary and does Damian ache with the knowledge how easy it could have been to reach out so many, many times), could be enough at a glance to start the seedlings of doubt in Red Robin’s firm belief his place has simply been forgotten.

And Damian hears it in the catch of breath, a soft inward draw. He can’t see behind the whiteouts of Red Robin’s mask, but he hopes, hopes there might be a spark of indecision.

“You were never forgotten.” Gently, Damian reaches out slowly, just enough to close gloved fingers over the screen. “But, you don’t need to hear it from me, Beloved, you need real proof and that we shall provide tonight. Get changed. You’re needed.”

Conflicted as fuck, Red Robin processes as much as he can in that few minutes, muscles in his shoulders unbearably tight. “I’m not going to just patrol with the Bats, especially under your name.”

“It is not as simple as patrol, I’m afraid. We have several Arkham escapees, a possible gang war, and several other take downs lined up,” which is the absolute truth. “I did not lie when I said we needed your help with the overwhelming criminal activity in the last twelve hours.”

Carefully planned twelve hours for one night they’ve been putting into motion for months. 

With the computer in hand, feeling more vulnerable than he’s felt behind the mask in years, Red Robin grits his teeth because only the Bats can do this to him. “I can still help the hell out without the bullshit emotional manipulation. Let me guess, this is Dick’s idea.”

“All of us had a hand in it, actually. The Red Bird itself was my idea. Jason and Father helped to restore it to its former glory. Dick, however, had the idea to make it authentic with the suit.”

“Do you even know how messed up this is for me?” Tumbles right out when he wants cold fury, when he wants to snarl at the obvious manipulation at play–

(while being stupidly impressed they actually seemed to know him to put all the pieces in place, make him play right into their hands with a well thought-out plan. Fuck.)

“The point of all of this, Tim, is to give you one last Robin Ride.”

Cue being at a total loss here because what multiverse did he fall into? Seriously, this can’t be his world, not when those words popped out of Damian’s mouth, and along with it, so many possibilities looming right in front of him.

At the same time, dread crawls up his throat, spills bitter into his mouth.

“Even if you never want us, we will, as you said, learn to live with it.” Damian fights to keep it neutral as just the thought of continuing on in this way as they have for weeks, always aware of the empty spot where their fourth should be, makes him cold all over. Still, this cannot be for them, not if they are serious about setting things right in the only way they can. “Even if that is the case, Tim, I...we. We still want to give you this,” his hand sweeps over the Red Bird again.

Because it’s all so much in one go, things he never thought he’d hear, never could have thought would be offered. Unconsciously, his eyes go to the gleaming fender behind the whiteouts. “None of this is– I brought the Bird back years ago so B could remake it for you.”

And Dami chances one more step closer, “but it is yours, Tim. Father made it for you, to keep you safe, and it will always be yours, Robin or not. It should have been given back to you long before tonight, and for that, I apologize.” He tries smiling just a little, “but, better late than never as they say.”

Red’s got nothing for that, for any of this, stares helplessly while Damian pulls on the hood and face covering, only his green eyes visible. 

Red’s jaw is tight, clenching down because he finally gets it. He isn’t going to wake up in the Tower, asleep at his workstation, thinking this is a terribly embarrassing message from his subconscious.

“You will need this,” and Damian holds out a hand again. This time, a Batcomm rests in his palm. “The others are waiting for you, Robin.”

“I-I can’t–” because this is fucking real, this is really happening. As much as he’s sure Damian is bullshitting him about this not being a soulmate thing, his eyes are still getting hot, his chest aching, his throat tight. “I can’t do this.”

“You can,” Damian counters gently. “We...I owe you this. Dick will argue he does also. Jason as well. We cannot give you the things we have taken, not completely. As much as I wish we could change things, overcome our own insecurities to remind you that you will always have a place…” Dami sighs, “we cannot go back, either. Not really, but in order to go forward, we can give you the proof you need to see you have always had a place. So, just for tonight, Tim, be our Robin again.”

Damian doesn’t give him time to formulate a reply while he feels like he just got fucking stabbed hearing that out of the current Robin’s mouth. 

“This is wrong, this isn’t–”

Damian lays the Batcomm on the top of the car and slowly backs away, melting into the shadows.

“On the contrary,” echoes around him and the lights go out in the underground, only a section of them lighting up the Red Bird. “This may be the one thing we’ve gotten right.” 

The flutter of paper he hadn’t noticed is on the ground from where he’d tossed the old/new suit. 

The chime on his wrist computer is a surprising upload of locations in Gotham pinging his algorithm, indicating a little vigilante action wouldn’t be amiss. Damian apparently wasn’t lying about too many fires and too few Bats. But, there’s too much happening in hot spots, and he won’t make the most crucial if he’s swinging. He needs a Ducati or–

His eyes go back to it, another symbol of his best days. Back when he could call himself a Bat, and it wouldn’t have been a lie.

Under the mask, Tim Drake breathes out, shuttering through the old pain that lights up his brain pan. 

He could turn right the fuck around and walk out of this warehouse with his heart still in check, with his emotions back under control. He could reject this attempt as sure as he’s been rejected for years. 

But the tiny part of him that’s always mourned the loss of his tunic is a stronger voice this time, and his hands twitch in his gloves before moving to pick up the discarded suit again, to look at those short sleeves, the green gloves, the shuriken R that was his design – not Damian’s or Jay’s or Dick’s but his. 

The suit blurs and Red Robin realizes it’s because his eyes are spilling over behind the whiteouts.

[lilyclawthorne]

Escaping Expulsion Thoughts (once again very stream of conscious-like while i rewatched the episode so there’s a bunch of stuff here)

i fucking knew odalia was gonna be an oracle, i knew and i hate that for her family. i’m not sure if this necklace thing is specifically a form of oracle magic or not but im assuming it is, and either way the second i saw it happen that made my stomach twist. the fact that she just keeps this direct line to her daughter at all times feels so disturbing

so, i get that the joke with glyph lessons here is that eda and lilith are probably acting the exact same way they did when they were younger, but it does also feel a little odd for me. in my post for episode 1 i talked about how it felt like lilith probably missed the structure of the coven, and maybe even having an authority figure, and it does concern me a bit that it could be projected on to luz here. 

also, i saw someone mention that they thought lilith could be regressing a bit, which is interesting seeing as she’s been in the coven since basically being a child and now that she’s out, she could be going backwards because that was probably the last time she had a personality of her own instead of one that was carefully crafted to be socially acceptable for others. and to be fair, the few moments in season 1 when we see glimpses into the true lilith, she is pretty childish.

anyways lilith has such pretty handwriting i love it

gus!! witch puberty!! do not worry buddy eda will get your name eventually. probably.

amity went out and murdered those fairies for luz didn’t she

i need to know why the heck bump has no choice in the matter of the expulsion. typically a pta (or pca in this case) wouldn’t have power that much stronger than the principa?? so i wonder if the blights have something over bump, or if its even just something such as donation money they’d withdraw

odalia blight you gaslighting bitch “I’m appalled you’re not in class right now what are you thinking” YOU MADE HER COME HERE

PLEASE i know gus and willow are sad here but the whole “live off the land” thing and “water you one last time, with my tears” are so fucking funny ok

GO LUZ, YOU TELL OFF ODALIA

i feel like alador doesn’t really care what’s going on and just wants to be back home making his abomination inventions, also he seems to have an affinity for different creatures as well which is an interesting detail

i love that willow stated they would get back in on their own right in front of alador and odalia. these people fucked up her friendship and caused her a lot of trouble that she shouldn’t have had to deal with so i love that she’s unafraid to speak like that in front of them

between the first & second episode, and some of the seasons trailer, it seems like Lilith may have an affinity for ice magic? which is interesting seeing as eda was always a fan of her “spicy toss” aka some fire magic. interesting to see the two of them as fire & ice basically

i LOVE how much bump loves luz, willow, and gus. it’s kinda really sweet, but again it feels so concerning that he had no choice in the matter. makes me think he’s more likely to eventually rebel against the standards that have been in place for so long at some point. (also abominations coven for bump!! interesting!! i appreciate seeing the coven marks included on the adults so far)

what is it with these kids and being dragged off by their hoods in this episode

love that the blights address includes “right arm”, also i took a quick look up of the word “bruegal” which is boulevard they live on, and it’s probably just a coincidence but the first google result was actually for a european think tank that specializes in economics

yknow i actually have wondered about layering glyphs on top of each other and making a super glyph the way eda did, so good to know that would NOT work out

luz you’re really gonna give the blights their own flowers??????

it goes by so fast but please take a moment to take in and appreciate the design of that blight entry room/living room-esque area and it’s combination of abomination and oracle decor. also the blight family portrait.

i could talk about alador and odalia and their relationship dynamic here, when luz is meeting with them, but i think it’s best to save for the end, but i will say i don’t think it’s just odalia controlling everything (though she does control a lot) and alador just suffering and being silent. 

the more i stare at odalia’s hair the more i feel like she has an odd receding hairline

love that the abomination kept the cat shape luz gave it and that amity knew immediately from that

WILLOW’S DADS!!! I LOVE THEM! I love how much they want their daughter to have a great education even if they have to be the ones to do it! (even if it could come across as a little intense) Although, the fact that they’re prepared to teach plant magic to her makes me question why they put her in abominations once again. (wish we could’ve gotten a glimpse of their coven marks!)

odalia is definitely the one who handles more of the parenting and alador is more distant. at least that’s what i get based on the twins specifying to amity not to tell their mom specifically

absolutely insane that odalia is just letting the abomiton destroy the whole place to kill a child

“stay away from my luz!” oh my god,ohmy GOD 

i like how lilith can’t tell if these are normal noises or distress ones. really sums up life in the owl house. also lilith? kicking doors in?? this combined with “I AM A WITCH, UNHINGED” tells me she’ll be as chaotic as the rest of the owl house in no time and i am here for it.

the music when amity jumps in to protect luz is absolutely killing it here i need a soundtrack now

YES AMITY DESTROY THE NECKLACE (and oh god please don’t let odalia give you something even harder to remove or destroy)

Luz is blushing!! The feelings are starting to be returned!!!

“Luz, Willow, and Gus are my friends!” love it. love the open declaration. love that she’s telling her mother off. love that i have something to check off my bingo board already.

okay, i know a lot of people have already suggested that alador is smiling here because he can tell luz and amity like each other, but i’m pretty sure it’s only because he’s noticing how much amity’s magic has grown and improved

small detail but i love the smoke from the units order sign filling the background while odalia is fuming herself

oh? alador has had the ability to tell odalia off and successfully calm her down this whole time? and chose not to use it till now? yeah he sucks too. he very clearly has a plan for amity as much as odalia does as well, but he’s much better at seeing the long-term goal

“the glyph combo, copyright me, lilith” im screaming, lilith you DORK

ok i really wish eda or lilith asked where luz had been. i’d kill for these sisters to go off about how much they hated the alador and odalia in school, as well as threaten to hurt them for hurting luz.

the statue lilith made and her reaction to the gold star she received re-emphasizes my concern about her need for approval and for an authority figure. (ok but her noise at the gold star WAS very cute tho)

alright lets get down to business on the blight parents. so far i definitely do not view their relationship as being one-sided with odalia in control. honestly, i think they do have a sense of mutual respect for the other. to me it seems like all alador really wants to do is focus on his work and nothing else, and odalia seems not only more than happy to let him do so, but willing to take care of everything else the company needs, and he seems fine with that and going along with whatever because he only has to do his part. and clearly his abomination tech combined with her showmanship/advertising (and honestly probably some oracle magic) has clearly made them successful. 

so what im saying is that i think their power in their relationship is actually pretty balanced, if it looks otherwise that’s just because that’s how they best function together, with odalia being more forward and alador being more distant, and therefore they’re very much both to blame for shitty parenting. 

also I know some people have joked about the blight family name coming from odalia (which is also a dumb joke like why is it funny if the family name comes from the woman and not the man) but anyways I definitely do think blight is aladors family name and odalia married in simply because he takes the whole blights keep up their end of the deal thing much more seriously than odalia. probably something that’s been taught to him since he was a kid yknow, whereas she was super ready to ignore it when it inconvenienced her.

as for the very final scene with them and the golden guard, i had an interpretation of it that i saw, but it seems that everyone else ive see react to it so far saw something different than me so maybe i’m just plain wrong. but like, i have this feeling that maybe the blight parents, while they do want power, might not be as aligned with the emperor and his coven as we may think?? not saying they’re good people, just that there could be more going on here. but idk, i’ve seen no one else interpret it that way yet so i won’t go off about it unless either someone wants to know more of what i thought or if i ever actually make myself get around to making a separate post about it. 

[lilyharvord]

Just reread queen song and now I’m depressed 🤪✌️ I’d love to hear your thoughts on Coriane. You always have such in depth thoughts about everything and you are the RQ fandom Oracle/ source of head cannons and I love everything you do. So like yeah what do you think about her and her entire story basically. Kisses

I apologize, but this answer is about to be like this:

Coriane is my baby. I regret that I have treated her so poorly by not working on Song to the Phoenix like I should be. She deserves so much, and deserves to have her story told. I love that we got a novella about her, because what people may or may not know from my past posts about her: I think she is one of the 4 most important women in the series and she's dead before it even begins. Everything Cal does in War Storm (and even in the rest of the books) is shaped by her. Mare actually says at one point in Red Queen that both her and Julian are holding onto her like she is some ghost of Coriane, and that is so fucking telling throughout the first book. Also Her portrait being in the outer room of Cal's chambers in WS, Julian's reaction to it, CAL'S reaction by putting it in that room and not with him. Her Diary coming back (while being the biggest fucking plot hole I've seen since whatever the heck SJM was doing in all her books) is so freaking important. The fact that at the end of the day, it is her words that push Cal to make the decision he has been desperately seeking validation for, is without a doubt the most profound shit ever.

I also thinks she's a wonderful foil for Elara? Because both she and Elara in War Storm get to speak to their respective son's from beyond the grave (whether VA meant for us to notice this is beyond me, whatever, I did.), but we can see how there are two very different tones being used:

Elara's=manipulation, power, violence which ultimately leads to Maven's downfall.

Coriane's=peace, compassion, love which ultimately leads to Cal's survival and the survival of Norta/The States.

She IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTER (besides Mare, whose story RQ belongs to) because HER Story is what initiates everything. Her marriage to Tibe is what drives Elara to unfathomable, horrible violence (by driving Coriane to suicide) and then taking the throne. The birth of HER son is what drives Elara to have Maven and push him to be everything Cal is while physically pulling him apart and destroying him thereby creating the villain of the series. She is the perfect foil to Elara. And IT GIVES ME NEVER ENDING PLEASURE TO KNOW THAT.

I will DIE on the hill that if she had lived, there never would never have been a war with the Guard. She would have pushed for them to be noticed and heard. She would have been put out by Mare at first, but in time would have learned to respect this young woman with a backbone of steel and an eye for trouble. She would have stood by Cal and any decision he made to abdicate.

She was never allowed the chance to be strong, and in the moments she tried in Queen's Song she wobbles. She has 0 self-assurance because no one bothered to give the poor girl any. Like holy shit, dont even get my started on my thoughts that Tibe practically uses her like an ornament. If he actually loved her, he would not have married her knowing what she went through, knowing she wasn't the happiest person. Like holy shit. He put a massive bright red target on her back that said; Hey, please chew me up and spit me out. And didn't do anything to help her handle that. Jesus I hate him for that. Julian is terrible too! He just said: welp, sorry. AND KEPT HER ASS IN THE DARK ABOUT THINGS SHE DESERVED TO KNOW ABOUT??!! UGH.

Since it's taking me forever to get ANYTHING done for Song of the Phoenix I will tell you that there is a part, where Coriane actually tells someone (not be named because well... eh fuvk it... it's Tibe) to shut up and listen to her for just once, and the whole room goes silent and she just squares her shoulders (even though it terrifies her to be standing up to him) and pretty much tells him that she knows more and that if he knew anything, he would know to shut up and listen to her unlike how he acted when they were married. And Mare is over in the corner pretty much standing up on her chair waving glowsticks, shooting a confetti cannon, and holding up her drink like YOU GO BITCH.

Coriane's main goal in SotP for me is not only self-actualization but also self-assurance. Now, this by no means cancels out her depression, or the hole she was in, but it can help her deal with it. She deserves to feel and be strong, unlike all the characters in Queen's Song (INCLUDING TIBE) who made her feel lesser or smaller. I think if she were allowed the space to, she would have become a great Queen, a compassionate, powerful Queen who would have raised a son that she would have been incredibly proud of. But alas, tis not what her story was and that is what makes it all the more tragic. Her depression is strong, and she was never giving the chance or the people around her to make her stronger than it.

[syubub]

Hoseok soulmate reading

Let's get the disclaimer out of the way: This is for entertainment purposes only and shouldn't be taken as fact! This is my interpretation of the cards.

Oki. Before we begin I must say... I put this off as long as possible. For those of you who have followed me for a while, you know that hobi is THE HARDEST to connect with and tbh this was no different. I'll probably revisit this reading again at a different time (you'll see why)

So. To start things off... Hope has some.. strange(?) energy. His energy was really vague and weak. The color too is intresting because its 100% not a color I've ever seen and I'm not sure if something is afflicting the color of his energy? Its ruby red but also deep grey blue? Its really strange and honestly pretty but it doesn't feel like the normal color? The color is usually a nice red with some deeper hints but...Its usually a bit more... lively? It just feels dull right now.

It looks like this right now but with a little more red? Its really peculiar.

Now. Idk maybe some shit is going on with him right now? Or maybe bc there was a fuckin lunar eclipse in Gemini last night? Idk but the energy was a little.. hostile. That's not a bad thing but it kinda felt like he was being broody? Its all really strange but he was not very into the reading (more so than usual) blah blah he didn't want to talk and I asked some questions I probably shouldn't have and some stuff happened. Long story short his soulmate(?) Showed up and pushed our foreheads together so we'd have to connect.

I asked his soulmate if they could tell me what the fuck was going on and they said that they don't know him well. Idk if that means that they don't know him well on a soul level? I'll get into this more later but this feels like something that's already been concluded or comes back up from time to time.

"He's pretty closed off huh?" Yes soulmate. He is.

I asked for more info about them and they said May. I was like cool, is that your name or? "Nah" sick is that like you're birthday? "Not really" cool cool cool.

They did say that he deserves better than what he has. I'm gonna leave it at that but hobi is possibly going through some shit.

Now we can get onto the reading part. I do want to say though, this reading felt very disconnected and weird? Just like somethings off and I have a feeling that this soulmate is more of the "life lesson" type soulmate?

Oki. We have temperance, chariot, two of cups, queen of coins. This is a person who is definitely motivated and driven and 100% a business savy human. They are also very likely loyal and know how to balance work and play time very very well. Is well-off (or materialistic) lol. There's a very ride or die energy that tells me this person is the type of friend that will do anything for you but when you do stupid shit then you get a stern talking to. Idk why but it also feels lonely? Like they're on their own journey to find themselves and their path/happiness/self and if it doesn't fit in the wagon then it gets left behind. This person might move too fast and miss out on important things because they're always chasing after something. They take "its not the destination that matters but the journey that does" to a whole new level and they just never stop to enjoy the scenery bc they'd rather get the rush of newness.

As for their relationship. As I said before I think this soulmate specifically is the "life lesson" type and could definitelybe a platonicsoulmate too. The kind that provides you with an opportunity for growth. With the 5 of swords rev. I kinda think that this could be someone from either a past life or back in a less favorable time. The fool card to me makes me thin that this relationship provides a sense of being born again? Its that newness of having a new perspective and a whole new understanding of self. With the magician rev. Its about issues with communication i.e not being able to get across your needs and desires for both of them and a lack of energy to figure it out. I also feel like this was just something that they didn't fix and didn't want to fix. (I'm talking in past tense bc this reading feels like its someone from the past) This card also talks about deception. I'm not gonna go into this much. With the 3 of wands though!! Yay! This talks about progress and I feel like this points to them learning more and more about who they are and what they truly want. They're kinda like lines that were moving towards eachother, intersected and then continued going in their own direction. Its like this time together was formative in who they are as people and what they dream of! And with the father of cups it does seem that over all the relationship was/is (I don't know how to talk about this) relatively balanced and they had/have respect for eachother. This card specifically is about balanced emotions and emotional intelligence and I think that this is what they gain from this relationship.

Moving right along we have the oracle cards! Stand by you commitment, financial healing, unconventionality, socialize or join in and sensitive emotions. The flower cards are from hobi to soulmate and the others are from soulmate to hope. Now. Maybe his soulmate went through a failed business venture that they're recovering from or just general money trouble bc the whole world is being fucked over by a virus. Either way hobi is very strong in the message of commitment (that makes me think that its specifically about business or something they started but never finished) onto cards for Hope. He might kinda be going through the shitty times and his soulmates advice is to not isolate and celebrate himself more. He might be having some issues related to self image or a soul-identity crisis? Idk but hobi needs that good good self care and love.

Now the two unicorn cards. Those are also from his soulmate to hope about some personal shit and I will be leaving that out because its not my fucking business. (Hobi is fine don't worry)

Woo wee lets get on to traits! First for zodiac sign. Earth, fire, air. Possible Libra and Taurus placements.

Tiny cards. Light hair, dark hair, sweet, extrovert, hard working, tall, business oriented, loud, fate, sorry, open, faith, happy, wait.

First off I get brown hair vibes (maybe medium brown?)

The word cards sound like his soulmate trying to give him a pep talk so I pulled an affirmation card that says in stillness I receive. I think hobi is going through some soul stuff and I'm not sure if this specificly translates into his life right now (though I think it does and he's repressing it or hopefully he's sorting it out on his own privately)

Oki oki oki. Idk why but it also might be that hobi is doing work to heal his inner child? I honestly don't know whats going on or if its affecting him in his day to day life at this time but I want to come back and do this reading at a time that he might be in a better energy space?

Hobi is ALWAYS hard to read and its even harder when he's less open than usual.

I'll get another soulmate read from hobi at some point and see if I can catch a "future/current romantic soulmate"

I am confused 😕

Also!! I have a Ko-fi now! I'll drop the link here but its in my bio! Absolutely no pressure but its there for people who want to tip me and were looking for a way to support me! (Also, I'm not taking readings through ko-fi so please don't drop money and request a reading there.)

Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/syubub

[florafey]

Thoughts While Reading Crescent City - Part 2

Part one here

Spoilers under the cut

- Something definitely went down that night Bryce and Danika got in a twist with those shifters and crashed their motorcycle

- That something that went down probably has a lottttt to do with the resolution of this book but I can’t for the life of me figure out how

- Aw Hunt’s ordering her food and she isn’t HAVING IT

- Ah shit a ‘slposion 

- Bryce really tired to protect Juniper from the explosion even though Juniper is immortal and Bryce isn’t. This woman is amazing

- I bet a million trillion dollars that Briggs has nothing to do with any of this. I know all signs are pointing to him but that just seems too easy

- AAAAAAAAAND Hunt’s moving in with her. CHA-CHING BABEYYYYYYY

- Nobody hates the Autumn King more than Ruhn does and it’s hysterical. I’m living for the almost blatant disrespect with which Ruhn speaks to him 

- It’s been four seconds and they’re already acting domestic Sarah SARAH what have you done to me

- Fury better make an appearance before the book is over

- Syrinx and Hunt? Pals. I’m calling it

- Okayokayokay I know Bryce has a whole thing with “don’t go all alpha-hole on me” and all that but it was extremely amusing to see her explain that to Hunt and have be like ??? the fuck are you talking about?? and then just shut her down with “I think you may be the alpha-hole here” like Bryce I love you but you needed that

- And then Hunt just picks up from that and starts telling her what to do AHAHAHAHHAH hypocrite 

- I’d rather eat my own vomit than meet Sandriel but I just know we’re going to

- “What’s the deal with you two?”

“We beat the shit out of each other at a party. Danaan’s still sore about it.”

uh yeah I’d be sore about it too, bitch lmaoooo

- Bryce, Hunt, Ruhn, and Lehabah should start their own CSI show. Or Criminal Minds. Or one of those crime shows cause I can’t tell a difference right now

- Group buddy cops except between the four of them, only Bryce and Lehabah get along

- Hunt has an email I’m cryingggg

- Bryce probably fucked that Oracle up, that’s why she won’t go back

- Hunt collectively referring to Bryce and Ruhn as ‘assholes’ is a bold move but he’s right and he should say it

- ah these photos are gonna be a thing, huh? Good. Give it to me

- FUCK ITS SANDRIEL

- atta boy Hunt don’t fucking kneel to her

- Sandriel can catch these hands on any holy day and that’s a fact 

- ewwww Micah come ON

- Wow Bryce really is a Bad Bitch. Doing all that in front of Sandriel?? Telling Micah fucking Domitus ‘not interested”????? Queen

- Okay now I don’t like Micah. He’s fucking Hunt up and he knows it.

- That oracle made me nervous but it went better than I had expected

- Fuck, see, I knew Briggs didn’t have anything to do with it

- I really don’t want Danika to have anything to do with this. It would ruin Bryce and I’m not interested in reading about that

- As we get to know Hunt better, he’s refreshingly human. And he needs a friend just as much as Bryce does. And while both of them are often assholes to each other, they’re also really really good friends when the need to be

- ^^^that’s called growth

- AHHHHHHHHHH the gun range scene????? AMAZING POWERFUL ICONIC on both their parts wowowowowowowowwwwwwwwwwww heheheh they’re such a power couple

- So......hmmm.....okay so Shahar seems to.....not have been that great of a person? Is anyone getting those vibes? idk

- Hunt and Bryce are so normal and I love it. Like sharing worst hookup stories and casually/not so casually asking about current relationships

- Didn’t I say fuck Sabine? Yeah, I knew I was on to something with that

- Ruhn and this medwitch? Could be interesting. I get strange vibes from her, though

- Oh these two will be the death of me. Now we’re changing contact names in each other’s phones?? Okay high-schoolers 

- I LIKE VIKTORIA

- Can I just say that both Bryce and Hunt are doing a phenomenal job at trying to overcome/work through their respective trauma? And they’re learning the best ways to help each other, too 

- Hunt seriously made Bryce crawl into a sewer how rude

- I had heard tell of the Jelly Jubilee scene before reading this book. I have now read it and can say that yes, it is as iconic and hysterical as everyone is making it seem. Wow. I’m going to read it eight more times

- Tharion Ketos is amazing and that’s a fact from God

- ‘Legs’???? ‘Legs’?????? Bryce, if Hunt had called you that you would have smacked him in the mouth

- Oh jeez Bryce lmao chill out you’re at work

- ew I hated the whole scene at the werewolf teritory

- I’m also....unnerved at how the wolves hate Bryce because she hooked up with someone before she ever went on a date with Connor but she was “already his” like ???? guys that doesn’t add up let’s do the math again

- If Sabine does not shut the FUCK UP about her GOTDAMN SWORD I’m gonna seduce Tharion into drowning her and eating her

- So we can drown Amelie too, did you hear that, Tharion? Good

- Micah is now acting shady. Destroying the kristallos before they could search it for an antidote or evidence? That’s called shady 

- A HUG WOW

- FUCK YOU SABINE YOU FUCKING INTERRUPTED THE HUG SESSION

- oop

- Danika ????? Stole ???? Stole the ????? oh alright

- Hunt is again antagonizing Ruhn. This will never get old

- So you know that prophecy about Danika’s sword that talks about one the sword and the knife are joined something about the people coming together? I can’t really remember what it says but I read a theory that proposes that knife as Azriel’s knife from ACTOAR and I’m.....really about that....that would be something else 

- we’re summoning another demon ??? 

- ohhhhhhh the Prince of the Chasm you say ???? I LIKE THIS ONE

- oh shit and Bryce knows him ???? From the past ??? Wild

- lmao look how stressed Hunt is over Aidas

- Aidas had three pages but I’m in love. And he’s a demon so that’s fuuuuuun

- awww look at Bryce trying to make an apology meal there’s def a similarity between this and the soup scene between Feyre and Rhys

- Is....is Hunt going to be her Anchor?? 

- “You said home earlier. At the bar. I know you’re supposed to live in the barracks or whatever Micah insists on, but if we somehow solve this case...that room is yours if you want it.” tears. actual tears. write this on my tombstone, please for the love of god 

- Oh my god Bryce really got scared when he didn’t come home...I’m really gonna start crying again what the hell

- Alright, a tsunami of tears have just been ripped from me. The whole scene when she found him in the shower and washed him and dressed him and put him to bed ???? When he PUT HIS HEAD ON HER LAP ??????? jeeeeesus I’m soft, so so soft

- This is the greatest work of writing I’ve ever held in my hands

- “A child laying his head on his mother’s lap. A friend looking for any sort of reassuring contact to remind him that he was a living being. A good person, no matter what they made him do.” sarah, oh sarah how you’ve ruined me

- So I know we all ship Bryce and Hunt but can we really talk about their friendship? Like the....the pure trust they’ve formed ?? Take that scene above for instance. There’s nothing at all sexual about Bryce washing Hunt in the shower when he was in shock and couldn’t do it himself. Sarah mentions how nervous Bryce is because Hunt is naked but there isn’t anything to that that isn’t normal. And Hunt is comfortable enough with her that he puts his head in her lap and again, nothing sexual. Sarah compares him to a child needing his mother and a friend needing reassurance, but nothing more. There’s something to that, something that wouldn’t be there if the connection was also romantic or sexual. Okay I’ll stop now 

If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate you. Thank you for joining me on this extremely wild and slightly out of control ride. Part 3 will be up shortly.

[theamberwriter]

Hello! For the prompt list... Maybe 98 and 107 for Bakugou?

[I was very excited that someone actually did a request. So I ended up writing it all in one sitting, lol Thank you so much for requesting! I hope you like it <3]

Word Count: 2480

Warnings: Honestly, this got a little dark. Prompts: 98 - “Don’t stand up here and pretend to be proud of me!” 107 - “I like your face.”

The day had finally come. The one you’d anticipated for your entire life. Your UA high graduation, where you’d officially become a hero. A real, actual, licensed pro! It’d been a long, tough road to get here. You were grateful to your friends for supporting you this far.

Your palms sweat as you heard the road of the crowd. You had graduated second in your class. That made you extra proud, but also extremely nervous. You sat, listening to the principal as he congratulated you all on your hard work. All the pros were there, even small form All Might. Everyone gave a small speech. 

But then, something up expected happened. Up walked a face you'd known well. Who was a year older than you, who had became a great friend in the two years you'd known him.

"Now, we have a little surprise for you all," announced principal Nezu as he returned to the podium. "When he went here, he was known as Katsuki Bakugo. I know you all know him already. He did great things while he was here, his class went through many trials. But, since he's left UA, he's done even greater things and made name for himself - as Ground Zero."

There was a deafening roar as Katsuki stepped up to the podium. A few disgruntled grumbles coming from your peers. Katsuki stood with his infamous smirk. Looking extremely dapper in his suit. His hair still looking like a blond explosion. Your heart skipped a beat.

"Thanks, principal Nezu," Katsuki said, you could hear the strain in his voice. He was trying really, really hard to be friendly. To be the kind of charismatic guy he needed to be as a hero. "During my last two years at UA, I was sought out by a dorky, little, first-year wimp. They may have been a weakling, but they had an incredible quirk of their own. I never thought we'd be friends. But I wouldn't be standing here, as a friend or as a hero, if we'd never been. They're second in your class, by just a half-point. And I've got a surprise for ‘em, since they stuck it out so long. [Name] get your ass up here." 

"You have got to be kidding me," you muttered, moving out of line. You sprinted up to the front and up the stairs. You were going to murder Katsuki once this was over.

He immediately threw his arm, which had bulked up considerably since he'd graduated, around your shoulders. He pulled you into a tight side-hug, whispering, "I'm proud of you, kid."

Your heart rate picked up. You could feel heat in your face. You looked down at your shoes. Grateful you'd hadn't tripped and fallen to make things worse. You couldn’t understand why Katsuki was here, and why he’d decided to do the single thing you out. Or why Principal Nezu had even let it happen.

"I thought we'd share today with people who are just as happy for you. Just as proud of you," he announced. "Two heroes that have a place in people's hearts -"

You looked at him, your heart jostling in anxiety. Your knees quaked, your palms slicking more than they’d been. "Please tell me you didn't."

"Your parents, Oracle and Vaporwave." Katsuki gestured over the left. And out walked two people you'd dreaded seeing - your parents. They were all happy. All smiles. Acting as if years of mental and emotional torment hadn't happened.

"Katsuki, you shouldn't have," you muttered, trying to pull away from his grip. He didn't know. You hadn't told him. You’d only shared this with one person. "Like really, you shouldn't -"

He shrugged. Proudly stating, "It was nothing."

Katsuki pushed you towards your parents. You walked slowly. Trying to keep the time until you had to hug them as long as possible. There was a reason you'd chosen to live with your aunt in an entirely different town. Your parents beamed at you. And then, before you knew it before you were ready, they hugged you. You tried your best not to recoil. You had to play it cool. At least until you were off stage.

"We're so proud," your father said in your ear. "It's about time you were useful."

“But number two, really?” scoffed your mother as she hugged you. “You should’ve been better.”

Your parents pulled you to the microphone. You stood numbly, unhearing. Staring out at a million smudges of color. Sinking back into your childhood. Where you were a doll, a decoration. Trained to smile so you looked like a happy family to the public.

"We're so proud of [Name]," your mother said, fake sniffling. Her crocodile tears didn't fool you. You knew she was an ugly crier. "Ever since they were small. We knew they'd grow up to be someone great."

"We spent every second we could grooming and preparing [Name] to be a great hero," your father continued. Each word put another building block of anger in you. Filling you up, tempting you to overflow. Just a little longer. "We're so proud. And we're glad you all finally get to see what we saw all those years ago. Why I remember many fond times -"

He was going to go on a tangent with fake family memories. They'd rehearsed them, you knew it. They were going to keep up this image of a happy family. Like you were fine. Like you weren’t just the unwanted child of a mother, paid off to have a baby and keep her mouth shut. As your father kept droning on about the fake memory, you hit your tipping point. You wouldn't let them fool anyone anymore. 

"Shut up," you uttered. You could feel the control you’d worked so hard on slipping.

Your father looked at you. "What?"

"I said," you started lowly, then shouted, "SHUT. UP!!"

Katsuki tried to put a hand on your shoulder, but you slapped it away. You shot him a warning glare. You could see the anger and confusion in his eyes. You didn’t have a reason to be mad at him. Especially when it was your fault you’d never told him. 

Your mother smiled with fake patience. "Now, honey, we know this is embarrassing. But you've done so well -"

"What's embarrassing is having parents who didn't want me!" you yelled, the entire stadium went quiet. "After what you put me through - Don’t stand up here and pretend to be proud of me. Don’t stand up here and pretend you didn’t do what he did. Don’t pretend like you didn’t pull that same crap as Endeavor!”

You have the same sad sob story as Endeavor’s boy, you heard your mother’s smug words to you echoed in the back of your head. Isn’t it just pathetic? Isn’t it just sad? We’re the real losers here. Paying off that woman, only for her to have a dud like you. No one will take you seriously. They’ll think you’re just leeching on to a more famous backstory.

“What’re you talking about?” Her voice was dripping sweet and bitter. She tried to reach for you, but you smack away her hand. Then you shoved her hard, sending her flying into your father. The two landed a few feet away.

“I was friends with Todoroki!” you snapped, stomping your foot. “I told him. I told him what you did. We shared our trauma. Pathetic parents, creating children because they were too weak to come out on top themselves. - I’m not an experiment! You thought I was pathetic and useless as a child! You don’t get to stand here and act like I became someone because of your help. It’s because I don’t want to be anything like you two that I climbed until I was near the top. I’ll take number two. Because it means I stand above you. In a place you could never hope to reach.”

For the first time, your parents looked at you with fear in their eyes. With respect. Taking notice of what they’d done. It didn’t help you’d ended up in the air, and you were wild and glowing. And probably two seconds away from obliterating them. Even after all this time, when you let your emotions get to you, your control slipped. You acted without thinking. Fight or flight.

You glowered down at them. “Now I want you both to leave. I don’t ever want to see you again. - Thank you. For ruining my graduation day.”

You landed on your feet, and sprinted across the stage and out of sight. Your parents scrambled off the opposite side of the stage. Principal Nezu took the podium awkwardly, clearing his throat as he tried to get the day back on track. Katsuki chased after you, slamming open every door until he found you. You were curled in a ball, silent tears down your cheeks. He shut the door behind him.

“Uh,” he murmured hesitantly. “Hey. Nerd. You okay?”

You stood before you could think, bolting to him in a flash. You were in his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?! I told you we didn’t get along. Why the hell would you do that?!”

“I thought it’d be nice! I didn’t know it was this fucking bad!” He took a step back. “How the hell am I supposed to know if you don’t tell me?!”

You groaned. “I thought it would have been common sense -”

Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Common sense ‘we don’t get along’ just makes me think that they don’t - I don’t fucking know - don’t like your friends. Don’t like the path you chose because it’s fucking dangerous. Not because you were a damn experiment!”

“Don’t call me that.” You could feel the white-hot rage filling you. But this was Katsuki you were talking to. Not your parents. And he had a point. Still, you couldn’t help it. “I am more than just some experiment!”

“I know!” he yelled. Then took a long moment’s pause. He tried to even himself out, but there was still an angry edge to his voice. “Why do you think I let you tag along? Why do you think I stopped trying to ditch you like Deku?! - Because nobody else was talking you up! But I could see it. All the potential you had. You had that fire. But you weren’t using it right! I didn’t want to see you fail. And you didn’t. And if you think I’m going to let you go and do something fucking stupid to mess all your work up -”

You felt your feet leave the floor. What business was it of his if you let all your work go to waste? Who’d even let you be a hero after this burst?! “Why do you even care if I fail or not?!’

“Because I think I love you, dumbass!” His face turned red as he processed the words that came out of his mouth. “I mean - I like your face - I - Shit - I like everything about you - and - fucking hell -”

Katsuki shot a blast out a window. He roared in some sort of rage, bellowing, “You’re the only person in the fucking world I want to outrank me! You’re the only person I’d let be number one over me. I like your stupid face. And your stupid quirk. I want to be a team. But not just at being pros. I mean, in life. I want to just - this is a shit time for this. Especially after I made you so upset. I have no fucking right to say this. But - I’m pretty fucking sure I love you. And that I wanna spend the rest of my damn life with you.”

Katsuki wrapped his arms around your leg, you still in the air. Katsuki was eye level with your belly button. You looked down at him. You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. But you saw the anger in his eyes. It was mixed with concern. With regret. His face was full of emotions you’d never seen him have before. It began to fizzle the fire in you. 

He stared up at you, keeping a hold on you. “I’m sorry for inviting them, for embarrassing you. I should’ve asked. I’m such a fucking idiot. I should’ve asked why you didn’t get along. And if it was okay if I brought them. This is all my fucking fault. I promise, I’ll make it up to you. If you’ll let me.”

He supported your weight as you fell out of the air. You’d had a thing for him since you’d first met him. Originally, you just admired him for being insanely strong and thought he’d be a good person as a mentor. Your feelings for him crashed down on you like a meteor. You hadn’t even realized them until he’d actually let you stick around for a few months. But everyone said you were stupid. That you’d never get anywhere because he was too goal-driven to look around. Because he was too selfish to think of anyone but himself.

You supposed this proved them wrong.

“I’m still pissed at you,” you noted. Katsuki nodded, anticipation flickering through his eyes. “But what did you have in mind? Is the great Ground Zero asking me on a proper date?”

Katsuki smiled - a real one. Not that stupid smirk. He squeezed your legs tightly. “I could never have been half as great without you. - And I’ll fucking murder you, you tell anyone I said that. But I’ll take you to dinner, a nice restaurant. None of those little bullshit hole-in-the-wall places you seem to think are so swanky. An actual restaurant, somewhere fancy. Black tie. I’ll do anything I can until you see I care. Just you and I - a team for life. Through everything.”

When you two went back, after an hour of filling Katsuki in on your past, you discovered your parents had been escorted off campus. And you were given your awards and diplomas and certificates behind the scenes. After what happened, everyone thought it was best. Later that day, you also filed a restraining order against your parents. They weren’t going to mess with you anymore. A weight felt like it was lifted off of you.

Katsuki took you out for the best date of your life a few nights later. He followed through with his promise. He took you out to the nicest restaurant he could find. It was black tie, so you wore your best. But you guys ended up getting take out after anyway because the portions were so small. You’d never felt so whole as sitting in Katsuki’s apartment, half-dressed up, laughing at some crappy movie, and scarfing down some takeaway.  This made up for the graduation day disaster. You just hoped that Katsuki kept his word, and you’d be a team for life. And not just at work.

[johns-prince]

Music Mix: John Lennon

1st John Lennon Mix

My Own Worst Enemy || Lit

It's no surprise to me I am my own worst enemy Cause every now and then I kick the living shit out of me Can we forget about the things I said when I was drunk I didn't mean to call you that

Under the Bridge || Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sometimes I feel Like I don't have a partner Sometimes I feel Like my only friend Is the city I live in The city of angels Lonely as I am Together we cry

I don't ever want to feel Like I did that day Take me to the place I love Take me all the way I don't ever want to feel Like I did that day Take me to the place I love Take me all the way (yeah yeah) 

Come As You Are || Nirvana

Come as you are, as you were As I want you to be As a friend, as a friend As an known enemy

Take your time, hurry up The choice is yours, don't be late Take a rest as a friend As an old

Memoria, memoria Memoria, memoria

Blurry || Puddle of Mudd

Everything's so blurry and everyone's so fake And everybody's empty and everything is so messed up Pre-occupied without you I cannot live at all My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl

You could be my someone you could be my scene You know that I'll protect you from all of the obscene I wonder what you're doing imagine where you are There's oceans in between us but that's not very far

Everyone is changing there's no one left that's real To make up your own ending and let me know just how you feel 'Cause I am lost without you I cannot live at all My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl

Broken || Lund

Will you end my pain? Will you take my life? Will you bleed me out? Will you hang me out to dry? Will you take my soul in the midnight rain? While I'm falling apart While I'm going insane

Can you break my bones? Will you tear my skin? Can you taste my lust? Can you feel my sin? See, I'm a waste of life, I should just kill myself Yeah, I could slit my wrists, but it really wouldn't help Wouldn't fix my issues, or change your mind 'Cause I broke your heart and you buried mine Now, I'm six feet deep and I can't breathe I got dirt in my eyes and blood on my sleeves But I dig my way up through these roots and leaves So I can get some air, so I can finally breathe And now I'm on my knees, oh baby, begging please Will you Will you

Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too || SayAnything

If I die and go to Hell real soon It will appear to me as this room And for eternity, I'd lay in bed In my boxers, half stoned With the pillow under my head

I'd be chatting on the interweb Maggots pray upon the living dead I had no interest in the things she said On the phone every day, I'll permanently hit the hay

I called her on the phone and she touched herself She touched herself, she touched herself Called her on the phone and she touched herself I laughed myself to sleep

Nineteen || Bad 4 Good

You want it rough? you got it rough You want it tough? you got it tough You want it mean? well I'm mean! I'm bad! Nineteen! 

The Logical Song || Supertramp

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible Logical, oh responsible, practical And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical

There are times when all the world's asleep The questions run too deep For such a simple man Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned I know it sounds absurd Please tell me who I am

I said, watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical Liberal, oh fanatical, criminal Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're Acceptable Respectable, oh presentable, a vegetable! Oh, take it take it yeah

Fight For Your Right || BeastieBoys

You wake up late for school, man you don't want to go! You ask you mom(Mimi), please? But she still says, no! You missed two classes, and no homework But your teacher preaches class like you're some kind of jerk!

You gotta fight for your right to party!

Your pop caught you smoking, and he said, no way! That hypocrite smokes two packs a day Man, living at home is such a drag! Now your mom(Mimi) threw away your best porno mag! (bust it!)

You gotta fight for your right to party!

You gotta fight!

Don't step out of this house if that's the clothes you're gonna wear! I'll kick you out of my home if you don't cut that hair! Your mom(Mimi) busted in and said, what's that noise? Aw, mom(Mimi) you're just jealous, it's the Beastie Boys!

You gotta fight for your right to party! You gotta fight for your right to party!

Fat Lip || Sum 41

Well I'm a no goodick lower middle class brat! Back packed and I don't give a shit about nothing You be standing on the corner talking all that kufuffin But you don't make any sense from all the gas you'll be huffing And if the egg don't stain you'll be ringing off the hook, You're on the hit list wanted in the telephone book I like songs with distortion, to drink in proportion The doctor said my mom should have had an abortion

I don't want to waste my time Become another casualty of society I'll never fall in line Become another victim of your conformity And back down!

Paranoid || Weezer

I need someone to show me the things in life That I can't find I can't see the things that make true happiness I must be blind

Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh And I will cry Happiness, I cannot feel and love, to me Is so unreal

And so, as you hear these words telling you now Of my state I tell you to enjoy life, I wish I could But it's too late

I Don’t Care || Fall Out Boy

Say my name, and his in the same breath, I dare you to say they taste the same, Let the leaves fall off in the summer And let December glow in flames

Erase myself and let go, Start it over again in Mexico These friends, they don't love you They just love the hotel suites, now!

I don't care what you think, As long as it's about me The best of us can find happiness, in misery I don't care what you think, As long as it's about me The best of us can find happiness, in misery

Oh, take a chance, let your body get a tolerance, I'm not a chance, but a heat wave in your pants Pull a breath like another cigarette, Pawn shop heart trading up, Said no

I'm the oracle in my chest, Let the guitar scream like a fascist, Sweat it out, shut your mouth, Free love on the streets, but In the alley it ain't that cheap, now!  

Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time || Panic! At The Disco

Champagne, cocaine, gasoline And most things in between I roam the city in a shopping cart A pack of camels and a smoke alarm

This night is heating up Raise hell and turn it up Saying "If you go out you might pass out in a drain pipe" Oh yeah, don't threaten me with a good time

I'm a scholar and a gentleman And I usually don't fall when I try to stand I lost a bet to a guy in a Chiffon skirt But I make these high heels work I've told you time and time again I'm not as think as you drunk I am And we all fell down when the sun came up I think we've had enough

Boys || Sakima

I was busy fucking with boys, boys, boys I was busy fucking with boys, boys, boys Head is spinning, drinking with boys, boys, boys I was busy fucking with boys, boys, boys I was busy drinking with boys Boys

Weak || AJR

No thank you They call me after dark, I don't want no part My habits, they hold me like a grudge I promise I won't budge

One sip, bad for me One hit, bad for me One kiss, bad for me But I give in so easily And no thank you! is how it should've gone I should stay strong

But I'm weak, and what's wrong with that? Boy, oh boy I love ya when I fall for that I'm weak, and what's wrong with that? Boy, oh boy I love ya when I fall for that I'm weak But I'm weak, and what's wrong with that? Boy, oh boy I love ya when I fall for that

Bang! || AJR

I get up, I get down and I'm jumpin' around And the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now Been a hell of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to grow (Bang! Bang! Bang!) So I got an apartment across from the park Put quinoa in my fridge, still I'm not feelin' grown Been a hell of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to go (Bang! Bang! bang!) (Here we go)

So put your best face on, everybody Pretend you know this song, everybody Come hang Let's go out with a bang! (Bang! Bang! bang!) I'm way too young to lie here forever I'm way too old to try so whatever Come hang Let's go out with a bang! (Bang! Bang! bang!)

Feel like I'm gonna puke 'cause my taxes are due Do my password begin with a one or a two? Been a hell of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to grow (Bang! Bang! bang!) (Metronome) Man, I'm up to something, ooh-dee-la-dee-doh Thank you all for comin', I hope you like the show 'Cause it's on a budget, so ooh-dee-la-dee-doh Yeah, come on here we go, yeah, come on (here we go)

So put your best face on, everybody Pretend you know this song, everybody! Come hang Let's go out with a bang! (Bang! Bang! bang!) I'm way too young to lie here forever I'm way too old to try so whatever Come hang Let's go out with a bang! (Bang! Bang! bang!) (Bang! Bang! bang!)

Been a hell of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to go

[lunafreya-bae-fleuret]

plausible deniability

Read on ao3

Please note: While it’s only implied and not very explicit, this fic DOES include some Regis/Luna, so please keep that in mind

-

One last hunt, they had agreed. One last hunt before their departure to Altissia, because even with his bride-to-be dead, there were things to be dealt with - namely giving the empire a whole round of ass whooping. And since Ignis had assured him that the first secretary had nothing but her city’s wellbeing in mind (and getting rid of the empire was always good for, well, anyone's wellbeing), that was as good a plan as any.

Maybe it was also just Ravus’ letter, who had seemingly finally realized that, no, bowing down to the empire’s will had not, actually, ensured his dear sister’s wellbeing. (See? Trust the empire - bad for anyone’s wellbeing; ergo: destroy it - good for the world’s wellbeing!)

Noctis hadn’t, however - and he would swear that on the stars and the possibility of Kings Knights supposed release in the following year - anticipated to run over a tent in the hinterlands of Vesperpool.

Ignis parked the car, letting out soft, yet still dignified curses while he did so, then stepped out, trying and failing to hide the fact that he almost slipped while exiting the Regalia Type D (goddamn height was ridiculous, how Cindy was able to jump out of it like it was nothing was beyond Noctis.). Clearing his throat Ignis looked at the shadowy figures, who’s silhouettes were only illuminated by the wavy light of the campfire. A quiet, female voice uttered a barely intrigued “Huh,“ and Ignis shot the seemingly tiny tent under the Regalia’s (Noctis wouldn’t say big-ass but-) tires a nervous look. Thank the stars Insomnia had fallen or they’d have to deal with, like, insurance companies and stuff, and honestly, Noctis had never really been very good with those. Leaving a stack of money and running away had always been the better option, after all.

Not that he was currently thinking much about insurance companies, mind you, seeing as his eyes were very obviously transfixed on the gooey goodness of half-molten marshmallows.

And, look. He had learned the hard way that everything between Insomnia and Lestallum and all around was basically Grandma’s biggest apple garden, so being called silly semantics like son or boy wasn’t anything new.

Except.

Except the voice uttering “Want some, son?,” was just a little too familiar, so that even Noctis, busy imagining devouring the bag of marshmallows, wrapping included and all, had to take a double take. Because, yeah, daddy issues none-withstanding, that was his honest-to-god dad sitting there, in flesh and blood, burning marshmallows and rocking jeans and a hoodie like it was nobodies business. And, man, wasn’t that just the kicker? When HE had wanted to wear hoodies, Ignis had denied him with a simple “You have to keep up appearances, however misleading they might be.” Whatever THAT meant.

To say that he felt like the tent still residing unter the Regalia was probably an understatement. (It was okay though, Prompto was already apologizing to the poor thing, no need to fear another lawsuit, Iggy.)

He barely registered mumbling a disbelieving “Dad?“ Before his attention was drawn the slightest bit to the left, just the teeny tiniest bit. And if he hadn’t been convinced that all of this was just a fever dream before, than he sure as hell was now.

"LUNA?!”

The honorable oracle herself had the audacity to smirk at him, one eyebrow cocked in quiet amusement, donning a similar attire to his father’s. Noctis had always loathed her for that, just a little bit. Hours spent in front of the mirror, relentlessly (and quite uselessly) trying to lift just the one eyebrow had cost him quite the fondness for his oldest friend.

Who was he kidding, he loathed her less than he absolutely respected her, because never had he seen anyone else that could do that as effortlessly, cartoon characters and Ignis not accounted for (the latter, he was still quite sure, being part of the former).

“I wasn’t joking,” his father chimed in, stick with a crunchy-burned marshmallow directed at Noctis. “We’re actually making S'mores” He held up a pack of cookies, Luna shaking the complimentary bottle of delicious chocolate sauce like the goddess he had always believed her to be, and, looking at the befuddled (and non-surprisingly hopeful, in Prompto’s case) faces of his friends - well, he had never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

While being awake for a good three days straight and not having eaten anything for the last twenty hours had rendered him, ah, rather nonchalant about the whole ordeal, Noctis was rather curious about the development of his father and friend ending up sharing a tent in the middle of a swamp

“Fuck the gods,“ Luna cheerfully told him, just as his father said "A surprising turn of events,“ and his father then proceeded to send Luna his most disapproving look in his kingly repertoire, which Noctis was quite happy not to be the recipient of, for once. It all looked very much like a conversation that they had had rather a lot, and he was in no hurry to be a part of it. So he nodded, as if all of that made sense. He met Prompto’s eyes, who mouthed ‘Told you so,’ then quickly looked upwards, as if the gods would strike him right then and there.

Luna reassuringly patted his father’s hand and simply left her own right on top of his. Then they explained it to him: the devilish plans of the empire’s coup d'état and how Luna, - sweet, compassionate, ever so duty bound Luna - had, for a lack of better words, stopped giving a fuck and had, quite literally, thrown the towel (into Ravus’ face, to be exact, and if that wasn’t a story he needed to hear about in detail) and had then fled her childhood home with the help of divine intervention. (He mentally tipped his warmly gifted trucker hat - thank you, Cindy - in Gentiana’s direction and resolved to make Ignis bake her the BIGGEST chocolate cake ever.)

Once arrived in Insomnia she merely took the king by the hand and they escaped with the help of four loyal Kingsglaives, who were pretty much their only connection to society, as of now.

And, well. Wasn’t that curious. ("More like the intro to a bad porno,“ Prompto muttered, and really, he had deserved that shove.)

So in short, they had been hiding out in the most deserted of places with just their rusty old tent ("I’ve come to call it Cor,“ Regis interjected, and Noctis was so not gonna question why he named it after his most trusted Crownsguard), with the Kingsglaives giving them regular updates.

On what, Ignis asked. His father and Luna shared a look, then a shrug. Luna shoved another whole S'more into her mouth while still accomplishing to look graceful doing it.

And that was that.

And that would have been that, too, if Luna hadn’t just casually leaned against his dad, putting a small, airy kiss against the side of his throat, her fingers intertwining with his-

Ah. Oh. Huh. It had indeed been well over a year since their departure from Insomnia. If one were to assume that they had mostly been on their own all this time, with naught but a sparsely sized tent-

He shoved Prompto again, just for good measure, and muttered, at his friend’s offended "Hey!” a simple “Stop putting weird ideas into my head.”

(He decidedly averted his eyes when the embers had mostly died down and he saw two shadows conspicuously melt into one.

Ah, sleep deprivation, the things you did to men’s mind)

((They did, however, delay their trip to Altissia, planning the demise of a heavy-armed empire and all, but they never failed to bring some extra ingredients for some more S'mores when visiting the two.))

(((They also bought them a new tent the next day, that Regis promptly dubbed Cor 2.0.)))

((((Noctis still wasn’t going to ask))))

-

I’m always happy to get prompts!

[a-wolf-among-men]

Dark star au

I swear I put way too much thought into a skin I don’t even really like smh

Anyways there’s a shit ton of info under the cut, because I basically made an entire species. I literally thought this out waaay too fucking much and spent a lot of time on this. ;v;

Brief over view

Thresh is a part of an alien species (Droknal)   who are extremely religious and have a hierarchical  society. He is the last oracle due to shortening resources in their area. Thresh is the only oracle left in his hive. He is the person in the hive that can continue to power the stella tenebris that will someday grow big enough to bring them to rapture a tale that’s been passed down through generation after generation.

The hierarchy

The hierarchy goes oracle, queen, king, breeders, soldiers, workers, and then gatherers. Workers and gatherers are the lowest of the low. Often queens will refuse to listen to them since they are simply a number to her. If a tyrant oracle kills the current one the queen and kings will often team up with the heir to kill the current one.

Oracles are the head of society. The queen must come to them before making any decisions and must carry out their orders. The oracle is the most important person in this hierarchy they direct soldiers, work orders, when breeders can be active, and what areas gatherers can take things from and hunt in. They typically have purple exterior. Long tendrils usually take the place of hair and are usually dressed in heavy robes along with ceremonial and clan painted markings of whatever color the hive is associated with. Every millennia an heir is born to challenge the current oracle and kill them. Many oracles have been seen covered in various scars and injuries from these fights. Some missing limbs or even parts of exoskeleton. Oracles are the strongest, wisest, tend to have magical abilities and theoretically can live forever if unchallenged. They live at the top of the hive usually in a observatory like structure.

 Queens are the only Droknal who can activate the reproduction gene in breeders through pheromones released through pores on the side of her face. She is the only person whose larvae grow from a day to a week. This is why she only ovulates starting a hive, during times of war, when a new heir is needed, and a severe population drop. She carries out the oracles orders and monitors each level of the hierarchy to make sure everything is in working order. She is typically dressed extravagantly. Jewelry usually covers her head to toe all heirlooms from queens of the past. Special designs and patterns corresponding the color of her hive. She directs all aesthetic choices and expansions of the hive without needing to contact the oracle first.  Queens color range goes from sky blue to lavender. They can live forever without being challenged, however as they grow older they get weaker. They live in the center of the hive. their rooms are usually adorned in silk hanging from the ceiling and attached to the walls with large cushions and bathing areas.

There isn’t always a king in power there’s usually multiple cherry picked from the pool of breeders and they aren’t always males either. The queen rubs her face against a chosen breeder and gradually over time their pearly exterior morphs into a shade of blue and they grow exponentially stronger as well as activating a gene that makes them fertile. Their duty is to cater to the queens needs along with assist her in anything she may ask of them. They are in charge of carrying out war orders. A queen may make a king just for war or diplomatic purposes. Kings aren’t tied at the hip to the queen they are free to go out and become a mate of whoever they please. The many kings are purely for genetic diversity among the hive, so there’s little to no inbreeding. Live to around three millennia. They live with the queen or oracle.

Breeders are healers, servants, nannys, and are in charge of taking care of every single larvae. Their color ranges from pearl to cream rose. They typically are shorter and have multiple limbs, longer tails, and smoother faces. They have quieter voices and are well respected by everyone. They are usually dressed in thin almost religious robes as they help out around the top of the hierarchy. They wear very minimal jewelry often only having a single gem of their hive color adorning the middle foreheads. They are usually sent off on diplomatic missions to other hives to build bonds and arrange meetings and trade. They are also sent out during times of war to mend the wounded. They do not have claws or fangs, their mouths are more beak like than other Droknal. Practically immortal. Live wherever they’re needed.

Soldiers, workers, and gatherers are all pretty self explanatory. They are referred to by number. A113 means soldier 113, B112 means worker 112, and C111 means gatherer 111. It isn’t uncommon for them to give themselves names, but because their can be upwards of three million Droknal per hive, numbers are just easier. Soldiers colors range from fossil to charcoal with heavy war paint of their tribes color coating their exterior. Soldiers range in size and strength depending on their regiment along with what they are equipped with for battle. Generals are assigned to each sector by the main king. They live in stations on the outskirts and territory of the hive. Workers tend to be shades of yellow with stripes of the hives color. They have gripping pads on their hands and feet along with multiple limbs. They are the only Droknal to have mandibles as well. They live in the ceiling of the hive. Gatherers are shades that correspond to their surroundings. If they’re in a brown marshy area they’re going to be shades of brown if they’re in a blue mushroom forest they’re going to be shades of blue. There are two types of gatherers, hunters and herbalists. Hunters are faster and stronger often running on all fours. They have sharp claws, teeth similar to a crocodile and long tails with spikes or blades attached to them. Gatherers have four arms and are adapted for what they’re picking. If food is normally up high they’ll be taller, if it’s under ground they’ll have longer claws, etc. They only have a life span of a century. They fill the gaps in the hive often having upwards of hundred gatherers per dorm.

Heirs don’t have a rank in the hierarchy and simply are the heir to either the oracle or the queen. They have a genetic need to challenge them for their place and usually die, because of this.

Reproduction

Droknal are technically all hermaphrodites. Certain genes are either activated or cancelled morphing sex organs into what has been assigned, but all their genitals look the same. It’s purely their appearance that changes. Females have smoother more rounded exoskeletons with shorter tails, they are the second strongest among the hive just below the oracle and they also tend to be larger than and less colorful males. That doesn’t mean there isn’t transgender Droknal, but it is very very unlikely for one to be born. 

Being someones mate is like being married except you literally fused part of your genes with theirs. There is only a huge public ceremony when a oracle or queen chooses a mate. All the others usually don’t have one, but some will.

Oracles don’t usually have mates, but are normally with breeders or kings.

Queens only mate with kings.

There’s always one king mated to a queen other than that they can be mates with whoever they want.

Breeders can mate with anyone, but are most commonly mated to soldiers and oracles.

Soldiers, workers, and gatherers are free to be mates with whoever they want to, though they usually only are mated within their group.

Gender doesn’t really matter since they all have the same genitals

When a female ovulates eggs are produced inside a pouch within her. Once they are fertile they are pushed through her skin into a pouch until they hit the larval stage. Then they are moved to cells inside a special place in the hive by breeders. Once there they are fed the blood of whichever their determined role is. This activates genes and hormones they change them into that breed. Once they hit the pupa stage they’re moved to a gel filled cocoon like structure until they climb out and are assigned to an area.

Even tho I even thought of how their genitals look like I’m not going to write it down unless someone rlly wants to know

Misc details

The planet they live on doesn’t currently have a name (feel free to suggest one if you want)

Their eye color depends on the hive

Their planet is as big as our sun to give some context. Thresh’s hive lives in a mushroom marsh that is similar to zangarmarsh in the out lands. The forest is constantly humid and foggy the only real light sources being their son and the glowing spores the mushrooms release. Various wildlife adapted to that habitat live in the area.

The shortest ever Droknal documented was 5′1 foot and the tallest was 20′9 feet. The average height is 10 feet. (idk how much that is in cm sorry)

Oracles are commonly seen floating around

stella tenebris is kept in a glass like globe small enough to contain, but that isn’t it’s actual size. It’s very much large enough to swallow up planets.

Oracles never get a break

They don’t have facial hair, but some Droknal do have tendrils that look like it. However if they cut them off, they won’t grow back.

Piercings aren’t uncommon among the top four, but jewelry is completely forbidden among lower classes.

the planet has a sun and four moons

the color of the sky changes depending on where you are at

[ohgodsnowwhat]

Fantasy in Metal

Yes; I am posting my first fanfic after my second fanfic. I'm a rebel like that. I have also come to the conclusion that I suck at endings, which may be why I don't always finish what I start. Oh well. Please feel free to offer concrit. I'm not used to writing stuff that isn't one-on-one smut. Thanks to @neko-otaku13 for her encouragment on this!

The light had returned to Lucis – to all of Eos, for that matter. King Noctis and Lady Lunafreya, the Oracle, had passed over into the realm of much-deserved happily-ever-afterlife.

Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis, however….

Look, not even Astrals are perfect. Clerical errors happen.

****

“What do you mean, they’ve been reincarnated into another universe?” thundered Bahamut at the little fennec fox. “For their service, they should have been transported to the same region as King Noctis and Lady Luna!”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine; those guys always manage. Nothing to be too concerned about, but when their time is up here maybe, um, you can take a more personal interest to see that they get to the right place? I was supervising the moogles in charge of reassignment, and with the chocobos on strike there were some issues getting everyone to the office. We are lucky that there aren’t more souls floating around in Limbo!” Carbuncle looked up at the Draconian Astral, gulped nervously and said, “But of course I will supervise their next reassignment myself.”

“If they had been born into their new roles it wouldn’t be so bad,” offered Shiva, “but they have been, well, stuffed into pre-existing personas! This is a DISASTER!”

“At least they will be worshipped as gods in that realm,” put in Ramuh.

Titan sighed and poured himself another whiskey-and-soda.

****

Charles Offdensen pushed up his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. He had been going over the band’s financial statements when he was hit with the idea for a new recipe. This was odd because he didn’t cook; Jean-Pierre was more than adequate to fulfill his nutritional needs. “I must be working too hard,” he thought; when he was interrupted by another thought, this one in a more refined tone of voice: “Nonsense! It is a duty and privilege to serve one’s liege! And furthermore… One moment, where am I?”

****

Nathan Explosion was busy, working on the 67th of his hundred beers and putting the final touches on “Go Forth and Die”. Except… those weren’t the words he originally wrote, were they?

Trapped inside a crystal Ten long years Hiding from the world Forgotten by your peers

“Huh,” he growled, “sounds more like the plot of a video game. Well, these beers aren’t gonna drink themselves. New song idea: Self-drinking beer.”

****

Toki Wartooth was in his room, happily working on his model planes when a little voice in his head told him that he should see if there were any new pupper videos. Toki was okay with this, and hummed happily to himself as he flipped on YouTube. After about a half hour, the voice asked about video games, to which Toki replied, “We amsk gots a room full of video games! Is you my new friends in my heads, little voice? Is yous gots a names?” “Well,” the voice answered back, “I’m Prompto, but where am I and how did I get here?” “I don’tsk knows Promptos but let’s go play DDR! Yous is Toki’s friends now!”

****

Pickles noticed that there seemed to be something a little off about his manager and bandmates. Nathan was doing a lot more reading than drinking; although he still churned out songs unnaturally fast, now they were more about crystals, lost kings, and something called “chocobos”. The latter made Toki ecstatic and he would go on for hours about them. This was puzzling as Toki was known to have had an austere and abusive childhood, and whatever these “chocobos” were, Pickles was sure they weren’t native to Norway. Skwisgaar, as self-centered as he was, had mentioned that to Pickles. Sweden was practically Norway anyway, but Pickles knew if he said that, the blond guitar-slinger would retreat to his room for a week to get over his sulk with the assistance of various GMILFs. Normally that wouldn’t bother Offdensen, as he didn’t have to worry about paying for abortions or child support (Skwisgaar was SO. MUCH. CHEAPER in that regard than the rest of the band), but Pickles had noticed that Offdensen was now more prone to lecture the band about personal responsibility, hygiene, and the need to be cost-efficient. Well, he WAS their CFO, but he hadn’t minded before… Were they in financial trouble? Even countries went belly-up from time to time, and Dethklok’s income when ranked beside the GNP of other countries was at a healthy and respectable 7, so maybe…?

Pickles decided then and there to visit Charles Foster Offdensen in his office.

****

Murderface didn’t care. He drank another beer, belched, and scratched his belly over the “Pobody’s Nerfect” tattoo. That had been some night when he got that – too bad, he thought, that he didn’t remember it.

****

“Yo, Robot!” exclaimed Pickles as he burst into Offdensen’s office. “I been meanin’ to talk to you about how you’ve been acting lately and-” He came to a sudden stop as he took in Toki and Nathan already seated across from their manager, heads close together conspiratorially. “What is this? I know something has been going on, but this better not be fucking with our bread and butter here.”

“Ah, yes… Pickles…maybe it is time to explain,” came the odd cultured voice that had been emanating as of late from Offdensen. “From my observations, I believe you would have a better grasp of the situation than, say, Mr. Skwigelf or Mr. Murderface.”

“Yes, that is true,” came the more typical Offdensen voice. “Pickles does have a greater intellect than he lets on, despite the mass quantity of chemical substances he indulges with.”

Pickles was taken a bit aback and tried to recover as best he can. “This better not be some touchy-feely type of intervention, ya douchebags. Because that is so not metal.”

****

“Ignis”, as the cultured voice called itself, launched into an epic tale of kingdoms lost, love lost, Hell even daylight lost; lots of attacks from every angle, deep and mysterious dungeons filled with monsters and demons beyond imagination, and eventual redemption at the price of a blood sacrifice. When it came to drug-induced imaginings, no one – hands down – could come close to Pickles, which is what finally made Pickles realize that he was being told the truth. It also accounted for, he thought, a greater element of story-telling in Nathan’s lyrics recently (although he could do without the gothic romance stuff – so not metal).

The “Gladio” voice that resided in Nathan chimed in… well, more like “contra-bassooned” in - with “It’s not all bad; I think this could be fun for a bit. I’ve always liked writing poetry and I feel I am good at this songwriting. Not entirely sure what you and your resident blondie mean by “metal” but I’m sure I’ll pick it up. And women! And beer! I don’t have to stay sober and celibate all the damn time to watch over everyone else’s dumb asses!”

Toki’s resident “Prompto” piped up, “Yeah! It would be like totally cool to be rock stars! I…” and here the sunshine voice faltered and whispered, “I just wish Noct was here with us.”

The tone was so heartbreaking that even Pickles wanted to comfort Toki, much like Nathan and Offdensen were doing, even though he knew it was really the three specters within his friends that were engaged in a cuddlefest at the moment.

After a while, Pickles grew visibly uncomfortable at the snuggly intimacy before him. He cleared his throat. “Um, hey… so…like… Is there anything we can do to get you back to where you belong?”

Offdensen qua Offdensen shook himself loose from the huddle and said “Well, if Ishnifus were still with us, he would probably be able to help. I am the new High Holy Priest, but not all avenues are open to me yet. Right now, though, the only person who could possibly assist is the one person we are absolutely unable to turn to for help. Nathan, Toki – I am referring to Mr. Salacia. “

“You means the big creepy fella?” asked Toki. “The ones who tried to haves us killed?”

Nathan perked up. “Yeah, that guy is bad news. Probably at least as bad as if not worse than that Ardyn fellow you were telling us about.”

Here is where Pickles felt he could shine. “I have a better idea – Nathan, remember that tribe you are related to in South America? Honey Mangoes or something like that?”

“Yaneemango. Chief Otoe is my grandfather, but yeah, why – Oh. Yopo. That released our spirit animal forms, but – “

Here the “Ignis” voice jumped in. “What? That may be the answer. How can we best achieve this? I have noticed geography is vastly different than what we are used to, but I believe we can make it there from this Mordhaus of yours in a matter of 4 days, including stops for curatives and provisions. Prompto, Gladio, we must confer with our host bodies as it will be them bearing any physical discomfort caused by this experiment.”

Nathan qua Nathan softly growls “Close your eyes and become the animals that you once were… Yeah, I’m down for this. It was cool becoming an alligator. But we have to bring Murderface and Skwisgaar – you too, Pickles.”

“Like I would turn down a chance to be an octopus again? I could play drums and guitar at the same time.”

****

Ignis had no problems with traversing a rainforest. Neither did his fellow Crownsguard really; Prompto just liked to complain about his feet hurting and question if they were there yet with a whine in his voice. Quite the trouper, he was. But despite sharing hotel rooms and tents around Eos and being accustomed to the sight of each other’s bodies, at least while they had corporeal bodies, nothing could have prepared Ignis for Murderface splayed out on deck completely nude. It was a small relief that rest of the band felt the same way, since the retching noises did nothing to deter the bass player from sprawling naked on a lounge chair while reverentially whispering “Ah, freeballing”. Ignis supposed he should be grateful the man refrained from urinating over the side of the boat, after it was relayed to him by Skwisgaar how a fish called a “Candiru” managed to lodge itself in Murderface’s urethra the last time they made this journey. While Ignis respected Skwisgaar’s talent, he had a limited tolerance for the man, as aspects of his personality were too similar to Loqi Tummelt for his taste. He felt that in Charles Foster Offdensen, he found a kindred spirit. They would often have silent conversations about the importance of lighting, and what separates the good lamps from the cheap lamps.

Gladio-within-Nathan thought this was a fine adventure; very few critters were trying to kill him, and the resident large, spotted cats kept to themselves and didn’t throw lightning bolts with the wrath of Ramuh at him. He was also silently communing with Nathan, and wishing he could stay a little longer – beer, booze, women, fame, money, lack of people trying to murder you just for being associated with royalty – yeah, a guy could definitely get used to this.

Prompto liked Toki and could relate to the child-like nature of his host body; they had much in common. Animals, video games, models of aircraft (even though what Toki worked on was nothing like the aircraft Prompto was familiar with), not to mention a brutal and lonely childhood – Toki, much like Prompto himself, often exhibited a warm and cheerful exterior to hide the small, scared child inside. At least Toki had parents, but Prompto reflected that maybe having no parents was better than having parents that were outright cold and abusive. That clown, though… Prompto admitted to himself that Dr. Rockzo was on the creepy side, even for a clown; and that was saying something.

Offdensen genuinely liked and respected his spirit resident; he wished he had an army of Ignises around. He just wanted his body back with himself as the sole occupant.

Nathan thought Gladio was a bit of a tyrant with his extensive exercise regimen, but Nathan could appreciate the results in himself. For one thing, it extended the time he could go between liver transplants; for another, it gave him new perspectives and topics for writing songs. “Battle Coeurl” had gone quadruple platinum overnight! Dick Knubbler had practically came in his boxers when he heard that, and Abigail…. Nathan smiled slightly at the memory of Abigail practically dragging him to the floor for that one.

Toki was happy to have a new friend that liked the same things he did and could relate to a bad childhood. He felt sad at the prospect of losing Prompto, but he was excited to see if he would become a shamanistic bunny again.

Skwisgaar Skwigelf was completely unaware that anything had changed with either the robot or his bandmates. He continued running scales and arpeggios on his custom Thunderhorse and gloating to himself over how superior it was to Toki’s Snow Falcon. He experienced mild disappointment when Toki didn’t play “Stops Copies Me” at the gear library, something Pickles called “sporting goods store, ya douchebag – and now my blood sugar’s low again.”

Pickles was at a bit of a loss. He kind of wanted to have a spirit buddy to talk with, but at the same time he didn’t think he was ready for that kind of intimacy. He was actually pleased; he had been looking for a reason to go back down for another dose of Yopo, but it would have been awkward dropping in on his bandmate’s relatives without Nathan in tow. If he’s gonna die, might as well die high!

Murderface napped, occasionally belching and scratching himself in awkward places in his sleep. He was looking forward to being a white tiger again; as a bass player he didn’t get a lot of respect, but as a tiger? Wow! No one would dare turn a tiger down in the mix, or have the lead guitar player (that damn Skwisgaar!) record new notes over a tiger’s bass leads!

****

Both Offdensen and Ignis thought having hordes of Klokateers drag their boat over a mountain and through the jungle was a bit excessive, but not a single member of Dethklok showed any inclination of making the final trek under their own power. Gladio was fuming and silently berating Nathan for this lack of industry, and Prompto and Toki were too caught up in playing “I Spy” to pay attention.

They knew they had reached their destination when they found themselves surrounded by spears, which were lowered as the Yaneemango tribe recognized the faces on the mountain. Offdensen found he was able communicate their issues to the shaman, having briefly studied the tribe’s language after the last time the band ran off to experience Yopo. The shaman had recognized quickly that there were foreign spirits residing within, and agreed to perform the Yopo ceremony to attempt to free them.

****

“BOSS!” yelled a moogle to Carbuncle, “You gotta come here, Kupo! This realm where Noct’s entourage ended up is going to try to separate their souls, Kupo!”

Carbuncle scurried to the moogle viewing device as fast as his four furry feet could carry him. “Quick! Patch me through to Bahamut!” The communication device crackled to life. “This had better be important,” came the deep voice over the speaker. “Sir! The primitives are going to try separating their souls from their bodies! Can you please lend your assistance?”

In less than the time it took to blink an eye, Bahamut was in the control room. He didn’t feel there was anything he could do, but it would let the moogles feel as though everything was in order. He wondered for a moment if it was blasphemous on some level for an Astral to pray.

****

The fires were lit, the chanting had begun. The shaman blew Yopo into the faces of Dethklok and their manager/CFO/legal advisor/High Holy Priest of the Church of the Black Klok. From their bodies rose the form of a hawk (Skwisgaar), white tiger (Murderface), octopus (Pickles)… and instead of an alligator and a rabbit from Nathan and Toki, there were the ghostly figures of a mountain of a man with long dark hair, glowing amber eyes, and chiseled abs; a fluffy-headed blond with eyes like a sunny afternoon and a smattering of freckles, and drifting over from Offdensen was the figure of a tall, lean man with glowing green eyes and medium brown hair; although they could see remnants of massive scarring around his eyes, he had the most beautiful smile and he gazed peacefully back. The three linked hands, slowly dissipating into small blue glowing orbs, then a sudden flash of light as –

****

The moogle crew, Carbuncle, and even Bahamut were whooping it up in the control room. It was a success! Souls retrieved and Bahamut made a mental note to add a paycheck bonus for all those involved. Even himself.

****

The three Crownsguard found themselves abruptly in what looked like the throne room of the Citadel, before Niflheim attacked. Prompto was the first to recover, yelling “NOCT!!!!” as he barreled up the stairs and was met by a charging King Noctis, wrapping their arms around each other, swiftly followed by Ignis and Gladio. Tears were shed, and no one spoke – or could speak – for the longest time. There was no need. They were home.

[the-whole-gangs-here]

Marcelle’s Backstory

from childhood up to joining the adventure, under the cut

note: half-orcs age nearly twice as fast as humans, reaching young-adulthood at 15 years and middle-age at around 30

AGE 0 - 8

Marcel grew up on a small ranch homestead in the desert with his full orc mother, Tirza Mason, Iza for short. They grew corn and raised a handful of hens, cows, and pigs. His father was a human man, Benjamin Mason, Ben for short. Marcel never saw his father for long periods of time as he would travel from distant town to distant town selling their ranch’s goods and produce. Marcel practiced ranching and learned about his mom’s native culture growing up, growing up to speak in both common and orc while cultivating into a young, tender farmhand.

After getting frustrated with his chosen profession, Ben had resorted to gambling in order to bring home enough money to support his family. At first, it was good and he was getting more for his gold than he had initially, only able to feed his wife and son white lies about their hard work paying off. But gambling became more of a financial and addictive burden that came for a real longterm price. Over time, he had started to lie about “selling” the produce and animals, when in reality Ben had lost them in the game. Then came the day he had owed his gambling partners over 5000 gold pieces, which wasn’t anything close to what he had. In one final swoop, Ben had bet the rest of his earnings in attempt to erase the debt for good.

It didn’t end well. He bet everything he owned - the ranch, his land, and his animals. He lost everything and his gambling partners weren’t merciful as they had immediately traversed to claim what was now theirs. They arrived at the homestead to find out that Ben’s wife and child were Orcs - horrified by this discovery, they turned on Ben completely - their leader even spit on his face in disgust.

Gang Leader “They’re fucking orcs, you disgusting pervert. That there’s even a fucking half-breed!”

Betrayed by the man who held their lives in their hands, Iza and Marcel didn’t listen to back down from a fight until a gun was raised. Their leader gave Iza an option to either accompany with them and get sold to a brothel or die. Iza turned to Marcel and spoke in Orc,  “Promise you’ll grow up to be a better man than your father. I Love You,” Iza refused to go with the men.

Iza was shot in cold blood.

Marcel’s last memory of his father was him chasing after the wagon of the gamblers on the desert horizon until he was out of sight. He hadn’t seen or heard of him since.

AGE 8 - 14

After several days of traversing desert, Marcel had been the furthest he’d ever been away from the homestead. In the city, he was brought to The Orphanage where he was sold to its owners. The Orphanage, Marcel would soon discover, was a secret cover name of a child labour camp in which groups of kids would work in the nearby factories for scrap pay. There were three institutions: The Pulp Mill, The Silk Trade facility and The Fish Market. Because Marcel was half-orc, he was placed with the older boys at the Pulp Mill due to his natural size and strength.

Meals were near inedible, bunk rooms were overcrowded and they’d work everyday for long, intense shifts with minimal breaks. Children were punished to go without food if they broke any rules. Marcel was quick to understand the social hierarchy of the children and used his size and strength to his advantage as many of the non-orc children were naturally intimidated by him. He’d use these traits to confiscate a bunk to himself, get dibs on seconds, and earn respect from the older kids to not fuck with him. However, he didn’t have a gang like the older kids as he kept to himself or the first while, quietly mourning his parents and his old life. He never made friends because no one wanted to be his friend.

One day just over the two-year mark of being at The Orphanage, a meddling guard commented on Marcel’s accelerated aging. Marcel had grown into the able-bodied form of a young human adult (~19 years old ) in such a short span of human time.

Meddling Guard: “That half-breed will have to get kicked outta here like the rest of his kin, he looks too old now and the orphanage isn’t a place for Big Kids."

Marcel had planned an escape.. and he succeeded. Through an elaborate series of stealth, maneuver and disguise, Marcel managed to find a way undetected to a shack near the City’s Marina. There Marcel was discovered by someone by the name of Gran. Gran was a full-orc, like his mother, and didn’t run him off due to the familiar Orc kinship. After explaining his situation, a story that brought himself to tears by the sheer thought of his mother, Gran had offered to shelter him until he was ready to find another heading. In exchange for the space to hide from The Orphanage, Marcel helped Gran make Orc-ish beaded and wicker-ed crafts to the best of his ability. The stay with Gran also helped Marcel understand himself. 

Throughout his life, he had been a boy and grew to be a man and understood his role put upon him  to be strong, intimidating and selfish - but Gran knew he was discontented for more than just that. She taught him about what it was like to be an Orc-ish woman and Marcel was grateful as he had discovered another portion of himself that was bottled away his entire life. Feelings about his mother would consistently sprout during these teachings and Gran helped him reconcile his bottled-up grief. Marcel had decided to take these days to explore what he liked to do - which was exactly the crafting his mother had attempted to teach him fully on the ranch but went unappreciated when he was a child. Gran reminded Marcel, it was who he was inside that mattered most. He was more than just a halfbreed Orc; he could be whatever he wanted to be.

Barely a week later, one of Gran’s patrons that was an Orphanage security in disguise, discovered Marcel’s whereabouts and called to find him and kill him for escaping the institution. Gran helped him pack for his future journey, sending him off immediately during the night of the raid of her place.

Gran: “Board one with a black flag.” Marcel: “... a pirate ship.” Gran: “It’s one of the safest places on the open sea for our kind. Get discovered once you’re out at sea and bargain to stay - it’s one of the only chances of you making a life for yourself and being able to find your father. Please, be strong.” Marcel: “I promise.”

AGE 14 - 16 

Marcel was found below deck by the galley cook, a half-dwarf named Nigel, within several days of departing the port. The pirates were ruthless and handled him roughly as he was brought straight to the captain of the ship: Captain Cain, also known as The Oracle of Salazar, one of the most ruthless cut throats and banes of the royal navy. His ship, The Salvation, stands as one of the most maneuverable vessels on the open sea, ready to turn on a time in mere seconds. Marcel didn’t spare a second and did just as Gran had told him to and immediately bargained with Cain. 

Marcel: “If I can’t prove my worth to you within the next month, I’ll walk off this ship myself.” Cain: “A week, then. Out of sight and out of mind.”

During this week, instead of proving his practical abilities, Marcel had spent most of his time assisting the crew members. Just as it had worked at The Orphanage, he stayed in his lane and where ever possible took advantage of intimidation. By doing tedious chores and manual tasks, Marcel gained respect from the crew and easily slid into the ranks by playing safe. He made good friends with his bunk-mate Nigel the galley cook and helped him prepare the crew’s rationed meals. 

Weeks passed as the crew forgot Marcel’s presence on the ship, which ultimately proved his place amongst them. Marcel’s approval from the captain was a sly wink and a smile directed to Marcel one day as they efficiently lowered the anchor and wrapped up sails for the night. 

One night, months later, they had accidentally sailed into magical territory after another fight with a Naval ship. Marcel had awakened his druidic magicks and cantrips during a Siren raid and fended off the monsters with several other members of the crew, including the First Mate, Olaseni (pronounced olà-shey-ni) Shae for short, unaffected by their seductive, female cries.

As crew members described the fight to the captain, Marcel was then promoted to apprentice Olaseni. Shae easily took Marcel under his wing, teaching him all he knew about navigating the sea, operating the ship and being a leader for the crew under the captain. During this period, unknowing to himself, Marcel grew really fond of Shae with feelings of attraction to his confidence, humor and and self-reliance to even his strapping, built appearance from years at sea. It wasn’t until two years of being at sea with his new seafaring family did Marcel finally act on his feelings for him.

AGE 18 - 22

After one incredibly intense naval battle, defeating an entire royal navy Man O’War, the crew had celebrated their new treasures and spoils with song, feast, drinks and dance. The party was lit with lanterns along the deck and the fiddles and joyous singing could be heard from miles away at sea. 

When Marcel confessed his feelings to Shae with the help of liquid luck, and instead of being shoved away, Shae, in alcoholic stupor, accepted and embraced Marcel for the fateful night, breathing life into unrequited love.

The next morning, however, awakening in the first mate’s cabin - Shae had confessed he felt what had happened was a mistake - using Marcel’s quick aging as an excuse to reject him, covering the fact that Shae was blatantly denying his homosexuality. Shae was denying his homosexuality for good reason, as he’d been traumatized by the Captain himself years before he knew Marcel under the means of “love” potions and spells. Shae didn’t want to admit why he rejected Marcel as he did as he deemed himself to be filthy and unworthy of love. He never confessed this to Marcel until the last moments they shared together.

What had happened next made Marcel regret not acting on his feelings sooner. What happened changed Marcel’s fate forever again.

During the raid of the Man O’ War, Cain had made a bargain with the Royal Prince they held hostage. In exchange for letting the Prince return to his home, Cain could trade his ship and his crew for an even bigger treasure that could over-rule his entire life’s earnings as a pirate ten fold. Out of greed, Cain had accepted the truce and set course for the nearest Navy-ruled Port without telling his crew. 

The mutiny that the captain imposed on his own ship was disastrous. By the time the crew understood what was happening, Naval soldiers already were aboard the ship - ready to capture their pirates on the blatant silver platter. Marcel wasn’t going down without a fight, but by the time he reached the wheel of the ship more than half of the crew were either captured or killed on the spot. Cain stopped Marcel in his tracks as he rose a gun to Olaseni’s head, threatening to shoot him if he didn’t back down. 

Cain explained what had happened between him and the Navy without any remorse, but explanations faded for Marcel as history had repeated itself and he saw red as Cain’s actions had reflected those of his father’s gamble - another family gone, another love at gunpoint, another man with the gun

Marcel wasn’t a helpless child anymore. He was stronger, faster, with awakened druidic magicks and Marcel didn’t hesitate

Longstrider: Marcel sprinted along the breeeze, knocking the gun out of Cain’s hand - it clatters onto the deck as Marcel unsheathes Shea’s sword straight from his own holster and doesn’t hold back as he swings at Cain with unrelenting force - Cain dodges, picking up his gun in one fell swoop

The crack of the pistol’s shot rang through Marcel’s being and will continue to haunt him throughout his life. Looking back, Marcel watched Shae spurt blood from his mouth- Cain lowered his gun from the bleeding rawness of Shae’s chest. Cain repeated his words, Marcel had to surrender or die by his hand. 

Marcel held both of his hands up before moving to catch Olaseni in his arms - Cain then warned those remaining on the ship would suffer the same fate.

Shae looked up to Marcel as he held him in his final moments, and in his final breath he said. “I wish I could say I loved you, because I did.. Kill him for me, Marcel.” Marcel promised with tears as he watched Shae fade away.

Once everyone but Marcel and Shae were left on the vessel, Cain threw his pistol at Marcel’s knees as he threw a lit match onto the deck. Marcel fumbled with the gun, shaking with pure rage, pointing it at Cain - Click.

It was empty. 

Cain laughed a spiteful, bellied laugh for what felt like ages, as the flames of the deck rose at his feet. Cain strode away, kicking down the plank between ships without looking back. Maybe his greed and rage got the better of Cain, or maybe he was jealous of their love, but Marcel will never know the reason behind the Captain’s betrayal until he meets him again.

AGE 22 to Present Day

Marcel had jumped off the burning vessel after gathering his belongings, rations and travelling supplies, giving Olaseni one last good bye kiss. Marcel swam to the nearest splotch of sand on the horizon. Being trapped on a semi-tropical island allowed Marcel to process his newfound grief and mediate on what to do next. Each day, Marcel threw smoke signals into the air and used this new quiet place to violently practice his new druidic spells, releasing the anger pent up inside of him. He remembered that had promises to fulfil.

“Promise you’ll grow up to be a better man than your father.” “Please, be strong.” “Kill him for me, Marcel.”

Marcel became Marcelle on that island. She had sworn her life’s purpose to avenge her crew.. her family. Marcelle took Gran’s teachings to heart through her meditations: she could be whoever she wanted to be, so she became the strong woman she’d always idolized. She was able to become herself and cater to her inner desires to be strong in a different way.. a way that felt real. The strongest people she knew were women and she herself had been one all this time. Without people telling her who she was for once, Marcelle was finally free.

After a passing ship had picked her up, she set out to visit her old home. At the village nearby, she had learned visiting a local inn runner that her mother was buried in an unmarked grave next to the property. Other than being ransacked completely and buried in desert sand, the house was still standing as she had hoped. She found what was left of her mother outback in the field in a shallow grave. 

Marcelle spent the night reburying her remains with wildflowers and shells she’d kept from her time out at sea while giving her a proper send off to the spirit world through smoke of sweetgrass, cinnamon stalks and wildflowers. She burned down the ranch house with the remaining embers.

She had never given a thought to her father. To Marcelle, her father was dead and gone. Her next journey treaded through the desert to find the next lead of her Captain’s whereabouts. For a year, she journeyed from the homestead across the entire continent fuelled with rage, taking on bounty missions and rate assassin’s contracts in exchange for clues about the appearances of her captain. She started to build upon a reputation for herself as a fierce bounty hunter ready for her next head in order for the possibility of drawing Cain out of hiding. And each bounty she catches, the closer she gets to fulfilling her new life’s purpose.

[basilvercrow]

more about basilvercrow!

a cute witchy get-to-know-me! tagged by @moreofwaterthanblood (honestly i’m so flattered to get tagged in these things like wow?? someone actually thinks of me???? ily)

1. Are you a religious witch? Which region?  i don’t worship or work with any deities, but the path of druidry has been calling my name for a few years now and i’m eager to study it.

2. What is your preferred herb?  i don’t own a wide selection, but my favorite is of course basil :^)

3. What is your preferred gem?   i only own 3 crystals, but i have a very deep attraction to jasper, lapis lazuli, and aventurine

4. Do you do divination? Which kind? i’m working on practicing cartomancy and dice divination (i forget what it’s called lol), and i hope to eventually work with runes and either tarot or oracle cards.  5. Favorite Tarot card? i can’t say i have one since i’m not familiar with tarot, but maybe one of the sword cards bc i love swords lol

6. To Curse or not to Curse?  i never have, but that’s not to say i never would. but i support any magick so long as you are responsible and respectful of it.

7. Do you have a familiar? i love the idea of one, but i doubt i’ll ever have one, at least not any time soon. :^( 8. Favorite candle color? hmm... probably green!

9. Favorite rune? i don’t know them well enough to say! 10. Do you celebrate the solstices, full moons, etc?  i do! or at least try to. i don’t always have the energy for a full ritual or celebration, but i at least try to do something to acknowledge them.

11. Do you wear a pentacle?  i would love like earrings or a choker, but i don’t currently have one.

12. Do you have a broom? not a witchy one, i’ve got a regular mundane one tho lol 13. Do you have a pendulum?  i do not. they’re very pretty! but working with pendulums just doesn’t appeal to me personally. 14. Do you have an athame? i have a dragon dagger, but it’s blunted and dull so it’s more of a collector’s thing. i’d love a separate ritual blade though (i love blades???) 15. How often do you meditate? (((i’ve never meditated i’m the worst witch;;;;))) 16. Do you do yoga? i used to! i’d be happy to get back into it, but like.....energy lol 17. Whats your favorite herbal tea? i’ve only ever had chamomile but i love it! 18. Do you support manipulation magic? if that means magick intended to affect free will, then i’d say i don’t approve of it, but i won’t stop you from doing it. 19. How many altars do you have? i’ve nowhere to put one, or even really anything to put on one :^( i have like a little witch kit that i carry around though. 20. Do you do magic outside often? honey i can barely do magick inside lol. but i feel most magickal when i’m surrounded by nature so i’d like to attempt it someday! 21. Can you read palms, or tea leaves? nope 22. Would you ever open your own metaphysics shop? hmm... i mean i hate retail, but maybe i’d do like a members only online shop or something? 23. Is your third eye open?  i don’t even know where my third eye is lmao

24. Do you like Astrology? Whats your sign? i love reading into it, but i’m hesitant to like... firmly believe in it? like, i don’t take horoscopes to heart but i always make note of like correspondences and stuff. i’m a leo sun, leo moon, and libra rising. :^) 25. Favorite flower? Or Tree?  flower is probably pansy or forget-me-not... or just wildflowers in general. and i’m especially fond of pines/evergreens. 26. Do you have an animal guide? nope 27. Whats your favorite kind of magic? all of it idk??? bottles/jars/sachets are especially good for me though 28. What time do you feel most like a witch? whenever nature is all around me and i’m far from any evidence of human intrusion 29. Are you out of the broom closet? i don’t tell people i’m a witch but if they asked i probably wouldn’t lie 30. Are you a hereditary witch? Or self discovered? entirely self-discovered 31. Are you in a coven? Or solitary?  supremely solitary 32. Do you want to be in a coven? How big? i don’t think i’d do well in a coven. my practice is very personal and individualized. but it’d be cool to maybe have a witchy friend or two to just hang out with and do little witch things with, like making charms or sigils for each other. 33. When did you become a witch? january 2017! i’m just a wee bab 34. Do you make your own spells?  i plan to! 35. Do you make your own sigils? yep! i love sigils so much 36. Why did you choose this path?  it’s something that has always called to me throughout my life, but it was only just recently i realized it was something i could truly pursue, and i am so thankful for that revelation. 37. Whats your favorite element?  air~ 38. Do you do any misc. magic? i’m not sure what’s classified as misc. magick :^O 39. Magic or things you will never do? i will never fuck w spirits keep that shit away from me. like i totally respect and support those who do it’s just my every instinct tells me to stay away. i won’t even be in the same room as a ouija board like i am outta here goodbye

40. Strangest way a spell backfired? hasn’t happened yet, though i’m positive it’s only a matter of time

i never tag other people in these, but please feel free to do it and tag me so i can learn more about you lovely witches! :^)

[adriennescomingbacktolife]

CW WAR 2020  Six-Person

OOC: Written by Jon Willis

Terra Skye: Well that was certainly an interesting interaction between Jack Michaels and Zephyr Quinn. Johnny Vegas: THAT BITCH! Terra Skye: Oh please. She’s entitled to her opinion - Just the same as everyone else. Boy: SEVENTY FROGS FOR SALE! Terra Skye: ...Anyway. We Are Relentless continues with what could be the penultimate chapter in the story of Matt Knox taking on the forces of Insidious. Johnny Vegas: Look at the big brain on Ms. Public University! What's that word even mean though? Terra Skye: It means "second to last", and you'd know that if cheap liquor hadn't already rotted what few brain cells you were born with in the first place. If Knox and his team are able to win this match, Matt Knox will finally have a one-on-one match with Sah'ta Thor, the man he hates more than any one person or any one thing in this world. Johnny Vegas: You know, I just don't get what Knox's issue with Insidious is. If you ask me, Thor's just misunderstood! Terra Skye: That's exactly what the leader of Insidious wants you to think. Thor's ability to control the narrative, gaslight, and bring out the worst in his followers is what makes Insidious such a dangerous force in Carnage Wrestling. They'll do anything for Thor, and they'll do whatever it takes to see his twisted vision of the future come to reality. I'm just glad that Adrienne Levi, Matt Knox, and Silvio Leon have stepped up to stop Insidious from consuming Carnage Wrestling like the cancer those not blinded by Thor's propaganda know it to be. Johnny Vegas: You know, you talk about Insidious as if they're a bunch of evil villains, but last time I checked, Nathaniel Grant- Terra Skye: I'm not going to debate you, Johnny. You're not worth it. Plus, the time for talk is over. Let's head ringside for the introductions for what will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment in the careers of all involved. Besides, you couldn’t stand Thor a few weeks ago and now you’re abdicating for him? Please, decide which side of the fence you wanna be on… Then maybe I can take you seriously. Johnny Vegas: Just because I don’t know a mans name, doesn’t mean I dislike him. BITCH! The siren song of Insidious, a mashup between "Broken Dreams" by Shaman's Harvest and "Burn it Down" by Linkin Park, plays all throughout the arena as Aaron Fredrick Hudson, Lu Chen "Kyuubi" Hudson, and Melificent "Poppy" Lasciel come out onto the entrance ramp, all wearing matching ring gear, all presenting a united front. After a few seconds of the three staring out into the crowd and soaking in the chorus of boos that greet them, they all make their way to the ring. Johnny Vegas: See, lookie here. They’re coming out as a unit. Terra Skye: As much as I hate to admit it, I have to wonder if the close bonds of Insidious give them an edge. Adrienne Levi and Silvio Leon seem to be good friends with Matt and all three of the talented wrestlers seem to mesh well with each other, but Levi and Leon are new recruits to this war, and Insidious are seasoned veterans. In a further show of union and solidarity, Insidious is introduced as a group. Kelly Carmichael: The following is a six-person tag team match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, at a combined weight of 456 pounds... the team of Aaron Fredrick Hudson, Kyuubi, and Melificent Lasciel... they are... INSIDIOUS! The three members of Insidious all begin warming up in the ring and talking strategy with each other as they wait for their opponents. Soon enough, the melancholy bassline of “The Game” by TRAPT begins to ring throughout the arena when, all of a sudden, it appears as if the track starts to skip. The stage lights cut out completely for a moment as the fog that usually accompanies Matt Knox’s entrance continues to gather. After a moment the lights snap back on in a deep blue as the guitar of “Overcome” by Creed tears forth from the speakers. As the verse begins, Matthew steps out onto the stage to the cheers of the legion in attendance. He reaches up and removes the hood of the sleeveless hoodie he’s adorned in and raises his arms. Kelly Carmichael: And their opponents, introducing first from Monterey, California...weighing in at Two Hundred and Forty-Four pounds...Matthew “The Raven” Knox!!! He runs to either end of the stage, pumping the fans up. He pauses a moment to pay Johnny Vegas a two fingered salute, before returning to the middle of the stage and waiting, bouncing in place as he waits for Adrienne Levi and Silvio Leon to make their way from the back, eyes locked on Insidious as they await the three in the ring. Johnny Vegas: This fucker. Terra Skye: Sure, Matt Knox hasn’t been a model father, but I’m sorry - The guy seems like he’s trying and I gotta respect that. Johnny Vegas: It’s all a PLOY! The house lights are dimmed to near darkness as smoke gathers around the entrance at the top of the ramp. The opening guitar solo of "Superstition" by Kyle Primus echoes across the audience in the dim, with the Carnagetron showing flickering black-and-white images of a Ouija board planchette moving on its own slowly along the arc of letters printed across the board beneath it, raw crystals and tarot cards scattered around its borders. Just as the rest of the band kicks in to join the guitar, the entrance is bathed in beams of black light, Silvio walking through them, cast in their unnatural glow for a moment before the house lights flash back to life. Kelly Carmichael: From Seattle Washington, weighing in at 195 pounds, he is your Mystifying Oracle, Silvio Leon! He brings both hands up to eye level, palms out, fingertips touching to create a triangular planchette shape out of the negative space before throwing his arms down, with pyro firing off to either side of him. Johnny Vegas: FREAK! Terra Skye: I’d love it if he’d teleport you to another dimension. Johnny Vegas: I’d love it if you’d shut the fuck up but I guess neither of us are getting what we want. He stands at the entrance with Matt, waiting for Adrienne to come out. As she does, Matt and Silvio stand to either side of her, flexing and leaning over slightly at the waist, framing her between them for a moment before starting down the ramp to the ring. Silvio interacts heavily with whatever audience may be present - winks, finger guns, high-fives, exaggerated, wounded reactions to anyone who might boo their trio that dissolve into laughter. Silvio joins Knox on the ramp, giving him a casual fist bump as they both await their partner. The house lights dim as Waterproof Blonde’s lead singer Rachel Hagen declared, “Inside me a light was turned on, then I was alive!!” Right at that instant, the lights flashed back on in a purple hue as "Just Close Your Eyes" went into its electric chorus. Adrienne Levi makes her entrance adorned in a long-sleeved purple top, purple and black tights stylized with her logo, and a pair of shiny new black and purple boots. Kelly Carmichael: Finally, hailing from Clearwater, Florida, weighing in 135 pounds, this is Adrienne Levi! Johnny Vegas: LOOOOSERRRRRR!!! Terra Skye: Oh my God… Adrienne Levi is one of the most promising up and comers that this promotion has seen in a long time! Boy: BUY MY FANGS! Smiling at the announcement, Adrienne scanned the crowd before making her way down to the ring. Bumping fists with any fans in the ringside area, eventually she joined Matt Knox and Silvio Leon in the middle of the ramp. The three competitors look at each other, nod, and dash the rest of the way down the entrance ramp, sliding into the ring, all three immediately locking eyes with their opponents. For a few tense seconds it looks like all six competitors are about to start an all-out melee in the ring, but Silvio and Levi both put their hands on Matt's shoulders and lead him back to their corner. The two teams spend the final few seconds before the match deciding who will compete first, and it ends up being AFH and Knox sharing a ring together as Boy rings the bell. Boy: WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN?! DING DING!! Boy emphatically rings the bell, shattering it in two, and a nearby ringside assistant calmly takes it away and replaces it with another one, pulling from a small box seemingly filled with nothing but timekeeper's bells since apparently Boy tends to forget how strong he is. AFH and Knox meet in the center of the ring, and AFH smirks and begins talking to Knox. Knox doesn't say a word... he just nails AFH straight in the jaw! AFH staggers back, and Knox lands a liver kick! AFH continues retreating, stumbling backwards, and Knox catches him with an elbow to the side of his face! Johnny Vegas: Oh, Booooo. Terra Skye: What did you expect exactly? Johnny Vegas: I don’t really know. AFH loses his balance, going to his knees momentarily before getting up and retreating to the ropes! Knox pulls himself forward by grabbing onto AFH's jeans as AFH retreats, landing a clubbing blow to the back of AFH's neck! AFH ducks under the middle rope and extends his body to where he's half-in and half-out of the ring, doing his best to dodge Knox's fists, but Knox continues attacking! Knox didn't say a word to AFH to begin the match, but he's now screaming and shouting as he continues to hit AFH with shot after shot after shot! Johnny Vegas: Somebody get that maniac back in his corner! Do your damn job ref! The referee does indeed step in to force a rope break, and Matthew Knox comes dangerously close to disqualifying himself by shoving the referee out of the way. The referee stumbles into the ropes and attempts to regain his balance, his back turned to the competitors in the ring, as Knox's tag partners begin shouting at him to calm down. With Matt in a blind rage and risking instant disqualification every passing second, Adrienne Levi attempts to enter the ring to pull Knox off AFH, but the referee immediately warns her away as he's getting back to his feet. Terra Skye: Oh come on, she’s trying to get him to calm down so he doesn’t disqualify their team and all this ends up being for nothing. Johnny Vegas: Hell it might all be for nothing anyway. You don’t know. Terra Skye: You’re right. I don’t. With the ref's back still turned, AFH nails a low blow on Matt Knox! With Knox continuing to fire bombs at AFH, the Insidious member drops to his knees and lands an uppercut right up into Matt Knox's most private area! The referee turns around to warn Matt Knox that if he tries anything like that again he'll be instantly disqualified, but his look of stern admonishment turns to confusion as Knox writhes in pain on all fours! Terra Skye: There! There are your heroes, Johnny! That's Insidious! Johnny Vegas: Matt Knox was attacking him like a mad dog! He was ignoring the rules of the match! He shoved a referee! Matt Knox should be disqualified! This whole match should be thrown out! Matthew Knox got exactly what he deserved for his blatant and flagrant disregard of the rules of this match! Boy: ON FRIDAY NIGHT A COMEDIAN DIED IN NEW YORK! Terra Skye: BULLSHIT! AFH hauls up the wounded Matt Knox and shoves him into a corner of the ring, where he begins landing hard spears to Matt Knox's gut. After three consecutive spears, Matt Knox goes down, his head resting on the bottom turnbuckle, and AFH begins stomping a mudhole in his opponent. The referee warns AFH to stop and then quickly begins a five-count, but AFH pauses at four and a half and cockily grins to the audience, who boo mightily. He then heads over to his corner of the ring and tags in his wife, Kyuubi, and the two execute some double-team offense. AFH pushes his wife into the ropes, then whips her forward hard with an Irish Whip, and the added momentum adds extra impact, as Kyuubi launches herself towards the still-prone Matt Knox and catches him with a Missile Dropkick right into the corner! Kyuubi drags Knox to the center of the ring and goes for the first pinfall of the match! ONE! TWO!!! And Matt Knox defiantly kicks out at two! Both competitors get up, and Matt Knox begins showing signs of a second wind! Kyuubi attempts a kick to the gut, but Matthew catches it, only for Kyuubi to counter with an Enzugiri! Knox is sent stumbling into the ropes, and Kyuubi quickly closes the distance, sending Knox across the ring with an Irish Whip! On his return, Knox manages to duck under a Yakuza Kick, and when Kyuubi turns around, Knox blasts her with a superkick! Knox scrambles over to his corner of the ring and tags in Adrienne Levi! Levi heads to the top rope and waits for Kyuubi to turn around! When she does, Levi goes sailing, catching Kyuubi with a Top Rope Crossbody! Adrienne rolls with the impact and gets back up to her feet as the fans cheer! Terra Skye: Adrienne has a lot to prove in this match and she's giving it her all! Johnny Vegas: She's out of her league! One wrong move and Insidious will send her back to reality right on her ass! Boy: THE DUSK REEKS OF FORNICATION AND BAD CONSCIENCES! Levi eyes up Kyuubi and plans her next move. Kyuubi manages to get up on her knees and elbows, and Levi runs at her, floats over her, grabs her up, and catches her in a Schoolboy Roll Up! The referee begins counting the pin! ONE! TWO!! And Melificent Lasciel breaks up the pin with a big boot to Adrienne Levi! Levi gets up holding her jaw as Matt Knox enters the ring and immediately begins running for Lasciel! But Adrienne Levi ends up holding him back! Levi is making sure Knox doesn't do anything else that might get the match thrown out! Knox eyes the Insidious corner angrily and goes back behind the ropes, but when Levi turns around, she's blasted with a Superkick by Kyuubi! Too late, Matt Knox curses and realizes the error of his ways, and pounds the turnbuckle pads to try and raise some support for Levi. The fans cheer and begin clapping in unison, but it's all for naught as Levi is dragged over to the Insidious corner. Kyuubi tags in Lasciel, and together the two execute a devastating Powerbomb/Double Knee Backbreaker combo! Johnny Vegas: See? And now he just costed his team! Terra Skye: I’ll admit, he’s gotta keep himself in check because this did hurt their team, but Adrienne is a tough competitor. She did just beat Insidious’ leader at Chaos 96. Johnny Vegas: Didn’t happen. Terra Skye: Are you serious? Johnny Vegas: I said I do not recall. Therefore it didn’t happen. Levi rolls around in pain clutching her back as Poppy walks around her, rubbing her eyes and pretending to cry, mocking Levi! When Levi tries to grab hold of Lasciel, Lasciel angrily swats her arm away and drops a stiff knee right to Levi's prone body, catching her right in the stomach. Lasciel drags Levi to her feet and sends her right back down, pulling Levi down by her hair into a backbreaker! The referee admonishes Lasciel for the hair pull but Lasciel shrugs and smiles. Lasciel stalks Levi as Levi gets to her feet. When Levi turns around, Lasciel attempts a Springboard Moonsault, but Levi ducks and Lasciel goes sailing past her, landing hard on her stomach! Levi runs at Lasciel and lands a Double Foot Stomp to her back, using her opponent as a springboard, springing forward and tagging in Silvio Leon! Terra Skye: She got the tag! Silvio Leon is about to take it to Insidious! Johnny Vegas: And what the hell is he doing? Boy: ALL WE EVER SEE OF STARS ARE THEIR OLD PHOTOGRAPHS! Silvio Leon springboards into the ring over the top rope, but he doesn't immediately go after his downed opponent. Instead, Leon waits for Lasciel to get up, then begins pointing towards AFH and motioning him forward. Lasciel looks confused, but AFH nods, and Lasciel goes over to the Insidious corner and tags in AFH. Leon nods, goes to the center of the ring, and motions AFH forward. Leon begins bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet as he continues to motion to AFH, urging him to come closer. AFH looks confused, but then smirks and shrugs, and attempts to hit Leon with a big haymaker! Leon sidesteps and keeps bouncing left and right, circling AFH! AFH locks his jaw in frustration and begins letting his fists fly, but Leon keeps dodging! Every time AFH goes to throw a shot, the next second, Leon simply isn't there! Terra Skye: And what do you think of this? Johnny Vegas: I think it’s horseshit. AFH attempts a right cross, but Leon ducks under, then AFH attempts a left uppercut, but Leon dodges to the side! AFH rushes forward in frustration with a Clothesline but Leon leans backwards Matrix-style and AFH nearly falls over his own two feet as Leon arches his body back up, turns towards AFH, and begins shouting at him! Leon backs up into a corner of the ring and motions AFH forward! And the Insidious member takes the bait! AFH rushes forward and begins assaulting Leon, but Leon uses the rope-a-dope defense! Almost every ounce of force generated by AFH's punches gets absorbed by the ring ropes and turnbuckles, rather than being absorbed by Leon's face or body! Johnny Vegas: Stand still and take it like a man you tarot reading tattooed freak! Terra Skye: He's embarrassing Aaron Fredrick Hudson and wearing him out all at the same time! Hudson is gassing himself out because he can't handle anyone daring to disrespect him! Boy: I'M JUST A PUPPET WHO CAN SEE THE STRINGS! And just like always, Terra Skye calls it correctly! The second Leon senses AFH's punches beginning to slow, he makes his move! He ducks under AFH, and when AFH turns, Leon blasts him with a Spinning Heel Kick! AFH is shoved back into the turnbuckles from the force of the blow, and Leon continues the offensive onslaught, bouncing up onto the second rope, twisting, turning, and hitting AFH with a Jumping Springboard Enzugiri! The fans cheer as AFH stumbles forward and falls flat on his face! Leon turns him around onto his back, points to the top rope, and signals for The Color Out of Space! Leon goes to the apron and begins climbing the turnbuckles! Terra Skye: Smart thinking from Leon - And now he’s going to put Hudson in a world of-- But Kyuubi gets into the ring and begins pointing and yelling at Leon! The referee and Leon himself are distracted by Kyuubi, which was exactly what she wanted, because while all of this was going on, Melificent Lasciel had jumped down from Insidious' corner and was running outside the ring over to the neutral corner Silvio was in! Before Silvio has time to realize what is happening, Lasciel jumps up onto the apron and shoves him off the top rope as hard as she can! Silvio goes flying into the air and lands hard chest-first on the guardrail! Johnny Vegas: BAHAHAHAH! Terra Skye: Oh my god, that was a terrible fall… Jesus Christ! The fans boo as Matt Knox hops down to check on his partner! And Adrienne Levi storms across the ring apron and launches herself at Melificent Lasciel! Levi launches herself like an arrow through the ropes, catching Lasciel with a spear, sending both women down hard on the outside! The referee turns at the sound of the impact, and Kyuubi capitalizes by jumping onto the top rope and executing a Flipping Senton onto both Matt Knox and Silvio Leon on the outside! Johnny Vegas: All hell's broken loose! Terra Skye: The referee needs to regain control of this match! Boy: IT CAME TRUE! YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT! AFH gets up dazed and confused, looking around the ring and finding his wife, Melificent Lasciel, and all three of his opponents all down outside the ring. AFH smirks as the referee begins restoring order. He first separates Lasciel and Levi, then orders Kyuubi back to her corner, and finally, he checks on Leon and Knox, but only for a moment, as AFH rudely hauls up Silvio Leon and shoves him into the ring. AFH kneels down over Leon, grabs him by the back of the head, and starts hammering Leon with hard shots to the face! Johnny Vegas: GET IT! The crowd boos loudly as the hard camera picks up AFH shouting "DODGE THIS" with every blow that comes crashing down onto Leon's head! Leon's eyebrow is split open and he begins bleeding! Like a shark smelling blood, AFH begins elbowing Leon right on the cut, causing it to open up wide! Leon begins bleeding hard! AFH sticks his hand in Leon's face and then covers his shirt with Leon's blood! He holds up the barely conscious Leon by the back of the head and points to Matt Knox! AFH begins shouting at Knox and pointing to Leon's bloodied face, shaking Leon by the back of the neck for added emphasis! Terra Skye: That sadistic son of a bitch! He's enjoying this! Those are your heroes, Johnny! Johnny Vegas: Well, uh... That's what Silvio Leon gets! Yeah! That's what Leon gets for making a fool out of Insidious! I never said they were nice guys! I just said they were misunderstood. Terra Skye: How do you misunderstand beating a man to a bloody pulp?! Boy: WE DO NOT DO THIS THING BECAUSE IT IS PERMITTED! WE DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO! Matt Knox begins shouting and cursing at AFH, but knowing that Insidious has been preying on his brash actions all match, and with Adrienne Levi attempting to calm him down, Matt ultimately looks at the bleeding Leon with a sad look on his face and doesn't get into the ring. AFH grins, laughs, and drags Leon over to the Insidious corner before tagging in his wife. AFH spends a few seconds still inside the ring, propping up Leon in the Insidious corner. Kyuubi measures her opponent, nods, then hits Leon with a spinning backfist right to his cut! Leon goes down hard, and Kyuubi dashes away to a neutral corner on the opposite side of the ring. Kyuubi then runs with a full head of steam directly into Leon, catching him with a thunderous Yakuza Kick as he lays with his head against the bottom turnbuckle! The fans boo as Kyuubi drags Leon to the center of the ring and pins him! ONE!!! TWO!!!!!! And Leon kicks out! The boos turn to raucous cheers as Leon kicks out! Kyuubi looks around confused before tagging in Melificent Lasciel. Lasciel and Kyuubi execute some tandem offense, with Kyuubi executing a Sidewalk Slam on Silvio Leon while Lasciel catches him with an Inverted Reverse DDT. Lasciel drags Leon to the center of the ring, runs to the ropes, and nails Leon with a spectacular Springboard Moonsault! She immediately goes for the pin! ONE!!!!!! TWO!!!!!!!! KICKOUT! ANOTHER KICKOUT! Johnny Vegas: He's too stupid to know when to stay down! Terra Skye: He's displaying the heart of a warrior and the will of a champion! He knows how much this match means to everyone involved and he won't go down without the fight of his life! Boy: NOTHING ENDS, ADRIAN! NOTHING EVER ENDS! Lasciel pounds the mat angrily and argues with the referee. She hauls the still-bleeding Leon up to his feet, traps his arms, and attempts her "15 Seconds of Fame" finisher... but Leon reverses! Leon backdrops Lasciel and begins heading towards his team's corner! Levi and Knox extend their hands as far as they can, but Lasciel literally dives on top of Leon to stop him from getting to his teammates! She drags Leon back to the center of the ring by his left ankle, but Leon twists, goes onto his back, and kicks Lasciel hard with both feet! Lasciel is sent into the ropes, and when she rebounds, Leon grabs her up in a Small Package and goes for the win! ONE!!! TWO!!!!! But Lasciel kicks out! Leon rolls away as Lasciel kicks out and springs back up to her feet embarrassed, and in her rush to close the distance to Leon, Melificent Lasciel leaves herself open! Leon nails her with a Spinning Heel Kick! She gets right back up and walks right into a back elbow! Leon whips Lasciel across the ring, but Lasciel reverses! When Lasciel attempts to catch Leon on the rebound with a Sidewalk Slam, Leon reverses it into the Miskatonic Twist! Lasciel's head snaps forward violently, and half-dazed she moves on her hands and knees to tag in AFH! But while she was doing so, Leon managed to leap to his corner of the ring and finally tags out! Matt Knox and AFH enter the ring at the same time! Johnny Vegas: Oh shit! Here we go! Matt Knox is taking no prisoners! He nails AFH with a Clothesline, sending him down to the mat! He Yakuza Kicks Kyuubi while she's on the apron, sending her flying to the outside! Lasciel begins talking trash to Matt and Matt picks her up and brings her into the ring with a Belly to Belly Suplex! Matt Knox runs the ropes, and when Lasciel and AFH get back up at the same time, he nails both of them with a spear, ramming his left shoulder into Lasciel and his right into AFH! The crowd comes alive as Matt lets out his full fury and begins a rapid-fire barrage of punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and stomps to both Melificent Lasciel and Aaron Frederick Hudson! The referee pulls Knox off of the two Insidious members, and Knox holds his hands up to placate the ref, nodding in understanding... right before he jumps up and over the referee, sprinboarding off the top rope and sailing to the outside of the ring, nailing a Diving Crossbody on Kyuubi! Johnny Vegas: Somebody put that wild animal back into its cage! Terra Skye: Knox is letting it all out! So much anger and hatred! Insidious is finally finding out just who they're dealing with! Boy: I DID IT THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES AGO! Lasciel rolls out of the ring right as Knox rolls back in, stalking AFH. When AFH gets back up, Matt Knox puts him in position for The Murder, and he hits it! AFH's spine is compressed with the force of Matt Knox's Vertebreaker signature move, but Knox doesn't go for the pin! He's not done getting his revenge! Seething with anger and rage, Knox picks up AFH and puts him into position for The Downfall! His hatred all-consuming, Knox lifts AFH with all of his strength, hitting his finisher... and incapacitating the referee! Knox lifted and threw AFH with such force that he accidentally sent his opponent into the referee, who must have assumed he was far away enough from the action to not get hit! But Knox's rage lent him inhuman strength! Knox barely has a second to realize that the referee is down before the other two members of Insidious rush the ring and begin assaulting him! Terra Skye: Oh my God… This isn’t good. Johnny Vegas: No, this is GREAT! And Adrienne Levi comes flying into the fray! Adrienne Levi and Matt Knox are holding their own against Kyuubi and Melificent Lasciel! Matt Knox hits Lasciel with a Hurricanrana, and Adrienne Levi hits her own Hurricanrana on Kyuubi! All three members of Insidious are down and out in the middle of the ring, and Silvio Leon motions to his partners to get them up! As Knox and Levi bring Insidious to their feet, Leon ascends to the top rope! Leon throws himself into all three members of Insidious with a Diving Crossbody! But he's caught! Insidious catches Leon and toss him at Knox and Levi! But Leon is caught again! Knox and Levi catch their tag team partner and then sprint forward, using Leon as a battering ram to take out all three members of Insidious! Terra Skye: Holy shit! Johnny Vegas: Throwing that asshole around like a fucking ragdoll… Ridiculous. And the hits just keep coming! Melificent Lasciel manages to roll out of the ring to try and catch her breath, but Matt Knox and Silvio Leon signal to Adrienne Levi! Knox and Leon head close to the ropes, cross their arms, and grab each other's wrists, forming an "X" symbol, and Levi nods in understanding! Levi runs the ropes on the opposite side of where her teammates are, and as she barrels towards them, running as fast as she can, she jumps up and onto that "X", using her teammates as a launching pad, and Adrienne Levi launches herself up and over the top rope to the outside, catching Melificent Lasciel with her finisher, a Tornado DDT! Terra Skye: THE LEVITY! Adrienne Levi just debuted her new finisher in spectacular fashion! Johnny Vegas: She can call her new finisher whatever she likes, but what we really need to do is call an ambulance for Melificent Lasciel! Boy: THIS RUDDERLESS WORLD IS NOT SHAPED BY VAGUE METAPHYSICAL FORCES! With the referee just barely beginning to come back to life, Knox and Leon prepare to bring the match to a close! Matt Knox hauls up Kyuubi, puts her into position, and nails her with The Murder! He rolls her into the center of the ring, and Silvio Leon ascends to the top rope and finishes Kyuubi off with The Color Out of Space! Leon lands hard, and just barely manages to drag Kyuubi out of the ring before collapsing on the outside, completely drained and still bleeding badly! Knox hauls Aaron Frederick Hudson up to his feet, sets him up for his finisher... and hits it again, this time holding on! Knox nails AFH with The Downfall and hangs on, turning his finisher into a pinning predicament! The referee begins counting the fall! ONE!!!!!!!! TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Hudson kicks out! Aaron Frederick Hudson kicks out of Matt Knox's finisher! Knox gets up shocked, unbelieving, and he goes over to the referee, who is just barely getting back up to his feet. The referee isn't sure who knocked him out, or how, or why, or whose fault it was, but he's sure that AFH kicked out, so the match continues! Knox nods in understanding, and hauls Hudson up, shoving him into a corner of the ring. Knox uses his fading strength to haul Hudson up in a Back Suplex position and places him ass-first on top of the top turnbuckle, facing away from the ring. Knox follows AFH up the ropes and locks him up in a Cobra Clutch position! Terra Skye: Oh my god, Knox is going to attempt The Downfall from the top rope! Johnny Vegas: He'll break Hudson's neck! He'll break his own damn neck! Somebody stop this! Or… Eh. Maybe don’t. That somebody ends up being Hudson himself! Knowing what's coming, Hudson experiences a last-ditch surge of adrenaline, and whips his head backwards, headbutting Knox with the back of his skull, catching Knox on the bridge of the nose! Knox comes dangerously close to losing his balance, but keeps the hold applied! So Hudson does it again! Knox begins bleeding from his nose! It might be broken! But Knox keeps the hold applied! Knox screams defiantly at Hudson, blood running into his mouth, as he sends them both flying off the top turnbuckle... and Hudson reverses it! Hudson reverses Matt Knox's finisher into his own! In mid-air, sailing halfway across the ring, Aaron Frederick Hudson reverses Matt Knox's Downfall finisher into his own finisher, the Sliced Bread #2 that he calls Going for Broke! Johnny Vegas: HOLY FUCK THEY'RE BOTH DEAD! Hudson crawls weakly on top of Matt Knox and goes for the pin! ONE!!!!!!! TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KICKOUT! KICKOUT!!!!! MATT KNOX KICKS OUT! Johnny Vegas: What the hell is keeping him going? I don't know! Terra Skye: Matt Knox refuses to lose! He'll either be the death of Insidious or Insidious will be the death of him! There's no other way! He hates them just that much! This means just that much to him! Boy: DRY YOUR EYES, FOR YOU ARE LIFE, RARER THAN A QUARK AND UNPREDICTABLE BEYOND DREAMS OF HEISENBERG! THE CLAY IN WHICH THE FORCES THAT SHAPE ALL THINGS LEAVE THEIR FINGERPRINTS MOST CLEARLY! AFH and Knox weakly crawl away from each other, both completely spent and drained, towards their respective corners. Knox scans around and sees Silvio Leon still down and out, still bleeding, barely showing any signs of life at all. After slowly making her way back to her team's corner from the exact opposite side of the ring, Adrienne Levi weakly hauls herself back up onto the apron and reaches out a hand. Knox collapses into his corner and tags Adrienne in, and Adrienne gets into the ring slowly, limping. Terra Skye: Damn, this match has really taken a toll on it’s competitors. AFH finds no solace in his corner. He spots his wife, Kyuubi, still down and out from Silvio Leon's "Color Out of Space" finisher. He sees his other partner, Melificent Lasciel, still down and out from Adrienne Levi's "Levity" finisher. He hauls himself up to one knee, turns slightly, and sees Adrienne Levi enter the ring. He nods, and using the ropes, brings himself up to a standing position. The crowd rises to their feet, not a single ass in a single seat, as the two Carnage stars lock eyes and begin circling each other. Johnny Vegas: Fuck… Her… up. Levi and AFH meet in the center of the ring and begin trading shots, with the fans chanting "YAY!" when Levi hits AFH and "BOO!" when AFH hits Levi. AFH ends up winning the exchange, forcing Levi to back up, and AFH charges in with a roundhouse kick... and it's ducked! Levi attempts a Jumping Knee Lift strike... but AFH jumps up as well, vaulting off Levi's outstretched knee and hitting her with a Shining Wizard! Levi is flipped end-over-end and crashes to the mat! AFH draws his thumb across his throat to signal that the end is near! Johnny Vegas: Oh shit! Terra Skye: Could this be it? Aaron Frederick Hudson hauls up Adrienne Levi and begins the assault he calls "The Fate's Edge"! He blasts Levi with a punch to the jaw, a kick to the thighs, a punch to the liver, a kick to the gut, a punch to the temple, and finally, a kick right to the head! Levi falls forward, collapsing from the assault, and falls right into AFH's arms! AFH picks her up for an Emerald Frosion, spinning her around... and Levi keeps spinning! Levi reverses AFH's Emerald Frosion into a Tornado DDT! Levi hits Levity on AFH! Levi uses the last of her strength to scramble on top of him and go for the win, with the other two members of Insidious still down and out on the outside! ONE!!!!! TWO!!!!!!!!!! THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DING DING DING!! The bell rings, the fans cheer, and Kelly Carmichael makes it official! Kelly Carmichael: Here are your winners... the team of ADRIENNE LEVI, SILVIO "THE ORACLE" LEON, AND MATTHEW "THE RAVEN" KNOX!!! Terra Skye: It's over! It's over! It's over! Levi wins it! Matt Knox will finally get his showdown with Sah'Ta Thor! Johnny Vegas: Fine! Fine! You can call it a victory if you want, but I call it Levi signing Matt Knox's death warrant! Knox will have hell to pay and that's exactly where Sah'Ta Thor will be sending him when they finally meet one-on-one in the ring!