#literally sold his soul for the first woman to show him kindness but

[devilatelier]

ok so... onigumo.

i differentiate him from naraku because i believe they're different beings coexisting in one patchwork body. at least that's how i headcanon it. but.

i kinda... wanted to humanize him a bit more. i do think he was still a diabolical criminal, and overall horrible person. but i like the idea that he actually did love kikyo, if only because she was the only closest thing to kindness he ever experienced. she saved his life, and he absolutely idolized her and put her on a pedestal. so much so that he was willing to trade his soul to be with her.

[cocoreallylovesraiden]

hihi!! how are you??? i see that you've started a bleach blog! may i ask ab your fave bleach charas?? 🩷

My favourite bleach characters!! (some of them at least)

Omg hai /// unfortunately the flood-gates have immediately opened…. My views on the characters might be a little skewed because i have so many random headcanons but!! I am always excited to share my Thoughts…

Shunsui 

I've always been a sucker for the ‘sleazy/ lousy older man’ stereotype in anime, especially when its revealed later on that they are super strong (kisuke is another one of my faves go figure) and Shunsui is That to a T

He seems really silly and carefree on the outside but melancholic on the inside which is such a nice contrast that works so well in his favour!! Especially paired next to Ukitake like the two literally fit together like puzzle pieces in both fighting style and personality

I am also a big theater nerd so when I was reading and found that his bankai was essentially a play come to life! I was sold like a cold drink during summer

His entire kit and how he uses it is really cool too; whenever a zanpakuto has multiple forms/ attacks it’s always a huge plus! Children’s games are such a neat idea and unexpectedly tie so well with his character (he does seem to represent alot of traditional Japanese sentiments with his character overall)

But mostly his morals and outlook of the world are really impactful. I think he serves as a great way to show the transition that the gotei 13 are going through after the passage of time- he is more accepting of newer ideologies and is much more flexible than yamamoto was/ but still cares deeply about the soul society just as much! His reluctance to battle is ironically also admirable, even if he does preface by saying that he’d just ‘rather not’ or wanting to drink instead. While the other characters fight for their beliefs, or to bring down a ‘bad guy’, Shunsui sees situations with more sobriety (haha) from an unbiased perspective. That the moment you enter battle everyone is evil, regardless of their intention from the beginning.

You see other characters next to Shunsui and would think that (for example: Byakuya or even Yamamoto) they would be more intelligent or insightful than he is, but would be pleasantly surprised! I can always appreciate a character with that kind of unpredictability,

Also I like pink and he wears pink. Like my first point I am weak for sleazy old farts so I have to admit when I was young reading bleach as it came out; all I could think was “man very pretty… me likey…”

Kenpachi 

It really helps that he is objectively one of the most unapologetically Cool characters in the series

But for me the main selling point is because the main thing he cares about is battle, he would be an entirely chill person otherwise. The fact that he always allowed his officers to basically do whatever, and puts ‘fun’ (read: brawling for your life) in front of everything? I do feel bad for Yumichika because i do think he’s the one doing all the admin work but oh well 

There is just something just so beautiful about this big chunk of man tearing through hoards of opponents just to go back to his barracks and loaf about for the rest of the day 

I also love how he’s wayyy more intelligent than you would first assume; he’s smart enough to devise little strategies like putting in the eyepatch, putting the bells in his hair etc. Even if they are just to hinder him you gotta give him props! 

This is a personal headcanon but I do think that he would be an excellent listener (especially with gossip) like he would not retain any of the information at all an hour from a conversation, and he would give the most rudimentary answers but a good listener all the same

He does not wear pink BUT Yachiru comes along with him like an accessory to his barbie set and she’s pink so it counts

Rangiku 

First and foremost. I am a woman lover

Bleach, out of all the shounens i’ve digested in my life, probably has some of my favourite female characters! I yo-yo between having rangiku, isane, riruka and soi fon as my faves 

But rangiku. Oh How I Love Her. I always love a sneaky gal who is not afraid to use her looks to get what she wants. A party gal and someone who just has a lust for life and wants to have fun! 

She also does seem like she would be terrifyingly real with you as a friend and never say shit just to make you feel better- like I need that in a friend. Tough love! 

Like the advice she gives to Orihime when she feels down about Ichigo (even if she did it butt ass naked) just shows that even if she presents as self-centered she is also aware of other’s feelings and knows when to cut the shit and give it to you like it is

When she’s most needed she is also incredibly loyal to her captain and peers, and puts her whole titty into the battle when it's necessary. It’s a pity that her zanpakuto isn’t more explored; either she hasn’t developed her methods well or hasn’t been shown to its full powers yet. It think of all the problems in bleach that might be its biggest issue (that there are so many characters that it's impossible to showcase them all)

She also wears pink and I like pink 

Shinji 

Shinji technically isn’t my favorite character but he is my number one enemy forever

I am currently going through some strange enemies to lovers (sans the lovers) with him and im not sure how to feel about it? 

Sort of like Shunsui he has that thing where on the outside he looks devastatingly goofy and greasy but is really experienced with lots of valuable insight 

Also I am a big voice person. Even though I am a manga reader I’ve watched most of the anime and his voice… the accent… God I hate him so much 

He also reminds me of a really naughty cat that will do little things to frustrate you but still jump onto your bed at night to snuggle with you and that’s the nicest thing I can say about him 

His music slaps violently hard.

This accidentally became way too long oops i will stop here but other characters that I am very madly deeply in love with with Many Thoughts about include;

Ukitake (my beloved),

Nemu,

Byakuya (because i do think that every bleach fan has a crush on him regardless of their orientation)

and yumchika!!

Also even if i know nothing about miss yaya i would die for her.

[invinciblerodent]

Hello!! I am so in love with the Veilguard companions already and I am 👀 very curious about your own opinions. Do you have an idea of what companion you would want to romance with your first character? Did you have a character that really stood out to you as a character you want to get to know better?

For Inquisition my immediate favourite character was Dorian for many a reason, but with Veilguard I'm less sure - from appearances alone I'm a little in love with Davrin and Bellara but I honestly find them all really interesting.

Oooh, bless your little SOUL for giving me a reason to rant!! Thank you for asking, I am blowing you many, many kisses and offering many an apology for the unfiltered thoughtstream below, lol.

As much as I've been yearning for a romanceable dwarf companion for a literal decade and a half, and as delighted as I am to see Harding most likely fill that niche (fingers, toes, and all crossable appendages crossed), I can't deny that I'm just.... immediately drawn to Davrin, to a degree I absolutely did not expect. Which is honestly not like me at all, but there is just something about the introduction, his voice, and the fact that he is (or seems to be) a genuine Grey Warden, from Weisshaupt (who probably knows the Warden-Commander!!!!), that just struck such a chord with me.

I've always loved the sheer dramatics of the Wardens: that sense that a happy ending is pretty much impossible for them, them being duty-bound and required to throw their lives at the threat in the event of a Blight regardless of their personal feelings, the constant ticking of the clock from the moment of their Joining that's counting down to their tragic deaths, the undercurrent of doom that they inherently carry just by being who they are, them being both the sickness and the cure at the same time, it just.... I love it.

Even if in the game there will be an opportunity to cure him of the Taint (which I'm guessing might happen, since it's been kind of a thread that's been following the story since Origins, and it sounds like a fitting story arc to give to the one Warden character guaranteed to show up), I think without knowing anything else, that already makes for a nice, solid base for a story, even a romance. And, him being described as a bold and charming monster hunter on top of that, that's just really, really appealing to me. He's got kind of a slight Wyll Ravengard, but there are a number of characters that fit that description that I really like (my partner's first thought was Xenk Yendar from Honor Among Thieves)- AND he's gonna share a voice actor with Javik from ME3, so I'm like, sold immediately. Like, listen to this man speak. Come on now.

...... This, of course, could be overwritten in a second- my immediate first impression is that the character I have planned (only in the vaguest of terms) might very reasonably fall for someone like that, but it's almost equally likely that any one of them will just bat their eyelashes at my girl, and she'll (I'll. lbr, I'll.) be a lost woman, lol.

There's honestly not a character in this lineup that I can't see myself getting very interested in. Davrin is a definite standout (god I hope we'll get to call him Dav), but Bellara is is kind of giving me a similar feeling as Peebee did when Andromeda was revealed, so I'm very curious as to how that'll work out (she's SO CUTE??? and described as a ROMANTIC????? HELLO??????), and Taash's vibe, I really like so far- especially her name. Like, I'm sure it's derived from "ataashi" (yknow, qunlat for dragon) and means something like "Glory" or "Greatness", but I'm very curious to see how she and these "Lords of Fortune" will play into the overall plot. I only vaguely recall them being mentioned in the netflix show (Absolution) which I've only seen once when it was released, so I'm flying totally blind on them, lol.

But also, a Mortalitasi companion is inherently just really cool, especially considering how little we know about Nevarra, Neve is the POV character in Streets of Minrathous (from Tevinter Nights) which I'll HAVE to reread but remember also being cool (upon a quick googling that's not the one Dorian shows up in, I got excited because I could have sworn and thought she'd know him then), and Lucanis is in The Wigmaker Job (same book) which I'll ALSO have to reread but ALSO remember being one of the stories I liked most in that book, and just.....

Head in my hands, they all sound so fun, every last one of them. I'm reading The Missing (the comic, I think the only one I've not read yet) in another tab literally right now, and I'm like bouncing in my seat over the buddy-cop back-and-forth between Harding and Varric. I don't remember being this giddy about a game release.... literally ever. The only comparable event was Andromeda for me (I didn't have time to be excited about Inquisition, I was still oblivious and playing DA2 for the first time when it came out), but even though I love both, deep in my heart of heats I'm so much more of a Dragon Age girlie than I am a Mass Effect fan.

..... For my Rook, I decided I think sometime around 2017-2018 or thereabouts that her name is going to be Verbena (like the plant, Ver for short), and I think she's going to be human warrior, or the closest thing to it, depending on how classes are gonna work- because as much as dwarves are my favorite, and as much as I think the trade relationships with dwarves that Tevinter have could play really interestingly into the story, I've learned my lesson from playing a Cadash, and I'm gonna go with a standard height race for my first run. (I don't wanna miss the action the first time around because of a slightly off camera angle and a misplaced table leg, lol.)

I've only thought of Ver in the vaguest of terms, no backstory, just vibes and associations (primarily based on the name), and kind of a voice, but I don't wanna plan too far ahead or too specifically on anything, I'm just very excited to just explore things as they come! ❤️❤️❤️

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

You probably have gone over it before but what are your opinions on Romione (Ron x Hermione)

I actually haven’t.

Well, probably not a surprise given the hints I’ve dropped, but I’m not a fan of this one either.

However, that said, ships are on a scale. Romione bores me but it’s not in the “this would never happen and fans are deluding themselves” area that some very popular ships end up in. I don’t argue with it being a possibility or that this is where canon ended up.

Now, that aside, what’s up with Ron/Hermione.

Well, it’s that quintessential 90′s romance. The pair bicker constantly, all they do is fight with one another, we later learn that they did this because they were secretly attracted to one another. Now they’re dating and they still bicker constantly.

It was a big trope for a while but I was rarely, if ever now that I think about it, sold on it.

It’s sort of “The Lady Doth Protest Too Much” except, No, the Lady really Doth Protest Too Much. All Hermione and Ron do is bicker and fight, they don’t even really seem to like each other at the end of the day, and I can’t see them ever really being happy together in the long term.

So, why can I see it happening? Well.

Why Does Hermione Go For Ron?

I’ve gone over this before, but part of it I think is that Harry’s off the table and Hermione has accepted that very early. Harry never shows any interest in Hermione as anything other than a friend and Hermione knows it.

Now, Ron never does either, at least for a while, but I think Ron is a safer option in a lot of ways. He’s a part of the golden trio but he’s not its heart, he’s important to the three of them, but Harry is the heart and soul of the group. If Hermione ruins things with Harry, then everything falls apart. If things don’t work out with Ron, well, the three of them have spats every now and then and Ron will probably come back if it goes wrong.

Basically, I think Hermione gravitates towards Ron because by being with Ron the golden trio remains as it is. They’re still Hermione, Harry, and Ron. If Hermione brings in an outsider, the entire dynamic gets thrown off, suddenly there’s a fourth there or Hermione has to split her time between Ron and Harry and New Guy.

Ultimately, I think Hermione values her friendship with Harry and Ron (the only friendships she’s ever had in her life) more than she does dating someone like, oh, Viktor Krum. 

Hermione also seems to like dating guys she feels safely smarter than. Hermione places all her value in her intelligence, and frankly, when it comes to Harry and Ron she’s kind of right to. They clearly value her as a friend mostly because she’s the nerd research homework friend. They make it very clear that she’s really only tolerated at best and constantly walking on thin ice.

Everything in Hermione’s life confirms that, if she doesn’t have her intelligence and hard work to offer up, then she’ll be dropped like it’s hot. So, per the end of canon, and I think probably for the rest of her life given she marries Ron, Hermione will never pursue someone who threatens these qualities. Because if she introduces someone in her life who’s at least as smart as her (if not god forbid smarter), then what’s the point of Hermione Granger?

Ron’s dumber and far lazier than Hermione. Oh, Ron’s not necessarily as stupid as Harry (who is dumb as bricks), but he is fundamentally lazier and thanks to his worse grades will be a nice, safe, choice for Hermione who can be assured that Ron will always need her.

He might resent her for it now and then, but he does need her.

Why Does Ron Go For Hermione?

Surprisingly, I think Ron gets together with Hermione for similar reasons. For a very long time he shows -1 interest in Hermione. She’s the ugly girl friend who’s pretty much one of the dudes.

This changes when others start going after Hermione.

With Victor at the Yule Ball, suddenly, the golden trio is threatened. Hermione can clean up into an attractive young woman, people outside their tight knit friend circle can be interested, and suddenly Hermione can leave if she wants to.

For the longest time it was a long accepted truth that for better or worse Hermione was stuck with them. So Ron could rag on her, get pissed about the Firebolt fiasco, pretty much anything and Hermione would eventually be back because she has nowhere else to go.

I think the Yule Ball was the first wake-up call that this isn’t true. Hermione can leave, she just has to find the courage to do so.

Well, Ron brushes that off after Hermione’s relationship with Viktor pretty much goes nowhere. And then we get sixth year, Ron has a girlfriend (which is nice until she starts expecting things of him), but worse McLaggen starts showing interest in Hermione.

Essentially, I think Ron dates Hermione and convinces himself he’s attracted to her so that no one else can date Hermione.

He reasons that they fight all the time because they actually like each other. And if they date, nothing actually changes. (And as he becomes increasingly paranoid that Harry himself is into Hermione it all just starts sort of spiraling out of control.)

Basically, I think Ron and Hermione end up together to ensure that everything remains as it was. And it does, because Harry’s relationship with Ginny is practically non-existent (it’s very telling that Ginny does not join them on the horcrux hunt and is essentially left to be murdered or taken hostage by Voldemort). 

So What Now?

The future for Hermione and Ron is, not necessarily bleak, but it’s not particularly good and ultimately quite dull.

They still fight constantly, Rose and Hugo watch their mother and father have daily screaming matches with each other over nothing. They assume this is normal and just what parents do.

Hermione’s the overbearing and very accomplished wife and bread winner that Ron secretly resents. They both know he resents her for it, neither says this out loud.

Ron’s laziness caught up with him and he just works in George’s very successful store. Ron doesn’t even really like pranks, George does most of the work, but Ron is too myopic to actually leave and do anything else. Just like all his life, he’s overshadowed by his older brothers, his wife, and his best friend. He is a pit of bitterness that he tries not to let show. His wife certainly knows.

They’re an extremely dysfunctional, bitter, couple who stays together thanks to inertia, expectations, nostalgia, and the desperate desire to keep things the same. Harry obliviously doesn’t notice and whenever the three get together (sans Ginny as she’s not invited) he notes how great it is that their amazing friendship has survived all these years.

They have shitty sex once a week. It’s probably circled on Hermione’s calendar in their bedroom, “Sunday, 9:00pm, Sex with Ron”.

Rinse and repeat for the rest of their lives. 

Really Though, I Just Have 0 Interest in the Ship

I can’t tell you why it does but it bores me to tears. It just does. Every single aspect of it. Even the dysfunction is boring.

To quote a friend:

If ships had literal boat counterparts, this would be the dullest kind of ship, it would be a wooden motor boat with no exciting speeds, it just put-put-puts out to fish and then returns to port.

- @therealvinelle

[shera-dnd]

So remember when I mentioned that one of my projects was a whole ass AU based on a single line from some song lyrics? Well that’s the project!

Because why not take the lyrics to Smile and turn some of that shit very literal?

Also get ready because this fic is gonna be flowery as all hell.

Anyways there is the AO3 link up top and here is the fic itself for those who’d rather read it here

Camps and tents were set, and arenas had begun construction in the cold fields just outside the walls of great Atlas, the city of innovation, riches, and splendor. This could only mean one thing, the Vytal Festival was fast approaching and with it the nobles, knights, and representatives from every last human nation in Remnant.

In an official capacity it was a seven day long celebration of their long lasting peace. In practice people always arrive long before the festival proper, and then start a few festivities of their own until it is time for the main event, meaning the festival itself could easily span a full month of revelry.

That meant a crowd of strangers, countless new faces that no single person could ever keep track of, all gathered outside the gates of Atlas for weeks. Which made it the perfect time for a young fae to play her tricks. Honestly, the lords of men should all be thankful that she wished only to partake in their revels.

The fae woman gathered her belongings in the nearby forest, and checked her reflection in a little pond she had found. Of all the members of her court, she was the one that had achieved mastery over glamours with the most ease, still she planned on spending weeks among the humans, so she had to make sure everything looked perfect.

The face that greeted her was unfamiliar, but also perfectly human. Her skin was a shade darker than the pasty atlesians she would be mingling with, and little freckles marked it in incidental little patterns. Her long wavy hair was kept in a neat little braid even as little strands insisted on rebelling. Her eyes were a beautiful grayish blue, but carried in them an uncharacteristic exhaustion for someone her age.

This was all calculated of course. She had to be beautiful and fair like it was expected of a proper noble lady, but she couldn’t allow herself to look too perfect, or the humans would find her unsettling. It took an experienced hand to craft a face that struck such balance and was still so well suited to the fae that hid behind it.

Satisfied with her work she donned her human clothes - a simple, but charming dress of blue and gold, and a matching shawl to keep her warm - and made her way into the fields beyond.

Her kind had described the city of Atlas as a scar upon the natural world, a hungry parasite starving its host of all it needed to survive as it slowly expanded to consume ever more. The very epitome of all of humanity’s crimes given shape in stone and metal.

She knew these accounts to be true, of course, but standing before it now she found it difficult to not feel awed at the majesty of it all. The city was grand indeed, but to say so felt like an understatement. Grandiose structures rose above the city’s imposing walls and reached towards the sky above. Every inch of them was white marble and polished silver.

And yet it all felt colder than the harshest winter, as if this city was meant to be beheld in awe, not lived in. Every tile, every brick, every unnaturally clean stone, it all declared a single message.

“You’re not welcome here.”

She did what she could to ignore the city beyond and focus her attention on the fields that stretched before her. All around tents and camps were being set, and music could be heard even at such distance. This is what she came here for.

Delicious smells washed over her as she approached the gathering crowds. Many of the smaller camps had brought food from the nations beyond, and prepared their meals around their own campfires, or sold them to passers by, and she was more than happy to purchase quite a few of these unique delicacies.

Around her musicians and artists, from nations all over the world, prepared to perform before what would soon grow to be the largest crowd in all of Remnant. For now they were all street performers, travelling bands, nameless bards, and the occasional trickster claiming to have mastery over the magical arts.

Except some of that magic was very real. Their glamours were good, but no illusion could hide a fae’s true nature from one another. So she saw their faces as clear as crystal and they, in turn, saw hers. They were fae of the seelie courts, living a secret life among the human crowds, and she was the sole unseelie that walked among them.

It was in that moment of distraction, taking in the faces of her fellow fae, that she found herself being pushed aside with considerable force. She turned around, ready to curse whichever fool was responsible for this, only to find a very apologetic looking woman.

The woman in question had dark skin and long curly red hair. Though she wore no armor, her white and green clothes were clearly expensive and finely made. The presence of a staff in her heraldry betrayed her as a Knight of the Winter Maiden.

“My apologies,” the knight blurted out, “are you hurt?”

Something about the way she carried herself made it very hard to stay mad at her.

“I’m well, thank you,” she replied, “but please, do be more careful.”

“I’ll try to,” the knight assured her, before adding, “I don’t believe I have seen you around Atlas before.”

“This is my first time in the kingdom actually,” she lied with ease, “I’m Ilia of the Menagerie Isles.”

“Salutations, Lady Ilia,” the knight beamed as she bowed respectfully before her, “I’m Penny of House Polendina. I would be delighted to show you around the festival grounds, but right now I’m needed for a tournament.”

And with another bow Lady Polendina dashed away with just as little care as before.

Huh, a tournament, she had said? Now that seemed like a good way for Ilia to spend her time.

Said tournament was taking place in the only fully constructed wooden structure around. It was just a simple set of stands with enough space between them to form a somewhat proper arena, but having a proper space to fight in seemed to have gotten many of the knights’ hearts pumping with excitement. So much so that there seemed to be some sort of commotion waiting for her by the entrance.

Multiple men seemed to be arguing with a knight in perfectly white armor, or more accurately shouting at them, since they did not appear to say anything and just tried to make their way around the men and into the arena.

“Lady Schnee!” One of the men called and Ilia froze in her tracks. Years living in the courts around Atlas had left her with a burning hatred for the name Schnee.

With pale skin, and paler hair, the woman who approached them looked like she had been sculpted from a block of ice, and the look on her face was at least as cold as one. Lady Schnee was as severe and uncaring as her name would indicate.

“What is it you want?” She demanded.

“This stranger refuses to take off their helmet, or tell us their name, but they insist on joining the tournament,” the first man explained.

“Do you have reason to deny them entry, or are you simply insistent on wasting everyone’s time?” She said, with a tongue that was twice as sharp as that man’s sword, and thrice as sharp as his wit.

“My lady, the Vytal tournament was created exclusively for nobles and knights,” the other man tried, but a stare from her made him shrink in his armor.

“Do you think me stupid? I know the rules of the Vytal tournament,” she rebuked, “this is not the Vytal tournament, this is an excuse for bored fools to hit each other with swords. If you believe them unworthy of such noble competition, then perhaps you should prove so in the arena, instead of wasting everyone’s time with your pointless pratling.”

With that the men scattered and Lady Schnee made her way back into the arena. Though the white knight’s face remained hidden by their helmet, there was still a sense of amusement with how they held themself after this. Ilia certainly knew who she would be rooting for today.

With that out of the way Ilia joined the crowd by the stands as they watched the knights take turns dueling each other. Neither Lady Schnee, nor Lady Polendina seem to partake in the fighting, though they both took their roles as judges and organizers of the event. Though only Lady Polendina showed any excitement at her role.

Soon enough the duel Ilia had been looking for was about to begin. The white knight versus the loud fool from earlier. While the fool armed himself with a heavy shield and a heavier blade, the white knight seemed to prefer a lighter approach to combat, fighting only with a long and thin sword.

Unfortunately the build up had been much longer than the fight. In but three moves that felt almost like a single fluid motion, the knight had stepped through their foe’s defences, and placed the tip of their sword against his neck. The duel was over, and the crowd sat stunned.

It quickly became clear that no duel would live up to that one today, but that did not mean the crowd could not find entertainment in the matches that followed. Even though the white knight had not shown such swift brutality again, they quickly took the position of crowd favorite as they continued to win duel after duel.

That was until there only stood one soul who had not been bested by their blade. A knight in pure black armor, adorned with valean heraldry, and armed with a pair of shorter blades. Though that knight also hid their face, something about their stance seemed familiar to Ilia.

That sense of dejavu only grew stronger as the duel itself finally began. The swiftness of their movement, the lightness of their feet - even in full armor - the way the twin blades danced around them with ease. Ilia had only known one person who fought like that, but that simply couldn’t be her.

It made no sense.

Distracted as she was by that familiarity, Ilia was caught by surprise by the end of the duel. The knight in black had managed to pierce the white knight’s defense, and had a blade firmly pressed against their neck. The white knight put their blade down and conceded.

The crowd cheered as both knights offered each other a respectful bow and the white knight marched away from the arena.

Lady Polendina hopped and skipped her way to the middle of the arena, gesturing for the crowd to quiet down for a moment.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the winner of our warm up tournament,” she announced and the black knight took that as their cue to pull their helmet away.

Though the face under it was unquestionably human, and clearly untouched by any magical glamour, there was no doubt in Ilia’s mind as to who she was. That may truly be impossible, but she had only known one woman with golden eyes like those.

“Lady Blake, of the Knights of the Fall Maiden!”

[archivingspn]

2019: Twitter- Eric Kripke

therealKripke: “In honor of #SPN300, here's my original #SPN pitch from 2004. The pilot story is very different, but the tone always rang clear to me. Could never have imagined what this show became and the good it's done. Humbled and grateful beyond words to you all. #SPNFamily @cw_spn ‘[images of spn pilot’s 4pg script]’“ - 12:08 PM Feb 7, 2019

[source]

                                                                                                       1

Supernatural

Pitch by Eric Kripke August 30, 2004

I. TONE AND WORLD

In one sentence, this is X-FILES meets ROUTE 66. Two brothers, cruising the dusty back roads in their trusty 64 Mustang, battling the things that go bump in the night. But much more than that, it's a show about an obsession of mine...

Throughout the U.S., (especially the MIDDLE, where I'm from), we have a folklore, as uniquely American as baseball, as rich and varied as any world mythology, and almost nobody knows it. For instance, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil, at an abandoned Mississippi crossroads, to be the world's greatest guitarist. But he died violently, poisoned at age 26, screaming about Hellhounds as he choked on his own blood. In the shadowy north woods of Minnesota, lives a creature named the Wendigo. Translated from Native American, it means "evil that devours.” It feeds on human flesh. And even today, dozens of witnesses say it's very real.

There are literally HUNDREDS of these stories and legends and urban legends. There are dark and dangerous things out there in the corners of our country. So here's a show that travels the diverse highways and byways of supernatural America. Black woods, ghost towns, those tourist trap mystery spots. Really, a show ABOUT our country-the bloody, beating heart of America.

Unlike X-FILES, this show isn't Vancouver rainy. It's brighter, more colorful, more VISCERAL, and more irreverent. The humor here is extremely important to me—but it has to arise from the characters and their attitudes. The characters can be funny, but the weekly stories have to be SCARY AS SHIT– I'm talking THE RING; how what you don't see is much more terrifying than what you do. I'm talking about making this series as scary as I possibly can, until you guys call and yell at me.

But I also want the tone to be GROUNDED. Where BUFFY, for example, felt HEIGHTENED, our show should feel like OUR WORLD, real-life America. With a darkness that bubbles and boils just beneath the surface. And I want to keep the weekly stories CREDIBLE- leave 'em with a question mark, the possibility of a rational explanation. Something early X-Files did very well.

Finally, I want this show to capture a certain SPIRIT. For one, that youthful electricity of dropping out and hitting the open road; the freedom of wide-open American spaces. But also, EVERY road trip story-from FEAR and LOATHING to Kerouac to The Odyssey, are inherently mythic quests, hero's journeys, real Joseph Campbell stuff. The way STAR WARS, LORD OF THE RINGS, and MATRIX are all the same story, with the same beats. So our series, too, is an epic hero's quest-- across the United States. Almost like a modern western, and our heroes are gunslingers. Or, as I like to call it - it's STAR WARS in TRUCK STOP AMERICA.

                                                                                                                2

II. CHARACTERS AND FRANCHISE

Now, let's get into establishing our characters, and launching our franchise.

So if this is STAR WARS, meet LUKE SKYWALKER. SAM HARRISON, 21. Think Jake Gyllenhall, or Tobey Maguire. Smart, funny, handsome, maybe a little type-A. He just graduated Stanford with a 4.0, and now he's heading back down to L.A., where he lives with his Aunt and Uncle, he'll spend the summer clerking at a powerful law firm. And in the Fall... Harvard Law, thank you very much. Pedal to the metal, Sam is cruising the track to success. But, like all good Luke Skywalker heroes, Sam is vaguely restless. He tells his girlfriend, maybe he should drop everything this summer and blow off to Europe. But of course, he doesn't. He has too many responsibilities.

Sam's well adjusted, successful life, it's a real triumph, especially considering his background. Fifteen years ago, his dad JACK became increasingly dark and depressed. He drank. A lot. Until Mom and Dad were in a car crash. Dad was driving. He lived. Mom didn't. That triggered a schizophrenic breakdown in Dad. He swore that twisted, dark, horrific things caused that crash and took Mom away. And those same dark things were chasing after him. Dad was institutionalized. But he escaped. And disappeared.

Sam is ashamed of his tragic past. Hates his Dad, blames him for killing Mom, and NEVER, EVER talks about it.

Now, Sam's mythic CALL TO ADVENTURE, the events that will change his life forever, begin simply enough. When his big brother DEAN rolls into town. Meet DEAN HARRISON, 25, think Colin Farrel. If Sam's the good kid, Dean's the troublemaker. If Sam's Luke Skywalker, Dean's Han Solo. Charismatic and dangerous. Cocky confidence masking a troubled soul. Sam hated Dad, but Dean was older and remembered Dad in brighter days, and he worshipped the man. Sam buried his past and ignored it, but Dean was haunted by it, never quite got his shit together. Dean never went to college. Just sort of traveled around. In fact, Sam hasn't heard from Dean in almost 3 years, which Sam clearly resents.

And now... Dean makes Sam a proposition. Let me drive you down to L.A.- it's just one day, we'll get a chance to catch up a little. Reluctant, Sam agrees.

At first, they're enjoying the electric, carefree pleasures of a ROAD TRIP. Top down, radio blaring, singing their lungs out to AC/DC.

But then... at twilight... on an empty stretch of highway... Dean's driving. And he has to make a confession. (Though I'm sure we'll break this up into a few different scenes.) "Sam. There's something I need to tell you," Dean says. “I went looking for Dad. And I found him. Took just about every dime I had, but I found him. And I've been with him, for almost 2 years." Sam is shocked and betrayed: "what?! Why didn't you tell me?!" But Dean continues: "listen. I know this is hard to believe. But Dad WASN'T nuts.

                                                                                                                    3

Demons really DID kill Mom. Dark, awful things WERE following Dad. I know. Because I can see them. Because they're following me, too."

Obviously, Sam is BEYOND freaked and well aware that schizophrenia is hereditary. Dean goes on, getting worked up-“so Dad figured out how to kill these things, and he showed me how. Until they caught up to us in Baker. They got Dad. Before I got them." "What do you mean, you GOT them?” asks Sam. “I killed a demon. In human form," says Dean. “You killed somebody?!" "No, I killed a DEMON, it only LOOKED human.” (Which could be a scary, visceral teaser, by the way.) Anyway, DEAN continues: “Listen to me, Sam... it was Dad's wish, his DYING WISH, that I find you, that I teach you the way he taught me.” At this point, Sam goes into placating, survival mode. “Okay. Sure. Just calm down." But Sam's terrified-of his own brother.

Meanwhile, as this conversation's going on, Dean isn't going to L.A. He takes a detour-- for all intents and purposes, kidnapping Sam. They pull into a small, faded, all-American town in Central California. It's 1950's American optimism gone to seed. Basically, they pull right into the pilot's SELF ENCLOSED B-STORY. Whatever it is, the story should be simple, giving us room to focus on the brothers. It should be based in Folklore. And it should be personal—the job their father never completed.

Now, here's an example of exactly the kind of story I'm talking about. The real life ghost story of the "Weeping Woman," a sobbing wraith in a bloody white nightgown. She murdered her children by the river side, as revenge against her unfaithful husband. And today, it's said she lures unfaithful men to the river and drowns them. And sure enough, several MEN in this town have turned up dead by the river's edge. Anyway, something like this. And Dean, despite his smart ass jokes and references to the movie Poltergeist, seems to be taking this SERIOUSLY.

But Sam doesn't believe a WORD of it. First moment he's alone, he calls his Aunt and Uncle. “I'm with Dean, I think he's sick.” They tell him—"cops in Baker found your Dad's body. And a truck driver's body, too. Dean's the suspect. You have to get away! Where are you?!” But before Sam can answer-he pivots, right into Dean. Who grabs the phone, SMASHING it, furious: “Dammit, Sam, I'm not insane," Dean says, “Caspar the unfriendly fucker is really out there!"

Then, as Dean delves deeper and deeper into the ghost story, dragging a reluctant Sam along with him... INEXPLICABLE SUPERNATURAL phenomenon begin to occur, which SERIOUSLY RATTLES Sam. We'll have several good, scary set pieces. And soon, Sam doesn't know WHAT to think. And in the B-STORY'S climax, he'll even save Dean at some crucial point. (Though we'll be careful to leave things open ended, with just the possibility of a logical explanation.)

Afterwards, a beat in which Dean, vulnerable, says to his brother-"I've been thinking. And you're going home, Sam. You're smart, and you've got everything going for you. I don't care what Dad said, I can't let you live like this... Still," says Dean, "it was nice having you around. When you're with somebody... you just don't feel as crazy as

                                                                                                                   4

often." Sam's very conflicted, and he feels awful, but he can't just abandon his old life. So the brothers part ways. Sam hitchhikes up the road. Meanwhile, thanks to his Aunt and Uncle, the cops have been searching for Sam, and now they find him.

At the station, Sam tells the cops, Dean's in Colorado by now. But a patrol car has spotted Dean's parked Mustang at a nearby motel. The police grab SHOTGUNS, they're going to take Dean with force. And in the face of ONE PASSING COP, Sam sees-a glimpse. A shimmer. Something DEMONIC and INHUMAN flashes across the cop's face-and then it's gone, just as quick. Did Sam imagine it? Is he going insane, too? Or is Dean really in danger? Are dark, awful things really after him, like he said?

This is Sam's crossroads moment. And he makes a decision-he takes off. Steals a car. Beats the cops back to Dean. Warns him at the last minute. It's very TIGHT and very HECTIC, but Sam and Dean get away. Escaping by the skin of their teeth.

As we leave Sam... he doesn't know if he's losing his mind. He doesn't know if Dean's a hero or a homicidal schizophrenic. All he knows is-Dean's his brother, and he needs help. And for now, that's enough.

III. THE SERIES ITSELF

I think the overall GOAL here, is building an engine that gives us SELF ENCLOSED STORIES. I am gonna pitch some very simple mythology, but STAND ALONES are a format I really believe in, they're the shows I loved and grew up on. Like the best EARLY episodes of X-FILES.

So basically, our two heroes, avenging their parents' death, cruise the golden backroads of America-picture chrome diners and bucolic farms and dusty Route 66 towns. Places that are mythic and American, but also haunting, in a way. Places where horror can strike in broad daylight. Sam and Dean are kind of like classic gunslingers, or dragon slayers, finding-and KILLING—the monsters of American folklore.

So first question-how do they find the damn things? Dean tracks these creatures in a low-tech way. He scans obituaries for strange deaths. Dean also has a loose network of contacts - defrocked ministers and trailer park psychics, who impart information to our heroes whenever necessary.

Second question-how do they KILL the damn things? The answer—they have no fucking idea. They're outgunned and desperate and in completely over their heads. They don't have a WATCHER, like in BUFFY. They don't have an OBI WAN. They're on their own. Each week, they gotta figure out what the hell they're dealing with, and how the hell to kill it. And a lot of the time, they're wrong, and they have to improvise. Whether it's finding a ghost's remains - and burning them into dust; or loading a shotgun with silver buckshot, our guys will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

[pride-and-paperback]

I have serious trust issues now...

RATE: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

So... I binged through this because the very first page had me hooked. The book, while showing the clear distinctions and the roles played by the human and the faerie worlds - also portrayed a beautiful yet a horrific blend of both as well.

The best - and worst - of both worlds if you will.

We have Abriella Kincaid, the main protagonist of this book and a talented yet orphaned thief in debt, whose only joy in life was her bubbly younger sister Jasalyn - and Sebastian, the handsome mage apprentice next door. The beginning of the plot gave off major Cinderella vibes as Brie spent most of her days scrubbing away moldy old floors and being at the beck and call of her spoiled cousins - and the worst of all, her own aunt being her debtor.

When the sisters fell short in their payment this time, Jas was sold to the faerie slave traders. As a slave to the Unseelie king, the most vicious and evil ruler known to both Fae and humans alike. In order to save her sister, Brie makes a deal with the unseelie king to steal magical relics from the Seelie court while pretending to be a bride candidate for the Seelie prince, Ronan.

I highly suggest that you finish the book before reading further ahead cause it'll contain major spoilers and I can't exactly talk about the book without mentioning crucial details - so you have been warned.

THE PARTS THAT PUT ME OFF:

(please remember that these are my own personal thoughts and opinions and you don't have to agree with them in any way)

First and foremost, my heart truly went out for Brie... I've never been so truly heartbroken with any other character to such an extent - damn it, not even towards Feyre and Aelin, even with all the shit they went through.

But to be manipulated around every frickin' corner of the plot?! I'm sorry, but that part was just too much for me. Legit everyone - EVERYONE - was fooling her and using her and keeping her in the dark about everything.

Which is kind of ironic since the Dark is literally her power.

No one was who they said they were. Betrayal upon betrayal. Secrets upon secrets. Trust broken, hope crushed, heart clinching in pain over and over again. When you learn the reason behind them, even though the actions were taken out of love - all it did was hurt. Honestly, the only thing that I wanted to do while reading this, was reach in and just whisk Brie and Jas away to a paradise-like realm, where they could just feel and be happy.

Secondly, I felt for Brie because the poor soul thought she was the worst possible scum to ever exist since she was lying to and fooling Sebastian, and that she didn't deserve him because "oh but he's so good to me" and "oh he loves and cares for me so much despite my flaws" and "oh but he's putting so much efforts into finding my sister"...

I felt empathetic towards her despicable circumstances but on the other hand, I felt so frustrated as well. Like, girl. The moment you found out your 2-year long crush was a Fae prince, you should have been suspicious of everything he did as a human. The whole situation was so fishy and it should have been the first red flag - the second being when he saved you from the Barghest without you telling him where you were, the third being when he left in the middle of a make-out to bed another woman, the fourth being when his 'bestfriend' drugged you and basically pushed to force yourself into a lethal bond against your will, the fifth being when he embraced you even after you sent his mother to her potential death. SO MANY RED FLAGS! Is this a female thing or a human thing where you can't move away from the first person you claimed to be your safe place and you still desperately stick to them in spite of all the signs you see that scream at you to run away?

but then again, that's the beauty, I guess you could say? of being human. In some twisted aspect.

Thirdly, the plot for me, reflected back several ACOTAR elements - or maybe it was my own biased SJM filter, but I could definitely see parts of Feyre in Brie, of Tamlin in Ronan and Rhys in Finn, the very reason the female leads even entered Faerie was because of their family- and I ultimately couldn't shake it off, especially after reading the line :

"May you always have a star to wish on, Abriella, and a reason to believe."

You can't tell me it doesn't resonate with "To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."

And maybe it's because of this filter, that I'm still looking forward to a redeeming arc for Finn despite being a manipulative turd-face himself. People like Sebastian have VIP seats reserved in hell after all the stunts he pulled, I won't be sorry for saying that. And if you come at me saying "oh but they were both doing it for the greater good of their kingdoms" - what a load of crap.

They both should have been open with Brie from the start, proved their good-ill and acted well on the trust she placed in them - and most importantly, they should have let her made the choices, since it was her power and her life at stake. Instead, what they did was put up facades and use her for the shit excuse of "the greater good".

THE PARTS I ABSOLUTELY LOVED:

Firstly, THE ENDING PLOT-TWIST! This one I will not spoil because despite my comparatively good hunches, I so did not see that coming. Though I hate the fact that the book ended on a system-wracking cliffhanger just RIGHT after, the plot twist was the one of the best ones so far. It's been two days since I finished the book, but the end still has me reeling.

Secondly, the world building was absolutely *chef's kiss* delightful. It was easy to navigate through and understand the workings of both the worlds. Same goes for the prose and diction followed by Lexi Ryan, the words and phrases were simple and none too complicated - smooth flowing and effortless fuel to feed the imaginative engine in order to paint the best of pictures in your head.

Thirdly, the various shades of desperation shown through each character. From baby Fawn to Mordeus and everyone in between - the essence of all their actions, as I noticed and thoroughly enjoyed, sprouted from desperation. Although portrayed in various degrees through different characters, and while the end goal they wanted to achieve differed accordingly - the foundational emotion remained the same. You'll understand once you get through the entire plot.

Overall, it was an immensely overwhelming but captivating read and I would definitely recommend it! 👍

[deans-baby-momma]

Wounded Hearts 2

Summary: When John Winchester leaves his two high school-aged sons in a motel in Fairfax, IN while he goes off on a hunt, they both make friends. What happens after they have to suddenly leave when John comes to fetch them. Will those friendships endure? Does Dean leave a piece of his soul behind?

Word Count: 3,408

A/N: This is a sequel to Past Haunts, but it’s mostly what happened in the thirteen years between high school and when Sam and Dean return to take care of a haunting in their old stomping grounds of Truman High. The first couple of chapters will be mainly Dean’s POV and then after that, each chapter will switch from Dean’s POV to Rebecca’s POV. I will label them appropriately.

Rebecca’s POV

The walk home is kind of uncomfortable. My crotch is sensitive and tender and these jeans are not helping at all. I think over what just happened. I just gave my virginity to Dean Winchester. The boy who came out of nowhere and walked the school halls like he owned the place. I briefly thought about how just last week he was all about Amanda Heckling,  the popular girl, the head cheerleader. Had he fucked her too? They had seemed hot and heavy for a minute but then, just as quickly as he showed up, they were over and he was proclaiming to the halls that he was a hero. Had he taken Amanda's virginity too? 

I shake my head and huff a laugh. No way was Amanda Heckerling a virgin. Not since freshman year at least.  She had been caught with her pants down, literally, with Justin Scott in her bedroom. So, no Dean definitely hadn't taken Amanda's innocence. 

As soon as I get home I rush to the bedroom to change out of my- now damp from the remnants of what had transpired between me and Dean- panties. Thankfully it's just my cum filling my underwear; Dean had wrapped it up before he fucked me.

I change quickly, wadding my ruined panties into a ball and stuffing them to the bottom of the hamper. My mom yells that dinner is ready and I pause, taking a breath and praying that neither she nor dad can sense the change in me. I'm no longer their innocent little girl but a woman, an adult capable of safely fornicating.

I can feel their stares,  hear their whispers as I walk to my locker. Does everyone know? Are all my classmates aware that I am no longer pure  and virginal Rebecca Quentin. Do they know that I oh so easily gave it up to Dean Winchester? Or am I just imagining it all?

I grab my books and sign in then take my regular seat in Mrs. Meadows' English Lit class. My heart is pounding in my ears,  knowing that shortly Dean would walk through the door.  Would he sit beside me, like he did Amanda? Would he ask me to be his girlfriend? I mean, we've already done the deed so that's the next step, right? Ok, so our steps are a little misconstrued but so what?

I hear him before I see him, his heavy army-style boots stomping down the hallway. As soon as he enters the room, my breath catches in my throat. I'd always thought Dean was good-looking but now? Damn is he sexy as hell! I can't help but turn away to hide the blush on my face as I remember his touch and how it felt to have him inside me. My heart drops as he passes by the empty desk beside me to take his seat at the back of the room. Dammit, maybe it wasn't as special to him as it had been to me. Maybe he was used to defiling girls and then acting as if they didn't exist.  As Mrs. Meadows calls for attention I vow to confront him at lunch. Hopefully we can have a quiet discussion and not cause a scene.

By the time the bell rings for lunch, I am a nervous wreck. The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to address the obvious elephant in the school. Dean Winchester conned his way into my pants; pretending to be a gentleman and noble when in all reality he was a fraud, a hustler. Watching him with his little brother yesterday, how he had made sure Sam was well-fed and taken care of had to have been a ruse! Just a way to get me to let my guard down and then he struck when that window of opportunity opened; like a snake,  a conniving devious snake. 

Deciding I can't civilly accost Dean, I make my way to the vending machines. I'll just go to the motel after school and talk to him then. I just hope he hasn't duped his next victim there. That's what I feel like; a victim, a casualty of the trickster that is Dean Winchester. I scan the lunchroom as I enter but see no sign of Dean or his brother Sam. I sigh in relief as I don't think I could handle being ignored again. I sit at a table in the corner and open my bags of chips. 

The rest of my classes were dull and lackluster. I just couldn't concentrate on anything any of my teachers were saying. The concept that Dean was ignoring and avoiding me was breaking me, was breaking my heart and soul. I wanted to know why. Why did he choose me? Why did he have to defile what could have been an incredible friendship? Maybe even a wonderful and dare I say loving relationship. Did getting the privilege of saying he slept with me mean more to him than that? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got until I had furiously scribbled a hole into the paper on my desk. I was going to that motel after school and finding out!

When the last bell sounds, I gather my books and head to my locker. I look morosely at locker #214, the one Dean had been assigned. It was only a few down from mine. I hadn't seen him all day; not since he so openly ignored me during first period. It is painfully obvious he was avoiding me. Well I am going to put a stop to that. I march out of the building and head down the same path we had walked yesterday, straight to the place it all went downhill,  room 7 at the Motel Monroe.

A few hours later

I knock on the door and wait. And the longer I wait, the more upset I get. How dare Dean ignore and avoid me and act like I don't exist in his world. Yesterday, he acted as if he made me believe he was interested in being my friend, if not more and today I'm nobody? 

I'm not a nobody. I get perfect grades and in less than a year I will be moving away, going to college and in a few short years graduate with a master's in psychology and on my way to becoming one of the best behavioral counselors in the country.  I have plans and dreams; I'm not just some girl to pass the time with. 

After a few minutes and another knock, there is still no answer. I step to the window to see inside but the curtain is closed tight. 'Oh no you don't, Dean Winchester,' I think silently. 'You are not hiding from me. We are going to hash this out like adults.' I walked toward the manager's office to find out if there is a way to get him to open the door. Instead I find devastating news when the manager tells me, "They cleared out about 3 hours ago."

I walk away from the motel,  the place I lost my virginity in with tears threatening to roll down my face. Will I ever see him again?

Eight weeks later

Time is a fickle thing. Some days it seems to rush by while others it seems to just stand still and turn stagnant. 

After finding out that the Winchesters had left town, I turned my attention back to my studies. I only had a few more months until I'd be graduating high school and moving on to bigger, brighter things. 

Thanksgiving had come and gone and now we are all hurtling toward Christmas and the almost two weeks off from school. The whole school is abuzz with excitement and enthusiasm for the break. Me? I am just going through the motions. I had gotten ill a few days ago, puking my guts up and just feeling horrible. Whatever it is, I wish it would just run its course already. I am tired of feeling weak and feeble. 

Today is the school's last day before Christmas break and I was just looking forward to being able to lay around and let the flu or pneumonia or whatever gets its claws into me. Something grabs my attention and I look at the calendar hanging beside my desk. A big old red circle is around the 4th, the day I should've started my period. I grab the calendar and turn it back to November and see another big red circle. Two months. Two missed periods. And I know that they are missed because every time I start I always draw a line through the circle and these two circles have no lines.  What the hell? I try to remember having my period in November but I am coming up blank. The last period I remember was in October,  the first part of October.  I remember because it was right after my Mom's birthday. I turn the page and yep, October 5th has a circle with a line through it. So why didn't I mark through November's and December's? I scan through the month of October and my eyes land on the 14th. 

The day I spent with the Winchesters, the day I lost my virginity to Dean, the day that…..oh fuck. Oh god no!

At school, I can’t concentrate on anything. My calculus teacher calls on me and I don’t hear her. The words ‘I’m pregnant’ keep repeating over and over in my head. I can’t be pregnant. I only had sex once. But once is all it takes, I tell myself. 

I get through the rest of the day, barely, and by the time the last bell rings I am a nervous wreck. I know what I need to do. I have to go to the pharmacy and buy a test. But everyone knows everyone in this town and I know old Mrs. Wilson will tell my parents that she sold me a pregnancy test. 

Walking into the drugstore I am praying and hoping that Mrs. Wilson possibly has the day off and someone else is working her shift but no such luck. As soon as I walk in she sees me and smiles. I return the smile and walk down the farthest aisle from the one I need.  As I trek slowly through the store, pretending that I am looking at different things, I come up with a plan. I’ll just take one off the shelves and ask to use the bathroom. 

When I get to the correct aisle I feel overwhelmed. There are so many! Different brands, different processes. I find one that looks easy enough; what is more easier than just peeing on a stick? Stuffing the box in my bag, I head toward the front of the store, grabbing a package of maxi pads on my way.

“Hello Rebecca,” Mrs. Wilson greets me. “How are you today?”

“Hi Mrs. Wilson. I’m good. Listen, is there anyway I can, uh...use the facilities here?” I ask as I show her the maxi pads. She nods in understanding and points me toward the bathroom.

I quickly shut and lock the door and lean against it, taking a breath. ‘Come on Rebecca. You can do this.’ I think to myself. ‘It might even be negative. Could be something completely different wrong with me.’

I pull the box out of my bag and step toward the toilet. I know I don’t have that much time before Mrs. Wilson comes to check on me. Pulling the test out of the box, I quickly read the directions. 

1. Pee on stick

2. Wait 5 minutes.

3. Two lines means pregnant; one line means not pregnant.

Ok simple enough. I do as instructed and place the stick on the sink. This is going to be the longest five minutes in history!

How can something so inconsequential as a piece of plastic change your whole life? Plastic is nothing but synthetic polymers that can be molded into whatever is needed. In this instance, this piece of plastic was sculpted into a thin white stick with a window on the end. And in that window was life-altering news. Two pink lines. 

I stare at the test for what seemed like forever. I’m pregnant. I am only a few months away from turning 18, graduating high school and going off to college. Yet, here I am carrying Dean Winchester’s illegitimate child. I place my hand on my still flat stomach and look in the mirror. “I’m pregnant,” I whisper to my reflection. I didn’t even realize I am crying until I see the tears streaming down my face.

Hearing Mrs. Wilson heading my way, I hurry and wipe my face clean and pick up the positive test, sticking it in my pocket. I open the package of pads and take one out and cram the unused one into the bottom of the trash can. At least, that way it will look like I used one and not raise any suspicions with the old busybody.

After paying for the one item I won’t be needing for a while, I leave the store and head home. How am I going to tell my parents that I’m pregnant? Of course they're going to want to know everything. Well, maybe not everything. They know how babies are made, they have me after all. But they are going to ask a million questions. Who’s the father? Where is he now? Does he know? Is he going to be a man and step up? I only know the answer to one of those. Dean Winchester is the father. That’s all I know. He used me and then up and disappeared the very next day.

I get home and am relieved that both my parents aren’t home yet. I have a few more minutes to come to terms with the fact of my situation myself. I run upstairs to my room and fall onto my bed, burying my face in the pillow. While I am alone, I decide to go ahead and get it out. The anger, the frustration, the heartache. 

I am 17 years old, a senior in high school and pregnant by a boy who split in no time afterwards. The tears come instantaneously. How am I going to be able to fulfill my dream of going to college and becoming a psychologist? I can’t be raising a kid while going through years of study at Harvard to get my bachelor’s plus an internship. By the time I’d be done with all that my child is going to be at least 10 years old.

Damn him! Damn him and his boyish charms and his mesmerizing green eyes and his sexy as hell body. 

“Damn you Dean Winchester! I hate you. I wish I’d never met you,” I scream into the fluffy cushion. “I hope wherever you are that your dick falls off and you can’t do this to some other poor girl!”

Fuck, is all I can think. How many girls had he done this to? How many illegitimate babies did he have? He had said his family traveled a lot so there were probably girls all over who were pregnant or had bared his offspring. 

"Fuck," I sigh. "If I get an STD because of him I'll hunt him down and kill him," I growled. I begin punching the pillow, pretending it is Dean’s face. I can’t believe him. How dare he take advantage of me like that!

But then I realize, he didn’t take advantage; I clearly gave him exactly what he wanted. ‘Dumbass! I am such a dumbass. I walked right into his trap and didn’t even understand what I was getting into. I was so dumbfounded and surprised that he wanted to talk to and hang out with me that I just followed him along like a lost puppy. And then I gave him the one thing that I could never get back. All because of a few words and some attention. How much of an idiot am I?’

Shaking my head at my stupidity I head to the bathroom to clean off my face and get prepared to confess to my parents. They are going to be so disappointed in me. It’s going to break their hearts. I’ve been talking about going to Harvard and becoming a psychologist since I was in middle school and now that is just a pipe dream. It won’t ever come true now. 

I don’t have much of an appetite so I just push my food around on my plate. I feel bad about it because Mom had rushed home from work and went straight to cooking and now my stomach is all twisted up and I can’t eat.  It looks like they are about to be finished with their dinner so I decided no better time than the present.

“Mom? Dad?” I begin. “We need to talk.”

“What is it sweetie?” My dad says as he gets up to put his plate in the sink. “Did you get a C in class or something?” he turns back to the table with a jesting grin on his face. “You know you don’t have to be completely perfect in everything.”

Mom and Dad have been telling me for years that I was pushing myself too hard. That it doesn't matter to them if I get straight A’s or not as long as I don’t fail. But I wanted to prove to them, and myself, that I could. And so far I had; I am only a few credits shy of graduating high school with honors. 

“Oh, I’m not perfect,” I tell him, looking down at my hands in my lap. “Far from it actually. I-uh-I have some not so good news. You might even call it upsetting news.” 

My parents both look at me, perplexed. Mom speaks up first, “What is it Rebecca? Are you dying? Do you have cancer or something?” 

Leave it up to Mom to think about a worse-case scenerio. Of course in her mind, the most distressing would be that I only had a few months to live. Which, in this case, it’s kinda true. A few more months and life as I know it is over.

I pull the positive pregnancy test out of my hoodie pocket and lay it in the middle of the table. Clear as day, anyone can see what it is. My dad suddenly sits down and puts his head in his hands and Mom…well, Mom stands up, looks at me with pity and walks out of the dining room. A few minutes later, I hear their bedroom door slam shut. 

The commotion brings Dad out of his stupor and he looks up at me. “How did this happen, Rebecca?” I quirk an eyebrow at him at the absurdity of his question. “I mean, I know how it happened. When?”

“Back in October. I hung out with this guy and his little brother and we watched a movie and ate pizza and popcorn. After the movie was over, his brother wanted to go to the arcade and it left me and Dean in the room, alone. One thing just led to another.” I finish with a shrug of my shoulders.

And just like I assumed, Dad begins badgering me with questions. “Who is he? Does he know about the baby yet? Is he going to step up and take care of it and you?”

I sigh before I answer. “His name is Dean. Dean Winchester. No, he doesn’t know and probably never will. He and his brother were staying in the motel across town while their dad was working. He’s gone now. Left the day after. I don’t know how to get in touch with him.”

Dad and I sat there in silence after I told him about Dean and how he was no longer around. I can see the steps of processing Dad is going through on his face. At first he is angry, livid even. Then he is just mad. But what breaks my heart is when my dad looks at me and all I can see is disappointment. 

I feel like such a failure. I failed my parents and myself the moment I allowed Dean to come into my life. The moment I had sex with him. 

@lostinaseaoffictionalbliss @spnbaby-67 @tftumblin @sea040561 @delightfullykrispypeach @larajadeschmidt13 @atc74 @vicariouslythruspn @squirrelnotsam  @sandlee44 @blacktithe7 @hoboal87 @mogaruke @deanwanddamons @supraveng @deandreamernp @akshi8278 @lyarr24 @markofdean79 @travelingriversideblues-x @akshi8278 @keymology  @natura1phenomenon​ @drakelover78​ 

[jokerfan99]

My Top 10 Favorite Anime Villainesses by DarkChild316

Evil has never looked this good! Hello everyone and welcome to my list of my FAVORITE, not the best, but my favorite anime villainesses of all-time. So, I've had the luxury of watching and revisiting a lot of anime recently with everything that's been going on, and there’s been quite a few villainous ladies that have caught my eye, so I figured I should give it a go and do a list of My Favorite Anime Villainesses. So, with that said, here's my list:

#10. Diva (Blood+): This was one of the first anime I remember watching as a young kid, and this lovely lady easily caught my eye more than anyone else in the entire show. I can honestly say that I felt that Diva was more relatable than her sister Saya was (my opinion people, just saying) mostly due to her backstory and how she was kept locked away for most of her life while Saya was treated like a princess. I will admit that her rape and murder of Riku was shocking and it did piss me off a bit, but she ultimately won me over again with her treatment of her unborn children at the end when I got to see the caring side of her that I hadn't seen from her towards anyone else, including her own Chevaliers. Ultimately, Diva is one of my favorite tragic villains of all-time.

#9. Mugino Shizuri (A Certain Magical Index):  Don't let the beautiful supermodel looks and gorgeous frame of this buxom beauty fool you. Mugino Shizuri is a woman who's looks are only matched by her ability to physically melt people's heads off. Add to that the fact that she's a total basket case who slowly devolved into a cold-blooded murderer who was willing to kill her own ITEM teammates for even the slightest betrayal, and you my friend have a recipe for a..."beautiful disaster" (that is an excellent pun, sit down somewhere!)

#8. Annie Leonhardt (Attack on Titan): Attack on Titan is a show I've recently started getting into and it's cast of characters really capture my imagination. One of the characters that really stands out to me is Annie, not just because she uses one of my favorite fighting styles in Muay Thai kickboxing (which she uses to devastating effect), but also in her introverted and isolated personality which serves as almost a dark mirror of Mikasa Ackerman. In a world full of terrifying monsters in human form, Annie sticks out as the most unsettling because of how coldly apathetic she remains to her individual actions as a double agent sent to wipe out humanity, and one can never truly tell if she might shake your hand or snap your neck.

#7. Rize Kamishiro (Tokyo Ghoul): Poor Kaneki, it really looked like he'd found the girl of his dreams when he met Rize Kamishiro. She was stunningly beautiful, mature, well-read, and seemed to be genuinely interested in him. Alas, he was soon to learn the harsh reality behind this beautiful face, as she lured him in, only to literally take a bite out of his heart (or neck, depending on how you want to look at it). As it turned out, Kaneki's 'dream girl' is actually a nightmarish ghoul with a ravenous taste for human flesh, and poor Kaneki was on the menu. If not for some steel beams falling on top of her, there likely wouldn't have been anything left of the poor guy.

#6. Raynare (Highschool DXD): Now take everything I just described about Rize and add just a touch of sadism, and you get this fallen angel beauty. Honestly, that's how I've always viewed Raynare's character, as a far more sadistic version of Rize Kamishiro, and when you look at then two, it's not hard to see the similarities between the two: Both manipulated and betrayed the respective male leads of their respective anime by posing as sweet, gentle, kind and shy young women; both are incredibly sadistic, manipulative, and ruthless, and most of all, both continued to haunt Kanenki and Issei even after their deaths due to their betrayals. Although I'd say that Raynare is just a bit more psychotic and sadistic than Rize is, which puts her slightly higher on my list. Also, major bonus points for Rayare's light-based abilities that serve as a great foil to her sinister personality.

#5. Junko Enoshima (Danganronpa): OH I FUCKING LOVE THIS WOMAN! If ever there was a title for "craziest bitch on the block", Junko would take that title and then laugh about it in your face. What other woman would be crazy enough to set up a series of sadistic killing games that would make Jigsaw stand up in appreciation under the guise of a sadistic teddy bear, murder their own twin sister, and even axe off THEMSELVES when their plans go awry! Yeah, Junko is crazier than your average bird, but damn if that doesn't make her all the more appealing, doesn't hurt that she's hot as hell either!

#4. Lust (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood): Well it's really all right there in her name isn't it! One of the Seven Homunculi, an artificially-created human being infused with a Philosopher's Stone, Lust encapsulates everything that is both alluring and dangerous about her given Sin. Her sensual voice, body, and nature can bring any man to their knees, traits she's more than willing to use to further Father and the Homunculus's goals. And when her target's usefulness is done, they usually find themselves on the receiving end of one of Lust's razor-sharp nails. Unfortunately for her, as hot as she may be, Roy Mustang's flames were even hotter!!!

#3. Cinder Fall (RWBY): When I first started watching RWBY, Cinder was one of the characters that caught my attention almost immediately. The way she played the role of being the ruthless master manipulator just enthralled me like I'd never seen before. I'd seen great manipulators in anime before, but Cinder had the feel of almost an expert chess player, manipulating the pieces around her, and always staying two steps ahead of everyone else in her attempts to checkmate the King. But wat truly sold me on Cinder as a detestable villain, was two incidents in particular, and I think every RWBY fan knows what I'm talking about: Her murder of Pyrrha Nikos, and her attempted murder of Weiss Schnee. Those two incidents to me added a touch of sadism to her character and put her over the top as a truly great villain in my eyes. Oh, and it also helps that she's a total pyromaniac with Fall Maiden powers that can roast you like a Thanksgiving turkey. Yeah, definitely NOT the kind of woman you want to get on her bad side.

#2. Medusa Gorgon (Soul Eater): Ah yes, Medusa! The only woman who could make Orochimaru lust for her (and I'll fight anyone who disagrees with that statement!) But in all seriousness, I can see why people often compare Medusa to Orochimaru as the similarities between the two are incredibly stunning: Both have an affinity for snakes; both are genius scientists with a total lack of care for human life; Both have shown an ability to jump from one body to another, like a snake shedding its skin; and both have shown the ability to manipulate almost anyone to their cause. What makes Medusa even more unique however is her treatment of her own child Crona, treating Crona as a mindless killer and never showing any real form of love or emotion towards her own child except when that child can help further her own twisted desires. Yeah, Medusa definitely won't be winning any "Parent of the Year" awards.

#1. Esdeath (Akame ga Kill): Admit it! You KNEW it was gonna be this woman didn't you, c'mon now! Anyone doing a list of their favorite anime villainesses that DOESN'T make Esdeath #1 is just wrong! She's got everything you could ever want from a great villainess: She's a total sadist with a Social Darwinist personality and a total lack of empathy for humankind. She's incredibly powerful with her mastery over ice thanks to her Teigu "Demon's Extract"; Plus she's a woman who lives for her love of conflict, and her love of Tatsumi (lucky bastard!) Add to that the fact that she registers a perfect 10 in sexiness, and you've got a recipe for my favorite female anime villain!

So that's my list, what did you guys think about it? Love it, hated it? Go on and tell me what you think and let me know who your favorite anime villains are. See you soon!

Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/darkchild316

[gyllenhaalstories]

detective loki anon here ~ how about daddy detective? or detective daddy? 🥴

holy shit, I love your brain so much! I love The National and the image of him coming home after not having slept for days, all exhausted and probably traumatized (you know he takes these cases home with him, especially if anything happened to children) and he has been on edge the whole time, not allowing himself to rest. And then 'I need my girl' plays while you kiss him, and scrub the dirt of the last few days off his skin (I think detective daddy likes to stay clean unlike mr.stinkyhaal, even if he sometimes neglects his own selfcare with a tough case), so it's like literal heaven for him to be finally home and close to you. You straight up bring the light back into his world, with just some soft neck kisses and shampooing his hair gently 😊 (also I started a detective loki playlist, and I really like woman by mumford & sons for him too. I think he likes soft and soulful songs, maybe a little hipster at times, but he's cool enough to pull it off 😏) and I bet some homecooked food would go a long way with him feeling back home again too, even though I can't cook for shit, but I would try for that man 🥰

DETECTIVE DADDY THATS IT IM SOLD!!!!!!!!!! oh my god anon I LOVE YOU!!!!!! for sure, work comes home with him whether he wants it or not. he'd try so hard not to think of his case, not to look into pieces of evidence and he'd just look at you, brows slightly arched because he think he's discovered a piece of the puzzle and you'd just nod and let him work. you know it's painful for him to detach himself as much as it is to drown himself in work, but it's david, you can't change him and you can't stop him either. you try though, you try really hard to distract him and make sure he's with you, physically and mentally. i think bath time with det loki is very special, like it's more intimate than sex or kissing or dates or anything of the sort. he's safe and vulnerable and finally letting go of the burdens he's been carrying all these years (i do think he can spend 24+ hours without showering if he's out driving around, looking for missing people or stuck at the station, however cleaning up is probably the first thing he does when he's back home after greeting you and kissing you so that he can feel alive again for just a moment.) "you straight up bring the light back into his world" i listened to your song suggestions and i am IN LOVE oh my god i need my girl is so perfect 🥺 i don't know much about the national, a song or two perhaps, but this one is SO good and it just fits det loki perfectly!!!!! you were a kindness gives me det loki vibes too! AND OH MY GOD WOMAN BY MUMFORD & SONS BYE YOUR TASTE IN MUSIC IS SUPERIOR!!!!!!!!!!! i'm sure your playlist is absolutely fantastic!!!!! if you ever post it publicly, let me know so i can share it and take a listen, or simply just listen to it if you don't want to show it around! grill some sliced bread and american cheese on a pan, heat up some minestrone soup on the side and you've got the heartwarming homemade food he needs to get his warmth back! COOKING WITH DET LOKI THOUGH and struggling a lot at doing box cake and what not, anything that should be easy is complicated because you both suck at cooking but you're pouring your heart and soul in these dry brownies and halloween themed pillsbury cookies and it's all that matters. i'm thinking that det loki's love language might be quality time because he gets so little time alone with you so the smallest of moments he gets with you, the opportunities he has to hug or kiss you and remind you just how thankful he is to have you in his life, it's worth more than gold to him 🥺

[mocha-sim]

“Old AU/fanfic ideas I’m probably never going to write” dump

(Long post warning)

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“Full Circle”, first fic I came up with when I got into the fandom around early 2018, your basic next-gen fic except the main focus is on the student council, who all somehow wind up involved in the case of Ayano’s daughter, Kataba (which is a dumb name in retrospect). Kuroko is Kataba’s teacher, and Akane is the guidance counsellor. Aoi and Shiromi don’t actually appear until after the first rival is killed (pretty early in the story), when Aoi - a bodyguard at Saikou Corp. - is sent to the school to watch over Megami’s son, and Shiromi is a detective/journalist assigned to the case. Weirdly enough, Megami’s son Haruki ends up being the one to trigger the “senpai effect” in Kataba

I had some ideas for rivals:

Haruki’s close friend Emiko, kind of a flirt. Gets stabbed to early in the story for the audience to really get to know her

Rikuto, leader of the gardening club, and a very emotional guy who may or may not have been suffering abuse at home. Iirc Kataba drops something heavy on him in the shed to kill him

Kano, leader of the (now-official) gaming club, grumpy and rude but has a soft spot for cute things, kind of a depressed attitude and maybe has drug problems. Gets driven to suicide

Kazumi, leader of the art club, an energetic girl who’s popular around the school, but a daydreamer. Suffering from an unwanted pregnancy

Chika, leader of the science club, cold and distant personality, others call her “ice queen”, looks up to Kaga who now has his own huge corporation. Kataba sabotages her experiment (a small robot) to quite literally blow up in her face at a science convention, which kills her

Isamu, leader of the school’s kickboxing team. I never really fleshed him out tbh

Tamotsu, leader of the delinquents, infamous throughout the school and has the kind of personality you’d expect a delinquent to have. I don’t remember the details of how I planned to have him eliminated but I think Kataba found some way to get him killed by a rival gang

Sadashi, a timid and quiet new student who moved from elsewhere in the country and is struggling to adjust to life at Akademi. Again, I don’t think I fleshed her out as much as the others, but there was something about her trying to get into the student council

Masumi, Haruki’s childhood friend whose family is constantly moving around for business reasons, but is always texting and video-chatting with him. Just like Haruki, she’s extremely rich and is one of the only people who can really relate to him. A very calm and polite girl. If I'm remembering right, I think she actually survives, but gets kidnapped and tortured by Kataba and never really recovers from the trauma

The tenth rival is actually Haruki’s bodyguard, Aoi. By this point in the fic it’s all gone to shit, there’s a missing person’s report out for Masumi, Akademi is in a state of panic and many students have stopped coming to class, and there’s been talk about shutting the school down permanently. The focus is kind of split between everything that’s going on (Masumi, the state of the school, Shiromi’s investigation, Taro and Ayano’s marriage falling apart, Kataba trying to kill Aoi) instead of just focusing on the current rival

I think had one idea for a student who’s not a rival: a Midori-like student called Tsuki Muun... but she was a gag character more than anything

There are other canon characters who appeared in the story, like Ayano and Taro, Megami (though she doesn’t play a major role), Info trying to help Kataba for her own benefit (I had a vague idea about her going undercover as one of Shiromi’s coworkers and trying to sabotage the investigation), possibly Osana and/or Hanako, and I considered having Oka show up as a ghost

Taro is kind of an ongoing obstacle for Kataba and is the one who rescues Masumi from the basement (he also hits Ayano with a chair when she tries to stop him from taking Masumi to the hospital by threatening him with a knife. King behaviour)

Kataba is actively trying to sabotage Shiromi and her coworkers. Early on in the story she kills Shiromi’s search dog as a “warning” to her

Shiromi and Taro end up becoming close friends whilst she’s investigating his daughter’s crimes. Ayano gets kind of suspicious but I don’t really remember where that ended up going. Also there’s this whole scene where they break into Kataba’s room while she’s out to find her bulletin board with notes/pictures of all the rivals and how to eliminate them

Aoi is not only Haruki’s bodyguard but his godmother as well, and he calls her “auntie”

There’s some conflict between them because he feels that she’s too overprotective and, being a teenager who wants to hang out with his friends, he doesn’t want some middle-aged woman lurking over his shoulder all the time

Over the story they start to resolve things and grow closer. Aoi supports him when he feels insecure about not living up to the “perfect” image of his family

Since the story would take place around 20 years in the future I think I was going to take some liberties with technology and stuff like that, especially during Chika’s week

Akademi’s uniform also changed over the years to something more fitting for a high school, the number of students attending grew much larger, and their sports club/martial arts club were replaced with something closer to actual high school sports teams

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Supernatural creature AU, where everyone except Taro and Hanako is some kind of monster/creature/etc. 

Taro is oblivious to everyone around him being monsters and thinks the school he attends just has a lot of weird students, but he’s an accepting and non-judgmental person so he just takes it in stride. Hanako, however, knows what’s going on and has to constantly keep Taro from walking straight into danger

Ayano is a demon who Taro unknowingly sold his soul to in exchange for a bag of chips, and now she wants her repayment. She and Hanako are almost constantly at odds with one another, but on occasion they team up to protect Taro from a “greater threat”

Instead of an occult club (because I think that would be kind of obsolete in this AU), there’s some kind of support/therapy group for undead creatures like zombies, ghosts, vampires, etc. Oka decided to start it because of the struggles she’s faced as a zombie

The sports club are all aquatic monsters of some kind. There’s at least one merman in there

The science club are aliens and/or have some kind of “artificial human” theme going on (robots, Frankenstein-esque creatures, etc.)

The gardening club are all fairies - the kind who do things like tending to flower gardens and cleaning around your house

Shiromi, on the other hand, is more of a “trickster” kind of fairy who steals shiny things/valuables, gets people lost in the woods for fun, and may or may not eat human flesh (Hanako makes the assumption that she does and tries to save Taro from her). She doesn’t get along too well with most of the gardening club

Akane is a banshee who ends up serving as the student council’s “alarm” for when someone is dying

Aoi is some kind of reptilian/dragon creature who can breathe fire, but probably can’t fly

I don’t think I ever got anything set in stone for the rest of the student council. I was thinking of making Kuroko or Megami a seraph but that doesn’t really fit in with the “monster” theme

One of the bullies is a shapeshifter of some sort

At least one of the delinquents is a werewolf

Iirc the existence of monsters/supernatural creatures wasn’t common knowledge even in this AU and Akademi was created as a “safe” school for them to get an education without the threat of being discovered by humans. How Taro and Hanako got in... nobody knows. Maybe someone thought the two of them were a little too average and had to be hiding something

Most of the other students at Akademi are aware that the two of them are humans, and some find them fascinating or like to mess with them. Others are wary around them and try to avoid them out of fear that they’ll react badly. The rest of the students are just horribly confused and trying to figure out what they are

---

Aoi x Shiromi biker/mechanic AU

Aoi is part of a biker gang, but her bike is an absolute rustbucket that’s constantly breaking down and there’s only one reliable repair shop in the small town she lives in. The mechanics keep suggesting that she gets a new bike but she has a sentimental attachment to her old one and doesn’t want to get rid of it. She’s gonna get fined for driving it eventually

Aoi doesn’t get along with her family in any AU it seems, and trying to stay away from the house as much as possible led to her getting involved with the biker gang (probably with the martial arts club members). Luckily, the gang she’s a part of is much more benevolent than the other major gang in town and mostly acts in defense of themselves or others. They’re politically active more than they are actually criminal, and the illegal things they do basically amount to protests and the like

The “rival gang” is the delinquents. They’re the ones who commit more crimes like theft, vandalism, drug trafficking, etc., and usually do what they do for money. They’re not afraid to use physical intimidation and violence to get what they want. Both gangs often wind up in trouble with the law for collateral damage during their fights

The delinquents hate Aoi more personally than the other members of her gang because of a) the amount of problems she’s caused for them and b) a rivalry with their leader, Osoro, which dates way back to high school. Aoi gave Osoro that scar on her face, and Osoro damaged Aoi’s eye badly enough that it had to be removed

Kaga and Shiromi’s parents died at some point when Shiromi was in high school. Kaga was already an adult at that point, plus a mechanical genius, and was old enough to take over the repair shop. He taught his little sister everything he knows so that she could help him after she graduated. They live in a small apartment right above the shop

Shiromi usually winds up being the one to repair Aoi’s bike (or at least helping) and the two of them start bonding over that

Most of the people around Shiromi’s age (19-ish in this AU) left town to attend college somewhere better, or get a job elsewhere, so she’s found herself lonely a lot since she graduated high school. Sure, there are the other employees at the repair shop who she gets along well with, but they’re all significantly older than her and she can’t really connect with them the same way she could with her friends from high school. She’s grateful for the opportunity to talk to someone close to her own age for once and potentially make a new friend (though Aoi doesn’t really want anything to do with that at first)

At some point Aoi comes in seriously injured after a fight, but denies that she’s hurt. Shiromi convinces her that she needs to go to the hospital and gets her there

Kaga already has some protective-older-brother tendencies (which Shiromi hates), but it practically doubles when she starts hanging out with Aoi and the rest of Budo’s gang. She knows Kaga just wants her safe and uninvolved in gang conflicts, but by this point she’s really attached to Aoi and wants to keep seeing her, so Kaga backs off under the condition that Shiromi stays on her guard and doesn’t go out at night

As Aoi and Shiromi start hanging out outside of the repair shop more often, the delinquents realize that Aoi has someone close to her that they can use to hurt her

They start making threats against Shiromi just to provoke Aoi, or otherwise messing with the two of them. After a fight in which Umeji suffered a major head injury that hospitalized him, and Osoro’s gang lost the drugs they were trying to sell, Osoro makes the decision to kidnap Shiromi to lure Aoi in and beat up/possibly kill her. They succeed in the kidnapping, but it falls apart when Shiromi tricks the guy who’s supposed to be guarding her and escapes on her own before Aoi even shows up

After this incident Kaga is full-on freaking out and forbids Shiromi from seeing Aoi, blaming her for Shiromi getting kidnapped. The two of them keep communicating through text and Shiromi sometimes sneaks out to see her

Before the story takes place Aoi wasn’t super close with the other members of the gang - they were acquaintances more than anything. Over the course of the story she gets closer to them and starts to learn more things about them (like the fact that Budo is/once was in the same situation as her - in love with a girl (cough-Oka-cough) whose family wouldn’t let her near him because of his lifestyle)

There’s a whole arc focusing on Aoi’s parents trying to get Aoi out of the gang, not because they’re genuinely worried for her safety but because they think their daughter being part of a gang reflects badly on them. They possibly try to get the other members of the gang arrested

After this arc, Aoi moves out into her own place near the repair shop, and Shiromi and Budo help her move in

Aoi and Shiromi end up happy together, Kaga and Shiromi resolve things between them, Aoi no longer has to deal with her parents, Budo ends up with Oka, the other gang members resolve their own character arcs, and the delinquents end up in jail

---

Magical girl AU which, tbh... I never really fleshed out. It was mostly an excuse to draw cute magical girl outfits. But I did have some stuff down for it!

The placeholder club leader/now the empty demon is the “Kyubey”-type thing that gives all of them their powers

I never really figured out whether I wanted to take a dark route or a more light-hearted one with this. I think my favourite idea would probably be something in between, though - not super grimdark and edgy, but not all sunshine and rainbows either

All of them got not only powers and weapons, but also enhanced physical abilities like running faster, jumping higher, increased strength, increased durability, and more stamina. But those abilities would only take effect while transformed. I was thinking one of them would get used to having enhanced abilities and keep trying to do things they can’t actually do in their normal daily life, which eventually gets them hurt

Kuroko has some sort of rifles and the ability to form hard-light shields to protect herself or others

Akane’s weapon is a bow for which she can produce as many arrows as she has energy for. She also got the power of flight/levitation

Aoi has a sword, like a really heavy broadsword type of thing that she can somehow lift with one hand, and the ability to breathe fire

I think I was planning on giving Shiromi a weapon at some point, but I don’t remember what it was... My other idea was her not having one single weapon, but being able to produce as many small projectiles like throwing knives, shuriken, etc. as she needs. She can also become completely invisible

I don’t think I really had anything fully decided for Megami tbh. I had a vague idea of what kind of outfit she would wear but I never drew any designs (at least, not that I remember)

They definitely have to do some travelling around Japan at some point

Ayano may or may not have been an “evil magical girl”, I don’t really remember

---

Another one I didn’t flesh out a whole lot: the fic where a bunch of Akademi students go on a camping field trip

Info attends school as a normal student in this AU and is part of the group that goes camping

It’s Ayano, Info, Osana, Megami, Kuroko, Akane, Aoi, Shiromi, Osoro, Kaga, Taro, Umeji, Budo, Itachi, and Tsuruzo

There’s a scene where they’re all gathered around a campfire telling horror stories. Kaga offers to hold Megami if she’s afraid. Megami is not afraid, is sick of his shit, and tells him to go sit somewhere else

At some point they need more wood for the fire, but nobody wants to go into the woods to get it, so Shiromi tells the boys that whoever brings back the most wood can have a date with Akane. It gets most of the boys off of their butts for sure, but Kuroko scolds her for it. Shiromi just says that, once they’ve got the firewood, it’s not like they actually have to go through with their end of the deal. Kuroko heads off into the woods to collect some herself

Kuroko ends up bringing back the most wood and waves Akane off, saying that she just did it so that she wouldn’t have to go to dinner with one of the boys, but Akane insists on giving her that date when they get home

Everything is going great with the camping trip until they wake up one morning to find Osana missing from the girls’ cabin. They spend hours searching before someone finally finds her dead in the lake

Everyone is certain that this wasn’t an accident and the mood immediately plummets. Almost everyone has their suspects and is at each others’ throats. The teachers who are supervising decide that they’ll all pack up and be ready to leave tomorrow morning

However, Itachi and the delinquents want to figure out who killed Osana and bring them to justice. One thing leads to another and all the students end up lost in the woods. At some point the delinquents suspect Info and attack her, which injures her and splits the group in two

After that I’m not really sure where things go, but everyone is trying to get back to the main camp and get home safely. Aoi is in the same group as Info and is hella suspicious of her as well so not everything is peaceful. There are some people in Umeji and Osoro’s group who are pissed at them for attacking Info and splitting the group. Taro is extremely upset by Osana’s death and Megami comforts him, which leads to Ayano plotting to kill Megami as well while they’re still here, and possibly hindering the group/trying to isolate Megami as a result.

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I had a pirate/mermaid AU for Aoromi but I never wrote anything down for it - I just had a few really, really old sketches I never posted

Iirc, the general plot was that Aoi’s crew was struggling after the betrayal of Ayano and the death of the former captain Megami + many other crew members, and couldn’t really do anything but run from other crews who tried to attack them, their only advantage being that their ship was still the fastest. Then they fish up a mermaid, Shiromi, who they plan on selling for money to hopefully try and get back on their feet, but end up getting emotionally attached to her

---

Superhero AU which I think I’ve mentioned before but

Anyone with superpowers is legally required to work under the government to defend the citizens whenever they’re called, but they don’t get any pay or significant benefit from it so they also have to work other jobs in their civilian lives. This causes huge amounts of stress

There are some who formed their own group to rebel against this system, which eventually evolved into trying to establish a new society in which they are above those without powers. Info is their leader. Her powers revolve around hacking, not just technology but people as well (though the latter is a lot more complicated and difficult)

Hanako is a sort of “sleeper agent” who doesn’t actually know that she has any powers, let alone that she’s one of the most powerful. Info finds out before she does and brainwashes her. Hanako constantly finds herself “blacking out” and then waking up in her room hours later with no memory of what happened. Meanwhile, a new member of Info’s organization shows up under the name “Nemesis”

Kaga doesn’t actually have any powers, but works for Info and her organization anyway. He’s a technological genius who built himself some kind of Iron Man-esque robotic suit to fight alongside them. He believes that if he works with the “winning side”, when they eventually take down the government, he’ll be spared/treated better than the others. Spoiler: he won’t. Info is planning on discarding him as soon as he outlives his usefulness to her

Also Kaga’s codename was “Dr. Bluescreen”. Clearly the most intimidating name ever.

Homu is a robot and one of Kaga’s inventions. She ends up developing sentience and emotions

Seiyo and Ajia are rivals in both their civilian and superhero lives. They work as waiters at the same restaurant

Being born with powers also comes with enhanced abilities like speed, power, endurance, etc. Ayano doesn’t have any actual powers, but has all the other enhancements (maybe even more so than the others) and is considered one of them anyway

Megami’s power is to calculate her opponent’s weaknesses and adjust her own powers accordingly. It sounds good, but it’s not so great when facing off against more than one person at a time

Aoi has fire-related powers and is in constant conflict with the fire department

Kuroko can produce toxins from her body, Akane can fly, and Shiromi can camouflage herself or other objects/people

Info and Shiromi go way back and Info is constantly trying to convince her to come over to her side. Info may or may not brainwash her at some point which sort of sets off Kaga because opposite sides or not, that’s still his little sister

At some point I was thinking of adding a “middle group” who don’t want to work under the government but don’t want to put themselves above people without powers, either. Maybe the delinquents

---

[spnfanficpond]

May 2020 Angel Fish Awards

(New Angel Fish design by @slytherkins!!)

Every month all of you fantastic writers work your asses off to post some truly incredible stories. Our Angel Fish Awards are the way for all of us, as a community of writers and readers, to lift each other up and give praise to those who have captured our attention and deserve a few kind words.

The monthly Angel Fish Awards are peer-nominated, meaning ANYONE IN THE POND CAN NOMINATE ANY POND MEMBER’S FIC. While the Pond was founded to support the Guppies, everyone in this community deserves to be showered with love and feedback, and we hope that by opening this up as a Pond wide system, we’ll be able to share the love as far as it can go.

NOTE: WE’VE BEEN HAVING OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS WITH ASKS GOING MISSING. Please use the Submit button when submitting your nominations and make sure you’re signed into Tumblr or your URL won’t show. (If the form asks for your name and email address, then you’re not signed in.) If you like, you can also send a message to Michelle @mrswhozeewhatsis or Mana @manawhaat to check and make sure we got your submission.

Be sure to read through this whole post as people who were nominated more than once only had one tag activated for tumblr tagging purposes!

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE ARE MAY’S ANGEL FISH AWARDS!

Nominated by @focusonspn

A Night on the Town (oneshot) by @supernatural-jackles

I completely love this fic!! Jensen is a total sweetheart, it’s really easy to read and all those words felt like only five minutes. This is everything a Jensen!girl could’ve asked for!!

Hunger (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer

HOLY. MOTHER. OF. HOTNESS. It was a fucking pleasure for my eyes to read every single word of this fic!! hot as hell, dark, Demon!Dean and in character as always.

Nominated by @mrswhozeewhatsis 

Handkerchief (oneshot) by @babypieandwhiskey

I don’t usually read RPF, but this is an AU, so I dove in. Mechanic!Jensen with a magical supply of handkerchiefs, ready and willing to clean up whatever mess I find myself in? SOLD. Sweet, appeals to my love of Jensen’s back-pocket bandannas, and it activates my competence kink! Excuse me while I go wibble in the corner.

Nominated by @supernatural-jackles

Still The One (oneshot) by @luci-in-trenchcoats

I have a lot of respect for the way Michelle writes such difficult topics. She approaches them with such grace and accuracy, that makes it all the more realistic. This series is no exception. I deeply enjoy this series and the way things are playing out between Dean and the reader. It’s an extremely heartbreaking story that most of us don’t really think about until it’s put into this kind of perspective. This one is still ongoing, and I’m extremely excited to see how she handles the rest of the story. I highly recommend checking this one out. Just heed the warnings beforehand.

Nominated by @peridottea91

Healthy Competition (Series) by @kittenofdoomage

This! Omg this series! I love it so much!! It’s slower moving but keeps you itching for the next chapter and is oh so relatable. What woman hasn’t had body image issues? And what plus sized woman hasn’t had to deal with rude jerks and bullying? This fic is actually super realistic and hits all those relatable issues. Can’t wait to read the rest!!

Dangerous Signs (Series) by @kittenofdoomage

Ok, let me start by saying that I am a sucker for a good “character transported to alt. universe/world” fic. That said, I got soooooooooo addicted to this fic! It was so well written and you could just feel the reader’s hesitation and torn emotions. Should she stay? Should go? Ugh! Fantastic!! Also, kudos for the Norse mythology!! *chef’s kiss*

Nominated by @thegirlwhorunswithwinchesters

Cotton Candy (oneshot) by @ellewritesfix05

“It was always nice knowing [...] you could always find ways to bring light into Dean’s life.”

And he damn well deserves it! This was so sweet. No one can resist that “I didn’t do it” smile of his ;)

The Oath (Series) by @thecleverdame 

This series is definitely dark, but it’s so so good. If you’re okay with reading about the heavy subjects covered in these chapters, you won’t regret giving this series a try. I can’t seem to stop diving into all of this author’s content. She’s just too good.

Choices (CYOE) by @talesmaniac89 

I’ve been excited about this impressive project since I first saw the announcement post. Though I’m ashamed to say I haven’t gotten into reading the full thing yet, I plan on making time for reading ALL the different endings. I’m excited to see the different ways in which the story plays out, depending on the brothers’ personalities. For now, I’m recommending this first chapter, the starting point, which was already a beauty of its own. If you haven’t started yet yourself, prepare to be amazed.

Not Safe (Oneshot) by @torn-and-frayed

I love this. Spicy but sweet… Is that a cringy enough way for me to try and put my thoughts into words? I also just really miss Bobby, man.

nominated by @impala-dreamer

Safe Here (series) by @because-imma-lady-assface

This is one of the greatest Dean series. Ashley writes Dean amazingly well, too well sometimes, and this series gives him exactly what he needs; a place to feel safe and find comfort. I love this one so much!

Losing You (series) by @idreamofhazel

This is a superbly done Sam series that has stuck with me for a long time. I literally can’t go into Bed, Bath & Beyond without thinking about the ending <3

nominated by @kittenofdoomage

Blind Luck (oneshot) by @crispychrissy

A great Sam x reader that hits the holy trifecta of smut, fluff, and angst.

 Blood And Water (series) by @crashdevlin

Pretty sure I’ve recc’d this before but it’s such a good series, so twisted and angsty, my dark little heart loves it. Heed the warnings!

Just Sam (oneshot) by @dontshootmespence

This might not be everyone’s cup of tea but for me, it’s perfection, because I am a kinky bitch and any other kinky bitches out there would definitely enjoy this XD

nominated by @deanwanddamons

Private Party With A Rockstar (oneshot) by @mummybear

@mummybear Has been working her butt off this month for her RolePlay May. She wrote this story for me and put me in it (my name is Sian). Rockstar!Jensen is one of my weakness’s, and she knows that, and clearly knows me very well too, as included everything I like 😉

She’s Not You by @winchest09

@winchest09 is one of my fave authors. This is a super cute, super fluffy fic which really cheered me up.

Dangerous Signs (Series) by @kittenofdoomage

I LOVED this series. it was so good and lots of fun with some very sexy going’s on. Rhi’s work is just fantastic 💕

Wedding Bells (oneshot) by @katehuntington

This one shot is super cute and fluffy! I love her writing so much and this is not exception 💕 

Not Much Left (oneshot) by @impala-dreamer

Demon!Dean is another of my weakness’s and fic really hit the spot 🥵🔥

Dear Dean (series) by @smol-and-grumpy

This series made me laugh, made me cry, made me horny and made me gasp. One of the best series I have read 💕

nominated by @emilyshurley

Jensen’s Self Care Routine (oneshot) - @luci-in-trenchcoats

It is just adorable. People taking care of themselves for their loved ones. You can’t get more fluffy.

The Proposal (series) - @katymacsupernatural (Ongoing)

If you love fake dating fics, you’ll definitely love this one. Really like the character of “the reader”.

Private Party with a Rockstar (oneshot) - @mummybear

This one is both hot and adorable at the same time

You shook me (oneshot) @myinconnelly1

It’s Myin writing Demon!Dean what more do you want? No seriously that’s the perfect combination

Dancing the Spiral (oneshot) by @myinconnelly1

One of the only times I genuinely felt like a fic was creepy in a good way. And the passing of the whole thing is great. Am I little biased because its Myin, yes but that doesn’t make the fic any less good. sure it’s on the longer side but definitely worth it.

The only exception (series) - @ne-gans and @negans-lucille-tblr

I have only read the first part so far but I had to mention it. It is a serial killer AU so read the trigger warnings just in case.

Make it Big (series)- @negans-lucille-tblr

Again I’m still catching up It’s one of those fics I thought I won’t like reading but was really glad that I started.

Cast no Shadow (series) @kittenofdoomage

It’s Rhi, I can fangirl a lot about her fics. Really enjoyed (?) (that might not be the right word) the whole fitting a new relationship in existing ones. Felt to real in a weird way. It might seem like I don’t like the fic because of how I’m wording this but that’s really not the case.

Nominated by @deanwinchesterswitch

Sunshine (oneshot) by @talesmaniac89

If you like angst, this is the fic for you. It is utterly captivating and heart wrenching. It’s a cut your heart out with a dull centuries-old wooden spoon style hurt. The use of the song lines in this fic is well thought out and poetic. Make sure to have a box of tissues handy. If you don’t at least tear up while reading this, then you don’t have a heart to cut out, and your soul is already in hell.

Choices (CYOE) by @talesmaniac89

A clever interactive series where you get to choose your favorite Winchester, and the ending of the story. This is so detailed and intriguing. I loved the story I ended up with the first time, and excitedly went back in to pick the other options. Each story was unique and well written. 

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (oneshot) by @waywardbaby

This one shot is an absolutely stunning piece of smut. The lack of dialogue makes it that much better. All you’re left with is the option to feel the detailed emotions—sexual tension to the max.

No Words (oneshot) by @because-imma-lady-assface​

Beautiful, detailed, and heartbreaking. Dean’s pain and need for comfort are palpable, and I cried while reading it. I can’t find the proper words to describe how this fic made me feel, but man did it ever make me feel.

Sky Full of Stars (oneshot) by @smol-and-grumpy​​

This is the sequel to Something Just Like This and is just as exciting as the first series. A roller coaster of suspense. The characters continue on their journey of love, dealing with the good and bad that comes with every relationship—the perfect combination of angst and fluff with a healthy dose of smut.

Something Just Like This (oneshot) by @smol-and-grumpy

A perfect combination of big badass Dean and soft, fluffy Dean, along with all the incredible smut your little heart could desire. I usually don’t like to read a series until it is complete, because I am impatient and don’t want to wait for the next chapter to post. However, this story was intriguing and sexy, and I couldn’t keep from reading each chapter as soon as it posted and then eagerly anticipating the next.

Nominated by anon

Request 42 (oneshot) by @thegirlwhorunswithwinchesters

This was super-duper cute!! I love frustrated soon to be parents especially when one of those parents is Dean! Great work, well worth the read!

Just A Daydream (onesho) by @maddiepants

This fic is refreshing with its canon-ness! I love Sam's little dream, and you get so wrapped up in it, you forget. Absolutely masterful and HOT AS HELL! Also, Tall People, WTF? 

Thank you all for the awesome work and great feedback!

These are not actual awards! This system is set up so everyone in the pond has a chance to share the love and promote a fic/author that has grabbed your attention. The more people that participate, and the more everyone remembers to submit their own fics after posting, the better this will be :D

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK, AND AS ALWAYS, HAPPY WRITING!

[laws-yellow-submarine]

A Special Kind of Magic

I know it’s literally the last day for One Piece of Summer stuff, and I’m one of the people hosting it, but I really wanted to write this and it fits and it’s within the deadline soooo here ya go lmfao I have a lot of writing I wanna get done this week, and I feel pretty good about this, so I’m hoping that confidence and drive continues! @doctorgerth​ feel free to add this to your masterlist if you’d like!

Characters: Zoro/OC (Hazel, and it’s really more hinted at lol)

Word count: 1440

Might actually consider adding this into Together With Fruit at some point if I feel it fits well enough, but otherwise it’s considered non-canon to the fic; timeline placement would be post Arlong Park, pre-Loguetown!

"Hazel! Look at this!"

Hazel blinked at the sheet being shoved in her face, taking a step back to see it clearer. Luffy continued waving it through the air, his enthusiasm getting in the way of any common sense he may have (and there was very little to begin with). "Well stop waving it around, you noodle, and let me see it!"

"Fireworks!" The boy said instead, pulling the advertisement away to beam at her with wide, excited eyes. "We have to go! CanweCanweCanweCanwe-!"

"Alright!" Hazel shouted, though there was laughter in her voice. "I'd double check with Nami first, though. The way the wind's been blowing has me nervous."

Luffy nodded, taking back off through the galley door to find their navigator. Hazel watched him go with a smile on her face before turning back to her notebook, sucking her cheek between her teeth as she stared at the page. Two hours and the sentence had yet to write itself.

She heaved a great sigh, sliding her hands down her face and pouting at the wall. Maybe a fireworks show was just what she needed. 

Nami gave them the all clear about two hours before sundown, and the pirates excitedly decided to make a picnic out of it. This meant they needed to pick up extra supplies. They split the job evenly: Nami and Usopp would procure a picnic blanket, sparklers, and find the perfect spot on the beach to watch the fireworks from. Sanji and Luffy would find food and plan the meal (much to the cook's dismay as he watched the navigator turn away with a wink). That left Hazel and Zoro with the most important task: booze. 

"Don't get more than we need, and stay close to the beach! I'm not missing the fireworks just because we had to come looking for you two!"

The pair merely rolled their eyes at the girl's scolding. "Just don't move the ship this time and we'll be fine," the swordsman whined, already squinting against the verbal lashing Nami gave him. 

"That has never happened! Just - don't get lost!" And she turned away, grabbing Usopp by his overalls, and stomped down the street. 

"What's her problem?" Zoro asked, scratching his ear as the two walked away. Hazel laughed and shook her head, grabbing him by the elbow in an effort to lead him to the nearest bar.

"She just worries," she said, enjoying the pink in his cheeks at that notion. "Come on, let's hurry so we don't miss anything!"

Unfortunately for them, it appeared everyone in town had also decided on a picnic. The first three bars they went to were already sold out of their extra stock, and were either unable or unwilling to part with more. They wove their way through the town, getting farther and farther from the Going Merry. By the time they found someone with booze to sell, the two were on the complete other side of town.

"There you kids go!" The barkeep said, loading three full crates of beer into Zoro's arms. "It's a good thing you brought this strong fella along, huh Missy?"

Annoyed, Hazel took all three crates from Zoro, turning her nose up as she walked out the door without another word. "Alright, you've made your point," the swordsman said as he joined her outside. "Hand 'em over."

"No. My pride's at stake."

"You can't even see over them…"

Sure enough, the top of the pile reached just over her head, and to the passerby she probably looked like a walking box with purple curls. "Whatever! I don't need to see, I know exactly where we are!"

"Then lead the way."

He followed her down the street, the crowd parting for three beer crates on legs; they curved around building after building, until finally Hazel came to a stop and said: "We're back! See? Easy!"

"Uhh Hazel? Where are we?" The violet-haired woman peeked her head around her cargo, blinking in surprise when instead of a sheep figurehead and the smiling faces of her brother and crew, she saw only trees. 

"Hey, who moved the dock?!"

"I told you to let me carry it. I should've led."

"You don't get to criticize me about getting lost!" She scolded, setting the boxes down to get a better look at her surroundings. It was beginning to get dark; the fireworks would be starting soon.

Nami was going to kill them.

"Ok, this is fine, we'll be fine…" Hazel muttered, spinning in all directions. Zoro stood back, waiting to step in if she started to spiral. Just as he thought she might lose it, the woman suddenly stopped, pointed in the direction she was facing, picked up the crates, and yelled: "This way!"

"Do you actually know which way you're going?" Zoro asked as he scrambled after her. 

"Nope!" She answered cheerily. "But if we go this way, we may see something that'll help us figure out where we are!"

Before long the ground tilted beneath them, indicating a hill; Hazel declared this was perfect, as higher ground would give them a bird's eye view. Zoro only grunted, ready to get back to the ship and take a nap.

When they reached the summit, Hazel set the crates down and stretched out her arms. Her eyes scanned the sea below, turning in a circle as she looked for any signs of their ship. She felt Zoro step up beside her, his tanned skin brushing lightly against hers as he stepped just a little too close. 

"Anything?" She shook her head.

"Nothing," Hazel groaned, biting her cheek as she pouted. Just then they heard a loud BOOM! and the night sky lit up in a shower of colorful sparks. They had a perfect view, high enough that the buildings couldn't block anything out. 

As another cannon went off, Zoro sat on the ground, pulling Hazel from her awe when she heard the clinking of glass bottles. "What are you doing?"

"Why waste good booze?" The swordsman answered, offering her a bottle. She shook her head politely, preferring to stay sober until they found their way back, and she sat beside him as he began to drink.

The cliff continued to light up under the colorful fireworks display, while the pair watched in comfortable silence. Hazel glanced at her companion, mesmerized by the way the lights danced across his face.

There's a sense of magic one finds only in the clearest parts of the forest, when you find yourself free of society's expectations. It's a magic that touches your soul, reveals the deepest parts of yourself; and if you're not ready to receive it, you won't even know it happened.

As the fireworks built into a finale, that magic poked a curious finger into the pirates' hearts. Their eyes met, breaths held, and as the sparks danced across the night sky, so too they danced between the people sitting in that clearing. But, alas, they weren't ready, and as soon as the magic peeked its head in, it pulled right back out again. The fireworks disappeared, leaving behind a smattering of stars and confusion through the smoky haze left behind. The swordsman and the record-keeper stood, dusted themselves off, and strode towards the cliff's edge to once again look for their crew.

"Hey, wait! I think I see the docks!"

As the crowds left the beach behind, the wooden edge of the docks came into view. Hazel couldn't see much from where she stood besides the end of a pier, but at least they had a direction!

"How in the hell did you finish that whole crate? We weren't even here that long!" Zoro shrugged, smirking as he picked up each crate; she didn't even have the heart to scold him. Instead, she looped her arm in his, guiding him in the direction of the pier, grinning despite his protests.

She heard Nami's scolding long before she actually saw her, giving the girl a quick apology before heading inside the galley. Hazel smiled apologetically at Zoro as she left him to the navigator's wrath, and was surprised to find him softly smiling back. Shaking her head, she continued inside, padding over to the table. 

Her notebook was still propped open, page just as empty as she'd left it; but this time when she picked up her pen, she found no resistance. Her hand moved across the page so quickly, you'd think she'd catch fire. 

Though she hadn't been ready for the clearing's gift, it seemed she'd been left something magical after all, even if she didn't yet realize it.

[ranma-rewatch]

Episode 19: Clash of the Delivery Girls! The Martial Arts Takeout Race

It has been a heck of a week for me, how about all of you? But now it’s time to sit down and watch some Ranma 1/2, and this time we’re digging into season two, known here in the US as “Anything-Goes Martial Arts”. I actually do think I remember this episode, at least a little bit, though whether I liked it or not has been lost to my decaying neurons. Time to form a new opinion then, see you next paragraph!

I’ll be honest, that turned out better than expected. But before I get into that kind of stuff, let me talk about what happens in the episode. Sadly, starting with Season 2, they’ve added a little recap thing to the beginning of every episode. It’s the same animation and voice acting every time, just meant to catch up the viewer on the premise of the show. I hated it when I was younger, and I hate it more now. I have a hard time articulating why, it just rubs me the wrong way.

From there, the actual episode begins with a flashback to when Ranma was a baby, and his father carried him on his back in a martial arts pilgrimage. That turned out to be a bad idea, because at one point Genma was starving in an inhospitable wilderness. He did run into someone with food, and that someone also had a daughter around Ranma’s age. This man only agreed to share food with Genma in exchange for taking Ranma, so he’d have an heir to his school of martial arts. With pretty much no hesitation, Genma agreed, but later stole Ranma back when the man wasn’t looking.

It cuts to the present from there, where Ranma and his father are fighting over some pickles. This is interrupted when the man from the opening, Mr. Daikoku, shows up in a fancy car with his now teenage daughter, who is in a ceremonial bride’s dress. He hasn’t forgotten about the promise Genma made, and is ready to take Ranma to marry his daughter Kaori.

But Soun Tendo isn’t about to just let that happen, since Ranma is supposed to marry Akane. During the conversation there is a lot of bickering between all of them, much of it from Akane and Ranma about them even really being engaged, but Kaori can tell that Akane actually likes Ranma more than she says, and so challenges her to a contest for Ranma’s hand. There’s a Martial Arts Takeout Race going on soon, and the winner of that gets one year’s worth of ramen.

Even more than making sure Ranma and Akane get married, the chance to get all that free food nudges Soun and Genma into accepting the deal. It quickly turns out that may have been a bad idea, since Kaori removes the robe to reveal she is a powerful martial artist, specifically a master of Martial Arts Delivery.

It’s a chaotic race from there, but the long and short of it is that Kaori pulls out a bunch of secret techniques to try and win, including one that numbs Akane’s leg and another that strangles her neck with noodles until she forfeits. At that point, Ranma is seriously considering jumping into the fray to help, even though he’d sworn not to use his curse to enter the race. A nudge from his dad forces Ranma into water though, and from there Ranma and Akane work together to help her win. The Daikoku’s accept the defeat, the family has a bunch of ramen, and all’s well that ends well...at least until another man shows up claiming that Ranma is supposed to marry his daughter. Wap wap.

So, there wasn’t a ton of plot to speak of, but on the whole I quite liked this episode. First of all, it had a wacky energy to it unlike anything in the first season. The Martial Arts Gymnastic competition was the only thing that came close, but this episode from beginning to end moved at a quick pace, with lots of jokes, smooth(er than usual) animation, and a whole new over-the-top martial arts school. Not everything about it worked for me, some of the jokes felt like duds, but then there’s the Ramen Round-Up Noodle Noose, Akane skateboarding, and the fact that Genma sold Ranma for a single meal.

I am kind of sad I literally just did a Character Spotlight on Genma last episode, I should have waited. This is perhaps the first time we’ve really gotten a chance to see just how awful a father Genma can be. I love everyone’s reactions to the news of the trade as well, and Genma doesn’t even really have a defense for it. The interplay between him, Soun, and Mr. Daikoku was also just enjoyable.

Kaori Daikoku herself is also something interesting. Anime-only or not, she’s the first rival for Akane who was also bequeathed to Ranma by his father in the past, though she won’t be the last. Once she was in the fight, Kaori actually worked pretty well, for a single-episode character. I actually like her character design, and as silly as all her food attacks are, she uses them with a kind of ferocious glee that gives her a unique aura, even if she’s still not a particularly deep character.

It’s me, so I also have to comment on how much I liked the Ranma/Akane stuff in this episode, whether it was Kaori noticing that Akane doth protest too much, that Akane was actually arguing for marrying Ranma at one point in the big kerfuffle, or the ending tête-à-tête between them (though the shipping fodder there was a dub only line). Something about the teamwork they used to win at the end was adorable too.

As for my negatives, the big one is that, well, in any scene with a big crowd (and there were a few), the random people looked really bad. Or rather, they didn’t match the art style for the rest of the characters in this show, they felt like they were from a different show entirely. Another small one is that there was no opening theme, and that sucks because I was looking forward to covering it, but I’ll have to wait for it to actually be used in an episode. Other than that, my only other minor issues were the aforementioned jokes that didn’t land for me.

If it wasn’t obvious before, I am vibing with this episode. Not completely, but i was very unsure going in if I’d like it at all. It captured a kind of energy that I hadn’t realized I was missing, and was generally interesting enough that I’ll put it at #6 on my rankings, just above the second part of the Dr. Tofu mini-arc, and right behind the second episode, where Kuno was introduced.

Episode 7: Enter Ryoga, the Eternal ‘Lost Boy’  

Episode 12: A Woman's Love is War! The Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge!

Episode 15: Enter Shampoo, the Gung-Ho Girl! I Put My Life in Your Hands

Episode 9: True Confessions! A Girl's Hair is Her Life!

Episode 2: School is No Place for Horsing Around

Episode 19: Clash of the Delivery Girls! The Martial Arts Takeout Race

Episode 6: Akane's Lost Love... These Things Happen, You Know

Episode 13: A Tear in a Girl-Delinquent's Eye? The End of the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge!

Episode 17: I Love You, Ranma! Please Don’t Say Goodbye

Episode 16: Shampoo's Revenge! The Shiatsu Technique That Steals Heart and Soul

Episode 8: School is a Battlefield! Ranma vs. Ryoga

Episode 11: Ranma Meets Love Head-On! Enter the Delinquent Juvenile Gymnast!

Episode 4: Ranma and...Ranma? If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Another

Episode 5: Love Me to the Bone! The Compound Fracture of Akane's Heart

Episode 1: Here’s Ranma

Episode 3: A Sudden Storm of Love

Episode 10: P-P-P-Chan! He's Good For Nothin'

Episode 14: Pelvic Fortune-Telling? Ranma is the No. One Bride in Japan

Episode 18: I Am a Man! Ranma's Going Back to China!?

Season 2 is here and there is so much more to see! We only had a break from her for two episodes, but next week is the start of a new arc that unveils the return of the amazon Shampoo, with “You Really Do Hate Cats!” What does that have to do with Shampoo? Well, you’ll just have to see next week, won’t you? Tschuss!

[doodles-arts]

Secrets

Donatello x reader

a lovey request;  What about 🤫 secrets relationship with Donatello. I can just see him sneaking off during patrol to visit you in your apartment when Leo follows him one night and finds out.?

How’d he meet you? The internet of course. 

At first he wanted a friend, interested and studied in the art of astrology. Thankfully, he found you. You were an undergraduate who passed her AP astrology class with flying colors. You of course proved yourself by having a few chats with the genius himself and he had practically fell in love. Science was overall Donnie’s passion and finding someone who loved it as much as yourself was liberating. Of course your love for science came more with the exception of earth science. Just as exciting though! 

He stayed up all night sending you texts as he went through his astrology textbook, you stayed up with him until the late hours of the night. You never minded until he’d comment about the time. He found that odd, but never questioned you. 

Though you liked to keep things professional, in a teacher- student kind of way, you were the first to propose calling. At first, he had declined, fearing his brothers would find out about his secret teacher. Who was human and very much, against the rules, or tease him for needing a teacher. Either way the third time you asked to call you explained it would make it easier for yourself to explain things to the 4 eyed turtle. He caved, pretending it was necessary for his learning. He did fear that soon you’d ask to video chat, but one night you had sent a video showing him an example instead of just video calling him and doing it yourself. You both never touched the subject, but were both certain you knew each others boundaries and never over stepped them. Donatello respected you and you respected him. 

Though after a year of learning the material with you and ‘graduated’ in your terms, Donnie had grown accustomed with your late night talks. So after a week of not speaking to you, Donnie still couldn’t come up with a single excuse. But, before he could work the nerve of texting you first, you did! Texting him a simple ‘hey!’. Jeez, why hadn’t he thought of that? 

Simple and straight to the point, just like you. Thankfully you texted him first and kept texting him after. He helped you with your calculus class and you assisted him with all his botany science questions, which was a new science he picked up and was trying to learn. Though, he told you it was just an ‘extra class he signed up for’, you didn’t even second guess him. The first time you video called him he declined S O quickly. He came up with some bullshit excuse and you shrugged it off when he apologized. 

Thankfully you didn’t find it odd, and was why he liked your relationship, he found you very endearing. He thought your voice was very cute and soothing. He always thought that you being a university teacher was a great choice, you had a very good teacher voice. You never let Donnie slack when you both worked, you were punctual, and you expected fast results and if you didn’t receive them you’d start again from scratch. He respected you, and looked up to you. It wasn’t until one day that he stayed up working, after he hung up on you that he and woke up extremely late the next morning for training and was sent to the hashi, that he ranted to you. Leo had sold him out, claiming he heard Don awake and didn’t even bother to wake him up. Letting Splinter deal with him, he didn’t even let his brothers wake him up either! The man set him up!

Either way, he ranted to you. And you listened and gave him real and good advice. Reminding him about the stone cold truth, that he shouldn’t have been up so late anyway, and sent the purple terrapin to bed for a nap. Your study-sesh could be moved to tomorrow, his health was more important. 

That might have been the afternoon he fell hard for you, you cared? Like, you cared because his health was important to you, not because he was related to you or because if he slipped up it could affect you too. You cared because he was your friend, and that’s exactly what sold him. After that you had called him in the middle of the night by video call and he almost had a heart attack. But declined it anyway, apologizing for not being able to pick up your video call. You apologized profusely soon after, saying it was an accident, you meant to press regular call. He shrugged it off, feeling worse that he could never show his face to you. Still, it was strange that’d you press the wrong button. Don never judged or questioned you, he had his own flaws to be questioning.

Though one night, fessed up with the responsibility of being a ninja, turtle, and a teenager all wrapped in one, exploded in his head. He was tired of who he was, tired of science and his recent failed experiment that tipped him over. Exhausted of saving a city of humans who would never understand or care for existence. Fed up with his older brothers who were better than him in every aspect that mattered. Spent with himself, his faults and fighting his inner demons. He texted you in the middle of the night, asking if you were awake. Thankfully it was a Thursday and you didn’t have school on Friday’s, so you were binge watching Kevin Hart stand up comedies on Netflix. 

“Yes, are you alright?”

D-”yes’

D-”not really, if I'm being honest. I'm having a bad day.”

“Would you like to talk about it? I think an extra ear might help”

D-....

D-”could I call you?”

You opted to call him instead of texting him an answer, however, seeing as you pressed the wrong button, again,the night got a lot more interesting. He didn’t want to break, but the fact he couldn’t even pick up your video chat just because he was a mutant turtle had pushed him over the edge. He sobbed quietly as he typed on his phone, his skinny 6 fingers trembled on his screen. Why couldn’t he be normal? Like you?

D-”i’m not allowed to video chat. I’m not normal like you. You can’t see me”

“Normal? HA! Donnie I’m blind! I’m far from normal hun, but if your more comfortable talking on an audio call that’s fine by me, It’s the reason I keep touching the wrong buttons.”

Blind? You were blind! He could actually talk to another human on video chat, without the fear of being judged. Would he take it? What if you were lying? He’d just have to point the camera to the ceiling and see it were true. No turning back now.

Ring…. Ring.. Ring…. Ring.. 

“Donnie? Hun, are you there? Are you okay?” As he sat on his bed and saw your beautiful face. You were sitting on a chair and your phone was propped up by something and showed you from your torso up. You were wearing a white pajama tank, your hair was tied up/let down, framing your face perfectly. Your baby hairs fell above your eyes, and Donnie could see you were indeed blind. Your eyes were completely white. He couldn’t hold back the sobbed that escaped him once it was clear you were blind. He knew it was extremely selfish, but he could finally feel normal, attractive for once. You calmed him down and reassured him that he didn’t have anything to hide because you could never judge him. You sweet reassurances sent him straight to a good night’s rest. You couldn’t tell until you were certain he was no longer sobbing and ask if he was alright and once he didn’t respond, you shut the phone off and went to sleep. 

Ever since that night he video called you every other day. It was just so relieving to be able to stay on the phone with someone and quite literally look at the camera like any other normal teenager. 

Donatello’s attitude changed overtime. Participating in more family activities with his brothers with the boost of confidence. More nights than others he was excited to go to bed because it meant that he could talk to you. Though Don still struggled with social interactions with April and Casey, he always felt better prepared after talking to you about it. He felt closer to you after a month. He practically knew you after the next 4. And after another 3 months he felt confident enough to share his state with you, and what do you know? You live in New York too!

After a year of knowing you intimately his brothers suspected something but never dug on it. After a year Donnie started to imagine moments he knew could never happen with you. Leo began to grow suspicious of Donnie, knowing he was hiding something. His other brothers brushed him off, “he’s a really private guy Leo. He doesn’t like to talk about new inventions until he’s finished with them.”

What Donatello didn’t know was that after a year of getting to know him and deeming him the sweetest soul you have ever met, you started to slowly fall for him. He was such a blast! He even made blind jokes with you, that’s how you knew he liked and accepted you. And you returned the favor. He was always so sweet and so curious. You fell in love with his little snort and quirky squeak whenever he got excited or the way he stuttered whenever he felt shy. Gosh, you wanted to meet him so bad, but you were afraid that once he met you, he’d think you were as helpless like everyone else did. There were times where you met people and than when everything was going fine they would mother hen you and you hated being controlled. You liked trying new things, but you couldn’t really do that if your partner refused to do everything out of fear. Fearing something new should be your own concern, not anyone else’s. 

You weren’t the only one who wanted to see the other. See, donnie was afraid that once you felt his shell, his scaly skin or three fingered hands, you’d be afraid and want nothing to do with him. He avoided the possibility as much as possible, afraid of the truth. It didn’t matter if you did accept him for what he was, you could never love him. Because he wasn’t normal. Didn’t matter how patient you were or open minded, no woman could love a monster like him. That was just the truth. He kept his selfish wants out of this friendship. 

But your birthday was coming up, he of course was going to get you something and mail it, or make you something in all honesty. That’s not what you asked for your birthday, though. “I want to meet you hun, in person.” God, why did you have to say it like that? Of course he promised he would meet you, you suggested a cafe close by that you could walk to. He laughed pitifully, smoothly suggesting a picnic under the skies on your apartment rooftop. You seemed skeptical at first, and Donnie stuttered up a storm trying to save his own neck and you laughed, agreeing to his idea. “I’ll have to bring lavender, since I never really been up there before.” Ah, yes, lavender, your grey pit bull and guide dog. Donnie didn’t want to miss this for the world,even though he knew it was a bad idea.

It was pre-planned. Everything set, written in stone. He made you a beautiful music box with the song ‘Sleepwalk’ by Santo and Johanny, with smooth brail on the bottom that read “The memory of you lingers like a song,'' a line from your favorite song. He couldn’t wait to go out to see you. The weather said zero winds or rain. So you knew you’d be okay. And with lavender, you knew you wouldn’t walk off an edge. 

As the boys prepared to go to bed early and leave for patrol later than usual because, well, it was spring, Don was preparing everything he had to take for the picnic. God, he really must be stuck on you to be doing this. As he snuck out, tool bag and box hiding everything a voice stopped him, “Donnie? Where are you going?” 

Leo. 

He was prepared for this, practiced his lines in case this would happen, “another bird made a nest on the satellite, I’m going to fix it up. Perhaps upgrade it a bit for more channels.” Leo thought about it and nodded at his explanation. Yeah, it made sense and sounded credible, so he let Don off the hook and out the lair. As he arrived close to your rooftop, he spotted your white dress, and his jaw almost dropped. You were beautiful. And lavender was just as big as he’d imagined. He was nervous now. One touch and the truth was out. You’d know what he truly was. 

He took a deep breath and ran into the storm of doubt, fear and regret head on. There was no backing up know. It was too important and he had come too far. “Hey (Y/N), i-it’s me!”

You turned to look at him, staring at his direction but not his face. You stared right at his chest, “Donnie! I’m so happy you made it.” You were trying to hold lavender back as she wiggled in excitement to meet Don. You took off her service dog vest so she knew she was off duty and could greet Donnie. “She’s a big ol’ sap! She loves meeting people, she must recognize your voice”, he knelt down to hug the ball of sweetness. “She really is, she very well trained.”

“Oh yes, she knows only to greet the people who greet her first! Now come over here and give me a hug Don!” You said with a grin arms open wide waiting for him to step forward because you really couldn’t. He swallowed hard, unsure of what to do next, “I should warn you right now. Tell you the truth now that we’ve known each other for more than two years. I-..I-If I told you that someone you care about was using the identity of another? O-Or that your close friend wasn’t who o-or what you believed him to be.. Would you resent him?” You smiled kindly at him, you could never resent Donnie, never could you ever think of a life without him!

“Donnie, I don’t care if your skin was green and you grew antenna and people called you an alien. I can’t see, I don’t even remember what humans really look like. As long as your serial killer, I think I’d still love you Donatello.”

“Really?”

“Positive, now show me exactly what about yourself that makes you so different!” You said while holding your hands out again with your palm towards him. He took a deep breath, his anxiety seeping into his core of calm. He pushed his hand against your own, his palm facing yours like that scene from Tarzan. You quirked an eyebrow amusingly, not really phased by him only him have three fingers. He grew eager, truly believing that you could accept him. He put his things down gently and grabbed your other hand and laid it against one of his arms. His scales were against your soft human skin and it felt like sin. Your eyebrows, furrowed up in confusion, why was his skin so rough? He then grabbed both of your hands and placed them against his plastron, and your mouth opened agape. And your hands began roaming on their own. He slowly knelt down as you tried to reach his shoulders. You began roaming his shoulder and your fingers brushed against his shell. Fingers grasping the edge of it and your jaw slacked, “Donnie, I don’t understand? What-”

“Those four mutants you hear about on the news? Those are me and my brothers. I-I know i’m not what you expected or wanted for as a friend, but I hoped, I-I wanted for you to accept- Oof” you cut him off by jumping into his arms and hugging his neck with your tiny arms compared to his own. “I-I don’t care! Your my best friend! I love you, I don’t care! I’m so sorry, you must have been killing yourself over this and I didn’t even try!” He was shocked but hugged you back, rubbing soothing circles on your back to reassure you. “Not at all, you just made my night.”

You pulled back and shakily took his face into your hands, holding each cheek against your palms. Feeling for his snout, lips and forehead with your thumbs. He could feel his temperature rise as you leaned forward. Kissing his forehead, “I-”, next his snout, “like-”, than, “-you”, his lips. He couldn't have dreamed of it being any better. It was exactly as he had prayed for it to be to whoever would listen. You attacked his lips after a second of getting him used to the feeling of a kiss. Hungrily attacking him, and he let you, because he enjoyed it immensely. Lavender whimpered in the back and covered her big dog eyes with her paws, and you lifted up for air. “I guess I forgot i‘m the only one can’t see,” you both laughed and lavender walked over to you as Donnie passed you your gift and set the picnic up. It was absolutely beautiful, with wonderful engravings and beautiful music. 

“Oh hun, it’s beautiful, it’s the best gift I've ever gotten!” He sat down next to you, showing you the brail part and you squealed, “is it worthy enough for a second kiss?” You laughed and leaned against him, “those kisses are already yours, you’ve just gotta take ‘em Don~”

From that week forward Donnie tried as much as possible to meet with you, and take his kisses. It felt good saying that. He was getting good at that, kissing you, he was a natural. You could kiss him all day, if only the night would let him. Donnie had become frantic for your kisses as well, he left almost  bi weekly to see you, coming up with all excuses imaginable to tell Leo and his brothers. He was turning sloppy though and snuck out to see you weekly, and Leo was catching on but Donatello couldn’t help it not after the way you both spent your last date night. 

You had ordered food and laid in bed, he fed you and you cuddled him. Once he bent down to kiss you, you were ready to kiss back. You had missed him, you kissed him very good, slow and sensual. Laid up against him, you both kissed all night and he was loopy by the time he got home. You did things to him, that he could never tell you. But you didn’t mind and neither did he, you had ways of making him talk and he liked those ways better. He loved the way you’d lay next to him and you’d whisper the sweetest things while pecking his face and neck with kisses on your couch. 

This week was no exception, he had to go see you. He was craving your lips and when Leo blocked his exit out, he came up with the same excuse as last week without noticing; rookie mistake and Leo had his answer. He is going to get to the bottom of what Donnie was hiding, because his brother could get hurt, it was getting out of hand. 

He had brought a blanket and you brought up Lavender’s doggy bed to the rooftop as you and Donnie laid on the blanket and lavender on her bed. You trailed patterns on Donnie’s plastron as he rubbed circles on your hip, you were both wrapped around each other, contently talking science nonsense and theories when he leaned down for a kiss. And wow, what a kiss, if Donnie kept learning like that, you were gonna jump him! You felt a rumble and vibration in his chest against your hand as your licked his bottom lip. “Ohh what was that hun?” He chuckled nervously, “it’s called a churr, we make it when were very happy or excited,” his soft little voice only encouraged you more to tease him, “then please, don’t hold back, I like it~” you whispered as you took his lips and hungrily feasted on the taste of him. You both pulled back to breath, and when he leaned down to steal a peck, he tensed up. 

Afraid you had pushed him a little too far you pulled away from him completely, “what’s wrong?” You asked looking as what you hoped was his face. (It wasn’t) 

“Donnie, what the hell are you doing?” There was someone else on the roof with you? Lavender, unconsciously left her seat on her bed to sit next to you as Donnie got up from his spot on the blanket. You tried to do the same, looking to wherever he went worriedly. Who was here? Looking for lavender, desperate for a set of eyes, an explanation of who was here and what was going to happen!

“Leo, what are you doing here?” Leo? As in his brother? Looking towards the ground, ashamed of yourself, you couldn’t even greet his brother by yourself. Lavender finally appeared against your hands and pointed towards where Leo and Donnie were. You patted her twice on the side to let her know you received the information. You felt helpless, knowing Donnie would be ridiculed for being with someone as pathetic as yourself. You couldn’t even walk up to greet him because you were scared to walk over to Leo without assistance, scared for once because of your disability. 

“I followed you, hoping I’d find anything but… but this! Donnie your putting our family in danger, your putting her in danger! She could tell anyone!” Donnie tried to defend you, as you curl up into lavender and she whimpered sympathetically and tried to hold you back. “Donnie, how can you be sure? She knows what we look like, she has enough proof for anything, one threat or one change of heart and she’ll-“ 

“stop it.”

You had enough, no longer would you be accused of something so low! Sure you were blind and needed help with basic everyday things, you were used to being overlooked because you were blind, but you had empathy and learned to never be unkind to others. Not having a sense as a kid had been very hard, life was unkind to you, but it didn’t mean you should pass it on. “I’m blind. I’d never betray Donnie like that, he means too much to me. And even if someone forced me to talk or bribed me, NO ONE would find what I say credible. Because I’ve been blind since I was born and people believe that blind people make things up, because we can’t see.” You were furious and tired of being treated as less of a person because of your disability. 

The awkward silence made you chuckle at yourself, hanging your face low again, “I’m looking the wrong way again aren’t I?” Donnie chuckled before walking back over to you, directing your face to where Leo was standing. And you continued, “I’ve never met anyone like Donatello, everyone treats me like a piece of glass. They harbor me and try to control me. Not Donnie, he helps me, he lets me explore my limits without making me feel bad if I can’t surpass them.” You turned over to where you felt he was standing, “hopefully I’m looking at you when I say, Donnie I’m in love with you, and I pray every night you’ll never change, that you’ll never leave.”

Leo couldn’t help the little smile that appeared once you . His little brother had found love. Real and genuine love, and he couldn’t have been happier for him. Maybe he was too harsh on you, but he was thankful for it. Because after that, he was certain that Donnie was in good hands and he could see you did love him. You were blind and you still sensed his presence as if it were your own. “Than I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have expected any less from my brother. He’s too smart to have made such a rash decision, you must be a very special girl.”

You grinned widely, smiling over to where you believed he was-(he wasn’t),”I am because I have him.” He sighed happily for the love you both shared. And took his leave, “I’ll see you at the lair Donnie, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do.” 

Donnie could care less about some lair and explaining to his brothers. You loved him! You loved him, and he couldn’t be happier and he was going to show you. Pulling you closer and looking down at lavender to send her back to her bed with a smile, he turned to you and you giggled. “Why do I get the feeling your going to try something new?” You asked. Oh, he most definitely was! 

“I am…”, one hand on the small of your back and the other holding the back of your head. Turning you around in a half circle to dip you. You giggled and arched your back as Donnie peppered kisses down your cheek and neck. Kissing his way back up and giving your nose the last peck. “I love you too, dove. I’m so glad I met you.” You nuzzled your nose against his snout humming contently. “Less talking, more kissing”, he gave you exactly what you wanted. 

He never wanted to go home, having to explain too… “SPLINter”

Uh oh!

[ravens-shadows]

I guess I’m updating my rant on Tom Riddle to an actual essay so be patient with me

I don’t even remember what I wrote last time lol but I wanted to do my full analysis now that I’m not in rage if that makes sense.

Let’s go by parts.

First, his parents.

So we are given Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle Sr., and they tell us this woman just straight up drugged her crush and then expected him to stick around and love her? Like, she literally raped him. I can’t fucking blame him for just going back home and abandoning her, because that would be so traumatising. And what angers me the most about this, is that Rowling makes it seem like he was the bad guy because he ‘abandoned’ them. But all my issues with Rowling will have to wait for another day.

When Tom is born, he is raised in the orphanage, and it’s stated early on that he ‘does not have emotions’, and is ‘naturally evil’. But the thing is, was he really incapable of love just because he was conceived under the influence of amortentia? If he really had no love inside of him, by basic logic he wouldn’t have any other emotions, because is utterly ridiculous even by the standards of a magical world. In other words: he was capable of loving as much as any other child, the thing is, he wasn’t given the opportunity to learn how to love, which is precisely the whole basis of his character!

Growing up, he was looked down as the weird, abnormal kid, bullied both by the other kids in the orphanage and the adults too. And what the fuck are you supposed to do in the situation? There was no one to really explain how wrong the actions of those around him were, and kids absorb everything like sponges. In his eyes, their behaviour was normal, and therefore the way to avoid getting hurt was hurting them even worse. And let’s entertain for a moment the idea that love is the only emotion he didn’t have, which yet again, is portrayed ridiculously! Love had nothing to do with the situation he lived in. He could still felt fear and anger, and even guilt, but we were never showed that because, oh no, he’s the villain and he’s absolutely evil.

Dumbledore walks in. This. Fucking. Bitch.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who could have ended the war before Harry even started Hogwarts but didn’t because a stupid prophecy said so.

Dumbledore takes a look at this kid, after hearing a very biased opinion on him, and in that second he decides that this child is too far gone and can’t help him. And, of course, Tom is not stupid and he can see that Dumbledore doesn’t like him and he obviously will avoid him from now on and in consequence won’t trust any other adult.

And here is the worst part: even in a world where his magic isn’t rare, no one cares. The adults give a fuck about him, they never offer help. They know about the abuse he’s suffered for years and are doing nothing about it, so he starts making himself stronger. If only he was stronger, no one would hurt him again.

Then we get to the worst fuck up Rowling did with this wonderful character, because why, why in friggin hell, would he be afraid of death?

It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t add up to everything that’s been building up in the background. He is sixteen at this point, asking about horrocruxes so obviously he is already looking for ways of staying alive, but it doesn’t make any sense! Sure, if he was an adult it would make more sense, but in this point in time there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for this ridiculous thing to pop up.

It doesn’t make sense that he wants to kill his father because he abandoned him, he would be angry and bitter but Tom is smart and being sane at this point would know that there is absolutely no point in doing it. It doesn’t make sense that he is afraid of an abstract construct that he probably doesn’t understand completely like any other teenager. It doesn’t make sense that he has plans of becoming a dark Lord at all, because in this point in time, he is in the middle of the war with Grindelwald, a war that started before he was even born, and wouldn’t finish until he was nineteen years old in 1945. Nothing makes sense (but hey, what can I expect from J.K. Rowling).

Anyway, let’s get going. Let’s imagine this makes sense despite being absolute shit, and he makes his horrocruxes.

Is should be widely known that he was fucking insane at this point. An horrocrux splits the soul in two, so he would have just have half of his soul before making the second one and so on.

From here on, his actions make more sense because he is not human anymore by any means, and he is completely bonkers, let’s face it. Mass homicide was expected to happen.

Now let me tell you why he is one of the best characters despite the author butchering him. Important to note that most people look to Harry as a survivor of abuse and I’m a 100% on board with it, but let’s not pretend their situations are in the same level.

Proof 1: Tom is an abuse survivor too, and in many ways I think it was possible he would have been killed if it wasn’t for his magic, a magic he knew he had and used. In other circumstances, he would have ended up in a similar situation to Credence. His actions are seen to be evil, but the main point of his whole character and this is stated, is that he acts in anger, pain and fear. He is afraid. And in the correct way of telling his story, his fear is justified. He is afraid because despite being ‘special’, people still cast him out. His fear is not the fear of death that was sold to us, is the fear that no one will ever feel the slightest empathy for him, that no one will ever understand how it feels like. His pain comes from being treated like a monster, by not receiving any kindness in his whole life, because even after Hogwarts he had no friends, just followers fascinated by his natural power and talent.

Proof 2: Tom’s ‘inability to love’ is simply the fact that he does not know what is love. How could he? He’s never been shown what it is. And later on, mental disorders can be developed, specially in cases like this, when the child eventually starts rejecting any kind of affection (a condition that doesn’t have a cure). The way this whole thing comes down would have made an even better character, and he wouldn’t even be the villain. I wholeheartedly believe that if he had been written correctly, there would have been a real villain, Dumbledore (not to say he is evil, but you don’t have to be evil to be a villain), and Tom would have been more of an antagonist. This may have given the opportunity to have a special interaction between him and Harry when he realises this teenager isn’t that much different than him. And Harry could have found too someone who understands how it feels to be a freak. This two have the potential of a great relationship that doesn’t necessarily have to be on good terms, but they would have naturally developed mutual respect by still being able to dislike each other and it would have been more logical, more natural.

Proof 3: Tom is, in reality, a good person. He is a little bit of a sociopath, as a matter of fact, but he is often described as quite a genius (?) child. He is smart, brilliant, and clever. If we ignore the nonsense of dark lords and horrocruxes, Tom would have fought to change the magical world for all those who are outcasts like him. While the ministry has laws against magical creatures, Voldemort is constantly making alliances with them, not only because is convenient, but because he genuinely does not care what they are. His hatred for muggles is exaggerated but understandable, but if he truly believed in wizards supremacy, he would not trust nor ally himself with werewolves, giants, etc. Tom is so brilliant that, even when Dumbledore suspected him when young, he got away with the things he wanted because he was so careful as to not leave any evidence of his plans, until it was too late. Once having this redirected, he could have perfectly fit in politics or similar places. He is charming and can easily make people do his bidding. He would have used this to get justice. Maybe not in the most peaceful way, but his intentions wouldn’t have been bad.

Of course, much of what I’ve said can be biased but I’m not here to be totally fair, I’m here to proclaim my love and devotion for what Tom Riddle could have been.

There is so much to this single character that deserves his own series of books because there is a lot of wasted potential. Harry and Tom are such parallels and yet, their whole dinamic was simple and vague, with good points but had as much significance as it would have been with any other protagonist with a totally different backstory.

Tom Riddle is this traumatised yet strong character, even if he isn’t good, but... cartoonish villains I guess.

Thanks to coming to my ted talk... if you managed to go through the whole thing.

English is not my first language, sorry for all my fuck ups

[Shameless side note: I do have a fanfic where Tom is the chosen one, and it’s not very good because I suck at everything but if you wanna check it out is here]