#logan roy ptsd

[hunzzzzz]

Tell me sweet little lies: part 6

Summary: During a tense weekend in the Hamptons, Diane's pursuit of a story involving Kendall Roy takes a turn. Diane's journalistic detachment wavers, replaced by growing empathy. The escalating emotions of the weekend threaten to overwhelm her.

TW: smut on the beach, face sitting, vaginal fingering, oral (fem receiving), multiple orgasms, overstimulation

A/N: oooohh Kendall is so baby girl, I just want to give him a big hug

🦋🐟🐬🐠����🐳🩵👕🖌️🛋️🫂🎽���💦🌊💧🧊🪼🫐

Kendall watched Diane shift restlessly beside him, the moonlight from the window painting her face in stark contrasts of light and shadow. "Can't sleep?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.

"Nope," she yawned, her eyes wide and dark. "You?"

He turned onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. "Same here. Just… a lot on my mind."

Diane turned to face him, her brow furrowed slightly. "What is it?"

He sighed, a sound heavy with the weight of years. "Oh, you know. Just ever shitty thing that's happened since I can remember."

Diane's lips curved into a small, sympathetic smile. "Yeah, like what?"

"Like the time when I was 7, I got a dog for my birthday. A little golden retriever puppy I named Scout. I was obsessed with him. He was my best friend, the only thing in my life that felt genuinely mine, unconditionally loving. One afternoon, I was walking him in the park, and I let him off the leash for just a second. He ran off, chasing a squirrel. I searched for hours, called his name until my voice was hoarse. I never found him. My parents didn't care. They just said, 'It's just a dog,' and got me a new one a few weeks later— but it wasn’t the same. Nothing could ever replace Scout; he was precious."

"Or sparring with my dad… he used to make me box with him, at the ripe age of, what, 10? 11? He’d put on these old, worn-out gloves, and tell me to ‘toughen up.’ He wouldn’t hold back. Not really. He’d hit me hard enough to bruise, sometimes. One time, he knocked me down, and I remember just lying there on the floor, staring up at him. He just stood over me, saying ‘You're not hurt. Get up.’ It wasn’t about teaching me to defend myself. It was about… proving something. To himself, I guess. That he was strong. That I was weak. That I was his to break." He ran a hand through his hair, a flicker of pain crossing his features. 

Diane's eyes widened, a genuine sympathy in their depths. "Oh Kendall, that's… awful."

A bitter chuckle escaped Kendall's lips. "Oh, and how could I ever forget the custody battle… they lined us up, me, Shiv, and Rome, and picked us, one by one, like we were being auctioned off. I was the last one left. The 'leftover.' My mom was so mortified—more by the optics, I think, than by my actual feelings—that she renegotiated the whole thing just to avoid taking me." He shook his head, the memory still sharp after all these years.

“I’m sorry, Kendall.” Diane whispered.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg," he said, his voice flat, almost devoid of emotion. "When I was thirteen, my first girlfriend admitted she only dated me to climb the social ladder. Dumped me the second she realized I wasn't going to get her into the 'in' crowd. It wasn't even personal, really. I was just a means to an end." He shrugged, but the gesture didn't quite mask the lingering hurt. 

"And then, a few years later, my grandfather, who was like a father to me—the only father I ever truly knew—got sick. I spent months visiting him in the hospital, watching him fade away. The day he died, I was supposed to give a presentation in class. I went anyway, thinking I could compartmentalize. I got halfway through, broke down in front of everyone, and ran out of the room. I never finished the presentation. I never even went back to that class."

"But you learned from it, right?" Diane said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. Her fingers were cool against his skin. “You wouldn’t be who you are today if you didn’t get such tough skin from all of that, right?”

Kendall gave a wry, humorless smile. "I learned that some people are users. I learned that even hard work can lead to disaster. I learned that grief can hit you at the most inconvenient times. I learned that my own father saw me as something to conquer, not to nurture. And that sometimes, even your own mother can’t bear to look at you. I don't think a kid needs to learn all that. I should have been worried about algebra, not social manipulation and the casual cruelty of the people who were supposed to protect me." He looked at Diane, his eyes searching, pleading for understanding. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

"No," she said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I like listening to you." She pulled her hand back, tucking it under the covers. In the dim light, Kendall couldn't see the way her fingers were twisting the fabric of the sheet.

"What about you?" he asked gently. "What's keeping you up?"

Diane hesitated, her heart pounding against her ribs. The image of the box, the tape, the crimson stain on the rough cloth, the file , flashed through her mind. I killed him. It was an accident. The words echoed in her head, a chilling mantra. She swallowed hard, forcing them back down. She glanced at Kendall, at the genuine concern in his eyes, and a wave of guilt washed over her.

"Just… a light sleeper." she mumbled, avoiding his gaze. She pulled the covers up to her chin, as if trying to shield herself from his questions. It wasn't a lie, not entirely, but the truth was buried beneath layers of fear and desperation.

"Oh, shit my bad. I’m sorry for waking you, I uh, I sometimes get night terrors.” He muttered an apology, feeling guilty. 

“It’s okay,” she whispered, “I was just worried about you.”

“Don't let me keep you up. You need your precious beauty sleep.” He gently brushed her hair away from her forehead, his touch lingering.

When Kendall looked at Diane, a feeling bloomed in his chest, unfamiliar and potent. Was it love? A terrifying, exhilarating possibility. He’d never known it, not from Logan Roy, a man whose billions couldn’t buy him an ounce of paternal warmth. Logan’s affection was transactional, reserved for business deals and power plays, never for his children. 

And his mother, Caroline… Caroline was a ghost in his life, a beautiful, brittle creature more concerned with her social standing than her offspring. She’d never breastfed her children, couldn't be bothered with the messy, intimate act of nurturing. From the moment they were born, they were handed off to a rotating cast of nannies and maids, their cries and needs a mere inconvenience to her perfectly manicured existence.

He’d spent his life chasing his parents’ approval, believing achievement would unlock their love. He’d excelled in school, captained the lacrosse team, pursued every venture his father suggested, hoping to finally earn a flicker of recognition, a word of praise. But their indifference had become a constant hum in the background of his life, a confirmation of his inherent unworthiness. Their eyes, when they did fall on him, held a chilling emptiness, as if they were looking through him, not at him. After the divorce, Caroline had all but vanished, choosing to settle for sprawling estates and lucrative investments rather than fight for custody. Land and property held more value to her than her own children. It was a stark, brutal message: they were disposable.

Even his marriage to Rava, a logical, expected step, had lacked a spark. It was a union born of societal pressure and a desperate attempt to create a semblance of normalcy, not love. Fatherhood, too, had failed to fill the void, overshadowed by Logan’s dismissive attitude towards his grandchildren, treating them as pawns in his ongoing power games.

Then there was Diane. At first, a welcome distraction, a brief respite from the crushing weight of his family’s legacy. Now… something more. She didn’t demand perfection or offer conditional acceptance like his family. Their shared experiences of childhood pain, though different in their specifics, resonated deeply. They understood the unspoken language of neglect, the constant ache of feeling unseen. Unlike Rava, who tried to mold him into a version of himself she found acceptable, Diane simply listened . She saw him, the real him, with all his flaws and insecurities. With Rava, he’d always worn a mask, playing the role of the successful husband and father, a performance he could never quite perfect, especially with his father’s critical gaze always in his mind.

Diane had found him in the depths of despair. The night they met, he was a wreck, a monument to self-destruction, lost in a haze of expensive whiskey, crushed pills, and a self-loathing that gnawed at him from the inside out. He’d been on the verge of oblivion, teetering on the precipice of something dark and irreversible. But instead of recoiling like everyone else—the concerned glances that quickly turned to averted eyes, the hushed whispers of “poor Kendall,” the thinly veiled disgust—she’d offered a brief respite from his agony. 

And it wasn't just that one night. It was the weeks that followed, the slow, agonizing unraveling of Vaulter, the public humiliation, the feeling of utter failure that threatened to consume him. He’d expected her to disappear, to join the chorus of disappointed voices, to add her name to the long list of people who had abandoned him. But she didn't. When he was down in the dumps, curled up in the fetal position on his couch, reeking of stale liquor and despair, she stayed. She didn't try to fix him, didn't offer empty platitudes or unsolicited advice. She simply sat with him, a silent presence in his storm. She offered comfort in small gestures: a hand on his shoulder, a gentle stroke of his hair, a massage; her touch was a welcome distraction—only she could make him feel good..

He’d never known such kindness, such unwavering acceptance. His past relationships had been built on performance, on the expectation that he would always be the strong one, the successful one, the one who had it all together. With Diane, there were no expectations, no masks to maintain. He could be his broken, flawed self, and she wouldn't flinch.

Kendall was falling in love, a sensation entirely new to him, a terrifying and exhilarating freefall. He’d never known such a profound connection, such a deep and abiding affection. The love he’d witnessed had always been conditional, transactional, a tool for manipulation or a means to an end. He’d always doubted his capacity for love, his worthiness of it, convinced that he was incapable of giving or receiving such a pure and vulnerable emotion. Yet, here he was, feeling it for the first time.

And he would do anything to keep this woman in his life. The feeling he felt was aggressive and fraught— he wanted her with panic and passion. 

————————————————————————-

Kendall woke up in the predawn hours, sleep eluding him. He watched Diane, her peaceful form curled away from him. A surge of affection washed over him, and he pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her protectively. Soon, he was lulled back to sleep by the warmth of her body.

The first slivers of dawn pierced the curtains, painting the room in shades of grey. Diane stirred, her eyes snapping open. She was trapped, a prisoner in Kendall’s suffocating embrace. His grip was a vise. “Morning,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep, a low rumble against her ear.

“Let me up,” she said, a tremor in her voice as she tried to subtly pry his fingers loose.

“You’re so warm,” he protested, his hold tightening, a possessive edge creeping into his tone. “What’s the rush?”

Panic flared in Diane’s chest. Under her pillow, hidden from view, lay the box– the box containing the evidence. She had to move it, now. Before he saw. “I just… I like to start my day early,” she stammered, forcing a lightness into her voice, desperately trying to coax him out of bed, away from the pillow.

“Five more minutes,” he groaned, pulling her even closer, his breath hot on her neck.

“You’re such a diva,” she teased, a brittle laugh escaping her lips. Inside, her mind raced, calculating, strategizing. The seconds ticked by like hammer blows.

Kendall held her captive for what felt like an eternity, a suffocating closeness that made her skin crawl. Finally, with a sigh of exaggerated reluctance, he relented, but only after she promised him a “special present” and whispered promises of making him “feel good” after his shower – a promise that tasted like ash in her mouth.

The moment he was out of sight, the bathroom door clicking shut, Diane lunged for the pillow. Her fingers closed around the box, cold and hard in her trembling hand. She shoved it deep into her bag. A wave of nausea washed over her. This trip. This charade. It was all about uncovering the truth behind the cruise scandal, a truth buried deep beneath layers of lies and deceit. The stakes were higher than she’d ever imagined. This information was crucial, not just for her article, but for something much bigger. She took a shaky breath, steeling her resolve. No matter the cost.

When Kendall emerged, freshly showered and radiating an oblivious charm, Diane was already in the kitchen, forcing herself to appear calm and collected.

“I was promised a reward?” Kendall announced, a playful grin spreading across his face. 

“Yes, you were,” Diane replied, a smirk playing on her lips. She slid a mug of steaming coffee towards him across the counter. “I made you coffee.” Of course, she knew he was expecting something more than coffee.

“You played me,” he pouted, his playful tone not quite masking a hint of disappointment.

“I never specified anything,” she giggled, her tone light and teasing.

“Maybe you just need some energy,” he suggested, his eyes twinkling with a playful light. He took a sip of the coffee, then set the mug down with a decisive clink. “Let’s go out for breakfast.”

It was the last thing she wanted. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to flee, to return home with the file and the box, to dissect every piece of evidence, to finally break this story wide open. The need for a breakthrough was a burning obsession. But she couldn’t. Not yet. She forced a smile, a mask of compliance. 

“Sure,” she agreed, her voice light and airy. She knew she had to play along, at least for now.

—————————————————————————

“Where are we going?” Diane asked, watching the blossoming trees blur past the window. She rolled it down, welcoming the spring breeze that tousled her hair, a fleeting moment of normalcy in the tense undercurrent between them.

Breakfast had been a strained affair. Kendall, clearly exhausted from a restless night, yawned incessantly, a stark contrast to his usual vibrant self. He pushed through it, though, his gaze fixed on Diane, as if her mere presence could ward off his fatigue. Spending time with her was paramount.

“It’s a surprise,” Kendall said, glancing at her, a look of almost unsettling adoration in his eyes. “But I think you’ll like it.”

“How do you know that?” she asked, a flicker of suspicion igniting within her.

“Well,” he began, a mischievous glint in his eye, “your horoscope said you were going to have a day full of nostalgia and adventures. It said you’d spend it with a special someone.” He winked, the gesture feeling strangely heavy.

“Bullshit,” she retorted, rolling her eyes. “You’re winding me up. Ha ha.” The laugh felt forced, brittle.

“I’m not,” he insisted earnestly. “That’s what it said on Elle, swear on my life.”

“But you don’t even believe in that stuff,” she said, narrowing her eyes, trying to decipher if this was some elaborate joke, or something far more unsettling.

“Yeah, but you do, so it doesn’t matter what I think,” he replied, taking her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, resting their joined hands in her lap. The casual intimacy felt like a violation.

“You’re creeping me out now, seriously,” she rolled her eyes. “What is this secret location you’re taking me to?” 

The unease wasn’t just about the mystery destination. It was about his sudden, intense focus on her, the way he seemed to be cataloging her every like and dislike. It was a dangerous game he was playing, a slippery slope that would inevitably lead to probing questions, intimate inquiries that she couldn’t afford.

Diane was always on edge around Kendall, a constant state of vigilance. She could never let her guard down, every word carefully weighed, every action meticulously planned. The risk of her cover being blown was a constant, suffocating pressure. The strain was taking its toll, a stark contrast to the easy comfort Kendall seemed to radiate in her presence. He was free, open, while she was trapped in a cage of her own making.

“Relax, you’re so tense,” he said, squeezing her hand again, oblivious to her inner turmoil. “You’re gonna love it.”

“Mhmm,” Diane mumbled, offering a weak, uneasy smile.

Finally, Kendall parked the car. He climbed out, then rounded the vehicle, opening Diane’s door, offering his hand to help her out. As the building came into view, her breath caught in her throat. It was an aquarium. A genuine smile touched her lips.

“I know your Pisces quirks,” he smirked, a smug satisfaction in his voice, pulling her towards the entrance. “You love water.” The casual observation, the way he’d filed away this small detail about her, sent another wave of unease through her. This wasn’t just a date. It was something else. Something she couldn’t quite define, but it felt like a trap closing around her.

The aquarium was a kaleidoscope of blues and greens, a mesmerizing underwater world teeming with life. Diane was captivated. Schools of shimmering fish darted past coral reefs, rays glided effortlessly through the water, and majestic sharks patrolled their domain. For a brief, precious moment, she forgot about the box, the lies, the constant vigilance. She was simply Diane, a woman enjoying the wonders of the ocean.

They watched playful sea otters tumble over each other, their sleek bodies twirling in the water. They stood mesmerized by the graceful ballet of jellyfish, their translucent forms pulsating with an ethereal glow. They even braved the touch tank, Diane hesitantly reaching out to stroke the rough skin of a starfish. Laughter bubbled up from her, genuine and unrestrained, a sound Kendall drank in like a man parched in a desert.

But the idyllic atmosphere began to shift as Kendall’s curiosity, previously charming, turned into something more intense. He started asking questions, probing beneath the surface, wanting to know the real Diane, the woman hidden behind the carefully constructed façade.

“What’s your favorite exhibit so far?” he asked, his eyes fixed on her, searching.

“Probably the beluga whales,” she replied, her gaze still on the massive white creatures swimming in their tank. “They’re so intelligent.”

“Like you,” he murmured, then, more pointedly, “So uh, what do you do for fun? You love the water, I know that much, but what else?”

The question hung in the air, the lightheartedness of the moment dissipating. Diane hesitated. “I… I don’t really have much time for fun,” she said, a half-truth slipping past her lips. “Work keeps me pretty busy.”

“You’re always working,” he observed, a hint of concern in his voice. “Don’t you have any friends? People you hang out with?”

“Not really,” Diane paused, considering her response. “I mean, I have friends,” she corrected herself, a slight catch in her throat. “I do. But I… I just don’t have time for them. I can’t explain it. When I’m with them, all I’m thinking about is the next project at work. I’m there, but not really there. Work alway has and will be my number one priority.”

It was the truth. Diane’s work ethic was relentless, bordering on obsessive. Late nights in the office were the norm, not the exception. She refused to leave until she was satisfied, driven by an internal engine that never seemed to run out of fuel.

This drive stemmed from her upbringing. Raised by hard working parents, she had learned the value of perseverance and dedication from a young age. Both her mother and father had worked tirelessly to provide her with the best life possible. Her mother, a dedicated nurse, often picked up extra shifts around holidays like her birthday and Christmas, sacrificing precious time to afford her the most luxurious gifts. Her father, a hardworking businessman who ran a small advertising company, had saved every penny from the day she was born to fund her college education. “You’re destined for greatness,” he would often tell her, instilling in her a deep belief in her own potential.

Driven by a potent mix of ambition and gratitude, Diane had excelled in her studies. Her near-perfect GPA had opened doors, leading her to a successful career in journalism. She poured her heart and soul into her work, striving for excellence in everything she did. This relentless drive was the reason she was so immersed in this current article, the cruise scandal. She had been promised a promotion, a reward she could almost taste. But beneath the professional ambition lay a deeper motivation: to make her parents proud. She wanted to show them that their sacrifices, their tireless efforts, hadn’t been in vain. She had to.

Kendall’s expression clouded slightly. “That’s… kind of sad,” he said softly. “Everyone needs someone.”

“My parents— my mom, she sacrificed everything for me,” she said, her voice softening. “That’s why I work so hard. I can’t let her down.”

“So that’s what drives you?” Kendall asked, his voice gentle. “The need to make them proud?”

“Yeah,” she said, nodding slowly. “I guess it is.”

The conversation had taken a decidedly personal turn. Diane felt exposed, vulnerable. She had revealed more than she intended, offering glimpses into her past, half-truths woven with genuine emotion. Kendall, on the other hand, seemed satisfied, a small smile playing on his lips. He had learned something new about her, something he thought brought them closer. But for Diane, it was a dangerous game, a tightrope walk between truth and deception, and she knew she couldn’t keep it up forever.

“I… I can relate to that, Diane,” Kendall said, his voice a low, gravelly murmur. “My dad… I was never good enough for him. Still amn’t.” He looked away, his gaze lost in the swirling water of a nearby tank, as if re-living a painful memory. “I spent my whole life trying to make him proud. But I always fail. Every single time.”

He recounted a harrowing memory, his voice laced with bitterness. “Even after he had the stroke… I went to see him once he woke up. He could barely speak, but he still managed to call me a ‘fucking moron.’ Even on his deathbed, he couldn’t bring himself to say he was proud.” A shudder ran through him. “I’m terrified,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper. “Terrified that his dying words will be that I’m a failure.”

The raw emotion in his voice was unsettling. Diane, ever the opportunist, saw a chance to delve deeper, to gather more information about Logan Roy, the man behind the monster. This wasn't about genuine empathy; it was about the story, the information she desperately needed.

“Why?” she asked, her voice soft, feigning concern. “Why did you let him treat you like that?”

Kendall hesitated, a flicker of pain crossing his face. He looked at Diane, his eyes filled with a deep, almost desperate need for understanding. “He’s holding some shit over my head, to control me,” he admitted, his voice strained. 

Diane’s pulse quickened. This was it. This was the opening she’d been waiting for. His confession he murmured in his sleep last night: “I killed him. It was an accident.” 

“What is it?” she pressed gently, her voice laced with feigned sympathy. She had to tread carefully; pushing too hard would raise suspicion.

Kendall looked away again, his expression a mixture of shame and fear. He remained silent for a long moment, the only sound the gentle hum of the aquarium’s filtration system. The tension in the air was palpable.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper. “I can’t… It’s nothing… never mind,” he said, shaking his head slowly. 

She softened her expression, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

Diane pressed further, her mind racing, trying to find a new angle to extract the information she craved. She remembered Kendall’s restless night, his night terror. “Was that what your nightmare was about last night?” she asked, her voice soft and concerned, tilting her head slightly. “Your dad?”

Kendall flinched, a visible ripple of discomfort passing over his face. He looked away, his gaze darting around the aquarium, landing on nothing in particular. The playful sea otters, the graceful jellyfish, the imposing sharks – none of it seemed to register. He was lost in his own private world of pain and fear.

He hesitated for a long moment, then shook his head slowly. “No,” he mumbled, his voice barely audible. “It wasn’t about him.”

The curt response hung in the air, a clear signal that the subject was closed. Diane could see the shutters coming down, the walls rising back up around him. He wasn’t going to offer any more information, not willingly.

She tried a different tack, softening her tone, feigning a casual interest. “Nightmares can be so strange,” she said, forcing a light chuckle. “Sometimes they’re just random images and feelings, not really about anything specific.”

Kendall remained silent, his gaze fixed on the swirling water of a nearby tank. He didn’t respond, didn’t offer any further explanation. The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable.

Kendall abruptly changed the topic, the shift in his mood almost jarring. “Let’s go play with the penguins,” he announced, a forced lightness in his voice. He reached for Diane’s hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, and began walking briskly in their direction, as if trying to outpace the heavy emotions that had just hung between them.

As they walked, Diane’s mind replayed everything Kendall had just revealed. A strange feeling stirred within her, something she hadn’t anticipated. A flicker of… empathy? It was an unwelcome sensation, a crack in the carefully constructed wall she had built around herself. Kendall, the man she had pegged as powerful, perhaps even villainous, suddenly appeared different. He seemed like a little boy trapped in a man’s body, a broken soul struggling beneath a surface of wealth and privilege.

She saw him now, not as the entitled heir she had imagined, but as a victim of circumstance. He was trapped under the oppressive weight of his father, unable to break free. The image of the spoiled rich bachelor began to crumble, replaced by a more nuanced, complex picture. Perhaps his behavior, his flaws, were a direct result of his upbringing, of the tyrannical figure that loomed over his life.

Diane was slowly peeling back his layers, uncovering the pain and hurt he carried deep within. A father who was a tyrant, wielding his power like a weapon. His mother hadn’t just left; she had abandoned them. Abandoned him and his siblings in the midst of a bitter divorce, choosing material possessions, property, over her own children. A brother who had betrayed him, a wound that cut deeper than any physical injury. It was a devastating combination, a recipe for deep-seated trauma. The image of a villain that she had expected dissolved completely, replaced by the stark reality of a deeply wounded child.

Kendall hadn’t just been through a “terrible childhood”; he had endured a series of profound betrayals, wounds that had clearly never healed. It wasn’t just about being rich and privileged; it was about the absence of love, the lack of emotional support, the deep-seated feeling of being unwanted.

The penguins, with their comical waddle and playful antics, provided a temporary distraction. Diane was genuinely delighted by their antics, she pointed out their individual quirks, laughing as they slipped and slid on the ice. Kendall found himself smiling, drawn in by her infectious enthusiasm, his earlier melancholy momentarily forgotten.

But even as Diane laughed alongside him, the feeling of empathy lingered. It was a disconcerting sensation, one she struggled to reconcile with her mission. She was supposed to be objective, focused on the story, not emotionally invested in the subject. Yet, she couldn’t deny the shift in her perception of Kendall. He was no longer just a source of information, a pawn– but he was also a victim. 

The game had changed. It wasn't just about getting the story anymore; it was about something much more complicated, something she couldn't quite define.

—————————————————————————-

The afternoon was a promise of summer, a taste of the warmth to come. The Hamptons air, still carrying a hint of spring’s crispness, held the faintest whisper of salt and blooming beach roses. The sky, a brilliant, almost blinding blue, stretched endlessly overhead, the sun a benevolent presence warming their skin. From her perch on the yacht, Diane’s gaze swept across the scene: the coastline, a gentle curve of sand dunes and swaying beach grass, punctuated by the stately homes that lined the shore, their weathered shingles gleaming in the sunlight. The water, a vibrant turquoise, shimmered and danced, reflecting the sun’s rays like a thousand tiny diamonds. A few early sailboats, their white sails billowing in the gentle breeze, dotted the horizon, harbingers of the summer fleet soon to arrive.

Kendall, however, remained oblivious to the beauty surrounding him, lost in a deep, much-needed slumber. He was sprawled across a cushioned sunbed, his face turned towards the sun, absorbing its warmth like a cat basking in a sunbeam. He’d been wound tight all morning, a restless energy simmering beneath his usually controlled exterior, but the gentle rocking of the yacht and the warmth of the afternoon had finally coaxed him into a state of rare tranquility. His head rested comfortably on Diane’s bare thighs, his dark hair tousled, a shadow of stubble darkening his jaw.

Diane, seated on the edge of the sunbed, a well-worn paperback resting open in her lap, sipped her Prosecco, the tiny bubbles a pleasant tickle against her lips. The sun warmed her skin, but she was mindful of Kendall’s fair complexion. Every so often, she’d squeeze a generous dollop of high-SPF sunscreen onto her hand and gently rub it into his exposed back, her touch light and careful, avoiding the faint scars that marred his skin – she wondered how he got them, was his father so cruel?

He stirred in his sleep, a soft murmur escaping his lips. “Mmm… thanks,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He shifted slightly, nuzzling his face deeper into her thigh, a small, almost childlike gesture. For the first time in his life, someone was truly taking care of him, protecting him, not from physical harm, but from the constant, gnawing anxieties that plagued his mind. It was a small, almost insignificant act of care, but in its simplicity, it felt profoundly significant.

—————————————————————————-

After the sunset, they returned to the shore, the last vestiges of daylight painting the sky in hues of fading rose and soft lavender. Fine grains of sand clung to their skin. Diane was sprawled comfortably beside him on a beach blanket, his oversized Yale sweatshirt draped over her bikini, the sleeves swallowed by her small hands. 

It was a stark contrast to her usual meticulously curated appearance— the tailored skirts that skimmed her knees, the crisp blouses buttoned just so, the subtle but perfectly applied makeup that enhanced her features. This casual, almost childlike version of Diane, with her hair tousled by the sea breeze and her face bare of makeup. 

He knew it was pathetic, this almost obsessive focus on her appearance. He was a man who commanded boardrooms, negotiated billion-dollar deals, and yet, he was utterly captivated by the way the fading light caught the curve of her cheek, by the way her bare feet ruffled in the sand. He was pathetic, he knew that, and yet he simply couldn’t bring himself to care. Not at this moment. Not when she looked like this.

She looked so perfect, it was bordering on painful. It was a low, simmering ache in his gut, a tightening in his chest that made it hard to breathe. He swore it was driving him clinically insane. So good that it was making his genius brain, the one that could dissect complex financial models and strategize corporate takeovers, malfunction. And, if he was being brutally honest with himself, it was also making his downstairs ‘brain’ run on overdrive.

She began to trace patterns in the sky with her finger, her voice soft and hushed, as if sharing a sacred secret. “See that bright one there?” she asked, pointing towards a star just beginning to pierce the twilight. “That’s Arcturus, one of the brightest stars in the spring sky. It’s part of the constellation Boötes, the herdsman. You can find it by following the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle.”

Kendall followed her gaze, his eyes drawn to the emerging point of light. The sky was still transitioning from day to night, a gradient of deep blues and purples, making the few visible stars seem all the more precious. “It’s just starting to come out,” he murmured, a genuine sense of wonder in his voice.

Diane smiled, her eyes reflecting the nascent starlight. “Exactly,” she said. “It’s a sign of spring, a promise of warmer nights to come. And over there,” she continued, shifting her finger slightly, “that’s Leo, the lion. See how it kind of looks like a backwards question mark? Regulus is its brightest star, marking the lion’s heart.” She traced the constellation’s shape in the sky, her finger moving with a graceful precision. “It’s a powerful image, a symbol of strength and courage.”

“Strength,” Kendall repeated, the word catching in his throat. He’d spent so much of his life trying to project an image of strength, a mask that was constantly threatening to slip. The idea of genuine inner strength, the kind that Diane seemed to possess effortlessly, felt like a distant, unattainable dream.

“Yeah,” Diane said, her gaze still fixed on the heavens. “And if you look a little further down, you can see Virgo, associated with the harvest, another sign of the coming abundance of summer. Spring is all about new beginnings, right? A time for things to grow and bloom.” She paused, taking a deep breath of the cool, fragrant air. “It makes you think about possibilities, about what could be.”

Her words, her quiet enthusiasm, had a grounding effect on Kendall. The emerging stars, the ancient stories woven into the constellations, the promise of spring’s renewal, created a space outside of his own anxieties. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt present, connected to something larger than himself, anchored to the earth beneath him. The sand beneath him felt solid, the cool spring air on his skin felt refreshing, and the woman beside him, with her quiet wisdom and gentle spirit, felt like a lifeline in the encroaching darkness.

Kendall admired Diane’s side profile, she was beautiful, not in the polished, calculated way she often presented herself to the world, but in a raw, natural way that took his breath away. Spring was in the air, and it seemed to have breathed new life into her as well. The moonlight cast long shadows across the sand, illuminating the delicate curve of Diane’s cheek, the soft curve of her lips. 

"You look so beautiful," Kendall murmured, his voice low and husky, the sound barely audible above the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. He leaned in, gently cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing lightly across her cheekbones. His touch was feather-light, hesitant, as if he were afraid she might shatter if he held her too tightly. And then he kissed her.

The kiss was soft, almost tentative at first, like a question being asked rather than a statement being made. Gentle. Nothing rushed. It wasn't the kind of kiss they'd shared before. Their previous encounters had been charged with a different kind of energy, a raw, almost desperate urgency fueled by lust, by the heat of the moment during sex. Those kisses had been demanding, possessive, frantic. 

This was different. This was tender, almost hesitant, a soft exploration rather than a passionate conquest. It was the first time they had kissed like this, fully clothed. The lines blurred in Diane’s mind; this felt dangerously close to real. 

She pulled back slightly, a flicker of confusion, perhaps even a hint of fear, in her eyes. 

Kendall, sensing her hesitation, didn't pull away. He simply stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, his eyes a silent plea, a desperate yearning for something he couldn't quite articulate. He wanted this connection, this moment, to be real, to mean something. He so desperately wanted the heavens above to answer the silent prayer in his heart, to grant him this one thing he craved above all else: genuine, unconditional love.

Diane got lost in his hazel eyes, those pools of vulnerability and longing. Against her better judgment, she leaned back in, her own hand reaching up to touch his arm. Their lips met again, this time with a greater sense of urgency, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. Their lips moved in sync, it felt bizarre, wrong on so many levels. This wasn't supposed to happen. But for a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to forget about her plan.

Kendall was kissing her like he was terrified. Terrified he would wake up and it would’ve all been a dream, a fleeting mirage in the desert of his loneliness. He held onto her as if she might disappear at any moment, his lips pressing against hers with a desperate, almost frantic tenderness. He rolled them over, a slow, deliberate movement that shifted their positions on the beach. Now, Diane straddled his hips, her knees sinking slightly into the cool, damp grains of sand. 

“Sit on my face,” Kendall pleaded, squeezing her ass. She frowned as he laid his head down, getting cozy with his head on the sand, still smirking, patting his mouth comically—an invitation. 

“What?” Diane asked not sure what to make of his unusual request. She knew it was a private beach but it still felt too exposed.

When she didn’t move he lifted his head back up, “Come on,” he urged her, tapping her hips to nudge her along, “let me taste you. Sit. On. My. Face.”

Kendall couldn't resist not eating her out whenever he had the chance. She slowly crawled up over him, hesitating once she was straddling his chest, unable to hold back a blush. His warm hands are quick to hook around her thighs, sliding his thumb over her hip bones as she hovered in front of his chin, “come closer.”

He lifted his head up when she finally scooted forward, still hovering. Kendall kissed her inner thigh, smirking as her hips bucked lower towards his touch. 

“Sacred I’m gonna bite?” His lips moved against her thigh, his stubble tickling her as he spoke.

“No, I don’t want to suffocate you.” She pushed her fingers through his hair, gripping at his roots.

“I wish you would, ” he groaned, pulling her lower so he didn’t have to crane his neck to taste her. He licked the wet spot on her bikini, lapping at her juices, moaning before flattening his tongue, dragging it up to her clit to suck lightly through the fabric. 

It wasn’t long before had enough of the thin material blocking his way, aggressively pulling on the strings over her hips to untie it, so he could finally lick her how he wanted. Which she quickly realized was mercilessly. He was hungry—starved for something only her pussy could satiate, drinking her in like he was dehydrated. It was intense. He ate with reverence, slurping loudly and humming in appreciation, his hot lips suctioning on her clit till she was seeing stars. 

Diane’s feedback was choppy, like her brain couldn’t sync up in time to react to his movements— to the sensations. It was all broken moans and shudders, the only thing consistent is the way she pulled his hair.

She was leaning more and more of her weight onto his face and rocking , occasionally lifting a bit when she remembered her self-control. But after she lifted one too many times, Kendall’s fingers tightened around her thighs, holding her close with an ironclad grip— making her squirm.

Kendall was delighted as he peered up at her beneath drunk lashes, eyes just as dazed as his mind as he watched her sumptuous body move on top of him. She tasted like cloyingly honey on the tip of his tongue, her essence lingering in the back of his throat every time he swallowed. He chased the slick beads as they dripped down her plump thighs, greedy mouth attacking her soft insides as she moaned on top of him, her pussy drooling and clenching around nothing as the hot coil inside of her twisted tighter. He groaned against her searing skin, his hot breath tickling her sensitive flesh as every hair on the nape of her neck stood up.

"So beautiful" Kendall muttered, voice dripping with reverence. "You look so beautiful tonight."

He etched the intimate scene into his mind as a pleasant itch tingled at the base of his skull, fingers twitching around her plump hips as he squeezed the pillowy soft skin. His tongue lapped at the dripping seam of her cunt; prying open the puffy folds as indulged in more of your slick nectar flowing from her core like a river. 

Diane almost choked on a hiccup of pleasure, her clit weakly kicking against the press of his nose as he sealed his mouth over her entrance. Her blood simmered in her veins, pulling and tugging on his raven locks, hips shaking as she tried to contain her sudden spike in arousal twisting low in the pit of her gut. A constellation of tears clung to the edges of her lashes as stars swirled in her vision, voice stinging her throat as she struggled to breathe. 

Her legs trembled, her full weight failing upon his lips and tongue—and Kendall couldn’t have been more grateful . It didn't take long for his mouth to become sloppy,  drool dripping from the corner of his mouth. 

Diane’s vision began to blur. She couldn’t tell if it was from tears welling up or the overwhelming sensation building in her core. She was dripping so, so sweetly, and Kendall beneath her hummed, hungry, ravenous, he needed more, he wanted to eat her whole. His tongue slowly circled her bud, and oh fuck, he pulled and it tugged in it, opening the floodgates. The building pressure unfurled, Diane threw her head back, whimpering. And kendall drank it all in.

But he didn’t stop there. He wasn’t done just yet.

He held her in place, still latched onto her clit as she rode out her orgasm. Because cumming once wasn’t enough for him. It didn’t matter that his chin was wet with her, that his tongue was soaked with the taste of her. Kendall wanted to wrack her body until she had nothing left to give. So he kept on sucking and swirling his tongue around her clit, until she came again and again until she was spent, until she screamed without sound, until the stars behind her eyelids faded away into black.

Her hips convulsed around him, putting him in a headlock of sorts, before she released him, her body fell back against his raised knees, he caught her, letting her body take a moment from his torturous tongue.

“Could eat you all night,” he groaned, her legs still open, inches away from his mouth, as her back rested against his thighs, her head draped over his knees. He watched her pink, puffy lips glisten with his residual spit and her own sweet juices.

Diane had gone non-verbal by that point, her body was still shaking as she looked up at the vast expanse of the sky. Kendall moved his middle finger up and down along her slit before taking his middle and index finger to spread open her sensitive lips, admiring her sex dripping for him. He loved the way it glistened. He watched as her walls clenched around nothing, practically begging him to fill her up.

“Kendall, please,” she begged him. Her voice, still raspy. He did a double take at her disheveled appearance. Her eyes bloodshot with her mascara running, smudging her under eyes.

He didn't respond as he spread her lips further apart, letting the cold breeze hit her entrance. Her face heated up while Kendall fully exposed her.  

“You have the tightest little pussy,” he commented, feeling how her entrance wanted to take in his thumb, but he didn't push it in. Not yet.

He finally slipped a finger inside her. Her walls instinctively squeezed around his thick digit. She cried out in pleasure as she squirmed more. The pad of his finger slowly rubbed and pressed firmly on that spongey spot on her walls. She arched her back letting out a strangled cry.

Kendall gently pushed another finger inside her. She bit her lip to stifle a moan as he began pumping them in and out of her slowly. She felt his cock twitch under her. His fingers were knuckle deep, he continued thrusting them inside her. He curled them up and made sure to pay close attention to her g-spot, pressing on it and massaging it. Making her walls clench up, her toes curling in the sand.

“You okay, baby?” Kendall checked in, but his fingers didn’t slow.

“Y-yes… I’m okay, keep going,” she stammered out, as she tried to keep focus.

He chuckled and picked up the pace. His fingers were making her pussy create the most vulgar wet sounds she'd ever heard. Her slick soaking his hand as he fucked her. Her legs shook and he took his other hand to rub tight circles over her clit. 

Kendall didn't stop. His fingers still moved in and out of her while his other hand paid attention to her throbbing clit. He milked her pussy as she rode out her release. He finally slowed down and stilled his hands. Carefully, he removed his fingers with a loud shlick . A string of her juices still connecting to them. He brought them up to his lips, sticking them in his mouth.

Kendall hummed at the taste of her. “You’re so sweet.” She wanted to hide her face, her eyes were glossy, illuminated by the moonlight.

“You're crazy,” Diane whispered, feeling like she just had an out of body experience. He pulled her back down, their chests pressed together, his tongue dancing in her mouth. 

(*siri play champage coast by blood orange; 3:01*)

A rogue wave, emboldened by the rising tide, surged up the beach, engulfing their legs. The sudden rush of icy water sent a jolt through Kendall, a flash of annoyance tightening his features. He scowled at his soaked clothes, the sand now stubbornly clinging to the damp fabric.

But then he looked at Diane.

Her reaction was the complete opposite. She threw her head back and let out a burst of pure, unrestrained laughter—a sound so genuine and carefree, it was infectious. Before Kendall could process his irritation, Diane was running towards the water’s edge, jumping into the sea with a joyful cry, submerging herself completely. The cool water seemed to revitalize her, like a dried-up starfish returned to the ocean.

She resurfaced, her hair plastered to her face, water dripping from her eyelashes, but her smile was radiant. “It’s amazing!” she shouted, her voice echoing across the beach. “Come on in!”

Kendall watched her, a mixture of disbelief and reluctant amusement swirling within him. He was still annoyed about his ruined clothes, but Diane’s infectious joy was hard to resist. He couldn’t understand her carefree attitude, her ability to embrace the unexpected.

He hesitated, glancing at his expensive, now soaked shoes. But Diane’s laughter continued to beckon. He kicked off his shoes and waded into the cold water.

Suddenly, Diane splashed him, a playful wave aimed directly at his chest. Kendall gasped, feigning offense. “Oh, you’re going down!” he shouted, retaliating with a splash of his own. Playful splashes and shrieks echoed across the quiet beach, a stark contrast to Kendall’s usual heavy silence. He chased Diane through the shallows, the cold water a shocking but welcome sensation. As he lunged for her, catching her in his arms, they both tumbled into the waves with a shared cry.

For Kendall, the feeling was almost foreign. He had forgotten what it felt like to simply laugh. The last time he remembered feeling this carefree was a distant memory, a faded snapshot from a childhood that felt like it belonged to someone else. His life had become a carefully constructed performance, a constant striving for his father’s approval. There was no room for joy in the rigid structure he had built around himself. Every action was weighed against his father’s expectations, the burden of his past mistakes, the fear of his uncertain future.

But in that moment, in the cool ocean water, with Diane’s laughter ringing in his ears, the weight lifted. The years of pressure, the constant striving, the deep-seated fear – all of it seemed to wash away with the waves. He was just Kendall, a man playing in the ocean with a woman who made him feel something he couldn’t define. It was more than just attraction; it was connection, a shared moment of pure joy.

He looked at Diane, her face flushed with laughter, and a genuine smile spread across his own. He had forgotten the simple pleasure of being present, of letting go of his worries and simply enjoying another person’s company. She had somehow managed to chip away at the walls he had built around himself, revealing a part of him he thought had long since died. It was terrifying.

They continued their playful fight, splashing and chasing each other until they were both breathless and shivering. They collapsed onto the sand, their wet clothes clinging to their bodies.

“Come on,” Kendall said, extending a hand to her. “Let’s get you inside before you catch a cold.” He gently pulled her to her feet, noticing she was shivering slightly. The sand squished between her toes with every step.

He then bent down, scooping her up into his arms before she could protest. Diane gasped, a surprised laugh escaping her lips. “I can walk,” she protested, though her voice lacked conviction.

“You’re freezing,” he said, his voice firm but gentle, his eyes filled with concern. “And walking in this wet sand isn’t going to help. Besides,” he added with a playful grin, a hint of teasing in his tone, “I think I’ve worn you out tonight?”

Diane met his gaze, a small smile playing on her lips. She didn’t argue, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she nestled against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a soothing counterpoint to the crashing waves. Then, she drifted off.

Kendall carried Diane back to the house, her small frame surprisingly light in his arms. He climbed the porch steps and entered the warm interior, noticing her breathing had become slow and even. He carried her directly to the bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. The wet fabric of her clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, so he carefully removed his soaked sweatshirt from her, being mindful not to wake her.

He fetched a soft towel and dried her off. He didn't care about the sand that fell onto the sheets or the saltwater that clung to their hair. All that mattered was Diane, the peaceful expression on her sleeping face, the soft rise and fall of her chest.

He found a clean pair of his sweatpants and a soft t-shirt and dressed her, pulling the soft fabric over her still-damp skin. He then lay down beside her, pulling the covers over them both and tightening his hold slightly, drawing her closer. He had never felt this sense of peace, this quiet contentment. It was a feeling that defied explanation—a simple knowing that everything, in that moment, was exactly as it should be.

It was just them, in that quiet room, with the sound of the ocean as their only companion. It felt perfect—a brief escape from the complexities of their lives, a moment of respite. For Kendall, it was a glimpse of something he hadn't known he was missing: a taste of peace and connection. And for Diane, in her sleep, it was a moment of respite from her carefully constructed plan, a brief surrender to the simple comfort of being held.

[homosexualmanslaughter]

‘You Have Been Weighed, You Have Been Found Wanting’: On Kendall as His Father (Or Not)

This is going to be another long post, so I apologise in advance, but as the world’s premier Kendall Royologist (jk), I had to give my take on where we are after episode four.

I want to start by saying that for me, when it comes down to it, ultimately, none of this is the fault of the Roy kids. For the siblings, whatever happens, wherever they end up, it’s not their fault. They are products of a lifetime of abuse, and I cannot stop having so much compassion (maybe too much, I’ll admit it) for them as they try and survive it, even though they do such heinous things.

I want to talk about Kendall. I say it all the time when it comes to him, but my poor boy. Oh, my poor babe. My heart aches. I spent the entire evening after watching ‘Honeymoon States’ thinking about all the new dark and terrifying avenues that have opened up, and feeling nauseous about it. None of it is satisfying for me, and objectively I don’t even find it to be a glorious, villainous volte-face. I can’t say ‘slay he’s in his villain era’, because it’s so sad to me. It’s just so sad. His behaviour in that episode shows how deeply rooted his trauma is, and how it might actually be an inescapable force. And that’s so sad.

This episode was about the two sides of Kendall. One, true Kendall; and two, the constructed Kendall. Both products of the abuse in different ways. Here they are, contrasted:

It’s so telling that we start and end the episode with these polar opposite moments.

The first, this is the real Kendall. We can see him. So broken, so bereft, so without identity, so lost without the person to whom he was trauma bonded, the person against whom he defined his entire being. What’s going to be easier, confronting that? Or - simply - just going mad? He’s going mad in the Othello and Macbeth sense, befitting for the end of a Shakespearean tragedy. And it’s Logan’s doing, even from beyond the grave. This is what I’m going to talk about in this post.

Kendall wasn’t born a “killer”. It’s not something etched into his soul. It’s something he’s learnt, an unnatural quality that he’s had to develop. When he ‘turns’ at the end of this episode, it’s not “Logan’s DNA showing through after all”. It’s not “he’s in his evil era”. This is a man who is so paralysed by the fear of confronting a life without Logan (due to their trauma bond) that he would prefer to become him as a form of coping, even though it will inevitably kill him.

His smile at the end is not one of liberation, it is the smile of a man who has been utterly psychologically broken.

Yeah, his initials spell ‘KLR’. But this isn’t merely a clumsy way of telling us that he’s a killer. It’s a way of signifying that his identity is so deeply entwined with Logan that he is (or feels as if he is) nothing without him. ‘Logan’ is at the heart of his name - right in the centre. He can’t be free of him, because the chain has been on him since he was named as a baby.

Who knows what was going on in that old man’s head when he edited that letter? I see that the underlined/crossed debate is going to dominate discourse for the week, but I think it’s utterly meaningless.

It does not matter at all what Logan INTENDED to write. It’s what Kendall perceives that counts. La mort de l’auteur, literally.

In that piece of paper, Kendall sees a potential confirmation of everything he ever wanted to hear, and he articulates these desires explicitly to Frank: he needs to believe it was underlined, because that means he was wanted, he was loved, he wasn’t a mistake, he wasn’t a failure.

He pretends to have already known that Logan did sudoku, to kid himself and everyone else into believing that they were close. He’s going mad - like all Shakespearean tragic protagonists are. He’s being driven mad by his need to believe that Logan wanted him.

Personally, I think it was underlined. Not because Kendall was his favourite all along, but because he was the one Logan most wanted to control. The role of CEO is a chain to them, it’s an embodiment of Logan’s hold on them. By dangling it in front of him, Logan can keep Kendall chained and controlled and under his thumb, even after death.

As @kaiyashunyata on Twitter phrased it: it doesn’t matter if Kendall’s name is underlined or crossed out. What matters is the uncertainty of it and how Logan can taunt his children and spark their ruin even after death.

And it’s why capitalism and the family are so intwined, and why it’s admirable that the show does a great job of showing this.

Jeremy Strong articulates this entire dynamic so insightfully and elegantly:

Your father makes you a promise: this is your destiny, this is your birthright. Capitalism promises people the same thing. Both are completely empty and misleading.

But Kendall is so desperate to feel as if his life has meaning, so desperate to know he was loved, that he’s willing to chase the false dream anyway.

Because - ever since childhood - CEO has been held up to all the children (but especially Kendall) as the only thing that gives you worth as a person. And Kendall needs to believe that he has worth in the eyes of his father because, without that, he’s nothing. Or at least he thinks he’s nothing, that’s the impact of a trauma bond.

We know that he’s not nothing. Stewy knows it. Rava knows it. Naomi knows it. His siblings and children know it. But he has been trauma bonded to someone who made his love a rare and valued commodity, and without it, he doesn’t feel like there’s any reason for him to exist at all.

It’s the often repeated metaphor again of Logan’s love as the sun - when you’re in it, you are covered in light and feel invincible. Without it, you are left to die in the dark.

I think that’s why the hug scene is significant but also tragic. It’s the only other time we see Kendall as himself in this episode, and in the company of another person at that. And he only lets it show for a few seconds, before the brave face returns. Stewy is so right when he skeptically perceives Kendall’s run for CEO as “diving into work”. That’s exactly what he’s doing, to avoid confronting the dark realities.

If Stewy’s love could save him, he would be saved already. But only Logan’s love is enough for him.

One of the cruelest things about the will letter is that it makes it so clear that ‘CEO’ is a stand-in for love, approval, acceptance. The kids (well the Strong Dogs at least, Kendall and Shiv) are ready to kill each other over it - days after tenderly holding each other outside Teterboro Airport - because they have been so brainwashed into seeing it as the be all and end all of their entire existences.

Kendall, who loves his baby sister. Who held her hand when she was crying and succumbs to her puppy dog eyes in seconds. Kendall, who is willing - in an instant - to go back to war with Shiv, because that’s all they’ve been taught to do. That’s their purpose. Their reason for life.

And Kendall is severely mentally ill, I think that needs to be made very clear.

Frank sees the danger of it. “You seem so well…” Frank says, and Kendall is for all appearances, for that beautiful bit of time when he’s free of the war.

But of course, despite Frank’s advice and reservations, Kendall can’t help but be drawn back into the war. Because he feels it’s the only way to define his identity now that his trauma bonded abuser isn’t there to do it for him.

And when he blackmails Hugo? When he uses Logan’s style of violent sexual language? This isn’t a new era for him. It’s not villainy. It’s the same Ken we saw at the very start of S1, trying so desperately to ape his father, to be his father, taking ideas right out of Logan’s playbook. But he’ll fail.

And he’ll fail because, at the end of the day, he isn’t Logan.

Kendall manipulates people. He emotionally blackmails Stewy and his siblings (especially Roman). Out of bitterness, he demands that Frank spread lies about two women being sluts and junkies. He withholds important information for his own use later. He threatens to “burn” Greg after showing him kindness. He uses violent sexual language in business settings. He calls the vote of no confidence. He makes the groundbreaking press conference. He goes in aggressive.

These are Logan’s lessons, this is what Logan means when he says “he learnt it from me”. However, they fail. They’ll always fail.

Whatever he does, he’ll never convince.

The sexually violent language is especially interesting, because it never hits the same. Kendall threatens to fuck Lawrence “with a silver dildo”, very similar to the way in which he threatens to use “the strap-on” with Hugo. False penises, artificial implements, unnatural, not part of his body. He threatens to cut Stewy’s dick off, another emasculating act that doesn’t involve him personally penetrating anyone. The only time he physically involves himself in his sexual metaphors is when he viscerally describes giving Lawrence a blowjob.

Like Tom says so succinctly in season three, Kendall is always the one who is going to get fucked.

Kendall isn’t Logan, no matter how much he thinks that achieving that goal will heal him. Kendall wasn’t hardened by poverty, or the suffocating patriarchal norms of the 1940s and 50s. He is sensitive and lonely and emotional and weak and insecure and vulnerable. He is desperate to be none of those things. In trying and failing to be Logan, he’s unwittingly showing who he really is.

But he is a fighter. And that’s the thing Logan always feared. That is the person Logan raised - yes, “the best of all of them”, but also someone with the grit to potentially escape. And that is what was unacceptable and terrifying.

We root for Kendall because we know - we have seen - that he has to ability to break free. We also know, from Chiantishire, that his deepest desire is to be free. To be unchained. To be released from this never-ending cycle of abuse and pain.

We’re terrified of that razor-thin tightrope he walks, because we know that it could (and probably is) going to all go wrong. We’re scared of the prospect that some people are doomed, are beyond help, are beyond saving. As with the best tragic Shakespeare protagonists, we love Kendall, but we know deep down that he can never be free. That is the crushing reality of abuse as a metaphor for capitalism. It’s heartbreaking.

Logan chose Kendall as CEO not because he was his ‘favourite’, but because Kendall was the one he most wanted to control. CEO is the perfect means by which to keep him chained, controlled and enthralled to the empty dream, even from beyond the grave.

For Logan, and for capitalism as a whole, to love is to control.

[kendallville]

Does Ken have Complex PTSD?

I saw few posts about Ken being autistic and gifs about this topic and I think they're really on point.

I just want to share a thought I'm having - it can be autism, but it also might be Complex PTSD. Person can suffer from CPTSD due to prolonged, repetitive, smaller traumatic events. It can be things that happen to you, but it also can be the result of not receiving the things you need - especially growing up.

Like parental love. Or not fitting in the family unit.

Logan's love have always been conditional, and he expected certain things from his kids. Maybe he wanted to make them tough, or maybe to symbolically pay for their privileged life. He always resented the fact that they never went through the things he did. And Caroline was both emotionally and literally unavailable.

One of the things Logan expected is - as mentioned - being tough. As a child, Ken must have been often scolded for being soft, for example when he cried. So, craving attachment, kids from that kind of environment can learn to mask. And Ken found some ways to cope - first of all pretending. At the beginning of the series he is maintaining straight posture, even challenging his father. Later we learn that he participated in the game where he put Roman in the "cage" - pretty ruthless behavior, probably applauded by Logan.

Watching Ken we often feel cringy (for me it's especially in the first part of season 3), because he is insincere. Losing authenticity is another part of CPTSD - to fit, you need to burry the real you. And with Roy family, where image is everything, it's easy to imagine this was the case from early on. Ken always tries to act cool in front of other people, but he's bad at reading social cues, so he fails.

When Logan asks "Do you want to hit me", Ken is visibly triggered. Maybe his father used this kind of "violence language" with the kids to establish his dominance through the years. He does it, and they all talk like that - you hit, kill, destroy and win.

Ken copes by letting out his emotions in solitude, because not letting anyone see the real him is basis of his survival. The bathroom scene grasps us as much as it does, because we see the power of his feelings, including anger, followed by quickly "coming back" to his trained behavior - cleaning up and returning to the table.

Ken often dissociates, which is another CPTSD coping mechanism. It's easier to cut yourself out of the world and your own feelings, and just float in space. When he appears on TV, talks to Stewy, or when he guts Vaulter and answers "Because my dad told me to" to the question "Why". He could have said anything, he could have lied and get revenge on Lewis*Lawrence , but he chose to tell humiliating truth. He also rarely pushes back when he's being insulted, interializing it all.

When his CPTSD met big trauma of getting in the accident and causing the death of the waiter, all the frail coping mechanism he had failed. So Ken regressed to the helpless child he never stopped being. And it's another CPTSD thing - you get stuck in the specific mental place and without support and treatment it's very hard to move on.

But instead of helping, his father used his predicament and pushed him so much that when someone committed suicide at ATN, Logan really though it could have been Ken.

[linkspooky]

TITANS #1: OUT OF THE SHADOWS, THOUGHTS. 

I’m evolving from a manga blogger to my final form a comic book blogger. If you know anything about me, you know Teen Titans is my favorite thing ever, so after neglecting the Teen Titans and pushing them to the side for years DC’s push to finally put the Teen Titans in the spotlight has me really excited. So I’ll be trying to write up my monthly thoughts for each new issue as long as the comic is running!

Happy comic book Tuesday everyone! My thoughts on the first issue below!

First and foremost, after two successive reboots the newest run of Titans has returned to the original New Teen Titans lineup, Nightwing, Donna, Starfire,  Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, with Wally as a member at least on rotation. 

How much of the old continuity is back has yet to be seen, but considering Roy and Lian are back in the Green Arrow comics, they mention that Garth, Donna and Dick are founding members of the original Titans Team I am going to assume they’re bringing back old continuity. 

From what I can tell, Infinite Frontier did a sort of soft reset of both of the New 52, and Rebirth Teen Titans series, and our current team is continuing on from what was probably a few years after the events in (2003). 

I base this off the fact that the newest Young Justice comics also mention the fact that Tim, Connor, Bart and Cassie all were on the Teen Titans at one point before they went back and reformed Young Justice, so graduation day still happened. 

The fact that Beast Boy and Raven are dating too is something that indicates we’re continuing from the events of (2003), because them officially getting back together is the last thing they did on panel before the reboot hit. 

The New Cyborg comic that came out today as well also mentions that the first team he was ever on was the Teen Titans, with a flashback that looked like the 80s lineup.

Anyway, I went out of my way to establish what continuity I think we are working with, because since we’re back at the New Teen Titans lineup, there’s a lot of interesting parallels in this first issue. 

1. Garfield Logan / Beast Boy

A pretty commonly overlooked fact about Beast Boy is that he suffers from  C-PTSD, and depression. He’s basically been orphaned twice. This was especially prevalent in the start of New Teen Titans, because when the Doom Patrol had just recently died when Garfield joined the team. 

Garfield’s mental illness is more disguised because unlike other comic book characters that tend to lash out a lot more (like say, no one is ever going to argue about the fact that Jason Todd has c-ptsd it’s pretty hard to miss there), Garfield instead spends most of his time playing off his trauma like it’s nothing to him. 

That’s not to say Garfield doesn’t lash out, he has multiple times. He’s tried to kill Slade Wilson, he nearly killed Madame Rogue (and then she died anyway). However, Garfield tends to spend a lot of time trying to hide his symptoms, so he can come off as a friendly, safe, reliable person to be around. 

Which is what makes Garfield so unique of a character to me, his unaddressed trauma manifests in subtle ways. Beast Boy’s immature, and kind of an eternal child because he doesn’t want to grow past his trauma since that would require facing it. He’s also like, compared to Dick Grayson who is a well-oiled machine who is THE LEADER, the HERO, a lot more incompetent and whiny. Which is because they have similiar traumas that manifest in different ways, Dick’s trauma makes him overwork himself to death trying to be good at his job as a hero because that’s the one thing he does well, and Beast Boy’s trauma makes him self sabotage. 

Beast Boy’s writing is unique because his trauma stunts his growth in a way that’s really down to earth and realistic. A lot of people complain about how fifteen year old Beast Boy is constantly making women uncomfortable by hitting on them, or how his relationship with Terra is about HIS FEELINGS and not hers and therefore selfish, and yeah, both of those things are true but it’s because Beast Boy is a child who doesn’t know how to behave that’s looking for validation and in this case he’s looking for it from women in his life. 

New Teen Titans isn’t the most progressive comic in the world, but the writers were aware of the fact Beast Boy’s behavior was not alright, he gets called a chauvinist multiple times. So Garfield is capable of being immature, selfish, and he can even have some toxic attitudes and deeply repressed anger and these things are all deeply hidden under the surface, because he’s also Beast Boy and he’s Baby. 

The new Titans run has said that Beast Boy’s trauma from being shot by Slade Wilson in Dark Crisis is going to be one of the themes explored starting out in Titans, and as I’ve established above Beast Boy’s always been a sufferer of CPTSD. 

The fact that it was Slade specifically who shot him too is interesting, because Beast Boy had a pretty long running relationship with Slade in new Teen Titans (more of a relationship than he ever did with Dick, TBH). Starting with the fact that Slade nearly murdered him, Beast Boy’s relationship with Terra, all led to a point where Beast Boy tried to murder Slade out of vengeance.

Which is where I once again bring up the point that, Beast Boy’s just repressed all of his trauma he has not processed literally any of it. However, when Beast Boy tries to kill him, of all things what happens is they end up sitting down at a diner and talking things out. I have mixed opinions on this scene I definitely do not like the victim blaming of Terra that goes on, but there is something about Slade having just enough humanity to talk Beast Boy down off of a ledge. The gist of the conversation is more or less “Don’t become like me Beast Boy, I’m not a good person.” I credit Slade “I hate children, I’m glad I was never one of them” Wilson with having at least that much self-awareness. 

It’s actually a pretty nuanced take to point out that Beast Boy only wanted to murder Slade, because he wanted to vent all of the hatred and anger he was holding inside of himself because he didn’t have any way to express it, and killing Slade for those reasons would not have made him feel better. 

After that conversation, Slade and Beast Boy have a weird relationship where Beast Boy starts seeing him as more human, to the point where when Slade becomes Deathstroke again post Titans Hunt he’s really disappointed in him because he wanted to see the good in him. Which makes sense because Beast Boy has like no healthy role models for masculinity in his life, of course he’d cling to one guy who was kind of nice to him once when he was at a low point. 

So Beast Boy being shot by Slade of all people, and then rocking an eyepatch covering the same eye that Slade has missing is a neat visual parallel to Slade considering all their history. Which is interesting because Slade is an interesting foil to Beast Boy. Beast Boy has some hidden toxicity inside of him as a result of his trauma he has trouble processing, and which often causes him to act out, and Slade Wilson is toxic masculinity personified. 

Slade is also a sufferer from PTSD, he’s a vietnam vet, and evil captain america, he’s said multiple times in his series that coming back from war he basically felt nothing which is what made him adopt the Deathstroke persona. Slade’s like the worst, most toxic possible future for Beast Boy, the bad ending fromt he darkest timeline. It’s why he was the one who talked Beast Boy down from that ledge originally because Slade knew, that violence never fixed anything about him. 

In action comics 1051 they dive inside Beast Boy’s mind because post-dark crisis he’s been losing control of his transformation, and his inner world is represented by several angry animals lashing out to defend their territory, and then a little baby boy. Because Beast Boy is Baby, but like once again Beast Boy will act incredibly aggressive and violent to defend the child within himself. 

Because Beast Boy’s reaction to his trauma has always been about hiding it. Which is more or less why the child within hasn’t grown up. So considering all of his past trauma, if they’re still in continuity then you could even look at being shot by Slade as him being re-traumatized. Especially since he’s almost been killed by Slade in the past before, and it was a pretty major trauma for him at the time too. 

It seems like in this issue, Beast Boy’s way of dealing it so far has been his usual one too, which is just to you know, avoidance and passing himself off as fine. He transforms into a mouse in his sleep because Beast Boy wants to pass himself as harmless and someone its okay to be around. 

The sentiment in this first panel though, sort of reminds me of what Beast Boy said to Raven in the last issue of the 2003 Teen Titans run, about taking the good with the bad. 

Which you know if we’re really just continuing Beast Boy and Raven’s relationship from where they were in 2003, growth for Beast Boy because he’s not just seeking validation in a relationship as a way to fix himself, he’s just looking for comfort and support from his partner. 

Okay, that was the longest section of the post, but I like Beast Boy so I’m biased. Moving on!

2. Raven / Rachel Roth 

Raven’s New Teen Titans characterization, and her post revival in 2003 characterization are wildly different. This might just be me wanting her old characterization back, but I caught a couple of signs of old Raven in this first issue? The first is the way she talks, she’s not being snippy or sarcastic she’s talking in a kind of reserved, stiff and formal way. 

The second thing is she’s not throwing things around with telekinesis or participating in the fight, while everyone else was fighting we saw her doing crowd control and teleporting which is what New Teen Titans Raven did. She had two moves which was teleporting in and out of places, and calming people down. 

3. Dick Grayson / Nightwing

There’s not much character work for Dick per-se in this first issue, but the push DC is doing to have the Titans finally step up and act in the place of the new Justice League has a lot of implication for Dick’s character. 

Number one, the move to Bludhaven means that for the first time in decades being the leader of the Titans is a big priority for Dick’s character again. Basically post Dick quitting the team, and the Chuck Dixon era, Dick operated solo in Bludhaven for a long time, and even when the team reformed with Dick as a leader he was still operating solo out of the Bludhaven which I always thought didn’t make a lot of sense to split his focus like that. 

Moving the Titans Tower to Bludhaven pretty much solves that problem, it allows Dick to still have solo Nightwing things in Bludhaven, but also make being team leader a priority of his character as it ought to be. Not only does most of Dick’s character development come from separating himself from Batman and being with the Teen Titans, it’s also just Dick’s greatest strength as a character is his leadership skills so when he’s separated from the TItans he loses that aspect of his character. 

Number two, the Titans replacing the Justice League as the mai defender of worldwide threats. Which is again, another good move for Dick’s character. Dick was never going to join the justice league, he can’t be Batman because honestly he’s already better than him. If DC actually sticks to their guns here and lets the Titans actually step up it’s a pretty interesting premise. 

The Titans have handled worldwide threats before, so it’s not really a problem of whether or not they’re strong enough. The Titans in their prime weren’t really a one-city team, they flew all over the place and got into all sorts of adventures. The lack of members isn’t really a problem either, unless you’re watching Justice League unlimited, it’s usually just one core team of members with the Titans, and the Titans have a bunch of auxiliary members they can call on. However, there is one pretty big difference between the League and the Titans which would make them function differently. 

The League are Earth’s Greatest Heroes, they’re like the All-Star Team that gets handpicked from the best of the major leaguers. They don’t really have the kind of complex in-group relationships that the Titans do. The Titans on the other hand are just kind of a bunch of traumatized kids who were thrown together at one point. As a whole too, the Titans are more likely to work without the system than within it. 

So, there is an interesting conflict you could set up for Dick which is to have the Titans take on the level responsibility that the Justice League had, but with a team that functions in almost an entirely different way than the Justice League did, because they’re living together and they all grew up together. The Titans solving the Justice League level problems, but learning to do it in the Titans way. 

4. Aqualad / Garth

So, Garth’s totally been brainwashed by Brother Blood, right? 

On a more serious note, the scene with Garth is interesting because both Garth and Roy have been despite being founding members, more like sixth stringers of the Teen Titans as a whole throughout most of the Titans runs. Basically the only run where they are regular members of the team is the Titans run in the 90s. 

One of the events that caused the breakup of the original Teen Titans from the silver age is the fact that Garth was so insecure about his place on the team that he literally faked an illness so he wouldn’t have to go out on missions. 

If he’s not being brainwashed though, Tom Taylor has explored ideas of the atlanteans being a little more extreme about environmentalism before in the Injustice 2 comic. It’s a potentially interesting plot-thread considering DC recently has been taking a more sympathetic view of environmental extremists like Poison Ivy making them lean more into being anti-villains / anti-heroes. 

It could be an interesting turn for Garth, because he is a distant member of the team, and he’s also got other priorities besides being a hero on the surface. I for one, think it would be great if Garth turned into Namor, but that’s just my huge crush on Namor speaking. 

That’s pretty much all of my thoughts for now. If you enjoyed me rambling about Beast Boy, and some other nerds whatever their names were, please feel free to send me asks!

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

The Young Justice League

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/cbMTrOI by Kotoyumei In a world where heroes are celebrated as society's protectors, the Justice League stands tall, shielding the powerless from the dangers they cannot face alone. But behind the mask of glory, being a hero is not glamorous—it's sleepless nights, gunshot wounds, and medications meant to numb overwhelming abilities. It's being feared for something beyond your control, hated for powers you never asked for. In a society where the very people you save can call you a monster, heroes find solace only among each other, in the sanctuary of their chosen family. But this reality isn’t reserved just for adults. What about children, those born with powers or brilliance beyond their years, who are forced to learn far too early in life that life is not, in fact, fair. They face the same fear, cruelty, and isolation. Too different to fit in, too exceptional to be understood, they walk a fine line between acceptance and rejection. As the world struggles to accept those too different from them, what becomes of the children who must live in the shadows—too young to be heroes, but far too powerful to live ordinary lives? This is the story of how The Young Justice League was formed. Words: 2186, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Series: Part 1 of The Shattered Reflection of a Hero Fandoms: Young Justice - All Media Types, Young Justice (Cartoon), Young Justice (Comics), Justice League - All Media Types, Teen Titans - All Media Types, Teen Titans (Animated Series), Teen Titans (Comics), Batman - All Media Types, The Flash - All Media Types, Green Arrow (Comics), The Flash (Comics), Batman (Comics) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Underage Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M, Multi, Other Characters: Wally West | Kid Flash, Dick Grayson | Robin, Roy Harper | Speedy, Garth | Aqualad, Bruce Wayne | Batman, Barry Allen | The Flash, Oliver Queen | Green Arrow, Arthur Curry | Aquaman, Diana Prince | Wonder Woman, Hank Hall | Hawk, Don Hall | Dove, Fanny Hall | Falcon, Iris West, Garfield Logan | Beast Boy, Victor Stone | Cyborg, Jason Todd, Other Character Tags to Be Added Relationships: Dick Grayson & Roy Harper & Wally West, Garth & Dick Grayson & Roy Harper & Wally West, Dick Grayson & Wally West, Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent/Lois Lane, Barry Allen/Iris West, Dinah Lance/Oliver Queen, Don Hall & Hank Hall, Wally West & Everyone, Other Relationship Tags to Be Added Additional Tags: Vigilantism, Wally West-centric, Kid Fic, Kid Wally West, Kid Dick Grayson, Good Friend Roy Harper, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Romani Dick Grayson, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Canon, Canon Rewrite, Out of Character, Coming Out, The Author Regrets Everything, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Additional Warnings Apply, Author Is Sleep Deprived, Why Did I Write This?, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Hurt No Comfort, Angst, Crushes, Secret Identity, Secret Organizations, Young Justice Team as Family, Team as Family, Family Issues, What Have I Done, Character Death, Minor Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Violence, Domestic Violence, Projecting My Trauma Onto The Characters, No Smut, Time Travel read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/cbMTrOI

[ao3feed-timkon]

In the Shadow of Speculation

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/HdZ0lGX

by nerdpoe

Daniel Nightingale, ex Fenton, moves to Gotham for a fresh start. It's next to his friends, it's so very different from Amity Park, and Lady Gotham has promised her Knights will protect him.

The world as he knew it has changed, and no longer has a place as a combat hero. Not when he's more likely to flinch than to dodge, not when the sight of a knife is enough to force him back to a time and a place he never wanted to see again. In an attempt to adapt, Danny turns to being a specialized hero-medic; his sole focus is helping and evacuating, not fighting.

Except that no one told him Death Energy had the same reading to Geiger counters as gamma radiation. It isn't, but apparently Geiger counters can't tell the difference.

Words: 6125, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types, DCU

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Characters: Danny Fenton, Jazz Fenton, Vlad Masters, Frostbite (Danny Phantom), Danielle "Dani" Phantom, Danielle "Ellie" Phantom, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Duke Thomas, Cassandra Cain, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Jon Lane Kent, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Stephanie Brown, Roy Harper, Lian Harper, Bart Allen, Cassie Sandsmark, Garfield Logan, Jack Fenton, Maddie Fenton, Dan Phantom, Sam Manson, Tucker Foley, Lois Lane, Alfred Pennyworth

Relationships: Danielle "Ellie" Phantom & Jon Lane Kent & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake & Jason Todd, Danny Fenton & Tucker Foley & Sam Manson, Cassandra Cain & Tim Drake & Dick Grayson & Duke Thomas & Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Danny Fenton & Jazz Fenton & Danielle "Ellie" Phantom & Dan Phantom

Additional Tags: Prompt Fill, multiple prompt fills, Medic!Danny, Criminally insane!Jack and Maddie, Misunderstandings, Past Torture, Past Abuse, Healing, Healing through helping others, Threat of Nuclear Annihilation, but not really, Rehabilitated Dan Phantom, Training Villain!Dan, League Therapist!Jazz, College student!Ellie, Overcoming Trauma, People Think they Know what Danny's power is, they don't, Danny plays along and lets them think they do, Ghost King!Danny, The power of friendship, Not Phantom Planet Compliant (Danny Phantom), Ecto-Contamination | Liminality (Danny Phantom), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Flashbacks, Healing is not linear

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/HdZ0lGX

[ao3feed-birdflash]

The Mysteries of Wayne Manor

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3hEtdU8

by The_stars_ship_us

Roy visits Gotham to attend an old friend’s wedding where he’s reintroduced to his Dick’s brother, Jason Todd. He also meets the mysterious Red Hood, a supposed ghost tied to Crime Alley. As feelings begin to blossom, Roy starts to suspect the Waynes of having a double life. Has he been reading too many adventurous fairy tales to his daughter or is there actually something going on?

Words: 5675, Chapters: 2/10, Language: English

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Red Hood/Arsenal (Comics)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Roy Harper, Jason Todd, Lian Harper, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, Background & Cameo Characters

Relationships: Roy Harper/Jason Todd, Dick Grayson/Wally West, mentioned rachel roth/garfield logan

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Regency, Regency, Slow Burn, Secret Identity, Identity Reveal, Identity Porn, Getting Together, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, Oliver Queen tries to be a good parent, Roy Harper Is Not Arsenal, yet - Freeform, implied/reference to alcohol abuse, implied/reference to drug abuse, Jason Todd Has PTSD, implied/reference to torture, minor physical violence, the bats are cryptids, no beta we die like robins

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3hEtdU8

[slimeypuppy]

@rororoy asked on the analysis of Roman's Trauma Post who I think did it, and this is something I wrote like three thousand words on over private message with @heartofmarjan today, but hear me out:

I think it was Kendall, but it was Connor's idea, and Logan knew.

I can explain, I swear. Watching the bachelor party and the family therapy episodes were very telling for Roman. Most important to look at is the way both he and his brothers talk about the Dog Pound game; Roman doesn't explicitly attribute this game to being CSA, but he does classify this game as very traumatizing. He talks about it with a lot of venom. The two main things that stick out is his connection between the Dog Pound game and bedwetting (which I went into on the analysis post), and the second is the way Kendall and Connor talked about it.

"You liked it, though."

"You loved it."

"It was weird, but you really enjoyed it."

Their insistence Roman enjoyed it is what seems to be most distressing to him. He also has unreliable memories regarding this, which is common in C-PTSD, CSA, and general childhood trauma. I believe the Dog Pound game was the first and the most ongoing experience Roman had with CSA, but it was not the only one (given his allusion to other incidents which Kendall genuinely does not recall, which he may be combining due to traumatic memory issues).

I believe that Kendall physically did it, but not that it was his idea. Later on, Kendall and Connor have a conversation in which Kendall asks for assurance that Roman liked what happened, and Connor asserts that Kendall also liked it. He likens it to two dogs fighting, and says Roman was sent away because he was weak.

Unlike Logan, I believe Connor does love the other Roy children, but he's still a bad person. Connor, we've seen, has one relationship (Willa, which is a whole cab of worms), but is frequently more than a little controlling and strange regarding family affairs. The conversation between Kendall and Connor suggested to me that Connor told Kendall to do what he did, and that it was held over both of their heads- Kendall won't tell anyone if he's the physical perpetrator. Connor retains the control and sexual gratification of the act without actually getting his hands dirty. Roman was the target solely for being the family punching bag (see every interaction Roman has with the rest of the family) and as such, was an easy target.

Look at the ages: Roman was four, which means Kendall was seven. Connor would've been in his late teens at the youngest. This also took place over a long period of time, but specifically at Kendall, Roman and Shiv's mother's house, a place Connor would have had no reason to be, but Connor had specific details and knew enough to know Roman "liked it" when Kendall played that game with him?

And, you know, there's the therapy episode, in which Roman threatens to tell their father that Connor abused him. This is played as a joke and I personally believe it was- I don't think that Roman would actually tell on him if Connor did anything. But Connor hems and haws about Roman's joke until saying, "you don't think that, do you?" Because he's not sure if Roman holds him accountable in any way.

I believe Logan was aware- and it's why he sent Roman off to military school. In order to "toughen him up" Roman, he sent him away. This would also allow time for everything to die down and would prevent Roman from telling anyone what happened. Besides that, Connor implies Logan knew about the Dog Pound game.

I think Kendall carries a large amount of guilt over this, and a lot of shame. I also don't think Roman necessarily cares a lot about it, but he definitely does still hold a grudge. While he is angry at Kendall and Connor both about it, especially the present day victim blaming, he doesn't let it define the relationship he has to Kendall in particular. Such is the nature of Roman Roy, who trauma bonds with anything that hurts him.

It should also be said that Roman's trauma response of making every situation sexual includes his family members above all else, which suggests his abuser(s) comes from the Roy family, and this is in my opinion the most plausible version of events.

This was the sparknotes on my full opinion, but in short, I think that a lot of people are to blame for it, and Kendall was the physical perpetrator but not the predator in this situation.

[majoris]

food for thought: let’s cry about the Roy kids together

Okay, so lemme start with this: I don’t know why it’s today and not at any earlier time that it dawned on me that Logan Roy could have some traits/case of a narcissistic personality disorder. I honestly don’t know, because that road of inquiry lines pretty nicely with a few things. Whatever the case of that might be, I was just sitting around and had a thought™: is Logan a narcissist? So, as any person would have done, I’ve googled it and of course I’ve stumbled upon some interesting articles which has led me... well, here I guess.

Not sure if anyone posted something similar on tumblr dot com - I’m guessing yes, but if so I haven’t seen it anywhere around so that’s my excuse for this one (pls let me know about such post/s ‘cause I’d love to read ‘em) - but I wanted to share some fun information I’ve just acquired with you all so we could cry about the Roy kids together & have some things to mull over etc etc

disclaimer! Those are not an original thoughts/ideas of mine and I do not take credit for them. What’s more I don’t feel the need to paraphrase nor do I feel eloquent enough to dish it out on my own. I do not think this is ‘the definitive’, neither is it the full read on those characters but it is an interesting side to look from if you haven’t already. All I want here is to lay some things on you in the form of quotes and such for fun and games and soul hurting times if you haven’t ventured into this particular avenue just yet. All the links to the articles will be provided at the end (or wherever tumblr will let me add them for this post to be visible in tags) if you want to read from the source.

& just to be safe, #TW for talk about PTSDs, trauma responses, narcissistic parenting and general ‘Succession things’ (& spoilers)

the Roy Kids and ‘The 4Fs’

Shiv & 'The Fight' Type

Ken & 'The Fawn' + 'The Fight/Fawn' Type

Roman & 'The Flight' Type + 'The Flight/Freeze'

Connor & 'The Freeze' Type

+ bonus: Logan & Narcissistic Father

sources:

“Succession” is Really a Tragedy About Narcissistic Parenting The 4Fs: A Trauma Typology in Complex Codependency, Trauma and the Fawn Response The Narcissistic Father Tyrannical Narcissistic Fathers Push Everyone Around Toxic Narcissistic Family Dynamics Explained My Father the Narcissist

& shout-out to @iceinherheart-kissonherlips​ for being my enabler in this

[phoenixlionme]

DC/Marvel Disabled Supers

DC

1. Barbara Gordon aka Oracle - paraplegic; wheelchair user

2. Tim Drake aka Red Robin - asplenia (missing spleen)

3. Arthur Curry aka Aquaman - arm amputee; uses prosthetic

4. Jessica Cruz aka Green Lantern - PTSD, trauma, anxiety, agoraphobia (fear of being in certain situations or places with no way to escape easily)

5. Alinta (last name unknown) aka Bolt - double leg amputee; uses double prosthetics

6. Bart Allen aka Impulse - knee prosthetic

7. Andy Curry aka Aquagirl - leg amputee; uses prosthetic

8. Dolphin - mute

9. Mia Dearden aka Speedy II - HIV positive

10. Bruce Wayne aka Batman - PTSD, trauma

11. Val Zod aka Superman of Earth 2 - agoraphobia (fear of being in certain situations or places with no way to escape easily)

12. Victor Stone aka Cyborg - multiple amputee

13. Frankie Charles aka Operator - muscular dystrophy; double crutch user

14. Joseph Wilson aka Jericho - mute

15. Rose Wilson aka Ravager - eye loss

16. Freddy Freeman aka Shazam - unknown medical issue; single crutch user

17. Darla Dudley aka Shazam - wears eyeglasses

18. Eugene Choi aka Shazam - wears eyeglasses

19. Cassandra Cain aka Batgirl - autistic spectrum, mute, dyslexic

20. Roy Harper aka Red Arrow and Arsenal - arm amputee; uses prosthetic

21. Dr. Midnite (all versions) - blind

22. Niles Caulder aka The Chief - paraplegic; wheelchair user

23. Asami Koizumi - heterochromia; from the animated Young Justice series

24. Adam Evans aka Rubberband Man - dyslexic; from the animated Static Shock series

25. Mary Turner aka Strix - facial disfigurement and mute

26. Zatanna Zatara aka Zatanna - addiction to her magic

27. Carrie Kelley aka Robin - wears eyeglasses

28. John Constantine aka Hellblazer - lung cancer, PTSD

29. Kate Kane aka Batwoman - alcoholism (recovered), PTSD

30. Richie Foley aka Gear - wears eyeglasses; using the version the animated Static Shock series

31.  Luornu Durgo aka Triplicate Girl - multiple personality disorder

32.  Nimue Inwudu aka Madame Xanadu - blind

33. Lori Lemaris - paraplegic; wheelchair user

34. I-Ching - blind

35. Titan Girl - mute

36.  Maxine Hunkel  aka Cyclone - depression

37.  Todd Rice aka Obsidian - schizophrenia and depression

38. Nathaniel Heywood aka Citizen Steel - amputee (unknown body part), substance use disorder, and chronic pain.

39.  Garth Ranzz aka Lightning Lad - arm amputee; uses prosthetic

40. Thom Kallor aka Star Boy - schizophrenia

41.  Jane Morris/Kay Challis aka Crazy Jane - multiple personality disorder

42. Jonah Hex - facial disfigurement

43. Ted Kord aka Blue Beetle I - heart condition

44. Michael Jon Carter aka Booster Gold - arm amputee; uses prosthetic

45. Lucy Lane aka Superwoman - blind

46. Cliff Steele aka Robotman - multiple amputee

47. Kala Lour aka Gold Lantern - blind

48. Ghostmaker - real name unknown; blind

49. Danica Williams aka Flash - uses inhaler

50. Renee Montoya aka The Question II - recovering alcoholic

MARVEL

1. Matt Murdock aka Daredevil - blind, depression

2. Frank Castle aka The Punisher - PTSD, trauma

3. Ororo Munroe aka Storm - claustrophobia (fear of small spaces)

4. Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee - dyscalculia (difficulty understanding numbers)

5. Logan aka Wolverine - PTSD, trauma, amnesia, chronic pain

6. Silhouette Chord aka Silhouette - partially paralyzed; double crutch user

7. Flash Thompson aka Agent Venom - double leg amputee; uses double prosthetics

8. Stephen Strange aka Dr. Strange - hand nerve damage

9. Wade Wilson aka Deadpool - cancer, facial disfigurement, chronic pain, psychosis

10. Jane Fosters aka Thor - cancer, chronic pain

11. Stick - blind

12. Maya Lopez aka Echo - deaf

13. Forge - leg amputee; uses prosthetic

14. Takeshia Matsuya aka Wiz Kid - paraplegic; wheelchair user

15. Tony Stark aka Iron Man - pacemaker, heart issues, alcoholism, PTSD, trauma

16. Nick Fury - eye loss

17. Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel II - alcoholism, amnesia, PTSD

18. Eugene Milton aka Puck - dwarfism, chronic pain

19. Irene Adler aka Destiny - blind

20. Thor Odinson - eye loss

21. Bruce Banner aka Hulk - PTSD, trauma, his relationship with Hulk (from what I’ve read) can be read as split personality, depression

22. Marc Spector aka Moon Knight - multiple personality disorder

23. Xuyen Kieu Manh aka Karma - leg amputee; uses prosthetic

24. Cassandra Webb aka Madame Webb - blind

25. Nadia Van Dyne aka The Wasp II or III - bipolar disorder

26. Clint Barton aka Hawkeye I - deaf

27. James Rhodey aka War Machine - in the MCU he suffered from paraplegic during a fight and uses mechanical braces to walk; I personally would like to see this route explored and canonized

28. Steve Rogers aka Captain America - before the serum, he had various disabilities which depends on the source, they included the following: rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, asthma, bone deformity/scoliosis, anaemia, heart trouble, colour blindness, partial deafness, having a limp due to polio. If it were up to me, I would have Steve keep the asthma, scoliosis, heart trouble, color blindness, partial deafness, and limp even after the serum

29. Bucky Barnes aka Winter Soldier - PTSD, trauma, amnesia, arm amputee; uses prosthetic

30. Lunella Lafayette aka Moon Girl - wears eyeglasses

31. Charles Xavier aka Professor X - paraplegic; uses wheelchair

32. Odin - eye loss

33. Misty Knight - arm amputee; uses prosthetic

34. Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic - autism

35. Jessica Jones - alcoholism, PTSD, depression

36. Alicia Masters - blind

37.  Eddie McDonough aka Hornet - cerebral palsy

38. David Haller aka Legion - mental illness

39. Ben Grimm aka The Thing - depression

40. Nathan Summers aka Cable - eye and arm amputee and technovirus that affects prosthetics; uses robotic eye and arm prosthetics

41. Rocket Raccoon - mechanical mutilations

42. Nebula - multiple mechanical mutilations replaced by robotic parts

43. Scott Summers aka Cyclops - anxiety, autism, depression, OCPD (Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder), TBI (traumatic brain injury), needs special eye wear

44. Tyrone Johnson aka Cloak - he was shown in his early comic appearances with a stutter, but it has been largely forgotten. If it were me, I would keep the stutter and cast someone with one.

45. Angelica Jones aka Firestar - breast cancer

46.  Jeanne Marie Beaubier aka Aurora - multiple personality disorder

47. Blind Al - Blind

48. Warren Worthington III aka Angel - wing amputee; uses prosthetics

49.  Gertrude Yorkes aka Arsenic - wears eyeglasses and chronic anxiety

50. Rachel Summers - unknown trauma disorder

51. Claudette St. Croix - autistic

52. Monet St. Croix aka Penance - autistic

53.  Dr. Ted Sallis aka Man Thing - mute

53. Karolina Dean - bipolar

54.  Dinesh Deol aka Grid - arm amputee; uses prosthetic

55. David Alleyne aka Prodigy - wears eyeglasses

56. Julia Carpenter aka Spider Woman/Arachne II/Madame Web II - blind (after becoming second Madame Web)

57. Lorna Sally Dane aka Polaris - bipolar

58. Hank Pym aka Ant Man - bipolar

59. Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch - psychotic break, anxiety, depression, recovering alcoholic 

60. Robert Reynolds aka Sentry - schizophrenia

61. Riri Williams aka Ironheart - PTSD

62. Robbie Baldwin aka Speedball - anxiety

Please be respectful with your comments. If I missed anyone, please add.

[zoethespiritwolf]

Request page

I have decided to open up a request page here on Tumblr where you can see what kind of requests for fanfics I can write. Please submit these requests in the ‘Ask me anything‘ section.

You can also send some questions about me there as well and I will try to reply as soon as possible. The same thing goes about the requests - I will try to do them as soon as possible.

Anyway, here are the rules:

I won’t write:

OC x character fanfics (example: Bucky Barnes x Lucinda)

Character x character (both from the same fandom and different fandoms, I may end up throwing this kind of ship in one of the oneshots, but they won’t be the main focus on the story)

Lemons (I might include a sneak peek and will do NSFW alphabet headcannons, but that’s as far as it will go, no full lemon)

I will write:

LGBTQ+ ships

Fluff, SFW and NSFW alphabet headcannons

Headcanons (in general)

Yandere scenarios

AU’s (for example ‘Hamilton AU! Undertale‘)

Teacher/mentor x reader relationships (platonic!!!)

Parent/daughter scenarios (example: Lafayette x daughter!reader)

Characters (mostly the reader) with mental, physical and other problems (anorexia, depression, autism, ADHD, PTSD, etc.)

Character deaths (main characters included)

POC! Reader x character ships

Angst

Fluff

Here are the fandoms/themes/characters I will write for:

Hamilton:

Alexander Hamilton

Elizabeth Schuyler

Angelica Schuyler

Lafayette

John Laurens

Philip Hamilton

Aaron Burr

ROTG:

Bunnymund

Jack Frost

Sandy

Tooth

Pitch Black

ATLA (Avatar the Last Airbender + Legend of Korra):

Sokka

Katara

Zuko

Princess Yue

Iroh II

Mako

Korra

Bolin

Asami

Kuvira

Suyin

Opal

Dreamworks (no TV series, only movies):

Moses (Prince of Egypt)

Rameses II (Prince of Egypt)

Hiccup (HTTYD (All Movies))

Astrid (HTTYD)

Miraculous Ladybug:

Luka

Adrian

Marinette

Alya

Chloe

Felix (the anime version)

Six: the musical:

Catherine of Aragon

Anne Boleyn

Jane Seymour

Anna of Cleves

Catherine Howard

Catherine Parr

Voltron the legendary defender (all seasons):

Keith

Shiro

Lance

Allura

Lotor

The Arcana: A Mystic Romance :

Asra

Julian

Portia

Nadia

Valerius

Lucio

Muriel

The Irregulars

Sherlock Holmes

Bea

Leopold

Billy

Spike

Jessy

Vatson (platonic mostly)

This page might be edited at some point so be sure to check it out from time to time for any changes.

All of the finished work that I have uploaded from my Wattpad account to Tumblr you can see on my Masterlist page.

Anyway, happy reading and requesting!

[ao3feed-westallen]

Between Dimensions, Time and Space

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3lctEB7

by zazimorx

The Crossover that probably no one asked for but here we are. Marvel + DC Crossover. Hopefully you have fun and stick around, I would really appreciate it! :))

OR:

As both sides are trying to cope with their best friends supposedly „dying“, they find themselves reminiscing about events of the past, some find themselves moving on and some even, find themselves playing with the idea that maybe, just maybe, their friends aren’t dead at all...

DISCLAIMER: None of the Characters belong to me so that’s that. Hope you have fun reading!

- zazimorx

Words: 3421, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Young Justice (Cartoon), DC (Comics), Marvel (Comics), Ultimate Spider-Man (Cartoon 2012)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M

Characters: Wally West, Dick Grayson, Artemis Crock, M‘gann M‘orzz/Megan Morzz, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Kaldur'ahm/Kaldur, Zatanna Zatara, Raquel Ervin, Clone Roy Harper | Will Harper, Roy Harper, Jaime Reyes, Bart Allen, Cissie King-Jones, Cassie Sandsmark, Cassandra Cain, Garfield Logan, Queen Perdita of Vlatava, Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Damian Wayne (aged up), Mal Duncan, Karen Beecher, Dinah Lance, Red Tornato, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, Norman Osborn, Phil Coulson, Nick Fury, May Parker, Ava Ayala, Danny Rand, Luke Cage, Sam Alexander, Richard Rider, Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, Kara Danvers, Querl Dox, Jenni Ognats, Danica Williams, Dawn Allen, Don Allen, Iris West, Iris West II, Jai West, Meloni Thawne, Thaddeus Thawne, Chris Kent, Jon Lane Kent, Bruce Banner, Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, Amadeus Cho, Cindy Moon, Samuel Chung, Hannah Chung, Matt Murdock, Nabu (DCU), Kent Nelson, Inza Cramer, Joan Garrick, Jay Garrick, Cassandra Savage, Vandal Savage, Anniyah (OC), Aurelia (OC), Laren (OC), Aila (OC), Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, Diana of Themyscira, Barry Allen, Barbara Gordon, Donna Troy, Tandy Bowen, Tyrone Johnson, Flash Thompson, Miles Morales, Ben Reilly

Relationships: Artemis Crock/Wally West, Kaldur'ahm/Wyynde, Kon-El | Conner Kent/M'gann M'orzz, Peter Parker/Mary Jane Watson, Ava Ayala/Danny Rand, Luke Cage/Jessica Jones, Bart Allen/Jaime Reyes, Cassandra Cain/Cissie King-Jones, Cassandra Savage/Traci Thirteen, Bart Allen/Eduardo Dorado Jr., Jaime Reyes/Traci Thirteen (eventual break-up), Garfield Logan/Perdita, Stephanie Brown/Tim Drake, Barbara Gordon/Dick Grayson, Danny Rand/Colleen Wing (past), Dick Grayson & Wally West, Artemis Crock & Dick Grayson, Dinah Lance/Oliver Queen, Barry Allen/Iris West, Anniyah (OC)/Aurelia (OC), Kent Nelson/Inza Cramer, Jay Garrick/Joan Garrick, Sam Alexander/Jessica Cruz (implied), Kyle Rayner & Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon & Wally West, Donna Troy & Wally West, Dick Grayson & Donna Troy, Tandy Bowen/Tyrone Johnson, Cindy Moon/Ben Reilly

Additional Tags: Time Travel, Different Dimensions, Crossover, Wally and Peter go time traveling!, they don’t have any choice in it though..., Different time periods, like... I’m talking ancient Egypt and company, Sam searches for Peter in Space, Richard and the Guardians help, while he’s at it Sam also searches for his Father, Inter dimensional travel, Dick and Bart search for Wally, Artemis finds out later on that the whole limbo situation was a hoax, Zatanna and M‘gann better strap in, because a fight is brewing.., and not just between the three of them, Conner is gonna be pissed, Ava and Danny and Luke search for Peter on earth, We also get some LGBT+ Content, i‘m so glad that I can bring that to you guys, Flash regrets his bullying, (and is redeemed), WALLY IS BEST SPACE DAD FUCKING FIGHT ME, he‘s like the Dad the legion needs, Peter too tho, like Wally and Peter are best Dads, Nabu is exasperated, Aurelia is a worried big sister (to Wally and Peter), Anniyah and Aurelia Are pining, Wally and Peter Are forced to fight for entertainment, so are Jason and Kara, at least for a while, Querl is Wally and Peters science son you cannot convince me otherwise, Jon Lane Kent you angsty little bitch-, Miles is worried out of his mind, Peter can’t be dead, Not Again, Artemis is trying to move on (and failing miserably), Dick can’t let go of the past, Will is trying to talk sense into him, depictions of rape, Character will recover don’t worry, lots of fluff afterwards, Depictions of depression, depictions of ptsd, Panic Attacks, Flashbacks, (good and bad), basically just a lot of violence, and having to fight to stay alive, Everyone is basically a fucking mess ok?

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3lctEB7

[ao3feed-timdrake]

Jason Todd Protection Squad

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2w8KiwF

by HellionOfTheOutlaws22

1.) Damian Wayne & Jason Todd 2.) Titans!Jason returns to Gotham after s02e07 ...... Includes Headcanon elements.

Words: 560, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Titans (TV 2018), Under the Red Hood, Batman - All Media Types, Young Justice - All Media Types, Red Hood and the Outlaws (Comics), Red Hood: Lost Days

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: Gen

Characters: Jason Todd, Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne, Hank Hall, Roy Harper, Alfred Pennyworth, Garfield Logan, Barbara Gordon, Slade Wilson, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, Talia al Ghul

Relationships: Talia al Ghul & Jason Todd & Damian Wayne, Jason Todd & Damian Wayne, Talia al Ghul & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth & Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth & Jason Todd, Garfield Logan & Jason Todd, Roy Harper/Jason Todd, Roy Harper & Jason Todd

Additional Tags: Jason Todd-centric, Jason Todd Needs A Hug, Jason Todd Has Issues, Jason Todd is Robin, Jason Todd is Red Hood, Jason Todd Deserves Better, Jason Todd Feels, Hurt Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth is the Best, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, Dick Grayson is Bad at Feelings, Evil Slade Wilson, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Implied/Referenced Torture, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Jason Todd Has PTSD, Lazarus Pit Madness, Secret Crush, Damian Wayne Needs a Hug, Protective Damian Wayne, One Shot Collection, Jason Todd protection squad, Brothers, Resurrected Jason Todd, Good Parent Talia al Ghul, Talia al Ghul Tries, Jason is a Dork, Post-Episode: s02e05 Deathstroke, Post-Episode: s02e07 Bruce Wayne, Protective Bruce Wayne, Headcanon, Jason-Centric, Alfred Pennyworth is a Saint

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2w8KiwF

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

The Mysteries of Wayne Manor

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/oBS1Qry

by The_stars_ship_us

Roy visits Gotham to attend an old friend’s wedding where he’s reintroduced to his Dick’s brother, Jason Todd. He also meets the mysterious Red Hood, a supposed ghost tied to Crime Alley. As feelings begin to blossom, Roy starts to suspect the Waynes of having a double life. Has he been reading too many adventurous fairy tales to his daughter or is there actually something going on?

Words: 5675, Chapters: 2/10, Language: English

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Red Hood/Arsenal (Comics)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Roy Harper, Jason Todd, Lian Harper, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, Background & Cameo Characters

Relationships: Roy Harper/Jason Todd, Dick Grayson/Wally West, mentioned rachel roth/garfield logan

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Regency, Regency, Slow Burn, Secret Identity, Identity Reveal, Identity Porn, Getting Together, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, Oliver Queen tries to be a good parent, Roy Harper Is Not Arsenal, yet - Freeform, implied/reference to alcohol abuse, implied/reference to drug abuse, Jason Todd Has PTSD, implied/reference to torture, minor physical violence, the bats are cryptids, no beta we die like robins

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/oBS1Qry

[ao3feed-timkon]

In the Shadow of Speculation

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/HdZ0lGX

by nerdpoe

Daniel Nightingale, ex Fenton, moves to Gotham for a fresh start. It's next to his friends, it's so very different from Amity Park, and Lady Gotham has promised her Knights will protect him.

The world as he knew it has changed, and no longer has a place as a combat hero. Not when he's more likely to flinch than to dodge, not when the sight of a knife is enough to force him back to a time and a place he never wanted to see again. In an attempt to adapt, Danny turns to being a specialized hero-medic; his sole focus is helping and evacuating, not fighting.

Except that no one told him Death Energy had the same reading to Geiger counters as gamma radiation. It isn't, but apparently Geiger counters can't tell the difference.

Words: 6125, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types, DCU

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Characters: Danny Fenton, Jazz Fenton, Vlad Masters, Frostbite (Danny Phantom), Danielle "Dani" Phantom, Danielle "Ellie" Phantom, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Duke Thomas, Cassandra Cain, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Jon Lane Kent, Kon-El | Conner Kent, Stephanie Brown, Roy Harper, Lian Harper, Bart Allen, Cassie Sandsmark, Garfield Logan, Jack Fenton, Maddie Fenton, Dan Phantom, Sam Manson, Tucker Foley, Lois Lane, Alfred Pennyworth

Relationships: Danielle "Ellie" Phantom & Jon Lane Kent & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake & Jason Todd, Danny Fenton & Tucker Foley & Sam Manson, Cassandra Cain & Tim Drake & Dick Grayson & Duke Thomas & Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Danny Fenton & Jazz Fenton & Danielle "Ellie" Phantom & Dan Phantom

Additional Tags: Prompt Fill, multiple prompt fills, Medic!Danny, Criminally insane!Jack and Maddie, Misunderstandings, Past Torture, Past Abuse, Healing, Healing through helping others, Threat of Nuclear Annihilation, but not really, Rehabilitated Dan Phantom, Training Villain!Dan, League Therapist!Jazz, College student!Ellie, Overcoming Trauma, People Think they Know what Danny's power is, they don't, Danny plays along and lets them think they do, Ghost King!Danny, The power of friendship, Not Phantom Planet Compliant (Danny Phantom), Ecto-Contamination | Liminality (Danny Phantom), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Flashbacks, Healing is not linear

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/HdZ0lGX

[thatyellowfinch]

Random DC Characters as things my friends said

Bruce Wayne: I am terminally unsurprised.

Dick Grayson: Love and sharp objects. It really is a family.

Jason Todd: I love killin' things.

Tim Drake: I am tired as a fiddlestick who hasn't gotten any sleep.

Damian Wayne: I can't take Red Robin seriously when it's a fucking restaurant.

Kate Kane: Legendary Super Lesbian.

Jean-Paul Valley: If you can dodge a flaming sword you can dodge a ball.

Tiger King of Kandahar: I will tear out your large intestine and make you wear it like a scarf. Maybe then you'll have some fashion sense.

Lonnie Machin: I would be anarchy if I wasn't so lazy.

Harley Quinn: Stop jumping into acid, that does you a death!

Pamela Isly: These are my dick-stompin' heels.

Kyle Rayner: Art is basically a god.

Hal Jordan: Oh my gosh I'm going to become the well-meaning antagonist in a sci-fi movie, aren't I?

Milagro Reyes: I can be space police.

Jaime Reyes: Let the beetle say fuck!

Barry Allen: Speed-friending.

Wally West: Bofa deez up dogs.

Bart Allen *postcrisis*: Diets are a social construct.

Bart Allen *Earth16*: This kid is gonna have PTSD out the wazoo.

Mick Rory: I don't know why me trying to set you on fire isn't working.

John Constantine: Well the walls are bleeding so I guess I'm at home.

Kara Zor-el: WHY AM I GETTING SO PUMPED UP ABOUT AMERICA RIGHT NOW?

Kon-el *postcrisis*: Gravity is for scrubs.

Roy Harper: We need to figure out a cure for being high.

Rose Wilson: Hey Joey back me up here. -silence- K thanks.

Slade Wilson: Old Man Pt. II; This time it's personal.

Cassie Sandsmark: Wait, did you say "fight girl" or "white girl"?

Lilith Clay: I think--and this is only what I think--but I think that's called therapy.

Garfield Logan: Why does he have to be green?

Tula: You should never hug a pufferfish.

Lex Luthor: Looks like the farm boy's finally dead.

Jinx: 420 curse it?

Bizarro: Hey, Superman, can I wear your skin for a bit?

Klarion Bleak: Chaotic Evil; The Musical.