#just two characters lost in the world who finally find a place that makes sense

[moltensmusings]

Presenting a concept: Jellal never regains his memories, but spends his life trying to atone for his past actions. One day he meets Lisanna who is the only person without an immediate reaction to him existing. Similarly he's one of the only mages she meets who doesn't refer to her as "Mirajane and Elfman's little sister" or make any allusion to knowing who she is beyond understanding she's from fairy tail.

An unlikely friendship forms between two people who finally can exist around someone with no preconceived expectations of who they should be.

[prythianpages]

Shining Like the Sun | Lucien x Reader

summary: Lucien walks in on you singing a familiar tune to your daughter.

word count: 1,200

warnings: fluff

a/n: This has been in my drafts for a hot minute and I decided to finally edit it. Here is another part of my ABBA x ACOTAR series (masterlist) where I dedicate a song to a character (: and a part two to this one-shot. It can also be read as a stand alone as this takes place many years after. I just wanted to take a lighter approach to this song since the first part was dark/angsty.

As the sun ascends to its highest peak in the beautiful blue sky, its bathes the court in a warm glow. It’s been years since Lucien officially moved to Day Court, accepting his title as Helion’s heir. Yet, he still finds himself getting lost in the beauty of it all.

It was not easy for him to come to terms with the truth and he was grateful to have you by his side. The one constant in his life. The one who loved him even when he couldn’t find it in his heart to love himself.

A soft, melodious hum echoes through the courtyard like a gentle breeze. Lucien’s lips curve up into a smile and he allows the lovely sound to carry him forward. His eye softens immediately when he finally spots you.

You stand in front of the magnificent crystal fountain, humming a familiar tune to your daughter as you gently sway her back and forth in your arms. The fountain is your daughter’s favorite place. Her tiny eyes love to watch the way the crystals catch the sunlight, entranced by the resulting rainbows that dance across the courtyard. She loves it even more when you bring her close, her hands always reaching out for the moving water in a silent request to let her touch it.

But your daughter is not focused on the fountain at this moment.

Her attention is solely focused on you... much like her father’s.

“Tonight the super trouper beams are gonna blind me, but I won't feel blue."

Lucien pauses as you begin to sing, admiring the scene before him. Your voice possesses an enchanting allure that never fails to draw him in. And so he listens, entranced and enamored, knowing that he would follow you to the ends of the Prythian over and over again just to hear the sound of your voice. 

“Like I always do,” you continue to sing, smiling when your daughter begins to scrunch her nose in delight. Lucien feels a tug in his chest–a sign that you’re well aware he’s watching. And then you’re finally lifting your head, meeting his gaze across the courtyard.

“‘Cause somewhere in the crowd there’s you.”

Sensing his warming presence, your daughter shifts in your arms. Her mouth parts as she spots her father, tiny hands reaching out for him. She is the spitting image of Lucien with her russet eyes and cascade of deep red hair that curls softly around her golden skin.

Lucien grins, finally bridging the distance between you. He graciously takes the infant into his arms, chest tightening when your daughter beams up at him. Her tiny hands grasp at his face, poking at his cheeks.

The way she looks up at him always makes his heart swell with such warmth. When she was first born, he worried his scars and mechanical eye would frighten her. But all he sees is pure awe and adoration reflected in those russet eyes.

Your eyes shine with mirth at the sight. “Someone missed you.”

Lucien playfully nips at your daughter’s fingers, eliciting the most adorable fit of giggles. So he does it one more time, chuckling with her, before turning to you. Your hair is swept to the side, leaving your back exposed and his gaze flickers toward the tattoo etched there. 

What once used to be a trapped bird in a cage is now a bird soaring free, its wings spread wide in flight. A powerful symbol of your journey and a testament to Lucien's promise fulfilled—to liberate you from the bargain that bound you to that wretched place.

You had been freed to follow your heart, to explore the world, and to love without restraint. And you did, your heart choosing him, overwhelming him with a feeling he had thought he'd never be able to feel again. It appeared that the Cauldron had also finally favored him when the bond snapped, revealing you two to be mates.

His thumb sweeps over the black ink before letting it fall to the small of your back. He presses a kiss to your forehead and then walks you both to one of the day beds.

“Just someone?” He asks, russet eye sparkling as he already knows his answer. You had sent a couple of tugs through the bond while he sat through a meeting with Helion and other members of the Day council. It was something you both did, a means to check on each other.

“Maybe, I missed you too,” you reply coyly.

Lucien scoffs. “Maybe?”

You only laugh in response but the surge of love that floods through the bond says otherwise. The hand at your back lowers until he finds your own, his fingers intertwining with yours. Lucien settles himself onto the day bed, your daughter secured safely in his hold while he tugs you along. You hesitate, a slight furrow to your brow.

“Don’t you have another meeting to attend today?”

Lucien’s nose scrunches at the reminder—a charming trait your daughter has clearly inherited. He glances up at you with a playful smile, tugging gently at your hand once more. “Can’t you just let me enjoy the sweet company of my girls?”

Your daughter coos in agreement, prompting Lucien to raise his eyebrow at you.

“Besides, I have at least an hour until then,” he assures you, russet eye lighting up when he feels your hand relax in his. “Now, come.”

You let him pull you closer, curling up by his side as his familiar, comforting scent envelops you.

“That song you were singing,” Lucien begins as your daughter begins to crawl up his chest. She presses one tiny hand against him to lift herself while the other tangles in the loose strands of her father’s hair. 

“I’ve always heard you humming it but I don’t think I’ve heard the words until now.”

“Really? It’s about when I first met you,” you say, lifting your chin to meet his warm and curious gaze. Blush rises to your cheeks. “I thought you knew. It's Sol’s favorite too.”

The two of you then look at the bundle of joy nestled between you both. Sol’s eyes crinkle, joyfully overwhelmed at the attention. “Sing it to me,” Lucien pleads gently, pulling the two of you closer to him.

And so you do. 

Your voice floats softly through the air, wrapping around the three of you like a gentle embrace. Lucien closes his eyes, savoring the melody and the meaning. Beneath the warm embrace of the sun, with his two favorite girls by his side, all his worries melt away. Your daughter follows suit, nestling her head into her father’s chest, her eyes slowly giving in to sleep.

“Still, I'm thinking about you only,” you continue to sing, smiling softly to yourself. Your daughter nestles deeper into Lucien’s chest, her eyelids growing heavier. With a tender caress to her cheek, she finally succumbs to sleep. “There are moments when I think I’m going crazy.”

“But it’s gonna be alright. Everything will be so different when–”

A light snore disrupts your song, and you let out an amused chuckle. Even as Lucien drifts off to sleep, his feelings of happiness and love flood through the bond you share. Your own eyes close, basking in the warmth of it all.

Surely, a nap wouldn’t hurt.

ABBA x Acotar Masterlist

I found a dreamy cover of super trouper and listened to it a lot when writing this.

tagging those who read the first part and were interested in a part two: @acourtofimagines, @flymetovelaris, @zeprussia, @mybestfriendmademe, @hardcoremarvelfan

@tele86, @secretlyhers, @sarawritestories, @evergreenlark

I would love to eventually write a part that is set in between the first part and this one that focuses on how Lucien saved you but I'm still trying to find inspo for that. Like I'm unsure if I want him to find reader again UTM or for Lucien to invoke the Autumn duel or for him to get Rhys involved. For now, enjoy this fluff bc Lucien deserves all the happiness in the world <3

general tag list: @scooobies, @kennedy-brooke, @sillysillygoose444, @lilah-asteria @the-sweet-psycho

[rise-my-angel]

Heart of the Great Wolf

A Vision of Never

Pairing: Robb Stark x F!Baratheon!Reader

Length: 5.2k

Warnings: recent childbirth, talk of pregnancy and labour, past character deaths, fluff, child rearing

Notes: A little "what if" about Robb having lived, in this version of the story the world isn't ending and Luwin is still alive, just pretend it makes sense. Previous Main Chapter Here, Series Masterlist Here

Things had only accidentally worked out well this way. The timing of his sons outburst correlated perfectly with Robb pressing his lips to your forehead, and muttering for you to sleep. It hadn’t been as long this time, and while going just as smoothly, it was far easier on Robb’s mind not to have you labouring for so many hours, only so much Maester Luwin being able to do to ease the pain in your state. Still some time, but not as many hours luckily. The first labour near two years ago now, Robb had as much time as he needed to stay by your side.

The war had moved fast after his Uncle Edmure had married Rosalin Frey. Robb had been as relieved as his mother to find Arya alive, but none too happy that The Hound was the one with her, and subsequently had assumed Robb would pay for his own sisters return seconds after learning she was even still alive but it was you who simply tossed a bag of gold at him, knowing that men of House Clegane were none too pleasant nor peaceful to argue with.

One by one both his sisters were found alive and safe and once word reached shortly to them that not only was King Joffery dead, but Tywin Lannister too, they all knew there was nothing left for them here. No true war to be fought and with the Frey’s loyalty through marriage, what scattered remains of the Lannisters were never making it anywhere near close enough to reclaim the Riverlands nor even consider branching North. They, for now, could go home. And the timing couldn’t have been better.

You were able to spend your final two moons pregnant in Winterfell where you belonged, and while Robb and his siblings prepared the North for a rule that had not been seen for some three hundred years, his mother helped you prepare for your labour. And yet somehow, near two years passed after that and the situation was much the same.

Only now more snow properly fell on the ground and stuck, and the healing of everything passed was getting a little easier, making celebrating this just a bit better.

Much like you two discussed, your child was born a boy, and named promptly after the father you both went to war to rescue in the first place. Normally Ned was well behaved, but Robb suspected he could faintly hear you in labour and that made him upset. Staying with his uncles and aunts, eventually Arya had to be the one to gently knock on the door, poking her head in interrupting the moment trying not to run in and fawn all over the newborn this time, saying that Ned was beyond fussy at this point and none of them could get him to calm down.

That worked out, you were barley awake any longer, your much exerted strength leaving you as Robb had a chance to go find his son, asking his mother to watch over you all while you slept. Something she was more then happy to do, being a grandmother suited her well. Robb suspected too, it somewhat helped fill that hole in her heart that Eddard Stark’s death had left behind. It made him glad, she was never happier then reuniting with her children, and it made her happier so to have a grandson, one named after the husband she lost. He was too young to understand yet, but little Ned helped heal this family more then he knew.

Now though, while giving you a chance to sleep, Robb had worried his sons fears about hearing you in pain that it was over and when you woke up he could come see. For now, he kept him distracted and Robb did that well.

None in Winterfell could say that being King took away his duties as a father. By the time his son was able to start walking, it was easier for you to share raising him. Robb could now do his work with his men, and his son there and not need every ounce of attention on him as a small infant needed. Nearing his second name day was even better. He could walk, and was speaking so much more. You insisted otherwise, but Robb knew his son was so smart just because of you. The moment he uttered something resembling a true word, you had started to encourage it everyday, and here he was. A small boy of two, and when he wanted to be, a talkative little thing.

Currently stood behind him, the main hall was empty, as he held his son upright to stand on the table with his support, mimicking better the sight he’d see. Talking to him quietly about what it was Robb would do as King, and explain more then he could grasp, but Ned enjoyed when his father taught him these things. Turning partially, the sun shined through the windows just at the perfect angle that the reddish auburn of their Tully side matched in their curls. “Do you get bored?”

A grin shined on Robbs face with a laugh, “Do I get bored? What? In meetings?” His son nodding his head, Robb moved to stand a little more to the side where he kissed the side of his head. “Aye, I do. But listening to people I’d rather not, is one of my duties as King. If I can’t fix the small problems my people are having, how do they expect me to fix the big problems?” His face scrunching for a moment, Ned shook his head, Robb being able to understand he was agreeing with him.

More quiet now, Robb looked over his sons shoulder, seeing a more heavy blink in his eye. Asking, “You tired, pup?” Nodding, Robb smiled softly. “Yeah, you want to see if your mother’s awake before you have a nap?” He nodded again, and Robb prompted him to turn around. Scooping his son up into his arms, as his little ones held on meekly, his head falling more into his shoulder.

The path there Robb couldn’t hear it as well through the thick stone walls, but still faintly as the bells still rung. Not many places you had grown up where the bells rung for anything but horror and Robb had been determined to change that. He hadn’t considered just how much like his own father he was, the birth of his second child, a daughter, as the bells rung all day. The sound at least faded the further near his bedchambers he got, his son barley perking up much at the sound of your voice chatting with his mother. You sounded much more energetic then you had before.

“I’m surprised we didn’t know, Maester Luwin had said he was certain of everything.”

Catelyn sounded bemused herself as Robb turned the corner, approaching the door as you all came into sight. It had been quite the shock for everyone, and another reason it was such a suprise, the fact that this labour had gone so smoothly. Maester Luwin predicted it would be a girl, and he was right. But, he later had said that was sometimes uncommon but not impossible, that a mother could carry two children in her womb and none could tell. Your belly grew to be the same size as the last, being able to eat much better the entire pregnancy then catching you up in the last two moons, but none knew until his daughter had been born and you still laboured another child.

It was no wonder you had been so exhausted.

You looked bright eyed over at him as he walked in. The midwives had stayed to help to clean your appearance up despite Robb insisting he didn’t at all care that you looked a mess. Your loose dress had been pulled down as one babe was feeding from your breast. The other likely had been done already, swaddled, bundled and asleep in Catelyns hold. Your voice was still a bit raspy from the energy you had been shot of, but enthusiastic as your sons head perked up right away. “There’s my sweet boy.”

Instantly Ned had moved in Robbs hold, having predicted it as his arms stretched out “Mama,” Robb hushed in his ear to go easy on you before putting him down onto the bed. Making his way over carefully, he could stand only for as long as it took to match what he saw Robb do all the time, press a kiss to your cheek gently before his little legs gave out and sat down. Looking down at the baby, his bright green eyes just like yours looked back to you. “Daddy says I have a new sister and brother.”

Nodding, your gaze trailed down to the babe in your arms. “You do, this is your little brother, and your grandmother has your little sister, Lyanna.” Looking between you both, you nodded your head over to where Catelyn had begun walked to the bed, “Go on, she’s asleep but she really wants to meet you.”

Letting a free hand go long enough to push his curls off his forehead and press a kiss there before he begun moving to meet his sister. Robb had circled around to the other side of the bed where you were, sitting gently to face you as his eyes trailed down to the baby. “Going to be a lot harder to feed them yourself now that there’s two.”

Your grin was gentle and still a bit weak, but just as playful in your eyes. “Maester Luwin assures me as long as I have the patience for it, that won’t be a problem.” Robb only rolled his eyes in a jest before leaning closer. Cupping your cheek gently as he moved to press a kiss to your lips. Chaste and lingering but uncaring with only his mother in the room. Leaning back only enough to meet your eyes, his thumb ran over your soft cheek as you muttered, “I have a feeling this one will be the needy one.”

Nodding down to the baby, Robb smiled. Leaving your cheek to brush his hand over the baby’s back just soft enough that it didn’t interrupt him. “Are you insinuating our little Ned wasn’t needy with you as it was?” Protesting back that it was never as bad as he liked to joke it was, but Robb only laughed. “Maybe, I suppose we’ll see whose the needy one in the next few weeks won’t we? Who knows, with three wolves crying for your attention now, the needy one might be me.”

Halfheartedly hid Robb hear his own mother snap out with bemused ease, “That has always been the case.” Turning with his face twisting in mock offence asking what exactly she meant by that, his mother was sharing a highly entertained look with you behind him, knowing you gave a look that matched how amused she was with herself. “Out of all my children, you had always been the neediest as a baby.”

His gaze dripped downward to a look mocking of disapproval but she could read right through Robb. Especially when he could glance down and watch his son gently holding onto the edges of the blanket little Lyanna was wrapped in, as if knowing he didn’t want to interrupt her own sleep but watching with wide eyes. You caught him right away as he turned back, your own gaze unbearably sweet as Robb looked back.

Just in time as the baby finished, Robb helped you carefully lift him up to burp taking no time at all before his head dropped down a bit into your neck and shoulders much like Ned did with both of you. The baby though hid a bit in your hair, you could read the question in his eyes if you wished for him to take the baby but you shook your head. Happy to keep the little one close as Robb only fixed your dress for you, before leaning to kiss the back of his newborn sons head.

Sensing a figure coming up beside him, Robb turned partway to see Ned crawling over before grabbing him and picking him up onto his lap. Holding him gently, he muttered down, “You want to stay and nap in here?” The little Nod warmed both your hearts as you shifted, your arm raising enough so that he had the space to crawl into your side, curling into you right away and still small enough that he wasn’t in the way of the baby.

Turning to glance at his mother, Robb nodded to the other side of the bed. Moving to sit next to you, but not before reaching over, to gently take his daughter from his mother, holding her close as he smiled fondly at the sight. “I’ll let your men know not to intrude for the time being.”

Muttering a genuine thank you, Catelyn smiled with shining affection in her eyes. Her husband may not be here to see it, but she was so grateful that she was here to see it for him. Their first boy together, now with a growing family of his own. Twins, if she could tell Eddard now. That Robb didn’t just have his second child, but it was twins. Mother protect her, was this castle going to be full of chaos in no time with three Stark toddlers running around.

She could recall standing outside of the Twins right before Edmure’s wedding, and seeing how happy Robb was at your side and wishing for nothing but to be able to go home and try to rebuild. It felt almost out of reach then, but it was here, and she closed the door gently, watching as Robb carefully held his baby girl while sitting beside you. The family she always wanted Robb to have.

Your eyes trained down on your two young boys, you felt Robb warm at your side as you gently shifted just enough to lean somewhat against him. His warm voice so soothing in your ear, “Have I mentioned that I’m proud of you yet.” Muttering that yes he had, many times, Robb grinned. “Aye, but I will say it again. I’m so proud of you.”

Turning to meet his bright blue eyes, you both felt a comfort wave over you before looking back to your newest son. A whisper on your lips, “What are we going to name him?” A hum of question came from Robbs lips, so you clarified. “Your son, we’ve had Lyanna’s name picked out for years now. We never talked about another boy name.”

You could feel Robb grinning, but didn’t know why. “Yes we did.” Turning to look at him, while gently shifting the baby now that he was fast asleep to lay out in your arms, his head covered by the top of the blanket next to Lyanna’s, Robb continued. “We agreed on a name the same night we picked out the name for these two.” His head nodding down to first Lyanna and then Ned, who too had fallen asleep so quickly.

Your brows narrowed in thought, and Robb knew with a playful, bemused grin exactly the moment you recalled it. Your face dropping amusingly flat as you rolled your head to the side with a raised brow. “Robb, he is not going to like that and you know it.”

He only grinned more, kissing what of your head he could reach. “If he were bothered to come visit again before they were born, like he promised, he might have gotten a choice in the matter.” You muttered that he had a lot on his place, but Robb only settled that. “I know, love. I’m teasing, he has his reasons. But, we also have ours.”

Both of you looking to the baby, you could see it. How much the name would suit him, just as Ned suited your first boy, and Lyanna suited the little girl now asleep in her fathers arms. A laugh huffed through your breath as he asked what was it. “If you asked me what? Five? Six years ago, what my life would’ve looked like today, I’d never have said this.”

“Neither would I.” His thumb gently ran over his daughters cheek, both your sons has your green eyes, but Lyanna had his blue eyes. Ned was growing up to look like a perfect blend of both of you, but he was nothing but eager to see what these two grew up to look like, who’d look like who and everything else. “But I’d never want anything else.”

Meeting your gaze again, Robb leaned over once more as you tried to gently meet his lips. Nothing greedy or needing, but deep and lingering as your three small children slept all around you. Resting your heads against the other as you muttered more low, for his ears only. “Cersei tried warning me. About not to fall in love with you.” He tried looking at you closer, a scowl forming in his brows but you didn’t look away from where your thumb ran over youngest sons cheek. “Before we arrived in Winterfell, she tried to warn me. That you’d disappoint me one day, that you’d move on, not want me. To give you your children, and only ever love them because I’d never get it from you. She tried telling me something similar, if perhaps a bit less morose when I was a girl too. I’d think about who I’d marry one day, and never came up with an answer of a man I would genuinely love.”

Something distant but amused twisted in Robbs features as he spoke up, “Didn’t you sabotage Cersei once? When she tried publicly announcing a betrothal?” You laughed right away, the memory so clear as Robb joined. “Little did you know then, you were merely saving yourself for me.”

Sighing happily, you leaned back against him, his head resting more atop yours. “I should’ve known how easy I’d fall for you on our wedding night.” Elaborating at his further hum of question. “I was terrified of it all. If you’d want a bedding ceremony, the bedding itself. I was terrified. But you had convinced me to be comfortable in what? Minutes? It was strange how easy it felt to be willing to do it with you.”

His lips again pressed against your hair. “I know I seemed eager, but I really would’ve been alright if you didn’t want too. Would’ve helped you change into something more comfortable, and at least helped you get used to sleeping beside me.” You only muttered that you didn’t need help with that, and Robb laughed, trying to hold back not to wake Lyanna in his arms. “Aye, that was after I had taken you twice though. Hard to not fall asleep beside me when I had you clawing down my back.”

Hissing with an instant fluster, “I did not-”

Robb only cut you off, his face so bright and amused at your instant reaction as if you didn’t presently have three children together. “I had the marks for days to prove it, my love. You’re lucky I dress myself, otherwise you’d have come back to a reputation of yourself already being a little she wolf.” Flustered, you only muttered that he had given you that reputation in the army camp, Robb laughed again. “Wanted my men to know that nothing they could buy would beat what I had every night for free.”

Shaking your head, Robb could read the still flustered look in you but also something playful. He spoke again before you had the chance too, but with something he knew you didn’t expect. “I’m sorry it took so long. To give you a baby. You never said it, but I knew you were frustrated with yourself the longer it never happened.” He was right, you had never said it because you didn’t even wish to think it. You were scared to tell him when you finally were, thinking you’d burden him at the worst possible time.

But then you received the news. That Bran and Rickon were thought dead, and his own grandfather had passed. With Catelyn still imprisoned having released Jaime Lannister, and Edmure’s foolish search for glory leading to losing the chance both to kill The Mountain and aid in your fathers capture of Kings Landing, all felt lost. Robb felt he had nothing but you left, and only the small barley grown baby in your belly seemed like there was a shred of hope. Without that, he might have felt he didn’t have much left to fight for, and you dared not think what would’ve happened then. If Robb truly felt alone and betrayed by everyone around him.

Even now, sometimes you both pondered if this peace would stay. Word from the Riverlands of the happenings in Kings Landing would reach you both, and it seemed at least, that peace would not go away for some time. Your father still on a fight for the Iron Throne looked more promising now then ever before. With Tommen as King, young and sweet and inexperienced he held no chance. Cersei it seemed was busy making a mess of things worse for him, and part of you felt sympathy. She in a few weeks had lost her eldest son and her father, both of which were said to be done at the hands of her own brother. You knew Sansa was not involved. Petyr Baelish had helped her flee Kings Landing, but was intercepted by Dacey Mormont and a squadron of men.

Robb and Catelyn knew that he would try and hide her in the Vale with her aunt Lysa, and sent Dacey to retrieve her. Luckily, even without having met Dacey herself, going with a woman of the North, a woman whose own title was trusting, a sworn shield of Robb Stark, managed to get her back.

Once you were able to ride home, the Ironborn all but fled. They stood no chance against the full strength of the Northern army with Robb leading and yet you still heard no word of Theon. Bran and Rickon weren’t dead as feared, they had fled and returned once Robb had, but none knew where Theon was. You didn’t want to know, in truth. He had betrayed Robb, betrayed you, betrayed the Starks and the place that was more home to him then the Iron Islands ever would be and he ran like a coward.

He knew he didn’t have the Stark boys, and he must have feared Robb turning around to take his head. Torched the castle and fled, where he was now, Pyke, dead, or something far worse, you did not wish to hear of it. He chose his path, and he chose wrong. And he decided to live with the consequences. According to Roose Bolton, his bastard Ramsay had gotten to the castle after the Ironborn torched it and left.

But now? You all sat in Robb and your bedchambers. Winterfell rebuild, family all reunited again, and peace was found in the new again Kingdom. Your sweet son, little Ned with auburn curls just like his father and green eyes just like you, cuddled asleep in your side. The shining bright light he didn’t know he was, just your baby boy truly. In Robbs arms, his newborn daughter, small and sweet. Named after Ned Stark’s long passed sister, Robbs tribute to reunite them with new life as they reunited in death.

You had expected her. Maester Luwin said by the way you were carrying, and the sudden and frustrating new craving you had for sweets were all indications of a girl. Robb had been elated, not a single thought in his head but getting to have a little girl of his own. He had helped raise his little sisters, he would be perfectly prepared for a girl of his own.

Saying to you in these very chambers that night, you only a few moons in but showing earlier then you did even last time, Robbs hands were on your stomach all the time. He’d kiss your stomach saying goodnight to his daughter, then carefully bring little Ned to do the same, telling him to say goodnight to his sister. Only babbles at first, but once he started to speak it got better.

Even now, Robb had told him his sister’s name and he couldn’t quite say it perfectly. He knew the name, and how it sounded, but as he did with many words he could say them just not eloquently. “Lya” he called her. A feeling in you that would be her nickname for some time. Robb though, he had put his son to bed, and held you looking out the window as the snow fell that night many months ago, the same window you both stood together at, minutes before he pulled you into his bed.

One hand firmly on your stomach as he spoke. “I don’t want her growing up the way you did.” Silent as you let him elaborate, pulling you just a tad closer. “A distant father, not letting you feel loved the way a father should love his daughter. I don’t ever want our little girl to grow up feeling anything close to that.” You only muttered that you didn’t think that would be the case, but he insisted you listen. “Just because you know something, my love, doesn’t mean you don’t still worry about. Remember how you knew I thought you were beautiful all through your pregnancy and after, but you still worried I wouldn’t want you anymore?”

A laugh left you, Catelyn had to help you then. Telling Robb a sort of sickness of the mind infected new mothers and filled their heads with worries and doubts beyond reason and being a mother herself worked very hard to help you realize that you had nothing to fear. Even then, you still worried some days. Robb had you long passed that now, but that night he knew and understood why you’d think of your future daughter and fear her repeating your life.

But as Robb held little Lyanna now, an adorable baby girl who was at complete peace sleeping in his arms, Robb knew there was nothing to worry about. He adored Ned, and was very vocal about that fact and he’d be the same to his newborn child, both of them.

Seven hells, he thought. Twins. He wanted a large family with you, but the gods had just made that want so much easier for him to obtain. The confusion when you still seemed to labour after Lyanna only for Luwin to confirm you carried another babe in your womb, Robb almost laughed then. He was sat behind you to lean back against, a support as he refused to ever let the midwives tell him to leave. If you weren’t in such a state, he would’ve told you already how happy he was. It would be chaos, it would be quite something.

His son already about to reach two years of age, and now two newborn twins to the mix there was no easing either of you into this. It was here and you both would deal with it. His eyes glanced over to you, your newest son asleep in your arms, almost curling into you as if wanting to be close as possible to his mother, and little Ned asleep against your side. Your boys were all over you, and you would spoil them both he knew. Just as he would spoil Lyanna. His little princess would never go without feeling like one if Robb was to have his way.

Now with the birth of a second son, he had what some Lords referred to it as, an heir and a spare. He never cared to look at Ned like his heir, he was young, and new to the world and all that mattered to Robb was that they were loved. His two Princelings and his little Princess in his own arms, they were just titles. Things to present them to the court as.

In the everyday, his children would run amok in the corridors carefree and spoiled and happy. Thats all he cared about. After needing to lose his own father, and fight years in a war to have his children, he’d do everything he could to ensure they didn’t suffer anything close to the ways he did before having them.

Looking back over, you hadn’t yet taken your eyes off any of them. Swapping your glance between all three, even going so far as to shift how you held the baby, so little Ned could more comfortably rest his head in your lap. His little arms trying to wrap around you as if wanting to protect you in your sleep as your newest son snuggled close into your chest as if wanting to be as near you as possible. He grinned, you both were right, that one was going to be a needy child for your attention. And he knew you’d spoil him.

Many times already, he would gently or even playfully suggest that you let Ned breath a little, not coddle him so much. He was a northerner, a Stark. He was fierce and tough and you were bundling him to go out into the snow as if he were one a layer away from freezing to death. You wanted to protect him and show him love, and if he could only just barley persuade you to ease up with Ned, with this one, there was little chance of that.

Raising a daughter would be perfect for you. You half helped raise Robbs little sisters, you half raised your little sister in Shireen. You would do perfectly raising a girl, showing her the motherly nature that you never got in full that you should’ve. But, he had a feeling his newborn son was going to be attached to you at all times, a true wolf pup sticking to his mothers side. In a strange way, it was suiting.

What his little son would be like, and to whom he’d be like that with? He wouldn’t burden you with that thought. Already you refused to speak how disappointed you were. He had promised he would come back, come visit as he put it, “before you have the next one.” But, here you were, twins and not a sign that he was coming to visit. If Lyanna filled the memory of an aunt the Stark siblings never knew, and Ned shined over the castle to reinstate faith they hadn’t had since the boys namesake was killed, then naming the baby boy in your arms was suiting, if not for everyone elses sake, but for yours.

Something in Robb’s brother struggled to accept his offer to return to Winterfell where be belonged, and struggled further now to even convince himself to visit no matter how much they all, but more importantly, you, wished for him to. But you wouldn’t say it, and he couldn’t convince himself to come anymore.

Thus it felt right. Naming the needy baby boy in your arms, Jon.

[loopyarts]

I sometimes think about and ponder on how Bruce is such an overprotective yet mostly well meaning parent towards Dick. Yet Bruce is also the type of parent who fails to realise that their kid has grown up and can look after themselves and doesn’t need them for protection and guidance anymore. 

Dick and Bruce are both control freaks but for different reasons. Bruce is a control freak because he thinks that as long as he is in control of the situation that means he can protect the ones he loves from harm or losing them altogether. Because when his parents died he had no control over that. He felt powerless that he couldn’t do nothing to prevent it. Even though he was just a helpless little 8-9 year old boy who could do nothing but stand there watching helplessly as it played out before his very eyes.

While Dick is a control freak for the opposite reasons to Bruce. He needs to stay in control of himself and not let others tell him what to do and values his freedom his independence if that makes sense. All his life even with his own parents he was excepted to do as he was told, like how most children do. He wasn’t listened to in his own mind he felt responsible for his own parents death depending on the version it was because he didn’t tell them about stranger threatening Mr Haly or in some tellings he wasn’t listen to by his parents. He had no one to turn to really and much like Bruce he was just a powerless little boy. Who nobody truly heard, Dick Grayson to the world was just a child and therefore had no voice.

The only person who truly heard Dick’s voice was Bruce Wayne who saw himself in the young boy and knew the only way to save this boy from becoming like him was to get him his justice and put Dick Grayson parents killer behind bars. He became like a second father towards the young lad, family, the dynamic duo crime fighters of Gotham. Which is why Dick was able to heal and move on mostly from the loss of his parents because unlike Bruce. He had someone to fill the void that was lost when his parents died. Bruce Wayne the Batman because like a father to him a second father, in a way he was Dick light shining hope in the darkest part of his life. It’s so important to Dick development as a character and without it he wouldn’t be the same person he is today and it’s also so important that Dick time as Robin was a pretty happy one as well.

Both Bruce and Dick saved each other just by becoming each other new family. Bruce didn’t need anything from Dick all he needs from him is to just exist to remind him why he does what he does.

So imagine the hurt Dick must feel as a young adult. That his second father who heard his voice and listen to him all those years ago. Is now not listening to his voice really anymore or respecting his decisions as a young adult a man in his own right. While it comes from a place of good intentions. Dick cannot help but feel he is still seen and viewed as just a little boy by him and the crushing feeling of never truly living up to his expectations and the shadow that the Bat casts onto him. When will he ever be good enough to finally be taken seriously by him as his own man. Dick coming of age story is about finding one self in the world and crafting out his own legacy and what being a superhero means to him and him alone.

While it wasn’t Bruce intention, he did in fact put pressure onto Dick even though he doesn’t want him grow up to be like him. He values him so highly and he is glad that he grew up to be a much better man than he will ever be. He loves his surrogate son so much but with that comes fear. Like any parent he cannot help but worry for Dick future and the decisions that he makes as an adult and he will state his opinion on what he thinks of said decisions Dick makes in his life. He didn’t approve of Dick dropping out of college which caused some tension between the two of them for a good bit.

I always found Batman #330 original released in September 11th 1980 really interesting because of how Lucius fox and his son Tim Jace fox comes into play in that story Bruce compares himself to Lucius while Tim to Dick and how he cannot understand why would in he in Bruce’s eyes be throwing away his future. So when Bruce is talking all this nonsense to Tim he wasn’t actually speaking to Tim rather it’s the things he wanted to say to Dick.

Dick probably understood at that point that this was never about Tim or the thugs rather it was about Bruce who took out his own frustrations with Dick by projecting them onto Tim and the thug members. The themes and parallels to a father that being Lucius and his son Tim to Bruce and Dick within that comic book story makes it so painfully clear to me. It was about a Father who was upset with his son life choices for his future and only wants what is best for him even if he isn’t going about it in the best way possible.

The biggest hurdle for Dick and Bruce relationship as surrogate father and son is miscommunication and how the other isn’t willing to listen to the other. Bruce is the parent who always think he knows what is best which is not always the case which leads to him fighting with Dick all the time because he is blinded by the idea that his adult son might know better then him and stubbornly refuses to budge on that for a stupidly long time.

[popculturebuffet]

Transformers More Than Meets the Eye Season 2 Retrospective: World Shut Your Mouth Parts 1-3 (Pateon Review for Brotoman.EXE)

Hello all you happy autobots and after nearly a fully year and a crossover.. welcome back. It's been a long road but it's finally time to get back on the lost light for TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE SEASON 2 BABY

For those just embarking, More Than Meets The Eye was a long running Transformers comic by James Roberts, a fun trek to the stars where a bunch of Autobots allegedly quest for the mythical cybertron while in actuality figuring themselves out, cracking jokes, getting traumatized and saving the unvierse. It's one of my faviorite comics ever and thanks to my good patreon brotoman.exe I finally got to cover it. I complied season 1 into two posts (thanks tumblr) you can find here to get up to speed

Over the break I started a look at Boom! Studio's power rangers that continues in feburary i'll be doing on and off, then a bunch of fun side quests including Transformers One which you can find my gushing review of here

But I missed these guys and i'm excited to get back to this series. In fact with my Giant Days retrospective starting up in january, that means i'll be covering two of my faviorite comics of all time simultaneously. Also that time the Government decided if they ignored gotham maybe it'd go away. Lots of fun plans for next year.

A big reason besides just the joy of this series is simple: Out of the three seasons Season 2 is my faviorite. I loved it the most reading the comic the first time. Season 1 is great.. but also makes a lot of assumptions in some places, assuming the reader didn't start with this comic and will just know what the dead universe is or who overlord is. It make sense for the time as Chaos was the last thing to happen chronologically and last stand of the wreckers was a hit: it's not a bold assumption that most transformers readers still on board know all this. But it is a bold assumption to not ease readers who might NOT have been there for the previous volume or noped out after it was bad and felt bad, or who are coming in fresh because "hey look hot rod! cool space adventures! queer robots! sign me up'. I'm in the latter category in case you were wondering.

Season 1 is good.. but Season 2 feels more accesible while continuing the great plotting, paying off a lot of season 1's setups, adding a few of it's own and generally being pretty damn awesome. It also adds some fresh faces to shake things up with Chromia being a faviorite of mine, Nightbeat being fun, and Getaway being one of the most intresting characters they've added for reasons I won't spoil but if you know your already booing him.

The biggest and best though and the one I feel helps pull the series together... is Megatron. The former leader of the decipticons, the big bad of most transformers media... joins the autobots and the lost light. It brings the series themes of war and it's cost into focus: Cyclonus is CONSIDERED a decepticon, but while he shares the philosphy he wasn't there killing our heroes friends. One of the things I feel the season 1 cast really lacks for it's post war themes is any deceipticons.. and putting the most infaomous one of all, a man with so much blood on his hands he could fill a swimming pool more than makes up for it. Megatron is TRYING to do better as we'll get into, geninely wants to do something.. but struggles both with being better and EVERYONE hating him. At least to start EVERYONE is understandably hostile to megatron, who dosen't help by being his usual standoffish self. It's a fun situation... and also great for comedy as he both makes a good straight man and pisses Rodimus off as he's not happy about his new "co-captain" and the duo's banter is pitch perfect.

IT also allows for megs to be thorughly explored: why did he do this, what does he regret. Dark Cybertron hinted at this, but now he's a full time cast memmber we relaly get into why Megatron is the way he is. He feels so critical to the series it's a shocker that he's there because Editorial wanted him in one of the books.. yet it works so perfectly. The lost lights established issues with seeing the cons as automatically evil, their war trauma nad moving on are tested by putting the biggest symbol of all thier issues and the reason many exist at the helm. It's an engaging , hearbtreaking thought provoking season and we can finally kick it off under the cut as we find out HOW Megatron got this sweet gig, how everyone's dealing with it and just how drunk trailbreaker can get.

We begin

And we're back, with Nautica, now mostly settled in hurrying up to talk to her new bestie Brainstorm. And right away the series already has a new charming character dynamic: Chromia finally provides someone genuinely intrested in Brainstorm's work when it isn't on fire and a foil as she finds his newest idea a tad questionable: COLOR CODED LASERS, so you can tell who the baddies are. Ahhh how I missed James Roberts addiction to taking goofy parts of the franchies and making them an actual thing. This one dosen't quite take off as Chromia points out just how bad it is while Brainstorm just says.. maybe change the color. It's also a nice little peak into his character through some wacky nonsense: depsite the war having passed.. he still sees it as the good guys and the baddies. Granted a good number of decepticons were pieces of shit, but as prowl has proven time and time again and will somehow be allowed to keep proving, just because your on the right side of history dosen't make you a good person. It's something Chromia fully grasps and adds some fresh perspective; she's TECHNICALLY an autobot, but her home planet wasn't in the war and it gives her a diffrent perspective.

The two notice a pile of people outside Rung's office as he has a very special patient.. and it's here it's revealed whose the captain now. I spoiled it a tad early out of necisity but it's still such a great panel

I just notice the little cubes of energon and the energon equilvent of a water jug for the first time. I love that Rung has refreshments. Such a good therapist.

So we flash back six months and get used to it as we'll be going back and forth to explain well, how did we get here? Rodimus is prepared to leave, understandably as he was just through some shit before the whole crossover.

Optimus however dosen't want ANYONE leaving till after the trial. And naturally Prowl dosen't want a trial but a public execution. He even says it twice, proving that Magnus should've just let Chromedome finish him. Optimus points out WHY they need one: the public needs to trust the autobots again so the trial needs to be transparent. Granted Optimus still makes some fumbles in setting it up: while he makes the wise decision to apoint magnus as the defense, as he knows even with every reservation Mags will do the right thing, he appoints PROWL to proscution. Prowl who the NAILS could easily point to as biased. Prowl who Optimus knows from the crossover as Rodimus damn well told him set up the whole overlord fiasco out of paranoia. Prowl who SHOULD STILL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF A CLIFF INSTEAD OF IN THIS PRIVATE COUNCIL. I get it's not asshole free, Starscream is also there, and Rodimus has some thoughts about that that sadly feel all too relevant

Just that feeling that you can't grasp WHY something very stupid and horrible happened... or why they elected it to office.

So the trial is set, and Rodimus reveals why he's so twitchy: the matrix. Granted Optimus once again comes off as a bit of a prick, and unlike the prowl thing where Roberts hands are tied by the sister book having Prime weirdly trust the guy, Optimus just.. seems grumpy at Rodimus breaking the matrix. Despite ya know DOING SO TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF SENTIENTS. I love this book, with all my heart.. but sometimes it forgets our heroes can and have actually done shit.

So Rodimus is going to thunderclash for help, which frankly is a hell I wish on no one. But he has a reason for being so twitchy besides "everyone is being a dick to him today and the planet is ruled by a smooth talking facisit now": Thunderclash hasn't responded which given who we're dealing with is not exactly good. Still Rodimus being present gives Optimus an idea to speed things up.

Back at therapy Megatron is annoyed Rung has made his fusion cannon a penis thing, a gag I love but Rung points out why: Megatron is being evasive

So Rung tries something diffrent... great encounters. Who he met that had the most impact on him. Megatron deflects by pointing out how they met, the incident at the Macaddams from Chaos Theory. it's a major reason why I wanted to cover it, the other we'll get to as we go. Megatron dosne't begrudge him from forgetting and tries to use his usual rhetoric and deflect.. but Rung's found an opening: See he brings up Megs biography.. and specifically that he found a rare first edition, the others all wiped.

It's a quote I deeply love and shockingly haven't had a use for till now. But it's not only once again precisent.. but also gets to the heart of things. Rung tried finding the change, found nothing.. and then spotted the deidcation and asks whose terminus. Before he can dig in on that, the lights go out. Megatron takes that as a sign to leave to go refuel and then get back on deck so Magnus doesn't get too comfy. He does point out why he edited it out though: Terminus was a friend. and taught hims omething important. Okay it's vauge as hell. Rung is curious though as we find out MEGATRON asked for the session. Also btb, Ravage, one of soundwaves cassets is lurking on board. It dosen't come up in this half of the story and I almost forgot to mention it but it will naturally be important later.

Back in the flashback we get a brief bit of levity as Swerve holds fake "Crewditions" to fuck with people. It gives us a look at the adorable nerd Nautica is and nightbeat eventually shuts it down. It's a fun bit and leads us into what Optimus was getting at: letting Chromedome extract testiomny. Probablem is.. Megatron has a deathly fear of mnemosurgery, reacts harshly and assumes their coming to take his brain instead of you know, trusting optimus. I mean I can't blame him for not wanting to take the needle. Rodimus.. takes the chance to mock him and say megatron will end up where he started: under rock deep under ground with nothing to show for it. And this.. will be a mistake. Not for the whole of cybertron as it leads to some good things, bu tfor Rodimus as it's going to be a pain in the ass in the short term as Megatron has Rodimus give Magnus a box.

Back on the ship Skids and Nightbeat are hanging out. Their buddies now. And Chromedome is.. not doing well just sitting in his cell replaying rewind's message having ALMOST recovered a little.. but then you know, he didn't get to kill prowl so back to depression he goes. Nightbeat is curious though.. the last number on Domey's hab suite is missing.. something... is up.

Speaking of.. I don't have a transition. Whirl is doing what he does best: pick a fight to mask his deep issues. In this case he sucker punches Megatron

It does not. Once again Whirl not only picked a fight with someone stronger, but someone who did not want one. And unlike Cyclonus who simply threatens to murder him some day, Megatron cuts to Whirl's core. Whirl brings up the fact he tried to murder Megatron in a prison celll... and Megatron reveals in gratittuude for setting him on his path, he ordered his men to never actually kill Whirl. I like the ambigiuity: Megatron is usaully straight forward.. but he's also smart and knows this kind of lie, or even worse truth, would damage whirl way more than a fight he did not want or ask for and lets the fight go while Whirl looses an arm in Megatron's insides as shockwaves use of him as a space bridge means his stomach's all kinds of freaky.

After this we flashback as Megatron explains the why of his therapy: he explains the editing that life is all edits, slowly piecing things out of your life, changing yourself for better and worse and sometimes the wordk you've done.. is unsalvagable. You need to start over. And that's what Megatron is doing here, why he threw his past away on Luna 2 where the trial took place. We'll find out what that means later for now the issue ends as the crew finds a mysteroius coffin with an autobrand in space.

We open our second issue with the return of Tailgate! I missed him.. I missed all of these guys granted but still I forget sometimes he was in a coma between seasons. But he's back and Cyclonus smiles upon seeing him coming. He's then massively confused as Tailgate tries to jam his finger in his head as his new signature move, but still it's clear he's happy for a change. Tailgate gets caught up to speed on just about everything.. only to see Megatron hauling a coffin and wearing the autobrand. They both have one as Tailgate got his as a present while in stasis , with Cyclonus feeling it dosen't fit either of them. We do get a cute moment though that after a drunk autobot you da man now dawg's tailgate, Cyclonus assures Tailgate he was missed.. by him. He says it about as directlya s he can without just saying "I missed you dawg now let's go have robo sex".

Back in the past, Rodimus is watching the trial with tons of victim testimony.. too many. In a nice bit to show his depth he does feel it's necessary, the bordedom comes from just how the same it is: so much trauma in a pile. So he's greatful for a break as Atomizer asks him. You remember him right? The red one? has a visor? Hasn't been plot relevant till now o clock?

Well now he is and he's suspiciously giving Rodimus a keypad with the names of every person that voted against him when he called for a vote on his captinancy. Rodimus does the right thing shrugs it off.. twice even.. but Atomizer knows his audience... he knows even at his lowest and most regretful.. rodimus still thrives on attention... and simply says he'll stop pushing.. if Rodimus says it one more time.

Back in the present everyone's at swerves and Swerves now has a bouncer, 10, one of the legislators left over and reporgrammed. He only says 10. While he deals with that and Swerve is grumpy over the new captain, though frankly should be greatful megatron let him keep his bar given what a stickler he is, Natuica, Skids and Riptide, a new crewmember whose less important than Nautica are watching Trailcutter slowly drink himself into a coma. His crippling self esteem issues and alcholishm have lead him down the darkest hole imaginable and it's sad to see, sadder this time around as having read his spotlight and seen just how shabbily he's treated by everyone but Whirl, whose busy patching up his pride, you can see why he's drunkely spiraled. And it only gets worse as Riptide mentoining Megatron drinks some kinda super fuel gives the poor shambles an idea.

Back to the past, and Starscream is being starscream, going on a long rant first describing how much he's acomplished and how much he loves his poeple and exactly what you'd expect till Magnus tells him to knock it off, then a long stew of lies painting Megatron as a mistaken blundering fool whose revolution got out of hand and whose been lead by others. This.. is what gets Megatron to activate his escape hatch to the suprise of no one. While part of it is genuinely good impulses as we've seen. he still has an ego. It's not as big as Starscream's as tha'ts just not physically possible, but it's enough to get him to say "fuck this time for plan b" after pleading guilty and intended to just.. give up.

Chromdome goes to visit Nightbeat. Turns out as he's been rewatching Rewinds's last words again.. and again and again, and again, and again and again and again and you get it, he's noticed a change...Rewind screaming. A change that's now gone and understandably Nightbeat think's it's just grief and Chromedome refuses to see the naunce in that and plans to storm off... till Nightbeat sees something... REWIND.

So it's back to trailwhatevers drunken escapades. Nautica leves as she's tired of water man and skids egging this stupidity on as Trailbreaker breaks into megatron's room.. well rather the door goes missing. This issue does a nice job of amping things up.. that something IS seriously wrong with the ship and the sign on chromedome's suite was just the start.

So he breaks into suplies, checks the energon and finds megatron.. and finds megs, magnus, ratchet, some white guy, guy with a visor and cool red guy with a visor starring him down. Trailbreaker responds by busting out his new move a "panic bubble" that lasts 90 minutes. While he huddles and his enablers have no idea we go back to the past.

Starscream is doing what he does best: celeberating prematurely that he's won, he's the true leader of the decipticons. er cybertron...

The Autobots also got an autobump. But the real meat is back in the present. Nightbeat has figured out what Rewind might be. A g-g-ghost! Specifically a data ghost. Information has a life of it's own, and Rewind was constnatly recording... and him stopping when his spark stopped. Sidenote I just realized transformers sparks are where their hearts are and i'ts a consitant thing in this comic. Like no matter the side the spark tends to be at the center... I know this because of all the impalings. So many impalings. I'm not haunted at night you are.

Point is Nightbeat is fun, on a tear if not exactly senstive as Chromdome is both depressed he didn't bring his partner back with the power of love and thinks it has ot be revenge since he hasn't been contining the quest for dominus ambus like he promised. They have bigger issues.. which i'm saying a lot this review but is true as the wall of nightbeat's habsuite is GONE. Somehow their not in the vacum of space. or something.l the art really isn't clear.

So back with Trailboy, he's coming down and is ready to go to prison or be sent home or whatever just as long as it isn't a beating. The bad news is he's still getting a beating as Megatron thunks him on the head. The good news is Megatron.. is a good leader now. He recognizes the problem and activated Trailbreakers fim chip. Basically he can drink he just can't get drunk. Disabling it is how robots get drunk in the first place. It's a violation of space.. but something necessary as this coudl've gone so much worse. It's also a job opportunity: Megatron admits this shoudln't of been even possible: even with the door going missing someone breaking in this easily and this drunkenly is impressively sloppy. He needs a new cheif of security since with all these extras and all this chaos.. no one.. no one thought to hire a new head of security since Red Alert's breakdown. Especailly given it was proven he was entirely sane and hearing a serial killer in their walls, but we'll get to his fate later. Point is Megatron sees this drunken breakdown for what it is: a very depressed man with a disase who badly needs a purpose and gives him the job. It shows already that while Megatron is still coarse and arrogant.. he's also a better man. In the past he probably woudl've just killed trails and does threaten to murder him.. but here he empathizes seeing that he's just a bot at the very end of his rope with no one actually supporting him but given the panic bubble with actual talent. Sending him home or locking him up helps no one. Giving him a job, a purpose and what he wanted most of all: recognition.. that ... that's a good thing Megatron did.

So Trailbreakers rock bottom did help though: it opened the casket and since no's eyes are leaking out of their skull, Megatron opens it to find RODIMUS BODY. Yup apparently he's been dead this whole time.

TO find out how we... should go back to the flashback. And we do but get no answers: Megatrons pleading not guilty now, while Rodimus did the thing we all expected and reads the data pad.

We being our final issue for now where we left off: on trial. Yeah this bit isn't BAD.. but feels like it woudl've been better as it's own issue in the middle or at the end of these three. A whole flashback to explain. It's how most comics do it and while that can get tedious I now see why: you can thread flashbacks with a story well, see the first arc of the most recent captaina merica run. JM Stranzki nicely synchs up Steve's past trying to stop american nazi's with the present. Here it synchs up a little but it feels like two diffrent stories that are important but keep interupting each other.

I do like the trail as it helps set megatron up: why he's here where his heads out etc and I like his prewrittne response he has magnus read out

Now the mentally violate part is fucking bullshit. That's.. entirely made up and not at all what happened and footage from the cell could easily prove that. That's just megs being a dick. But the rest.. isn't wrong. They didn't pull any witnesses from the decipticons, any of his loyalists left alive who might speak for his character, and while Magnus did his best he really didn't make an actual defense, his judge is his archenemy and his prosecuter is a known war criminal. It's very clear Megatron only let this go as far as it did because he planned to just sit and rot and was fully taking the kangaroo court.. but hot rod and starscream woke up his ego: his desire to not have the story end in shame.. but in doing SOMETHING right.

More on this soon. For now everyone has some drinks and kicks back, riptide studies a bit and we get back to the past where exactly who you'd expect are reacting exactly how you'd expect.

Look starscream isn't suprising.. but at least he's entertaining. Of course he's going to pout his evil plan isn't going the way he wanted. Prowl is also unsuprising.. but a giant fucking dick i'm still baffled john Barber couldn't see as a monster. Maybe it's roberts writing but you can't just..conviently ignore that one of your main cast commited war crimes in the other book or is saying shit like this. Or blame it on constructicons as he'll end up partially doing. Prowl is arguing they should basically have a show trial and trying to imply it's us or them and not "everyone even monsters deserve a fair trial. " Ratrap cuts through this very RID argument with a simple point: Ask megatron what he wants.

Back with the corpse First Aid is examining and has NOT been doing well. Ratchet primarily asked for his help because Ambulons' death hit the poor guy hard and he's been in his room barely engaging with anyone sense. Seems to be going around. Still calls need to be made.. and thus after a three issue absence, kinda... it's the return of the king

Yeah a rare full page here as everything about this is great, Rodimus clear grief... and it being interputed by a petty argument. I like that like Ultra Magnus Megatron just.. cuts through Hot Rod's bs.. that he's now tag teamed by two people who won't take his shit. And both have a point: They are co captains. Made up rank or not optimus judgment stands, but Rodimus was sulking for what was implied to be several months, kinda proving WHY maybe they needed a new captain.. co captain. Whatever. While Optimus taking the reigns from Rodimus is cruel as this is Roddy's quest, he acomplished little and let a serial killer on board on a dare. Megatron has done FAR WORSE.. but has far better motives than his own deep seated insecurity.

So back in prison Megatron is wondering about the people who tried to spring him. By the way some decpitcons tried to free him. It.. it sure did happen. I nearly forgot to mention it but in doing os realized just HOW superflous it ends up being. It shows Megatron isn't going to flee but like.. we got that.

And this proves it as Megatron explains why he' squesting and wants to change things to being judged by the knights of cybertron. He dosen't want his epitaph to be written by starscream. He wants to do something right

He's trying to atone for what he did. this isn't just an escape hatch: he had one ready, unsuprisingly, but his reasoning... is good. he just wants to make a better world after ruining this one.

Optimus agrees. While he could just throw megatron in the brig till Rodimus finishes the quest, He sees the genuine nature of this request and asks for two non negotiables first

Second we'll naturally get to later, as for now Rodimus is freaked out and thus calls for TEAM RODIMUS WHAT WHAT. Specifically nightbeat, nautica, chromedome, brainstorm and skids, all people who are smart and can deal with weird shit. He ignores Night beat about to tell him shit is weird and instead has chromedome once hack into a dead body

Yeah Rodimus is a bit of an ass this arc even by his standards. Nautica finds specteralist symbols, chromedome only finds curosy memories left and first aid confirms via enermost energon that it's him. Sometime in the near future he apparently dies after they reunite with drift again.

So Rodimus has a resonable adult reaction to his impending death: CUT OFF HIS ARM. After all if his corpse has two arms, he has one it can't happen. Perfect plan! Megatron points out the flaw and I just.. love how these two bounce off each other. We've never really had someone on the same level of rodimus point out his stuidlty. Others have but with those bellow the command trinity he can tell them to shut up and respect the captancy and magnus and drift were both weird in their own ways: drift was new agey by cybertronain standards and magnus would marry the rules if that wreen't against the rules. Megatron is megatron.. but he lacks the quirks whiel still being megatron enough to be funny. He's straight with roddy like magnus but unlike magnus has no clear issues he can push. Roddy can pull out the "your a monster card" and does frequently and will call megatron out on a lower moment next time, but it's not something that works when pointing out basic logical falicies and when the person isn't trying to be space hitler these days.

Thankfully rodimus mental breakdown is interuppted as a large portion of the ship disappears behind him. So Nightbeat's right while Brainstorm's latest invention has the right idea

Meanwhile our other new castmate finally reappears: Getaway. As Tailgate is hot doggin and grandstanding at the bar, Getaway comes up and starts flattering him, calling the little guy a hero and blatantly hitting on him in a way that's obvious to a grumpy cyclonus and anyone with eyes, but also comes off creepy... the way he just... butters Tailgate up it seems wrong. And it is but we're a long ways away from that. The alarm goes off and we go back to the flashback. Megatron denounces deciptconism and everything he stood for, a bit mopey.. but understnading

Speaking of MOpey rodimus shows Ratchet the pad.. and finds out Megatrons going to be assigned to his ship. And his pissy ness.. is entirley justified. Now his months long mope sesh isn't, he didn't act like an adult and unlike first aid and chromedome he's not dealing with severe trauma and depression: he's just sore his ship got taken away and if he wanted to prove he's still captain, fucking act like it. Be a leader.

That said it wasn't within Optimus' rights to fucking do this. It's not his ship, not his mission, not something he's been involved with apart from a brief team up. He has no authority over the lost light and should've had no authority to keep it here for the trial. He's not in charge of anything but the autobots. not cybertron, and frankly shoudln't of been judge. His intentoins are noble: keep megatron honest and in the public eye and watched and under fools energon so his strengths down, it's why the special diet. But his actions are simply selfish and not how a leader acts: While sometimes you HAVE to ignore the will of your team to do something right in fiction, to give someone a second chance even if they sucked before, this.. isn't his team. He was autobot commander but he RESIGNED. Bumblebee is dead. This decision is not his to make. He didn't set out on this mission. He changed an entire ships mood, put the crew with a leader they truly hate simply because he knew they'd listen to him and wouldn't contest it and that... that's not good leadership. That's not being superman tha'ts being a dick. It works out long term, but it's an example of the rest of the autobots dismissing the lost light crew's autonomy. They stopped being one united all together faction the second they split and while they'll be there when cybertron needs them, the autbots left on cybertron have to accept they aren't one big army anymore. He's not THE SUPREME COMMANDER. He deserves respect I get asking for favors but this is a unilateral decision tha thas horrific consequences.

Anyways Rodimus feels bad as he was considering generally using the pad as Atomizer suggested, to cull the herd.. but can't. Ratchet points out what a stupid thing this would be but lets its lide given bout the cirucmstances and the fact Rodimus agrees to destroy it. That said.. he also points out it's fake. his name isn't on the list.. and that clearly wounds Rodimus.

So we end act 1 of the story as everyone scrambles to exit the lost light. We get some great banter as Megatron gives a classic villanous unhand me.. and Rodimus points out good guys don't really do that and I love their bickering on the escape pod

Now kiss... but maybe later as the lost light is gone. And that ends part 1

While splitting it in half this was was just circumstance, and it's late release was just me having a massive cold the split fits as while I consider this is a 6 part arc and all of it's collected in the same volume, it really is two acts the first slowly building up to the big event and explaning "why megatron here" while part 2 leans more on the sci fi high concept now we're all caught up. It's why I wish we'd gotten a flashback issue. Maybe DO rodimus as a corpse then the flashback.. then reveal he's alive. I dunno. This stretch of issues is decent but the trial stuff makes it drag slightly. I'm not reading this book for a self righteous asshat to hold a trial for his arch enemy whil ea war criminal screeches to just kill him already.

Having to spend time with Prowl did not help, as .. it's Prowl. he sucks. And I admit a large part is how the series ends, with Prowl somehow surviving all this, yes, really, and getting to dismantle the lost light. I'll get to the context in a few years, but that knowledge just makes me hate him more. Every panel is him just being the smugest most uncomfortable dickweed and it really pisses me off he's allowed to be involved in this trial AT ALL. That he's not HAVING A TRIAL or in a cell. I mean I get doing megatron first but i'm shocked starscream didn't throw him in one as he has every reason just to piss optimus off. I get so tired of the heroes throwing their hands up at prowl being a dick, arguging with him but doing nothing, something that will lead to a whole ass crossover event. And yeah you could blame his current combiner status but it's clear from the flashbacks before his brainwashing or his time as bruticuis, he was a DICK. An authortarian asshat who thought the ends justified the means. He's the Transformers verison of amanda waller but without the comptence or style... so absolute power era amanda waller, but I digress. He's a bad person and while Rodimus actions involving overlord haunt him I notice somebody never gets tried fo rit, exiled or just... plain.. kicked out. Optimus should NOT have brought him to earth or even talked to him. He gives Rodimus so much shit, and the shit over his not resinging was deserved.. but he lets PROWL get a fucking free pass till it's too late only punching him after he's comitted more war crimes. The more I think about it the more prowl's presecnce just drags down this whole affair and I didn't think i'd be ranting about him AGAIN but here we are.

This first half is fine, as while season 2 is my faviorite it does have a bumpy intro with the flashbacks, everyone being a tad grumpy and the first arc really being everyone adjusting to a war criminal being made captain. The levity the series needs to ballance it's deep sads isn't there often and it's only when Rodimus returns the series equilbrium comes back, his man child nature perfectly setting up comedy again with Swerve in a grumpy mood and Trailcutter's breakdown being more sad than the shennigan the series tries to play it as partly. He's a constantly negelected and unseen person lashing out and doing a drunken stupid that only dosen't end in his death because Megatron is a shockingly cool guy. But once you get Rodimus and Megatron arguing and our cool star trek style high concept of the week going, things feel like the comic I feel in love with and thankfully the second half is way stronger for it.

Next Time: We find out where the lost light went, Megatron gets a cat, and a former member of the crew returns! Kinda! Multiverse theroy is a bitch! I'm pulling for ya we're all in this together

[fracturediron]

I haven't really had any standout favourites amongst the DFF characters and I don't really ship any of the canon ships in the usual sense (i.e. no obsessive brainrot, although I'm enjoying them all from a narrative perspective). But the bombshell that was ep 9 has finally made me latch onto a character. This guy:

Although not I think for the most common reason that has caused Tan/New's surge in popularity i.e. being Non's avenger. Because man, New is so much more than that. This kid is a hot mess who's lost everything he holds dear, filled with guilt for failing Non and then his family, seeking answers, revenge, redemption and now has nothing left to lose. I'm so here for it. New's character and his arc is just fucking fascinating to me. Kudos to Mio for playing it so subtle until now and then knocking it out of the freaking park for ep 9.

This kid was the golden child of his family and favoured at least by his mother, and yet clearly felt the pressure of those expectations.

And then! And then! His and Non's whole deal makes my brain buzz. I love me some tragic siblings with a yawning emotional gulf in understanding between them; of a relationship lost or a closeness that never quite made it, of a relationship of two brothers endlessly set against each other and damaged by their parents. A relationship where he failed Non in a litany of little ways by not being there for him, and one always inevitably overshadowed by the comparisons their parents made between them both.

And when Non disappears, New is overcome with guilt! For failing him, and for not being able to be there for him, and so he resolves to find out what happened to him. And he fucking commits to it! This guy throws away his scholarship, his life in England, to fucking redo highschool and infiltrate the gang of kids who bullied his brother! For two years, he hung around with these people pretending to like them and lied to his parents, only to have nothing to show for it and to lose even more when his mother kills herself, his father disowns him and then does the same! This shit would break the strongest of people (and I'd argue something in New is broken now) but he still finds it in himself to kickstart the plan that will bring hell down on these kids.

This kid has lost everything, and is clearly at a place of desperation and despair. But he's still not giving up. Even in the face of ruination and perhaps his own destruction, I feel like New will keep going on regardless if it means finding out what happened to Non. He'll do whatever it takes, burn the world, immolate himself, if it means making that happen.

I think ultimately, I love that New's a tragic, complex character who's been ruined by life and by his own doing, and through ruination, has come out of it unhinged, perhaps even something worse. Someone haunted by the ghosts of his lost family, by his failures and his guilt. Someone with so much potential for further tragedy, who'll likely destroy themselves relentlessly chasing his end goal and end in misery.

TLDR; I love me a haunted, broken, unhinged, fucked up li'l guy.

[teddypickerry]

hii bb!! love ur stories sm

do u think u could do a angst jess mariano imagine where the reader is in a relationship with someone else and jess get really upset and jealous and ends up confessing his love to the reader x.🤍

𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐄 !

pairings! — jess mariano x fem reader

warnings! — cheating (kind of), cursing (…LMFAO), lowk jess being a fluffy bitch so watch out

a/n! — this is kinda out of character for jess imo??? BUTTTT I LOVED WRITING IT. i love this idea + jess just being a fucking lovebot. i want to kiss his face (if you can’t tell from the picture)

THE TEENAGE BOY sat on the steps of the Stars Hollow gazebo, his eyes locked on his best friend laughing with another guy across the town square. They were both drinking coffee and seemed lost in their own world, completely oblivious to Jess's presence. He'd known you'd been seeing a guy for a few weeks now. But anytime he'd ask about him, you would change the subject. Jess was doubting himself at this point. Why would his best friend lie about her very own boyfriend to him?

It was a few days later that Jess was finally blessed with his presence — Daniel was his name, a pretty boring name for the burnout that he was. He wasn't anything special to Jess. Just a tall guy with greasy hair and a shitty sense of humor. To you, he was a good time. Something that most of the Stars Hollow residents lacked.

Friday afternoon marked four weeks since Daniel first locked eyes on you, vowing to his friends that he was gonna win you over. He wrote his number on a cigarette that he offered you which was quite the distinctive ask out. Ever since the boy had entered your life the other boy in your life, your best friend (the asshole + idiot) Jess Mariano, had been a bit slaggish. It wasn't that he was rude to you outright but he seemed uninterested and... different.

You finished your afternoon of homework by replacing your jeans with a pair of comfortable shorts, awaiting a much needed night in. A knock on the door kickstarted your heart a bit, not expecting anyone until later (the takeout guy and your friend Rory, who are not the same person). When you opened the door, revealing an intense Jess. He didn't say a word as he sunk into his jean jacket in the cold weather. You stepped aside to let him in, the worried look on his face enough to suffice as an excuse to let him in. Despite his asshole attitude the past few weeks. "What's going on?" Your voice was hesitant, unsure of the possibilities of Jess's ulterior mood.

"It's... it's Daniel. I don't fucking trust him," he muttered like it was nothing making you sigh. "I can't explain why, I just... I dunno. He looks at you like a freak and I don't think he's good for you." He admitted straightforward whole fumbling with his pockets. It was a rare sight to see Jess anything less than... how do I put this lightly? A cynical, judgmental, cocky bastard. 

So this was a sight to see. He was confident in his words but an internal conflict was dragging him down revealing an inner mood. "What are you.." Your voice trailed off in pure confusion. Reminiscent on the idea that this is why Jess has been so on edge lately. "Where are you even getting this from?" A stern look took over your face.

"Listen to me, Y/N. Something's off about this guy. Everyone can see it." Jess snapped before he sighed and attempted to calm himself down. He didn't want to get angry at you, that was the last resort actually. "What if we just followed him? Just for one day? We would find something-"

"What the hell? No!" You interjected in genuine question if your best friend had gone mad. "Can you stop accusing him of being a dick? Does this get you off?"

The two had gone silent as they both swallowed your words. There was a hint of regret on your behalf even though Jess was showing signs of insanity. He stepped forward, his hand placing a gentle hold on your arm. He was desperate and it showed. "I'm telling you, something's wrong with that guy. I can't tell you why... or how, I just feel it. Believe me, please. For me?"

You contemplated his words for a moment before looking him in the eye directly. Now or never. "Is it that or something else?" You hushed, a hasty breath releasing. "What do you..." His voice was soft, which you'd never experienced from Jess. He tried to sound curious and failed miserably when he took a deep breath.

Another silence fell over the two when she tried to decipher what he was thinking. She had no idea which route to take. "Are you upset that we don't see each-other anymore? I know I've been distant lately but you can't just put the blame on Danny, Jess."

Safe route.

His hand ran down her forearm to play with her fingers unintentionally. Jess was silent which showcased his answer. You were right and he didn't want to admit how much that affected him, or how much that was apart of the problem. He also half expected you to say something else but realized how idiotic that thought was. "It's true... but only because I care about you. I don't want you to get hurt or whatever... you know?" Once again, safe route. Or as I would say... bullshit.

"Are you sure about that?" Your voice came just below a whisper hardly enough for either of you to hear. His face seemed to harden at the accusation he wanted you to believe him. "Can't you just believe the 'I miss you' lame thing?" He attempted to joke with a straight face. You didn't budge and let out a soft breath before glancing away. "What do you want me to tell you, Y/N?" Jess's voice raised into a heavier tone seemingly upset with his best friend's lack of belief.

"That you love me," you uttered even shocking yourself. Jess quite literally couldn't believe his ears. He didn't waste anytime to do the thing he couldn't stop thinking about anytime he saw you. Jess stepped forward with your faces nearly touching. "I do love you."

Now was your opportunity to not waste any time. You leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. A sudden surprise for Jess, which he obviously appreciated. The short but passionate kiss was ended with a soft breath, only for him make an attempt to take the lead. He took a deep breath and pulled you back into him. A deeper and more intense kiss coming over the both of you. You were soft and sweet in his arms that were now tangling around you. Due to dire need of oxygen (sadly) your lips were pulled apart. The elephant in the room needed to be addressed and no I'm not talking about your dad's elephant hat. "What are you gonna tell the asshole?"

"Jess," You warned teasingly being brought out of your trance. "That I'm the asshole. I shouldn't have stringed him along like this. I know we weren't exclusive or anything but... I feel really bad. Because I've been in love with my best friend for a long fucking time."

Jess had to bite down on his lip to stop himself from kissing you again. A new addiction of his has occurred and they were called your lips. This conversation was heavy on your heart, you needed his advice rather than his spit. "How do you think he'll react?"

"Well how would you react?" You scoffed before pressing your head against the wall. "He'll take it out on me, not you. I'm sure." This was the time Jess realized this situation would have consequences to be dealt with. Something he was never too fond of. He liked living life his way, not with a barrier. The thought of Daniel being pissed at you made him want to knock him out, which to be fair is something he's wanted to do for a long time. Jess pressed his lips to your cheek softly, in an attempt of comfort. A sweeter Jess was something you'd never seen. But you weren't arguing.

"I'll talk to him if you want... I promise to call him Daniel and not Dickwad." Jess teased with his nose pressed to the side of your face. You giggled before turning towards him. "That might not be the best idea since I just spent my evening confessing my love to you."

"Fair enough." Now was his turn to laugh shining his crooked grin you were so fond of. "I'll wait outside with a crowbar for him and a kiss for you." Jess's joke made you playfully roll his eyes before leaning in for a soft kiss. You wanted to take in as much as this moment as possible. It was still unbelievable. "I'm yours, I'll be there for whatever you need. Like your own personal Bosley?"

"Does that make me your angel?" You teased while he replied with his lips touching yours for the seventh millionth time that evening. But you knew you'd never get sick of this feeling. Neither of you could bare to hold back as you fell deeper into the kiss. When you finally pulled apart he was full of energy and adrenaline. He could run a marathon screaming about how he was kissing the girl he loved loudly. He wanted to know how you felt about him too. "Tell me I'm the only one for you," He whispered intensely. Jess's look was pure fire as he intensely looked into your eyes.

"I love you, Jess Mariano. Only you."

"Good. Now let's watch Detroit Rock City."

"Hey!"

[2-guns-b1tch]

Talk To Me

Arkham! Riddler x FemaleReader

+18 Minors DNI!!!!

After 10 months I'm finally done with this chapter ! Sorry to leave everybody waiting, but I was having trouble writing this chapter, but it's finally here. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Masterlist

CHAPTER 4 / AO3

"What about this one?" Harley asks, taking the book off the shelf and showing it to you.

"I've read that one, but I didn't like it that much. Too many of sex scenes."

Harley rolls her eyes, huffing a laugh. "What did you expect? It's a Smut book!"

You shrug as you continue to scan over the books in the romance section. "I know, but there was no character development. And I was getting tired of reading about how the main guy had a huge cock and how wet the romantic interest was all the time.”

Harley returns the book back the shelf, shaking her head at you. "You're the only person I know who reads an erotic book waiting for plot."

Since it was your day off, you had decided to run some errands and, luckily, Harley had agreed to come with you. Going through your to do list could be boring sometimes, but Harley always managed to make things more fun. Plus, a little help never hurt anyone.

It was a particularly cold day in Gotham. Although it had rained earlier, the clouds were still dark and heavy with water, the wind howling through the busy streets. At least the bookstore you and Harley were in was warm. The smell of new books accompanied by the scent of freshly made coffe from the café on the back created a cozy atmosphere that made you want to stay a little bit more.

"Still on the topic of erotica,” She raises her eyebrows in a sugestive way. “How’s your romantic life going? Any lucky guys caught your eye?" Harley says while looking at the cover of a book with a shirtless muscular man holding a woman in his arms.

"I've been so busy with everything lately. I hardly have time for myself, let alone a relationship. But what about you? Are you seeing someone?"

"Well..." Harley bites her lower lip as she wraps a lock hair around her finger. "There's this guy I met."

You turn your full attention to her, smiling excitedly. "Tell me everything! How long have you been talking? Does he work at Arkham too? Do I know him?"

"Okay, calm down!" she giggles, looking around as a light blush covers her cheeks. "I met him at Arkham and we've been talking for the last few months. He's pretty funny."

"And what's his name?"

"His name is... Jack. You don't know him." She quickly turns back to a pile of books."What are we looking for again?"

"Edward finished the puzzle book I gave him, so he asked me to bring Frankenstein this time."

Harley laughs. "Okay, we're definitely not going to find that here. Let's look in the Horror section."

The two of you head deeper into the bookstore, the old wooden floor creaking beneath your feet. You loved being surrounded by books, so many amazing stories just waiting to be discovered. You remembered your childhood, how easy it was to get lost in words, every turn of page made the world a less scary place, your problems fading for just a few moments. You used to imagine yourself as one of Peter Pan's lost boys, or Alice falling down the rabbit hole to her Wonderland. Anything that distanced you from your own troubled reality.

You find the Horror section and you start browsing over the columns of the books in search of Frankenstein while Harley walked aimlessly between the shelves, looking for nothing in particular.

"Has the Joker ever asked you to bring him something?" The words left your mouth before you realise. You didn’t want to ruin the mood talking about work, and besides, Joker was Harley’s patient, not yours.

"Not really. He knows I'm not allowed to take anything into the maximum security ward."

It made sense. As much as Edward didn't have a clean record, he definitely wasn't as unhinged as the Joker. So he was allowed to interact with other patients and his cell wasn't as protected. Just the thought of being in the presence of the Joker makes you feel a shiver run down your spine.

Dracula. Carmilla. Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. You skim over the titles in the row of books arranged side by side. You've never been much of a fan of the horror genre. Gotham was dangerous enough and you didn't need any more paranoia in the middle of the night. Was that why Edward wanted a book like that? To some people he was like one of the monsters in those stories. Maybe he just wanted to see himself in a story where one of the characters wasn't so different from him, even if they were the villain.

You finally find what you were looking for. You pull the book, running your fingers over the dark green velvet cover. This edition looked older, having only the title and the author's name written in gold letters on the front. Edward would definitely like this one.

"You won't believe what I found." Harley's voice comes from behind you, pulling you from your thoughts. She’s holding a small book, a smile stretching her lips. "It's a joke book!"

Harley flips through the pages until she stops at something she likes. "A book just fell on my head... I only have my shelf to blame." She reads aloud.

"Oh, my God. That was horrible!" You cover your mouth, but it's impossible to hide the laughter that escapes you.

“That’s a good one. I used to be addicted to soap, but I’m clean now.”

"We're not going buy this one." You say, heading towards the cashier.

"Oh, we totally will." Harley speaks, following you.

You and Harley finish buying the books, and when you open the door to leave the bookstore, a gust of wind hits you. The clouds that were silent just a few minutes ago are now alive. A loud thunder crashing over the city noise.

You hesitate at the door, unsure whether you should risk venturing into this weather or wait for the threat of rain to pass. Before you can say anything, Harley pulls you by the hand, guiding you down the street. Halfway through, drops of water begin to fall from the sky. At first it's just a thin drizzle, but little by little the rain starts turning thick.

But you can't even get mad at Harley. While other people are trying to protect themselves from the rain, Harley jumps into the puddles of water in an almost childish way, not seeming to care that the two of you were soaking wet. She throws her head back in an laugh and you can't suppress the smile that forms on your lips.

At that point you decide not to worry about getting a cold or how your clothes would take hours to dry. Instead, you allow Harley's warm to pass through you. You just keep the book under your coat so you don't get it wet and let Harley guide you.

------

When you finally arrive in the therapy room, Edward is already there. You catch him hunched over the table with tensed shoulders for just a second before he snaps his head towards you and fix his posture.

"Good morning, Edward." You say as you walk around the table, sitting in your usual spot opposite him.

Edward watches you in silence as you grab your purse and take out your things to start the session.

"You're late." He notices, his voice quiet.

You check the clock on the wall. "For only 5 minutes."

"It still means you're late."

It’s not unusual for patients to be attached to a specific routine. This brings stability and security to them, so making even the smallest change in the pattern can easily bother them. But you expected a tic related to time would be Tetch’s thing, not Edward’s.

You smile apologetically. "The asylum is big and it takes me a while to walk here. But you're right, I'm late. I'm sorry."

You wait patiently for Edward to say something sarcastic or some comment about how important and smart he is to wait for people like you. But he just nods weakly, keeping his eyes on his lap.

You tap your pen a few times against your clipboard, trying to break the foreign silence that filled the room.

"Is everything okay? You're strangely quiet today."

Edward scoffs a laugh. "At least you're smart enough to appreciate what I have to say. Most people would rather I shut up."

"I always want to hear what you have to say. That's why I'm here."

Edward squeezes his lips into a thin line, looking disturbed by something. His eyes travel across the room for a moment before landing on you again. He swallows hard a few times, a light sheen of sweat forming on his forehead.

"I... I've got something for you." He babbles, the words coming out choked. "It's a... well, I- Oh dammit."

He lets out a frustrated sigh before putting something down on the table and retreating back to his chair.

The object Edward left on the metal surface of the table wasn’t some kind of riddle or puzzle. It was actually a small sculpture of a cat in a sitting pose that fitted in the palm of your hand. You pick it up, realizing that Edward must have made it from a bar of soap. Your fingers caress the delicate details, the small nose, it’s pointed ears, the tail that wrapped around it’s body.

"The details may not be entirely accurate, since I don’t know the exactly appearance of your cat and I didn't have the necessary materials and-" Edward starts chattering but you interrupt him.

"Is this Meg? I loved it!" You hold the sculpture firmly between your fingers, placing it against your chest. "It's perfect."

"You... Loved it?" Edward clears his throat, adjusting his posture. "Well, of course you did. I couldn't have expected any other reaction. I did an excellent job, even with the inadequate materials." A pink flush appears on his cheeks, spreading across his face and up his ears.

"Is this some kind of apology because of our last session?"

Edward adjusts his glasses over his nose. "You could say that my behavior was not entirely appropriate. I may have been a little rude. But don’t think this is an apology, I’m not nice."

"But where did you find the tools to do something like this? You're not allowed to be near sharp objects." You remember him.

"My abilities know no bounds, Doctor. Nothing can stop a brilliant mind like mine," after a second he adds. "I used a spoon."

A smile spreads across your face as you imagine Edward with his tongue tucked in between his lips, his brow furrowed in concentration as he methodically carved out the details in a piece of soap.

"Since we're exchanging gifts, I have something for you, too." You pull Frankstein's copy out of your bag, pushing it towards Edward.

"You remembered..." He comments as he strokes the velvety cover of the book, looking surprised.

"Of course I did. Did you think I would forget?"

"It’s not that. I just thought that because of the last session you might be... upset." Edward looks almost embarrassed, but it's still too early to know for sure if he actually feels any kind of remorse. One step at a time.

"I forgive you, Edward. Even if this is not an apology. I may have been a little harsh too, but now we're even."

You smile at Edward and for a second he surprises you with a soft smile of his own. It's not like the smirk he usually has on his face or the kind he reserves for his cruel comments. This time it's sincere. You think it suits him.

"Very well," you continue, checking your notes quickly. "Today I would like to talk about-"

This time, it's Edward who cuts you off with a groan. It looks like things are back to normal.

"This is so boring, can we talk about something else? I feel like my neurons are dying every day I spend in here." Edward complains, resting his chin on his cuffed hands. "Anything would be a more interesting mental stimulation."

"Do you think I'm going to change the session just because you gave me a gift?"

"Maybe?" He grins, his lips stretching like the Cheshire Cat.

You decide to give in this time, since Edward was in such a good mood. You place your notes on the table and lean against the chair.

"Well, what do you want to talk about?" You ask, placing your hands on your lap.

"Let me see..." Edward taps his chin a couple of times before speaking again "How's the weather?"

You huff a laugh. "Weather, really? Do you find this a more interesting mental stimulation?"

"You can see how desperate I am, can't you?" his foot nugdes yours under the table and you jump lightly, surprised by the unexpected contact. "Come on, tell me. I stay all day inside this building, I hardly see the sky."

"Well, it's been raining a lot these last few weeks. You know, the sewer system doesn't work so the streets are all flooded."

He sighs. "Gotham never changes. How about the renovation of Bleake Island's main avenue? Before I came here, they were still trying to finish it."

"Still going. Takes me even more time to get here because of it. They stopped because of a funding problem or something."

"At least I know that our dear mayor will never fail to let us down. And they still say I'm the villain." Edward gestures in an exaggerated manner, drawing a small chuckle from you.

"What do you miss most from outside?" That wasn't one of your prepared questions, but you've always wondered what it was like to be stuck in Arkham.

"I miss food. Real food. I've been dreaming of that Italian place on 19th Street." He leans back against his chair, an dreamy expression on his face. "And music, too. I'd kill for a radio in here."

In these last few weeks you had seen Edward bored, grumpy and even angry. But now he seemed relaxed, almost content to be talking to you. This sudden change in mood makes a strange feeling pass through you.

You clear your throat, straightening your back.

"What are you trying to do here, Edward?"

His smile dies a little and he tilts his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

“As far as I know, you hate our sessions and suddenly you just want to talk to me? What has changed?"

"Can’t we just have a good old-fashioned conversation? I'm known for my intelligence, but believe me when I say I can also be charming when I want to."

"I don't know if I buy it." You cross your arms, raising an eyebrow at him.

Edward clicks his tongue, rolling his eyes at you. "All right. It may come as a surprise, but in this building full of imbeciles and lunatics, you are one of the few people that I’m able to have a normal conversation with. You should be proud, Doctor. Not many have this honor."

The look of surprise on your face must be apparent, since Edward snorts a laught at you, shaking his head gently. Maybe it was too early to believe that Edward trusted you, but at least he seemed to be starting to warm up to you. And in your book that was considered a victory.

------

The door of your apartment closes behind you with a small click. You go through your usual routine, first locking all the locks on your door, then taking off your coat and finally greeting Meg with a pat behind her ears.

The answering machine warns you that you have seven new messages, but this time you decide to delete them without listening. You were in a good mood and didn't feel like having your day ruined again because of a wrong message. Whatever it was, it could wait.

Meg follows you on the way to your room and you need to be careful not to trip over her as she snuggle against your legs. A sigh leaves your lips when your sinks in your comfy matress, allowing the stresses of the day to leave your shoulders. You decide to make a new entry on your recorder, it's been a while since you've done that.

"Fourth session with patient Edward Nygma. Ed showed a great evolution today," you say as you rummage inside your bag. "He exhibited violent behavior on our last session, but Ed seemed to feel guilty as we talked about it. He was also willing to engage in a normal conversation with me and even seemed to be interested in what I had to say. Maybe this is a form of manipulation, but I like to believe Edward is improving in his treatment."

You take the little cat statue out of your purse, placing it on your bedside table. You pet it carefully, almost as if it was a real cat. When you started talking again, a smile came across your face.

"We exchanged gifts today. I brought the book he asked me and he made a cat sculpture inspired by Meg. It's lovely. I wonder what Edward could do if he had the right materials and tools. His manual skills are... fantastic."

You find yourself remembering how nervous Edward was earlier. The soft pink flush on his cheeks, going all the way up his ears. His gentle smile. Meg's meows knock you out of your thoughts and you realize you've been staring at the cat sculpture for too long. You decide to end the recording and getting up to prepare your and Meg's dinner.

[the-mandawhor1an]

The escape

[Flashback Chapter!] Chapter 0 – Guided by the stars, connected by the force

Masterlist

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Chapter summary: The day has arrived. Maia has to take another chance of breaking free of the shackles the Empire forced upon her. Maybe, just maybe, today is the day she can finally escape and seek the life she was destined to lead. To find out who she is and what her place in this universe is. 

Warnings: 18+ content, MDNI! Canon-typical violence, mentions of SA/involuntary pregnancy, brief mention of periods, the Empire in general needs its own warning, character death

Words: 2.6k 

A/N: This chapter will be one of many flashbacks (because I’m a slut for flashbacks) and I guess I call it chapter 0 because it’s JUST backstory, no tin can involvement yet. Enjoy, I guess!

»Maia, wake up,« a voice rudely awoke the 18-year old in what felt like the middle of the night. Her room didn’t have the luxury of a window, just cold, white, high shine walls and similarly sterile fluorescent lighting, so the only way to tell was by trusting her body, which felt heavy and uneasy in the shine of the cold, bright lights. »What’s going on?« she asked, soothing over her brown hair with one hand while her eyes adapted to the sudden change of brightness. After a few blinks to adjust, she made out the person that had barged in. Sitting upright in her bed, she turned to face the man that interrupted her slumber.

Raymond, a man she had met on her first day here, had a concerned expression plastered on his face. The expression only a father had when he feared for the worst for his child. It was an unspoken agreement between the two of them; him seeing her as his daughter, and her seeing a father in him. What made him enter her room in the middle of the night and what in the world had him so worked up?

»You need to leave tonight,« he proclaimed, earning a puzzled look from the just awoken. »What?« She understood what he said, but not what he meant. »Listen, we don’t have much time. You have to leave. I’ve watched this long enough and I can not tolerate it any longer. They want to transfer you to the Phase 3 ward.« In an instant she rose from the bed, while he peeked his head out the doorframe to listen for any sign of steps in the hallway. »I have someone waiting for you at the outskirts of the facility, they’ll take you away from here.« 

Maia’s heart sank. With every day since her capture the hope to make it out of here dwindled more. And with each passing day it became more and more clear, why she was even here in the first place. At first they lied to her, promising her to take her back to her family as soon as they were found. The reality was a whole lot darker: She was taken from her family when she was about 4 years old. She lost everything that day: Her family, her future, herself. She forgot each detail about herself, even her name, as if it had been wiped from her memory. The Imperials only referred to her by her identification, M-414. Raymond had come up with ‘Maia’, which in retrospect was just her code with the numbers exchanged for vowels. But the then-4-year-old liked the name. 

Days became weeks, weeks turned to months as she studied and trained to one day be utilized by the Empire. Only as a teenager she had made the realization, that all test subjects were in fact girls, and that this was no coincidence. 

Early on the weekly assessments started to test their progress and also their capabilities. Fighting, acrobatics, using the force, sometimes fighting the other girls until one was barely hanging on. Until, one by one, the older subjects disappeared as the frustration with the officers and the Overseer grew. Although Maia had rarely interacted with the other girls, she could sense their presence in the force. But with every presence that left the close vicinity, an aura of pure dread grew on the other side of the facility. She was never allowed to go close to the Phase 3 ward, but she knew what was going on there. The screams would double within 8 to 9 months, after a year it was unbearable to be even close to that area in the facility. There was so much grief, pain, helplessness. Yet still – Maia felt love, even in such a dark place, where everything was hopeless. 

Love. She was surrounded by it, even though it was hard to find love in a place like this. Yet still, there was this sliver of love in all of the dark feelings that surrounded the facility. Like the undying love a parent had for a child. The same love she saw in the warm brown eyes of her father, hidden behind the veil of years of worry.

The Imperials were counting on this love, this motherly instinct as means to make the girls obedient. Holding the children hostage they forced them to have, making sure every rebellious thought was killed off to protect the infants that kept Phase 3 quarters awake at all times of day. Children, more specifically only daughters, born by abducted, brainwashed, abused women, to be molded into the perfect Sith assassins. Who knows what experiments were conducted on all those poor souls in the name of science. 

Hastily, she got dressed as her father packed some of her clothes into a bag. Her hands were shaking as she tried to put on her jacket. With a sigh Raymond walked up to her and helped her, his hands soothing over her shoulders in the process. Maia shook her head, her voice was trembling. »I don’t understand, why me? I’m not ready to…« be a mother. While she was definitely not mentally ready to be forced to get pregnant and have a child, she wasn’t physically. Part of the never-ending medical examinations was monitoring their hormone levels. She hadn’t spiked yet, and hadn’t had to deal with the pain and discomfort that came with the bleeding.

»They want to see results quicker so their approach has changed. Take the most promising subjects and give them hormone therapy. They’re tired of waiting for nature to take its time. This is why I have to get you out tonight. You are on their list.« Raymond furrowed his brows. He was a captive himself, albeit not in the same way Maia was, but still he felt the guilt of not ever trying to put an end to this. Or not doing it sooner. He had hoped to have her be safe in here, but all of his efforts, all his good intentions, were futile. Witnessing what the Empire did to so many girls had broken him over the years. The scientist was a shadow of his former self. The fullness in his cheeks had left years ago and his hair had grayed substantially. Only the softness in his gaze persisted whenever he faced his beloved daughter.

»Are you coming with me?« He halted in his movements and looked into her eyes. Desperation shone within the green eyes of the young woman. As much as he’d love to leave with her, he couldn’t. She was a person of interest and so was he. That meant her chances were a lot better if he distracted them long enough. He knew she make out his lies without having to think about it much, so he chose to be honest with her. Even if it meant seeing her heart break in front of his eyes. »I wish I could, Darling.« His brows furrowed as he saw her eyes welling up with tears. It tug on his heartstrings but he knew it had to be like this. Gently, he cupped her face in his hands and stroked over her cheeks with his thumbs.

»You are smart and so unbelievably strong. I know you can do it without me. You have to. I will stay here and distract them as long as I can.« »What about my sisters?« She had always referred to the others as such. Raymond often wondered if that was a fragment of her old self shining through. »I will try to get them out of here as well.« Maia wasn’t sure she could believe him. She wanted to, she really did, but something in the way he looked at her made it feel like a farewell. »I’m really sorry it has to be like this. You’re not burdened by being a mother yet so your chances are far better to make it out of here.« He pulled her into a tight hug before they made their way out of her room. 

He pulled out a blaster and slowly entered the hallway with his daughter in tow. They didn’t talk as to not alert the guards that were patrolling. Every now and then Maia had to get rid of one while Raymond dealt with the other. He hated himself for forcing her hand to kill, but they couldn’t risk another escape attempt to fail. 

Something was off, Maia could tell by her father’s posture. He was uneasy, maybe because they had yet to run into actual trouble, which was suspicious to say the least. The hangar was just ahead of them, when the door opened and a squad of stormtroopers greeted them. None moved, yet, but Raymond halted. Not all was lost yet, but they had to focus. 

»I have to admit, I was wondering when you would try to save one of your little ones, Doctor Kaville,« a voice echoed through the hallway towards them, as the Overseer approached from behind the troopers. Raymond extended his arm to ward off his daughter. »We were sure you’d want little 414 out of here soon.« »Velkas, this has to end,« Raymond retorted, slowly pulling Maia behind his back as if to shield her with his body. They weren’t going to open fire on them, were they? »You have no idea what you’re doing here.« »We are breeding our own little army of Sith, Raymond, beautiful enough to blind the enemies of the Empire and equally lethal. Aren’t you proud of what we have achieved so far? She is one of the strongest force-users we have, her daughters will be even stronger, given the right training.« »You will never understand, will you? You are creating ticking time-bombs. You are working toward your own destruction. Training girls to be killers while treating them like animals, breeding them and relentlessly abusing them. They will rebel against you some day.« Velkas scoffed. Maia obviously never liked the Overseer, in his shiny black uniform, the serious expression that never left his features, the grayish undertone his skin had, similar to the white-silver of his hair. He wasn’t old by any means, but his appearance was downright unpleasant to look at. Perhaps he himself was consumed by the dark. 

With one gesture the stormtroopers approached Raymond, blasters drawn and focused on the doctor. Maia was practically glued to her father’s uniform, pressing her face into the fabric. Two troopers approached to separate the two, while Raymond was disarmed and handcuffed. Maia put up a fight, although she wasn’t quite angry enough to be any threat to the two men, yet. Screaming and kicking, they dragged her behind Raymond toward a makeshift holding cell.

The captives were dragged into one of the cargo rooms that surrounded the hangar. Maia had been handcuffed as well, tased one too many times to be able to walk straight any more. She was fixed to the wall, while Raymond was brought to his knees, right opposite of her. Both had been putting up a bit of a fight, although it wasn’t showing on the scientist. Strands of his hair were in disarray and his uniform had creased in places, but other than that he looked like he had just had a bad night. The teenager on the opposite hand looked a mess. Her hair was down, matted in places from fighting while getting handcuffed. Her jacket had burn marks where the taser had made contact with her. Her nose was bloodied and her face wet from the angry tears she had been slowly letting out.

»Look at me,« Raymond begged her. He knew what they would do to him. To make sure they could break her and deter her from making her final escape attempt. The last time she had made it off the perimeter, this time she would for sure make it farther. She didn’t listen, rather she watched as another familiar face entered the makeshift prison cell. »Maia,look.at.me,« Raymond pressed. She fixed her gaze to her father’s dark brown eyes, now also welling with tears. »I’m really sorry, Dr. Kaville,« Nathan, the blonde man holding a blaster to Raymond’s temple, confessed. »Nathan stop this,« Maia begged him. »Please.« Of course they were forcing her kind-of-boyfriend to kill her father. She pulled on her restraints, trying to break free from the cuffs they had her in. »It’s okay, Honey. I’ll be fine,« again, Raymond tried to reason with her, seeing her struggle to deal with her emotions already had him fear the worst. She tugged on the restraints, her hands looking like they would disconnect from her wrist any second now. Her breathing was erratic, sobs shook her whole body. »Remember everything I’ve told you. About what defines us, about who you want to be in this world. I am so immeasurably proud of you and that will never change. Promise you won’t forget who you are, deep down.« Tears started running down her face as she slowly nodded. She didn’t want to let go, but a small part in her didn’t want her father to see her struggle in his last moments. »I promise.« »My story might end here, but yours won’t. There is so much left for you to discover in this galaxy. Who you are, and who he is.« 

Her heart skipped a beat. Nathan knew who Raymond was referring to. Maia had mentioned it briefly in one of their conversations. She had someone out there, someone she could connect to in a way they never could. Possibly a relative. Possibly something more powerful than that. 

Nathan pressed the gun further into Raymond’s temple as one of his supervisors grew impatient. »Shoot him already!« Raymond choked a sob himself. It broke his heart to know he would ultimately hurt her by dying in front of her eyes. »I love you so much. Find him.« Those were the last words she ever heard of her father. She didn’t even register the sound of the gun going off. His lifeless body fell to the side while Nathan fought back a heave. The communications engineer averted his gaze and hunched over. He had just killed someone. That alone was too much to process, more so as this was his girlfriend’s father.

Her world fell apart. With Raymond, the last person keeping her sane in this mess had ceased. Not even Nathan, who she now made responsible for the passing of her only comfort, would be able to stop her. 

She screamed as loud as she could without losing consciousness. She pulled on the handcuffs once again, while the metal holding her back made strange noises. The low grumble of metal being bent surrounded the holding cell, all the way to the other side of the hangar. This was what they had wanted to see all this time. Her losing the grip on her emotions. The green in her eyes faded and slowly, even the yellow left to be replaced by fiery red. With a crack, the metal gave in, and they were now confronted with what could happen if you made a force-user angry enough.

There wasn’t much she remembered after that, but the screams had haunted her for years afterwards. Sometimes she could make out mortified faces in her dreams. She doesn’t know if anyone survived the destruction of the research facility, and she mostly didn’t care. All she knew was: she had made it out somehow, awaking days later in a foreign place. She had made it. 

More of Wolke's ramblings: Soooooo... Actually I wasn't planning to start the story with this, which is precisely why I call it chapter zero. But I feel like my original approach lacked the exposition and this scene offered a lot of it. It's not really smart to start with a bang like this, killing off a character that at this point hasn't established himself to any extent, but I feel like there is a totally different kind of tragedy in witnessing Raymond's passing without knowing much about him. It'll hurt more in the end. At least that's what I hope for.

[formerheroeswhoquittoolate]

fall of x is over and I have FINALLY figured out how to articulate what pissed me off so much about the whole talon/synch thing. because obviously it pissed me off a lot. and that's because it was Fucking Boring Romance when the other option was not boring.

now, granted, I am extremely aromantic and asexual, so this may in fact be a side effect of me not being able to relate to most romantic plots. so take everything I'm about to say with a grain of salt. anyway on to the post.

okay so. laura and synch and darwin spent a couple centuries in the vault. synch gets out and the others don't. laura and darwin get resurrected. we are all on the same page.

synch and laura fell in love in the vault. I don't think I like it character-wise but they bonded romantically and it happened so. sure. four hundred years is a long-ass time. and it's kind of interesting? laura hasn't really had a romantic relationship since teen!warren went back to his own time, and synch has been dead for fucking ever. *benoit blanc voice* it makes no damn sense. compels me though.

synch remembers it, laura doesn't, and they're on the x-men together. this would probably have been an interesting time for them to have some tension? synch probably knows way more about laura than anyone ever, and laura has literally no idea what or how much he knows. something about her has changed but it's impossible to tell what it is because she doesn't know what happened in the vault. duggan touched on this once and then just sort of ignored it. they could have had to reconcile this? synch, a lost love he will literally never experience anything like ever again. laura, a complete stranger who somehow knows everything about her. synch probably barely remembers this laura, anyway. laura can literally smell when people are attracted to her. this is, quite possibly, the most interesting ending to a rather bland "they were the only two people in the world" love story I could conceive of.

and instead. the problem is removed from the story. synch is no longer in love with a version of laura that doesn't exist, because she does exist now, actually, and talon takes laura's place on the team. off laura goes to x-force to be slotted into the role of daughter rather than unwilling object of romantic interest.

the problem doesn't get solved, it gets erased. and that's what pissed me off so much about it. it was a fascinating problem! it was reducing one of my favorite characters to a very unremarkable role but it was still an interesting problem. it had potential. (it even had potential to fix that reduction and actually address laura from a character perspective, but that's another ramble.) the route duggan took was, almost completely, the most boring possible route. at least laura had a conversation with talon. the problem is not solved. the problem is not solved! nothing is resolved! the answer to "what will laura and synch end up being to each other?" is "fucking nothing, actually, because talon is here now and everything is okay" and it's STUPID.

okay that's mean. it's not stupid but it is boring. bad answer. does nothing for laura or synch (or talon, either, but she's so aggressively apathetic about laura that it's really hard to say anything about her without accidentally starting a whole unrelated ramble.) the romance took priority over the relationship. and That's why I'm pissed about it. (well aside from my love of laura.) there was a more interesting, character-development-inducing, potentially emotionally fraught option and they chose a fairly bland romantic relationship. and again, maybe this is my aroace ass and general inability to find romantic relationships compelling. but this feels like the worse of the two options.

[pininghermit]

Dare I Desire (Chapter 5)

Pairing: Adrian x Male Reader

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4| Chapter 5| Chapter 6| Chapter 7|

AN: Enter arc 1

Your heart breaks. Every sign of rejection pushes you into a place darker than the one you has ever been. Neither your voice, your face, nor your confession ignited the bond for Adrian. A sense of foreboding rises in your mind as the voice of your bond simmers letting go of its usual fierce growls.

You finds yourself closer to the possibility you had been pushing to the farthest corner of your mind.

Mates or soulmates as the world knows of them, are rare. They are usually legends mentioned in fairytales or metaphor for deep, purest, and truest of love. Two people made of same soul. Fates bound by the creator of the world.

The world has moved on from such notions. Yet, they exist. In a world full of thousands of existences, there are some born yearning other half of their soul. Born with names etched on their bodies, shared senses, synchronized pain and pleasure. Some way or another they were connected to each other. It was as if even the materialized world failed to numb the song their soul sang.

You treasured your song from the very first moment you became aware of it. You truly did. You looked for it for the long years of your life. But now it paled as realization made its way to you.

Despite all the pleasant and mythological tales of love, adventure, and fate; there were some born with a broken soul. Some who became the tragic background characters. Those whose soul remembered it half only for it to be unaccompanied by the other half. Unable to reunite but unwilling to let go.

Not all the legends speak of happy endings with forever afters as their last phrase. No, some stories were of lovers born to love another whom their spirit remembered. Those tales detail the same longing and yearning as others but they shift. They differ where the other half of the soul, the other mate does not linger where one does.

Unrequited love that ends with heart wrenching sobs and teary-eyed audience.

How did you become part of such legends? Did Adrian not feel anything? No anticipation of getting to know you more? It remains a mystery.

You knew such a fate was deserving of you. After your delay and your inculpabilities...you were undeserving of such a love. Yet, it hurt. It hurt more than the punch you received minutes ago.

But you stand up from your crouched position. You have to figure it out. You have to make sure that Adrian indeed does not carry the bond within him. For if there is even an iota of possibility…you would be damned if you gave up. Still, if Adrian remains untouched by the song that surrounds your entire being then…you will not trouble the dhampir with it. It would be a burden just for you to carry.

Dusting your coat, lost in thought, you finally turn to Adrian. And you still. The dhampir is taut with tension. Posture ready to attack or to defend. You should have expected the retaliation. Your mate’s guard is up and walls impenetrable by any reason. The useless voice of your bond rushes out from its confine to bark at you to—‘make it right.’

‘Yeah, there you are, my primal self.’ You would have rolled your eyes at yourself if you could have done that. It is truly astonishing how annoying your own self could be. It makes sense why Adrian finds it the same.

“Please relax. I have no intention of attacking you.” As expected, your voice does not work. Adrian remains on edge now with an additional element of the floating sword right by the corner.

“Leave.” The dhampir states. A command mingled with an unuttered threat.

You try to remember all the stupid tales that Cenfrith made you go through on your frequent adventures. Your brother, one of the triplets, the eldest and the wisest in lore, who could be quite a bore when it came to adding unnecessary details. You raid all those memories, you are pretty sure Cenfrith would have brought up the subject of mates at least a dozen times.

Adrian is there still glaring at you. “Stay any longer and you won’t be leaving anytime soon. I would not mind anoth-”

“I CAN WALK OUT IN THE SUN,” in hindsight, it is quite stupid to scream it but blame it on the sword inches away from your throat.

“Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious how I, a pure-blooded vampire, can walk out in the sun?” A curious light gleams in Adrian’s eyes. An emotion other than rage or guilt.

“You have seen me out in the day. You have seen the light touch me. Does it not intrigue you?”

“How,” Adrian whispers in the silent room. The sword remains but the dhampir’s tense shoulders relax a bit.

The beginnings of a plan formulate in your mind as you mentally note to thank Cenfrith for all his stories. Blending into your decided role, you conceal your relief. You hide all the uncertainty behind the mask of a practiced suave smile. A smile well-known in Asor.

“Ooh Adrian, believe me, I shall tell you everything.” You ignore the snarl that Adrian directs at you. Trusting your instinct, you step forward towards the blond half-vampire. “I will tell, but on one condition.” You almost drop your uncaring façade as you notice your mate’s anger shift into a milder annoyance.

“What condition?” You try to ignore Adrian’s expression that is suspiciously similar to his condescending look reserved for his Belmont friend.

‘Play your cards right, younger brother,’ an imaginary Saewig unhelpfully supplies.

Gathering your wits and courage, you try your luck. A gamble worthy of your future. “I will tell you 6 possible reasons for my tolerance to the sun, and you—” You hurry as you spy Adrian’s conflicted expression. “You must guess the right one. Each will be revealed with an anecdote. In the end, if you guess the right one, you will have your answer. However, you must make your choice only after you have heard all of my tales. Some true and some made up with a pinch of exaggeration. Dare you make a bargain?” You extend your hand and Adrian stares at you. For the first time, your mate looks at you. You do not retreat your hand as you patiently wait. It makes you look somewhat idiotic, but one must win some, lose some…

“Once you make a bargain, you must stand by it, Adrian, son of Dracula. And you can’t threaten me in the process,” you add as an afterthought. “I might have learned a thing or two by being with the Fae for so long.”

The dhampir hesitates. ‘Please do it. Give it a chance,’ you plead in your internal monologue as you put on your cocky grin. You pull in your inner Saewig, the hunter, your brother who flirts with an entire forest full of magical folk. You try and wish for it to work. ‘I am a cocky bastard who just challenged you. Take the bait. For once, don’t be smart, Adrian.’ For once, the room is noiseless, but you are almost dizzy with the mechanism of your own mind.

“What if I fail to answer correctly?” Adrian finally asks.

You do not falter. You do squeal internally like it’s no one’s business. “If you fail, then you may never know.” With a nonchalant shrug of your shoulders. Your mate looks assured (as he can be) and sufficiently challenged by the answer.

“Alright then,” the ice-cold hand finally meets your own. You do not flinch. You get close to it but do not. Adrian instantly slips away his hand as if burned by the touch. Ignoring the slight pinch in your heart, you muse ‘This is the last time you fall for a bargain. I’ll teach you better.’ You mentally promise Adrian who remains widely unaware of it.

“Well then, go on…” Adrian motions as you both stand in the room. Did he indeed expect you to tell the tales standing there?

You swallow your pride and move, but not to the chaise you had occupied some time ago. Instead, you walk toward the corridor of rooms you had caught a glimpse of earlier. “I will, but…” you pause as you glance back to find Adrian following you, “first I must find a room for myself.”

“I will not—” Adrian immediately interrupts with an objection.

“Ah! No threats.”

“Tell the damn story, that is the bargain.” Well, not exactly, you wonder, as the sword makes another entrance.

“I will,” please don’t hate me, you wish. You saunter your way back to Adrian with a schooled expression of faux calm. “However, nowhere did it specify the duration of our bargain. These stories are truths or at least parts of it are. They are experiences and secrets kept from the world. I will reveal my story once you prove yourself to be worthy of it.” You know that the prideful side of your mate will not just let that go. And you do find yourself grateful for that.

“Till then, you must wait and finish a task for each of these tales. Which I insist begins with a shower for both of us.” Adrian glares, and you smile, catching your own innuendo. “Separately, of course, if you insist.”

[thegigilwriter]

16 | “Danger & Star, Rooster & Angel” — Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Female Mitchell OC

Summary. 26-year-old Lucy Asa Mitchell did not know what was in store for her when she first bumped into Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw. After an instant mutual connection followed by a sweet whirlwind romance that swept both their feet, Lucy found herself being immersed deeper into Bradley’s world of the Navy, F-14s, and deployments. What she didn’t expect was finding was the answer to an elusive part of her past — the identity of her long-lost father.

Chapter Summary. After an eventful day at work— an annoying co-worker and word of a possible advancement in her career, Lucy spends some quality time with Nat.

Masterlist

Keywords/Warnings: Inaccuracies about marine biologists, implications of sexism, fluff

16 | Lucy’s Surprise 💐

September 27, 2023

“Great dive fellas,ˮ Dr. Agnes Foster announced. “Weʼre docking soon, now listen up...ˮ

Lucy was last to arrive on the stern. Lifting her scuba mask from her eyes and wiping the excess water from her face, she sat herself on the precipice of the boat. She expertly slipped off her fins and slightly lowered the zipper on her bodysuit.

“Ugh, Diego.ˮ Lucy sighed as she picked up the abandoned set of fins nearby and set off towards the main deck with the others. A hand reached out to her as she rose and she beheld Chenʼs kind face.

“Thanks,ˮ Lucy smiled taking his fingers as she came aboard. “Diego left these again.ˮ

Chen nodded, taking his fins from her hand as they set off to the final conference of the day. Chen Zhao was a character who seldom spoke — especially when it came to the ladies. He was a little older than Sam with inky black hair, thin eyes, and a broad nose. He was the tallest of their bunch and spoke the most languages, which ironically for such an introverted individual, was is favorite hobby. Chen was brilliant with tech and research, and alongside Sam — they were quite the pair to be reckoned with.

“Where the hell have you two been?ˮ Dr. Agnes squinted with her hands on her hips. “I told you not pick up after Diegoʼs shit, Lucy.ˮ

“They were about to float out to sea, Doctor.ˮ

“Then so will his paycheck!ˮ She hissed. “Now get your asses down here — we need to prep for the upcoming conference in Japan. Our research is one of two chosen in the entire North America continent...ˮ

“Thanks wifey,ˮ Diego winked beside her. Lucy rolled her eyes. Far before Lucy had met Jake ‘Hangmanʼ Seresin, she already had the pleasure of working with Diego ‘The Tigerʼ Alcaraz. Aside from Dr. Foster, Diego was the oldest— 37-year- old bachelor from Tarifa, Spain, known for his sixth sense for whales and his amorous reputation among women. Heʼs 6ʼ0, sandy-eyed, blue-eyed, fit, and well- articulated. There are rumors that he once modeled and acted to pay off his student loans. He loves to write and heʼs mostly harmless... but he did have a tendency to pick on Lucy when he feels like it from time to time.

“... Now on the matter of the presentation,ˮ Dr. Agnes announced. “This year, I have decided that one of my associates... will join me on stage.ˮ

Silence ensued the space.

“But... only research heads are permitted to do so,ˮ Sam raised. “Doctor — whatʼs going on?ˮ

Dr. Agnes casted her eyes downwards and took her glasses from the bridge of her nose and placed on of its legs between her teeth.

“...youʼre not retiring, are you?ˮ Sam asked.

“No,ˮ she sighed. “But Dr. Murphy will.ˮ

“Youʼve been asked the Director position,ˮ Diego said. “I thought Dr. Murphy retiring was only a rumor!ˮ

“Doctor...ˮ Lucy breathed. “If thatʼs the case... then you would be the first woman Director of Umi— in history.ˮ

“It isnʼt final,ˮ Dr. Agnes spoke slowly. “Iʼm in the running with another esteemed individual whose identity I will not be disclos—“

“Itʼs Dr. Abrams,ˮ Diego informed confidently. Dr. Agnes glared at him.

“I will be neither be confirming nor denying that,ˮ she ignored. “But I just want to make sure that in the event that I do become Director, I would like to leave this research group in the best hands — and I would like to make known those two individuals whom I am considering for... right now.ˮ

They waited with bated breath, and in that moment, Lucy stared at the faces of her fellow associates. Chen and Diego would make the most sense. Diego has worked with Dr. Agnes the longest and had both an amazing applicable and theoretical understanding of cetology and the nature of their research. Chen on the other hand was simply brilliant. Whenever Dr. Agnes needed something typed up — a proposal, a report, a finding — she always went to Chen and he always got it done in no time. Not to mention, because of his tech savvy background, Chen would have the upper hand of using new technology that would further the reach of not only the research of cetology — but of other fields. The man was also basically an encyclopedia of marine biology!

“Diego and Lucy.ˮ

Lucy froze. Her heart had stopped, not quite comprehending the names that had just come out of Dr. Agnesʼ lips.

“The conference is at the end of March in Tokyo. More details will be communicated in the near future. For now... gird your loins.ˮ On that note, they all felt the ship dock at Umi and Dr. Agnes acknowledged them with a nod before exiting — then everyone shared an exhale.

“Congratulations Lucy,ˮ Sam smiled. “I knew youʼd get it.ˮ Chen also came up behind her, patting her shoulder fondly.

“Not so fast, Trace.ˮ Diego tutted. “Lucy isnʼt the only one with the ballot in the hat.ˮ

“Right,ˮ Sam rolled his eyes. “Diego ‘Peacockʼ Alcaraz is.ˮ

“You know itʼs Tiger!ˮ He countered fiercely. “Besides, I have seniority — the position is rightfully mine. The only reason why Lucy is in the mix is because sheʼs a gir—“

“Are you sure you want to finish that?ˮ Sam spoke. “Because if I remember, Lucy kicked your —“

“Leave him be Sam,ˮ Lucy sighed. “I will not dignify what he just said with a response.ˮ

Diego smiled. “Youʼve grown quite a bit to be an amiable little lady Lucy,ˮ he chuckled. “Have to admit... I kind of wished you were still the spitfire I first met... but of course things happen in life — and with Ford and all... I guess youʼve just lost that fire.ˮ

Sam considered Lucy carefully, her eyes defiant but her stance calm as she began to fix her belongings into her tote and head towards the dock.

“Maybe you need some other things to occupy your life, so wouldnʼt have to hold on to this promotion?ˮ He goaded.

Just then, as she stepped out from the ship, she was met with young red-headed girl in denim shorts with a bouquet of flowers.

“Hi,ˮ she spoke nervously. “Are you Lucy Mitchell?ˮ

“Yes?ˮ she replied.

“These are for you... from a... Bradley Bradshaw?ˮ

All suffocating feeling gripping her instantly washed away when she first whiffed the scent of the babyʼs breath, the assortment of colored-roses, and, daisies wrapped in pretty crepe paper.

“Sign here please,ˮ she smiled and Lucy did as directed. Behind her, Sam was smirking widely at Diegoʼs amused expression. Chen approached her.

“Those are beautiful,ˮ he said quietly.

“Thank you, Chen.ˮ Lucy smiled at the flowers. Sam followed, ignoring Diegoʼs nosy stare. Chen pointed to something concealed in the babyʼs breath.

“Whatʼs that?ˮ Sam remarked as Lucy retrieved the mystery items.

“Tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium,ˮ Lucy breathed. “And... a Coldplay concert in Santa Clara.ˮ

“Ooh, lucky! The Aquarium has a new one-of-a-kind Into the Deep Exhibition! Plus Coldplay front-row tickets— and itʼs this weekend!ˮ

A small placard revealed itself among the tickets.

Happy Birthday, Angel

Pack your bags. This is non-negotiable.

Love, Daddy

Lucy blushed, hiding the writing hastily out of sight.

Lucy stepped out of the foyer, donning a some dark wash denim shirts, sandals, and a breezy pale blouse. Her salty beach waves were held up with a pearly clamp and she had on a pair of one of Francescaʼs oversized sunglasses. She was about to send Bradley a text when a silver sedan pulled up in front of her and rolled down the driverʼs window — revealing Nat in a cute sundress.

“Hi,ˮ Lucy smiled. “Are you picking Sam up? Heʼs working overtime, today.ˮ

“Iʼm picking you up Luce,ˮ she replied. “Bradleyʼs stuck at work and he gave me his card to get our nails done. Get in!ˮ

Lucy went around to the passengerʼs side just as Nat was clearing out the seat and throwing things at the back.

“You can put your tote and flowers at the back too,ˮ she told her. “Sorry for the mess.ˮ

“My carʼs a disaster too,ˮ Lucy laughed. “Youʼre fine.ˮ

Nat chuckled as Lucy strapped herself in and the car was on drive, exiting the parking lot.

“Nice hair,ˮ Nat remarked. “You guys went for a dive, or something?ˮ

“Oh yeah,ˮ Lucy grinned. “Love the water, hate the paperwork.ˮ

“I hear that,ˮ Nat nodded as she stopped at an intersection. “So... any salon you regularly go to?ˮ

“No...ˮ she replied, staring at her nails — weathered and short. “I donʼt really get my nails done unless Iʼm with Francesca or thereʼs a family thing...ˮ

“Thatʼs okay,ˮ Nat smiled, turning left into a boulevard. “We can go to my girl.ˮ

“Hey... does Bradley really intend for us to get our nails done?ˮ

“Well...ˮ Nat frowned a little looking over at Lucy. “If youʼre not comfortable with that we can always do something else, babe. We can get something to eat or shop a little...ˮ

“Thank you Nat, but I think Iʼd rather just go home...ˮ Lucy sighed.

“Are you feeling, okay?ˮ Her brow creased with concern.

“Iʼm okay...ˮ

“Cʼmon now Luce, this may work with Rooster but it wonʼt work with me...ˮ

Lucy conceded, sighing.

“Iʼm in the running for a promotion—“

“Thatʼs great!ˮ Nat exclaimed. “All the more reason to celebrate— Wait. Whatʼs wrong?ˮ

“Itʼs just something really stupid that a coworker made me think. Itʼs nothing. Never mind.ˮ

“You come from one of those families, huh?ˮ Nat spoke. “The kind that made you feel if you pretend your problems arenʼt there, then itʼll all be better?ˮ

Lucy averted her gaze in her direction.

“My grandparents were like that,ˮ she continued. “Thatʼs why I never really know my dad as I should have. Heʼs been shut like a clam all my life... But I also learned from Rooster... itʼs not really obvious... but heʼs a little clueless when it comes to you, you know?ˮ

“Itʼs okay,ˮ she smiled. “That there are some things youʼd rather not tell anyone... I mean thereʼs a lot about me Iʼd rather take to my grave. But... donʼt make him feel that youʼre pushing him away, okay? He hates that. Youʼre really good to him and the sucker is a sucker for you...ˮ

Lucy looked down at her hands.

“A coworker feel made me today that the only reason Iʼm in it for the promotion is because Iʼm a girl and my boss is a girl and we were just... helping each other out.ˮ Lucy sighed. “Maybe heʼs right, you know? Diego has more years of experience than me and when it comes to whales— heʼs basically a whisperer! I wasnʼt even qualified for this team in the first place. I-I donʼt know...ˮ

“And does getting your nails done make you feel even more like a girl which in turn furthers your point?ˮ

Lucy nodded slowly.

“Okay letʼs get one thing clear,ˮ Nat replied. “This Diego figure sounds like an insecure asshole whose name sounds like it belongs to a fuckboy.ˮ

Lucy suppressed a derisive laugh.

“Lucy, Iʼve worked among men for many years and if thereʼs anything I can tell you is that you cannot change their behavior, their mentality, and even how they look at you. Thereʼs a real, inherit, biological component there... which also means that they can be and will be stupid until the end of time unless evolution says otherwise. But what you can change... is how you look at yourself. Are you capable? Lucy, are you capable?ˮ

“I like to believe so.ˮ

“Iʼm looking for a ‘yes,ʼ babe.ˮ

“Yes.ˮ

“Do you work hard?ˮ

“I do.ˮ

“Do you want this job?ˮ

“Badly.ˮ

“Then donʼt even worry about the shit that this Diego says. He doesnʼt matter in this equation, you do. You should never think badly of being a woman and neither should you apologize for it. Okay?ˮ

“Okay,ˮ Lucy replied quietly.

“Okay?ˮ

“Okay!ˮ

“What does this Diego even have on you? Why is he acting like some sexually frustrated little bitch?ˮ

Lucy laughed.

“I uh...ˮ Lucy picked at her jeans nervously. “I may have... sucker-punched him in the throat when we first met because he wouldnʼt stop asking me out,ˮ she replied nonchalantly as Nat finally pulled into what appeared to be a nail salon.

“Woah, baddie in the house…ˮ Nat stared at her as Lucy chuckled. “You know what? I donʼt know about you, but Iʼm going ultra-fem with my nails today and Iʼm not taking anyoneʼs shit for it tomorrow.ˮ

“I might just join you,ˮ Lucy smiled, ducking out of the passengerʼs side.

We all need a hype woman like Nat to pick us up on our bad days, sometimes :)) Personally I prefer not to get my nails done ‘cause I have a weird sensory issue… does anyone else have that? 😂 Anyways, gird your loins! Got a ‘whole lot of fluff (and some spice 😉 🌶️) up ahead!But first, let’s kick it off with some important deets for the plot at 17 | Birthday Wish!

Taglist: @itsarabellebabes

[tightjeansjavi]

The Skeletons I Wanted to Bury

Joel Miller x f! o/c (Gwen x Joel)

A/N: this piece can be read as a filler chapter for my Joel Miller x f! o/c series ‘Burning in a Hopeless Dream’ I suggest reading chapter 16 before reading this piece. I’ve mentioned briefly before that Gwen and Joel are soulmates and this piece touches on the topic in some parts. I really enjoy the complexity of these two characters and I think it’s really important to recognize that both Gwen and Joel have ugly sides to them. I’ve grown so attached to this pair so I truly hope you all enjoy this piece. Thank you for reading ♡

~word count: 1.4k~

Summary: the words you left unspoken to Joel, find themselves on a sheet of paper, stained with your tears.

Warnings: angst, resentment, sorrow, grief, anguish, light fluff at the end, depressing tones, fear, anger, forgiveness,(+18) minors dni!

Songs used:

“To Hell & Back” by Maren Morris

“Favorite Crime” by Olivia Rodrigo

Joel,

I am happy you’re sleeping right now. Not because I’m afraid that you’ll catch me writing this letter, but because you’re exhausted and need to rest. I know you hate to admit that Bill and Frank’s deaths affect you more than you’re leading on. I know you struggle with your emotions and expressing them openly. I also know that you’ve never handled loss of any kind particularly well. I think we’re similar in that sense. I let on to believe that death, and losing those closest to me doesn’t affect me. Everyone dies eventually, right? The truth is, I’m scared. I’m absolutely fucking terrified of losing you.

I have lost you in a sense haven’t I? It’s not your fault. Although, I want to blame you. I want to scream and cry and tell you how upset it makes me when you yell, when you grow violent. I thought I knew who you were, but now I’m not so sure. I understand why Tess warned me before she died. She warned me that you would act a certain way. Her final request to me was for me to not leave you. No matter what happens, no matter what he says, you can’t leave him. He needs you more than ever now.

I wanted to leave you Joel. I was ready to turn around and leave you, and everything that has happened between us behind. I wanted to bury you in the fucking dirt. I wanted to curse your name to the wind. I was so ready to leave. I would never pull that trigger, but I wanted to. I pictured it in my mind and I know you were waiting for the bullet that never came.

I just wanted to be there for you. I wanted to comfort you. I wanted you to know that you weren’t fucking alone. I was right there and you pushed me away, Joel. There was venom falling from your lips, hatred in your eyes, and yet I stayed. I stayed because the thought of leaving you was unbearable. You are far too deeply entwined in my soul for me to leave. I hate you for it. I hate that no matter how loud my heart screams for me to leave, I never listen.

Why do you hurt the ones closest to you Joel?

The world dealt you some fucking terrible cards. You were dealt some of the worst of the deck. I know the death of your daughter haunts you, and I know you feel that you do not deserve forgiveness for not being able to save her. The guilt consumes you just like the guilt consumes me. The guilt of not being able to save my parents. I see their faces almost every night as I close my eyes. I see what the cordyceps did to them.

I see what the cordyceps have done to you Joel. You’ve been infected in another way. Infected with feeling that you can never give yourself an ounce of fucking forgiveness. It’s not your fault that the world is a shit place, filled with shit people. It’s not your fault that the government turned on you. It’s not your fault that a single soldier gunned down your daughter. It’s not your fault that Tess died. It’s not your fault that Bill and Frank died on their own accord.

I want to be bitter, I want to yell, I want to hurt you, but I can’t. I’d just be hurting myself and I’m exhausted, Joel. I can taste you on my tongue still, feel you between my thighs. I’m so glad you cannot hear my sobs, or see my tears. I do not wish to put you through that again.

I want to be stronger for you, for Ellie. Despite the fact that we’re a ticking time bomb, Joel and I hope to god that we never go off.

I don’t want you to see the ugly parts of me. I know that they’re there. They simmer in the same fashion as your own. I don’t ever want to hurt you the way that you have hurt me. I hope that one day you and I will be at peace. I hope we live in that house with a library, with horses in the field, and you make sweet love to me in our bed every fucking night.

I hope that the cards that are dealt to us end with you and I together. If I lose you, I lose myself. I’m so in love with you, Joel. I’ve never loved another person as deeply as I love you.

I know you don’t mean to be cruel, but I’m not sure how much more I can take. You’ve chipped away at my heart, piece by piece. I’ll continue to fight for you, as long as you continue to fight for me.

I know you are a good man. I’ve seen the sweeter sides to you and I never took them for granted. I cherished those moments so fucking much. I know you did too. I see it in your eyes everytime you look at me.

You’re better than the rest of them Joel. You always have been, always will.

I hope that when our time comes, we will be dancing amongst the stars.

I got you, you got me.

Always and forever,

Your Gwen.

Hot tears began to pour down your cheeks, like a leaky faucet. The skin was stained in your tears' salty wake. Eyes glassy, heart aching, clenching painfully in your chest. Teardrops fell along the worn paper, blurring together the words on parchment, washing them away. Vision obscured as you pulled an old lighter from your backpack, watching as the flame kissed the paper, igniting it. You watched the words flutter into the night sky, ember turning to black ash. Glossed over gaze reflecting in the trickling flames, climbing higher, and higher.

Your letter was turned to ash before your very eyes. The words you etched stayed fresh in your mind, like ink from a tattoo. The flames died as silent sobs wrecked through your body.

Joel sensed your distress in his light slumber. He thought maybe he was just having another hopeless dream. A twisted nightmare, until he heard your light sniffling and his conscious mind told him something was wrong. He shot up from his sleeping bag suddenly, eyes adjusting to the low light provided by the twinkling stars above. His eyes zoned in on you, like moth to flame. “Gwen?” He hesitantly whispered through the darkness. He could make out your crouched over form in the grass as he slowly approached.

You felt his hand wrap around your shoulder, fingers gentle along the thin worn fabric of your shirt. “I’m okay. I’m okay Joel.”

He hesitates, gently rubbing his thumb across your shoulder blades as he crouches down behind you. You hear his knees crack, followed by a low grunt. “Were..you crying?” He finally asks, resting his chin along your shoulder as his arms snake around your waist, gently coaxing you to rest your back against his chest.

“Yes.” You whispered admittedly.

You feel his deep inhale against your back, his breath tickles the shell of your ear as he gently exhales. “For Bill..and Frank? Or, everything?..”

You know what he means by everything by the way it falls softly from his parted lips.

“Everything.” You whispered, voice cracking.

“Oh, my sweet girl. It’s alright, darlin.’ I’m here. I’ve got you, and I ain’t lettin’ go.” He rasped against your skin.

“I’m not letting go either.”

“You need to rest. It’s been a hell of a day. You need your sleep. C’mon.” He brought his strong arms under your thighs, gently lifting you from the soft forest floor, and into his warm chest.

“I can keep watch. You need your rest too Joel.” Your cheek was lightly pressed against his chest where you could hear the steady thrum of his heartbeat.

“Sweetheart, I appreciate you thinkin’ about me, but let me do my job of keepin’ you and Ellie safe, okay?” He was taking quiet footsteps towards your sleeping bag, only to stop when you had grasped onto the front of his shirt and whispered. “No. I want to sleep in yours.”

“Okay darlin.’” He walked back to his sleeping bag, gently setting you down on it, slipping his jacket off his shoulders and placed it over you as you nestled under the warm confines of his sleeping bag.

“Thank you.” You whispered.

“You’re welcome. Sweet dreams, okay?” He pressed a feather light kiss to your forehead, closing his eyes for a moment before he reluctantly pulled away and grabbed his rifle lying alongside his backpack.

For the rest of the long night, Joel kept you and Ellie safe, just like he had promised.

Tag list for those who I think would enjoy it:

@peterhollandkait @chaotic-mystery @korynnekorynne @last-girl @wonder-harley @dinsdjrn @lovers-liability @loquaciousferret @pedrostories @pedgeitopascal @wildemaven

[purplebass]

Hello, I love reading your adsom posts (:

About the Antari baby, we already know that magic cannot be inherited, magic is in the blood of everyone but it chooses its host and will start manifesting around 5-7 years old. To me nothing special will happen. In a world where parents can sell their child because of magic, I think we would have already known if an Antari mother was enough to give birth to another Antari (the mother is the most important because her blood communicates with the fetus and so her magic could transfer during the development - good thing that it doesn't work this way). Honestly, I would not be surprised if their eventual child will be magicless, like Rhy is, it would make sense for balance as it is a very important concept in the books.

I also wanted to say, that during the scene of Lila observing Kell with Ren, the author insists on the fact that Lila is seeing him from his left side, she can only sees his blue eye but Kell cannot sees her from his position. Emphasizing that during this scene, she is thinking of him as a human, not as an Antari. I loved that tiny detail.

Hey :)

Yeah, I would love to see it because it would be fun to explore (and because I like the baby trope) but like you said, they would likely have a normal baby for balance because they are powerful. It's like the magical dna would be balancing out.

It would be interesting either way. A magicless child would need extra protection in a world ruled by magic. He would be like Rhy or like Berras, who were magicless royals who chose different paths to compensate for their lack of magic. Rhy suffered being magicless a lot but at some point he realized that his power lay in his charming personality. Berras, on the other hand, chose to strengthen his physical power.

This is heavily reflected in the other characters too, and it's what happened to Kell and Lila in Threads as well. He couldn't use his magic so he trained his body, whereas her development was more internal as she navigated being a Captain and dealing with her crew as well as dealing with her feelings for Kell. If we want it to see it as a proportion, king : palace = ship : captain.

I love the bit about Lila seeing Kell from his human side. She's the only one who sees him as a person and not a magician. I mean, being a magician is a part of him, as much as it's a part of her, but he isn't just that even if he thinks so a lot of times (because that's how the Maresh family pushed him to see himself). The fact that Lila encouraged Kell to reinvent himself when he was lost speaks volumes. It's like saying: "you can be anything you want to be and I believe in you because you are more powerful than you think," and it's not something to take for granted. In fact she is proud of him when he's finally able to surprise her. A lot of people believe Lila is superficial because of her love for power, but she is an observer and a listener, and she observes and listens to Kell a lot. And she feels for him. She just wants him to be okay, with magic or not. She wants Kell the human being to be fine. This is also a parallel because when they meet in adsom, Lila is a human to Kell. He falls for her when he believes she's human, and when he finds out she's antari, it doesn't change anything. If any, it makes him even happier because there is someone else like him in this world and it's amazing that it's the person he happens to love.

Things would change if they were to live in Grey London, where they wouldn't be able to use their magic either. I don't think it's a possibility, but since they can both travel through worlds, I wouldn't see it out of place that they I don't know, stay at the Stones' Throw from time to time and lead a quieter life. Especially if magic will change. Don't mind me, I'm just imagining. lol. It's just that I thought that Lila moving from Grey London to Red also tipped the scales of magic because now two antari are living in Red, one in White and none in Grey. She is the only Grey antari -that we know of- and after she stayed in Red, it seems the situation got worse. There's also to consider what is happening in White, of course, and I hope this is addressed!

Anyway, I believe the situation is going to change again once we find out who the next antari is. We don't know how random antari are, if magic chooses every X year (is it explained in the story? because I don't remember), but I have the impression that the new antari in Red will likely be Ren. Do you know why I feel she's might be the next? Because of her hair. I know it sounds weird, but hear me out. In SOM, the three main antari have red, brown and black hair. In a way, their looks are balanced as well because they have different features. Symbolically, I believe this means a lot. In AGOS, Ojka is the new antari. She has red hair just like Kell, and she's the reason he is held captive in WL. In Threads, there is Kosika, who is an antari with brown hair, just like Lila. By now, Lila is the only one who knows about Kosika being an antari. This is a parallel. Which means, following the features of the og antari, that the last antari that may appear in future Threads might have black hair. Who has black hair? Yeah, Ren. She could either be an antari because magic would choose her, but considering who her mother is, she could also become an antari because of some of Nadiya's inventions. She invented the golden band/ring that stole powers. Even if Lila destroyed it, she's an inventor, and she won't likely be stopped from creating another token. I'm not saying Nadiya will test her inventions on Ren, because it doesn't seem likely. It seems her daughter doesn't even go to her lab... however, she has animals. Her bunny could roam to Nadiya's lab and steal something, and give it to Ren. The priest, Ezril, may also steal and give it to the child, since as aven essen, she's around her. Until Ezril is outed as a villain, she has free reign. To make a last parallel as why Ren might become antari (whether because magic will choose her or because Nadiya will create a token to help her), maybe Ren will venture by herself to WL or she will be kidnapped. All the other double antari opposed to the og trio always lead to White London, and I don't think it's casual. The Hand is still looking for a thing that does what the persalis used to do, and this could also make it easier for a child like Ren to travel to WL without knowing. This could also be a parallel with the time Rhy was kidnapped as a child and Kell saved him. Being the child of royals, it is a possibility that the Hand might try to get her.

Thanks for the questions and sorry if it took me days to answer, but I have an exam tomorrow and my brain is focusing on that <3

[wayward-river]

Dancing on Broken Glass

Part 2 of ?

Pairings : past Bradley Bradshaw x reader possible Jake (Hangman)x Reader

Summary: In this heart-wrenching story, a woman confronts the devastating reality of losing her husband. She visits his grave on the anniversary of his death and pours out her soul to him, wishing he was still there with her. But just as she starts to find some solace, Hangman, who had a rocky relationship with her late husband, shows up and disrupts her moment of grief. Tension rises as they exchange words, and Hangman apologizes for his past behavior. But can apologies heal the pain of loss? As Hangman leaves, he invites her to join him tomorrow, but the woman is left feeling conflicted about his role in her life. Will she find the strength to move on from her husband's death, or will she be haunted by his memory forever?

AN: Okay here is part two! Again huge shout out to @bradshawsweetheart for all the help! All errors are mine, I do not own any characters. Please be kind and enjoy!!

Warnings : Angst, language, grief, death

You stood in front of the Hard Deck having a staring contest with the doors, should you go in? Did you even want to?

After so long of back and forth you settled for sitting outside of the Hard Deck, close enough to hear the music of the jukebox and the laughter filling the small place that once felt like a second home, but far enough for the flood of memories to stay at bay. Staring out into the ocean you sighed.

“I know you probably think I should be inside and not out here talking to you, but I can’t walk in and not search for you. I can’t listen to the jukebox play without knowing that it should be unplugged and the piano should be played with people surrounding it, surrounding you. I can’t stand this town anymore because you aren’t here… I can’t leave this town either because I feel you here. It’s the only place I do feel you and I won’t let that go.”

You closed your eyes listening to the crashing of the waves and the slight murmurs of sounds coming through when the doors of the Hard Deck opened. You wanted a sign, something, anything that he was still around you, that he was listening, that he hated this just as much as you did.

You stayed like that until you sensed a presence next to you.

“You made it”

Hangman again? Really Roo.

You rolled your eyes. “I know you aren’t the brightest but I didn’t exactly make it to the Hard Deck.” Your response seemed to come off as an invitation as Hangman settled in the sand next to you.

“I mean that is the Hard Deck behind you so I would say you did.”

You rolled your eyes. “I know you promised but it’s not like you have to see it through, I don’t need anyone’s help, I’m doing just fine on my own.”

You heard his scoff after the lies easily slipped past your lips. “What? Don’t think I am? Gonna tell the grieving widow she’s wrong?”

“I’m not going to walk on eggshells around you like everyone else is in this town. I tried that, but it clearly didn't work, so I’m trying a new method. You aren’t fine and you haven’t been and no one would expect you to be. You lost your person” he paused seeming to think before he spoke for once “I don’t believe in that crap or I guess I didn’t until I say you two together, he was your world Y/N, you are going to feel that piece that has been ripped out of you for the rest of your life, but you can’t let it swallow you.”

You looked over finally, the unshed tears collecting in your eyes. “You know sometimes…” you took a deep breath, your voice cracking “sometimes in the morning I forget and I expect to feel his warmth, or hear the shower going, or him singing some song I’ll have stuck in my head for the day while he makes us breakfast…but then, then it all comes crashing back into me at full speed so I don't think I can prevent it from swallowing me whole.”

You looked back out at the waves crashing and the sun setting “Thanks for the invite Hangman but I’m going home”

“I’m swinging by the house tomorrow.” He responds, a fact, he’s letting you know it’s happening. You sigh as you walk away from him leaving him on the beach in front of the Hard Deck.

“Can’t promise I’ll answer but go for it”

You awoke the same way you did every day for the past year, alone. However something had felt different. You slowly threw the covers off of you, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes as you swore you could hear faint music coming from the kitchen.

[grimecrow]

What's Messier? Scream VI Or My Relationship With It? And Why My Love For It Is A Good Thing.

Just to let both fans and detractors know that I will be talking about the bad of this movie, then give it my rating, then talk about the good.

So there are some things that stood out to me as problems with the movie: - the pacing feels off from the moment the movie starts till it ends. It felt like listening to a standard 4/4 pop song being played at 3/4. - it felt like the people who made the movie took the second best take for every scene to use - there are numerous small things that don't make sense, a spoiler free example being Gale having a security swipe card she can't possibly have nor get. - the end reveal may be one of the most convoluted and honestly silly things I have encountered in movies. Yes including movies that people shot in a day on their phones and passed off as found footage films. I think we can all agree that piled all of this piled together should make for one terrible film right? So what rating did I give the movie when it was over? (Please note I say this as someone who never watched Scream 4 or 5, doesn't like Scream 1 due to over exposure, nor 2 or 3 and only really enjoyed season one of the TV series but not season two.) 10/10. A movie that has found itself in my top 20 favorite movies list and may end up in my top 10. Why? How can that be? First I want to say that this is a visually spectacular movie.

Who ever designed the visuals of this thing was a genius. Not only the big visual eye candy moments like above but for the entirety of the film. I'm gonna use this word a lot but a great way to describe the look of this film is consistent. Regardless of where the scene is, time of day, what's happening, it all feels like the same time and world as every other scene if that makes sense? But what about it's flaw? The ones I mentioned above? The pacing is consistent from the opening few seconds to the finale few seconds and while it was jarring at first you just get used to it after a bit. It's a fast pace movie; even it's quiet moments are short but effective without breaking the tempo. I don't know what the reason was with the decisions made that lead me to say they all had that 'second best take' quality but the roughness that actors have make the characters feel much more real and give a validity to the situations they find themselves in. Everything is manic and messy because what's happening is manic and messy. All those little plot holes and the convoluted ending? Because they happened with such consistency they stopped standing out as much. Also, when they happened they were always feeding what was coming next which usually ended up being a major visual feast. In the example Gale having the keycard to get into the place she did the next lead to an amazing reveal. This movie has a run time of two hours and five minutes and I was not bored for a single, solitary second. When it came to scenes I thought my friends should see there are so many they may as well watch the movie and I have told them as such. I know that this is a movie I will be able to put on at any time whether to sit down and watch it, or as something to have on in the background and still not be bored for a single second. Despite knowing the mystery already, and the movies flaws. I honestly would say it's the Jason X of the Scream franchise.

So why is my insane and messy love of this insane and messy movie a good thing? Cause the world is dark and full of terrors. There are horrors happening now, and more imminently on the horizon from my time of writing this in November of 2024. There is going to be a lot of bad, and a lot of fighting that will have to be done before things get good again. So this movie showing me that I haven't lost the ability yet to look at the positives of things of something, to find joy despite all the real world darkness threatening to smother me every second of every day no matter where I go or what I do is in fact a sign of hope. Scream VI gives me hope, a reminder that joy can be found and experienced. It's existence keeps apathy at bay. Which, once the ending credits start to roll, keeps me willing to get up and fight the real monsters in our lives. Make sure as things get darker, you allow yourself to experience joy, to enjoy yourself, and to remember to love the things you love. Apathy is the weapon they will use to crush us, so don't let it crush you.