#plus it wasn't Dying that she knew well. it was always just Death

[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

half my original reasoning for choosing Mourn Watch was my chance for Name Alliteration lol, but i'm so happy i went with it. Something fun about a Dwarf who grew up close to the Stone yet far from it. And who grew up with death as something gentle and dignified, who is now thrust into a world where death is unfair and messy and ugly

[flem17ng]

YOU'VE GOT REQUESTS OPEN???

can you do like an agathario library date??? precanon?

IF NOT JUST ANYTHING AGATHARIO PLS PLS PLS PLS

THANK YOUUUUU

I could be a good mother (And I want to be your wife)

A.N: Thank you for this prompt! I wrote this instead of studying. Let me know if you have more requests! (I'm probably going to put this onto AO3 as well)

Word count: 2.7k Tags: Fluff (because that's what they deserve), Pre-canon, Pre-Nicholas, Library date, they are so cute Warnings: None Summary: Pretty much what the prompt is, plus an important surprise from Agatha.

✰ ✰ ✰

Oxford, England, sometime in the 1700s

Rio has always loved the chaos of brittian. For such a small island, it was strangely violent. It seemed that there was not one portion of its history that wasn’t soaked in blood and betrayal. There was always some sort of horror: the fire of london, the black death, the reformation, not to mention the islands unruly habit of invading and “colonizing” every piece of land it could get its chubby fingers on.

Oh, how Rio loved it. The chaos. The betrayal and the small villages in the middle of nowhere that begged to be wandered and explored. Maybe Death was not as villainous as she is thought to be because by god did she love the things mortals could make when they weren’t busy dying and killing.

Maybe that was a side effect of her green witch abilities. She was connected to the earth through roots and mud and rot of graves, but more and more she was finding that she was connected through the flowers, the streams, the laughter, and the souls. Maybe that is why she found herself in Oxford, a center for education, advancement, and good pubs, gazing up at the sandstone buildings in wonder instead of reaping the souls of the innocent.

No. There was another reason she was here on this day. Perhaps a more romantic reason if one could think of Death as a romantic. She could sense her. She could feel the tingle of her magic before she had even stepped onto the main street. Rio was old, older perhaps than the earth itself, and yet no magic she had encountered felt quite the same as Agatha Harkness’. It was a cold sensation, like saline injected under the skin, it rushed and eddied and pooled at her fingers before surging to her chest and encircling her black heart. Perhaps it was Agatha’s magic itself that had alerted Rio to the presence of her heart; the lump that sat stagnant in her chest seemed alert, almost beating as Agatha’s magic charged the air of the quaint university town.

The high street broke off into cramped alleyways decorated with gas lamps and cobbled walkways. Rio's many skirts, petticoats, and frills (an unfortunate aspect of this era's fashion) swirled around her feet as she strode forward, scraping the cobbles with the whispering sound of fabrics.

It was inevitable to find Agatha in a library, hunched over a book or setting up some elaborate spell to turn that library into a death trap. Either way, Agatha had always longed for knowledge, she longed to be stronger, more powerful, better guarded against the wrath of her kin, and better prepared for killing. Oh, it was enough to make Rio swoon.

Agatha’s library of choice today was a large domed building, a few stories high and completely sandstone. A monument to education, placed in the middle of a lovely green park. A monolith to mankind.

Agatha's magic pooled around the building, oozing out the cracks in the window in purple puddles of smoke that only Death could see. Rio smiled at the sight, at the power of her lover.

Lover? Rio caught herself as the thought crossed her mind. She supposed that must be what they were, what they had been for a while now, though who knew that Death could have such a thing. A heart and now a lover... Well, she wasn't exactly complaining. There are far more horrible ways to spend eternity than to spend it in love. Agatha was ever present, all-consuming, a mortal witch who just refused to die after centuries of amassing power, fear, and reputation. And there was Rio, Death personified, walking terror, Breathing inevitability. When an immovable object meets an unstoppable force, Rio supposes it is only fate that they fall in love.

Rio's smile grew as she entered the building, the magic almost suffocating with its intensity, its richness. Whether by coincidence or design, the library was empty at this hour. The students, perhaps dissuaded from studying by the rich presence of power, had long left their posts at the sturdy high-backed chairs that decorated the interior leaving books and quills strewn on every surface. Even the librarians who usually patrolled the isles, ever keen to protect the leather-bound treasures that lined the shelves had mysteriously disappeared. Absently, Rio wondered if Agatha would be giving her a gift tonight, perhaps a body or two to mark the occasion.

It was then that Rio spotted her, tucked away at a desk, face partially illuminated by a dripping candle whose flame was sinking lower and lower towards the wooden desk. Her thick dark hair, streaked with a few stray grey hairs, was piled in an unruly bun atop her head, and her hands, scratching away at a piece of parchment, were black from the ink of her quill.

"I knew I would find you here, Amor." Rio purred, her trademark smirk flickering across her face as she watched Agatha's shoulders tense and relax at the sound of her voice.

"Rio." Agatha sighed, dropping her quill and facing Death who was now leaning against a nearby bookcase; "You came"

"You're hard to ignore, sweetheart," Rio smiled, holding out a hand to Agatha. They both watched as a small carnation bloomed in her palm, its petals fully opening before Rio leaned forward, carefully tucking it behind Agatha's ear. Her lover smiled softly.

"I don't remember killing anyone... recently" She responded cheekily, the candlelight doing nothing to hide the warmth of her cheeks. Rio shrugged, pulling out her dagger which had been hidden under her layers of skirts.

"You didn't have to. Sometimes, I just know these things." She carelessly twirled the knife between her fingers, her eyes never leaving Agathas. It had been so long since they had last seen each other though probably not as long as it felt. But hell, was it a crime for a woman to miss her wife?

Agatha feigned annoyance, hanging her head with a roll of her keen eyes. "I'm busy, you know? I don't need any distractions right now," she motioned to the pile of papers before her, covered in runes, symbols, and snippets of spells Rio could only just make out.

"Oh, I can see. What are we planning today My lady? Manipulation of world leaders? Another gunpowder plot perhaps? Oh! Please tell me it's another plague, you know how I love a good plague." She leaned over Agatha's desk, getting closer to the other woman with a keen expression. "I love it when they go all green and spotty"

Agatha smiled fighting the urge to tuck Rio's hair behind her ear as she leaned forward.

"No dear I'm sorry. But I think you might like this surprise much better than a plague"

Rio snorted and shook her head, "Oh well it must be good then. You haven't gotten me a gift in so long sweetheart"

This was true. Agatha seemed to have begun leaning away from her usual hobbies of murder and destruction, at least to some degree, instead preferring to learn, to watch covens rise and fall. This didn't affect Rio much however as they still saw each other more than enough. Over the past decade or so it seems as though they saw each other at least a few times a week, if not more. Often their meetings went for hours, sometimes days if Rio could spare the time. They walked, they talked, they hiked across ley lines, and spent nights sleeping in castle ruins or huts (they spent nights doing much more than just sleeping).

Agatha didn't fight it this time, pulling her ink-stained hands away from the desk and placing them gently on Rio's cheeks, using her thumb to stroke the side of her lover's face and her long fingers to tuck her hair gently back into place.

"You'll love this gift" She sighed, heart racing so loudly she feared Rio might feel it through her hands. "It's... Well, It's not ready yet but..." She bit her lip, eyes flickering between Rios before sighing and pulling away. She stood from her chair, rounding the desk to where Death still stood, watching her with a small smile.

"you know I don't like surprises" Rio teased, placing a hand firmly on Agatha's waist, once again damning the many layers of skirts they both had to wear, which separated her from her lover's skin.

"Well, that bullshit and you know it" Agatha laughed, leaning into Rio's touch. "I can think of a few instances where you have rather enjoyed surprises"

Rio smirked, catching Agatha's cheeky innuendos with a deep blush. "well you always seem to have the best surprises for me" She jabbed back with the same smirk, tongue pressed into her cheek and eyebrows raised.

"If only they knew huh?" The soul witch laughed, glancing briefly out the small window that oversaw the bright twinkling lights of the pubs and shops down the road. "We'd be burned at the stake at once. Again"

"Oh, Amor you always looked so ravishing when getting burned by an angry mob" Rio quipped, remembering fondly to their days in Salem, after the death of Agatha's coven, after they first met. They had both been younger then, violent in their passions, and just as in love as they were today.

"And you've never looked as good as you do when you clean up my mess once I've finished with them" Agatha laughed, returning a hand to Rio's face. "Blood is one of my favorite looks on you." she winked.

"One of? tell me, Amor, what if my best look?"

Agatha smirked, Lowering her hand slightly so it cupped Rio's neck, her black nails scratching softly at the baby hairs on her neck eliciting a small hum of contentment from her lover. "I could think of a few" She smiled suggestively, eyes never leaving Rios as she leaned forward slowly Her other hand snaking behind Rio's back, holding her closer.

Their lips met for the first time that night, locking together in a well-practiced rhythm that comes only from a century of tender kisses. Rio couldn't help but smile into Agatha's lips, feeling their magic melt together in a strange hypnotic dance. For the second time that night, Rio felt Agatha's magic pool in her chest, licking her insides with pure energy. This must be what mortals call butterflies, Rio mused.

The kiss lasted a long time, They were in no rush after all. By the time they pulled away, as breathless as an immortal and a witch can be, the candle had almost completely melted, its wax pooling at the base of its holder threatening to spill onto Agatha's neat parchment.

They both fell silent, gazes dancing over each other's features quietly. Where once their relationship had been patchy, on and off, both victims of each other's passions and pains, it was now steady, solidified by years of companionship and alliance. Rages and arguments had been replaced by easy silences, domestic moments in stolen cottages and tender embraces. Rio often wondered how many creatures spent their entire immortal lives without finding a love like the one she had found in Agatha. Sure they fought still, and sure, sometimes they drew blood but come on! Everyone has their kinks.

Agatha broke the silence with a soft sigh, moving to hold Rio's hand in hers. They both watched as she intertwined their fingers, pads ghosting over Rio's knuckles like a worshipper with a rosary. Neither of them had been much good at religion, but Rio understood devotion. God, did she feel devotion.

"Aggie?" rio called softly, holding Agatha's hands steady. Her eyes were full of a strange emotion Rio had never seen in her before: Determination, desire, and passion, mixed with warmth, pride, and something else.

"We're married right," Agatha says. More of a statement than a question. Rio raised her eyebrow with a smirk.

"Well I hope so" She laughs, "otherwise we've been going steady for over 100 years". They weren't legally married, not documented by any government at least. But they knew. They had talked about it. They had stood and said vows, and each wore a simple ring to commemorate the union.

Agatha rolled her eyes despite herself. "I know that! I mean I've just been thinking..." She stopped herself again and Rio couldn't help but butt in.

"Please tell me you aren't going to ask for a divorce. I mean I know I can rub you the wrong way sometimes but-" Agatha stopped her with a finger to her lips and a harsh expression.

"Would you shut up for one second and let me finish you freak!" Rio smirked despite the hand over her mouth, moving her eyebrows as if to say well go on then.

Agatha pulled away for a moment, turning back to the desk which was strewn with paper, books, and broken quills. She riffled through a few pages, humming to herself as she organized what she needed before swinging back around with alarming enthusiasm.

"I know I'm crazy." She started, her hair even more of a mess than it was before. Rio couldn't help but laugh but remained silent and let the other witch talk. "Rio..." She paused and glanced down at the papers again, eyes so determined that Rio couldn't help but find it a bit sexy.

"I want to have a baby with you," She said finally, in one breath. The words fell out of her mouth and jumbled into the air between them, waiting for a response. Rio's eyes shot wide open, eyebrows almost lost behind her hair. Before she could respond, Agatha continued, voice low and fast as if scared she was going to be cut off.

"I know it's crazy ok! But I've been thinking about it for a while now and I can't stop thinking about it. I want a baby, and more than that, I want one with you. I love you, Rio, I don't care what you are or who I am ok? I just need-" Perhaps she would have kept going if Rio hadn't chosen that exact moment to lean forward and stop her with an urgent kiss which shocked them both.

Rio pulled back with a grin, gently prying the papers from Agatha's hands and scanning them. Pages and pages of incantations, recipes for potions, guides for ceremonies, safety runes and protection spells all of which worked towards one goal: A child. Death felt a swell of love for the witch before her who, despite her questionable hobbies, had dedicated such passion and time into the creation of their child. She felt her eyes prickle with soft tears. God did she love this woman.

"It is crazy" Rio admitted slowly, cheeks aching from her smile, "but... We've definitely done worse" She shrugged, placing the papers back on the desk with one hand, cupping agathas cheek with the other. Agatha sighed, relieved, allowing her eyes to fall shut as she leaned against Rio's warm palm.

"Is that a-"

"Yes. Let's have a baby, Amor"

Agatha grinned, Opening her eyes once more. "I was hoping you'd say that"

"You'll be an amazing mother" Rio whispered, gently stroking the lines of Agatha's face which had formed over the years they had known each other.

"So will you."

She said it so surely, without question or hesitation, that Rio forgot for a moment who she was. In that moment, she was not Lady Death, nor was she The Green Witch. She was simply Rio. A wife. A soon-to-be mother. A woman in love.

They weren't quite sure who leaned in for the kiss first, but they seemed to meet all at once. Both soft and firm, entangled in each other in the silent library. They made quite the team, A serial Killer and Lady Death. They made a team as partners, they made a team as villains, and now, soon, they would make a perfect team as parents.

"Have you thought of a name?" Rio mumbled against Agatha's lips after a moment. She hummed in response, moving her hands into Rio's hair again, toying softly at the roots.

"I was thinking... Nicholas."

[zuko-always-lies]

AITA, Reddit?

So I (60M) grew up the crown prince of this country bent on world conquest. I figured I might as well as get involved in the family business, so I joined in and spent a few decades conquering places. This had the added benefit of making my divine monarch father (95 M but he's dead) happy, plus I knew from a dream I had when I was seven that I had a divinely blessed destiny to conquer Ba Sing Se, which is like the biggest city ever.

Anyways, this whole "conquering things" and burning them down went on for a while, and I even got my wonderful son (20M but also dead unfortunately) involved too. All the while my younger brother(45M) was jealous and would often throw temper tantrums about my success. He would complain that our dad favored me over him, what was absolutely not true at all. I loved my brother to death though but he just never seemed to really grow up. I think it's my fault maybe for not guiding him properly.

Anyways, eventually my brother married my sister in law(35F). They seemed like a great match and were having kids in no time. They had two kids, my nephew (17M) who I took a liking to even when he was a baby and a girl (15F) who always seemed fussy and unfeminine.

Anyways, when my nephew was like 8 myself and my son took off with a huge army to besiege Ba Sing Se for like 600 days. It was bloody affair but you can't go carrying out world conquest and fulfilling destinies without breaking a few hundred thousand eggs. I even got my nephew a gift I looted from an enemy general, a knife with a really cool inscription. I sent the girl a gift too because I had to, a doll or something similar that I looted; I hoped it would make her more proper girly and less of a tomboy.

We were winning the siege and about to conquer the city but then unfortunately my beloved son was killed by an enemy soldier. I was overcome by grief and immediately ordered the army to withdraw. I then left it in the middle of combat and personally left. I know it sounds bad but you have to understand that my son dying was the worst thing ever to happen to anyone and totally justifies it. I went on a bit of a walkabout around and realized this whole "world conquest," "conquering," and "ruling the world" thing just wasn't for me anymore. I really just felt like retiring but of course I was the crown prince so I really couldn't.

Fortunately, when I got back home, I found that my brother had murdered my father and sister in law and stolen the throne. I know it sounds bad but boys will be boys and I didn't want it anymore so I didn't really care. My brother was even really chill about me being back home again and invited me to all his war meetings. I think he was showing off his power or something; it was really adorable. Anyways I kind of felt the whole war thing wasn't very morally good at this point but I still did my best to give valuable advice at the war meetings.

So everything was working out surprisingly well but there was one massive problem. The girl was just completely taking the limelight away from my nephew. She was really smart and good at fighting and fiercely competitive and everything, everything a girl shouldn't be. She played with fire, not dolls. I expected her father to smack her down and put her in her place, but instead he lavished attention on her and neglected his son instead. He began disparaging my nephew and comparing him negatively to the girl, which was very wrong since she was someone who should be focused on having babies and getting married while my nephew was the first born son and the crown prince and deserved accolades for that alone. But to be clear, this was all the girl's fault, not my brother's fault. He never was the best at controlling himself and retaining a clear mind and she took advantage of that by trying to impress her father rather than quieting her competitive spirit and letting her brother maintain his proper place. Plus she criticized my decision to abandon the whole siege thing, which is not how you're supposed to treat a respected elder.

Anyways, all of this made me feel wrong. I really wanted to discipline the girl but she had her father bewitched and there is zero chance he'd allow that, but I figured I could at least give my nephew some positive attention for a change. I got to know him better and he reminded me both of my brother when he was younger and my own son, and I realized I had kind of found two second chances (or maybe even three) in one with him, so I really made a real effort to support him. My nephew could be mean and disrespectful and violent and impulsive, but I always knew he had pure heart behind it all.

Anyways, things were going OK for a while but then they suddenly got much worse. My brother had unjustly banned my 13 year old nephew from a war meeting(probably the girl's fault somehow), so I let him in. Then my nephew, with his big, pure heart, verbally attacked a general for a callous plan, so my brother challenged my nephew to a duel and burned him when he didn't fight back. I just kind of watched (but I'm pretty sure my niece was smirking about the whole thing).

Anyways, I felt kind of guilty about the whole thing, so when my brother banished my nephew to look for the Avatar(a demigod who hadn't been seen for 100 years), I went with my nephew even though what I really wanted to do was stay retired and drink tea all day. This search went on for three whole years as my nephew threw tantrums and randomly attacked people in his search, but boys will be boys and I knew he had a pure heart. I tried to encourage good qualities in him by giving him proverbs but I'm not sure if he got any (but I like my proverbs too much to stop using them). I tried to teach him better firebending but he never really had the patience for it. I guess I tried to get my nephew to stop and smell the roses but that was never going to work.

Eventually the actual Avatar(12 M) showed up (I wasn't expecting that!). The chase went on for another few months. I helped my nephew when I could and encouraged him to keep up the chase, but ultimately we ended at the Northern Water Tribe, where I helped a crazy Admiral named Zhao (45 M) as he tried to conquer the NWT but it was all only to cover for my nephew trying to catch the Avatar. Zhao gave off a lot of self-destructive conquest vibes(I should know-conquest was me at some point) but I still helped him. Anyways, Zhao tried to destroy the moon, I had to try to stop him, it kind of worked, and my nephew and I were forced to flee south on a raft.

We spent some time in a resort, but then the crazy girl showed up and claimed my brother wanted us back. I knew that was sus as hell, it turned out my brother wanted to imprison us (but I'm sure the girl was putting him up to it but unfortunately he never changes his mind once he's made it) for our actions at the NWT, the girl tried to capture myself and my nephew but failed at it, my nephew tried to put the girl in her place, which was a good idea, but he wasn't strong enough, which made it a bad idea, I ended up kicking the girl off a ship, and we escaped. I was sure she was right behind us, so we decided to hide as refugees in the Earth Kingdom.

We spent some time fleeing and hiding in that, I had a brief falling out with my nephew since he was a bit too handsy with other people's things, we reconciled, we hooked up with a couple of members of an old secret fraternal organization of mine, and we headed to Ba Sing Se to hide as refugees. Along the way, my beloved nephew tried to put his crazy sister in her place a couple times, but he wasn't strong enough and it was a bit of bad idea, so I tried to teach him better firebending so he'd have better luck next time. I'll be honest, his attitude was a bit frustrating. I almost forgot to mention this but also at a certain point Zuko and I teamed up with the Avatar to try to put Azula in her place and we trapped her but she got away and I got burned for my trouble. And apparently Zuko and the Avatar couldn't play nice with each other since by the time I woke up they were separated. What can I say?

To get back on track, we headed to Ba Sing Se as refugees, hooked up with another refugee boy who stole food from the captain of our ferry for us. It was surprisingly fun to visit as a tourist the city I had spent so many years trying to conquer and reduce to ashes. I know this sounds bad, but trust me it's not. After being exposed to the abomination which was the local tea, Zuko and I got jobs as tea shop attendants making superior Fire Nation tea, although Zuko didn't like it much even though I told him to accept this was now his destiny. The other refugee boy accused us of being Firebenders but fortunately got taken away by the secret police and we ended up becoming owners of a tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon. It felt like a perfect way to fulfil our destinies and spend my retirement, but Zuko still wanted to capture the Avatar. It was a pain in the ass but boys will be boys, I suppose. I had to rescue him from a secret police compound to prevent him from doing anything really stupid. After that, Zuko finally started to accept his destiny and be happy!

Just when everything was going perfectly, the girl showed and ruined everything. She captured Zuko as part of her coup to seize control of the Earth Kingdom, and I had to team up with the Avatar to try to get him back. It was at that moment I knew Zuko's true destiny was to join up with the Avatar and restore balance to the world! It made perfect sense for once. Zuko was the only one pure enough and true hearted enough and with the right blood to do this; I certainly never could. I just needed to ask Zuko to look into his heart and he'd do it! But again that bitch ruined everything. She manipulated Zuko, that poor boy who didn't know better, into siding with her and her father and betraying me. Into fighting against the Avatar and helping her conquer Ba Sing Se, conquer my city to conquer. She almost killed the Avatar and I had to sacrifice myself to allow him and his little girlfriend to escape. Sometimes your kids will get killed.

I was captured but not powerless now. As I began plot my escape, I also thought about how to influence Zuko into becoming the perfect pure prince I knew he could be, into becoming the friend of the Avatar I knew was his true destiny, into breaking him out of the influence of his evil sister and his father who never quite treated him right. It was easier then I thought. A couple fake cold shoulders (although that hurt a bit for me) and some careful revelations about how he had good blood through his grandfather the Avatar and Zuko was back on the right track, on the track of being the perfect Firelord I could never be. I knew he would stop the Fire Nation, overthrow his father, end the war, and redeem our country, all without needing my help! You might think I should have tried to help him more, but trust me, it works out in the end.

With Zuko's destiny taken care of, it was time to focus on my own. I don't like to toot my own horn, but I also knew I was special and destined for something incredible and I just needed to figure it out. My boyhood dream gave me the right inspiration. All along it was to conquer Ba Sing Se, but for the Earth Kingdom and not the Fire Nation. Everything just clicked into placed. Finally all those deaths I had caused had meaning.

I escaped, and set about fulfilling my fate. I wanted to stage the liberation on the Day of Sozin's Comet, since all firebenders would be more powerful that day. The most important day of my life, the day I finally accomplished the destiny I saw all those years ago, deserved to be at the time I was the most powerful. I gathered up all my friends and prepared for my attempt.

However, just before I could make my attempt, my son and his friends showed up and asked for my help. Zuko begged for my forgiveness. I was so happy to see him like that and I of course forgive him and hugged him. My "replacement son" was now as close to my heart as my actually son had been. He asked me to be the next Firelord, but I knew his heart was a million times purer than mine (and I'd be happier running a tea shop in retirement), so I refused. He wanted me to fight his father the Firelord and defeat him, but that was that 12 year old the Avatar's job and not mine, and it would have looked really bad for a brother to fight a brother to seize power, like really really bad, so I refused. Then I told him his destiny to was to fight his sister and put her in her place so that he could finally become Firelord. Of course, even my perfect nephew, as pure and perfect as he is, didn't have a chance against that girl in a fair fight, so I sent along a waterbender(14F) to help finish the issue.

There was also this issue of my brother, poor deluded creature he was, trying to use a giant airship fleet to burn down the whole Earth Kingdom, but I let the three remaining kids handle it so that my buddies and I could focus on the more important mission of conquering Ba Sing Se on the day of destiny. I know this sounds kind of bad when I write it out like that, but trust me, I knew the kids had everything in the bag.

So, with everything arranged right, we could accomplish our fates. We liberated Ba Sing Se with only a bit of collateral damage(it was the greatest feeling of life) , the kids stopped the airship fleet, the Avatar beat my brother and only took his bending and not his life (which I'm glad for, I always loved my little bro) and my wonderful nephew and the waterbender beat the little terror. Apparently she went really insane during the fight; I'm not surprised, she always was a crazy bitch.

Zuko got coronated and I'm sure that he'll be the most perfect Firelord ever that will restore honor and order to the Fire Nation and fix the last 100 years of mistakes. He's the only one with the blood for it, the only one with true honor, after all. Azula that crazy girl was placed in an asylum like she belongs and my poor little brother was locked away true (that's my only real regret, other than not saving Lu Ten. I wish things could have ended better for sweat little Ozai).

I meanwhile didn't attend Zuko's coronation, so I could focus on setting my retirement as a tea shop owner in Ba Sing Se. Finally I could have a life where I could relax, indulge myself, and serve others wonderful Fire Nation tea. It took a surprising amount of bureaucratic wrangling, but I got my tea shop. I was so sure that the people of Ba Sing Se would find it a blessing to be the presence of their savior and liberator!

However, then Zuko's girlfriend got mad at me. Apparently I had "given Zuko an incredibly difficult and dangerous responsibility and then abandoned him." And then my sister in law showed up alive too (I'm still not sure how she survived Ozai killing her) and she got mad me for "abandoning her daughter and turning Zuko against the girl." And now there are people protesting and rioting outside my tea shop all the time because apparently they can't let go of the time I besieged Ba Sing Se for 600 days.

I don't get any of this. Everyone is hating on me for seemingly no reason. So tell me, Reddit, am I the asshole?

[omgcatboi]

Are you a “eat until death” type of person? I know you want to get fatter, but 800 pounds is a lot…

Answer below the cut (:

I'm not sure how to read the intentions behind this anon, rather they be good or bad. But I'm going to answer anyways because I do get asked this from time to time.

( disclaimer because I can already hear people trying to argue with me, but my aunt who was 700 pounds lived until her 60's and she was fat her entire life, so no, she didn't die immediately from gaining weight. Nor will I. )

Am I an ' eat until death ' type of person;

I absolutely am, but I limit my ' death feedism ' posting here ( as well as tag it ) and am thinking of making another side blog to remove that posting from here entirely for the comfort of my followers. I'm not eating with intention to end myself, I just feel like life is what you make of it and anything can happen at any point to cut us a short deal. Also, my cultural beliefs are that the entire purpose of life is to experience it. So that's what I want to do. Death isn't the end goal, and I do eat many healthy foods ( and encourage it often on my blog so that other feedees can gain weight more healthily. ) I just know I wanna get as big as possible, and that may bring along a good handful of complications that can result in death.

TW ; talk of fascism and American imperialism as well as transphobia / legislation enforcing bigotry.

Also, not to get all doom and gloom but look at the state of this world. Look at the dying planet we have limited time on. Each day a new fascist bill gets passed here in America alone. If death takes me out this hellscape then it's doing me a hell of a favor, because there IS no other way out. Not without a ton of money for a passport and applying for citizenship overseas as well as paying American taxes AFTER moving out. And even then, America IS the empire of our age. It influences the rest of the world. And it has already been invading other countries and enforcing fascist dictatorships either directly or indirectly for MANY years now. So even if I COULD hypothetically move out, I'd still be at risk of being under Americas extreme rule anyway. Or worse, I'd end up in a situation like P/lestinian just like Vi/tnam was.

I know what I'm saying is dark and depressing, as well as anxiety inducing, but I'm showing that I've put plenty of thought behind this decision. Just like I did before starting HRT even tho I ALWAYS knew I am trans. And I don't need anyone trying to talk me out of the lifestyle I am living. Besides, with my genetics, I'm going to keep gaining regardless. It happened to my aunt who was roughly 700 pounds, and even then, she was near her 60's when she passed. I'm only gaining faster, not less. ( And she wasn't gaining intentionally, she just didn't care about fitting into other people's idea of what she should be and what she should do. )

In her 60's

60'S

I don't want to be old and wrinkly ( no hate tho those who are ) I don't want to live that damn long ( like 70's and older ) just. Nah. I'm good.

I'm just enjoying my time while I have it.

( this next part is not about people with triggers who are triggered by death feedism or very fat bodies. So if that is you, stop exposing yourself to this bc I tagged it and talked about it plenty before getting to this point of the post. )

And as a footnote to anyone who may be reading this, if you have an issue with people getting ' too big ' 1) you need to check that way of thinking because you ARE in the feedism / fat kink community. And that INCLUDES people who are, gasp, suprise, FAT. And 2) you should spend some time reflecting on what lead you to harboring that way of thinking.

Not saying this anon holds these views at all, I'm just mentioning it because it is my blog and we are on the topic. ( Plus I'm Knipping everything in the bud now as far as the group of people who will try and spew any level of fatphobia at me for this. In which case I'm not even going to read what y'all say, I'm just going to block you lol. )

One love and allat 😌

[contentment-of-cats]

Sessions with the brain-fixer and solutions

So, my nightmares from medical trauma have not been fun. I know this is my brain's way of trying to process everything that's happened, but the sleep disturbance is hard to deal with. I'll have a run of good sleep, and then nightmares busting out of the cracks. My shrink tells me it's more common than anyone imagines. She's a good shrink, very to the point, and constantly tells me that the things I am going through - as much as they suck - are normal.

It's comforting not to be the only one.

The last round of nightmares edged into night terrors with a side of waking paralysis. Spiders, claustrophobia, missing cats, then in the dream I watched black tumors erupting from my body and knew I was dying. I couldn't use lucid dreaming, the terror was too overwhelming for thought, I just managed to wake myself up. I was awake for hours, even switching from bed to couch didn't send me back to sleep. I didn't want to take a Ramelteon (works on serotonin receptors and is non-addictive) or an Ativan (asked Onco to order me a couple for my MRI because of claustrophobia and now have a bottle of 120), so I was up from 2:00AM onwards.

Nightmares can't find me during the day. Naps are great. :)

So, she wants me to try neurofeedback - a kind of biofeedback. Biofeedback has always struck me as the wooiest woo, but I am old and now it's an evidence-based treatment. I'll give it a shot, but in the meantime my gabapentin dose gets a bump.

I can't believe that in these times, people want to censor talk about mortality, death, dying, and the process of disease, treatment, and so on. Skip the next paragraph if you're that extra.

I talked with her about The End. I said it was kind of comforting to have a general idea of what would kill me. I am okay with the concept of my mortality. It's not the end, but getting there that's the Big Scary. I've seen that part of the trip. I've prepared for it was much as possible, but in the end... well... we find out, don't we? Only 15 percent of people diagnosed with my type and stage of cancer come out the other end of chemo and radiation. Twenty people walk into a room and three will walk back out. I am deeply grateful to have had two-plus years of life when I wasn't sure that I would see my 56th birthday. It's been a lovely surprise.

[justrainandcoffee]

The rebel district 11

Side fic of this main story

Summary: The winner of the 41th Hunger Games was a black girl called Aveline, Avie for her friends. The girl is now a woman and this is the story of how she hears the news about the Quarter Quell and what happened after the announcement.

Warning: Death. Blood. Poverty.

Words: 900.

Aveline Young just returned from the cemetery where her mother and brother were, when Snow made the announcement.

"...the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

"FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"

The memories of her Arena were present in her mind. The fake but extremely hot lava, her skin burning, falling, her flesh exposed and melting every time the lava touched her legs. The weight of the katana in her hands, the sensation of the blade trespassing the bodies of the other tributes. She was so young back then…

And now, at her 50s, she was forced to go again.

Thanks to the fucking monster of Coriolanus Snow.

The other victors of district 11 were her friends. Both of them were her mentee. Leigh and Kay. Leigh was now 43 and Kay 39.

The reaping day was absurdly sunny. The day was mocking them.

The three of them were standing on the stage, facing a multitude that was quiet. The tension was evident. District 11 was the first one next to 13, to raise itself against the Capitol. Maybe it was a poor district, maybe its people were hungry. But people of 11 were always fighters. And when people has nothing to lose, they become reckless.

Snow sent a new army to her lands. These soldiers unlike the old ones were well fed and wanted blood. Aveline despised them as soon as they arrived. Because at least she knew the old peacekeepers (funny name for those trained to kill civilians) and those men knew her. Aveline Young was the first victor from their district and was a kind of celebrity, if you want to call it that way. And a woman who jumped directly into a fucking volcano, who was almost two meters tall, and a one who always carried a sword in her back, was someone you don't want to mess with.

But the new soldiers didn't know that. Yet.

Theodore Walker was the escort that the capitol sent to district 11 for the last 15 years. He was a fat man always wearing very colourful suits, but unlike his colleague who loved to wear wigs or dyed their hair, he kept his natural blond hair.

He was faking his smile. Like many other escorts, he knew the victors and likr many others, too, Theodore knew that the Quarter Quell was an injustice.

Leigh was condemned to participate from the very beginning. He was the only male victor. But the ladies' bowl had two names.

"Aveline Young," exclaimed Theodore opening the paper.

But before Aveline could walk towards the man, Kay volunteered.

"You can't!" Aveline was still confused and was shaking her head. "Kay!"

"I can. I volunteer as tribute!" said Kay this times more firmly. "Give me the chance to return to the Arena and spit on Snow's shoes. FUCK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!"

She didn't care that the cameras were pointing at her. The peacekeepers dragged her out of the stage along with Leigh and Theodore.

"This people need you, Avie!" yelled Kay. "Make it worth."

They didn't allow her to go with them this time. Inside the Justice Palace, Aveline sat in a chair alone.

Make it worth.

Aveline wasn't going to be part of the Quarter Quell, but she was still part of the rebellion. How many of her friends were going to die, because Snow was trying to prove he was still in charge?

The woman left the building and walked towards her house. The last month she had prepared a backpack with the necessary for survive somewhere else plus some weapons like knives. She was leaving to district 13.

Her katana was with her, as always. One day she was going to tell of how she get her most beloved possession, but not now.

The new captain of the peacekeepers was guarding the entrance of the victor's village when Aveline was ready to cross the gate.

"Where're you goin', Young?"

"To fuck your mama, kid."

Apparently, the captain didn't find her answer amusing and tried to shoot her, new orders allowed them to kill anyone, including victors. But Aveline was quicker.

Before the man knew it, the long blade of the katana was stuck in his heart. The man looked at her, before collapsing in the ground, dead.

"You're going to call your fucking superior and you're going to tell him that in district 11 everything is fine, you hear?" she said to another peacekeeper who was looking in shock how his captain was dead in front of him and how his white armour was now red.

"Bitch!" the man tried to jump over her but a muscular black man stopped him. He smacked the peacekeeper's head against the floor and soon he was dead, too.

The good thing about being a celebrity are the fans. Always ready to protect you because they love you.

And the district, loved Aveline.

One peacekeeper decided not to tempt his own luck and sent a message to the Capitol saying that in that place was everything under control. The Capitol was too busy paying attention to important things to lose their time with black, poor people. Besides, Snow sent a good, well prepared man to keep everyone in their seats, right?

A pity that the man was fucking dead.

That was the day that Aveline left her title of mentor and victor forever behind her, to embrace her new role as Commander Young, leader of district 11.

[singofsolace]

Thoughts on "Alberta's Fan"

So I like to put shows on while I eat dinner by myself to make me feel less alone and it wasn't until I had watched this episode for the second time that I was able to focus on all of the new information we get about Hetty?

like, the first time around, I was focusing on the A-plot (A for Alberta, how fitting!) and so it wasn't until I watched it again tonight that some of Hetty's lines really sunk in.

For example, when Thor, Alberta, Sam, and Hetty are going for their morning walk, Sam makes a comment about how Hetty walks slower than the rest of them, which results in this exchange:

Hetty: "Well, excuse me for dying in heels! Plus, I did not sleep. You know I suffer from nerves. At least when I was alive I could take laudanum."

Sam: "What's laudanum?"

Hetty: "It's a simple mixture of alcohol and morphine. You should try it, Samantha."

Sam: "Oh sure, I'll pick some up next time I'm at the alchemist."

Hetty: "Well, I didn't always require such elixirs. When I was a little girl, an angel-voiced servant would sing me to sleep. Some footman or butler."

....

We get so much from this one exchange!

1) Hetty most likely died unexpectedly, since she was still wearing uncomfortable heels and a corset when it happened. I've been racking my brain trying to think of what could have killed her that didn't leave a visible wound but still caught her by surprise enough that she didn't so much as take off her shoes? I have to assume it was some kind of unexpected medical event, and not a long, drawn out illness, or else she would've been in far more comfortable sick-clothes; was it a stroke or an aneurysm, perhaps? I think I've seen others speculate that it could've been a drug overdose, which tracks, but wouldn't she have died high, like Flower, if that were the case? Wouldn't she be a little less lucid, and wouldn't Thor, Sas, or Isaac have mentioned it when other drug-related deaths came up? And would the writers really want drugs and alcohol to be involved in four out of the eight main ghost deaths? It's a mystery, to be sure!

2) Hetty has trouble sleeping, and apparently all the ghosts are already aware that she has anxiety which contributes to her insomnia, because she says "you know I suffer from nerves" as if to imply there's no need to offer an explanation as to why she didn't sleep.

3) When she was alive, Hetty regularly self-medicated with a combination of alcohol and morphine to help her sleep. We already knew about her cocaine use prior to this exchange, but I think this is the first mention of her using them specifically to "treat" her anxiety and insomnia.

Then, in a later scene, when Thor and Hetty are having their heart to heart, Thor tells her that he thought she would remember him after she died, but instead she had "terror of Thor." So not only did she not remember him or his voice, she was scared of him when she first died. And, in fact, she still flinches when he yells, despite having 130 years to get used to it.

Side note--when Elias comes out of the vault, he says that he's spent 130 years talking to his corpse. Hetty also says at one point that she's been friends with Isaac for 130 years. Does that mean Elias and Hetty died around the same time? We know Elias died first, but does that mean Hetty only outlived her husband by less than a year...? And since she says her children weren't fully grown yet when she died, does that mean her kids were taken in by someone else? Her sister, maybe...? So much to think about!

Hetty also says to Thor, "You were there for me when no one else was. Thank you." Does that mean that Hetty's parents were absent and/or neglectful? Was she treated poorly as a child? Did she not have much of a relationship with her sister, even before their looks were being compared to decide who would be forced to marry Elias...? Why was "Gordon" the only person Hetty remembers who supported her? That's just heartbreaking, especially when you think about how she went from a lonely, neglected child to an even lonelier, neglected wife.

Anyway, I have so many thoughts on this episode, I just wanted to get them out! Let me know if you all have any thoughts, too.

[notsoblackandwhite101]

I love your fic. So glad to read new chapter. I also love your worldbuilding. Especially family trees. Honestly, I'm dying to know more about Demelza and David. How did she became kinda snotty yet caring, and whether Dylan knew his grandpa, if I remember correctly Dylan might have taken after him when it comes to scifi

I'm glad your enjoying the story!

I can't quiet remember if the boys were born before David passed. If any were, I'd say he likely passed away when Dylan (And possibly Dawkins) were very young. Too young to understand death or its ramifications. However everything he has left behind has had a huge effect on them to this day! His study is full of science and history books. As well as his telescope and some nerd memorabilia here and there! Even if he was gone before they were born his memory has had a lasting impact!

As for Demelza, its a sort of Nature and Nurture situation. A lot of it has to do with who raised her and how. Her parents were a big influences, but so were her Uncle Radcliff and Aunt Dot.

Her mum, Orie (Oreo), is really instrumental. Orie grew up in a poor family and had, what I like to call, terminal eldest daughter syndrome. Not terminal in that it will kill you, but in that it will kill your relationships. Orie's parents were the lowest rung on the social ladder. Both working hard at menial jobs for long hours and very little pay. Her parents were happy though, loving each other and their children. It was just that Orie (Oreo) was the eldest, so when her parents were at work, she was raising her siblings. Unlike Dolly and Dylan years later, she had NO time off because her parents took NO time off. She also started caring for them when she was very young. She was basically parenthesized against her will with zero ability to punish them. Her siblings always acted up when she was caring for them, but became angels when her parents were home, with her parents downplaying the misbehavior they didn't see when Orie complained about it. Orie always had issues with her parents because of this and a few other things. (Including her birth name Oreo, which got her picked on a lot.) So as soon as she turned 18 she left, and hardly talk to any of her family again.

However that childhood made Orie dream of a Cinderella life. Where she'd marry well and never have to cook or clean. Never have to care for a flock of screaming children, with a nice big house. Not to say she'd marry for money alone. She just knew what she wanted. Patch certainly didn't match many of these prerequisites. He wasn't rich, just well off. He didn't have a huge house, he lived in a nice one with his sick parents. He had to do some cooking and cleaning, but it wasn't alot. However he did save her life and was very kind to her. (They met during an air raid and had to take shelter in a doorway together.) At first Orie just volunteered to help him with his block captain work, but they got to now each other, fell in love and married.

It wasn't a fairytale marriage, but it worked very well! Patch was passive and indecisive, but kind. Orie knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to get it, even if she was a little rough around the edges. They worked together very well, even if it was Patch saying 'Yes dear.' most of the time. When the subject of children came up however, Orie was not interested... at first. She spent her childhood and teenage years raising her siblings, she didn't want to do it all over again as an adult. She was finally enjoying life for dogs sake! However as time went on, Patch's siblings had children.

Orie supposed Little Dipper and Domino were cute... Plus now that she was an adult they actually listen to her. Not to mention Patch was so good with them... hmmm...

Eventually she pulled Patch aside and agreed to have ONE child. Patch was over the moon, he just wanted one anyway! They ended up have Demelza and Patch loved her to bits! Orie went through a weird phase after Demelza was born where she didn't really ... love her baby? Not that she hated Demelza, it was just she didn't feel this instant love that she expected? (This is called the baby blues and its actually really common for many mothers!) After a week though the feelings came and Orie started to bond with Demelza!

Orie was content to let Patch do most of the emotional rearing for Demelza. She took over schooling, manners and other things. She had a pretty good life... but Demelza's could be even better. She was the one who pushed her daughter to climb the social ladder. Not wanting her to be stuck with tons of kids and house work when Demelza grew up. That mixed well with Uncle Radcliff, who had just moved back into the house after a stress stroke. Uncle Radlciff owned a factory and mingled with the upper crust a lot. (He and Orie got along swimmingly, both being a bit cold and grumpy, if well meaning.) Demelza looked up to Uncle Radcliff, whatever he and mum said was gospel just about. This also coincided with Aunt Dot moving in after her husband died suddenly. She was a bit like Patch, a push over and soft spoken. However unlike her three siblings she didn't work. So she took over cooking and cleaning, much to Orie's delight. (Orie got along best with Dot and Radcliff of all of Patch's siblings. Not that she argued with any of them much.) Dot wanted children but never had any, so she enjoyed helping to raise Demelza, which did help soften her demeanor greatly.

So yeah, it was a HUGE mix of four parental figures in her life that caused this. Her friends also play a part in how snooty and uptight she can be. David used to be able to settle her, but he's no longer around...

Oh and fun fact! Demelza was named by her mother. Orie, as I said, was bullied a lot as a child because she was named after a ridiculous, American snack cookie. (Oreo) She insisted that her daughter have a refined, dignified name! So Demelza it was.

(God I love exploring generational trauma with characters!)

[the-valiant-valkyrie]

Any Fabricator headcanons to spare?

oh you've gone and done it now. lets see what i can remember off the top of my head

she can't work in silence under any circumstances. at bare minimum she's gotta have some music on in the background. when she's working on less brain-intensive parts of the death-trap-making process, she'll probably also be humming or singing

if she actually ever got a sleep schedule, she would be a morning person. she's not very good at that, though. plus, she works with solaris a lot, and she's a night person, so she's got to make sacrifices to her own schedule so that they can actually get something done

she eats poison with a consistent (and perhaps even unhealthy) frequency. she's developed a tolerance to all her favorites over the years. originally she did so just as a precautionary measure (dying to your poisons is so disgustingly cliche) but it just kind of turned into a habit

as a result, she also claims to be immune to significant amounts of capsaicin (this part is actually true) as well as caffeine (NOT TRUE AT ALL THIS PART'S A LIE)

fabby loves giving herself rewards whenever she's working. little treats. she has no issue with the mental cycle of "ohh but i haven't deserved it yet" she'll scarf down little treats to her heart's content. she always deserves it.

it's this mentality that also leads to her taking breaks in between work and going out to eat and then coming back (and it's absolutely NOT an excuse to hang outside the lab with solaris that's so crazyyyy that's crazy who said that)

speaking of eating, her favorite food is lamb. she'll eat it in pretty much whatever way presented, a lamb rack, a lamb chop, stew. i think she would even stoop to a lamb sandwich if you dolled it up nice enough. if it's available she is going to eat it.

before joining zoraxis, fabby was incredibly ambitious. however, her two passions kind of split her down the middle…

originally she tried to persue a career in engineering. however, she wasn't allowed (not unable, not incapable, but she wasn't allowed) to get her degree after all her hard work. which pissed her off something nasty, but at least she had her love of fashion to fall back on.

she did get a fashion degree, since no one was inclined to keep that away from her. and she was doing pretty well for herself for a little while.

until someone stole her work.

attempts to accuse the thief only lead with false evidence being twisted against her, instead. and it was really looking like the only thing she was ever 'allowed' to do was going to be pulled right from under her feet.

enter zor; stage left. and oh they knew exactly what to say and exactly how to say it (and far too much, though she didn't exactly process just how much they knew at the time)

they would never deny her her true calling. they would never tempt her with success and never let her have it. they would never take what's rightfully hers… but they could certainly help her take it back.

and oh, the most unfortunate thing ended up happening to that grimy thief poor designer! seemingly, he did steal those designs after all. all that guilt he cast onto that innocent woman he took from just proved too much to bare, poor thing. but at least the matter's settled, the designs have returned to its rightful owner, and no one found the matter suspicious enough to do a proper toxology report.

fabby has been absolutely addicted to physical, tangible revenge ever since that moment. it's the only thing that gets results. "if you want something done right, do it yourself", and all that, you know how it is.

(it's also the main reason why phoenix poking around in her workshop flustered her so badly… the thought of someone touching her stuff. doing who knows what to it. taking who knows what. it gets her shaking in anger just thinking about it)

[echoghost1]

InvisoBang 2023 - Dawn Of Influence - Chapter 2

Title: Dawn Of Influence Chapter 2 Title: Headaches & How’ve You Been’s Summary: Danny is in his senior year of high school. His life, even with his still secret half-ghost nonsense, has settled down to a new, but manageable normal. That is until one day he starts to notice something is off. He doesn’t feel right, so he tries to find out what’s going on. His ghost form is changing but he has no idea what it’s changing into or why. Characters: Danny Fenton, Sam Manson, Tucker Foley, Jazz Fenton, Clockwork, Pandora, Frostbite Total Word Count: 17,010 Trigger Warnings & relevant tags: Mystery, Horror, Body Horror, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Ghost King Danny Fenton

You can find my fic on ao3 and read chapter 2 down below the cut!

Ch 1 | [you're here] | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | Ch 10 | Ch 11 | Ch 12

Once a week Jazz would call home from college. She said it was so she could let them know how things were going for her. That she didn’t want them to worry.

Danny was pretty sure it was more for her. To make sure he was okay.

He had a feeling if she could, she would have driven home every week. Thankfully she saw how insane it was to make such a long drive weekly. 

Normally he enjoyed catching up with her. He liked hearing about how much she was enjoying herself. 

She was thriving on the east coast.

She was doing even better when he was able to prove he wasn't going to starve to death or let their parents blow up the house while she was away. 

The first couple of weeks without her was a bit of an adjustment but he managed. He might not be good at much, but he was very adaptable. 

Plus he had another new weekly tradition of having family dinners at Tucker’s house. 

The problem with having a weekly call with Jazz was he never wanted to give her bad news.

He always made sure to have something positive, even if it was just something he was looking forward to later in the week.

This week he had nothing. 

Midterms were coming up and even if he wasn't in danger of failing it didn't stop the test anxiety he always got. Test anxiety that had only gotten worse after that whole bad-end future business. 

To top it all off, he had a headache.

He really wanted to have something good to say, but the more he tried to think of something, the more it made his head hurt.

By the time she called he had almost convinced himself to go out and miss the call. Almost.

He knew avoiding it would just make it worse. Somehow.

He couldn’t think of how. His head hurt too much.

Danny picked up the phone on the second ring. 

“Hi Danny!”

“Hey Jazz.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, got a headache, but it’s fine. How are you?”

“You sure?”

“It’s fine. I’m sure there’s something you were dying to tell me about.”

“I can tell you about that later. Did you take anything?”

“Like what?”

“Headache medicine? For your headache,” she said in a way that pointed out just how obvious that was.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I thought it would go away.”

“How long has it been?”

“Um,” Danny hesitated.

“Um? Why um?”

“I don’t think you’re going to like this answer.”

“I already don’t like it.”

“That’s fair.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

He was hoping she wouldn’t notice that.

“Danny.”

“I don’t know, like a day?”

“A Day!?”

“Is that bad?”

“Danny!”

“What?”

“That’s not a headache, that’s a migraine!”

“I thought migraines were the ones that made you not like light.”

Jazz sighed heavily.

He really didn’t mean to upset her.

“Danny, go take something for your headache. There should be a bottle in the bathroom.”

“Sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I was supposed to have something good to tell you but I just made you mad instead.”

“I’m not mad,” she said angrily.

“You sound mad.”

“I’m not mad at you.” she clarified.

“Are you mad at my headache?” Danny asked as he stepped into the bathroom.

“Yes, but also Mom and Dad.”

“Why are you mad at them?”

“The usual,” she said simply.

He just hummed in agreement. They were both well aware of the long list of things that made up The Usual. 

She probably didn’t mean the whole list right now, but he had a feeling that having a list was definitely a bad sign. Or at least not a very good one.

They may not have the best parents, but they weren’t bad on purpose. B+ parenting, maybe C average for when they got a little too passionate about their plans for ghost research.

One of the many advantages of having dinner at Tucker’s. He didn’t have to worry about the topic of ghost dissection at the table. Or ever. 

“Did you find it?” Jazz asked, bringing him back to the present.

“Just did,” he shook the bottle so the pills rattled for emphasis. “How many do I take?”

“Start with one, and see how that goes.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. That’s what big sisters are for.”

Once he was done in the bathroom he went back to his room. He hoped the medicine both worked and kicked in fast.

Until then he’d chat with his sister.

He flopped on his bed and ignored how the movement reverberated in his skull. “So what are you getting up to in your exciting college life this week?”

Jazz was now more than happy to fill him in on her college life. She told him about a presentation she did, an event she went to, a couple of books she read, a guest speaker who came, and the things she did when she wasn’t in school.

He wasn’t sure how she found time to do all of the things she did in a single week.

Maybe some of these things were from last week.

Whatever it was, he was glad she was still having fun.

Still able to live her life.

That she was able to do what she wanted despite everything they’d been through.

“Danny.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s not true.”

“What?”

“Earlier. You said you were supposed to have good news for me. That’s not true. You can have bad days when I’m not around. It’d be a little weird if you didn’t.”

“I don’t want you to worry.”

“The thing about that is, it’s never going to work. You can’t stop other people from worrying about you. It shows they care about you.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“Of course it is. I said so.”

“Hope you don’t run into the doorway with that big head of yours.” Danny teased.

“Don’t worry, the doorways here are huge. Otherwise, the professors and half the students wouldn’t be able to get around.” she joked right back.

“Only half?”

“You’re right, it’s all of us.”

The siblings shared a few more laughs until there was a knock on Danny’s door.

“Oh, hold on,” he got up and found his mom on the other side of the door.

“Who are you talking to, Sweetie?”

“Jazz.”

“Oh, it’s Thursday already?”

“You want to talk to her?”

“Of course! Gimme the phone.”

“Alright hold on,” he said to his mom before he made sure Jazz knew what was going on.

“Hope you feel better Danny.” Jazz said in lieu of goodbye.

“Me too.”

He was glad she didn’t ask if his headache was gone.

[starmora]

First I want to say you have probably hit on and shared all of the nuances around issues with Gamora's treatment in the mcu since Infinity War better than a lot of people. It's applause worthy really. The way you understand the importance of her relationship to Peter, to Nebula and the team. The way you understand why her death actually wasn't done well. All of it and I'm probably going to be reading everything multiple times. Thank you for showing Gamora grace and love when the movies haven't always done that.

Secondly someone sent you a comment about the creep song in vol 3 and how that looks compared to Gamora's treatment. I think their comment points out exactly why I can't let go quite yet about what the movie did and didn't do. There is almost a the cruelty is the point element to how when 2014 Gamora shows back up she's basically a non entity to some of the guardians. It's like she doesn't even exist as a human being to them anymore. This alone would be upsetting but they also act as if 2018 Gamora didn't really exist either. There's something chilling about a movie so overt in showing pain and suffering and how horrifying that is and then when you look at 2018 Gamora it doesn't even acknowledge her pain and suffering. It's also cruel to 2014 Gamora because even though she at first really doesn't want to hear about the Gamora who died or what it was like before, how must it be for her to see all these other people who apparently knew her too and were her family and they appear as if they feel nothing about her. The whole situation was uncomfortable and hard but it must have been so lonely and emotionally isolating to be stuck with a group of people where this dynamic is playing out.

This is also why I'm still not quite over Gunn's comments about real family. He placed Gamora in an emotionally taxing position where she hardly knew anyone, had very little support, she had to take on the responsibilities with these people, see some of their raw moments and just as she's opening up to it and more comfortable he's hinting that she doesn't belong. Like most of that experience didn't count for much of anything. That seems really cruel to me. Which when you switch gears and look back on all the things 2018 Gamora had done before with the guardians and all the ways that was ignored in vol 3, makes the cruelty even more visible. Is he really saying nothing she does counts and has any lasting importance. Or is he just blind to how it looks. Because it doesn't look or sound all that great.

I'm learning to make peace and I'll move on and I know we all will. But I'm not understanding how more people don't see any of this or when they do they either think it's fine or use it as a weapon against Gamora. Even on a critics level I don't understand why there's not more pushback. Do people really think all the writing around this was good. I know some of it is but lots of it isn't. At the very least how isn't anyone questioning why only Nebula and Peter, and mainly Peter were shown to have feelings about her dying. Plus people really aren't praising her role either so surely more people than just us die hard Gamora fans know something isn't right.

Thank you 🫶 I get a LOT of pushback for it and I have for years, but I love this character so much that I’ll aggressively protect her especially when it seems like no one else will. I’m just glad to know I’m not alone out there in feeling like something is just not right with how she’s been treated.

People can continue to try and explain away the “real family” comment to me as many times as they’d like but I just don’t see how no one can seem to grasp that it doesn’t matter what his intention in saying it was when we’ve seen firsthand how quick people have been to try and disregard her completely and his comment of her having a “real”, separate family from the guardians has done nothing to blur this line in the sand people have drawn. Nothing he’s done, both on Twitter and explicitly in the movie has done much to make it seem like she’s allowed to be part of this family. She’s been excluded everywhere, even down to the kids toys at mcdonalds and no one seems bothered by it because it’s so so EASY to just write her off and exclude her when everyone else does it in the movie besides Peter. There’s so much more they could have done with her and even though Zoe acted her ass off and did a fantastic job it’ll just always bother me how much of an afterthought her character seemed to be this time around.

[enderpearlgirl1005]

The Artists Game

Chapter 1 Notebooks

A girl was sitting in art class waiting for the end of it so she could head home to try and spend some time with her mom before she left for a important business trip. Aika, like many people living in Japan, enjoyed art and watching TV with her mother. However, she didn't like to converse much with other students leaving her to ultimately sitting in the back of her classes. Her attempt to use her hair to cover her face on the left side so people didn't notice her was a fail. While listening to the teachers lecture before the bell rang for summer vacation a certain someone started talking to her.

"Hey Aika!" A boy yelled, making her look up from her note book.

"What is it, Haru?" Aika asked looking at the boy who called her.

"You're free tonight right? I got a new game and I thought we could have a good time." Haru suggested.

"Sorry, but I can't, my mom is going away on a business trip and her rules are to not go to anyone's house while she's gone," Aika explained with a frown. 

It seemed like no matter how hard she tried not to be noticed, Haru's attention seemed to always fall on her. She'd rather it not be like that, trust issues is a little thing she picked up after past events when she was young. It kind of started to seem like Haru only talked to her because he was also a bit of a loner. Not that she was (At least she wouldn't admit it out loud).

It was obvious he was disheartened, but chose to stay quiet and go back to the teachers boring lesson. The school bell rang, it only took less than a minute for everyone to file out the classroom. Aika knew Haru was hurt from her decline to hang out, but spending time with her mom was more important. Plus it was the only person she truly felt comfortable around.

As the students were leaving, the teacher yelled " Id like to remind you that I'm teaching summer school! Last chance to sign up!"

*Yeah no. I'm not doing that. I have a perfect idea of my summer...spending time with my mom and my drawings* she thought smiling to herself

Once out the classroom, Aika went to her locker to collect her things. It was bluntly interrupted by the throb of her scalp as her hair was yanked on.

" Look who it is, the loner " the familiar voiced called out in a snarky tone.

Aika rolled her her eyes knowing well who it was and really didn't want to deal with her right now.

"Hello Amaya, what do you want?" said Aika 

"Oh I just noticed you dyed the ends of your hair to purple, I really don't know why it wont make a difference " Amaya spoke while dragging Aika's hair along her hands.

" Why do you even care Amaya? " Yanking her own hair back behide her, Aika rolled her eyes in annoyance.

" I wouldn't any other day but I have to look at it and I'd hate to ruin my eyes with the sight of your hair. So why don't I do you a favor and fix it! " Quickly grabbing a pair of scissors from her pocket, she yanked Aika's hair to where she almost fell.

Tears peaked at the corner of Aika's eyes as the chances of getting out of this were slim, Amaya would've hit her if it weren't for the very angry male voice calling out to them. Both of them turned to see their principal standing there, presumably glaring at Amaya.

" Amaya. My Office, now " He spoke sternly.

She let go of Aika's hair with a mumble, stroking her hair trying to calm herself. Aika watched them both walk away but not before she caught Amaya's death glare.

(Aika's POV)

My name? Aika. Age? Fourteen years old. I live with my mom, I would say I have friends but I don't. I used to though. Until Amaya got accepted as a cheerleader and decided I wasn't good enough for her....I haven't made another friend since then. My drawings are all the social connection I need. That and my mom.

Besides Amaya, there is only one other person that makes my school experience a nightmare. Hinote. The captain of the football team. His huge ego and determination to get with every girl in the school has made me a constant target. It doesn't help that Amaya also likes him. She thinks I like him as well but that just makes her as dumb as she looks.

" Hey Aika~ " Apart of Aika wished she was invisible or could teleport.

(3rd Person point of view)

Aika turned around and saw Hinote leaning against a locker with a flirty smile on his face.

" What do you want, Hinote " she said turning to him.

"Hmm I want your heart," Hinote said while winking at her.

" I'm sure you do " Sarcasm coating Aika's voice " My answer is still the same, no! " She turned trying to leave.

Hinote grabbed a hold of her arms and whispered in her ear, "Aww you're still playing hard to get I like that in a girl."

Managing to pull out of his grip a lightbulb went off in her mind.

" Hey Hinote, ist that the girl on the swim team? The one with big boobs? I think she's still in her bathing suit. "

Just as he whipped around to look for the girl, Aika made a mad dash for the school exit doors. By the time he turned back around she was gone.

(Outside the school)

Aika, looking through her bag to make sure she didn't leave anything let out a sigh of relief. Walking up to the trash can she dumped all the study packets, the endless sheets of notes and anything else that was now useless.

* Finally, school is over! At least for three months * Aika said to herself.

Putting her bag back on she headed back in the direction of home. After a daunting fifteen minutes of walking she made it to the door unlocking it with her set of keys. Aika made sure to set her shoes with the others slowly making her way to the living room that connected to the kitchen.

Unfortunately the house only held her as Aika's mother was no where to be seen. Knowing her mom left already made her heart throb slightly, but work is work. She'll be back within a week so it didn't hurt that much. Besides, she's been left home before and was trusted with not burning the house down.

That and the low crime rate for her neighborhood, the occasional candy bar stealing or a bag of chip. Giving no more attention to the empty house, Aika locked the door and went to her room to get out of the discomfort of the sweaty clothes she had been wearing all day.

Aika opened the very well loved purple and black painted door entering her room. Switching on the lights she was relaxed seeing the room she would be in for the next three months everyday day. The purple ish black wall adorned skulls and many other things most people would see as Gothic. She didn't really care though.

Aika then took her back pack off and hung it up on a hook attached to the wall before taking her school uniform off and threw it to the ground.

* Ugh, finally out of that thing * Aika said to herself, just relieved to be out of those clothes.

She then went to her dresser that was right next to her bed that was on the right side of the room that was facing outwards. She opened it up and began digging through all her dresses and soon picked a dress that was sleeveless, black on the top, with a black corset in the midsection, the skirt was purple.

She slipped the dress over her head and slipped on, once it was on she grabed the clips that held the dress up and cliped them on the back of her neck. She then pulled out a pair of knee high purple socks that had black bats decorated on them. After she was done changing, Aika opened her backpack and pulled out her note book along with her other drawing utensils and went back down to the living room to draw and watch some TV.

(Several hours later)

Aika was so deep into drawing that once she was done with the previous one, there were no more pages. Glancing at her clock she watched it flash 9:00pm as the sky outside matched it.

* I don't wanna cook...that store has a restaurant in it though, and notebooks. I guess it's worth the trip * She thought to herself while getting up.

Heading downstairs, she walked to the back door after putting on her shoes. A deep black colored the sky, the flashlight that hung from one of the hangers caught her eye. Grabbing the flashlight she made her way to the store.

Looking at the wooden porch and newly cut grass with the painted fence, she smiled at herself. Aika and her mother had did it last week together, it was fun. Aika walked across the yard opening the fence gate making sure to lock it once she passed through it before making the two minute walk across the road to the store.

When she entered the building she looked, curious on how busy it was at this time of night. However no one seemed to really be in the store aside from a couple that was obviously not from Japan...probably American.

* Man, they must be pretty well grounded to come here * She thought

Aika's excitement for a new notebook was cut short when she saw that they were unfortunately out of stock. She groaned in annoyance at her luck, being reduced to having to watch horror movies and anime. To Aika, drawing was her one way to block out and escape her miserable life while her mom wasn't home. Her mom was just- if not more important than drawing to her as both things were a light in her life. The only light.

* This is just fantastic, knowing the system here they won't have a new stock in a week- dammit! * She thought angrily.

" Whatever, I'll get some food and take my butt home " Aika mumbled to herself before going up to the front to scan the menu.

"Oh Hey Aika." A familliar male voice said.

Aika looked at the worker quickly recognizing him from school as they were in the same class, the only student who ever actually talked to her.

" Haru?! You work here now? " She asked surprised.

" Yeah I just started last week, this place is awesome! " He exclaimed happily, Aika could tell he loved his job

"Oh cool, I'd like some takoyaki with no sauce and onigiri grilled with tuna in it to go please." Aika said, placing her order.

"Okay your total is 300 Yen." Haru said.

Aika pulled out her purple wallet with a white skull on it, taking the total out for the order. She handed it to Haru and he placed it in the register before disappearing back into the back. As Aika waited she heard a voice that made her head ache...the last person in the world she wanted to see right after summer started.

" I didn't know the store had you in stock~ " Hinote said seductively.

"Oh my god why are you here?" Aika asked angrily.

"Oh my dad was taking me to see a friend of his and we stopped by to get something. He's in the car because his feet are hurting so it's only me here babe." Hinote explained in a flirty tone.

"Well get your things and go back to your dad, I'm just here to get some food and I don't want to be bothered." Aika explained in an obvious tone that would let anyone know she doesn't want to talk anymore.

"Oh well, why should I go so soon? Since you are here why dont I stay a little longer?" Hinote asked smiling like he just won the ultimate prize.

" You said you were here with your dad? Go back before he drives off without you, it's late and I don't want to be bothered " She spoke. Aika's angry slowly reaching it's breaking point.

Without warning he wrapped his arms around Aika, grabbing onto her chest. Her fast reflexes caused Aika to whip around and landed a punch right to his face. Hinote met the ground with a loud thud.

"DON'T TOUCH ME YOU FREAK!" Aika screamed angrily.

" You get what you deserve. Leave my store, now " A man's voice said calmly with a hint of anger.

The two looked towards the side of the store and saw the manager. He had witnessed everything from Hinote walking in to him assaulting Aika. He knew her mother, they were regulars. Loved by him, he knew well that Aika only acted out of discomfort, reflex, and defense

"B-But she punched me!" Hinote exclaimed.

"Because you grabbed her, so let that be a lesson for when you grab a woman without their permission. Now get what you need here and leave before I make things ugly by calling the police and reporting you for this inappropriate behavior. My store has cameras so it'll surely have what you did on it." The Manager firmly said letting Hinote know that he wasn't welcomed there for much longer.

So Hinote got up, glared at Aika and the manager, before getting the item he needed, paying for it and left the store in a huff.

"Thanks for that." Aika said to the manager.

"Hey it's just my job and I promised your mom that I'd take care of you while she was gone, so if you need anything let me know." The manager said before heading back into his office.

Soon Haru came out with a bag that had Aika's food in it. She then took the bag, thanked Haru and waited in the the store, to allow Hinote to leave the area as she didn't want to deal with him anymore today. She soon saw his car leave and saw that his father wasn't in it, so she guessed he was off to cause trouble with his friends. Once she saw that he was gone she started walking out the door just wanting to get home, eat, and rest after what just happened.

"Hey Aika wait!" Haru called out.

Aika stopped, turned around, and asked "Yeah what do you need?"

" I saw you looking in the art section and forgive me if I'm wrong, but it looked like you were searching for the notebooks. I know they keep them on those shelves " He explained as his face displayed his flustered expression.

" Yeah I do, as an artist I use them up alot. The ' no friends ' thing doesn't help either. Why does it matter though? I know they won't be in stock for another week " Aika admitted still frustrated at having to wait.

" Oh! Well...I don't need it and I don't mind giving it to you, so here " Haru said holding the notebook out in front of him.

" Ha, it's the same design as the walls in my room. The book, I mean. "

" Oh! Really? I just got this and another one online, the website I bought them off asked if I want to join the artist game " Haru explained.

"Oh I wonder what that meant?" Aika asked, confused.

"I don't know it might just be an art contest, anyway here I've seen what you've drawn and it's really cool." Haru happily said.

"Thanks I really need this while my mom is out." Aika said while taking the notebook and leaving.

* Hinote...I won't let someone like you who spreads STD's like wildfires have Aika * Haru's face contorting to a scowl and the previous assault incident flashed in his mind.

He then got out his notebook and started drawing in it under the counter, he couldnt help but smile a little as he knew what he was going to do. He was going to make Hinote regret what he did to Aika and for all the bullying he put Haru through over the years.

(At Aika's house)

When Aika got in she took her shoes off and didn't bother putting them away properly since she was tired, mostly from the encounter with Hinote. So she just left her shoes where they were and went to the kitchen to eat her food. While she was eating she decided to get out the new notebook and start drawing in it. When she opened it she saw that the notebook had a purple pen in it and a little text that read "write your name and home state to enter the Artists game."

Confused, Aika didn't take it as anything. She wrote her name and state in the box. She started drawing characters and creatures unaware of the consequences, she just entered herself into The Artist Game.

(Somewhere else)

Hinote was hanging outside with his friends in an alleyway. They were smoking and conversing about what happened back in the store.

"Wow, I can't believe she punched you, must be playing really hard to get." One if Hinote's friends said.

" Yeah. I'll get her soon, all the other girls have fallen for me and she will too " he said confidently while taking another puff of his weed.

The metallic almost plastic like sound of cans was heard by the back of the alley. All three boys stood up peering into the cold dark void that was the alleyway.

" Hey! Who's there?! If it's one of you homeless fucks I promise you'll feel pain like no other! " Hinote yelled trying to sound aggressive, he could hear the fear in his voice which didn't help.

Fast swift footsteps began to aggressively approach them, they all stared in fear as a tall, thin black monster emerged from the shadows. It wielded blades, not for a normal weapon like a knife...but it's own hands.

The boys all screamed for their mothers as they tried to run away from it. Their effort would amount to nothing, the creature being too fast for them to outrun it sliced through their bodies killing them. The alleyway walls and ground now coated with a fresh crimson color. It loomed over their bodies for a minute until it shriveled up like discarded paper and torn apart.

Just then a woman walked by the alleyway. The strong scent of blood and death pulling her attention. Scanning the alleyway, she shrieked in horror as she saw the mutilated bodies of the unlucky teenage boys.

Their shrieking attracted the attention of the people in the apartment complex and convent store nearby. Some other people rushed out and were horrified when they saw the horrific scene. Some people fainted, others threw up, and another man was calling the police.

They soon arrived within a few minutes after receiving the distressing call along with an ambulance and a cleanup crew to care for the bodies and fainted people. The chief of police was looking around the crime scene for a murder weapon - just anything that could point them in the direction of what did this.

"Sir we didn't find any weapons, all we found were just shreds of paper." The officer told his commander and showed him the said paper shreds.

"Still someone had to have done this. After all people don't just split in half for no reason." The commander said angrily.

"I know sir and we'll figure out what happened, don't worry." The officer said, trying to reassure his boss.

The commander thankfully calmed down... till he remembered that he would have to tell the parents of the boys and that's something no one wants to do.

(In Haru's house)

Haru was in his room looking at his notebook with a satisfied look on his face.

* I knew my creature wouldn't let me down. Ah, I love this game * Haru said to himself

"Haru come down dinners ready and your fathers home!" Haru's mother called to her son.

"Okay mom coming!" Haru called out before closing the notebook and hiding it under his mattress so his sister wouldn't take it.

He then pulled out a picture of Aika from under his mattress and looked at it for a bit before kissing it.

" Aika... you're so beautiful, don't worry that bastard won't ever bother you again. I'll make sure that no one will EVER hurt you again " Haru spoke softly before putting the photo back under his mattress and heading downstairs to join his family for dinner.

[ultramaga]

"Hi, Canadian here: someone with universal healthcare"

Oh yes, the Canadian Health System. The Australian government has been talking about copying that here, to kill the sick and the elderly - I mean, to gently ease the suffering of their existence. Forever. And make a tasty food snack you just can't beat! "It does work." So long as the United States is subsidising it by paying for your defence. But I can tell you we have it here too, and it works less and less. For example, I know an octagenarian diabetic. Suddenly the blood testers they used were not available. They've been registered with the government for twenty years, but someone in the beauracracy decided to stop access to them. The person in question had to desperately re-submit paperwork. They were told they would have a two week wait to see a GP, then it would have to be sent up to the government again to be re-evaluated, resigned, resent back to the chemist, filed and forgotten. These things cost a few dollars and had no possible non-medical use I can conceive of, but the government blocked access, because ... When you depend on the government you are a liability, a drain, expendable, undesirable. You are Soylent Green Fodder. The government forces you to pay for medicare here, but it gives less and less.

Doctors locally largely quit. It just wasn't worth it. This literally kills people. Pensioners, the disabled and the elderly, had to move here when mass migration drove up the housing prices. We had to move out to semi-rural locations with neither the benefits of country or suburb or city. But all the medical experts hate it here, and they move to the cities, which are a minimum of two buses, then possibly another, then a train, then a train, then a taxi to get to - and all that trip back again. Growing up, medicare was great, but as Thatcher said: Socialism is wonderful until other people's money runs out.

And it did. The money took to house the poor? It's gone. The waiting list was five years. Reached five. They changed it to ten. Reach ten. They put a plus next to the ten. Turns out the housing is allocated according to intersectional Feminism. ABC AUSTRALIA, the government broadcaster, boasted that an aboriginal woman had a maximum of a two year wait for such housing, and when they showed it, I could have wept. It was like a mansion. The stuff they give white people, well, it's slums if you are lucky, I can tell you from experience. Leftism is in power, and that means everyone is taxed, but services are allocated on the basis of sex, race, and sexuality. If you are a trans lesbian aboriginal, presumably they just carry you about on a ruby throne or something. Because when the government takes your money - it becomes THEIR MONEY - and they will spend it as they please. They don't have to keep promises. They will tell you to vote for the opposition if you don't like it - and by some strange coincidence, the opposition has exactly the same policies. And between them, no other party is allowed. The media colludes to crush true opposition. The Oligarchs remain in power, always. And they absolutely will kill you if they can get away with it.

"“We’re at the point where clients on these programs are telling us they’re considering medically assisted death or suicide because they can’t live in grinding poverty anymore,” she said in the Maclean’s report. “A client in our Food Bank 2 Home delivery program told one of our staff that they’re considering suicide because they’re so tired of suffering through poverty. Another client asked if we knew how to apply for MAID (medical assistance in dying) for the same reasons.”" Tell me again how the Canadian Health System just works. Hey, did you know the Nazis did the same thing? They loved killing the cripples, it wasn't just Jews, it was anyone considered a burden.

[randomactsofpigeon]

Personal. Apparently I can't write until I get this off my chest so

My grandfather died a few weeks ago. We weren't close and it wasn't unexpected, though the final hours did come on a bit suddenly. He was my last living grandparent which feels a bit weird. My father--his son--is shattered, which is expected. I'm a bit angry at him though because when I saw my grandfather last summer, my dad completely monopolized him and I'm angry at myself too because I knew that would probably be my last opportunity to talk to him and I still let it happen. My dad doesn't have any emotional intelligence. Like I do love him but I've literally be in tears in front of him and not had him notice.

My dad's siblings are mainly assholes so somehow we're not having a funeral until June 17. I'd already promised my father we would go so I'm going, even though it feels...ridiculous, to wait that long. Apparently embalming will keep him fresh enough for two months which is horrific in its own right and reinforces my own desire for green burial but that's a whole other thing. My sister is backing out, who was going to be my sanity during all of this. My grandmother's funeral was an absolute shitshow and I'm concerned about that happening again. Exhibit A: My brother and his wife haven't told their 5-year-old that he died, and she's still talking like he's alive and ALSO attending a family event this weekend, where her five-year-old cousin is VERY AWARE he has passed and likewise talking about him often. That's not going to end badly or anything. Plus whenever my family gets together all of them talk about how they love their identical iphones and nespressos and blissfully child-centered lives and I'm just standing there like the odd thumb out like I've been since I was a kid. And my mom cries if I point out how much I always feel left out and like I don't belong in this family. But I'm not sure why she thinks I should feel any other way when, whenever I try to share any kind of relatable experience, everyone just pauses a moment to erase the contribution from their minds and changes the subject.

I'm totally burned out from this proposal at work that got dramatically sped up when we decided to partner with another company, so instead of the hybrid schedule I'm supposed to be working due to my depression I've been full-time in office, and having to mask...everything in a workplace takes so much energy it's unbelievable. I was looking forward to a break but my former coworker, who took over my work when I changed jobs, also had a death in his family and I'm literally the only other person who understands his work well enough to do it so I'm filling in. Surprise surprise his proposals are due on the 17th. When I'm in Mass for a funeral. Lovely.

One of my foster kittens, who is now 6 weeks old, is stubbornly not weaning. I don't even know what to do at this point. I've tried all the advice that's available online and offline.

I'm living in a shitshow of a house because work has me too burned out to keep up on anything. My plants are dying. I feel so effing useless.

And like I probably shouldn't put this one on tumblr because I don't want to be pathetic but like... I FINALLY got myself back together enough to start writing Lab again and hardly anyone is actually reading it. I got a bunch of welcome back comments on the first new chapter, which was nice, but like nobody came back to read it after. I got next to no comments on the second new chapter. And I don't blame people for feeling burned by the long gap or moving on or being in a different place where reading is not a priority. I really, truly don't. But it also fucking sucks. I thought I was passed this superficial crap as a writer but it has really knocked the wind out of my sails about something I was super excited about, even if I thought I was mentally prepared for it to happen.

I'm just so exhausted I want to cry and vomit. But I'm trying to start my big place exchange fic anyway because I don't want to go back to not writing again. It wasn't a good place to be.

I just feel like I'm failing literally everybody in my life right now, people, readers, pets, plants.

[asoulofatlantis]

It just never ends...

Who the freak is that guy and what the hell does he want?

And switching to Zack.

Sometimes you have to look up. Remember the way the sky looks. You'll need it later.

After our little visit in Zacks dying world, we know are back with Cloud and his team. And I agree, it is time to find out more about our new cat-friend.

I really suck at driving Vehicals in games XD

She is... or was... with the Turks. Or so I've heard. I have never seen her before, spoilers aside XD

We are in Gongaga now.

Yuffi seems a bit irritated about the fact that they are all paying respect for the death. Is that... not normal in Wutai? O.o

I think this are Zacks parents...

H-He can hear it. He... can hear Zacks name. So far his brain didn't allow him too. W-Why now?

Uhm... no one gonna tell them the truth? Let them keep hoping for forever?

Such a pretty girl and always worried about others...

I mean... to be fair... he was furstrated about her saying "Maybe" when he asked if Aerith still has feelings for Zack. But its still out of line.

Sorry Cloud, but you deserve that XD

And with that... I guess it is time for a break. I am starving - and certainly not for mushrooms XD

Some people might be a bit frustrated about Aeriths "Maybe", but I would seriously ask those people to remember their first love and tell me nothing stirs inside them, thinking of that person. Not in the "I love them" kind of way, but your heart still remembers that feeling well and connects it to that person. Plus... to be fair here, Aerith never had a chance to close that Zack-Chapter since it was obviously never confirmed that he is dead. Also... I think Aerith never knew how important she was to Zack to begin with. Even tho his parents she hinted at the fact that he was a bit of a Ladys man... so... its really complicated for her. Not to mention, she later on, if you get the golden date, mentions that at first, Cloud was interesting to her because of all the mannerisms he adapted from Zack and only later on fell in love with whatever the real Cloud was willing to show her of his true self. Making it also very confusing for her. Cloud is very dear to her, that is without question. HOWEVER that doesn't have to mean all her feeling for Zack are completely lost. And I think all the shipping war aside, we have to accept one thing: Moving on, doesn't mean you don't have any more feelings for the person who is gone. And I am also saying that for the people who think Cloud could not have feelings for Aerith, because he moved on with Tifa relatively soon. If life goes on, you gotta live it. Just saying.

So do not be frustrated about the "maybe" it wasn't a clear "yes" either. And she still called Zack "her first love", which indicates that there is someone else too.

And I think it only fair, that if Cloud gets a Aerith-Points-Gatherin-Moment in Zacks home of all places that it isn't playing her feelings for Zack done, just for the sake of the other ship.

[evermoresversion]

Peter Parker!andrews getting in a fight with his girlfriend for being reckless because she’s powerful

SCARLET WITCH, PETER PARKER.

A/N I decided that y/n would have the same powers as scarlet witch, plus I added a little more stuff for the story. I hope you enjoy it, thank u for the request. <3

PAIRING TASM!Peter Parker x Scarlet Witch!Reader

TW/TAGS Violence, mentions of death, angst.

SUMMARY You've always had the powers you have now, but over time they grew stronger, taking over you. And one night, having lost your parents, you decided to revive them, letting Scarlet Witch take over you to continue with her plan.

REQUESTS ARE OPEN | PETER'S MASTERLIST | MASTERLIST

If someone had ever told Peter that he would have to fight the woman he loves more than himself, he would have laughed, a lot.

But here he was, totally devastated by the fight he had just had with y/n, no, she wasn't the y/n he loved anymore, she was Scarlet Witch, she was consumed by the powers she had, she was almost unbeatable.

"What? Don't you love me now?" You laughed in a way he had never heard you do. It was evil in shape, heartless. The city was in chaos because of you, along with a lot of people dying to get what you wanted.

"y/n, you're not like this, you must..." you cut him off.

"I'm not y/n anymore, she died." you looked at him with fury in your eyes. "And if you want to stay alive, I recommend that you get out of my way."

"Sorry, but no, and if I have to fight you to stop you I will."

"Fine, if you insist." you answered simply, light began to be produced in your hands and with his sixth sense he was able to predict where you were going to hit him. "Oh come on! It's no fun if you dodge all my punches." you pouted and reached out your hand so you could lift him up too, you pulled him towards you in the air and it was impossible for him to move due to the force field that your telekinesis had.

"y/n you have to stop, this is not you." he mumbled slightly due to the strength you held in his body as he tried to wriggle out of it.

"I'm not going to stop, I just want my parents back, no one better than you should understand that." you looked at him and he could see betrayal, anger and sadness reflected in your eyes. "You should have helped me when I asked you to, when I was reasonable." your jaw tensed as you watched Peter carefully. "Let me do this and I'll stop."

"No." He responded after a few seconds, and for a moment the façade of feigned sadness that you had had disappeared, turning into anger once more.

"Well, you made me." With a movement of your hand you threw him away from there, with another movement you covered his torso with metal sheets so that he could not move.

Thanks to the strength that he also had, he managed to get rid of the metals that covered most of his body.

"Give it up, Peter." You muttered in his mind. Another of your powers is mental manipulation.

"No, I'm not going to let you take her." He responded back by walking out of the building you'd thrown him into to start swinging back to where you'd gone.

"She and I are one, Parker, if you kill me she dies." you laughed maliciously and he stopped hearing your voice in his mind.

He knew that you were going to go to some kind of magical pit that you had found from an ancient legend where previously kings and queens had used it to revive and live much longer.

When he arrived, you were ready to start with that ritual that you were planning to do.

He tried to send one of his cobwebs towards your hands but you could sense it before, undoing them with your powers.

"You are too predictable, Spider-Man." you said the name with contempt.

"You have to stop, you don't know what kind of consequences that can bring." He pointed to the pit with his hand, as he slowly approached you.

When he saw that you didn't move, he took the opportunity to get closer and take you in his arms, but you immediately turned to dust between his fingers.

"Wha-?" And suddenly the whole scene changed, he wasn't wearing his Spider-Man suit and he wasn't in the pit anymore, he thought you had teleported him or something similar but when he turned around and looked at you behind him, but without that scarlet red suit, if not you in your usual way got even more confused.

"Hi sweetheart." You smiled looking at him sweetly, he frowned as he looked at you.

"What are we doing here?" he asked looking around him, both were on your apartment.

"Listen, you have to let her do what she plans to do, you can't stop her." You denied looking at him with anguish.

"We don't know what kind of side effects it can bring, y/n."

"Listen to me, will you, love?" You were getting closer to him little by little. He wasn't entirely confident that it was you, but he still gave you the benefit of the doubt. "No one will be able to stop her, believe me when I tell you." You nodded looking directly into his eyes.

"But..."

"Shh, nobody." you finally denied taking him by the cheeks, he looked at you without understanding anything.

Your biggest mistake was standing in front of a mirror. Because if you had already convinced him, seeing that Scarlet Witch was in the reflection holding him by the cheeks and not you, he finally reacted.

"I'm so sorry." He murmured looking at you, you frowned without understanding what he was saying.

With one of his webs he took a knife. It took all of his willpower to do it but he finally rammed it into your chest, stabbing into you.

"I'm sorry." he repeated like a prayer as the scenery around them fell apart, returning you to the pit.

Seeing that he was still standing, he looked everywhere, trying to find you as Scarlet Witch, but when he looked at the ground and saw your normal form, he felt too strong a pressure on his chest.

"No no no no." He denied several times, taking off his mask and kneeling next to you. "Please no." he sobbed looking at your dead form in his arms.

He really didn't believe what Scarlet had said, if she died you too.

"I'm so sorry."

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