#not even demon timing she was probably like

[conkreetmonkey]

Fun story: My last job was at a restaurant. They hired me among many other workers all at once. This is because the kitchen had recently burnt down, thankfully after hours and without hurting anyone, so they had to temporarily close and rebuild; can't very well run a restaurant with no kitchen, after all. Presumably they'd laid everyone off and were completely restocking their labour pool in like a week. My first day was wonderful. People were patient about training me, the manager was sweet and made sure everyone was staying hydrated, and she even personally brought me a glass of water while I was on my break. Like any person would have, I took this as a good sign. Then, over the next few months, things began to devolve. There's like 5 stories in there about the extortion, ER visits, second-degree burns, and explosive stress diarrhea, but basically that once sweet manager slowly became a demon, and my once fun and kind coworkers began doing things like threatening to harm my work bestie unless I performed unsafe work that was guaranteed to burn me due to inadequate PPE, or yelling obscenities at me for asking perfectly reasonable questions. It went from heaven to hell over the span of a single damp, mild autumn. So, as you can guess, I came to resent the place. But there's another element to it:

in my time working there, I would come to learn that the fire that destroyed the place was entirely preventable; there was a known gas leak in one of the deep fryers, and management knew, but refused to shell out the $15 to patch the line (just like they refused to give us PPE, or generally fix anything ever). Quite a long time after they found out and after many staff reports of this gas leak, one night, it somehow finally ignited, and a $15 expense suddenly turned into tens of thousands of dollars. One night, while I was manning the fryers, I noticed one of them was producing bubbles of opaque white smoke from under the oil. My coworkers assured me it was "normal" and "just some food stuck under there." I've worked many a deep fryer, and had been working those particular ones for months, and never seen such a thing before. It was pretty easy for me to put two and two together on that one. The lifers weren't having it and insisted I ignore it and get back to work. A few weeks later, I quit on the spot after getting cussed out over asking if anybody had put an order in the oven yet. My work bestie was fired shortly afterwards, for what she claims was written down as "disobeying orders." She was very allergic to the fryer oil we used, it made her break out in painful, swollen hives, but the lifers kept insisting on making her clean the fryers, so it was probably that, I imagine. Who knows, though? There came a point where it was never enough, no amount of speed or cleanliness or quality. We were always understaffed, and now they'd fired one of their best workers. I met another one of the coworkers I'd bonded with working elsewhere. It was retail, under a notorious asshole boss, but at least it wasn't there. Her arms were covered in deep burn scars the day she'd walked in, so I imagine she's used to it. I hope she'd okay. I should probably try to check in on her, actually. I never asked if she left or was fired. I know they never patched the leak. They didn't the first time. Of course they didn't learn their lesson, the whole place was just a number in the bloated investment portfolio of some silver spoon fatcat from Toronto, he didn't give a fuck. None of us ever even met him, or learned his name. Fully hands off. We'd pull like $15,000 or even $20,000 some nights, but all made minimum wage, and were always one call-in away from total collapse. They kept cutting hours. They would send people home in the middle of dinner rushes because "we're spending too much money on labour." Schedules became mere suggestions. We were never given end times to begin with. 11 or 12 hour shifts weren't uncommon on my end, but sometimes I'd only get 3. It was a coin flip every night. My point is, the place was managed, on all levels, by people who'd drown if it rained. Thinking about how perfect the place could have been still makes my heart rate increase. It filled a niche with absolutely no local competition. Our profit margins were absurd. And yet the dullards filling the office chairs didn't understand that you need cooks to produce food, and the place began creaking under their weight. I left before something gave. I suppose me leaving was something giving though, in a way. I worked my ass off for that place. I made them thousands, IN PROFIT, every night. I feel like maybe that triggered the exodus that followed, idk. Don't want to aggrandize myself too much. As far as I know, the second burning hasn't happened yet. But it will. It's all but guaranteed to. I hope that, just like last time, nobody's there when it happens. But I also hope that, unlike the first time, this time the entire place completely, unsalvageably burns down to ash, reduced to a concrete foundation. I hope there's nothing left to rebuild. I hope the cycle finally ends. I pretty much never got to take my legally mandated break again after that first shift, btw. Should have seen it as a sign, but it was just one shift right? They needed me, they said. They needed me.

[shouyuus]

rain…….pls imagine putting on a tiny lil skirt to go out with vi and maybe you’re meeting her there. so now you’re in public probably at some bar. and she sees you flounce up to her in your tiny lil skirt.,.shes fighting demons okay..,..

dude the demons r fighting her at that point honestly like lsdkjf she'd have the hardest time controlling herself and you can bet she's not listening to like 90% of what u (or any of ur friends) are saying and when you tease her about it like

"vi, you're not even listening!"

she'd immediately bite back, "yeah? and who's fault is that, cupcake?"

/gunshots/

[thatshadowcomic]

Lore/HC: Underlined text links to original post👇

[For Character answered QnA and general "asks" click here]

You're welcome to expand on my ideas in your own way, but please credit me so they don't mix up with my own HCs/design choices.

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Sonic & Shadow:

-Mobians hedgehogs "Anoit" their partners

-Sonadow children ideas

-related to the above, "WOULD sonic and shadow have kids?"

-Fave HCs/ what's it like living with rouge/ where's sonic live?

-Does shadow like/play any instruments?

-who likes to cuddle more?

-Sonic is an accidental flirt.

-Shadow's stripes will become more like the Black Arms emblem over time. His paws are already very similar... do you think his head stripes will change as he ages?

-Sonic grew up alongside Amy and other orphans/broken families. He cares for her a lot but can only see her as a sister-- the same way he sees Tails as his brother--so the idea of a relationship with her disgusts him. Maybe he sees Sonia when he looks at her?

-Before Sonic, Shadow and Rouge fell into a relationship. Shadow assumed they shared a deeper past, given how much Rouge knows and how comfortable she is around him. But really, Shadow didnt know what he wanted, assuming it just was this way. Rouge wasn't sure either, just trying to help Shadow in some way. That said, they learned a lot about themselves and eachother as they opened up-- but in the end deciding to return to just friends...Although it would take some time to feel normal again.

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Shadow & Maria:

-Shadow's has dissociative fugue

-baby shadow (shadow and maria)

-Why Shadow knows how to swim

-Maria would have been a menace

-Maria told Shadow to comb his white fur up, so he looks more presentable, teasing, "You have a little built in tuxedo! See? Such a gentle-hog." :)

-I think Shadow liked sleeping in maria's bed. It was probably of great comfort to Maria during her sicker days... He was always being watched, so when they gave him his own bed/room, it must have felt isolating and alone. Do you think he had to wear pajamas so he wouldn't leave any fur in her bed?

-Some scientists/maria used to pet shadow and fluff up his cheeks, to Robotnik's displeasure. Shadow only recently learned that's something you do to your pet... he kind of misses it though.

-This is canon: Abraham Towers (commander) and Shadow grew up alongside each other, though their time was short. Ab was terrified of Shadow, because he saw Doom helping Gerald. He would warn the other's that shadow was some kind of demon, but Maria only became more protective of Shadow. He wasn't just an experiment to her, he was a person. As she became sicker, Ab blamed Shadow. But 50 years later, he finally understands and is trying to build some kind of bridge with Shadow, even allowing Shadow to visit his baby granddaughter. Just like Shadow, he let his anger and pain drive his choices.

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AU ideas: Feel free to expand on these in your own way, just credit me for the initial idea, so it doesn't get mixed up as canon in my own HC lore lol.

-AU where Shadow is created on mobius

-Scene from the above AU where shadow is created on mobius

-Return to mobius/search for sonic's mom AU (idea)

-Return of Doom (AU where Shadow is copied and Doom controls shadow's old body)

---------------------------------------------

Other characters:

-Metal sonic in my HC

-more metal sonic HC

-Manic is Scourge, who'd been sent into a zone for safety during the first bombing, only be have been lost to the "other" Mobius. He got a little crazy after that... No one knows what happened to Sonic's sister. It's assumed she died in the first Eggman attack. (or you could go with trans sonic hc? Would be an interesting/wholsome moment between Sonic & Shadow when he reveals it.)

-Omega is basically metal shadow...

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[coraniaid]

Irregular (but, sadly, regularly needed) reminder that the idea that Willow's parents are abusive is entirely divorced from canon.

In canon, Willow regularly visits her mother after moving out to go to college [confirmed in, for example, Forever] and Xander (whose parents actually are implied to be awful, who deliberately avoids his parents whenever he can and who never suggests Willow's parents are anything other than amazing) sometimes goes with her. In canon, Willow came out as gay to her parents at some point off-camera and the worst thing she can say about their reaction later is that they were a bit too vocally proud of her at first [as established in The Killer In Me]. In canon, Willow's mother invited her then-boyfriend Oz to dinner as soon as Willow admitted to her that he existed [in Gingerbread] and she met Tara at least a couple of times (something which would likely have happened more if Willow herself wasn't admittedly "kind of private"). In canon, the only suggestion we ever get that Willow's parents have ever stopped her from doing anything she wanted to do is the fact that they don't want her to celebrate Christmas [see Amends] and the fact she notes her dad might have been concerned if he found her "nailing crucifixes to her bedroom wall" [Passion] (and I mean ... I hope I don't need to explain that "being Jewish" is not some special kind of abuse, right?).

Nothing we see of Willow's home life, outside of the episode that literally features a mind-controlling demon, suggests that Willow is anything other than loved and respected and treated well by her parents. It is frankly a very strange (and yet strangely popular) reading of the show to conclude otherwise.

The biggest complaint Willow ever makes about her parents is that she wishes her mother had more time to pay attention to Willow's extracurricular activities. Not only is that not something Willow would probably actually want if it happened (her "extracurricular activities" include, for example, recreational cybercrime), your parents not knowing all your hobbies when you are a teenager does not constitute abuse. The fact Willow's mother has a full time job and is too distracted by it to immediately notice things like her seventeen year old daughter getting a new haircut -- which, when she does notice, she pauses to compliment! -- does not secretly make her "abusive".

In fact, if you think about it -- for ... oh, maybe as much as five seconds? -- you might even realize that there is a subtext to "it's actually really bad for children if their mothers work full time and can't be stay-at-home parents" that you might not want to be endorsing quite so loudly. Or, indeed, at all.

[flowersforthemachines]

WIP Wednesday (Rookanis yet again)

More of the post-ten-divorces-rookanis warden-rook-mercy-kill angst I posted before. It now has its own tag: #wip: at the end of her world that was properly applied to all relevant past posts. (even though this is probably the last time I'm posting about this WIP before the release, but you know. the consistency!)

“I also would…” Rook coughed and awkwardly straightened her back. “I wanted to…” His heart raced forward, searching for what she wished to say, or what he wished to hear. “Yes?” “I want to…” She took a deep breath and blurted out, “I want to talk to Spite.” Ah. “I know he can hear me all the time, but I want to hear back from him. If it’s alright.” Yes! “Sure.”  He receded to the back of his mind and body, granting Spite control. Just keep yourself in check, he tried to warn to an alarming lack of response.  And the first thing Spite did when he stepped into the front was drag Rook into an embrace with the force that could be liable to break her ribs. Rook gasped, first in surprise, and then in a sort of bewildered mirth.  “Oh, Spite.” Though not pushing him away, she kept her hands hovered in the air, careful not to touch him where it was avoidable. “Don’t you know it’s impolite to use people's bodies for things they may not want to do?” “Lucanis. Wanted,” Spite spoke before Lucanis could get the chance to stop him.  “Oh.” Carefully, like wrapping a bandage around a fresh wound, she rested her hands on his body and pulled him closer, burying her head in the crook of his neck. He yearned for more — to feel her hair, the dip of her waist — yet the body now was Spite’s, and he couldn’t tell if what they had now happened because she wanted it as well, or she only humoured him, or the demon. His wish was born and died in the dark of that uncertainty. 

[lackofspace]

Hey! this has been on my head for a while, so I'm just gonna leave it here and hope that it leaves my mind :)

ps: I wrote this really fast, I did not check for misspellings at all, english is not my first language and it's my first time writing anything!!! so please thread lightly lol

birdflash where they've been friends so long that Wally has known Dick's and Bruce's id's before most of the rest of the family were even adopted, close enough that when Wally 'retires' and goes to college he still recieves texts from Dick's siblings asking for help with cases or homework when Dick himself isn't available and so, we come to our plot

Bruce is getting married (to whom is up to you) and while Wally sees himself as a close family friend he doesn't get an invite, which, in his mind it's fine since well it's Bruce Wayne/Batman it'll probably be a really small lowkey thing only family and some friends and he's honestly not upset at all until he's hanging out in the Manor a couple of weeks before the wedding with Jason and Damian that it comes up

'Did you get fitted today?' Jason asks Damian, he's typing in his phone slanted over a armchair in the corner of the library

'Yes, although I do not see the need for another suit' He's in front of Wally with his physics homework open in the room's coffe table, 'Father seems to think we are all heathens who cannot keep a suit intact for more than a night' the comment clearly a jab

'Ah yes, I'm sorry mister prim and proper, it was not my intention to inconvenience you' Jason rolls his eyes still glued to his phone

'What about you, Wallace? Do you have a suit? Do make sure you get an approval from Alfred, the ceremony will be an informal one but he would hate the family photos not looking proper because of your two sizes bigger attire' Damian says not even looking up from his notebook

'Well then Alfred will be happy to hear he does not have to worry because I'm not coming' He responds laughing a bit

And that makes them both look up in sync with matching glares that make Wally jump a bit

'Why ever not? Do you have prior arrangements? I understand if that's the case but surely they can be postponed?' Damian frowns

'Is it college stuff? The wedding is going to be on a sunday, no way it's college, you're a nerd so there's also no way you can't skip having to study for a test for one day' Jason remarks, he's sitting up now phone forgotten

Wally is surprised with how much his absence at the wedding seems to annoy them

'It's nothing like that guys, I just didn't get an invitation, I figured your dad is doing a lowkey thing and there's not going to be many guests so I get it, I'm not mad or anything' He says in a tone that seems to be to placate them and he does not understand why

'But I swear I'm not upset! Don't tell your dad, I don't want to cause any trouble for the preparations and I'm sure everything will be beautiful' he spills the words quickly before they can interrupt him

'You were not invited?' Damian says face contorting into a frown even more

'Uh yeah, Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris got one, it wasn't metioned I could come and I swear I wasn't- am not! upset but, I asked Donna if she was invited and she said that she was, through Diana, so I guessed that if Barry and Iris' invitation didn't mention anything then... yeah' he says shrugging

'What the hell?' Jason exclaims picking up his phone and texting someone 'Did you only ask Donna?'

'Yeah?' Wally says, unsure

'Roy is coming too' Jason tells him

'Oh?' Wally doesn't know if that's supposed to make him feel better

'I invited him, dipshit, we were all granted plus ones, even the demon brat is bringing someone'

'They are coming as a friend' Damian remarks glaring 'Richard should have communicated you sooner'

'Uh well maybe Dick is bringing someone else?' and if until now nothing about the situation had particularly made him sad, this thought springing in to his head and out his mouth made his hands ache because of course, of course he was just another among many in love with the absolute sun that was Dick Grayson

While they remained friends Wally had made his feelings known sometime ago, the rejection had hit hard but it was true that their friendship was more important so they tried to keep as they were, unfortunately communication became strained and they didn't hang out as much that with college and Wally's feelings between them and so it escaped Wally why his siblings thought that he would be Dick's plus one for a wedding, his father's wedding no less

'This is important, maybe he thought bringing me might be weird?' This is not where Wally thought his impromptu tutoring session/hang out was going to go, he feels somehow like he's in the wrong for not getting an invitation with the way they are looking at him

'Bruce didn't send invites to those he knew were coming anyway' Jason states 'Dickhead was supposed to invite you'

'I'm sorry...? but he didn't, guys let's forget about this ok? I'm sure Dick has his reasons, the ceremony is going to look amazing and you guys can show me pictures later, how about that?' trying to end the subject less they discover why he does not appear at the manor unannounced anymore and why he chose a university so far away

that's kind all I have in me ya'll, this was mostly trying to show how much Dick and Wally are so involved in each other's lives that they become a package deal to everyone else, the story is supposed to go: batgossip and confusion since they know Dick is in fact in L O V E with Wally and bat siblings scheming while birdflash pine, ANGST!!! (the whole reason I wrote this honestly, I love angst and requited unrequited feelings), feelings realization and their happy ever after weeks later when Wally shows up as Dick's plus one

[itstobias149]

Marie baby you got any tattoos

Well this is a fun one!

So for all my readers please, keep this in mind:

This post contains body art! I wouldn’t say it’s suggestive but if you are uncomfortable with little clothing you should skip this man!

The art will be at the bottom of the ask just to keep it friendly to those who may not wanna see it! It’s kinda like a female pin up style art piece.

Marie

Marie isn’t shy when it comes to talking about her tattoos and piercings. She loves how they tell her story, even if it’s a little chaotic. Here’s how she’d probably explain them:

“Alright, so first off, yes, I have a succubus symbol tattooed on my womb. I was young, reckless, and kinda obsessed with the whole femme fatale vibe at the time. No regrets, though—it’s definitely a conversation starter. ‘Oh Marie, are you summoning demons?’ Nah, honey, I’m just channeling my inner badass.”

She gestures down her leg, smirking. “Now this baby,” she says, tapping her thigh, “is a heart with a sword through it. Got it after a nasty breakup years ago—typical, I know. But hey, if life’s gonna stab me in the heart, I might as well look cool, right?”

Marie leans back, running her fingers over her ear stacks. “Piercings, though, are my real addiction. I’ve got these babies stacked up on both sides—been working on them for years. My belly ring? Classic. It’s cute, makes me feel a little flashy, you know? And don’t even get me started on my eyebrow piercings. Both sides, because balance is key, even if I’m not.”

She crosses her arms with a cheeky grin. “Oh, and the nipple piercings? Listen, it’s empowering. No, you don’t get to see them—ask Joe; he’s tried and failed.” She chuckles, clearly amused by herself.

Finally, she points at her lips. “Cyber bites, baby. Because if I’m gonna talk trash, I want my mouth to look like it’s armed and dangerous. They’re my favorite.”

Marie laughs, her mischievous charm on full display. “So yeah, tattoos and piercings—it’s all part of the package. Either you love it, or you’re Bald Bull whining that it’s ‘too much.’ Sucks to be him, huh? I do take most of them out when I’m in the rink, I’m sick of them getting snagged out.”

[pancakepieman25]

I need to know your opinion on everything about your friends. Like what you like about them, what you find concerning, and what you dislike about them. everyone, and everything.

Let's see..

I love my daughter Artemis of course. I'm always concerned of her well being, I don't like everytime that she hurts herself or doing drugs or drink.... And I hate everyone that hurts, control, abuse, and leaver her dead. I just wish I could actually be a father to her, like what things she's interested in, or what activities she likes to do. I know I'm improving on that, just wish that's faster.

Zai's is pretty much my sister's wife, always working and working, she never gives herself a break. I'm concerned that she will just snap one day and hurt everyone, but I know Zai's wife won't allow that, I think... I wish she can stop drinking all the time like my daughter, maybe she would have a clearer mind.

Max is probably much a step brother to me. He does a whole lot of stupid stuff, and Jeff House guy I'm pretty sure is scared of me. Max just need to look into himself for once, and believe in change for the good.

Zephyros I want to cut up and fed to lions at a zoo. He's a huge asshole, every time I see that bastard, I want to show him my mind, but Art is always watching. I want to chop his head off to shut him up. Almond Water needs to cool it off or I'll beat him up again, and I won't hold back this time. I won't be surprised if he laughs like me like a rich asshole at a dance party. I'll show him a dance of a rocket if he laughs at me again with that stupid pig snorting laugh. And don't let me start with his "father" act with me with my daughter, the guy doesn't know how to raise a rock or an abused victim that I can't barely talk to because he keeps taking her away from me like her monster of father does.

Pixy, we didn't really start off on a right foot, but I like the guy I guess. He does whatever and I'm trying my best to be a father. I asked if he needs help with something, but he's always no or not now. He gets very angry quick if you press the right buttons.

Daisy is just, to me, an abuse victim who become an abuser. It doesn't help the fact that she thinks that we are NPCs from whatever source told her that. Torturing is probably her middle name, and I don't think Radio is doing anything about it.

Oh right, Radio Head. He's there? I don't really see him really teaching Daisy anything special, it's all filler words in my eyes (or ears).

Cultivator (or whatever is their new name is), I want to kill for some reason. I don't remember why, but I did.

Elbrofour needs to check on his ego sometimes.

Ebrofive is alright.

Doc is just weird, but I can deal with that.

Unus is pretty much family.

Jesse, I never talked to a lot, still have no idea why everyone writes that she's uhhh.. Art is probably is going to see this.. uhhh.. "A worker." Have no idea why, she seems normal enough, even though she's a demon that ate five of Eabro's guys.

I'll put more here later, hopefully this is helpful for you sir.

[monabee-draws]

Fluff 2: Helping with an outfit but make it angst (a re drafted scene of this will probably make it into a fic someday):

The man they pull out of the cell can barely be called that, really. His hair is long, overgrown so far it covers his eyes. His beard isn't all the much better. He is wearing a thin linen shift stained with blood, with poorly tied bandages hidden beneath. Lucanis had never been a tall man, but he'd been wiry. Taut with muscle and well-fed by the comforts of life as a Dellamorte. The man in front of her could be mistaken for a beggar in the streets of drowned Treviso. No, even the beggars wouldn't shine so pale and sweaty in such a cold place.

They don't have time for it, not with broken wards typically setting off alarms in a prison like this (if ever there was a prison like this) but Viago handed her a rucksack of Lucanis' old leathers for a reason.

"We should get you into some armour," Rook murmurs, and helps him to stand. He's altogether too light, "Come, let me help you into your leathers."

"I can dress myself," he replies, low and hoarse. Emmaline nods, but gestures her head towards the doorway for Neve to see. The detective huffs but turns and walks away to guard the entrance. For the first time since they'd seen him, Lucanis unclenches his fists ever so slightly.

As it turns out, he does still possess some dexterity in those roughened hands. The fresh trousers are buttoned. He shrugs on the leather breastplate. Emmaline is wordless as she aids him with the buckles and ties, pins on his cloak, and laces his boots. He uses the wall, briefly, as a crutch. There is no more sign of the wings - of the demon - about him.

"Your hair," Emmaline says, once he's back in his old gear. It hangs awkwardly off of an underfed frame. The Dellamorte features somehow carry it off regardless. Lucanis runs a gloved hand through the mess of strands.

"We've no time for a haircut."

"You'll struggle to see if we get into a fight."

"I will be fine."

She rolls her eyes and grumbles in low Antivan at his stubborness, then undoes the ponytail in her own hair.

"Here. Tie it back for now. Teia will be able to tidy it back up for you, once we return to the Diamond."

He takes the leather band, but his hands are still clumsy, and the strands fall out again and again. Emmaline takes it from him and turns him around, gathering the hair from his face with gentle but deliberate and obvious movements. Despite the care the line of his shoulders tenses, then thrums. She is efficient. Better not to test an assassin's instincts.

The two of them emerge from the cell in matching crow leather and gold, to Neve's curious look. Emmaline looks back a moment at the cell, and the linen shift lying in a heap on the floor beside Venatori corpses. It is a simple spell, hardly even a parlour trick or fascination. But the linen burns.

She thinks she spies a sheen of violet shimmer across Lucanis' eyes.

Writing Challenge Wednesday:

Yay Wednesday! Let's write! (Btw if you sent a Rook Storytime Ask I'm still working my way through them thank you for being patient, they're actually really helping me flesh out my next story and they're a ton of fun. ) As always on these there is no time limit, tag or link or dm or reblog or comment under this post! No word count either just have fun with it that's what it's here for. I don't have standards for submission take or leave what you want, link your Ao3's, and it's all tagged writing challenge on my page! As long as it gets you writing I don't care and I will share. Let me show you off!!!

Okay I did a really fun self-imposed challenge where I turned fluffy head canons into angst cause I can turn anything into angst if you give me long enough ;) I thought it'd be fun to play with that today so I'm going to give you some fluffy head canons and some angsty head canons and I want you to flip the script and take the mood from fluff to angst or angst to fluff. (Please do platonic relationships as well as romantic if you're so inclined I'm into that)

Fluff:

Character A gives Character B a present.

Character A helps character B with their hair/makeup/outfit.

Character A and Character B want to teach Character C a skill.

Character A and Character B go dancing.

Characters A, B, and C are druuuuuuuuunk.

Angst:

Characters A and B have to go to a funeral together.

Character C has tragically gone missing and A and B have to cope.

Character A has lost someone close to them and can't stop crying. Character B and if you want Character C notices as well.

Character A has lost an important item to them or it was destroyed.

Character A and Character B are fighting for real. Real emotional or physical or both. Perhaps Character C intervenes or they work it out themselves.

Have at it and I will post mine later!!!!!

[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.

[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.

[fairytales-and-folklore]

Chapter One: Home

It's the desolate look on his face that finally does it. 

After five and a half hours of scouring stacks of manuscripts and religious texts for even the tiniest hint of information that might help them better understand what's coming for them, Abbie has had enough. She's slumped in the worn, leather cushion of an old armchair in their newly converted headquarters, eyelashes fluttering against her cheekbones as she battles exhaustion. Those energy drinks simply aren't cutting it tonight…and Crane has barely touched his. He's not letting on, but she can tell that it's hitting him, too. She has a sneaking suspicion that he does it on purpose, that he knows she won't head home until they've both given up for the night, that he doesn't want her to leave…because then he'll be left all alone. 

Over the past couple of days, it had become evident that Crane had essentially begun living out of the old archives. She'd caught him sleeping in his armchair in the morning more than once, his tattered and dirt-embellished boots propped up on the table, exactly as she'd left him the night before. She'd supposed it made sense…here, he could work in private, think in silence, and he wouldn't be bothered with the long walk back to the hotel or its distressing customs (which was probably all for the best, both for Crane and the hotel staff.) Still, it must get lonely in there, come nighttime…all that silence…all those scattered, indistinct memories fighting their way back up to the surface. Two hundred and fifty years is a long time.

Pity and guilt manifest into a suffocating ball that sits at the back of her throat. Because she knows exactly what that feels like. Because that look he's giving her, even when he thinks he's being subtle, is all too familiar. As frightened and lost and confused as she is, she can't even begin to imagine what all of this must be like for him…to have woken up in a different era, where everyone you once knew and loved has been dead for centuries, where the customs, the clothing, the food, even the air, is completely different…it must be terrifying. In that moment, she realizes that she is all he has, that she is the only person he's willing to trust, to follow blindly into a demon's dream world and risk his own life to save hers. 

It's the least she could do.

"Crane," she says, straightening up and hoisting herself from her chair into a standing position. Ichabod snaps out of his apparent reverie and fixes her with a frown.

"Lieutenant? You're leaving, I presume?" he asks, feigning indifference.

"Yeah, and you're coming home with me," she says, adjusting her gun in its holster as a means to avoid looking directly at him.

"Are you quite sure? I certainly don't want to be a burden," he says, fighting a smile.

"It's fine. You need a place to stay for a little while, and I've got a spare room."

The room was, of course, meant for Jenny, as was every spare room in every apartment Abbie had lived in over the past couple of years…but it was far too optimistic of her to assume that Jenny would be needing it any time soon. 

"I would greatly appreciate it, Lieutenant. Thank you. I do not know how to repay you for this kindness," he says, his expression a mix of relief, elation, and fatigue.

"You took a scorpion sting for me. As far as I'm concerned, we're square," she laughs.

Abbie leads him across the parking lot to her car, twirls the radio dial to a soft lull, and watches him out of the corner of her eye. He has his hands pressed to the passenger's seat window, no doubt leaving oily fingerprints as he stares out into the night with childlike wonder, the rolling fields and valleys slinking past them in a series of silhouetted waves. In that moment, she realizes just how much she appreciates his company, his very existence. 

She'll tell herself, over and over again like a mantra, that it's because she feels indebted to him, that she feels bad for him, that it'll make their casework much easier if she can keep a constant eye on him, that it's convenient. But really, it's because, in spite of everything, in spite of an impending apocalypse that only they, the unwilling witnesses, can prevent, he keeps her grounded, keeps her sane. For reasons she can't explain, she trusts him. She hasn't trusted anyone like this since Corbin…and now, Crane is all she has left. In his company, she feels secure. Protected. Cared for. They've only known each other for a short while, and yet…Crane's company feels like home. 

Besides…how bad could living with a man from the 1700's truly be?

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You Always Want What You're Running From

Sleepy Hollow » Ichabbie

Title: You Always Want What You're Running From

Author: fairytalesandfolklore

Fandom: Sleepy Hollow (Masterlist)

Relationship: Abbie Mills x Ichabod Crane

AO3 Rating: Mature (a complete collection of author's notes, inspiration credits, content warnings and tags can be found on AO3)

Summary: When Abbie invites Ichabod to come live with her, the last thing she expects is for him to start feeling like home.

She'll tell herself, over and over again like a mantra, that it's because she feels indebted to him, that she feels bad for him, that it'll make their casework much easier if she can keep a constant eye on him, that it's convenient.  But really, it's because, in spite of everything, in spite of an impending apocalypse that only they, the unwilling witnesses, can prevent, he keeps her grounded, keeps her sane. For reasons she can't explain, she trusts him.  She hasn't trusted anyone like this since Corbin…and now, Crane is all she has left. In his company, she feels secure. Protected. Cared for. They've only known each other for a short while, and yet…Crane's company feels like home. Besides…how bad could living with a man from the 1700's truly be?

Read On AO3 | Read On Tumblr: Chapter 1

[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

[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

[trolls-poppy-specialist]

okay now I need a fic compilation of what were to happen if carmen were to be sick in every episode of the series

like, getting taken by VILE or some team red comfort (especially with the introduction of dadowsan)…

[hermit-frog]

now that it sat with me for some time, my main problem with Nosferatu, — it's just too tame and polished. i've heard that it's possession (1981) levels of insane, and obviously got excited… spoilers alert, it wasn't :( Coppola's' Dracula was crazier and way hornier, imho (haven't seen Chan-wook's Thirst yet, no opinion on that, but i've heard it's the horniest vampire movie out there). guess it's me problem, since this was my 1st Egger's film (now that i've seen the The Northman, i'm less surprised by the result) and yes, i am still hating on ATJ and Emma Corrin. they looked like they were doing a photoshoot. not just acting wise, but visually as well. surprised to say that Lily was way better than those two. sometimes you can just tell that a movie was made by a man. there was so much potential for it to go insane, freaky and disgusting. as i was watching it, it's like i could feel it being held back. imagine you're going down a hill, hoping to go full speed, but someone keeps hitting the brakes. it's frustrating.