#not even demon timing she was probably like

[burrowkit]

I stare up at the indestructible being. Finding his summoning spell was relatively easy. Stupid easy, really, when you think about it. And yet, somehow it was surprising.

A being that lives for eons.

He looks around the space. A tiny living room in my tiny apartment. "Let me guess, you want riches beyond your imagination?" He drawls, looking dissatisfied with the request. "At least that's easy. Most demand murders and riches. A thousand tasks, to set me free."

I keep silent. I know he's looking at my falling apart couch, which is easily older than I am. Maybe even twice as old as me. It's a pullout couch, something that weighs a ton but is still functional.

I've drawn the star with my couch in the middle. Not that I wanted to sacrifice it, but it really was the only place it fit. I glance against the nearby wall. A twin bed.

Because all I can afford is this tiny, bachelor apartment.

The cupboard doors are falling off... if they're even there. The closet door sits in the closet, having equally fallen off.

Some of the windows are boarded up.

"Well...?" The being pushes, staring down at me.

I carefully examine him. The more time he spends here, the more time he shifts his appearance. His hair takes on a yellower blonde than its original platinum. As if all colour had once been leeched from it.

His eyes glow with the brightest blues, as if he once belonged to the skies, fell, and the only memory being of the sky in his eyes.

I reach for a strand of my hair that fell onto my cheek. My platinum blonde hair. I tuck it behind my ear.

It shocked the nurses on my birth that I was born with the same sky blue eyes. Eyes that almost appear unnatural.

My mom has dark hair with a few golden highlights. Her eyes are a deep brown, with a few sparks of red and gold in them. As if he were a treasure. Or at least, that's what my dad supposedly said about them.

"I want you to teach me," I inform him, shifting my weight between my feet, unsure how to explain this.

"Teach you? Teach you what?" The demon prods, as if he needed more direction.

Re-thinking the words, he probably did.

For a being that's visited this world frequently, even without a summoning spell, I was still surprised to find four copies of his summoning spell. One at the local archives. One at the pawn shop. One in my mom's belongings.

The last, on my father's gravestone.

"My mom, she died of cancer," I try to explain. I thought I had practised this speech. Nothing compares to what I actually expected of him.

"And you want her brought to life, hm? That'll cost you extra," he informs me.

No. As much as I'd like my mom back, I know she'd hate being dragged back to her mortal shell.

Still, how hard is it? How hard can it be?

"We need to talk," I inform the demon.

"So. Talk," he spits at me.

I can tell he's becoming furious with me.

You're my father.

I can't seem to get the words out. Instead, I head over to my small desk, on the opposite wall of my bed, scooping up the letter and returning to the edges of the circle. I hold it out to the demon, and he swipes it.

He stares at the paper, and for a moment, I'm unsure of what he'll say. What he'll do.

And maybe that's why I decided to trap him in a spell instead of allowing him to roam free. At least here, he won't be able to escape and avoid his parental obligations.

"Who's your mom?"

I freeze at his words, forcing myself to look into his eyes. His eyes, which are now the exact hue mine are. I flinch, nervous. I look towards the photo at the head of my bed, and he follows.

There, a single photo lies of my mother on my first day of school.

"My Angel," he whispers, looking back at me. "You must be Charlotte."

I nod my head, staring up at him. He shifts again, his height shortening. Closer to my own height. Maybe so he can look me in the eyes easier. "I go by Char," I offer out a hand.

He takes it tentatively, shaking my hand. "Josh."

"I know," I smile at him. "My mom told me all about you."

He nods, looking around the space, releasing my hand. "So, I'm guessing you want to learn about who you are, what abilities you may have inherited, how long you'll live, right?" He inquires, moving around the circle.

"Something like that," I mutter, grabbing a seat on the edge of my bed. "I'd also like to know what mom was."

His head snaps to look at me, looking a tad surprised. "She never told you?"

I shake my head. "She left me a box that told me how to contact you. Then, I confirmed it by finding more copies..." I trail off, nodding to the other papers on my desk. "You're ridiculously easy to call."

He snorts in response. "That's cause most humans covet the best of things."

Implying he's one of the better demons to summon. I have to wonder if it's because he behaves well, or because he works well with others.

On some bizarre instinct, I snap the circle, releasing him from the requirements of the spell. It was an additional step in my mom's copies. In fact, some of the other ones have other additions. I opted to trust the one on my father's grave and in my mother's notes.

He grabs my chair by my desk, pulling it over to the bed. He sighs, taking a seat. "I never did find out what your mother was. Not an angel, but she was my angel," he offers. I'm not entirely sure what he means, but I get the sense that he truly did love her. As much as a demon can, you know. "Which would make you half of her and half a demon," he continues to explain. "Your life will likely be long living. Assuming you can refrain from playing with those dark spells."

He pauses, watching me carefully.

Dark spells.

Yes, my mother's box contained a grimoire containing all sorts of spells. Any time I tried to look at the worst of them, the book would rearrange the papers, preventing me from looking.

I already know why.

My mother, in her attempt to help conceal my nature, used dark magic. It's what truly gave her her cancer.

There are some dark spells I could play with, ones that leave no mark. Ones that would play on my demonic nature. And yet... I have to question why anyone would ever play with the other spells. Even the pages seem to be marked with a general feeling of oil and grease.

"As for your powers..." he trails off again. He whips his hand down, and suddenly a book appears. "This would be a good starting guide."

I take the book tentatively, flipping through the first couple of pages. It provides yet another summoning spell for my father. One that, like my mother's, calls upon Josh directly. But this one has no summoning circle. In fact, it's awfully similar to using a cell phone and calling him.

I flip to another page, describing the beginning guide of my physiology. There's a section on my father's powers. And another section dedicated to the abilities his known offspring have.

Known offspring.

Which likely means I'm not the first, nor the last of his children.

When I look up, about to ask him another question, I know he's already gone.

In fact, on my kitchen counter, I notice a small pile of coins. My couch, which is still in essence, the same, has been fully repaired. My falling apart home is now repaired to its former glory.

I flip to the last page of the book. There, an inscription lies.

If I had known you were on your own earlier, I would have stopped by. No child of mine should ever want for anything. Call if you ever need help, although do try to keep it interesting. There's only so many times I can rip the intestines out of a human before that gets dull.

Oh, and to answer your likely unasked question... there is a spell within this book that'll point you to your siblings. Be warned, they are older. But they all have one human parent. I stripped your mother's spells of protection from you. This will allow you access to your full ability.

PS- Although you never lived in luxury, it was due to your mother choosing to invest all of the child support to your education and future. You should have access to it all soon. I have attached one of my favourite photos of you. I'm sorry it's just a copy, not the original. I still need it.

Love, Josh

I look just below the note, and discover a photo. One that was taken by a stranger.

It was on my birthday. Mom and I decided to travel to Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia. I smile at the memory, at the kindness of a stranger willing to take a photo of us standing next to the lighthouse.

I flip the photo around, and discover a second one behind it. One of the stranger taking a selfie with the camera, and us.

My dad.

Even though his appearance is different, now that I know him, I know it's him.

My father.

I wonder if he's kept a close eye on my through my life? I wonder, setting the book carefully onto my bed and heading for the kitchen.

There, along with the money, is a photo album. I flip it open and discover photos of my mom and I.

Primarily, photos of us on vacation. And, each one is accompanies with a 'selfie' of a stranger. A different one each time, but even through the photo, I know it's him.

I smile, remembering we had to stop taking vacations when I was still so young.

Or, if we did, we'd take them in secret.

But, I find photos of him with my mother. Her business trips, supposedly.

Which implies that, although he couldn't physically check in on me, he still sought out my mom. And, she clearly kept him up to date.

A single tear drop touches the photo album. Then, with some protection magic, it sizzles and disappears, leaving the book in its flawless condition.

"I love it, dad." I give a sad smile, wondering if I'll ever be able to have a close relationship with him.

I head towards my bathroom, and there, I find a variety of objects. Soaps, shampoos, cleaning supplies.

The weirdest part? The cleaning supplies seem to be working themselves on my bathroom. The most expensive products I couldn't afford for the last few months. They're scrubbing at the mold I was sure I'd never get out.

"Thanks, dad," I smile sadly at it.

The products multiply, quickly opting to clean the rest of my apartment, now that their presence is known.

I laugh. If this is some sort of spell to keep my apartment in tip top shape, I could get used to it. Although...

I look over at the money.

It's enough that I could upgrade. Still, although this was one of the few apartments I could afford myself, I did partially choose it because of its location.

I pick up the album once more and curl up on my bed, closing my eyes. Maybe, just maybe, I can make the best of my life.

I flip to the first page of the book.

Chapter 1. How to contact Josh in an emergency.

The demon collapsed onto your bed. A vacant stare in his eye as he uttered “this is the 10,000th time I’ve been summoned. can we make it easy? Please?”

[ode-to-fury]

A Moment's Peace

Just a very very short Rookanis drabble

He watched her, sometimes, when he knew she wouldn't notice.

It was stupid, useless. He did it anyway.

He watched as her eyes lit up with mirth at a joke Davrin made as they walked. Watched as a soft smile appeared on her face when she saw two children playing in the street, the dimple deeper in one cheek than the other, because her smile always pulled to the left. He watched as she frowned, two delicate lines appearing between her brows, and wished he could take away whatever was causing it. Watched as the Rivaini sun glinted off her golden hair, made her skin glow and her eyes shine.

Just then, he turned from the stove where he had been preparing their dinner, and saw her asleep on the couch across the room.

She'd been reading, keeping him company in one of the rare moments they had time to themselves, but it seemed she'd given up, and put the book on the floor, and curled up on her side, facing toward him.

He tried not to think about what that meant. The fact that she felt safe enough to sleep with him in the room. Failed, to keep that warmth from blooming in his chest at the thought.

Failed, to keep from watching her. For once, he didn't have to worry about her seeing his gaze linger, and it was with the hunger of a starving man that his eyes devoured her, roving over her face, trying to memorise the lines of it. The slant of her cheekbones, the arches of her brows, the exact slope of her nose, the shape of her lips. The way she seemed so much younger in sleep, at peace.

When the door opened, he didn't know how long he'd been standing there, simply looking.

"Evening, Lucanis," Emmrich greeted him cheerfully, then winced when Lucanis put a finger to his lips and drew Emmrich's attention to the couch.

"Ah," the older man said, smiling sheepishly, "Forgive me, I thought it was just you."

"The food is almost ready," Lucanis said, aware that Emmrich probably knew that. He was always the first to drift toward the dining room in the evenings.

"Should we wake her?" Emmrich asked him, stopping by the couch. Lucanis noticed the softening of his face as he looked down at her sleeping form. Had to bite down on Spite's exclamation of MINE, lest he startle everyone and wake her up.

My thought... OUR thought. MINE. OURS.

"Up to you," he said instead, keeping his voice carefully calm. "Perhaps, before the others come."

He didn't want anyone else to see her like this. Selfishly, he wanted to keep this to himself, the way her bottom lip pouted out slightly as she slept.

"Rook?" Emmrich said gently, bending down. He reached out to touch her shoulder. "Dinner is almost ready."

Her eyes shot open, and she sat up immediately, her hand reaching for a blade that was, thankfully, still in her room. Lucanis felt a wave of heat wash through the room as her magic gathered.

A moment later she relaxed, her grey eyes focusing on Emmrich's face, realising she was in the Lighthouse, not in danger.

He wondered what she'd been dreaming about.

"Emmrich?" She asked, her voice groggy in a way that settled somewhere low in Lucanis's gut. Even Spite shivered in satisfaction at the sound.

She reached up to rub her eyes, swinging her legs off the couch so she could sit.

"Dinner is almost ready," Emmrich said, smiling at her. "We thought it best to wake you before the others came in."

Her eyes flicked up to his own, and they softened around the edges. She knew it had been him that suggested it. Knew, and thanked him for it.

"Probably for the best," she said, stretched her arms up above her head. He could hear her spine pop even from across the room.

Emmrich held out a hand to help her up, and she took it, going so far as to curtsy in thanks. Lucanis felt his mouth twitch despite himself. Ridiculous.

Smells like... wanting and lying. Desire like a knife, like metal.

He frowned at the demon, then shook his head, taking the dish he was making off the fire.

"It's done," he declared, "Let it cool a little bit before you eat."

Rook pulled a face at him, and he grinned back. He couldn't help it.

When he knew she wasn't looking, he snuck another glance at her, trying to memorize the way her eyes twinkled with mischief.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

what do you think is going on with the malfoy family tree? it kinda cracks me up how it’s basically just a trunk, like father and only child son all the way down and they *all* look very similar? it makes me wonder if one of their ancestors made a deal with like, an actual demon to functionally clone themselves forever…and a cursory google search tells me Lucious and Abraxas are demon-y names, although this naming scheme doesn’t quite fit for the entire trunk (i realize the answer is probably just jkr getting lazy/not wanting too many characters to account for but where’s the fun in that)

Hello 👋

I think what's going on with the Malfoy family tree is the same thing that's going on with the Potter family tree or the Weasley family tree — that is, JKR/whoever on Pottermore made them didn't bother writing any family tree in detail other than the Blacks (and even the Black family tree is flawed, but more on that later). It's not necessarily that JKR doesn't know what the tree actually looks like, she just never wrote it out where we can find it. This is the Malfoy family tree:

Looking at the tree, it has more Blacks on it than Malfoys. Hell, even among the Malfoys we are seeing, we're not only lacking the wives of all these Malfoys but potentially generations as well, since Armand Malfoy (unless the one on the tree is a second Armand, which is possible) is the name of the first Malfoy that arrived in England with the Normans in the 11th century. Just from looking at it, it's clear the tree is lacking and is not a full version of it.

And the Malfoy's aren't the only lacking family tree:

If we look at the "official" Potter family tree, not only are there many unnamed members and skipped generations, but we are missing some known members, such as, Charlus Potter, who married Dorea Black and is a cousin or brother of either Fleamont or Henry (we don't really know how old Charlus is and both are a possibility).

The "official" Weasley family tree is similarly lacking. Not only is Muriel on it as a Weasley although she is a Prewett, not a Weasley, and many Prewttes actually are present on this tree as if they are Weasleys. The familial relationships are clearly missing. We know Muriel is Molly's aunt and Ron's great-aunt ("Your Great-Aunt Muriel doesn’t agree" (DH)). We know Lancelot Prewett is Mureil's cousin ("For your information, Elphias, my cousin Lancelot was a Healer at St. Mungo’s at the time" (DH)). We know Uncle Billius is Arthur's brother. That both are sons of Septimus and Cederella and that they have more brothers (as implied at the wedding in DH). Similarly unmentioned is that Ignatius Prewett is married to Lucritia Black and that they are likely Molly's parents. None of this information is on this tree even though it's canon in the books and written there clear as day.

Because of this, I just assume that the trees we have are clearly not the full versions. (I actually have my own version of various family trees that I made based on quotes and book evidence + the bit of info we have from Pottermore and the above trees + some headcanons that I usually work with). Also, I'm pretty sure these above trees weren't made by JKR at all. They were illustrated by Jessica Roux who was a Pottermore artist and I don't know how much JKR gave her to work with. So, I take the various "official" family trees with a hefty grain of salt and take book quotes as evidence over them.

This skeptical approach includes the Black family tree JKR made which I believe has mistakes in it. Not only with the ages of Cygnus and Pollux, but it's missing members such as Araminta ("and Araminta Meliflua . . . cousin of my mother’s . . . tried to force through a Ministry Bill to make Muggle-hunting legal" (OotP)) who should be on it (as Sirius points to her on the family tapestry in the books) but she's nowhere to be seen in JKR's tree.

That being said, I don't think the full version of the Malfoy family tree is much different in the current generation. Like, I think Lucius, Draco, and Narcissa are the only Malfoys around when the books take place. But I believe there were more Malfoys in prior generations and they inter-married other pure-blood families much like any other pure-blood family.

I sort of headcanon that both Narcissa and Andromeda (and perhaps Bellatrix) had certain problems with fertility. I mean, both Andromeda and Narcissa seem to me to be characters who would've wanted more children if they could have them. Both place their families in very high regard, especially their children, so it seems, somewhat off to me they don't have at least 2 children each, you know? It seems oddly out of character from what we see of them. Since it's both of them, and they are sisters, a genetic issue with getting pregnant (or carrying a pregnancy to term) seems like a plausible explanation to me.

(I kind of also think Bellatrix has the same issue and that she and Rodolphus tried to have kids and couldn't. Even if you want to go with some of CC canon and have her have Delphini, it actually makes a lot of sense. Like, if she slept with Voldemort thinking she couldn't get pregnant and then did. idk, I find this hypothetical more interesting for them)

[onmyo-jin]

original prompt, i hope you don't mind.

zyz + zyc = kiss, the others see them.

Thank you for the prompt, I don't mind at all :D I hope you enjoy these two being idiots

Zhao Yuanzhou's lips are hot against his own. He can taste the wine the demon had been drinking on his tongue when he licks into Zhuo Yichen's mouth and flushes at the realisation that the demon can probably taste his own tea as well. Zhao Yuanzhou surrounds him, envelops him, seems intent on consuming him and Zhuo Yichen is considering letting him do just that. He pushes ever closer to Zhuo Yichen, forcing him to step back to keep his balance. Then his back hits the wall. He has nowhere to go, and nowhere he'd rather be.

From somewhere off to the side Zhuo Yichen distantly registers a gasp, which seems unimportant. The snort that follows does seem important enough to distract his thoughts from the all-consuming demon in front of him. He knows that sound: that is their little mountain god– oh no.

"We should… ah, leave, Xiao Jiu," Ying Lei's voice sounds. The surprise of it, of the others seeming him–them– like this, makes Zhuo Yichen push the demon away. Zhao Yuanzhou moves without complaint, and follows Zhuo Yichen's shocked look towards their friends. His smile is nothing short of evil.

"Don't look Bai Jiu, this is not a demon hunting technique you are old enough to learn just yet," Zhao Yuanzhou says, his voice filled with laughter. He tries to lean against Zhuo Yichen again, but Yichen steps away. A quick glance at their friends tells him Ying Lei has at least covered Bai Jiu's eyes, though probably too late. Bai Jiu's jaw is practically on the floor, and he's not even trying to remove Ying Lei's hand.

/

Dinner is awful. It is even more awkward than Zhuo Yichen feared it would be, and Zhao Yuanzhou is making everything much worse by being nice. He insisted he wanted to sit next to Zhuo Yichen, something Bai Jiu argues with him about practically every meal. Then he insisted he pour the drinks, and worst of all: he keeps putting food in Zhuo Yichen's bowl. They're his favourite foods as well, none of the soggy vegetables but only the crunchy ones, the slices of meat that are neither all lean meat nor all fat… Zhuo Yichen is forced to ask himself how long the demon has known what his favourite foods are, and how closely the demon has been watching him to find out.

Ying Lei is looking anywhere but at Zhuo Yichen, Bai Jiu is sitting on the far side of the table barricaded behind Pei-daren, and Wen Xiao's attention is fixed very firmly on her food from where she sits opposite them.

Da Yao tries to put another bite of food in his bowl, and this time Zhuo Yichen has had enough of his games. He grabs his bowl before Zhao Yuanzhou's chopsticks get there, and hisses: "Stop making everything worse, you great bloody demon!"

Across the table, Wen Xiao makes a sound that might have been a snort, had she been any less genteel about it. She finally looks at him, for the first time that meal, and Zhuo Yichen immediately knows why she has been looking away for so long. The laughter in her gaze in threatening to spill out of her mouth, mirth drawing adorable lines around her eyes and scrunching her nose the way she used to laugh when they were younger.

"Xiao Zhuo," she is definitely laughing at him, and what is worse is that she's trying to be nice about it. "Xiao Zhuo, what took the two of you so long?"

Ying Lei guffaws a laugh and quickly hides his face in his rice bowl when Yichen looks at him. At the far end of the table even little Bai Jiu is nodding along with Wen Xiao. "Really, the two of you have been so painfully obvious, tiptoeing around each other for weeks–" Pei Sijing plants a heavy hand on his shoulder to stop the incriminating words. "What Xiao Jiu is trying to say is that… well…" She looks at Wen Xiao for aid, and Zhuo Yichen follows her gaze.

Wen Xiao is shaking with quiet laughter. She sits up straight when she notices that everyone has turned to her, and takes a deep breath to quiet her mirth. And then another one, because one was not enough. "What we're trying to say is that the two of you are the last to notice your mutual attraction." 

"Hey! Come now, Zhuo-daren may not be as perceptive, but I–"

"And when did you notice, Da Yao?" "Uhm," the great demon mutters, and mumbles something that sounds an awful lot like yesterday.

[bespoke-nautilus]

Professor Vaisce looked mildly confused. Confused, but not alarmed, which was odd, considering they were standing in the midst of a blazing forest fire in one of the oldest growth forests on the planet.

He was shuffling through an unorganized stack of papers, looking for all the world as though he was standing in the front of a lecture hall and had forgotten his notes.

Instead of being soot-stained and standing surrounded by crackling blaze that was making short work of the Sequoia Grove.

Tag just stared at her mentor. "Did. Did you do this, Dr. Vice?" Her voice shook a little. It was probably the smoke that was making her hoarse. "Did you set the grove on fire!?"

A charred, cracked trunk, bigger around than the professor himself, finally gave up the fight and came crashing to the ground in the distance, sending up a cloud of smoke and embers. The professor startled, looking up from his papers. "Hmm? Oh, the fire, yes." Tag couldn't see the professor's eyes. The flames surrounding the clearing were causing odd reflections in his spectacles. Dr. Vaisce looked more like a demon right now, soot-black fur and pits of orange light where his eyes should be. "All according to plan, my girl! No need to worry!" He patted Tag on the shoulder. An anemic attempt at reassurance. "After all, surely that new hero, Mayhem, wasn't it?, shall be along shortly! Always seems to be around these parts, yes?"

"Besides, the powers that be generally need a bit of spectacle to be convinced to change their ways, yes?" He chuckled, "And what better way to showcase the mismanagement of these forests than a bit of conflagration!"

Tag's mouth hung open, astounded, "So you DID do...all this!?" She gestured around at the forest, aglow in a hellish blaze, "But Professor! This is...too much, it's all gotten out of hand!" She scrubbed at her face, probably smearing ash further across her cheeks. She didn't care at this point.

Wait. Her classmates! Had they gotten out!?

"Professor! Where is the rest of the class! Did..." an uncertain pause, "Did you...do something to them!?"

To his credit, the doctor looked a bit chastened. Hurt, even? "What? Of course not! Those students are under my care! I do not shirk my duties!"

He glanced around, hand falling back to his side. "I suppose there could be other hikers about, but I did ensure that our trip was scheduled during the off season, so as to limit any casualties." The professor took off his glasses, smearing the round lenses with a handkerchief in an attempt to remove some of the soot. "Quite upsetting, but sacrifices must be made, at times!" He smiled paternally at his ward, eyes crinkling up at the corners. "Class 17b will be quite all right, however, do not worry! Mx. Ishii is escorting them out as we speak!"

Shouts began echoing from the trailhead

"Ah! Here they come now!" The rest of Tag's class came pouring down the trail, seemingly mostly unharmed, if scraped up and singed. "See? Perfectly well!"

The languid form of the TA slunk around the corner, apparently assisting one of the more injured teens. They brightened, a snaggletoothed grin spreading across their face, "Oh, there you are, professor! And you've even managed to locate our slipperiest pupil? Little Tag! I am pleased to see you safe." They handed off the limping student and walked over, "So. This whole fire business seems quite daunting! I don't know how the fire marshalls will handle it!"

Mx. Mallon Ishii practically purred as they leaned a bit too close to Tag, whispering into her ear with a smirk, "That seems like a problem for you, yes?"

A shiver ran down Tag's spine as she jerked away from the older figure, eyes wide, and stuttered, "Wh...what do you mean!? I don't know how I would do anything to this!"

One of the better off students, Eric, jogged up to the group, "Professor! Mx. Ishii found a safe trail out! Do you need any assistance?"

Dr. Vaisce looked at the boy a bit vacantly. "Hm? Oh! No, I think I, Mx. Ishii, and my protege here will see if we can save any samples from the immediate environs, and catch up to you all! Do be safe, dear boy!" He patted the man on the shoulder, dusting off a bit of ash.

Eric looked a bit confused, but seemed to shake it off, and replied, "Um. Okay, Dr. Vaisce. If you're sure? I'll come back in 5, if I don't see you, then..." He jogged back to the stragglers of the group, most of which had disappeared around the curve on the opposite side of the clearing.

The professor watched after him, murmuring, "Good lad." His focus shifted back to Tag as the rest of Class 17b made their way out of the clearing, his eyes losing the warmth from a few seconds ago.

"So. Ms. Tag. Perhaps you should 'make a call' to your hero friend?"

Tag's eyes grew even wider and a strangled, loud, "What!?", emerged. She tried again. "I mean. What do you mean? What, um 'Hero Friend'?"

The professor cocked his head, eyes narrowing. "Hm. I suppose you can keep up the charade, then. The clock is ticking, however."

Mx. Ishii sidled up to the doctor, resting a pointy elbow on his shoulder, "Yup! Ms. Mayhem should probably hurry, unless she wants this all to spread! The fire is spectacularly large!" They cackled, which was swiftly cut off by a hand grasping their throat.

The professor squeezed a bit harder, lifting Mallon's gangly form a bit off the ground. "Yes, Malice, this IS a rather large conflagration, and yet, I distinctly remember specifying a small one." Ishii's hands clawed at their throat, making a strangled noise. "Well, what have you to say for yourself?"

Another choking attempt at speech.

"Why, what is wrong, dear partner?" A cruel smile cracked the doctor's face. "Cat got your tongue?"

He dropped his assistant, who came to rest in a heap, gasping. In a strained voice, "Well, Doctor, to be fair, you did assign the firebug to set fires." They grinned, "Surely you expected something of the sort!"

The doctor sighed, and reached out a hand to help up the taller cat. "Hm. Well, perhaps we shall have do some further training with you." He looked at Mal fondly, "Whatever shall I do with you, my dear?"

Ishii took his hand and a smile played about their lips, "Oh, you shall have to punish me, I suppose!"

Straightening themselves, the two older cats turned to Tag, eyeing her impassively.

Tag was lost in a whirl of emotions. Adrenaline pumping, confusion running high, she stared at her mentors.

"Did. Did you just call them...Malice?"

The professor's amused golden eyes bored into hers. "Of course, dear girl. I would have expected you to figure such things out by now!" He pursed his lips, "But perhaps you are not quite the hero I thought."

He turned and began walking towards the clearing exit at a leisurely pace. "Come along, Malice, we have much to do!"

"Coming, Doctor!" Ishii turned back to Tag and purred, "Well, now would be the time to, heh, 'call' your friend Mayhem, I think! Good luck with all the fire!" Turning, they jogged back to the professor, and hooked their arm through his.

When the two had fully vanished amongst the burning trees, Tag let out a shuddering breath that she hadn't been aware she was holding.

And then her brain caught up.

Oh. They knew.

Her mentors knew.

Her mentors were also, apparently, Dr. Vice and Malice.

So the two villains who'd been tormenting her since her unintentional debut knew.

Dr. Vice, and his insane assistant, Malice, knew the secret identity of Ms. Mayhem.

meanwhile, vice looks like a mildly confused professor turned evil in front of the last sequoia: hmmm? oh yes, the fire. on purpose. according to plan. mostly. i think, let me check my notes....

and malice: oh the fire? yes, i suppose that might be a problem. for you.

You're right.

[midnightshade]

I find myself thinking about Kokushibo and his family a lot. His wife and children, I mean.

Him abandoning them was wrong, but at the same time, I can't entirely blame him. It was clearly an arranged marriage and one that he wasn't happy in. Even though he described it as "peaceful", he also followed that up with "boring." For someone like Kokushibo, who's entire passion is swordsmanship and improving himself, I can see how that would ultimately lead to a feeling of discontent and listlessness.

However; my sympathy also extends naturally to his wife and children. Just like him, they were forced into a situation they also had little choice in. Kokushibo's wife was arranged to him, just as he was to her. The children didn't ask to be born. In the panel depicting Kokushibo leaving, it's easy to tell that they did love him. His wife looks devastated while his eldest tries to run after him, reaching out to grab his leg or his hand to keep him from leaving.

I see many discussions surrounding Kokushibo and his feelings towards his family, but ultimately I feel the situation is more complicated than one or the other. I don't think he hated them, nor do I think he truly loved them. He felt shackled, perhaps even resentful of his circumstances, but he did ultimately express regret at having abandoned them.

Kokushibo likely had more complicated feelings, perhaps more than he understood or was willing to admit. Having two children with a woman, one who was visibly devastated by his departure, and having his eldest child try to stop him from leaving seems to me like a pretty good indicator that, while he was with them, Kokushibo was a fairly good husband and father.

They loved him. I think Kokushibo had at least some fondness for them, too. Not enough to stay, not enough to consider his wife his "true love", but enough to treat them kindly while he was with them and to feel regret for his actions upon his death.

I do find myself wondering how his wife and children coped after his death. Financially they were probably fine, but emotionally is another thing. His wife probably had to live with the knowledge that the man she loved, or at least tried to love, didn't return the feelings. At least, not enough to prevent the final outcome.

His eldest would grow up with bittersweet memories and confused feelings. He would remember the excitement he'd felt when he was small and his father came back from his most recent mission, or the memories of Kokushibo holding him or promising to teach him how to wield a sword, all of that muddied by the pain and resentment of being left behind, of hearing his mother crying in despair.

His youngest would forever have a void in his heart. Never having had memories of his father, but longing to have known him and subsequently feeling guilty for longing for the man who abandoned them. Did they ever ask their mother or elder brother, or were they too scared to prod at old wounds?

Did they ever fully pick up the pieces? Did Kokushibo ever think of them, as a Slayer or as a Demon? I suppose we'll never know.

[lol-jackles]

It's been a while since we talked about SPN. So I wanted to ask you what you think of this essay on Sam (if you have the patience to listen to it, it's about 20 minutes). For some things the author's opinions are legitimate but for others, in my opinion, they are not. Especially for the finale, on which I do not share this opinion at all. www*youtube*com/watch?v=xLCB4RhiP5A&t=4s

I'm not even going to add the link, which tells you what I think of Rachel's opinion. I only agree that season 4 was a bit of a misfire.

Three minutes into the video and I was already bored with her complaints over the "lack" Sam's autonomy and pov.  Her Dean blaming got old really fast. Yeah, Dean is unfair towards Sam but 1) that's what brothers do, and most importantly 2) that's what happens to main characters, they constantly get shitted on. One of the biggest reliefs in real life is realizing you're not the main character. In The X Files, Mulder is called a loser even by the freaks and rarely given grace. Nobody apparently trusts Bode in Fire Country despite saving lives. Xena was always getting reminded of her less stellar past in Warrior Princess.

Sam girls get mad when stuff from Sam’s past gets brought up because they think he’s being unfairly punished for it.  At least Sam’s past is valid enough to be mentioned.  Cas’s storyline gets the LOL treatment and Dean’s arcs are always getting dropped; his hell trauma, tenure as the torturer’s apprentice, Michael’s vessel, demon, MOC, all are dropped and largely forgotten.

Probably the only time the AAs and I are in agreement is Dean's pov means squat because Dean isn't being talked about by other characters. Dean and his pov mainly revolve around Sam. To quote a casual observer I found on tumblr: Sam gets the larger story arcs in the show and Dean gets more of the “silly and fun” filler episodes.

As for Sam's autonomy, my guess is she and I have differing views on the meaning of the word. IMO, autonomous characters often have these traits:

A tendency to resist authority (Sam rebelling against John, Dean, Lucifer, and Chuck)

High level of self-assuredness (Sam knows himself outside the hunting lifestyle)

A need for personal space and privacy (Sam is a private person and admits not sharing his deep personal issues with Dean)

A preference for independence in social situations (Sam is not a follower)

An innate desire for control and decision making power (Sam's life long issue, demon blood infection made it worse)

A desire to set and achieve individual goals and aspirations. (Sam's consistent endgame through the entire series)

A character with autonomy means they have ability to act independently and make decisions without being influenced by others. They have strong sense of self, able to think critically, are self-sufficient and able to take responsibility for their actions. Doesn't that last sentence sound like Sam Winchester to the tee?

Oh yeah I very much Disagree with her take on the series finale.  Sam didn't die a bitter old man, what the heck was Rachel watching??? Sam peacefully passed away in his house with his beloved son at his side. Sam's son was clearly a well adjusted young man with a happy childhood. Happy well adjusted offsprings don't come from bitter parents. Sam wasn't bitter, sad yes, but not bitter because he accomplished the goal he had since his own childhood: to have a normal life outside of hunting and raise his own family. Most SPN fans were happy or satisfied with the finale because the Winchester legacy lives on.

[elwenyere]

AO3 Wrapped

Even though 2024 was my worst year for fic-writing by almost any numerical metric, it was also a year when I wrote some of the pieces I'm most proud of, including stories and ships that the me of several years ago would never have thought were in her wheelhouse.

In order of composition, here are five fics I wrote for five different fandoms that helped me discover something I loved.

-----

Separation (Top Gun, Icemav, 7k, M)

This fic started with me asking what it would look like to write a Top Gun story that leaned into the context of the Reagan 80s and the AIDS crisis rather than bracketing it. It was very different from anything else I'd written, and I quite feel attached to the version of Ice that emerged in this world.

Rope's End (Star Wars, Codywan, 17.8k, E)

a.k.a. the Pirate AU. When I conceived of this WIP, I thought it was going to be a fun, self-indulgent romp to write, and while I did certainly indulge myself, the fic also grew in many directions I hadn't anticipated. I'm very happy with the Cody and Fett family layers it developed.

More Like Misery (TOG, pre Booker/Andy/Quyhn, 1.4k, M)

I love this sad little character study, which was born when I started thinking about Booker and Quyhn dreaming about each other for hundreds of years while she died. Writing it helped me indulge a very particular craving, for which I hope the sequel will offer even more tasty food.

Hypnagogia (Inception, Arthur/Eames, 15.9k, E)

I had such a good time writing this: probably the most unhinged (positive) I've felt while writing this whole goddamn year (derogatory). It started as a note that said "Arthur x Eames sleep paralysis demon?!?" and ended up being a story about what self-concept means to a forger and what happens when they lose it.

However Stern and Iron (MCU, Stony, 19.7k, T)

[movie trailer announcer voice] The fic that took me three whole years to write... I'm hugely relieved I finally found the focus to put in the groundwork for this story: a Victorian AU that led me in unexpected directions and relied on what felt like a fairly risky experiment in style. It was a slow, challenging process, but I'm happy with the result.

-----

Thank you to everyone who shared the joys and struggles of creating with me this year: I appreciate you all very deeply, and I wish you the best energy possible for 2025. <3<3<3

[almacambiondaughterofsaleos]

Ok so I feel kinda silly being so miffed by the client subplot in Sinmas, but broo why are we trying to justify cheating?? Like I was more so forgiving of that aspect with Stolas and Blitz's relationship up until now because yk, they're in hell, they're supposed to be messy, I'm not expecting everyone to make the best decision 100% of the time and I was holding out hope they'd flesh Stella out more. HOWEVER the client subplot feels like it's literally there to say oh, see cheating isn't THAT bad yk as long as the woman's a total bitch and totally, probably, deserved it. Like it honestly bummed me out more than anything because God forbid we look at it from the woman's perspective who may I remind, is spending her Christmas alone, in hell, while her cheating husband gets to have his Happy ending with the guy he cheated on her with. And we're supposed to hate this woman??? Man that just does not bode well for what they're gonna do with Stella I fear. And it just makes me sad honestly, for a show all about bad ppl having more to them than meets the eye, I hate how the way Stolas and Blitz's relationship feels like it's been ripped straight from a badly aged fanfic. Please, I BEG can we stop demonizing exes (majority women) so much? Thanks.

It's because she's homophobic and a Karen we can dismiss her even though they had worse client they had to make her specifically based on Stella so that they can hammer it home that nothing Stolas does is wrong and she probably deserved to get cheated on. Seriously, this is just so much creator pet coddling. And again maybe instead of the client being demonized she could have a change of heart if the family acknowledged her presence and maybe kept her memory due to the girls still wanting to keep a piece of her in mind and this allows the hit to be called off. They say this show is about grey matters when it's bs when it's clearly just to justify their asshole character's shitty behavior.

[ateez-himari]

Hi bb!!! I've officially finished my exams and I have a holiday break so I'm feeling happy!!! I saw another anonie sending asks so now I have to up my game 😌(jk)

I had some questionssss

-Has hima ever been an mc on mubank before? and if so who was her partner/s

-I was rewatching teez's performance on MMA and I was wondering if the fans cheered really loudly when mingri's part came

-How do the stylist like to dress hima up? Taking in consideration that she's the only female idol in KQ plus in ateez they probably doll her up

-idk if this is weird but I feel like mingi and hima probably don't give a f anymore about their closeness after becoming publin and I'm talking about shamless glances and smirks

-would hima rather know what the future's holding for her or go back in time and change something in her past

-can I request so soft mingri moments I'm in my feels because of the weather🥹🥹

Ily so much bb, take care and eat well mwahh!! 💓💓

Hi sweet!! Congratulations, now you can finally get some more than deserved rest!! 😘 I actually still have one ask to answer from that anon but i got writer's block for it 😭(ANON IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS I'M WORKING ON IT DON'T WORRY!!)

• Our little social butterfly was an easy choice for Music Bank and they paired her with Sunwoo from THE BOYZ since both have a similar outgoing personality (it was also after Kingdom : Legendary War so it seemed like a natural pairing)

• Oh definitely! So many Atiny have been talking about wanting to see that part live so they were screaming their lungs out. Since it's a big award show they didn't kiss but Mingi took her chin in his hands and turned her face back to him, making her lose the stage demon facade for a second because she was so flustered

• Hima has had several stylists since debut - the first stylist respected the maknae's wishes and dressed her the exact same as the members (she left after becoming pregnant). The second would put more feminine spins on the outfits but they were still a lot more masculine than other girl groups (she was fired following Kingdom as she forced the maknae to show her scars). The current stylist is fully leaning into her charm, at times making her look more tomboy-ish but still keeping her delicate image, other times making the outfits are fully feminine. As Hima got older she's also begun to dress her in more chic clothing, enhancing her maturity without making her seem too old

Her favorite events to dress Hima for are award shows or concert encores because she can put her in dresses, cute shirts, legwarmers, put cute accessories in her hair, etc., (she loves dressing her up like a cute little doll). She gets kind of sad during Versace events because it's often the house's stylists or Donatella herself that dress her so she can't be the one to put her in all those intricate corsets or silky dresses :(

• They really can't find it in themselves to care anymore, there are so may clips from lives where she's sitting on his lap while wearing one of his boxers, she even brushed a hand across his "belt" (guys I swear it was the belt, guys....) during one of their concerts and stuck her tongue out at him while he was left blushing like an idiot. When there's some kind of innuendo these two are the first to look at each other (well actually sometimes it's Wooyoung and Hima and they can't help but to laugh their asses off)

• Hima isn't worried about the future, so she would rather turn back time; she would change the way her younger self viewed the accident. Of course everything was caused by grief, by her young mind being unable to understand everything going on around her, but one day she got angry at Hanzo after he had finally come out of his room to make her food as an apology. Hima had been dealing with so much at the time - solitude, Yoongi's mental health, the hardships of accepting new parents, her hearing disability that made every day more complicated, etc., - so everything blew up on him. The poor girl wasn't angry, she was in distress, she broke down crying and said things like "why did you abandon me ?" "you promised you would always be there when I needed you". If she could go back in time she'd make herself realize that Hanzo was suffering just as much as she was

• Of course you can! After Mingi sent the Fromm messages in which he expressed his intention to marry his girlfriend, she called him down onto the floor and began painting slivers of smoke along his bare arm - unfortunately he let his impulsive thought get the better of him and he smeared paint across her cheeks, which resulted in the two of them play fighting while trying to get as much paint on the other as possible

After Himari sent the Fromm messages revealing she was now studying Brain and Cognitive Science at KU, Mingi was having trouble taking a much needed nap so he pulled her in between his legs (on a bean bag) and she finished her study session tucked against his chest while his head rested on top of her own, sound asleep

At home she often forgets to put her hearing aid back in after a shower so when Mingi approaches her or is in the room, he moves with heavier steps so she can feel the vibrations or sends a series of one letter messages so that her smartwatch will vibrate several times (she learned to take that as a sign), so that she doesn't get startled because she didn't hear him

I always look forward to your asks!! ILYSM too Mina!! Make sure to rest plenty and have lots of fun now that the hardest part of the term is over! MWAHHH take good care of yourself 🥰🩷

[peacetheartiste]

Fully convinced that in the war, when AFO started wrecking people, Ibara Shiozaki was thinking, "This scoundrel is on demon timing!!!"

And then she prays for his swift downfall.

[biowaredisasterbisexual]

So, obviously, everyone has their own opinion and experience. How much Andrastianism in Veilguard is to your personal taste I couldn’t say. But based on your statements, I feel like we’ve played not just one but possibly several different games despite them having the same names.

Andrastianism isn’t “absent everywhere,” whether in plot, imagery, or even audio. As you yourself said, we go to the Temple of Andraste in Minrathous where people are both milling about and praying both inside and outside. So we see the Andrastianism happening, visually. And there is, contrary to your experience, ambient dialogue from NPCs we pass that reference the Maker (Andraste I believe as well, but I’d have to double-check that, and less reference to her would be expected as a schism over her importance is part of why the Northern and Southern Chantries split) both near the Temple and in other parts of Dock Town.

We also, in Minrathous with Neve, visit the Wall of Light, the city’s memorial for the dead and an explicit reference to the Chant of Light. Something of enough significance to Neve that she feels the need to go there before the end of her quest line. A Shadow Dragon Rook can even speak the traditional words of remembrance at that point. It’s fairly explicit Andrastianism. Different than it would look and be done in Ferelden, but that’s because we aren’t in Ferelden we’re in Tevinter.

I’m not entirely sure what the mixture of Northern to Southern Wardens would be at Weisshaupt, and I’m less certain than you are that Southerners would have a significant presence. Orlais’ Wardens were decimated at Adamant and may have even been disbanded at that time (dependent on player choice). Their numbers suffered regardless, and would have been hard to build back up since it has apparently gotten around that they tried to build a demon army (which is why in Veilguard the First Warden is so quick to throw them under the bus). Ferelden didn’t have any wardens to speak of until a cup of coffee before the Fifth Blight, as we see in Origins. And at the end of that blight had one or two. After Awakening maybe six? But there’s a bunch of conditional stuff to even hit that number, if I remember correctly. They’ve had some time to build up since then, but we don’t know how many went down from Ferelden at Adamant and Ferelden’s Wardens also don’t have spotless reputations due to the whole coup thing.

In any case, I agree that there probably are some devout Andrastians in the Wardens. But I think devout Southern Andrastian wardens - those whose Andrastianism we would recognize - are probably a very, very small minority. Not only for the reasons I already gave, but because they are competing with religious military orders that can recruit soldiers as children while generally only recruiting adults. I’m not surprised, since based on what we know their numbers are fairly small, we don’t personally run across a bunch of vocal devout Andrastian Southerners at Weisshaupt.

The people of the Anderfels are devoutly Andrastian, you’re absolutely right. But we don’t meet nearly any of them. Our only exposure to the region is through working with the Wardens in a fortress that is Wardens Only tm and in a town that has been so overrun with blight that nearly all of its inhabitants are gone. I’d be more inclined to agree with you, solely vis-a-vis the people of the Anderfels, if we interacted with more than a handful. But we don’t, we pretty much just interact with the Wardens which I already discussed above.

What you didn’t mention were Treviso and the Necropolis. We do get ambient dialogue in Treviso explicitly referencing both the Maker and Andraste (sometimes to blaspheme, but that was probably more than half the Andrastianism we got in DA2, too). Lucanis references them, and talks about having lost his faith while imprisoned and tortured (and reaching a state of hopeful agnosticism by later in the game which he is also open about). He has statues of Andraste in his house. It’s part of his character arc, even if it’s not the main focus.

The Mourn Watch is an Andrastian religious order. Their whole deal, different though it is to what we see in the South, is them being devoutly Andrastian. Just Nevarra mortalitasi-style. And we go through and attend to religious rites in that style with Emmrich.

We witness the results of slaughter by the Southern Chantry in a quest in Rivain.

Harding at one point straight up asks if we just disproved the Chant of Light.

Religion is discussed, where relevant, multiple times. (See, e.g., all of the above.)

Is it enough Andrastianism for you, or any individual player, personally? Maybe not. That’s okay. You’re allowed to feel that way. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Is it not there or in someway incorrect based on the lore of the game? I have a hard time understanding that argument.

I really don’t understand the criticism that Veilguard doesn’t include enough open, devout Andrastianism. Like, it just perplexes me?

Unlike the first three games, which take place in Southern Thedas (the purview of the Orlesian Chantry, the Sunburst throne), Veilguard takes place almost entirely in Northern Thedas. And it’s clear the Chantry’s role there is very different than in the South.

In Southern Thedas, the Chantry is a power unto itself. The Southern Divine, holder of the Sunburst Throne, occupies a place of real significance and power. She has her own militarized forces (the Templar and Seeker Orders). She politically has to interface with the rulers of the various places in Southern Thedas (Orlais, Ferelden, the Free Marches, etc.), but is not formally associated with or dependent on them. The South is comparatively poorer than the North, and we see a majority of services (taking care of orphans, medical care, the Circles, and very significantly education) being taken care of by the Chantry without necessarily much assistance from the relevant countries.

The Southern Chantry is an ever present figure in Southern Thedas, even for those that aren’t devout. And that is reflected in those stories and the cultures we learn about there.

The Tevinter Imperium is not like that. And that’s not terribly surprising. First, the Imperium pre-dates Andrastianism. They have another, older religion that helped form some of their cultural touchpoints. The Imperium did adopt Andrastianism, but did so as a consolidation of empire (which tracks with the Imperium being, in no small part, a reflection of the real life Roman Empire). As such, the Chantry is folded into and subordinate to the Imperium’s government. The real power in Tevinter, and control over the incidents of daily life that we see the Southern Chantry involved in, is the Magisterium and the Archon.

The Imperial Divine doesn’t control the Templars, the Magisterium and Archon do. He doesn’t control the Circles/education. That’s the Magisterium and Archon again. He is, in practical terms, less powerful than Dorian. He can’t make any real change as the Imperial Divine, so he dons a mask and runs a vigilante group to free slaves and make change that way.

The Northern Chantry simply isn’t as omnipresent as the Southern Chantry in the areas it exists, and it competes with a preexisting cultural backbone in a way the Southern Chantry doesn’t (because it largely stamped that out, though some of the Avvar and Chasind are still around).

I think a lot of people are comparing the impact of Andrastianism in Veilguard to that in Inquisition, because it’s the most recent, and the criticism spawns from that. But that…doesn’t make sense. The Inquisitor is leading a religious organization, ultimately affiliated with the Southern Chantry itself and founded by the left and right hands of the former Divine. It claims its legitimacy from Andraste herself (even if the Inquisitor doesn’t believe a single bit of it). The people who join the Inquisition are all okay enough with Andrastianism to affiliate themselves openly with it (Solas aside, but of course he has other reasons), and many are devout.

The Veilguard are just…random people. Skilled, powerful, talented people, but not people with any real affiliation with any Chantry. Davrin and Bellara have complicated relationships with the Dalish religion they grew up with, for obvious reasons, but they weren’t raised in Andrastianism or an Andrastian culture. Neve, per her, “barely keeps the holidays.” Her relationship to Andrastianism seems closer to the average non-church-attending American who celebrates Christmas and Easter, but isn’t particularly Christian beyond that. Lucanis does seem open to belief in the Maker and Andraste, but isn’t kind of ambivalent to it. More agnostic than anything else. Taash wasn’t raised Andrastian, their mom largely still embraces much of the Qun even if she left, and Rivain was always kind of religiously funky anyway. Only Emmrich and Harding are particularly Andrastian, and even then Emmrich is from Nevarra which although deeply Andrastian is unique. Harding is the only companion whose Andrastianism we’d recognize from the prior games.

So in a game set in a region where Andrastianism is culturally less of an influence, where the Chantry holds far less power, and that has companions that aren’t devout Andrastians…how is it a failure of the game that it isn’t brought up more. That makes sense. It’s consistent with the world building that came before it and the continued reveal of that world in game.

I don’t get it.

[ciderjacks]

despite Laios low self esteem making him think that if he’d been eaten, Chilchuck and Marcille wouldn’t have helped Falin,

theres a small part of me that thinks the reason Chilchuck stayed with the party and went back in the dungeon in the first place was because he didn’t want to leave Laios alone. That Laios was moreso the reason he stayed.

[moongothic]

Crocodad AU where immidiately after having left Dragon and his baby boy Crocodile finds an 11 year old Robin. And while he's 100% only recruiting her so they can make a beeline for the Poneglyph and Pluton in Alabasta by the two of them... Crocodile accidentally sorta kinda adopts Robin.

At this point Robin's been running for her life from the Government for three years so her deep trust issues and fear of betrayal are starting to take root in her little heart. Like perhaps they haven't taken fully over yet, and being still a child I'm sure Robin might've still had that genuine hope that she could find a safe place to stay in. But I'm sure the though of "what'll he'll do with me once he gets what he wants?" would be nagging at her at the back of her mind. Meanwhile Crocodile's struggling between the pain and hurt he's already gone through and given him his trademark trust issues, as well as the aftermath of The Dragodile Divorce. But he also has his Fresh Paternal Instincts and probably misses his baby. So when given a small, scared child who is running for her life, being chased by the very same Government that'll want his son dead if they ever find out about him... Yeah that might fuck with your brain a little

You know this post was supposed to be just that first paragraph and just a few footnotes from the following two paragraphs. And then I kept on Having Thoughts. And I kept on writing them down. And oh no what happened when did this post get so long (Look I was going to either kept on writing my Additional Thoughts in the tags or I just put them in the actual fucking post)

Like considder this: based on this one SBS, we can kinda tell that if Crocodile was given a chance to raise a child, that child would be a spoiled little shit, right

So in this scenario, where Crocodile's looking after lil Robin, would he be kind of torn? Unsure how to feel about her?

Because on one hand, this strange child would have the potential to not only ruin his plans, strip him of his Shichibukai Privileges by outing him and his plans to the World Government, but also put his son in grave danger by extension (if she found out about him having been involved with the Revolutionaries and/or having a child). But on the other hand, his paternal instincts could make him want to spoil this poor little girl rotten. But only because he needs to (perhaps literally) buy her trust so she'll behave. No other reason, he doesn't feel sorry for her one bit, no sirree. (But maybe he did feel sorry for her, since his son could very well end up exactly like her. Poor little thing) (Which is why he needs to nuke Marijoa out of orbit as soon as possible, no matter the cost, and this child can't get in the way of Crocodile protecting his son) (But also this is a child. Like how bad could she be. Besides all he really needs to do to win her trust is be nice and make her feel safe, right?)

Of course, while I'm suggesting Crocodile could have some parental instincts, realistically, he hasn't actually spent any time being, you know, a father to a child (looking after his newborn for an unknown though short amount of time aside), so it's possible he wouldn't even know how to parent Robin even if he wanted to, would he? (Like taking care of a newborn and an 11 year old kid aren't the same either) So if he was kind of just emotionally flipflopping between No Trusting Ever and It's Just A Kid for God's Sake, Crocodile trying to be nice to Robin to make her feel safe and then telling himself to stop being so soft and vunerable... Yeah that would make for an absolute mess of a relationship. (Not to mention, let's be real, dude's a scary motherfucker too, and a bloody giant compared to itty bitty baby Robin. He could keep on accidentally scaring the shit out of Robin (who would be On Fucking Edge To Begin With) by just Being Himself. Like for example, can you fucking imagine if he caught Robin trying to cheer herself up with a little "dereshishishi" only to tell her to stop because "it was stupid"? 'Cause I can imagine him doing that, and boy howdy would that make Robin feel bad)

Or who knows, maybe Crocodile was just Born To Be A Dad, maybe he just Fucking Gets It. Like Crocodile is canonically pretty good at manipulating people to do what he wants them to do (see: how he played Vivi like a fiddle), so knowing Robin's position and understanding how she feels, maybe he COULD completely nail how she needed to be treated. Not being too familiar but still making her feel safe and happy, knowing exactly when to be stern and when to spoil her, etc. Dude just goes off and wins the Dad of the Year Award while being a deadbeat dad himself. The only thing Crocodile would have to worry about then would be making sure HE doesn't get too fond of her. And certainly that could never happen, he's so in-touch with his own feelings and so grounded, he's not a softie, get outta here. Or maybe he does but never realizes until it's too late and good luck backpedalling on those emotions now dumbass

Alright so, the reason I went on that whole rmble is just that like. I'm so interested in the relationship Robin and Crocodile already have in canon. I'm so facinated and curious about how the two feel about each other, considdering they did spend 4 whole years of their lives together as criminal business partners, though neither ever trusted the other. A partnership that was only ended because Robin betrayed Crocodile, out of her own trauma. (God, I want to see these two "reunite" so bad, I want to know how they feel about each other now after the timeskip and Robin joining the idiot in flipflops who foiled Croc's plans)

My question here is just that... if they had met 13 years earlier, would things have been different? Especially if Crocodad Real? Because as I mentioned in the begining, Robin would've been on the run for only 3 years by this point, as opposed to 16 years before running into Crocodile. Simultaneously, this would be before Crocodile went onto spend an entire decade all alone, slowly losing his marbles in his emotional solitude. They'd both be emotionally traumatized, yes, but would it have been as bad in this scenario? Like I did start this post kind of joking about Crocodile adopting Robin, and for clarity's sake I don't think they'd have like a father-daughter relationship nececarily. But it would be a strange relationship still, because we'd have two broken people, both struggling to trust anyone. One who had lost her mother and her only friends, leaving her all alone and afraid while running for her life. The other a father who had just given up his son whom he probably missed dearly. Both having these holes in their hearts from loss of family, holes that could not be filled with replacements. But could they find comfort in each other anyway, because they still as people occupy similar roles to their respective loved ones? If they both could just get over those trust issues?

Okay I've been going off on the Emotional Side Of Things for this AU Concept, THERE'S PLOT TOO

So if Crocodile did pick Robin up like 19 years ago, that should be before he set up base in Alabasta, long before he had built is homebase and financial empire etc.

Now the thing is, while we don't know when, where and how Crocodile learned about the Ancient Weapons, Pluton specifically and how the lead on it would be in Alabasta... Considdering Crocodile did once upon a time aim to become Pirate King, it would make perfect sense if he had learned about Poneglyphs during his past adventures, as he would have needed to get the Road Poneglyphs to find One Piece. And while the World Government did bury the truth about why Ohara had been burned down and why Robin had been given her bounty (remember, the WG claimed it was because she had sunken a fleet of battleships, which she had not, it was because she could read the Poneglyphs), considdering this is a Crocodad AU specifically, you could totally make an argument Crocodile could've learned about what actually happened to Ohara from Dragon and co. So, just to make this AU work, you could just assume Crocodile learned about the concept of the Ancient Weapons from Dragon. And who knows, maybe he overheard the truth about why Robin had been given her bounty from Dragon too (maybe Dragon was able to get intel from Garp in secret) or while going to Marijoa himself to attend a Shichibukai meeting or something IDK.

Maybe he learned about Pluton being in Alabasta before finding Robin by accident, and maybe they made a beeline for Alabasta the second Croc recruited Robin. Travelling takes time and the guy would've most likely had to find an Eternal Pose to Alabasta just to get there (also canonically Robin didn't enter the Grand Line until her 20s so they should've met in West Blue probably, since that's where Ohara was) Or maybe Crocodile had to haul Robin around for a few months while looking for That Missing Piece of Information that would lead him to Alabasta. (Imagine the two travelling from like island to island, library to library, Crocodile trying to find that leads while Robin's just so excited about ALL THESE BOOKS (she's helping too with the research) (but to her, research is playtime, so she's just having the time of her life) (Also, notice how Crocodile's Theoretical Child is a fucking loser ass nerd? Yeah Crocodile would encourage Robin reading and studying, surely. And that would be fucking cute))

But like, once they set sail to Alabasta...

Sure, Crocodile could try to do it The Slow Way that we know he tried in canon, building trust and creating his little empire etc. But also, in canon, Crocodile couldn't have jumped into action head first because without Robin, even if he had found the Poneglyph he couldn't have read it and found the location of Pluton. Crocodile choosing to do it the slow way may have been partially because he didn't have much of a choise and it could've felt like the smarter move long-term.

But in this scenario, he already has Robin. Yes, he could do it the slow, secure way.

But what'd be there stopping him from infiltrating Cobra's palace and kidnapping him (in the night, when nobody suspects a thing), demanding Cobra to spill the beans lest Crocodile kills him and/or his pregnant wife* (*Vivi was born 10 months after Luffy so depending on how long it's been between Crocodad leaving Luffy behind and this scenario... Yeah either the wife is there, still pregnant, or there's a newborn Baby Vivi)

Like it'd be a risky move but depending on how ballsy Croc's feeling and how confident he feels in being able to kidnap the king without being noticed... Yeah he could probably do it. And I'm sure he'd have no problem killing Cobra either, if anything it'd be required if he didn't want the Government to find out he was out to find Pluton, and god knows Cobra would tell on Crocodile if left alive. I could see Crocodad being maybe a little iffy about killing Baby Vivi though (it's not like the newborn baby could report him to the WG anyways), but if nothing else, he just needs to be able to pull off the bluff of his life to convince Cobra to do as he's told. And we all know Crocodile's good at convincing people.

The only question is, how would Robin take that?

Watching Crocodile go into Full Murder Mode, hearing him say he'd kill a pregnant woman/a newborn baby if he didn't get what he wanted? Like yeah, I'm sure 11 year old Robin would be fine with that, that wouldn't make any alarm bells go off in her head at all, it'd be fiiiine. IT WOULD NOT BE FINE, SHE'D BE SCARED SHITLESS. That fear of "what will he do with me when he gets what he wants"? Well, Robin may not have found the answer to that question in particular, but she certainly found the answer to the opposite question, and it's not good

So say Cobra, kidnapped (perhaps with Baby Vivi) by Crocodile in the night, guides the two to the Poneglyph under the tombs. Crocodile puts Cobra out of his misery because he's not needed anymore. And he asks Robin to read the Poneglyph for him.

Robin, who has spent the last little while, be it weeks or months with Crocodile, him having become her "guardian", the thing keeping her safe. Crocodile, who has now shown how cold blooded and cruel he can be. Robin, who might be scared out of her mind. Of him.

And the Poneglyph says Pluton, the thing Crocodile wants, isn't there. It's in Wano.

What's she going to do?

EDIT: I wrote a sequel post, enjoy

[kittenfangirl20]

Lucifer was making his way back to the room they shared to find the door hanging open and Adam nowhere to be found. He ran through the hotel hoping to find him. But he only ran into Lilith.

Lucifer: Where is Adam?

Lilith: If you mean Amelia, I don’t know where that fat cow is. But why would you want her when you can have me.

Lilith forced a kiss on Lucifer, but he slammed her into a wall. She gasped in horror, in spite of the fact that Lucifer was shorter than her, he looked like a demon.

Lucifer: His name is not Amelia, it is Adam. You will tell me where he is or I will cut you to pieces while you are still alive.

He was still going to kill Lilith, but she didn’t have to know that.

Lilith: Fine, I will take you to your precious “Adam” but I can’t guarantee she will still be alive.

Lucifer slammed her into the wall again for misgendering his husband. He made her walk out with them while Adam was slowly waking up. He trembled when he heard Alastor talking to Vox and Velvette.

Alastor: Where is Valentino?

Velvette: Who knows, he went off to recruit another porn star and I haven’t seen him since.

Vox: He will probably turn up in a couple days.

Adam: Why are you holding me prisoner.

Alastor: It seems you have angered Lilith enough that she wants you dead. She helped me start my career as an author if I help her kill some people. I already kill, but now I get paid to do it. Isn’t that great? You seem like a nice person, but if Lilith wants you dead then I will follow her orders.

For once Adam was happy to be married to a serial killer. Even if he didn’t make it in time to save him, Lucifer would avenge his death. But he had to hope that Lucifer made it in time to save him.

@things-arent-what-they-seem66

Dexter Au

Tonight's the night, I've been waiting all week for it and it's finally here.

Lucifer watched from the shadows as his next victim left the bar. A man that should be in prison after raping and killing an 18 year old girl.

He makes Luicfer sick.

Slowly and quietly, Lucifer snuck up behind him with some M-99 and injected it into his neck. The man fell down and he caught him before dragging him off to the plastic covered room where Lucifer was going to murder and dismember his body.

Lucifer secured him to the table, toyed with him when he woke up and plunged the knife into his heart killing him.

Lucifer sighed with relief, that felt better. One less scum out there.

His phone beeped and when he checked it, it was a reminder for date night.

Date night with Adam.

Lucifer cracked a smile at the thought of his boyfriend of six months, Adam was sweet and kind, everything he's not. Luicfer's adoptive sister Lute introduced him to Adam after a 911 domestic disturbance where his ex husband Steve best the snot out of Adam in front of their kids.

Lucifer thought he was some sort of heartless monster only good for killing until he met Adam. To him Adam was his everything and he wanted Adam to see that. Lucifer got dressed for the date and made sure he looked perfect. Since Adam and his sons were staying at the same apartment complex he lived at, he was able to walk there to meet him. Cain answered the door, the poor guy was very protective of Adam ever since Steve beat him.

Cain: You can come in.

Lucifer: Thank you.

Adam: Cain, is that Luci? Can you tell him I just need a couple minutes?

Lucifer: It’s me, I heard you.

Adam: Good, I’m almost ready.

Lucifer went and sat on the couch with Cain and Abel, they were both good kids. Lucifer looked at the pictures of Adam and his children. Oddly he didn’t see anything of Adam in high school or when he was a kid. He had his suspicions about why that was, but he was going to wait until Adam was ready to tell him. Just then Adam walked out with the babysitter who must have helped Adam get ready. Lucifer blushed when the babysitter was right about Lucifer being handsome.

Lucifer internally: He thinks I am handsome, my Adam thinks I am handsome.

Adam: It also helps the boys already love him as well.

Lucifer took Adam’s hand and kissed it, the boys were still young enough to think open displays of affection were gross. But Adam thought they were the sweetest thing ever.

Adam: I have left some money so they can order a pizza and I will see you tomorrow boys.

They hugged Adam and told him how much they loved him. The two went to a nice restaurant, Lucifer had saved up enough to get Adam anything he wanted. It also helped that some of his victims were wealthy and preferred to carry cash. Also his work as a blood splatter analyst got him a raise recently. After they had dinner and dessert they went out dancing. As usual Adam and Lucifer ended up in the backseat of Lucifer car in a heavy make out session. Adam sitting on Lucifer’s lap while they kissed and couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. They were gasping for air with their foreheads pressed against each other when they pulled apart.

Adam: Thank you for being so willing to take things slowly.

Lucifer: For you it is worth it.

Adam: After Steve I didn’t think I would find someone who would love me without hurting me, but you proved me wrong. I love you, Luci.

Lucifer: I love you too, Adam.

In fact Lucifer would kill anyone that he deemed a threat to his Adam. He was going to make sure that his Adam only knew safety, joy, and love.

@things-arent-what-they-seem66

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

Wang LingJiao used the chance to scramble out. She took out a cylinder of fire-light from her lapels and shook it a few times. A light shot out of the cylinder. Along with a sharp whistle, it rushed out of the wooden window and exploded in the sky outside. Then, she fumbled out a second one, a third one. Hair tangled, she mumbled, “Come… Come… Come here… Everyone, come here!” Through the pain, Wei WuXian pushed Jiang Cheng, “Stop her from sending any more signals!” Jiang Cheng let go of Wei WuXian and lunged in the direction of Wang LingJiao. Yet, at the same time, Wen ZhuLiu was closing in on Madam Yu. He looked as if he was about to knock her down. Jiang Cheng hurried, “Mom!” He immediately gave up on Wang LingJiao and threw himself over. Wen ZhuLiu didn’t even turn his head as he struck, “Not even close!” Jiang Cheng’s shoulder suffered the attack. Blood immediately burst from his mouth. Wang LingJiao had already let out all of the signal fire-lights. Sharp whistles and bright sparks filled the entire grey-blue sky. - Chapter 58, EXR

It's quite interesting how, in this moment, Jiang Cheng does exactly what he's always criticised Wei Wuxian of doing: endangering the Yunmeng Jiang sect by 'playing the hero'. That's not what either of them are doing, of course – it isn't a motivation for Jiang Cheng here, it's not a motivation for Wei Wuxian anytime else, and the motivations they have definitely make sense – but it's exactly the sort of behaviour Jiang Cheng would criticise Wei Wuxian for, with those exact words.

Yet, no character ever criticises him for this – Wei Wuxian doesn't, even when it was his (necessary) advice that was disregarded; Madam Yu doesn't, even when her sect suffered as a consequence. Even when it very likely played a role in Lotus Pier's downfall (at least in getting a lot of Wen sect cultivators to get there very fast), it's never brought up by any character ever again... whereas Wei Wuxian's action of saving Lan Wangji, Jin Zixuan and Mianmian in the Xuanwu cave constantly is, even when the Wen sect was pretty certainly going to attack Lotus Pier anyway*. That's not to say Jiang Cheng should be blamed for the fall of Lotus Pier, either – that's on the Wen sect, and regardless of both of their actions, the attack was probably going to be a success. And can we blame someone for making a panicked decision protect his mother? – but one's action is definitely more direct than the other, and it's not the one that's constantly blamed.

The aim, though, isn't to compare the actions so much as the attitudes of the people involved, and this is another little detail that shows the imbalance in Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng's dynamic. Again, Wei Wuxian doesn't say anything about this afterwards, and doesn't seem to blame him, even when it's his words that were disregarded, and when the Jiang sect and Lotus Pier were undoubtedly very important to him as well. Which is good! That's a good thing and definitely the healthier option for both of them! If the roles were flipped, and Wei Wuxian saved a(n admittedly non-Yu Ziyuan) person, disregarding Jiang Cheng's orders while leading to more danger falling on Lotus Pier? Jiang Cheng would never stop blaming him or bringing it up. Even after the many years that passed between then and Wei Wuxian's resurrection, he still blames Wei Wuxian for the fall of Lotus Pier due to his actions in the Xuanwu cave** – once again, a much less direct scenario.

--

*Very strategic location (trade hub etc), they attacked the Cloud Recesses already, Jiang Cheng's internal narration literally admits this:

In his heart, Jiang Cheng knew clearly that back in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter at Dusk-Creek Mountain, even if Wei WuXian hadn’t saved Lan WangJi, the Wen Sect would have found some reason to come over sooner or later. But he had always felt that, if the whole thing with Wei WuXian didn’t happen, maybe it wouldn’t have been so soon, maybe there would’ve been some way to turn things around - Chapter 59, EXR

Yet there was some time between the end of the Wen indoctrination and the Fall of Lotus Pier, and we never even saw attempts at security adjustments!

**As we see in the Ancestral Hall:

Jiang Cheng mocked, “Look how forgetful you are. What does unwelcome people mean? Then let me remind you. It was because you played the hero and saved Second Young Master Lan, who’s standing beside you right now, that the entire Lotus Pier and my parents went down with you." - Chapter 87, EXR