#saving grant ward au

[rainintheevening]

*sniffing cookies and chocolate to check they're not stale* Right, well.

The seed of the idea wasn't mine; it was two short scenes someone had re-written on Ao3 with Coulson being the one to find Grant in juvie and invite him to join SHIELD, rather than Garrett. But my love of father-son relationships, especially unofficial ones, quickly ran away with it, adding depth to Grant's family, his experiences, and most of all, everything that happened after he and Coulson walked out of the detention centre. It's only gotten deeper this go around, now that I'm back into the show.

Grant (notice I call him Grant all the time, rather than Ward? Yeah, that means I really care about a character) makes the briefest mention of a sister in the show, but they definitely forgot her. Rose is very important for my Grant; she's the baby of the family, five years younger than Grant, and she's his little princess. She became the forgotten one in the family, unplanned, and not really wanted, except their parents figured a girl would be a good look on the family. Grant tries so hard to keep her safe and happy and innocent like the other little girls he sees and reads about. Also I think my version of Christian is older than the show's? I made him a solid 6/7/8 years older than Grant, so he's a teenager when he's torturing his little brothers. I think it makes the dynamic even more interesting, having a large age gap for the eldest.

After the well incident, Grant gets shipped off to boarding school, and the incendiary event (oops, pun unintended) is Christian ensuring that Rose gets sent to school in England, as far away from Grant as possible. Cue the stolen car, the arson and attempted murder, and jail. Enter... Phil Coulson.

An old friend of Coulson's at Grant's military prep school is sympathetic to his background, and recommends Phil try to intervene, give him an alternative path. Phil's done recruiting before, and his friend's description intrigues him. So he goes in, makes Grant the offer, and the kid says "yes".

Coulson's not sure what to do with him for two years before he can think about getting into the Specialist Academy, but a new guys does Grant's phyc eval, an Andrew Garner, and Dr. Garner makes the startling recommendation that Coulson basically adopt Grant for two years, give him a home, a stable environment, as close to a normal teenage life as possible. Coulson, much to his own surprise, says "yes".

So Coulson leaves the field for two years, buys a house in Klamath Falls, OR, and trains field teams at a SHIELD facility in Northern California, while raising a teenager. Grant gets two solid years of therapy/counseling, a job, a semi-normal school routine, a few dogs, an old truck, money in his pocket, fishing trips, swimming in the Pacific on weekend trips to the coast, and a guy he starts calling dad in his head after less than six months. Sometimes Coulson even lets him into the shooting range at the SHIELD base, where he cleans everyone out. They call him 'Coulson's kid'. Both of them like it; neither of them deny it.

Coulson is Grant's official guardian; his parents gave him up.

Anyway, Grant eventually makes it into SHIELD, still has Garrett as his supervising officer out of the Academy, but Coulson keeps close tabs on him (which annoys Garret greatly). Yes, Garrett is still HYDRA, and his eventual betrayal really rocks Grant.

I hope to rewrite all the fun parts of the show probably through season 5? I'm just starting season 4 though. We'll see where it goes!

You can't save someone from themselves, sir.

You can if you get to them early enough.

Saving Grant Ward AU

[burntblueberrywaffles]

The Snowbaird fanfic rec list!

As usual, if anyone is interested in joining the snowbaird discord, just shoot me a dm for an invite!

Before we start, some notes:

As we all know Snowbaird is fucked up and toxic 😌😌 but there are;;; levels to it so for easy navigation I have color coded this fic rec! Blue is for fics that are less toxic (now that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s NO toxicity but it definitely stands on the sweeter side of the Snowbaird spectrum) whereas red stand for "god these fucked up bitches 😍😍" (though for me a big no no is loveless Snowbaird, so even the more toxic fics in this list they do love each other!) - Ive also added an orange category for the mid level fics/ones where I couldn’t quite decide where they would rank- still, do keep in mind that those rankings are based on my personal judgement (plus I’m going off memory for some of the fics) so they may not be fully accurate.

Im also adding a "heavy smut" mention to some of these fic - that means the smut takes center stage in the fic and is pretty much unavoidable to properly read the story, a lot of the other fics on this list will still contain smut, but to a lesser extent/in a way where it’s not an integral part of the plot - remember to read the tags and curate your reading experience!

Sadly several of these are incomplete - I have added a mention of when the last update was posted as of today (april 22, 2024)!

Anyways, now that all of that is out of the way, here are the recs!

Capitol AUs

Helpless, Tender, Open by perfectlystill

When his heartbeat stutters beneath her touch, when his mouth falls open, breathing heavy, Lucy Gray pops open her clutch. She’s the one pouring antidote down his throat.

Complete

if i'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? by eecwritess

It had been fifteen years since Lucy Gray Baird had escaped Coriolanus Snow at the cabin in District Twelve. But now, she had been captured. Brought back to the Capitol after all these years to be punished as a Rebel. But President Snow...well, he has offered to save her. Under one condition.

Heavy smut - complete

Songbirds, Snakes, and Wedding Rings by celestscrystal

“Even she can’t charm your way out of that predicament.” Dr. Gaul taunted. He was losing her. He could already see the disinterest in her eyes. Highbottom had been long gone, his plans at sabotage were shattered, now he was just waiting to leave. Coriolanus had to make this work. His Lucy Gray must be kept alive. He had one final idea to convince them. It was his most dangerous idea yet. “I could marry her.” In which Coriolanus was never sent to district 12 and instead got away with a slap on the wrist. However, Lucy Gray would not be granted the same fate. In order to save her, Coriolanus marries her. Clashes ensue in a tale of enemies, passion, and lovers. Updates every Saturday/Sunday!

Incomplete but is getting weekly updates! I really love this one :D

Burn by vvitchimage

Life in the wilderness is harsher than Lucy Gray Baird had imagined. Sick and almost dead, she's forced to return home to the only person capable of taking care of her.

vvitchimage is definitely one of my favourite Snowbaird authors so you will see more of her works down this list; the way she writes the toxicity is just chefs kiss 🤌 Heavy smut - complete

Safe and close at hand by framboise

In which Coriolanus Snow is handsomely rewarded for his tribute winning the Games and in turn handsomely rewards his prize, Lucy Gray, herself. He's gone solemn now in the afterglow, serious. He cares for his own, Snow, she sees that with his family, and now she is one of them. Not his family, but something he owns. His prize, his ward, his girl. Is she to be his mistress then? she thinks hazily as she slips towards sleep. Is that the future for her? To escape from the viper's den into the viper's mansion? She shivers and he drags her closer, one large hand tucked around her hip. Well, she can't escape now even if she wants to, she thinks, sinking into the softness of the plush mattress, burrowing back into the heat and warmth of her jailor.

complete

the girl and the prize by merkstave

In Lucy Gray’s defense, it was never supposed to go down like this anyway. She was just supposed to seduce him, to weasel herself into the snake pit that was Coriolanus’ bed so that he’d keep her around long enough for her to formulate an escape plan. She’d meet with Highbottom and he’d help her like he said he would after she was crowned victor and she’d be back to being a faceless girl amongst the cover of the districts. She just had to say the word and the dean of Heavensbee Academy would make her disappear. She’d be back to singing in bars in no time, back to her old life on the run. That had been nine months ago. And here she was, in her warden’s bed, naked and with his cum stuck to her inner thighs. +++ Lucy Gray is given to Coriolanus as his ward after the games. It's supposed to be a temporary arrangement, nothing more than means to an end. However, nothing is ever easy, especially at the hands of a Snow.

Sadly incomplete but the 4 chapters we did get are SO!!! Truly the delicious kind of toxicity 🤌🤌 (last updated: Jan 15, 2024)

All Of That Ultraviolence by ggs_29

He was well dressed in a suit that fit, hair combed back, still just as handsome as before, if not more so. A full pantry suited him well, helping him to fill out the spaces that were too thin on his figure, and building up the hard earned muscles of his peacekeeping stint. Today, he sits behind his desk in a fine dress shirt, a button undone on top, and his cuffs rolled up his muscular arms. Lucy remembers Barb Azure’s old tales, about a pagan creature from a time before Panem, a fallen angel; the most beautiful of them all, but so easy to succumb to the temptation of power and glory; “ You can leave us now, Heavensbee.” Coriolanus says, holding his gaze on her, and his eyes are dark, predatory. Fuck. “Of course Mr. President; Madame Snow.” Hilarius shoots her a look filled to the brim with trepidation, and suddenly, she is back there again, paralyzed with fear. A girl of six and ten whose name had just been reaped. They’d been found out.

heavy smut - complete

Peacekeeper Coryo AUs

This Little Life of Ours by voiceinthecrowd

"I'll sing for you soon," she promises, hand threading through blonde curls. “I’ll write you into all my songs." “Maybe even write a Ballad of Coriolanus Snow”, she whispers, gasping as her boy manages to pull her even closer. It isn't the immortality he's been looking for. It certainly isn't the marble presidential busts he tells her about when they both can't sleep; how their stony eyes would bore into the souls of passing Capitol children; a young, hungry boy in Academy rouge. But presidents die and statues crumble. Coryo might not know it yet, but it’s stories and songs that persist. His ancient heroes and her whispered poems. They’re all stories, and Lucy Gray is determined to give Coryo the greatest story of them all. He’ll understand, one day. She’ll make it up to him, the dreams he’s left behind for her. He hasn't lost everything in Twelve. Lucy Gray will prove it. In which Lucy Gray stays for Coriolanus, and Coriolanus stays for Lucy Gray.

foaming at the mouth over this fic. complete

i wouldn’t mind the hanging, but the laying in the grave so long by rainfrog

He’s a Peacekeeper since the beginning. And she’s still that Covey girl who falls in love.

SO GOOD; this fic is 2,4k words long and NOT ONE OF THEM IS WASTED truly so many excellent lines in there 💯💯 - complete

Deal with the Devil by vvitchimage

Lucy Gray had lived in the cabin for months after her falling out with Coriolanus Snow. When spring comes, he returns to take over Hoff's place in the Peacekeepers. The day she's found, Lucy Gray has to strike a deal with the devil.

Heavy smut - incomplete but is still being updated! (last update april 18, 2024)

persimmons and soup beans by kayladevitoo

Coriolanus Snow moved up in the Peacekeeper ranks in District 12, becoming an officer. He shares breakfast with Lucy Gray after a night shift — soup beans and a persimmon.

short and sweet - complete

Chaos and control by Anonymous

Her name was Lucy Gray Baird, and she and her group were called the Covey. Technically, they weren't from the Districts; as it turned out, they were a group of traveling musicians who got stuck in the Twelfth when inter-District travel was banned. This somehow reassured him – that she wasn't from the Districts, that he hadn't gone crazy falling for a girl from the Districts – she wasn't one of those responsible for the war. So he no longer felt guilty about his dreams, sometimes strange, sometimes blatantly indecent, in which she was always the main character. 18 years old Coriolanus Snow, an orphan, who lost his mother, his father and grandmother during the war now is a Cadet Peacekeeper in the District 12, preparing to become an officer. Here he meets the most beautiful girl in the world

This fic is not as Snowbaird centric as the rest of this list, but god is it fantastic. This Anonymous author is simply incredible 💯 - complete

Modern AUs

Free Ride by betts

“Does Lucy Gray like you back?” Tigris asked. Coriolanus hadn’t actually considered that. He’d just assumed she didn’t and never would. He’d grown up with anything he could ever want given to him instantly, but now everything he wanted was impossibly far out of reach. Lucy Gray was no exception. Or: Coriolanus is a full-time university student, restaurant server, administrative assistant, and on the weekends he cleans and presses gowns. Occasionally he sleeps. So he really doesn't have time to be giving the weird bartender a ride home every night. And he definitely doesn't have time to become obsessed with her.

having really enjoyed Betts' Anidala fic Lemon, I knew we were in for a treat when i recognized her in the Snowbaird tag AND I WAS RIGHT, such an amazing take on modern!coryo - complete

I'm yours to keep and I'm yours to lose by fkevin073

Their lips slide together, then their tongues curl and she moans, a light, heady thing, come alight with the realization that she is finally, finally home. It’s tender at first, but at the sound of her moan Coriolanus grabs her chin in between his fingers and plunders her mouth harshly. As if this is a punishment. You left me, every kiss he gives her, takes from her, breathes. You left me. And Lucy Gray— Well. For her this isn’t a punishment at all. Or: Lucy Gray and Coriolanus can't seem to let each other go.

THIS IS SO!!!!! see this is the kind of ploltline I might not love in other circumstances, but THE WRITING IS SO INCREDIBLE that it just hits - complete

when the sun goes down by astradeluna

small-town girl lucy gray baird moves from district twelve to the capitol to attend the university to study music. this is her first time leaving home and although the prospect of starting over is terrifying, she’s still excited to make the most out of the opportunity. that being said, after a shitty breakup with her shitty ex, the last thing she wants is to meet someone, but then she crosses paths with coriolanus snow, an arrogant but ambitious government major, who seems to get under her skin with ease and he brings out a part of herself that she never knew existed

incomplete and the story hadn’t gotten to much development in the relationship yet but GOD I still need to put this here bc THE WAY the dynamics were so perfectly transcribed to this modern setting were just chefs kiss. Forever hoping this fic will return from war and get an update 🙏🙏 (last updated: Dec 20, 2023)

Other

Your Selfish Ways by thpsyche

Ten years since her disappearance from District 12 Lucy Gray decides it’s time to return, finding a shelter and a silent life. All would be well if it weren’t for the mysterious encounters of a man cloaked in darkness. A deal is struck, twice a month she would give up to him in return for his silence of her existence. Only one condition: she’s to not ask or look at him. - For the snowbaird week 2024| Day 2 – Myth.

GOD THIS FUCKING FIC - IM FUCKING OBSESSED WITH IT;;; EROS AND PSYCHE INSPIRED AU MY BELOVED - I have reread many times;;; if you see a thumbs up crying cat pfp going insane in the comments that would be me;;;; I am not normal about this 🙈 - complete

doomsday is close at hand by fkevin073

But on the first train of her nineteenth year, as the snows settle on the ground and ice curls in their lungs, something new comes with the train to arrive in District 12. A man by the name of Coriolanus Snow. (But Lucy Gray doesn’t find that out until later, of course) - Or: Coriolanus Snow arrives in District 12, and finds his very own songbird, ready to break free.

incomplete but according to @fkevin073 's tumblr it is not abandoned and she has just been busy;;; truly such a good fic I love it sm (last updated feb 14, 2024)

When I'm Pure Like a Dove, When I've Learned How to Love by Realmermaid333

Lucy Gray and Coriolanus bask in sunlight by the edge of the lake, enjoying each other's presence and calming each other's fears.

Short and sweet - the kind of softness we need more of for Snowbaird 🥺🥺🥺 - Complete

Saving Each Other by flipflop_diva

Lucy Gray had already accepted that she was going to die here in the arena, that sometime in the next few days she would meet her end. But then something else happened — and now there were two of them to carry on the fight. (An AU in which Coriolanus goes to save Sejanus and doesn't escape the arena.)

complete

Silent songbird by KitKatKatherine

Coriolanus Snow thought he knew everything that had happened to him these last few months. Lucy left him, he got into the academy, and Gaul was overseeing his studies. It’s not until he wakes up in the hospital and experiences a rather concerning conversation that he questions everything he once thought to be solid, reason logic. Vowing to never once again help Gaul, and capital be damned, he turns his charms on his own people, and becomes their worst nightmare.

Now, this fic does get quite dark; the author gives trigger warning on specific chapters but if you would like to be warned before getting any investment in the fic, feel free to dm me for details ���️ - that said, it’s a great fic, I thought the take on disability was lovely and the way it portrayed Coriolanus realizing how rotten the system is and redeeming himself was great; incomplete but worth a read (last updated: Jan 13, 2024)

This is Not a Love Song by FrostedGemstones22

Lucy Gray and Coriolanus never go to the cabin, so they never find the guns. They decide to travel together, but Lucy Gray isn't so easily fooled. Truth is; he needs her, and she needs him. Common ground has to be found somewhere. Speculation about if they traveled up to find District 13.

THIS FIC IS SO EXCELLENT and definetely the best take I have seen on a district 13 AU - incomplete but absolutely worth reading (last updated: Jan 22, 2024)

in the woods somewhere by OfPearlsAndSunsets

Sejanus. She must have figured out that Sejanus was the third person Coriolanus had killed. She wouldn’t have known the particulars, but surely she could have pieced it all together. Still, to think he’d kill her? After everything they’d been through? He looked down at the loaded gun in his hands. Maybe he should have left it in the shed. It's as if he was hunting her. He thought about the knife and how it paled in comparison to the weapon he was carrying. What are you doing, Coriolanus? Something inside of him asks, and then demands. Put it down. He does.

Complete

Monster by Lululemonee

Coriolanus Snow if given both a gift and a curse when he meets his tribute for the 10th Hunger Games. She changed his life in ways which he never could have imagined. She's a dream and a nightmare rolled into one. And she is keeping him with her for the ride. I am very bad at summaries. This was inspired but the music video for "Scars" by Hazey Eyes which stars Tom Blyth and is sooooo good.

Complete

Deep in the Meadow by vvitchimage

Lucy Gray's reunion with Coriolanus in the meadow ends with him protecting her from her jilted ex.

Heavy smut - complete

BONUS:

Two different tribute!Coryo AUs! Are they Snowbaird centered? Not at all, there’s only a few crumbs if you squint BUT they slap SO HARD I truly recommend! (both are complete)

for cassius, no one wept by marianara_sauce

"Why don't we start from the beginning?" "Where else would we start?" She grins at him, rouge cheeks almost glowing. "Stories can start in all kinds of places. They can go in any kind of order, too. Just like songs." He watches her carefully, this relentlessly bright girl no longer in her rainbow dress. His eyes glance down to the form, blank spaces taking over most of the page. Name. District. Age. Family. It's not necessarily chronological. But her dark eyes don't look away from him, even as her grin softens. "Alright," he says. He steeples his hands together, and the chains rattle. "I'm Coriolanus Snow. District 12." (Or, the world in which Snow is a tribute instead of a mentor.)

Hail Panem by Anonymous

"Hail Panem! Those marching to their death salute you!" AU where Coriolanus Snow is a tribute from District Twelve who takes part in the Hunger Games

And that is all! There are a lot of other lovely Snowbaird fics of course but I tried focusing on my absolute favourites ❤️

Do let me know if you liked the list and if you’re a fan of any of these fic feel free to come scream about it with me!

+ Once again noting that my DMs are wide open to anyone wanting to join the Snowbaird discord! It is genuinely an online space I love and I’m always happy to meet more shippers 🫶🫶

[poppy-metal]

hrm okay but consider for the werewolf patrick au:

you're wearing new jewelry. it was a gift from your mother, the gorgeous silver pendant around your throat, hanging right in the hollow between your collarbones. she even got you little silver earrings to match. and maybe some of her old silver rings, ones in a style "too young" for her anymore.

and patrick. patrick can't stand it. he's always noticed when you got new stuff, but he hates this new jewelry. hates that now he can't touch you, can't explain why every brush of your hand on his makes him recoil in pain, hates seeing the silver chain like a manacle around your neck. a painful, horrible reminder of why he can't have you, why you're not his, why he can never, ever touch you.

AURRRRRR he's so pissed.

thinks it's so bogus because that shit was supposed to be only in the movies!!! but he also thought werewolves were only in the movies a few months ago, so. he's always liked you in jewelry too. but you were always a gold girl. or beads on twine. he scrunches his nose when he sees the glint of it around your neck. goes to flick with his finger and only pulls back just in time before he makes contact. flicks you near the necklace instead.

"what's with this then?" it's kinda shitty of him but he hopes his obvious dislike of it will make you want to take it off. he's glad the necklace is fucking gaudy as hell enough that his reaction doesn't read as completely unreasonable. "looks like some witchy hex shit on a rock."

you snort. finger the big rock attached to a silver chain around your neck. it's not very elegant or pretty like the jewelry you usually wear, but. you shrug. "my grandma made it for me special." you bite your lip, getting a little serious now. lean in to whisper conspiratourally. he can't help but dart his eyes down to your lips - she sheen of gloss on them - "she's all up in arms about this animal attack stuff, you know? she said this is for protection against 'dark forces' or whatever."

patrick swallows. purses his lips as he rolls that knowledge around in his head. fuck. he'd forgotten your grandma was on the superstitious side. no doubt she had her opinions on what was behind the attacks, if the necklace was silver like that. ugh.

he props his chin on his hand and tries for casual. "and do you believe her?" he watches you carefully. you look away and automatically reach for your necklace like its a habit and his lips twist unpleasantly. that something that wards him off from touching you directly is something that obviously already brings you comfort.

"I dont know if I believe her exactly." you start. naw at your lip. he wants to pull it from between your teeth with his teeth. drums his fingers against the table hes leaning against to avoid reaching out to do something stupid, like grip your chin and make you look at him. "but there's something to be said about believing something grants you safety. like a security blanket defends you against ghosts."

he rolls his eyes. shakes his head.

"what?" you ask, a little petulant. cute.

he shrugs. smiles a little, despite himself. a kind of sadistic smile. one that speaks of his knowledge on the subject of which he's about to speak. morbid confidence. almost like a dark promise.

"a little necklace wont protect you from something that wants to kill you." he says. his eyes dip down to the base of your throat. can see your pulse flutter. the silver mocks him. but it's just as he said. it's nothing but a little fucking necklace.

"well I'm not taking my chances." you huff. your little defiant stance softens his monstrous heart. he can smell your fear and yet you grip that fucking rock so tightly. like it really could save you if he decided he wanted to sink his teeth into you. "no monsters are snacking on me."

"huh."

"what?" you look at him curiously.

"nothing." he bites his lip, runs his teeth back and forth (he doesn't clock how you watch the motion like a hawk - drawn to every mannerism and motion he makes. always been that way.) "you just seem so sure."

"I am!"

it speaks to the predator in him. like a bunny rabbit poking it's little fluffy head out from its den to taunt the salivating wolf yards away. too comfortable in the temporary safety it's little burrow provides for the moment.

"you're cute." he tells you, because you are. stands up and pauses with his hand inches above your head. he means to ruffle your hair but thinks better about it. "if your little superstitions help you sleep better at night thinking the big bad wolf isn't gonna get ya, then, by all means - wear the ugly ass thing."

you roll your eyes and shoo him away and he grins. slides his hands into his pockets as he saunters off. tongues the inside of his cheek.

stupid fucking necklace. it wouldn't protect you.

not if he really wanted to have you.

[lets-try-some-writing]

So a few days ago, I bumped into this.

That just made me think of how much ANGST this au would have. Like Team Prime leaves to restore Cybertron (Ratchet leaves too) once the war is over and a few months later, they come back to visit the kids only to find out they can’t remember them. The Autobots are not happy!

What are you headcannons on this? How exactly do you think the team finds out about the kids? Also, I was wondering if this could ignore the movie after S3 so Optimus can be alive here and Team Prime brought Cybertron back without any issues.

What a wonderfully angsty idea. Don't mind me while I expand upon it :)

Missing Memory

It took some effort to convince Ratchet to come along, but once the bots left for Cybertron, they were hopeful and promised the children they had cared for that they would come back soon. They did what was needed of them over the course of around a year. Optimus collected the Allspark, the team worked to rebuild, and once Cybertron was restored the team stayed for a while to ensure the bare bones of a new government got set up. Then, as promised, they returned to earth to check up on their human wards.

They were met with something they could have never expected.

Upon stepping through the space bridge, they were met with increadible awe and weapons raised at them the moment they entered the premise of the military base they had called home previously. It shocked the team as they had not been gone all that long in the grand scheme of things, but still they raised their servos up as a show of goodwill and asked to speak with their assigned agent. However before they could so much as get another word in, the humans open fired on them, even going so far as to use missile launchers and tanks to try and fight.

The team were in total shock as they threw themselves into their alt-modes and sped away. Optimus took to the skies and did his best to lead the human aircraft following the team away and somewhere they could not go. Meanwhile on the ground the team split up, each spreading out and making a mad dash across the states. They kept in contact over comm links, but remained on the run for days, swapping alt-modes more often than they cared to count all while having no fragging clue what was going on.

When they left earth a year prior they were on good terms with the government, then all the sudden they were being shot on sight. When the team did gather again after around a week of trying to keep the government off them, they tried to find out what had really gone on. Residing in an old scrap yard and taking on alt-modes that were as ordinary as possible (that is save for Optimus who was forced to forgo taking on a alt-mode altogether because of his size) the team spread out to search for their human partners to get answers. Calling for aid from Cybertron granted Ratchet and Optimus access to the materials needed to set up a base without the aid of the human government, hiding them from the prying eyes of humans with the use of cloakers. All the while the team, save for Knockout who opted to remain on Cybertron throughout the debacle, quietly began doing recon to find their human wards.

With some help from a few agents on Cybertron, Ratchet and Optimus worked their way through a starting number of encryptions and firewalls to find the children. To their relief the children were all still in the Americas. But they were all scattered, with Jack living in Texas, Rafael in Washington, and Miko all the way in Hawaii. It was suspicious as pit once the dots started to connect.

Agent Fowler had up and disappeared, the government had deemed them a shoot on sight type target, and the children had been thrown all across the continent. It was the type of suspicious set of coincidences that the old Council on Cybertron would have waved off or forcefully silenced any who spoke of it. That alone was enough for Optimus to make an executive decision and send out three of the team to retrieve the children and bring them to base unharmed for questioning. Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Arcee were deployed and quickly made their way to their individual wards homes. It was not difficult to find their location with Ratchet supplying them data, but what startled them was the startling amount of security at each of the children's homes.

Armed soldiers patrolled the property of the children's homes and no amount of sneaking was going to get a bot into the residence and out with a child without causing a scene. It almost was enough to have Optimus call the team back... but it was all too suspicious. The humans were obviously keeping something important from them and they needed to know the truth. So giving a command he had never hoped to give, Optimus issued the order for the team to transform and collect the children even if it meant conflict. He was near certain the children would be safer with them than with the soldiers, if for no other reason than because the children knew them.

The order was followed, albeit with slight hesitation. Bumblebee transformed as he few over the walls surrounding Rafael's home, and then praying slightly for forgiveness, he scanned the buildings even as bullets flew at him. He then punched a hole through a wall and pulled his ward out as carefully as he could. He wasn't startled when Rafael screamed and flailed, after all a huge servo busting through the wall and grabbing you isn't exactly fun. As such he put Rafael into his passenger seat and flew down the road as more firearms were turned on him before going through the groundbridge Ratchet called for him.

Bulkhead didn't bother with any kind of subtly and brushed off bullets and even a small missile with no issues as he barreled onto Miko's property, busting a hole through her home as well to grab her. It was difficult since she screamed the whole time and tried to scurry away, but eventually he got her and did his best to calm her as he put her in his passenger seat and similarly drove through the groundbridge called for him. As for Arcee? She used her small size to drive through the door of Jack's home before anyone could stop her, and then she hurriedly transformed as well as she was able in the small space and grabbed the two humans inside. Jack and June also screamed in terror as she picked them up and made a dash for the groundbridge.

Once the team arrived at base with their charges, Optimus and Ratchet closed the groundbridges they had called and secured the area, ensuring no eyes could see them, human or otherwise. When this was done, the team placed their human charges down, causing June and the children to shy away in fear. Ultra Magnus watched on in concern as he saw their reaction and stepped aside with Ratchet and Optimus to discuss a possibility he was not fond of bringing up. As they did that, the team tried in vain to try and get the humans to recall them and calm.

Jack: What the hell are you!?

Smokescreen: Heyo little buddy! Don't you remember me? It's me, Smokescreen!

Jack: I don't know who you are or what you want, but leave me and my mom alone!

Arcee: Jack, what's going on? It's just us, the Autobots.

June: Stay away you things! Don't touch us!

Bulkhead: Miko, you remember me right? We're Wreckers! You, me, Jackie, and Magus are a team!

Miko: I don't know you... but you seem to know us.

Wheeljack: Of course we know you kiddo! We've fought together! We were a team for over a year!

Miko: I don't remember any of that.

Bumblebee: Rafael, please, tell me you remember me at least. Somewhere you must remember...

Rafael: I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are...

Bumblebee: That can't be! You don't just forget a whole year!

As the team tried in vain to make the humans remember, Optimus, Ratchet, and Ultra Magnus came to a dark conclusion. Ratchet took a few scans from a distance, but that alone was enough to pick out the primitive technology that had been used on the humans. The Council had done similar things to the minds of rebellious bots, and it was so common that the three knew exactly what to look for. When they found the signs of a memory wipe on the humans based on their brain activity and general scans, Ratchet nearly shattered his datapad and both Ultra Magnus and Optimus almost burst circuitry in rage.

Seeing this the team turned their attention to the trio in time for Ratchet to reveal what they had all been fearing.

Ratchet: They have been mind wiped, all the memories associated with us and our conflicts have been completely cleared.

June: What on earth are you talking about!?

Optimus: You do not remember, but nearly two and a half years ago we revealed ourselves to you by accident while fighting against our foes the Decepticons.

Ratchet: You worked alongside us for roughly a year and a half while we battled our foes to stop them from destroying your planet and dooming ours.

Optimus: However an earth year ago we completed our mission and defeated our foes. And so we returned to our homeworld to oversee its restoration.

Miko: You mean we fought with you!? Wow!

Bulkhead: Yeah... you did. And you fought well.

Optimus: We left with a promise to return in a year's time. That time has passed and so we returned to your world to check up on you.

Ultra Magnus: However it seems your government has used taboo alteration technology, primitive as it is, to remove any memories you had of us or your association with us.

Jack: You mean we forgot everything? A whole year?

Rafael: But how!? That shouldn't be possible!

Ratchet: We don't know how or why, we just know that it was done and now there is no changing it.

The humans were left in shock and the team in mourning for all that had been lost. Bulkhead and Wheeljack were physically pained by the loss of the Miko they knew. Bumblebee looked like he wanted to cry and he eventually moved to hug Optimus as a way to try and stave off some of the sorrow. Arcee appeared most distraught, her adopted son of sorts having forgotten all about her. Ultra Magnus was largely composed, but his fists clenched in anger as he watched the humans scramble for memories they no longer had and the team grieve. Smokescreen seemed lost more than anything else, not knowing who to comfort or what to do. Ratchet worked feverishly to see if there was a way to undo the work done on the humans. And Optimus... Optimus was wrathful and silently began tapping away at his console, searching for the only remaining human who might have answers.

They needed Agent Fowler.

It took weeks of effort on Optimus's part while the team cared for the humans, keeping them at base where it was safe while also simultaneously making trips back to Cybertron to continue reconstruction efforts during downtime. It was surprisingly hard for Optimus to dig around in the human datanet to try and find the missing agent. But eventually, just when the team were finally reconnecting with the humans by regaling them with tales and showing them videos of their time together, Optimus found Fowler.

The agent was being kept hidden away in some facility, one that Optimus, during the dead of night, had exactly zero issues busting into once he found out what was going on down there. The bodies of Cybertronian dead, abandoned weaponry, and even torn plating was being studied and taken apart for the human scientists. Optimus burned every such room he found in the facility to the ground, destroying or confiscating anything belonging to his kind. Then he found Fowler tied up in a dark room, seemingly having been interrogated for any and all information on Cybertronians he might have had. Optimus quickly gathered up the agent and decisively moved to leave, of course not without jacking up all the data the humans had collected.

When all was said and done, the team had four humans who remembered squat about their time together, an agent who was mentally unstable and stuck in a comatose state, and a government that was corrupt enough to be tearing their dead apart for science. The team were ready to raise hell for it.

[rainintheevening]

Alternatively: "I trust you with my life because you are ruthlessly loyal and you value my life above all others. But I don't trust you with your own life, because you are ruthlessly loyal and value your own life below all others."

i think 'I trust you with my life but not your own' as a trope is one of the ones that can always fuck me up no matter what

[celestiall0tus]

Bloody Bug - Power Upgrades

I've gone over the unifications and other aspects of Bloody Bug that differ from canon, but one I've neglected is the power upgrades for the holders. Where the show had the temp power-ups like Aqua and Ice forms, it works so much differently in Bloody Bug. So, let's get into it.

Summary:

This system is a mix of the concept from Miraculous AU where the team gets stronger as they get closer to their kwamis and use their powers more, along with Salvation's Avatars in term of power scaling and means of acquiring. To move up through the stages, a holder must consume a special elixir that attunes them to the kwamis, making them stronger and unlocking new abilities.

There are four known stages with a secret fifth and sixth. I'm going to break them down here and highlight what each stage offers.

Sage 1:

These are the most basic holder and what you'd find in canon, minus the ability to unify. As of season 3, these holders include Harlequin, Pom Pom, and Outlaw. Hawkmoth is technically here too, but no one cares about him.

Stage 2:

This is the first big upgrade that offers that ability to unify up to 3 kwamis. It also unlocks passive powers based on the animal of the kwami. As some examples:

Bomb Bee can hover, walk on walls and ceilings much like a bug, and can't be exhausted or fatigued while transformed

Death Noire can scale walls and cling to ceilings using claws, has further enhanced jump, speed, and agility, and see in the dark

Porcelet has incredible smell, fantastic memory, and enhanced hearing.

Gallic Chick can glide, use her heels as spurs for another weapon, and can crow

These holders are also stronger than the basic holder in terms of general strength, with certain animals giving them more of an edge, like the cat and the pig in terms of enhancements.

Stage 3:

Next tier offers the Amalgamation unifications, which is technically a 5 kwami fusion, but also grants access to 4 kwami fusions too. This is the tier where the enhanced strength, speed, etc. carries over to their de-transformed selves. Even as civilians, they superhuman at this stage.

This is also when they gain more passive abilities but based on their concept rather than the animals. Examples of this include:

Taureau possessing an indomitable will (which, yes, would negate the peacock's control over him), fear immunity, and hope empowerment.

Bloody Bug able to create small, permanent charms and items like LB in canon with her warding charms, being a source of raw creative energy inspiring all around her, and utilize creation based attacks.

Stage 4:

Stage 4 is considered the highest by the Order of the Guardians (though they be wrong) and used only for Guardians themselves and Enforcers. Wang Fu would be a Guardian while Su-Han is an Enforcer. This stage again makes them strong both transformed and civilian. It's also the stage where a holder truly starts becoming one with their kwami, getting incredible powers. It is also when a holder can use their powers without limited uses.

The first of these is Primal forms. This can be done with any kwami, but is taking on the holder unless done with a kwami they are close to. So, for Wang Fu, transforming into a Fox Primal was taxing on him opposed to if he used Wayzz instead.

This also provides special benefits to the holder if they possess a deep bond with the kwami. Like Wang Fu and Wayzz, which grants Wang Fu long life and makes him resistant to attacks.

Stage 5:

One of the lost stages recently rediscovered by the holder known as Mayura. This tier is unknown to the benefits it offers save for this one fact:

This is one of the final steps to becoming fully-attuned to the kwamis and a step towards the final step of godhood.

[ashleyfanfic]

Thank you for the NSFW recs! When you have the time, I would love to hear your favourite Jonerys slowburn fics 🔥

Oh slow burn. Alright, so full confession, I usually don't have the time for slow burn. It's infuriating sometimes because I'm like FUCKING KISS EACH OTHER and then they don't and it makes my anxiety fucking sky rocket!

BUUUUUT that isn't to say that there aren't fics out there that nail it to me. This is a small list of fics off the top of my head. Granted, most of these are modern AU because I guess, as a whole, this fandom just decided we're just gonna make them fuck right off the bat cause they both deserve it. I mean, there are a few that canon divergent - but show/book Jon/Dany deserved to fuck each other until they collapse. So, with that in mind, here they are in no particular order: (M for modern AU - C for canon divergent) Westeros' Most Eligible Bachelor by @muttpeeta - M After one too many public scandals, Prince Jon Targaryen agrees to be the new star of "Westeros' Most Eligible Bachelor." He just wants to clean up his act and change the public's perception of him as the black sheep of the family, but he might just get more than he bargained for. Enter contestant: Daenerys Targaryen. His aunt.

You Can Never Be Mine by @muttpeeta - C Jon Snow knows it's wrong to covet what his brother has. He's never begrudged Robb Stark his title or his claim as the heir to Winterfell. But when Daenerys is taken in as Lord Stark's ward and betrothed to Robb, Jon's honor is tested in a way he never expected.

Desirable Business by @dracoignisworld and @dragonanddirewolf - M - In 1960's New York, creative director Jon Snow is faced with a challenge. His new secretary Daenerys is everything he is not; kind, friendly and innocent. With her around the office, he finds it hard to distinguish between reality and his fantasies. There can be consequences to desiring someone you should not have.

Written in the Scars on This Heart by @jalenmara and @notpmahlem - M - Daenerys Targaryen, supermodel and face of House Targaryen, a rising star in the world of Fashion, is commonly known as the most beautiful woman in the world. And someone wants her dead. Jon Snow, running from the ghosts of his own past, lands the job any man would kill for— protecting her. But can he protect his own heart from her?

Where the Wild Things Are by @stilesssolo - M - Daenerys Targaryen has fought tooth and nail to get to the high-ranking position she has at Tyrell Outdoor Recreational Equipment, Inc, doing everything within her power to help the planet along the way. Jon Snow has a dog with over two million instagram followers, despite the fact that he can't figure out how to work the app to save his life. When sales drop enough to threaten Tyrell's environment-saving programs, Daenerys is determined to find influencers that can turn the tides for her company. And she has her eye on Jon. Or, well— technically, Ghost.

Her Life, Her Death by magicmoon11 - C - Swayed by the powerful words of a dying queen, Stannis Baratheon takes in baby Daenerys Targaryen as his ward. In the North, Eddard Stark is ordered to raise Jon Snow to wed and dishonor the Targaryen princess, by bringing bastard blood into her line, and ending the Dragons forever. Across the continent, and across the Narrow Sea, the wheel continues to turn, and the Great Game commences. Thus begins a series of events that would change the fate of Westeros forever. Familial relationship between gruff Stannis and his ward. Eventual Jon x Dany.

The Oasis - @fierypen37 - M - With uptight and stressed CEO Daenerys Targaryen's regular masseur on leave, she has to make do with the replacement Jon Snow. Relaxation is not something she can find with his hands on her. Too bad he doesn't feel the same. Except unbeknownst to her, he definitely does. When a threat on her life pushes them together, they must both learn to deal with their growing feelings.

[vodrae]

DC Comics highschool AU where Bruce 18 and Harvey 18 are the golden twins (lovers) of the football team, but after an injury, Harvey is replaced with that nerd from smallville who's in the school's newspaper, and he's able to make Bruce cheer too !

Grrr

So Harvey's integrating the cheerleaders (and debate) team to stay close of the field and his mentor is the girl rumoured to be the great grandgirl of the last Chinese Emperor Talia Al-Ghul.

In this AU, there is an unofficial club of heavily mentally scarred gothamite kids, you know who i'm talking about, and they have been adopted by the Golden Twins (lovers), so better not mess with them.

Everybody knows Dick 17 , he has to settle down in Gotham when his parents died and social services were looking for a solution, Alfred Pennyworth took him in, he was there with Bruce that night. Captain of the gymnastic team, no enemy guy, the only one able to shine brighter than Harvey. Someone tried to mess with his girlfriend once, Kori Anders, apparently he also learnt muay thai on the road.

Jason Todd 16 , Stephanie Brown 15 , Duke Thomas 14, Harper 16 and Cullen Row 14 can't and won't deny coming from Park Row, sorry, crime alley, Duke is actually from Bristol, but you know, nuances are too complicated. They met each other in foster system and Dick too.

One day, when the orphanage was running very low on money, Jason appeared with multiple bags of food. The others thought he was joking when he said he stole the 4 wheels of the mayor's Bentley, when he, Jacob Kane, came with the police they weren't joking so much.

Long story short, they are Kane's wards now, it's was a package deal.

Jay and Duke are making the glorious hours of writing club, Jason would like theater and Duke chemical but Jacob made them pick a sport, Jason was kind of forced to go to the football defensive team, (Jake didn't digest the L against Metropolis in 86) and Duke for the running team. As fast as light.

Steph is Lois Lane's right hand for the school's newspaper, she's running their social medias with great sucess and is the head of gossip departement. Clark is the left hand for the investigation departement. She won against Jason, Harvey, Clark and others *wink wink* the biggest eater contest. She's now a subject for the quantum physics club.

Harper leads the electronics club, the school still remembers when her dog sized spider drone was unleashed. She's also in the kickboxing club.

Cullen is vibing in the theater and art club.

Kate Kane 18 can't stand all the dumbasses above but if she has a dream where you are glaring at them she will break your knees. Her father wanted her to do ballet, she's doing music and kickboxing. Bullying is her love langage.

Tim Drake 15 is a little genius coming in HS at 12, a unique feat until a certain someone from middle east came to school... He's driving Edward Nygma insane by solving all his riddles, photography and and electronic club. His parents are rich but always absent. 7 years ago, Alfred invited him for thanksgiving, never really left since.

Damian Al-Ghul 13 and Cassandra Wu-San 16 are cousins, they are not related but their family have known each other forever and Cass was there the day the demon spawned. Damian is Dusan's Al-Ghul son, who's 30 years older than his little sister Talia, the two are really too much well trained in martial field to be normal. Damian's is leading the escrima club.

Cass, despite being mute, is leading kickboxing club, noboby ever won a round against her. In the entire country. Except for her big sister Sandra Wu-San, also known in professional wrestling as Lady Shiva, who could give her a draw. Also she can't use technology to save her life.

The Wu-San are the adopted daughters of Dinah Drake (second cousin of Tim) and Ted Grant, a former world heavyweight boxing champion and a professional wrestler known as Wildcat. Together they have a bio daughter, Dinah Jr Laurel Drake-Grant.

A girl, Selina Kyle 18 claims she's not related to them but still has a permanent room in their house if she wants to come. Teddy met Jacob Kane in the army and were deployed in middle east together, he found his girls in some destroyed village in the Middle East and resigned right after.

Talia and Damian are from one of the oldest Asian family, and very old money. Some argues that was their family who created the first philosopher's stone. Their grandpa being the only person on Earth from the XIX century still alive is not helping. Ras wife's family helped the Americans in the Middle East that how he met Ted and Jacob.

Talia 18 is in the cheerleading club because of her HUUUUUUUGE crush on Bruce Wayne, best grades ever everywhere. Wants to become a vet.

Nyssa 17 Al-Ghul is in the kickboxing club and write her secret stuff just for her.

Barbara Gordon 17 is the daughter of the commissionner, someone shot her, she's paralysed. She's the captain of wheelchair basketball and in the electronics. She's a godess at armwrestling. For real she's an hydraulic press. She's really close of Dick Grayson and maybe she has adopted Steph, Cass, Harper as hers. Her own pose in school is with Dinah Laurel and Helena Bertinelli.

She's very competitive and will take very badly if Tim is just behind her again at the Olympics of hacking this year.

Diana 18 (who is at least as tall as Clark, i'm right on this) is leading the wrestling team and history club, she's a exchange student from Greece from a monastry where men are forbidden as a diplomatic move with her sisters. (in reality the opposite exists, for real). Her accent makes every boys and girls fall for her. She has a very strong sens of justice. One day she saw Bruce and Clark, not even talking together and..."Your mine now ! We're having tacos tonight !" They knew they couldn't negotiate.

Ollie Queen 18, everybody knows he will go to a board school one of the four (three) true childhood friends of Bruce Wayne. Captain of the archery team. Came with his own crew, all in the team. Desperatly in love with Dinah Jr.

Zatanna Zatara 18, her father was a close friend of Thomas Wayne, she's on a very good way to become a magician herself. One of the four (three) true childhood friends of Bruce Wayne. Leads theater club.

Hal Jordan 18, wants to become a jet fighter, obsessed with construction games. Mathematic club and running team.

Kendra Saunders 18, also known as Hawkgirl, because the week-end she's doing BASE Jump.

John Jones 18 and his half-sister Megan Morse 17, they are refugees from oversea after a coup. They love the special effects in movies and theaters so they are is this club. They came with

Kori Anders 17, princess in exile of Tamara, she's a really sweet girl so the school asked their sweetest student to guide her through her new life : Dick Grayson. Nobody knows how she mastered english in so little time. She had troubles with the differencies beetween the two countries. Everyone's favourite. Hurting, even a little Kori is declaring war to the whole school. She's also taller than anybody and very muscular. She kinda adopted Jason ?

Rachel Roth 14, is the daughter of the King of Azaroth, nobody really knows where it is. She's in the meditation and spiritual club. The only one allowed to hug, kiss, and touch her is Kori. The constant barking with Damian Al-Ghul can't only be hatred.

Donna Troy 17, Cassie Sandmarks 15 and Artemis Grace 16, they came with Diana. They all had a "Oh my god, he's so pathetic, I love him." With a Gotham Boy. They are all very tall and strong and in the weightlifting club.

Clark 18 and Jon 14 come from Smallville and are, 1) the sweetest guys ever, 2) fucking STRONG, there is a video on the differents groupchats of them, lifting the school gargoyle after a storm. Maybe farm strenght isn't the only explanation.

Kon 15 and Bizz 14 are from metropolis, Ma Kent's sister married Papa Luthor and they had Lex and then one rebelious and one albino with a speach impeachement, who is also the size of a polar bear. But, beware, Bizz is Jason Todd and Artemis love child. They haven't really figured yet what they want to do. Bizz is in special class with Cassandra Wu-San so you can regulary see her on his back giggling.

Linda 17 and Karen 18 kent, cousins of Clark by Pa Kent came back in town a few years ago after they lived their whole life in California. Linda is in the well-being club and liked by everyone. Karen is more on the amazonians side of the force and can't help herself but have homoerotic sparring with any strong woman on sight.

Dinah Jr Laurel Drake-Grant 18 embrassed her mom legacy and already took the mantle of Black Canary and can already put stages on fire. Her perfect figure must not makes you forget that she can beat your ass in seconds because she's in the kickboxing club too. Probably why Ollie is so in love. If you ask her if she's single, she would either tell you to fuck off if dhe doesn't like you or tell you she's already married with further explanation. (Could be either the stage, or Barbs and Helena).

Roy Harper 17 is in the archery team and music club with Dinah, nobody can sing the country and blues like him. He kinda adopted Jay with Kori too. Him and Jay made a pact to quit alcohol and drugs after they had a bad trip together on a joint in the toilet at a party together.

Lian Harper 14 is his little sister and will stay single until she's 30, at least. Well, everyone on the Arrow Team would like that. She loves hanging out with Dick and the others. Archery team too.

(I don't actually quite know a thing on the rest of the team, but they are there and well.)

The Allens all have their buddies too and are putting the race tracks on fire. Their father Jay Garrick holds multiple records of speed and gold medals. But not for long to his hapinness.

The Curry family comes from the islands in pacific ocean and are setting new records every years in swimming competition. They are all in bio courses to study marine life.

Harley Quinn 18 went in school with Bruce after his parent's murder, saw him sad, and never left him. One of the four (three) true childhood friend. She won't follow any rules but she's not a bad person. Wants to help everyone with their mental health, got a pretty big tik tok account and instagram on this topic. Her ex boyfriend, Jack, made her do bad things. But her (girl)friends Pamela, Selina and Bruce and a few others (all the people above) quickly talked to him. (Alfred signed a 100 000 dollars check for surgery)

Pamela Isley 18 leads the botanic club, she doesn't like people, like at all, would talk to grass but not you, she only started to like her figure when Harley couldn't stop ranting about her "water melon boobies" and "starship butt" in PE's locker room . Anybody else would be dead, but...It was Harley ? And Selina was laughing her ass off.

Selina Kyle 18, aka Catgirl because she's always wearing stuff with cat, her bagpack, cat ears, cat make up. She has a super model walk and won't accept shit from anyone. She wants to be a vet with Talia.

Jack Napier : still in the coma. AKA Joker, a nickname gained in jail for minors.

Thomas Eliott 18, the minus one true childhood friends of Bruce Wayne, wants him dead. Jealous that he had his inheritance before him.

(I spent 4 hours on this. Why ? BECAUSE I'M BATFAN)

[silverynight]

(Jujutsu Kaisen in Demon Slayer Setting AU)

Between the two Itadori brothers, on sight you would assume that Sukuna was the demon. Eyes like blood polished rubies and extensive punishment tattoos that branded his body. But on the contrary, the smaller figure that constantly hid in Sukuna’s shadow, with every inch of him covered in thick fabric (all of light tones to avoid absorbing the sun) a large woven hat with thick gauze pieces acting as a veil, and even a headscarf and colorful warding mask, was the demon between the two.

They were spared by Choso after he had found the pair, he was endeared by the young demon who clung to his twin with wide fearful golden eyes, and he was endeared by the boy covered in criminal brands but held the demon as if he were his lifeline.

He stayed with the two as he sent a message to the master of the corps that swore on his life and his honor as the Blood Hashira that Yuuji would harm no human. And when he got the message that granted him permission he took them with him to his estate and began training them as demon slayers.

Originally it was planned that Sukuna would be the only demon slayer between the two, but Yuuji was persistent and did not stop until he was allowed to train as well.

Thus Sukuna became a blood breathing user using a pair of sickles as his weapon. And while Yuuji did not use any breathing technique in particular they had found he was impossibly good with hand to hand combat and was gifted a pair of brass knuckles gloves made of nichirin, as well as a small knife that was hidden within the sleeves of his haori just in case.

(Despite his initial protest at sending his youngest brother student without a sword he quickly realized that Yuuji was a menace with just his brass knuckles, especially when they were coated with his blood and subsequently ablaze with never extinguishing black flames)

The pair had conquered the Final Selection, with them running around slaughtering every demon they came across and saving people from unfortunate fates (mainly Yuuji)

(One boy in particular who was saved by Yuuji returned to his teacher’s estate half dazed with his uniform, mumbling about a completely covered boy that saved him and gave him supplies, leaving Satoru wondering about who this mysterious person was who made his ever silent ever emo student Megumi stare into the pond mumbling about pretty golden eyes through small slits of a mask)

- 🕷️ anon

(Also out of curiosity how many asks do you get, if your comfortable answering)

That's a very interesting AU!

Yuuji being a cute demon who wants to help people fits him well. Bet Sukuna is very protective of him.

[hey-that-hurt]

more beetlejuice contract au thoughts

I wonder how long he could be stuck in the closet? A while, potentially. I can’t remember if I established otherwise but I feel like Beetlejuice would be allowed to void the contract and leave— this would just cause him to be unsummoned, and Charles made it clear that he planned to ward the house if he couldn’t be sure BJ was there on his terms.

If Beetlejuice seemingly disappeared, Lydia might not buy that he would do so of his own volition— especially without saying goodbye— but everyone else might.

It might actually be the salt that saves Beetlejuice in the end. Maybe Lydia manages to convince her dad not to put up a salt barrier around the house for a week or so, but eventually enough is enough, he isn’t planning to wait around for Beetlejuice to find someone else to summon him and then come back for revenge. So he goes down to the closet to retrieve the salt… and there’s Beetlejuice.

Maybe Beetlejuice, hearing someone entering the basement, accepts some pain and intentionally makes some noise in some way, maybe knocking something over. Or maybe he plans on doing so, but upon hearing Charles’s voice he’s reluctant to reveal his precarious situation to the person who is the reason he couldn’t call for help.

Regardless, Charles finds him. Charles, having a very negative opinion of Beetlejuice that isn’t going to be fixed by finding him in a pitiable situation, would probably blame Beetlejuice for making a mess and rooting around in other people’s things, and ultimately getting himself caught in the situation. I doubt Charles would immediately catch on to why BJ was being silent, either, but eventually Beetlejuice’s pleading and hand-talking and pointing at his throat would get the point across and Charles would grant him permission to speak again.

The first words out of Beetlejuice’s mouth would probably be expletives, but when Charles doesn’t hesitate to threaten to order him to be quiet again he forces himself to calm down a bit and ask that the salt— which he is offended that they still had— be brushed aside.

With the salt removed he can finally exit the closet, and he gets away from Charles as soon as he can.

Everyone is actually rather relieved that he didn’t leave after all, particularly Lydia. When they learn that he spent a week shut inside a cluttered, dark closet, there’s definitely some concern, particularly from the maitlands, but he assures them that he’s totally fine and unbothered and definitely not at least a little claustrophobic now and what’s a week of complete and total isolation compared to hundreds of years anyway.

After the incident, he avoids being in dark rooms by himself, and catches himself a few times forcing himself to stay quiet.

[sakura-code]

Unnamed Ghost Hunter Agency AU

Based on Lockwood & Co (Spoilers for some plot elements)

Fifty years ago, the world became infested by ghosts and demons that would haunt the entire world and bring harm and even death to the living, leaving everyone trapped in fears. At the same time, a small percentage of people were granted paranormal power of the spirits and psychic, allowing them to interact with the ghosts and send them back to the spirit realm. An organization is formed called the World Ghost Hunter Organization (not creative I know) to train people with even the simplest psychic power in seeing the spirit realm into Ghost Hunters and defeat the ghosts and hopefully one day free the world from the spirits.

In the present day, a young man named Yuma Kokohead, a former Ghost Hunter from the WGHO, is heading into Kanai Ward, one of the most haunted cities, if not areas, in the world, to the point it had to be isolated from the rest of the world. But there are rumors that because of having to rely on themselves, the city’s population, especially Amaterasu Corporation, developed and discovered ways to handle the ghosts. Eventually becoming a source of resources for the world to handle ghosts. Yuma is traveling over to the city in the hope he could find a way to heal his twin brother from a ghost-lock. But he needs to be able to sustain himself while staying in the city, and unfortunately can’t get a job because he is an outsider to the city. Luckily, he finds one through an independent ghost hunting agency called the Nocturnal Ghost Hunting Agency, run by Chief Yakou and misfit members of the WGHO, and now must bring back his ghost hunting skills to help protect Kanai Ward from the ghosts while finding a way to save Makoto (and uncover the dark secrets of Kanai Ward along the way).

[rainintheevening]

OG Bus Team and Cooking Skills:

Coulson is quite good in a kitchen. He knows a few things, always uses good quality stuff like olive oil or butter or real mayo. But he doesn’t usually have time for anything fancy, so it's often sandwiches or pasta salad. He does do a mean roast chicken. Does a fantastic grilled cheese. He also has a weakness for burgers.

Grant is a grill guy. Turns out perfect burgers. Keeps the chicken juicy. Has a secret sauce recipe (from his southern grandma). Otherwise never fancy. The only thing he can really bake is chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Makes really good hot chocolate. Also a credible bartender, mixes a mean martini.

May is a good baker. Decent cook, has a lot of good Chinese recipes her mother taught her. But she likes the precision of baking, and the patience of waiting for it to finish in the oven. She likes the repetative motions of kneading bread. She's especially good with cakes, and will covertly try recipes from The Great British Bake Off, until she's got them down. Has the highest spice tolerance on the team.

Jemma? Can't cook. I mean, enough to live on, but not enough to really enjoy. She makes really good sandwiches though! And she's good with inventing sauces and dressings; she enjoyes the chemistry of it. She helped May perfect her carmel-cinnamon drizzle for her apple cake.

Fitz also cannot cook; he's even worse than Jemma. Constantly lets things boil over or burn. Gets taken off the cooking roster after two tries. The best taste-tester though. Can pick up on all kinds of subtle flavours. While at the same time being able to eat cold burnt toast without noticing??

Skye wants to cook, but never got beyond KD on her own. She's shy about trying, but Jemma shows her a few things, and then Grant quickly takes her under his wing. She makes fantastic Mexican food, and her spice tolerance is second only to May's, surprising everyone. Also eventually concocts a veggie cream soup that everyone loves when they're under the weather.

[thesakuragarnet]

The Devouring

Summary: After Keigo successfully captures the men who have been hunting them, Touya craves to give in to his draconic instincts.

DabiHawksWeek2024 Prompt Two: Cannibalism/V0re

THIS WORK IS 18+ ONLY! TAGS BENEATH THE KEEP READING SECTION

DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT! If you aren't looking for the kind of content in the tags, DO NOT READ THIS FIC!!!!!!!!!!

Content warning: Extreme depravity for this day’s theme of dabihawks week. Reading the tags is a must

Third oneshost for my Flames of Fate DabiHawks Fantasy AU

Word Count: 2,420 words

AO3 link

Tags: DabiHawks, DabiHawks Week 2024, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, fantasy AU, dragon prince Dabi, Siren Hawks, v0re (soft, hard, and fatal), b3lching/b3lch k!nk, swearing, bl00d and g0re, b3lly k!nk, making out, voyeurism, vomiting mentioned

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Ever since the night Touya and Keigo ran away together, Touya had stopped scratching at his scales. He had stopped ignoring his draconic instincts, giving into them rather than shunning them like he had been conditioned. As months passed, the prince’s dragon blood was apparent; he’d come to learn to love himself…to love the curse that had been placed upon him. Keigo had taught him that. However, now that he was neglecting his humanity, he found himself thinking back to that night. The night their seamless plan had dissolved into disaster when the Beast Hunters kidnapped Keigo. It was the night he’d committed murder for the first time. It was the night he’d watched Keigo rip throats out. It was the night their secrets no longer became secrets. It was the night he’d tasted human flesh for the first time. Originally, when he’d changed back to a human, it felt revolting. The concept of biting a human being in half and swallowing him, even if it was to save Keigo, didn’t sit well; quite literally, Touya had thrown up whatever wasn’t digested when he changed back. Still, lately, he’d found himself romanticizing that night, wondering if he just refused to succumb to his instincts. 

…

…

Keigo had been out hunting again with no such luck. The animals have figured out the hunting grounds of the two predators, moving on to safer spaces of the forest. He’d ventured back to the border of the Todoroki kingdom, hoping for just one or two kills he could bring back to his mate. Alas, he was coming up empty-handed…or so he thought.

He and Touya had managed to make camp in a cave, living a few miles from the border of Queen Kayama’s kingdom, as they hadn’t been granted amnesty to enter the realm yet. Once their request was answered with a raven, they’d head straight into the depths of the forest, passing through the magical veil and into a land where their identities would be protected. They could set up a new life, and have one of the Queen’s sorceresses build a cottage. They’d already contacted one who lived close enough to the border; in fact, she’d given the two lovers some potions to ward off any attackers in the meanwhile. 

Keigo keeps the alchemist shrinking potion at his hip, the vial glowing magenta as he stalks through the forest. Keigo can survive just fine by drinking animal blood, but Touya needs more than that. It would be different if Touya had access to a farm of some sort, but they haven’t crossed the border yet. His mate has been dealing with withdrawals, occasionally even looking at him like he’s a main course ready to be devoured. He’s used to being babied by the feasts of his royal lifestyle, and their slim pickings over the past months have put wear and tear on Touya’s physique. He’s significantly scrawnier than the well-fed crown prince he’d been in the Todoroki palace. It makes Keigo’s Siren heart sink, knowing he’s somewhat failed to provide for his mate. Like Touya, he’s been more in tune with his instincts away from civilization. Keigo of the Takami Siren tribe was animalistic…having satiated his bloodlust from their narrow escape months before, his mind was more focused on mating season. He’d made a nest in the cave for the two of them. He’d tried to keep Touya warm and satisfied. Now, he’s upset at their situation.

Keigo briefly forgets that he’s supposed to be on the lookout for more Beast Hunters: the gang that stalked and captured “monsters” for the trade, where they’d be slaughtered and cut up or chained and enslaved. So, when he hears the familiar battle cry weaving through his surroundings, he flinches and freezes up.

“Let’s get ‘em, boys!” One cries out, and five burly men jump out of the shadows of the night in the forest, blocking his path. Keigo panics, and the flashback of being tied up and slashed by the original gang of Beast Hunters months ago slips through his brain. Before anyone can react, Keigo uncorks the alchemist potion and throws the glass bottle at the feet of the group. The glass shatters, shrouding the gang in a bubblegum-colored cloud.

When the pink smoke clears, the group of Beast Hunters has been reduced to the size of spice vials. Keigo leaps forward, scooping the scurrying shrunken idiots up into his rucksack as he ties it tight.

…

…

Touya’s hungry . One can only eat squirrels and deer for so long before one gets bored…before the tastes all start to blend together…until it tastes like nothing. Touya’s anxiously pacing the floor of the cave, his stomach panging, growling so loud it might as well shake the foundation. Keigo was going out hunting this morning so Touya wouldn’t risk transforming and giving their location away. It was getting harder and harder not to give in to his draconic appetite.

Touya stops in his tracks the moment his nose picks up Keigo’s scent getting stronger. It isn’t long before the Siren enters the cave with a tired smile.

“Sorry, honey. Trip came up empty. Managed to catch those bastards that have been tailing us, though!” Keigo beams, holding up the bag of Beast Hunters.

Touya stares at the moving rucksack, salivating before he can wipe his mouth. Keigo notices immediately .

“Maybe…I did find you some dinner after all,” Keigo whistles, watching Touya’s nostrils flare as he inhales the scent of pure-blood human. Keigo opens up the bag, peering at the five scrambling tiny bodies shouting in a chipmunk-esque pitch. Keigo reaches inside and plucks two men from the huddle, one in each clawed hand.

“Want me to feed you, Your Highness?” Keigo sneers, his lips curling into a seductive smirk. Touya’s jaw drops, saliva pooling on his tongue as his stomach painfully growls. He’s under a spell, his basic instincts from the family curse plaguing his mind and heart: a desire for an empty void to be filled to the brim with flesh and blood and muscle and bone. Touya nods eagerly, brainwashed by hunger, ignoring the fact that he’s about to devour five human beings; he sinks to sit against the cave wall, and Keigo sits beside him.

Carefully, Keigo lowers one of the men into Touya’s mouth, forcing him onto his tongue. The Beast Hunters in the bag wait in dreaded silence…and Touya closes his jaws.

The sounds of splintering bone and shrieks of agony pierce through the cave as Touya begins to chew. Blood spurts into his mouth, coating his tongue with the sweet taste as the cries quickly cease. He tries not to moan at the flavor; it’s like he’s finally breathing after drowning for so long. Fresh. Sustainable. Meat. The other Beast Hunters listen to the distinct sounds in complete horror and shock. The man in Keigo’s other hand faints. Touya swallows thickly, feeling the remains of the Beast Hunter sliding down his throat, sitting heavy in his stomach. He sighs as he licks the blood from his lips. The dragon within seems pleased, but not satiated. He’s still hungry. Abhorrently hungry. The taste of iron is overwhelming in his mouth, and he runs his tongue over his teeth, sucking clean any stray red strips that got caught between his fangs. He’s nowhere near full. The draconic acid buildup probably dissolved everything instantly, judging by the subtle hiss emanating from his middle. If it’s one thing he learned since the curse had activated, it was that his stomach was strong . 

“Feel better?” Keigo asks, head cocking in a very analytical manner, and Touya shakes his head. 

“I’m fucking starving , Kei,” Touya half-groans-half-growls, his voice taking on that monstrous edge Keigo had grown familiar with. 

“Might as well eat the rest. That way the spell won’t wear off…and they won’t squeal about us,” Keigo grins innocently, as if he hadn’t been planning on feeding him every last one of the bastards since he walked back home. 

“Open wide, Your Highness,” Keigo coos with a sly smirk, dangling the fainted Beast Hunter by the back of his coat, fingers pinched daintily as he holds the man over Touya’s head. The dragon prince leans back again, opening his maw, and the Siren unceremoniously drops him. This time, Touya simply swallows him whole, not bothering to savor the flavor, and Keigo intently watches the bulge slide down Touya’s throat before disappearing past his collarbone. Touya’s stomach distends ever so slightly, gurgling as it promptly digests its new meal. Touya hums, indulging in the feeling of his stomach slowly filling up. It feels so relieving…borderline arousing. His draconic side stirs, Touya’s pupils momentarily shrinking to slits, and greed fills his veins. Touya reaches over Keigo into the rucksack, grabbing one of the thrashing bodies inside and pulling him out into the open. The man is screaming, beating at Touya’s fingers to no avail as the cursed prince drools, licking his lips as he stares at his prey. Keigo gets a sick thrill out of the display, squirming in his seat.  

The man shouts obscenities that fall on deaf ears, partially because his voice has become so high-pitched that it’s unintelligible.

“Hope you squirm on the way down,” Touya rasps before he lowers the Beast Hunter into his mouth, lips wrapping around his legs before he starts ravenously slurping him down his gullet like a noodle. The man disappears into his mouth with a slick pop, and Touya lathers him with his tongue, seeming indifferent to the taste before he gulps thickly. His eyes roll back into his head, and he grunts as the man struggles against the powerful muscles of Touya’s throat; nonetheless, he succumbs, and plummets to the depths of Touya’s belly. 

“Oh, fu- UUOORP -uck,” Touya’s groan is interrupted by a hearty, deep belch as he focuses on the panic ensuing in his gut. The man’s incessant screams sound muffled, and Touya lifts up his tunic to see his bloated stomach lurch as his first conscious, live victim pounds on his stomach walls. Keigo’s eyes are locked on, heart pounding at the sight. Something about watching his mate’s satisfaction makes his heart throb . 

“ Gods ,” Touya huffs, stomach rumbling before he presses his fist against his mouth, muffling a lengthy closed-mouth burp. He sighs when it ends, turning his attention back to the remaining two men. At this point, he’s full, but the greed of his dragon’s blood boils in his veins. He stares longingly, eyes bulging, and Keigo catches on. 

“Lemme feed you the last ones,” Keigo trills, reaching into the rucksack and snatching up another victim. Touya watches intently, tongue feeling like lead in his mouth as his lover brings the prey to him. His jaws part, and Keigo shoves the writhing Beast Hunter into the bloodstained, cavernous void; the prince’s lips close around Keigo’s fingertips, and he sucks on them, maintaining direct eye contact as he savors the flavor of his meal. Touya pulls back, leaving Keigo’s fingers covered in saliva before he dips his head back and swallows, pressing his own fingers to his throat so he can feel his thrashing prey’s journey down. This one is significantly more difficult to get down, and Touya whines as he gulps repeatedly, trying to seal his fate. He pounds his chest with his fist, trying to work him down, and, eventually, his sigh of relief proves he was successful. The man immediately starts shrieking, frantically trying to avoid the slowly rising draconic stomach acid. Keigo bites his bottom lip as he watches Touya’s stomach expand that much more; the sounds of draconic digestion are music to his Siren ears. He lifts the final man up into the air, who seems to plead for his life to be spared. 

“Down the hatch, baby,” Keigo trills with a devilish smirk, and Touya eagerly opens his jaws, breathing hot and heavy. Keigo releases the man a few inches above Touya, and the Beast Hunter screeches as he lands on Touya’s warm tongue. Touya voraciously begins chomping down, moaning softly at the flavor of the blood and flesh as he crunches the bones. With a final thick gulp, Touya sends the last Beast Hunter hurtling down into his stomach. Touya grimaces, feeling the Beast Hunters bang on his stomach walls, trying in vain to escape or at least cause him pain. A muffled gurgling noise emanates from his stomach, paired with the violent shouts of his prey, and Touya lurches as yet another crass burp bursts from his lips. Touya groans, leaning back and taking in the sensation of just how heavy his belly feels; he’s stuffed. Keigo gently rests his palms against the bloat, rubbing the soft flesh as Touya stifles another deep belch. His stomach feels uncomfortably tight, but the draconic acid should make short work of his prey within a few hours. 

“You know, you kinda look cute like this,” Keigo croons, nuzzling into Touya’s neck as he gently massages Touya’s stomach. Touya groans as Keigo kneads another eructation out of him, and he lets a low and lazy burp out of the corner of his mouth. 

“Sound cute, too,” Keigo chuckles, arousal boiling in his blood as he rubs the distended tissue. 

“You horny or something, birdie?” Touya huffs.

“Maybe I just have a thing for predators,” Keigo winks, fangs gleaming in the moonlight that pours in through the mouth of the cave. Keigo climbs into his lap, bracing himself against the bulge of Touya’s middle before leaning forward and connecting their lips. Keigo groans, licking at the blood in Touya’s teeth as they passionately kiss, and the dragon prince wraps his arms around the Siren. 

“You feeling good?” Keigo hums into the kiss.

“ So good ,” Touya moans, on the edge of going into a food coma. He hiccups softly, and Keigo presses their lips together for another deep kiss. He’s on cloud nine, having fruitfully provided for his mate and thoroughly enjoyed the display. Touya’s satisfaction is a major turn-on for him, and, if Keigo's mating cycle had lined up, he definitely would’ve spread Touya's legs and bred him until he was spent. Keigo caresses Touya, pulling him close, feeling the warmth of his burbling tummy. Touya breaks the kiss, nuzzling Keigo as they rest against the cave wall. 

“You sleepy?” Keigo asks, and Touya yawns in acknowledgment. 

The dragon prince closes his eyes, letting the sounds of digestion and Keigo’s breathing lull him to sleep. 

[101flavoursofweird]

12. "There you are.” “where else would I be?” with Swift and anyone else (maybe another agent? Maybe Desmond or Leon. Your choice)!

((Thank you for the prompt! Sorry Claire isn’t technically an agent… but I got this TargentClaire AU stuck in my head and something possessed me to write it. I also wanted to see her interact with Swift, a fellow scientist and risk-taker :D))

Title: The Phoenix

Spoilers: For PL3 and slight spoilers for Azran Legacy

Set: An AU set after the explosion at the Institute of Polydimensional Physics. Claire, somehow, survives the experiment, thanks to Targent’s intervention. 

Warnings: Claire and Dimitri in Targent’s captivity… Targent threatening people, as they do… Dimitri going on a hunger strike, though not in great detail… Reference to dead characters… and reference to scars after accidents

“Ah— there you are…” 

Claire glanced up from the workbench as her supervisor (her warden) strode in to the lab. He was tall— taller than Dimitri— with a shock of blonde hair, and a scar running across his nose and his cheek bones.

That wasn’t what made him intimidating, though. (Claire had plenty of scars herself, since the accident…)

It was the way he looked down on anyone who didn’t agree with Targent’s ‘glorious mission’; how he talked about the Azran civilisation as if they were the masters of the universe…

Wouldn’t the Azran still be here, if that were the case?

“Where else would I be?” Claire responded flatly. She gestured around the lab— far larger, more orderly, and more advanced than what she was used to— but it still felt like a prison.

It was a prison— she must never forget that.

After her ‘rescue’ from the ruins of her old lab at the institute, she had been brought here— to Obsidian Tower, in the Nest.

When Claire had awoken, still heavily bandaged and hooked up to painkillers, her ‘saviours’ had introduced themselves as Targent.

Despite her benumbed state, Claire knew of the agency already (Hershel had warned her in the future)… 

Still, she’d nodded along as they explained who they were, how they had saved her, and why they had moved her to their headquarters— to facilitate Claire’s recovery with their cutting-edge technology.

Claire had thanked them and asked if her fiancé, Hershel, was here. (She needed to tell him she was alive!)

He was not, but her colleagues, Bill and Dimitri, were…

Like Claire, Bill had been flown in to the Nest— though, he had been somewhat conscious and he had made a faster recovery than her…

Dimitri had been entirely conscious when the agents had stormed in to the smoking remains of their old lab. He could recall how he was dragged away from Claire’s body, before he was bundled into an airship with Bill.

Whenever Claire questioned this, Targent’s medical staff would dismiss it; perhaps Mr. Allen had hit his head…

Later, when Claire was well enough to speak with Dimitri alone, he had told her the whole story, including how Bill had been in contact with Targent beforehand. Targent had financed the time travel project, as a matter of fact!

(Claire had pretended to be surprised.)

Targent weren’t primarily invested in time travel, but they were obsessed with Azran technology… and the time machine had just so happened to contain an Azran energy source.

While she was stuck in the medical ward, Claire had been given books on the Azran (propaganda) to read. Her requests to call Hershel, her parents or someone outside the Nest had been constantly overlooked.

When she was strong enough to leave her hospital bed, she had been given a dull room next to Dimitri’s. It had felt like an upgrade, if only for the privacy she was granted.

Still, Claire was not allowed to contact Hershel. She kept pleading, but Targent argued they needed to keep her safe. They’d revealed that nine people had died as a result of the institute explosion. 

Nine innocent bystanders, dead, because of Claire and her colleagues’ disastrous experiment.

It wasn’t the first time Claire had heard that, but the horror still felt fresh— not helped at all by Targent’s insistence that the authorities were after her, Dimitri and Bill.

Claire needed a distraction while she figured out how to contact Hershel, or how to escape without putting him in danger.

Targent had offered her work in the labs. Claire had accepted.

So, here she was.

“I thought you were with your colleague,” Claire’s supervisor drawled, making his disdain for Dimitri clear.

Claire bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to defend Dimitri, insubordination would not put her in Targent’s good books.

She needed to play the part of a bright, but demure scientist investigating the Azran.

“I did visit Dimitri earlier,” she admitted.

She had taken some bread rolls to his room, but Dimitri was determined to continue with his hunger strike. He looked like a scarecrow, lying across his bed in his baggy blue lab coat.

Claire, too, had taken to wearing a blue coat like the other scientists— if only to protect herself in the labs and to conceal her scars.

Dimitri hadn’t stepped foot in the labs yet.

Apparently, Dimitri didn’t have anyone Targent could threaten on the outside. 

The only people he cared about— Claire and Bill (debatably)— were trapped with him, and his life’s work had gone up in flames.

Why should he comply with Targent? Claire wouldn’t— if she didn’t have her family, her friends and Hershel to think about.

Still, Claire hoped Dimitri would concede soon— at least when it came to eating!

Without Dimitri— without a friend she could trust and talk to properly— Claire would go mad in this place.

Neither of them had seen Bill since his ‘promotion’, but maybe that was for the best. Bill had neglected to mention that they were in the pockets of a military organisation!

No wonder he’d been so eager to test the time machine…

(Ten years later, Bill would be dead.)

Dimitri was still under the assumption that Bill had tricked Claire into entering the machine— as if she hadn’t noticed its flaws. Claire hadn’t corrected this assumption because, well… 

How would she survive if Dimitri shunned her? How would Claire discuss escape plans with him? If the opportunity arose, if Dimitri wasn’t ready, would Claire have to leave him behind?

(She hadn’t seen Dimtitri, or herself, in the future, but she had found Hershel, with a wedding ring on his finger, and two children in tow. One of them was Luke, Clark and Brendas’ son. The other was a teenage girl, Flora.

Though Claire hadn’t asked for details— she’d had to deter Flora from telling her too much— Hershel had promised her everything would work out in the end. 

And he had instructed her to find one Desmond Sycamore…)

Her supervisor’s grunt dragged her back to the present. “You seem distracted.”

For some time, Claire had been staring down at the work bench— at a purple Azran crystal. She glanced up at her supervisor sharply.

“I’m— just worried about Dimitri,” she stammered. 

A scoff. “If he wants to stay cooped up in his room, that’s his choice.”

Claire frowned slightly.

Even if Dimitri left his room, like Claire, his freedom wouldn’t extend any further than the upper level of Obsidian Tower.

Claire could solve the puzzle on the lift’s control panel— Targent knew that— but Claire also knew what the punishment would be if she got caught.

She didn’t care what they did to her. She had already risked her life by stepping into the Time Machine, and now, she was paying for it with her servitude to Targent.

While she didn’t mind doing mundane jobs around the lab, sooner or later, her superiors could order her to do something dangerous.

Another violent experiment… A lethal weapon… A legacy that could reshape the world in Targent’s image…

This was why she needed Dimitri’s cooperation.

Maybe, together, when it was dark, they could climb down the Azran pillar…?

“He really is missing out,” Claire sighed wistfully. She picked up the Azran crystal— feigning fascination— inspecting it as she had seen Hershel do with ancient artefacts.

“Spectacular, isn’t it?” Her supervisor peered at the crystal with her.

Claire nodded. “I was wondering— if there might be a way to access the power within this crystal?” 

She let remorse bleed into her voice. “Back at our lab, in London, we used all these cables to connect the… the time machine up to the energy source, but the cables weren’t… strong enough…” Her fist clenched around the crystal.

Claire’s supervisor hummed. “I will acquire you some cables— far stronger than the equipment at your pitiful institute, I can assure you.” He smirked. 

Claire was about to let out a grateful gasp,  but on second thought, that might be a bit much…

“Thank you…” Claire sniffed, instead. “But please don’t talk about the institute like that. It was my first lab and I have a lot fond memories, despite the… accident.”

That part was true. Claire missed their dingy old lab. She missed working with Dimitri and Bill. She missed the street where the institute was based…

She missed Hershel, waiting outside the building to walk her home. She missed curling up on the settee with him in the evenings.

She missed her life. 

Claire’s eyes were damp with real tears.

Much to her embarrassment, her supervisor noticed. His smirk softened into an expression of concern.

“There’s no need to be miserable now,” he murmured.

Claire waited for him to proclaim that she was part of Targent… something, something about her joining a noble cause in their search for the Azran Legacy… and she should just forget about her boring old life.

But he was silent for a few moments. Then, he removed his dark sunglasses. Without them, his scar seemed a lot less obvious, because Claire was drawn more to his eyes— one green and one blue.

Of course, Claire had heard of heterochromia, but she had never met anyone with the condition before.

Her supervisor gave her a crooked smile. “As a child, people used to tease me about my eyes… As a young man, I gained this scar…” He scratched his nose. 

Claire felt the left half of her body itch; along her face, her arm, and her leg. The side of her that had suffered most from burns after the explosion.

“…and people started to fear me instead,” her supervisor finished.

“Where is that scar from?” Claire whispered. “I-if you don’t mind me asking…”

He took no shame in sharing the story, though his eyes gained a faraway look. “I was involved in an accident years ago— a cave in during an expedition.”

(Hershel had lost his high school friend during an ‘expedition’.)

Perhaps her supervisor— one of her captors— was fishing for sympathy, but 

Claire couldn’t help mumbling, “I’m sorry…”

Her supervisor blinked, his eyes hardening. He shook his head. “It’s in the past now. What matters is that I survived, just as you survived.”

Claire found herself agreeing. “Yes…”

“Like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” her supervisor recited.

At that, Claire couldn’t help snorting. “I wish!” How she wished she could sprout wings of fire, soar out of Obsidian Tower, and leave it burning behind her.

“You could be the Phoenix,” her supervisor suggested. “That could be your code name.”

“Hm…” Claire pursed her lips. 

She had noticed how many Targent agents were named after birds.

Did Claire really want to have a name in this archaeology-bird-obsessed cult?

“It’s too… grandiose for me,” Claire said carefully.

“I don’t think so,” her supervisor said. “You were the first human test subject of a Time Machine— that’s more experience than most recruits bring to the table.”

Maybe if Claire could enter his circle of trust, then she could find her way out…

Claire stitched on a smile. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Phoenix it is then!” Smiling in return, he put his glasses back on.

“What’s your codename?” Claire wondered, while she still had his consideration.

“Swift.” Small, agile birds— similar to swallows.

“I… didn’t expect that,” Claire said. For him, she’d thought of an eagle or a falcon; something large and intimidating.

Swift offered no further explanation. He turned away from her and strode to the door. “I’ll get you those cables,” he called over his shoulder. “Until then, keep up the good work.”

“Yes, Swi— I mean, sir!” Claire’s gaze returned to the Azran crystal, but her mind was already formulating an escape plan.

She would be the Phoenix, but not under Targent’s command.

Soon, she would break out, bringing Dimitri with her, and they would run. She would get in touch with her loved ones, somehow, and she would warn them.

She might not be able to reunite with Hershel right away, but at least he would be safe, while she tracked down Desmond Sycamore.

Claire was going to survive this.

-

“I’m aware that you are the one who provided Claire Foley with the means of escaping,” Bronev grumbled, glaring at Swift from behind his desk.

“Forgive me, sir,” Swift muttered. 

All he had given her was a reinforced cable. She had climbed down the Azran column— Targent’s most sacred artefact— with a cable, and the help of her colleague. 

“We managed to capture her colleague,” Swift pointed out, “Dimitri Allen.”

“That does not excuse your glaring oversight, Swift.”

“No, sir.” Swift bowed his head. 

He had let his guard down for a new recruit— for a woman who had formerly been a lab assistant!

A scientist who might have travelled through time.

How much had Claire Foley kept hidden from them? Had she recognised Targent from the start? Did she know what would become of their agency in future? 

Would they unlock the Azran Legacy? Would Claire Foley stand in their way? 

Despite her betrayal, Swift still regarded her as a burning phoenix. A bird who had broken out of her perceived captivity, and left a blazing trail in her wake.

A cunning adversary for Targent. For Swift.

Swift had expected some sort of punishment for his mistake, but instead, Bronev said, “Take a wing of assassins to London. Find Hershel Layton.”

“What then, sir?” Swift said.

Bronev smiled. “Wait for Claire Foley to return home.”

[cagemasterfantasy]

Druid (Circle of the Shepherd)

Druids of the Circle of the Shepherd commune with the spirits of nature, especially the spirits of beasts and the fey, and call to those spirits for aid. These druids recognize that all living things play a role in the natural world, yet they focus on protecting animals and fey creatures that have difficulty defending themselves. Shepherds, as they are known, see such creatures as their charges. They ward off monsters that threaten them, rebuke hunters who kill more prey than necessary, and prevent civilization from encroaching on rare animal habitats and on sites sacred to the fey.

Many of these druids are happiest far from cities and towns, content to spend their days in the company of animals and the fey creatures of the wilds. Members of this circle become adventurers to oppose forces that threaten their charges or to seek knowledge and power that will help them safeguard their charges better. Wherever these druids go, the spirits of the wilderness are with them.

Speech of the Woods: At level 2, you gain the ability to converse with beasts and many fey.

You learn to speak, read, and write Sylvan. In addition, beasts can understand your speech, and you gain the ability to decipher their noises and motions. Most beasts lack the intelligence to convey or understand sophisticated concepts, but a friendly beast could relay what it has seen or heard in the recent past. This ability doesn’t grant you any special friendship with beasts, though you can combine this ability with gifts to curry favor with them as you would with any nonplayer character.

Spirit Totem: Starting at level 2, you gain the ability to call forth nature spirits and use them to influence the world around you.

As a bonus action, you can magically summon an incorporeal spirit to a point you can see within 60 feet of you. The spirit creates an aura in a 30-foot radius around that point. It counts as neither a creature nor an object, though it has the spectral appearance of the creature it represents. As a bonus action, you can move the spirit up to 60 feet to a point you can see.

The spirit persists for 1 minute. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

The effect of the spirit’s aura depends on the type of spirit you summon from the options below.

Bear Spirit: The bear spirit grants you and your allies its might and endurance. Each creature of your choice in the aura when the spirit appears gains temporary hit points equal to 5 + your druid level. In addition, you and your allies gain advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws while in the aura.

Hawk Spirit: The hawk spirit is a consummate hunter, aiding you and your allies with its keen sight. When a creature makes an attack roll against a target in the spirit’s aura, you can use your reaction to grant advantage to that attack roll. In addition, you and your allies have advantage on Perception checks while in the aura.

Unicorn Spirit: The unicorn spirit lends its protection to those nearby. You and your allies gain advantage on all ability checks made to detect creatures in the spirit’s aura. In addition, if you cast a spell using a spell slot that restores hit points to any creature inside or outside the aura, each creature of your choice in the aura also regains hit points equal to your druid level.

Mighty Summoner: At level 6, beasts and fey that you conjure are more resilient than normal. Any beast or fey summoned or created by a spell that you cast gains two benefits:

The creature appears with more hit points than normal: 2 extra hp per Hit Die it has.

The damage from its natural weapons is considered magical for the purpose of overcoming immunity and resistance to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Guardian Spirit: Beginning at level 10, your Spirit Totem safeguards the beasts and fey that you call forth with your magic. When a beast or fey that you summoned or created with a spell ends its turn in your Spirit Totem aura, that creature regains a number of hit points equal to half your druid level.

Faithful Summons: Starting at level 14, the nature spirits you commune with protect you when you are the most defenseless. If you are reduced to 0 hit points or are incapacitated against your will, you can immediately gain the benefits of the spell Conjure Animals as if it were cast with a 9th-level spell slot. It summons four beasts of your choice that are challenge rating 2 or lower. The conjured beasts appear within 20 feet of you. If they receive no commands from you, they protect you from harm and attack your foes. The spell lasts for 1 hour, requiring no concentration, or until you dismiss it (no action required).

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Source: Xanathar's Guide to Everything

[starfall-spirit]

The Silver-Tongued Bride

STB Masterlist

Feysandmonth Prompt: Wedding

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

One Thousand And One Nights AU

Summary: Feyre has been selected as the High Lord's next bride, destined to die at the next fortnight's dawning. However, her intriguing retelling of Rhysand's favorite tale has just saved her life.

Until the next Death Dawn, of course.

Chapter IV: The Wedding

Feyre

For three years, Prythian had been free from its self-proclaimed High Queen. For three years, Rhysand had been selecting bride after bride to ruin and kill, perhaps as that witch had ruined him those forty-nine years. He'd confided in me once that he detested Amarantha as greatly as any other fairie stuck in that hell of her invention. I had to wonder if that's where this twisted practice was rooted. His claiming of females' freedom, often their virtue, binding them-us-as Amarantha bound him.

To Prythian for forty-nine years, Amarantha's whore.

I would not be his.

I could already hear Azriel when he caught word of who his High Lord chose this time around. "He said you were tied by the bargain, not marriage, so I let it be. I know I haven't been nearby to request your pardon, but now you're next on the chopping block and you didn't tell him you're one of mine, why?"

I would of course, before my Death Dawn came, but if I could save another girl-hopefully multiple, telling my stories-I would stay. Even if that meant warming his bed eventually. It was more rumor than fact, what Rhys expected of his Night Brides. Velaris was the capital city, and the travelers that came through my village heard were our only source of information.

Still, half said the females had their own room and didn't see Rhys beyond the wedding ceremony while others said Rhys kept them at his side, puppets at the hand of his daemati magic, serving him in one way or another day and night.

That wasn't quite the impression I got Under the Mountain, despite his puppeteering of me. Then, I never pictured him arranging something so horrid as the Death Dawn when we were freed from Amarantha.

Either way, I had my Wraith gift and daemati shielding to avoid any ill intentions. And even if it came to something sexual... Well, our moment under the mountain was admittedly pleasant. Honestly, no male I'd been with before or after compared.

A knock fell on the door and I begrudgingly opened it, grateful the dress was more practical and fluid than it had appeared on the dress form. Rhysand stood there himself. "Not waiting at the end of the aisle?"

He offered his arm. "Quite frankly, Cursebreaker, I don't trust you not to stab my guard with his own sword and run."

"Run where, Rhysand? Do you not respect my instincts enough to realize I'll be taking note of every entry, exit, and guard positioned from one side of this place to the next?"

He chuckled. "Oh, Feyre darling, I'd be disappointed if I found otherwise. Even if you do get past the guards, no one breaks my wards, short of-"

Short of Azriel's Wraith unit, nonexistent to the rest of the world.

"Yourself?" I offered sweetly.

"Yes. Only myself and the Night Lords before me are tied to these wards, as ancient as the very first to reign. The only woman who would be able to break through them without my knowing is my High Lady. My mate."

"There's no such thing as a High Lady."

He smirked. "There could be."

"There won't be, so long as you kill each bride before giving a bond the time to snap."

He didn't respond, as we had just reached the doors leading towards that dreadful aisle. That aisle hosting scattered red rose petals. I couldn't breath. Even three years after my freedom was granted, sights like this made my stomach turn.

Because red was blood.

Red was death.

Red was screaming and begging and prayers of the fae on their knees. Red was my knife flying, striking home through Amarantha's chest, rather than Elain's heart, barely giving her time to kill me. Red was now me collapsing on that white stretch of carpet leading to that picture perfect alter.

Rhysand cursed, banding an arm around my middle before my knees made impact. I winced as his fingertips pressed hard against my ribs. Breathe, before you make a fool of yourself.

Fuck, my shields.

Yes, you dropped them. Look at them. I raise my eyes, obeying for the sheer sake of not spiraling again. Not at our guests. Look at the roses. Containing a whimper, I obeyed that too, not having the strength to shove him out yet. By glamour or true replacement through his magic those roses were white. I'm sorry. What just happened was the last thing I wanted today, Feyre. I'm truly sorry, simply for lacking that consideration.

I shoved him out of my head, dismissing his pity. I took another breath, another step. Another and another until Rhysand and I were facing each other, a High Priestess nameless to me binding our hands with a wide black ribbon before taking a step back as Rhys glided through his vows with that silver tongue and as I stumbled through mine.

"I, Feyre Archeron, vow to serve and defend my court and people, my strength and dedication at my-" I swallowed.

His thumb stroked the back of my hand beneath that ribbon. "Husband's," he purred.

"-at my husband's side. At my High Lord's side I shall remain until I meet the Mother in her land of milk and honey. May my soul enter eternity."

He flinched. The ever-composed High Lord I'd wed flinched as if struck by an unexpected pain. I gasped, icing my hands to put out the kernel of flame summoned in my rising anger.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Though his face was a mask of calm I could see the whirling emotions in those violet eyes. Anger at the forefront, intrigue on its tail, and almost-giddy delight at what he could now manipulate. Twisting his hands within that ribbon, the binding pulled taut. He yanked me against his chest, holding me in place as he claimed my mouth. My right arm began to tingle and I knew without looking that I'd find ink identical to my bargain tattoo, marking me as his.

As tempted as I was to summon that fire again, I didn't risk it with six other High Lords in attendance. They hadn't bothered attending any wedding of Rhysand's beyond the first, realizing what he had fallen to.

And then they heard he set his sight on Feyre Cursebreaker. No, I wouldn't expose my gifts they passed on, because while I could escape the Death Dawn, the High Lords would stop at nothing to regain their lost power.

He finally released me, smirking as he watched me claw at the ribbon sanctifying our "blessed union". When I was confident he wouldn't stop me from marching right out of there, I stepped off the dais, immediately intercepted by Helion Spell-Cleaver.

"Two weeks every month until you die."

"I didn't realize he'd become a Bride Killer back then. I would have bargained down to one. Bargains are tricky and I won't ask for your help nullifying it. I have to figure this out. Stop other girls from getting hurt."

"You can't stop playing hero, can you Cursebreaker?"

My lips twitched. "Not yet, Spell-Cleaver."

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