#oh these were brainworms i did Not need

[yoshua]

my hyperfixating brain is just rotating back and forth between acotar & dc. girl help. it was acotar for Many months up until the end of 2022, then dc hit me for a couple months til now, now acotar is slowly tapping back in. I guarantee I'll rotate back around to dc again after. 🛌🏼

[stanpinesdykewife]

hii! could I request stan/gender neutral reader fluff? maybe something along the lines of what mornings look like together? the direction you take it is absolutely up to you, thanks again YOU’RE AMAZINGGG <3

i got carried away can u tell stan's my favorite. I'M CRAZY!!! i'm crazy. also THANK YOU so much your request is amazing it gave me brainworms!!!!!! under the cut:

mornings together stan/reader (gender-neutral) pre/during/post-canon/unspecified fluff, 825 words

“Stan,” you say, nudging his shoulder. He grumbles in his sleep, rolling away from you so you're facing his back. You laugh openly, leaning further over the bed to nudge him again. Your other hand is adjusting your work pants, tugging it up and trying unsuccessfully to do your belt buckle. “Stan, wake up. You're giving me a ride to work, remember?”

“No gas,” he mumbles, pulling his arm away from you. When you poke him again, he raises a hand to wave you away. “Quit it.”

“Stanley.” Your belt is left undone as you shove him with both hands, and finally he rolls over to shoot you a glare. You just grin at him, and his face softens, just a little bit. “You're giving me a ride to work.”

“What genius came up with that idea?” he mutters, but props himself up onto his elbows with a groan. Stan rubs his eyes, some crust clinging to his lashes. His hair is all mussed up and his tank is crooked, one arm hole digging into his armpit and the other coming dangerously close to flashing a nipple. There's some dried drool on his face, from the corner of his mouth to the side of his jaw, and when he stretches his arms over his head, a series of concerning pops and cracks emit from his spine. One thing's for sure: if this were a cartoon, you'd have heart eyes.

“You did, you dork,” you say, the affection painfully clear in your voice. Stan picks the crust out of the corner of his eye and then looks at you, his brows furrowed still. He isn't glaring at you anymore—just needs his glasses. Before you can turn to look for them, he grunts and beckons you closer.

“C'mere. Gimme a kiss,” he grumbles, and you plant both hands on the bed to kiss Stan's cheek. A smile threatens his lips, but he keeps up the grumpy old man act: “What are you, Puritan?”

“I'm not kissing you until you brush your teeth,” you say matter-of-factly. Then, just to make fun, “I dunno where your mouth has been.” Stan quickly switches gears.

“You know where my mouth has been,” he says, the sleaze, and you laugh as a flush crawls up your face. Stan beams at you then, a charming, sleepy grin that makes you giddy. “Say I drive you to work. What's in it for me?”

“Here we go,” you say, rolling your eyes. Your smile cancels out any sass. “You've been awake for less than a minute and you're already hitting on me. You're a real perv, you know that?”

“Oh yeah, baby, love it when you talk dirty,” Stan says, and suddenly tugs at your wrist so you topple over. You faceplant right into his chest, and before you can react, Stan wraps his arms around you and heaves you onto him with little effort. You're laughing the whole way, eventually managing to shove your foot between the mattress and bedframe so you can push yourself up.

“Stan!” you protest, even as you grin into his shirt. Stan manhandles you so you're right on top of him, like a lizard on a log, and he holds you tight to his body with brawny arms.

“Alright. Back to bed. Goodnight,” he says promptly, tucking your head under his chin. He manages to fake one long, loud snore before you start squirming away from him. It's an impossible feat. His grip barely loosens. “Hey, what gives?”

“You're wrinkling my work shirt,” you say, and then squeal when Stan rucks up the back of your shirt like he's going to pull it off.

“Why do you need a shirt, anyway?” he snickers, and you manage to reach behind you to slap his hand away. Stan laughs and finally lets go of you. “Alright, alright!” You push yourself up, hovering over his face. You try to look mad, but you're still smiling.

“Stop fooling around,” you scold him lightly. You know for a fact Stan won't take you seriously, so your heart isn't in it. Still, you bargain, “If I give you a kiss, will you get up?”

“A trade, huh?” Stan doesn't even pretend to think. He tilts his head up at you, smug. “I'll take it.”

“Yeah, you will.” You close your eyes and lean down slightly. When you peek, Stan's closed his eyes, too, readying himself for a kiss. You shift your weight and smack his face lightly, very lightly, then roll straight out of bed and stand up. When Stan sputters, blinking his eyes open to look at you, you laugh in his face. “I'll kiss you when you brush your teeth! You really thought th—Oh, nope, you're getting up now, okay, meet you in the bathroom!”

You dash away, your undone belt buckle slapping against your thigh, your pants falling from your hips a few inches. Stan’s loud laughter follows you down the hall.

[rowanthestrange]

The one downside of this episode is i’m now gonna have to watch at least a full week of people going “oh so russell’s improved on the racism then” but it’s not about the accidental Mickey - stupid ape shit that he was called out on and had opportunity to fix and didn’t cus he’d ‘already started it’ and only later realised he should’ve listened to people after he’d colourblind-cast Mickey as black (including listening to the actor himself). No, it’s people to this fucking day not understanding the simple ABC Martha subplot because they think Ten’s flaws are the writer’s.

a) Ten tells Martha to “oh just walk around like you own the place”.

b) Martha is called a slur in that episode by the symbol of britain - Shakespeare himself. This showed that this was bad advice from Ten.

c) Ten not seeing Martha for who she is, ties into “not seeing colour” a thing actual progressives were trying to stop people saying at the time, that yes colour is important to note and was why Russell said there needed to be a black companion specifically when people complained and asked ‘why he couldn’t just hire the best person’. It comes to a head in the show when Ten gets Martha stuck in a hideously racist position because he did not see her as herself, a fact which is repeatedly shown to be awful and bad as she is mistreated and belittled, it is openly shown to be racist. The Doctor Did Bad by being all enlightened futurist ‘not seeing colour’ and therefore not seeing the reality the person he cared about was actually facing.

I have never met a single member of the general public who didn’t get that back in 2008 by the way. My grandmother got it. This is a solid fandom-based-brainworms lack of basic media comprehension.

[alpydk]

I've had a brainworm (tadpole?) that won't leave my head.

How would Gale's partner (Tav or Origin) react to him unintentionally saying Mystra's name during sex?

I don't think he would say it as his ex, but rather an exclamation ("Oh Gods", "By Mystra", etc).

I know I wouldn't be pleased. 😵‍💫

"By Mystra"

Anon, you are a miracle worked because I loved writing this. Like this is literally smut that I did not cringe my way through or go ugh why... Like I actually sent a quote to someone whilst writing this in a mini celebration of enjoyment. Really so much fun, so thank you. - I will say though it's probably not what you wanted at all. Oops. (Or maybe it is, I'm not a psychic.)

Word count : 1570 - M/E - It's Smut, there's nothing but smut here. I couldn't even angst this fucker up. - Gale x Tav (F)

The evening had gone along as it normally would. Gale and Tav entertained his mother with the local gossip of Waterdeep, fresh tea leaves releasing their aroma into the study, the odd whisper shared between the happily married couple. The sun was now making its leisurely stroll towards the horizon and Tav had now moved onto round two of the game she affectionately liked to call Nimble fingers, ill intent. The first round would be innocent enough, the odd remark about how he looked nice when sat in certain positions or a passing comment about times they had spent alone given with a sultry look. “Oh yes, I remember that tavern, Morena. The detail on the oak bed posts were exquisite. Real craftsmanship.” Round two was based more on the physical aspects of distraction and competition: the lick of a teaspoon after eating dessert, the run of her hand along his thigh under the dinner table, the whisper in his ear of how she seemed to have forgotten her underwear. “Oh, it was nothing Morena, a quick reminder about a certain someone’s birthday.”

These nights were still as enjoyable as they were the first time around a campfire. Hands slipped under robes, concentration lapsing into yearning, travelling companions none the wiser of the exploits taking place. She would make him forget all logic, all reason, all devotion he ever had to his goddess.

He couldn’t get rid of his mother quick enough as he watched Tav lean over the coffee table to collect up the cutlery, her lilac shirt hanging a little lower than suitable and knowingly it was in full view of him. He saw the way her breasts hung against the cloth, the line of her cleavage drawing his gaze without mercy. After so much teasing, he didn’t just want her; he needed her desperately, as if he had been trapped underwater and she was his only source of air to breathe.

As the entrance door of the tower closed, signalling Morena’s exit, Gale was quick to press Tav to the wall of the stairwell; her wrists bound under his firm hand, the other travelling under the fabric of her shirt to place its mark on the previously taunting flesh. His lips found hers with an intensity he refused to hold back on, more eager than his well-mannered nature with his mother had let on. They navigated the stairs up to the tower quickly, a trail of cotton and leather left in their wake.

Heated kisses were placed over naked bodies, his flushed lips along her neck, her wanting hands travelling from his abdomen to his hips. The royal blue sheets of the bed were always the goal, but rarely did they make it there, instead ending up on the daybed or, more often, the scarlet floral rug that lay at the foot of the bed. From there, he would see her lying and waiting, her body moistened and ready for him, her eyes beckoning him with a love he would give himself to again and again. For a thousand nights, he would worship her in so many ways: some nights slowly with a tender caress of her inner thigh, others more playful, a nibble of her shoulder, and the teasing of his fingertips. Within the four walls of the bedroom, he was the one in control; he was the god to a single follower.

He nudged her leg aside with his own, climbing towards her, his urges to take her driving him forward with little thought of anything else. It was as he took her nipple in his mouth, the flick of his tongue creating the unwilling whimper emerge from her, that he felt her hand push him ever so slightly. This was new, a sign of dominance from one who normally welcomed his practiced tongue so openly.

He accepted the reaction, Tav’s hands coming up to his shoulders, rolling him to his back with a tentative push. He lay beneath her, her legs straddled over his hips, her breasts hanging just above his chest. His heart beat with an intensity he only felt as she teased, the devious look in her eyes telling him this wouldn’t be as easy as an impromptu lanceboard match. She held herself above him, the heat of her cunt drawing him in. He craved her touch, yearned to be inside her and have her entirely and yet she watched him, waited for his control to falter as it always did around her.

“Please...” He whispered underneath her. He would not beg, nor would he lower himself to that level of pleading he'd done so long ago, but he would ask if that is what she wanted of him. He would do anything for her if it meant he could show his love for her.

She sunk down onto him, her pace relaxed, her hands sliding their way up his chest. He felt the slow roll of her hips, his own body instinctively retorting with an impatient jolt. She stopped and sat up above him, a disappointed sigh that told him he’d done something wrong.

“My apologies... I... I became too eager-“

She rose and took him again in one quick thrust, a command that she was in charge. Without warning, he let out a deep growl, his self-control slowly unravelling with the growing intensity of her movements. He could feel the way her hand held down his shoulder, the fingernails of the other embedding themselves in the skin of his abdomen. What were once relaxed whines were slowly becoming the sputtered moans of his name through gritted teeth. She was fighting this as much as he was and he could feel the way her body was arching, trying to hold back on a climax that threatened to break through at any moment.

He closed his eyes, the symphony of ecstasy ringing in his ears, his body still accepting her pace despite how much he wished to just grab her and fuck her. He neared his precipice, one he had fallen from so many times with Tav, one he would happily fall from a thousand times more and he parted his lips, the sensation too much to contain. “By Mystra...”

Tav’s movements stopped suddenly, an abrupt silence that took him a moment to register before realising what had happened. She looked down at him with a combination of confusion and offense. “Did you just...?”

He felt the icy chill in the pit of his stomach, his practised tongue letting him down the moment he wasn’t the one in control of the situation. He hadn’t meant it as anything but an exclamation of pleasure, but he knew it was not the most welcome name after all that happened, especially when said in the bedroom. “Tav, I did not mean-“

She broke him off with another quick roll of her hips, a smirk curling upon her reddened lips. “Say it again.”

Gale looked at her with confusion. “Say what exactly?”

Tav bucked against him, an irritable look in her eyes. “Her name. Say it again.”

He was unsure what she meant, the rules of their game changing with each state of play. Lanceboard had been left in the dusty halls of the library; now they played a completely different game of strategy, one where he was but a novice. “Mystra...” he spoke with an uncertainty in his tone.

This time Tav’s movements were gentler, slower, and more deliberate. His head leaned back onto the rug, the red fibres weaving with his brown locks.

“Again,” she commanded.

He obeyed without doubt. “Mystra...”

She smiled, her hands moving from his shoulder down to his hips, her back arching, and pelvis tilting ever so slightly, allowing him to feel her in full. With each jolt he felt his muscles begin to tremble, the goddess’ name gasped through worshipping lips. And yet he prayed not to her but to the goddess that wrapped her thighs around him, the one whose sweat beaded with his own, the one that called his name as her hands found his.

She tightened around him, all control gone, nothing else mattering but the fought off release that now consumed her senses. She let out one guttural cry, only interrupted by the deep thrusts as Gale chased his own orgasm. What had been the Lady of Magic’s name had now become the Hero of Baldur’s Gate. Tav sputtered out as wave upon wave of pleasure erupted forth from him, as muscles grew taut and his body buried itself into as far as it possibly could.

She fell limp around him, his arm wrapping around her in a loving embrace as he pulled her onto the floor with him. Their skin glistened with sweat, the air now humid, the only sound being their panted breathing as they regained their composure. The sensation of a light charge brushing against his skin brought him to smile, a devilish knowing of exactly what Tav had done with her control over him. The goddess’ name, spoken in worship, in devotion, would of course have drawn her attention, if only for a moment. He placed a soft kiss on Tav’s forehead, tonight’s game most assuredly her victory.

“With you, I forget my goddess...” She titled her head up to look at him, an almost innocent gaze in her eyes. “I just wanted to make sure that was still the case.”

[yuri-is-online]

Ok but what if yutu finds a box full of letters and poems in yuus closet?

Their partner was out, so it was a perfect opportunity. In a week their 1 year marriage anniversary will happen, so they needed to act quick and be sneaky. They go to the closet and unbury a box full of all the letters and poems their partner has wrote throughout their years together, some even have no name onto them as they were intended to be from a secret admirer, but yuu noticed the similar handwriting.

They were going to take the box and turn into into a book, like an album of memories.

They hear the front door open. Oh no their partner is back way sooner than they expected. They hide the box into their clothes, as they're too far from the closet.

A man they've never seen before walks in. Before they can get a word out, they're blasted with two spells back to back.

One muddles their mind, the other opening a portal behind them. The shock from the blast, and them being not far off of their due date causes them to lose balance and tumble into the portal.

When their spouse returns home all they find is a rummaged closet and messy bedroom. Although they want to deny it, the evidence suggests that yuu took any funds they(yuu) were hiding and ran away.

Yes I'm also the grim overblot anon 😁 my brain is full of angsty worms and your au is just too perfect for me not to take them out on 💕

This could be read as something for any of the boys but I feel that it fits rook the most😶‍🌫️

Hello newest friend o/ I'm surprised at how many brainworms I've managed to give people, but it is very nice chatting with all of you about this. I really like this ayuu c:

I like this concept and agree that it fits Rook the best out of all of them. So much so I think I am going to steal it for his Yutu hc post. In general though I think that if Yutu found something like that it would add to the mystery of who his father is for him. Lilia! Yutu sees it as further confirmation that he was the product of an affair, Malleus! Yutu takes it as further proof that magic is real. Jade, Deuce, and Riddle's Yutus would probably be even more confused; if his dad loved Yuu this much then why isn't he here with them? While Cater, Ace, and Yutres of the the Trey Triplets would just find the letters very romantic and not think too much on it beyond that. I can't really see Leona writing letters, Idia I could see writing a digital diary of sorts but no physical letters. It's a really cute idea ;-; the correct mix of angst for this ayuu I think.

Now as for Rook thinking that Yuu left him...

The evidence suggests that yuu took any funds they were hiding and ran away. That's what whoever created this scene wants him to think. But there's no way Yuu would have been able to leave the house without him knowing unless they had a very specific sort of help. The Hunt estate has some of the highest level of security clearances in Twisted Wonderland, whoever took his spouse is someone with connections indeed. But not to worry, he got Vil back from the Isle of Woe did he not? He'll find Yuu and their child soon enough. Rook writes a detailed diary about his search, about the beauty he observes that he missed telling Yuu about.

But he doesn't find them. He doesn't find them and the real world begins to crumble around him alongside his personal one.

[johnslittlespoon]

SO. MUCH. curtbuckbucky nightclub au brainrot below the cut, thanks to whoever this insane anon is. you kept my brain so entertained while i was ill, i'm still feeling bonkers about these oh my goddd?? ur messages were so long (/fond LMFAO) that screenshotting them looked janky, so i copied and pasted them into a doc to make it easier to format, i hope that's alright <33

my original nightclub au post for context

this is gonna be such a wall of screenshots (IT'S LIKE 9K WORDS BTWN THE BOTH OF US OOPS i'm not fuckin proofreading it's pure drabble so sorry) but listen this au has been eating away at me so bad too i'm so glad to know it's got someone else in a chokehold as well because it's done smth to my brain and soul

anon is the lovely purple colour and i'm the black text to make for easier reading lol <3

HIII yeahh idk what to say about this LMFAOAO this is so fucked... when the au brainworm hits, it HITS. i don't get to decide what i want to hyperfixate on and brainrot over unfortunately but i sure wish i did </3 i cannot let myself get this carried away in future brainrot posts bc this took SO LONG and it was a nightmare to organize the screenshots and probably so annoying to try and read like this 😭

like genuinely ik i say this every time i get carried away with a brainrot/drabble but i need to make these shorter because it takes me so long to write so i make like no progress in my ask box 💀 but ykw i had fun so <33 eventually i'll write a fic for this au but leaving!bikeriders is gonna be my next chaptered wip after i finish yad(iym) i think :-)

alright that's all, will legit be in awe if anyone swipes thru all of these but if u do i hope the curtbuckbucky brainworms get u too xoxo

[mixelation]

brainworms of the day: reborn au con shenanigans

i posted before about tori and kakashi going to a ninja fiction con like a tired older sibling taking his kid sister to a con. and i like the idea of them repeating this, because like. kakashi isn't super into interacting with fandom but he likes merch and he gets a kick out of seeing cosplays, and tori likes company and kakashi is pretty cill when he's not actively being a troll. so cons are like Their Thing and kushina gets very mushy over the idea of them bonding so obviously minato always gives them the time off

anyway i had some thoughts for shenanigans

thought one: minato canonically really likes icha icha and i think he deserves to have some fun. at first i was like "i don't think the hokage gets many vacation days, and surely if he DID take a vacation he'd spend it with his family?" but then i remembered he can teleport. minato takes days off all the time with the idea his assistant will just summon him back if there's a problem. he shows up unannounced in a pair of sunglasses

minato: i'm incognito :)

random passerby: the fourth hokage and hatake kakashi group cosplay? this place gets less and less original every year

kakashi and tori are unsure of this addition to their group because this is Their Thing. kakashi gets over it pretty quick because he does like getting casual time to hang out with minato, actually, but tori is annoyed because first of all. how is she supposed to behave normally* if her boss is here. secondly now everyone keeps asking her why SHE'S not in matching cosplay.

minato: do you want my cloak? lotta people in cloaks

tori: NO I DON'T, ACTUALLY

*everyone who knows tori would like to point out that the only change in her behavior is a 15% reduction in swearing.

anyway i am getting a kick out of imagining actual hokage and infamous ninja namikaze minato waiting in the same-day registration line. squatting in a two hour line to get into one of the big panels. taking photos with other minato cosplayers. holding back tears because there's a fourteen year old kakashi cosplayer with a sERVICE DOG ALSO IN COSTUME!!!!!!!!

thought two: sasori crashes a con because he wants to pass on intel about orochimaru or soemthing

tori: oh my god WHY are you HERE

sasori: because you're closer than deidara >:(

tori: no i mean, in public? in the crowded dealER'S ROOM?

sasori: who's going to notice?

(a group of sasoris in ugly wigs pass by)

anyway the true shenanigan-y part of this is that initially kakashi thinks a weird 25 year old man is chatting tori up. which like. yes? technically true? but kakashi thinks this is just tori falling for the wiles of a hot cosplayer and that he needs to intervene immediately because she's FIFTEEN, you PERVERT--

kakashi: hi :) who's this :)

tori, feeling her spirit leave her body: he likes my sasori fic

sasori:

sasori, in pain: yup. i. do. that's what this is.

kakashi: oh :) how nice :) then i'm sure you won't mind me standing here while you chat :) sharpening my kunai which are totally just props :)

thought three: i think in her later teens/early twenties, tori starts falling back on I HAVE A BOYFRIEND really frequently to get out of conversations. like in theory the card is for "a guy is hitting on me" but she'll also play it for "someone is talking to me and i don't want them to be."

in konoha this strategy works because even if you were just telling her the cafe is closing in five minutes, "but i'm waiting for my boyfriend, uchiha itachi :(" is enough to give this random poor employee pause. these words have meaning in konoha. however i think there's some Shenanigans to be had for her doing this without thinking about it at a con where context is very different.

man she's trapped with bc they're in line and he won't stop trying to get her to give him her room number: boyfriend? prove it.

tori, exasperated: (pulls out a photo she keeps on her)

man:

man: that's uchiha itachi

tori: exactly

man: .....you honestly expect me to believe that? you clearly just have that on you because you're a fan

tori: .....fuck

for bonus shenanigans repeat a similar exchange but it's at a kitty girl stabby ninja con so itachi is there and immediately wonders up afterwards with like. cat ears on.

man: (eyes darting back and forth between the photo and itachi himself, terrified)

itachi: the food options weren't great but i brought you some bread. did the line move?

man: (now looking around to see if anyone ELSE has noticed this)

tori, very blatantly taking his hand: no they just made us rearrange to stop blocking the hallway

itachi: i see

man: (FLEES THE LINE)

thought four: something cute

i don't want tori to be as well known as deidara/itachi in civilian circles, mostly because it'd be funny. but also i don't think she's as flashy as them and a lot of the stuff she does relies on her not being recognizable. and i like the humor of interacting with itachi/deidara stans and cosplayer who just don't recognize her. so there isn't much in the way of tori cosplay/fic/etc even when she's older and has her own Reputation among actual ninja. but okay. imagine. at the ONE con tori can't make there's a lone tori cosplayer. she's sort of haunting the place-- obviously socially awkward and shy. kakashi loses his mind. he summons minato. minato brings kushina. they bother this girl for like hours and low-key make her day even though it's also kind of scary?

kushina has to physically hold tori back from stalking her after she sees the photos. SHE'S JUST GOING TO BREAK INTO HER HOME AND SEE WHAT FANFICTION SHE'S READING NOTHING VIOLENT OR SCARY--

[into-september]

"Maledictator", thoughts

Flipping through the channels at later at night than the target group should be up gave me the tail end of "Frozer" (Luka had a different voice, the ice power-ups are weird) and then "Maledictator".

Did this happen before or after Chloé revealed herself to be a dancing prodigy in LB cosplay that had a wig

Sure sure S5 might go on and on about how she's too lazy for school, but you don't get those dancing skills at one of the toughest ballet schools in the world without dicipline and dedication. If we're supposed to treat anything that happens on this show seriously after all, "Frighteninggale" suggests that Chloé's illiteracy stems from some learning disability left undiagnosed thanks to a system too afraid to be frank about her academic performance to her parents

No helping the complete lack of reality on display as the episode starts, though

Marinette's explanation for choosing Chloé for the fight is something like "doesn't get intimidated by power" (would've been so cool if this was ever followed up on), but it's pretty clear that it's really because she keeps blaming herself for getting Chloé upset. I can't remember if she did that before Adrien refused to join the party because he was upset, but the one most ruthless at tearing Chloé's superhero delusions apart at the start of the episode wasn't Marinette, no matter how much both Marinette and Chloé keeps saying that it was. It was Alya.

Not sure what to make of Chloé's repeated accusations that Marinette made the class "gang up on her" when Chloé demonstratively doesn't care what the class thinks of her

And yet she later grieves that "nobody likes her" and she "has no friends"

And she goes to the party, unaware that it is to celebrate Queen Bee, because Marinette asked her to

The most interesting part of the episode is how she at the end refuses the Butler's help to clean up, insisting to do it herself

"BUt she neVEr wAnted to Be betTER" #surejan

Speaking of things it would've been so cool if they followed up on: Adrien's statement that he "can't" celebrate Chloé's departure. This empathy-to-the-point-of-the-absurd (and it is empathy, not just loyalty) is such a contrast to Gabriel who uses the same skill set to terrorise Paris on the daily - and also to Marinette, whose judgemental ways are usually justified, but who also demonstrates a distinct lack in the empathy department on some very notable occasions (Kagami on purpose, Cat Noir are a side effect of weird writing). Adrien's insistence on sympathising with the other's pain, no matter how misplaced said pain is, would've been such an interesting angle for the show to pursue to cast light on the two others in our central conflict triangle

Chloé's VA aced this one and oh my god whoever wrote these scripts deserves a little medal. Gabriel Agreste is absolutely the kind of man to use the word "hustru"

The most important takeaway is that this episode probably only exists because someone wanted to animate Cat Noir taking the catboy existence to the ultimate level

The simultaneous clever and absolutely careless nature of the writing and directing of this show keeps giving me brainworms and today's is the fact that Queen Bee's weapon is the visually closest to Ladybug's in look and non-special function, and how this episode had one very conspicuous shot of Ladybug and Queen Bee moving in fully synchronised movements. Why would you do that if you're not either going to establish Chloé as a special ally, or as Ladybug's ultimate nemesis?

See also: with S5 explicitly taking on the political system of France, how dare not having a Maledictator repeat there. did we really need an episode about how even an AI can de-akumatise itself these days, or two about Lila getting Kagami akumatised over the same bloody problem that you were too chicken to make for real anyway

[whoblewboobear]

Hey sorry if this is weird to say n I know the tags you left on my post the other day when I was joking abt like. How all roads for Jace lead back to Porter like I know they’re old tags and I meant to reply sooner but I really liked what u had to say esp the part at the end I guess abt like. Is Jace returning to Porter even when we try to give him something new tragic or is he glad he got to experience new life with other people who also got to experience new life through essentially the act of creation. I just thought that was a beautiful sentiment. Like I joke about us being in the Zarajace trenches but I love her so much and i get she’s a minor character but it really does make me sad that she’s never seen as a character whose interiority is worth taken seriously. (I literally checked to see if i was crazy and like for example on ao3 she’s only in like 10 works and one is mine two are yours! and the others are like misc Zaraporterjace or sb content n offhand mentions.) I love her so much. Maybe this is silly but even as ‘always a duo’ can be so personal there is something to like. Imbuing a constellation of people including Zara that also get second rich life when we write abt our little blonde guy that we put in Situations :’)

Anyway keep fighting the good zarajace fight ily we’re stronger together! 💪

It's not weird at all! I got so in the weeds with my tags on your post bc Just the idea that maybe we all doomed Jace by tying him back to porter makes me sad but then there's duality to it of, hey he got agency and maybe he's happy too. They started in such a dark place because of the implications within canon but like- the power that creation holds is so special. In the show, Zara had a lot more to work with and I remember being a little scared to write her because it felt so daunting. She already had agency and personality that felt so clear. Like I look at her and I want to be truthful to the seeds that were planted with how she's portrayed. But it really is that same internal debate of did we doom her and take away some of that agency by tying her to Jace? Or is she happy?

ngl I have both you and @italicized-oh to thank for putting the ZaraJace brainworms in my head bc I- wow. Just like- I came into this a starbreaker girlie and fell ass backwards into ZaraJace best friends to QPR to Lavender Marriage pipeline and I think through that, through Jace and through creation Zara is happy. Plus I love that her paramour is still acknowledge a lot of the time. She has such a deep love for them outside of all the Jace and Porter shenanigans. Maybe when the lens isnt focused on her, she's having a full life in her own right. I like to think that she's fulfilled and she's happy. But goddamn I would love to see and maybe even write some Zara charater studies bc as a vampire loving whore, I'm in love with awe of her 😭

Thank you for such a lovely message~ and godspeed in the ZaraJace trenches bc we're gonna need it lmaooo

[citadelofswords]

shoka and shadow meeting

riley sent me this prompt before the finale aired and now i have brainworms. forgive the formatting i'm posting from mobile but i can't stop thinking about this.

HEAVY EPISODE 20 SPOILERS UNDER CUT

it's two weeks later when the door opens in the engine again and shadow crashes back onto the train. “alphonse," he snarls, and trish jerks around to stare at him. “i saw everyone else. i did not see alphonse. where was he?"

“he stayed back on the caboose with shoka," trish says. “the previous conductor… she tried to separate it from the train. people were going to die."

“hmph," shadow says, and folds his arms. “magnanimous of him."

it is at that moment that the door to the engine— the actual door, not one of the doors off the train— slams open, bearing three people with them. jason todd enters first, holding a black haired girl in a cat hoodie by the scruff of her neck. roxas trails behind, face white. tear tracks are carved down the dirt on his face.

jason glances at shadow. “oh good, you're here," he says. “we're gonna need you in a second. shoka— you wanna tell trish what you just told me?"

shadow stares at shoka. there's something about her he can't put his finger on, something off and wrong about the way she's carrying herself. not quite like it's an act. but close to that.

there's blood under her fingernails.

“i," shoka says, and swallows, eyes darting to the side. “we were helping the kids. and i turned around and. he was." she looks down. “simon snuck up on us. he."

“where's al?" trish asks. her voice sounds so, so small.

“i turned around. and simon was there. he was standing over." shadow’s blood goes cold and for a moment, just for a moment, he wishes shigeo had been a little more ruthless.

and then his eyes narrow.

“bullshit," he says, and trish and jason both snap up to look at him. “bullshit. you're lying. alphonse is strong enough to have taken that child with only one hand. he wouldn't have been caught off guard by something as idiotic as that. tell us the truth."

“shadow?” trish asks, and he stalks forward to grab the cat-girl by the collar of her hoodie. she's not making eye contact with anyone in the car.

“where is alphonse,” he says. "do not think you can lie to me again.”

“i’m not lying,” shoka snaps back. "simon killed him. he's gone." trish chokes behind shadow, and roxas looks at her and then crosses the room. shadow cannot look at trish right now, because if he does he will make a mistake.

“then where the fuck were you?!" shadow snarls. “why weren't you there? why didn't you help him? why didn't you stop simon?"

he lets go of her with a shove, letting her sprawl to the floor. she winces as she hits the ground. “you need to learn how to lie better," he growls. "and now you need to run, and pray that i do not see you again.”

“yeah, shoka," jason says darkly. “that's probably for the best." he's not looking at shadow, but trish; shadow can hear hitched breathing behind him and does not turn around.

shoka slowly stands. she throws shadow a dark look, one with venom behind her mask of grief, and says, “fine. i’ll go. see you around, trish."

“don't talk to her right now." roxas says, vitriol in his voice, and shoka turns on her heel and leaves the car.

“she's lying," shadow says. “i could see it in her eyes. this is not wishful thinking." now that shoka is gone he can turn to trish, who's letting roxas hug her. shadow pushes him aside and grabs trish’s face in his hands. “look at me. hey. look at me, trish. she's lying.”

“she could be lying about simon being the one to kill him," jason points out. “and he could still be dead."

“not fucking helping," shadow says. "trish, you have to trust al. he's alright. he's stronger than that, and he's definitely stronger than her. he's fine.”

trish swallows, and nods, and swipes the tears away from her eyes with her hand. “good girl," shadow says approvingly. “i'm going back home again. but you're doing great. i’ll be thinking about you."

“thank you, shadow," trish says quietly.

[mofffun]

King-Ohger Character Song memo

link to streaming

Gira - Kind King

oooh rock! something Taisei himself likes? (Masashi mentioned they quickly became friends because they have football and rock bands in common)

the opening electric tunes is a consistent Dug motif

His voice is SO cute and the mismatch with the instrumetns XD

I like 'i gotta we gotta' part. catchy kinda slogan-y like self pep talk

Gira will stand up to unjustice and do it himself, but with the bonds with his friends too 😭😭

the longer I listen to it the less it sounds like Taisei?? and closer to sports anime freshman protag. I look forward to listening its live version.

Overall the song is very motivating and cheerful, let's just say it does sound like something Gira could write himself.

there's no beating INFERNO, but the lyrics is direct and cute, very fitting for Gira's character.

You get the chara song is how the character wants to express themselves and the image song is who they are from an outside perspective.

Yanma - Teppen Online

hmmm I'm surprised by the chorus? (+ve)

musically I don't find much surprise with this one but I like the chorus. Try & Fight and I'm still alive were just too impactful.

no wait it sounds like the most we learn about Prez?

In the lyrics he said, "some things don't need to be said (out loud)" and yeah, he's a bit shy in expressing affection huh? Or say, he believes in action more than words and he's the traditional manly type that's like, "hing1 dai6, sum ziu3 lah"

Himeno - Golden Garden

the "I wish" song in musicals

That's Erica's voice???

'K I can see the second verse as Hime singing to Rita.

ah no bridge (I think none of them have bridge? :(

A very beautiful song. Gives me a 2000s shojo amime ED vibe.

Rita - Moffun's Song

Yeah no, I don't like Rita's stuck being a Moffun fan in their character song. Can't say I'm more impressed by the full version as a Yuzuki fan either

The short version impressed me by showing Yuzuki's range in just under a minute. The high note is moved to the very end of the song from verse 2

Some rationalize it as Rita themself choosing to use this version to represent themself and I can see the reasoning behind Rita's caring interior should've be apparent by now and you have the contrast with Ignorantia but UGH I want the Chief Justice actually singing about their struggle and duty and YOU KNOW MAYBE TOUCH ON THEIR CONNECTION WITH GOKKAN????? IN HIRAKAWA'S LOW IKEMEN VOICE???

On the other hand did we ever get an explanation of why Rita likes Moffun in the first place? We know it's not some tragic backstory and honestly, they could've like it simply because it's cute. And yes, I can infer why someone like Rita would like something like Moffun but hnnnnn it's not canon

but another contradiction I'm facing is actually I was glad to see an adult character who's not afraid of showing their otaku passionate side, but Rita's not fully committed to that...

Kaguragi - 仰天珍道中

hohoho I so look forward to Kaku-san's singing.

oh my god that's really good???

i can see him on a showa TV show in a white suit

this is gonna be a brainworm

it's much faster than I expected too.

there's lore in this lyrics… (looks up japanese dictionary)

Jeramie - 線上のTrickster

Masashi's in the "singing voice close to speaking voice" group.

Jeramie, you're not beating the Noel allegations

has some early 2000s J-rock vibes I guess?

It's not a bad song ay any rate but again (like the perfume) doesn't feel very Jeramie to me?? Maybe I've been paying too little attention to him my interpretation deviation from official's for the second time?

(I like The Prophet better but maybe this will warm up to me)

[teecupangel]

hello i love your pgr x ac au so much... i'm having brainworms about it even as i'm working on some projects so i have to let it out here GOD - are ezio, altair, and connor the only constructs? what about the other assassins? - what's up with the templars? - what weapons would those three guys use? i'm mostly imagining them with the hidden blades (obviously) with the idea that it's a little like bambi's mantis blades but they also have swords here ran out of ideas BUT if something else pops up i will probably end up dropping it into your askbox... so sorry for the dump pgr's one of my favorite games and seeing it with ac awakened something in my brain

Hahahaha, honestly, I wasn’t expecting a lot of people to enjoy it considering PGR isn’t all that well known but I’m glad to know that the story resonated with a lot of you guys.

And, to be honest, I started getting an idea for a PGR x AC crossover because I was playing PGR and all I can think of is that Desmond would have made a good commandant (he'd definitely act more like a dad to Gray Raven, that's for sure). I’m a fan of Cerberus and I can totally see him being the tired dad of the chaotic trio with Murray taking care of the politics (and relaxing) XD

But then another idea came to mind and that’s how we got Inheritance Among the Stars hahahaha

I did say there are no real plans to make a sequel at the moment but I can answer your questions with what I’ve thought about

Are there other AC characters who have turned into Constructs?

If this was a purely an AC story in the world of PGR, yes. We’ve already seen Rebecca and Clay as Constructs (+ Lucy) and I’m thinking of Evie, Jacob and Arno as another Construct team (maybe with Jayadeep as their commandant) with Evie being the Attacker, Jacob being a Tank and Arno being an Amplifier (and the leader). Another idea I have is that Kassandra being a Uniframe/Transcendant of some kind. Shay though is an Ascendant (or maybe he’s a Transcendant, it depends on what is up with the Templars XD)

What is up with Templars?

(Shrug) They’re off doing what they do best. Scheme XD

I will say this: there are Templars in the World’s Government and they are quite interested in Project Animus.

What weapons would those three guys use?

Oh yes. I definitely thought of their hidden blades to be quite similar to Bambi’s mantis blade but they only use their hidden blade when they know it would be a killing blow. Their other weapons though are:

Altaïr – sword that looks a lot like the Sword of Altaïr, Altaïr relies on speed to deal lots of damage in a short amount of time. Mechanic-wise, he’s similar to Alpha Crimson Weave as he has two styles of fighting, one has him using his sword as normal and the other has him using his sword while sheathed.

Ezio – a crossbow that shoots off paralyzing shots and a hidden gun that he would use for emergency. He can summon funnels ala Wanshi Lucid Dreamer that shoots where he aims or can create barriers as long as they’re grouped together.

Ratonhnhaké:ton – a tomahawk that would always return to him if he wills it. Unlike the other two, the closest to my idea of his Construct body is Lamia Lost Lullaby. His usual form is similar to how he usually looks but he has another form where he takes on different forms depending on what color the orb he pinged last (doesn’t have to be 3 orbs pinged) before transforming. Red is his eagle form which he can fly for a brief short of time (like Loki), blue is his wolf form (his attacks would be similar to 21 Feral), and yellow is his bear form (I’m kinda thinking his moveset is similar to Karerina Scire)

Hahahaha, feel free to add more if you want. I felt the need to answer your ask because there were a lot of notes I had that I didn’t include because I thought they would be too deep into PGR mechanics XD

[queermentaldisaster]

“Pride is a Damsel in Distress”

HYPERFIXATION MASHUP, GO!!!!

i hope y'all enjoy my brainworms

tags (lemme know if you wanna be tagged in future updates): @echoingbiconfusion

He stood on the edge of the cliff, staring out at the ocean. He felt a tail wrap around his, and he looked over to see Wukong smiling at him, his teeth bared as he did so. Macaque's tail tightened around Wukong's. “Don’t leave me,” he pleaded.

“I won't,” came Wukong's response.

•✧-------------------------------------------✧•

He felt something nose at him, and he tried to roll over. There was a bark, and he opened his eyes to see a German Shepard staring down at him, a tall man with a skull balaclava standing behind the dog, pointing a gun at his head. “Hands where I can see them.” He demanded, his voice laced with an unfamiliar accent.

Wukong blinked at the man, but raised his hands up. “Alright…” He mumbled, his vision a little blurry. Or was that because of the dirt in his eyes? It was hard to tell. He felt someone else grab him, and he went up with no resistance. His hands were forced behind his back, and he felt zip ties tighten around his wrists.

“Oh hey…’m being arrested. Tha’s a new one…” He mumbled, his words a little slurred. Did he hit his head? That was certainly a new one, he’d never hit his head to the point of slurring his words before.

“Haud yer wheesht.” A voice snapped from behind him. “Get movin’, ye mawkit bastard.” Whoever it was pushed him forward, and so he began walking, following the masked man. He watched the dirt and rocks move past, some of the rocks cutting into his feet.

“Geez, Tav, you didn’t need to call him disgusting.” Said another voice, one coming closer. This one’s accent was closer to the first mans’, but different. 

Wukong blinked, looking up and seeing a guy with a blue cap. “I cannot keep track of all of you.” He blurted out, causing the capped man to snort.

“Good.” Said the second guy. “Harder for ye tae repor’ back tae yer boss.” He shoved Wukong again, making him walk again. He complied, until he was shoved into the trunk of a vehicle. He sat up, only to get shoved back down by the guy with the skull mask.

“Price willnae be happy,” the second guy said, as the masked man closed the trunk. “He told us not tae brin’ home any souvenirs.”

“I think he meant unnecessary objects, not a possible enemy soldier, Soap.” The capped one said. Wukong snorted. ‘Who names themself Soap?’ He thought, staring at the top of the car. ‘MK, you better be alright or I swear to the Celestial Realm, you are getting the lecture of a lifetime.’

[neighboringheart]

I'M IN HARDCORE SUPPORT FOR THE PREDATOR/PREY DYNAMIC YOU POSTED ABOUT !!

I'm an absolute simp for Bumblebee so any ship with him as the prey is perfect in my eyes.

The 3 ships that comes to mind immediately are BlitzBee, StarBee and MegaBee.

The Megabee scenario about a concerned Megatron worrying that Bee is distrustful of him while in reality the autobot is having the most insane thoughts were really funny lol.

So I'm curious in how you would go about the other two ships, if in all cases Bee is already into the idea and find it hot or if it's a life or death scenario as he is being hunted down by various deceptions ?

I'm rambling here, but all Im saying is that I need to hear more from you about this specific Predator/Prey dynamic bc I CRAVE MORE.

(also maybe a crossover with Bee ending up in the shattered glass universe to throw in some twisted autobots into the mix too 🫡)

ough ough ough okay I am home from work and have a keyboard to properly go buckwild with and yeah there's not gonna be much punctuation happening sorry but I'm feral and I am politely grabbing you by the collar to keep you here

adding a read more bc this got a lot longer than I thought it would but I hope you enjoy my brainworms

okay so for BlitzBee it would absolutely be something that Blitzwing brought up first and you might think "oh was it Random joking about it or something?" no it was Icy looking Bee right in the eyes and just going "I want to hunt you for sport. would that interest you?" and at first Bee did not get it at all and was unsettled but he ends up getting curious which is how the first occurrence of them disappearing into the woods for a week happened

Bee would end up finding out that oh it actually is kinda hot to have all that adrenaline going kinda like right after a really tough race except the bit of fear tingling up his spine makes it interesting and then being caught and having Blitzwing roughly fuck into him with barely any prep at all hurt but still felt so so good and after waking up the next morning and thinking for a bit yeah he got it he got exactly why Blitzwing was interested in that and it ends up becoming a regular thing for the two of them where they just disappear and then show back up again like a week later Bee looking like he went through a wood chipper and his abdomen a bit bloated from all the transfluid he's been stuffed with the last week but his field brimming so brightly with a fuzzy happiness that no one wants to bring up that he needs to stop whatever he's been doing

aside from Ratchet that is lol he makes it very clear how much he dislikes having to do a full systems check on him but also does NOT want to know who he's been fucking bc he knows it would have to be a decepticon and he doesn't wanna know a damn thing about it

as for StarBee tbh I really couldn't see either of them being interested in it or bringing it up aside from like...rid15 StarBee bc rid15 Starscream is feral in a very specific way and yeah I could see him wanting to hunt Bumblebee down and then claim him once he's victorious

idk how Bee would feel about it tho I feel like he'd try it just the one time bc Starscream keeps suggesting they try something more adventurous and Bee would much rather one of them gets tied up instead of being forced to go galivanting through the woods at the behest of his—frankly deranged—boyfriend but he goes with it just to try it once and afterwards they'd discuss it and Bee didn't hate it but again he'd rather that Starscream just tie him up next time which Starscream would be happy to do so they just stick to berth activities that involve less of bee ending up facedown in the dirt...took a while to get everything out of his seams lol

and then idw StarBee it would never happen bc Starscream would be too busy trying to convince Bee to put him on a leash (which Bee is so tired of this conversation he doesn't wanna do petplay) to think about predator/prey shit lmao

and then MegaBee...oh MegaBee my beloved...this could work for so many continuities in my head but yeah earthspark would be the funniest but the extra size difference in tfa is also very sexy I would imagine in either scenario the seed would be planted in Bee's mind after either getting chased by Megatron for real at some point or in a dream and then the image just sticks there for a while

in earthspark it would be easier ofc since they're allies so eventually Bee would get the courage to bring it up to Megatron who would just be bewildered beyond all belief like "you want me to what??? why would you want that?? I've hurt you before!" and it would take a lot of convincing on Bee's part to get Megatron to agree especially bc he'd be like "but aren't you and Breakdown an item? I could have sworn he mentioned it last we spoke" and Bee would just be like "yeah we are but like you know how some humans have an agreement with their significant other about like having one other person that their partner would give them a pass about fragging? mine was you...and his was Knockout but I won't give you the details...he's got some interesting kinks that I don't have the literal claws for"

anyways Megatron would eventually relent in that scenario and agree to it bc he does find the idea of fucking Bee to be much more appealing than he'd expected and he wants to try something new but as soon as he's actually caught Bee and starts to manhandle him a bit Bee would start struggling and begging him to let him go or something and Megatron would definitely end up using their safeword he just wouldn't be able to do it

they'd have to sit down somewhere Megatron shaking a bit bc even tho he knew it was just a scene and that Bee was just playing the part the thought of him returning to how he once was terrifies him and they'd end up having a long conversation that ends with the decision that if they were to try something like that again they'd change it to be more lighthearted bc Megatron did enjoy the chase and doesn't mind getting a bit rough with his partners but even Bee pretending that he's scared and trying to get away is too much but yeah they'd figure it out and have a lot of steamy fun

tfa MegaBee would be wayyyy different tho Megatron would be so into it and Bee would be so in over his head but he'd be wobbling back to the autobot base later looking like he'd been in a ten car pile up but feeling more blissed out than he'd ever been lmao he'd think about it on and on for weeks hoping to get to do it again

as for if he ended up in shattered glass? oh primus help any poor Bumblebee who ends up in that situation and lets hope any of them would already be a little bit of a freak otherwise that would not be a fun trip for him lol

oh boy I ended up rambling a lot more than I thought I would lmao but I hope you're seeing my vision here there are so many Bumblebees and so many of them deserve to get chased through the woods and then bent over and getting their cute little valves stuffed until the only thing they can ever think about is getting to experience that thrill again

ough even just the thought of earthspark Bumblebee with his doorwings twitching and thick transfluid dribbling from his gaping valve after Megatron pulls out makes me feel so so insane I need to do unthinkable things to him

so yeah the individual scenarios would vary a lot but I feel like in most instances it wouldn't be Bumblebee who thinks of it unless there was some kind of inciting incident whether irl or some kind of strange dream but most people who get together with him end up wanting to hunt him for sport bc he's just so cute and even tho he's certainly not helpless he can play that act very well and look real cute while doing it and he's usually enough of a freak that he'd want to try it

...now that I think about it...tfa ProwlBee would also be interesting as I'm sure Prowl would love to finally shut that brat up and chasing him down to stuff him with a spike sure is one way to do it but I've prattled on long enough this post is getting wayyy too long lmao I am nothing if not a passionate man 😂

[stardustdiiving]

Hi!! Hello!! I've just been passively listening to your blog for a bit and I just have to say. auauua you actually giving Nahida the spotlight she deserves is so refreshing! I love Wanderer in all his forms, but the lack of character studies/general brainworms about Nahida is so sad to me D: She's an archon!! You'd think people would talk about her more in the general fandom... Idk, personally, she's a pretty relatable character in the way of having to become an adult for the people around her (in her case, becoming a knowledgeable god despite having the mind of a child for the sages) like!! She is smart, but she is a KID. Haven't a fair number of people experienced that? And justifying the behavior too- like I (personally) think that Nahida tries to make the horrendous behavior of generations of sages seem Less Bad bc 'oh, they were probably so lost without the Greater Lord.. and I wasn't what they were looking for' Because admitting that you were hurt for a reason that was entirely NOT YOUR FAULT actually feels Really Bad. LOCAL BABY GOD IS RELATABLE TO THE MASSES!! (Could be a bad take, I do need to rewatch the Sumeru quests.. it's been so long.. my little guys..) BEFORE I GET TOO SIDETRACKED UH. yeah. Thank you for the Radish Thoughts they are really really appreciated by someone who also thinks Nahida is Pretty Neat!

WTF UR GONNA MAKE ME CRY IM SO GLAD. I love Nahida I’m glad it resonates. Tbh i think that take isn’t bad at all bc I actually also had a similar interpretation of her downplaying her neglect in the same way she downplays her worth as an Archon bc obviously there’s overlap between the two

Assortment of screenshots I feel go along with this , starting with how the Sages’ treatment of her is discussed textually:

When we learn she’s being imprisoned for the first time in the AQ, Nahida’s response is quite literally her justifying why the Sages’ decision makes “rational” sense because (like u said!) she’s not Rukkhadevata and by extension isn’t a “real enough archon”

Nahida internalizes the “my existence has little meaning” to the point she justifies beating herself up as an inferior archon over Dunyazard’s presumed death as “rationally observing the distance between herself and a real archon”:

And also the first thing she does when we set her free is apologize for letting the Sages neglect her. We also get her basically saying she was never angry about what was done to her until she was being rescued:

She goes onto say she’s going to punish the sages harshly, but then it’s noted by multiple characters they think she wasn’t harsh enough with her punishment. Which is a haha aww Nahida doesn’t have it in her to be harsh. But it’s also like haha aww. Nahida doesn’t have it in her to be harsh even to the people who dehumanized her and kept her in a cage for generations Zjsjmxkxjnsj

Nahida as a person seems to be someone who clings to a sense of personal control , my main reasoning for this is it’s directly stated in her character stories the reason she gives up her Gnosis to Dottore for information would be to have more knowledge and therefore control over a situation:

With one Gnosis still in her hands, Nahida could not help but hesitate. She barely knew more about the Gnoses than she knew the "truth" of the world. […] Shaking hands in bargain means an equal compromise for both sides, a far cry from any victory. On the other hand, turning down the bargain indicates a certain type of "ignorance," which, obviously, would more easily invite a loss of control. Thus did the "God of Wisdom" instantly find her answer...

So her rationalizing her own neglect or Anything Bad That Is Done to Her to me is a way of asserting a sense of control over her situation when she has none, just as u said!

[vokis-inn-and-tavern]

for tlovm, ive been hooked on a modern!reader getting into Exandria and VM trying to help them home (but there's no way back lol) it doesn't have to be the exact moment they came through but id love headcanons of the journey, (whether its modern world of exandria or our world, just all i ask is there's no mention of reader knowing the show, like an isekai)

No way home

Characters: Vex'ahlia, Vax'ildan, Keyleth, Percy FancyLongName de Rolo, Pike Trickfoot, Grog Strongjaw, Scanlan Shorthalt, (and a guest appearance from Gilmore)

Type of Request: Headcannons

Word count: 1,887 words.

Notes: Usually don't write modern!reader but this gave me such a brainworm

You ended up in this weird fantasy world about... two weeks ago? You've lost count. You were just driving to home from larp event you had with your friends. It was late and you only closed your eyes for a moment, no more than a blink, and when you opened your eyes it was just you in the middle of a forest. But you've survived and managed to get a few odd jobs killing rats, spiders, and that one wolf pack (You can thank inflation your ability to stretch a gold piece). You are just trying to get a drink in this small town tavern when guards barge in saying that you're a part of this group, Vox Machina, and that you're under arrest. Despite your protests that you've never even heard of a "Vox Machina" you are thrown in this cell with two really short people (gnomes you think they're called?), two women with lightly pointed ears, a man with glasses and white hair, and a very tall and beefy bald man with grey skin.

...

Fuck.

Pike

Oh, you're so lost, and luckily she notices.

"Don't worry, we won't be here long."

She introduces you to everyone (and lightly smacks Scanlan when he flirts with you).

When you all break get out of jail, she is one of the first to suggest that you should come with him. After all, you clearly need help to actually be stable enough on your feet to protect yourself.

Loves hearing about your family.

The second she hears about you wanting to go home she's helping.

Buys every book on dimensional travel that she comes across. Takes notes on what you say happened. Asks every wizard she meets.

Girly just wants you to be happy and if that takes you going home then so be it.

Eventually Gilmore thinks that they've collected enough information for him to cast the spell.

Pike watches as you step into the circle, almost as excited as you!

And watches that expression turn to dread as the spell fails.

And that expression turn to despair when it fails again.

You are in your room for the rest of the night, missing dinner.

Pike knocks on your door that night, bringing dinner.

Her heart breaks even more when she sees your tear streaked face.

After she insures that you have eaten, you make her promise to stay.

"It's okay, I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay, I promise."

She lets you curl around her, clutching her close like a teddy bear.

In the morning she makes your favorite breakfast. And from then on she stays by your side.

Vax

Yeah... He's the one who told the guards that you were a member of Vox Machina. Also the one who broke all of you out.

"Sorry about that... But, I mean, I did also break you out of jail... So... Even?"

Agrees with Pike, you don't seem quite competent enough to be left to your own devices. Especially after figuring out that you don't even know what a half-elf is.

Is honest with you and tells you the about elves' less than stellar opinion on half-elves.

Thinks a world without magic weird. Like, how do you defend yourself from bandits without magic 'cause you don't really seem like the type who can only use mundane weapons.

Teaches you some dagger basics, just to make sure you can protect yourself.

He helps gather supplies for Gilmore's spell, just don't ask how he got them.

It's a bittersweet goodbye for him as you step into the circle, it feels like only yesterday when you met.

His small smile falls when the spell fails, his heart breaking for you when it fails a second.

He barely holds himself back from chasing after you as you run off to your room, he knows the face of someone who is barely avoiding crying, but he decides to leave you alone for now.

That mentality only lasts till dinner. The second he doesn't see you at the table he grabs both of your plates and heads to your room.

He doesn't bother to knock as he enters, sitting next to you on your bed and offering you a plate. He makes sure that you eat at least half of it.

Offers to stay with you. Even if you can't go home to your family, you should at least have some company.

"Hey, I'm here for you, all of us are."

Holds you close for the rest of the night, draping one of his raven wings over you like a blanket.

The next day is all about you. Vax waits on you, don't even worry about leaving the bed. Oh, and don't ask where he got that bracelet.

Vex

She is so going to lecture her brother for getting a random stranger involved with this.

"Sorry you got caught up in this, darling."

Doesn't think you should come along. In her mind, you're just another person to feed and house, another expense.

Lies and says something like half-elves are loved by all and considered the best, till the lie falls through and she explains the truth.

Starts to warm up to you when she notices your ability to stretch money.

Doesn't really want you to leave but keeps it to herself and helps by financing some of the supplies.

She gives you a small hug before you walk in the ring.

And watches your look of despair as the spell fails and fails again.

She watches you leave for your room, stuck between following you to comfort you and giving you space, but when she doesn't see you at dinner she makes up her mind.

You hear a knock on the door and open it to reveal Vex with some wine and a lavish charcuterie board.

"Hey darling, you look like you need some pampering."

She ends up pampering you for the rest of the night and you two fall asleep in each others arms.

In the morning you two have a spa day, expenses be damned.

Grog

He is so confused by you being in the same cell as them.

"Uhhh... Do we know you?"

He'd love to have you come along, you seem like a good person and having someone to teach combat to looks fun.

Wants to hear all about your favorite foods from back home.

Not bothered by you not knowing what a goliath is, there isn't really that many of them.

Teaches you how to swing an axe (just maybe exercise a bit more self preservation than him).

Takes you wanting to go home a bit personally at first but then sees how much it matters to you.

Pike he is so exited that you finally get to go home and see your family again!

He doesn't understand what is happening when you don't teleport and when you go off to your room looking sad. When someone finally explains it to him he goes to work trying to make your favorite food.

It doesn't look pretty but when he opens the door with that dorky smile (and a cask of ale) it doesn't matter.

"Hey, uh, I made your favorite food!"

You end up falling asleep on his chest. I mean, who needs a bed when you have a Grog.

The next day is spent cuddling and trying to make your favorite food again.

Keyleth

Even more lost than you when she sees you.

"I- uh- I think there has been a mix up."

Totally wants you to join! You seem super nice and you clearly need help.

Please tell her about all of your favorite plants from back home!

Wants to show you all of the cool plants of Exandria.

When you mention wanting to go home she is down to help!

She tries to provide some input on dimensional travel from a druidic perspective.

She excitedly waves as you step into the circle.

Her heart breaks when she sees the look of disappointment on your face when the spell fails.

And your look of despair when it fails again is even worse.

She gets really worried when you don't arrive to dinner and goes to your room to check on you.

"Hey, uh, a- are you okay? I- I brought some food for you!"

You two end up cuddled together surrounded by druidcrafted flower petals from your favorite flower.

In the morning she makes you a nice cup of tea and takes you on a nature walk.

Percy

Doesn't trust you from the moment you enter the cell.

"My name is Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III and I suggest you tell us who you are quickly."

Doesn't want you too come along. As far as he's concerned you're just dead weight and another person to worry about.

Totally doesn't believe you at all. Like, wdym you live in a world where fast horseless carriages and glowing rectangles that answer your questions in mere second? And you don't have magic?!

He slowly warms up to you as you tell him about the technology from back home.

Still doesn't fully believe you but that doesn't mean that he won't try to recreate the things you talk about.

He really relates to wanting to go back home to family.

As much as he helps with the research, there is a selfish part of him that wants you to stay.

He watches your excitement as you enter the circle.

And he can't help but blame himself for your look of despair as the spell he helped research fails.

He is so caught up in how he could have failed that he doesn't even notice you leave.

He spends the next three days closed up in his workshop, not eating or sleeping and barely drinking, researching how to fix the spell to not avail. It takes Vex (literally) slapping him out of it to shake him back to reality and get him to knock on your door with food for both of you.

"Hey, you probably need food just as much as me right now."

He spends the night cradling you close. He still blames himself but you help ease the ache.

In the morning, Percy's workshop was (thanks to Vex) firmly locked, but Percy never left your side long enough to notice.

Scanlan

Flirts with you on the first introduction.

"What did you do to get stuck in here? Other than being criminally hot."

Wants you to come along, you seem like a good time and it wouldn't be right to just leave you.

Loves the bright colors of your clothes and wants to hear all about your favorite music from back home.

Confidently misuses slang that you've mentioned.

Scanlan gets you wanting to go home, if his home was that cool he'd want to go back too.

He helps Vex barter for magic supplies for Gilmore's spell.

He kisses you hand before you step into the circle.

And watches as you nearly cry as the spell fails and you run off to your room.

He wants to follow you but is afraid of saying something wrong.

Later he comes up to your room with some wine and soup.

He plays a song on his lute as you eat, trying to make the perfect atmosphere.

"I know I don't say this much, but I'm lucky to have you as a friend, we all are."

Is a bit surprised when you ask him to stay (not like he'll show it) but would never say no. As you curl around him he plays with your hair and hums your favorite song.

The next morning is a rest day, Scanlan mandates it. You've dealt with far too much emotional stress to just go on like it's a normal day. And he doesn't let you forget about the found family you have now.