#she called me for help like it was a major battle or something

[singinprincess]

Mom just started playing Elex II and she is so upset with the way Jax looks in this game. She was in love with him in the first game lol

[hazelcallahan]

ok “all vi needed to do was call caitlyn cupcake to make her turn on ambessa” is a fun little bit that i will participate in but i really feel like it’s contributing to two major misconceptions/complaints:

1. that caitlyn’s heel turn was sudden, and

2. that vi and caitlyn have reconciled

so let’s break that down, shall we

1. every single hint was there that caitlyn was chafing against ambessa’s regime and doing every little thing in her power to resist without putting herself and her loved ones at great risk. from the first scene with maddie - hell, the opening montage - you can tell cait is fucking EXHAUSTED. weary. that’s a woman who has spent months suffocating, doing desperate damage mitigation when put into an impossible situation. she didn’t want the mantle of leadership, and what was she going to do, say no and let someone worse take it? so she’ll take it. she’ll ban the use of solitary confinement cells. she’ll argue against ambessa’s soldiers attacking civilians. she’s in too deep to really do much else.

additionally, there are hints that she’s been planning on ways to take down ambessa for months. that one scene with dialogue over them sparring is literally there to symbolize how every single conversation between them is a battle, both of them looking for openings, and no matter how hard caitlyn tries ambessa always seems to come out on top. you also don’t just come up with the plan she did entirely on the fly - tracking things like guard rotations is something only a schemer does.

2. sure, “cupcake” is a fun little pet name, but it’s so much more than that. the most obvious is an olive branch. vi doesn’t want to hurt caitlyn. there’s so much affection still there.

the bigger thing, though, and the thing i believe caitlyn is reacting to there, is it’s a sign of distance. vi used “cupcake” as a way to needle at caitlyn when they first met, when she didn’t quite trust her even though she’d broken her out of prison. after that, we hear her use it twice more in s1: on the bridge during their parting hug, and after the council meeting as she’s trying to leave. both instances where she, in that moment, believes they’re never going to see each other again, and so she has a vested interest in creating that distance. on the other hand, we hear her use caitlyn’s name after she hears the gunshot on the bridge, in a moment of genuine fear and affection.

come s2, vi doesn’t use “cupcake” at all in act 1. she used “cait” a lot. still a nickname, but also caitlyn’s actual name - i know you, i see you, i care about you. caitlyn’s observant enough to notice this, even passively, even if she didn’t realize it until she heard “cupcake” months later, but i can’t help but feel like she takes that nickname as a sign of how they’ve drifted. she feels like she has to start over again with this woman she clearly loves. the meaning is clear to her: i won’t hurt you unless you give me a reason to, i’ll work with you if that’s what you need, but i’m not going to let myself get close to you just yet.

[keksalot404]

Uh oh! Some BOZO decided to play UNDERTALE and UNDERTALE YELLOW at the same time (Both games FUN value was 66) and now the timeline is F*CKED (By about one year; It wasn't that long till Frisk came along)

This is the Guide to UNDERTALE ROM LEAK, mostly a frame of reference for me and you regarding this AU born from a doodle and a dream. Those who just want to see the art with no context, feel free to click the top pic and swipe down or something.

A Tale of 2.5 Souls

Seems like whatever the reason Frisk went to the mountain, they ended up tailing Clover, where the game begins. Control between the 2 fallen children is split, meaning that both Frisk and Clover are free to express their quirks and personalities more.

Adding to that, NarraChara is also here, being visible to Frisk, Clover, AND the player due to more determination in the area. Frisk still has higher DT than Clover, so they're in charge of LOADing and SAVEing as well as playing leader.

Prepare For Trouble, Make It Double!

Now obviously the timeline can't really be UT or UTY if all major events need to be dealt with. The universe's solution? Now every Major Character (and perhaps minor ones) are paired up with their cross game counterparts. While encounters for each monster can be seperate, eventually they will cross paths with eachother and the fallen humans.

With each section of the Underground now longer with even paired area newly connected (More on how that works later), it'd feel like even 2 player characters can't make it easy. Fortunately for a certain route, you may get some help...

Kanako

To fill a void for a Certain Short Scientist, seems fate pulled a few strings, and brought a new friend back from near-death! If you don't kill any monsters during RUINS, Kanako will sense your pure hearts and join the party, acting as the Ralsei to this Diet Fun Gang.

With healing and shield magic, she'll make your journey a lot more manageble, at the cost of not being able to kill any monsters all the way until Asgore (She will still allow you to spare monsters by lowering health but if she senses a chance to kill she will block the attack and scold you for it.)

Being a much more attentive protector than the Skeleton, she'll accompany Frisk and Clover through the emotional highs and lows of their journey, and perhaps maybe...

You'll find out the true reason she's helping you.

Stronger Monsters

For the characters of the 2 timelines being destined to meet, it is also true that destiny will point into blocking your path. For the Major Battles at least, you'll have to fight both of them at the end of each paired areas. An example being meeting North Star in Wild East only for Starlo's betrayal being calling Undyne to hunt you during Waterfall.

Expect combo attacks, fused soul modes, and complex strategies when facing the duel bosses. Some might even compromise Kanako from assisting. No fight has the same solution as the UT and UTY fights (except maybe Papyrus and Martlet), so be prepared and stay determined!

So have fun while you can, won't you? It's not likely you will get these games together again. You wouldn't waste this once-in-a-while experience just to do something you'll regret.

You wouldn't waste it just to see what happens...

...right?...

...

[cinamun]

Worth it | Next

And that concludes chapter 25 of Things Fall Apart. Please follow me under the cut for a brief recap.

First and foremost:

Lot Credit | World Map Credit

As Hope and Jayce Carruthers embark on a road trip - a much needed break for the both of them, mostly Hope - we will begin a new chapter soon to explore the journeys of all of our cast. As we close out one chapter, there is always more to explore.

Chapter 25 started violently - a bloody end to manipulation, self-depreciation and control. Mercy Carruthers, as we learned, blocked an important part of her past out of her life for years. She holds guilt that, only now, she is beginning to address. Her grandchildren mean the world to her, so one can reasonably conclude that attending every session her therapist - the renowned Dr. Jules Carter - schedules is for those babies.

As for Hope, the feeling of worthlessness and severe depression began to creep into her life as the monotonous routine of being a stay-at-home-mother grew heavier and heavier. She battled with her own guilt. Guilt for feeling like she was missing out or that she missed an opportunity earlier in life. When she confessed these feelings to her husband - a husband who was already feeling the energy shift - she was covered and protected by his love. A love that ultimately led him to take on a different role at the University to help support his wife's dreams.

Finally, Indira. Determined to become an actress, but after a terrible nightmare that felt all too real, the determination became even stronger. She cut everyone off - the first to go was her handsome lawyer friend who flew helicopters as a hobby - everyone except Charlie. She set rules, they maintained a friendship so she could focus. Now that she's connected to a major insider, will she get the break she's determined to get or will she decide on something different?

Stay tuned friends, as you know, this is the story that never ends and these three women will continue to be our focus as they navigate this crazy little thing called simulated life.

[trippinsorrows]

dreamland: leya's struggles

authors note: this is super short and not anything major. literally wrote this in like half an hour. i could expound on it if people are interested. just wanted to give some insight to what it was like for roso and leya dealing with her ocd when she was younger.

only gonna tag a few people. if i end up expounding on it, i'll tag my usual "everyone" list.

words: 800

masterlist

warnings: angst, depiction of ocd in children

The sound of horns honking startles both Leya and Tama, the latter of which starts to stir in his car seat, single handedly exacerbating an already nightmare of a situation.

“Hurry up!”

It’s a single voice that’s followed up with several others, all expressing the same level of pressure and rudeness.

Solana is seconds away from marching over to the woman directly behind the suv behind her car when Tama’s soft, sleepy voice serves as a deterrent. “Mama, I wanna go home….”

A shared sentiment, one that makes most sense for him, as he’d either be back in bed by now or cuddled on the sofa with her while he takes a nap. 

Obviously, that’s not an option. 

“I know, baby,” she comforts. Solana does take a step back but instead of acting out of character, she directs her clear, unmistakable command to Jacob. “Shut them up.”

With a nod, Solana only catches his face shifting into that infamous scowl as he walks over to the cars lined up behind her, a line that has to be backed out into the street at this point.

With that handled, Solana moves back to the issue at hand. 

Leya continues to cry, sniffling as her little chest moves up and down. Solana can see the tips of her fingers turning red from the repeated, forceful buckling and unbuckling of her seatbelt.

“Leya….” Solana’s voice breaks. As best as she’s doing to maintain her composure, it’s a slowly losing battle. “Baby, it’s okay. We can g—”

“No!” Leya cries, shaking her head, still not looking at Solana as the concerned mother continues to gently stroke her hair. “I gotta—I gotta do it right, mommy, or something bad will happen!”

“Cataleya, I promise you nothing bad is going to happen, baby.” A reassuring statement she’s had to have stated at least ten times now over the past almost half hour that’s passed since the start of Leya’s episode. “But, you have to get out the ca—”

“No!” Leya begins to cry harder, once again going to remove her seatbelt, counting to three with her fingers before doing it all over again. A repeated, consistent, obsessive act that’s led to the situation they’re in now. A situation Solana has no idea how to handle. This is the first time it’s ever been this bad.

“What’s wrong, Leya?” Tama asks in his sweet voice, worry filling his little face as he tries to comfort her. Unfortunately, that only does the opposite. Leya cries out and jerks her body away, swatting his helping hand, prompting his bottom lip to poke out as he too starts to cry. 

“Leya, please don’t hit your brother.” It’s hard for Solana to be upset with or even scold her daughter, because she knows Leya can’t help it. Knows that it’s only because anyone else’s touch other than hers feels “wrong” to Leya, thus her reacting the way she did.  “Tama, it’s okay, baby boy. Leya just doesn’t feel good.” 

Solana is sure none of them are feeling good, especially herself, her hand moving to her small baby bump as a sudden wave of nausea washes over her.

God please, not right now.

Of all times, not now.

She just can’t handle this.

Solana moves to open the passenger door and reaches over to grab her cell phone out of the cupholder. Shaking, trembling hands move to Roman’s contact, as she too quickly hits the call button.

Three rings followed by a soft, feminime voice. “Mr. Reigns office, how can I—”

“Shit,” Solana curses and closes her eyes. She dialed his office number instead of his personal cell. “I’m sorry, Alicia, this is Solana. I need you to put me through with Roman.”

“Oh, hi, Mrs. Reigns,” she greets, voice kind but almost unsure. “Ummm—Mr. Reigns is in the middle of—”

“Alicia,” Solana doesn’t hesitate to interrupt. “Get my husband on this line now.”

The woman nervously clears her throat. “Of course.” A pause. “Just a minute.”

And it’s just about a full minute that passes when Solana hears her husband’s deep, baritone voice on the other end. “Solana? What’s wr—”

“I need you to meet me at the school,” she cuts in, emotion in her voice as her eyes start watering all over again. “I can’t—I can’t get Leya out the car. She’s—she’s stuck in a ritual, and I’ve got Tama, and he’s crying, and I can’t—I don’t know what to do.” Her voice breaks at the end, the overwhelming nature of it all finally trampling her

“Mommy, don’t cry,” Tama comforts, eyes focused on Solana from the backseat.

Solana is unsure if Roman can hear their five-year-old, because he’s doing the same, “baby, don’t cry. It’s okay.” It provides some solace but not as much as Solana knowing how to help her daughter could provide. “I’m on my way.”

[moeitsu]

♡The Tie Which Linked My Soul To Thee♡

(Arthur Morgan x OC) Masterlist

Hey Cowboys! -ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Below is where you'll find all the chapters to my Red Dead Redemption fanfic, I will keep it updated as I continue to post more chapters. But in the meantime, I wanted to make things a little more organized and easier for you to navigate.

Whether you just started reading, or if you've been keeping up with the story since the beginning. I want to thank you! This started as a little side project to keep me busy during my down time at work, but it's turned into something I'm really passionate and proud of! So thank you for all the support <3

!!Please be aware this fic is explicit. As it contains blood/violence, as well as other adult themes!!

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╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ Ao3 

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ Wattpad

Summary: Kate McCanon, a young widow from the north, meets outlaw Arthur Morgan. When the two cross paths she discovers a complex man wrestling with his own sense of right and wrong. As their unlikely bond deepens, Kate becomes determined to guide Arthur towards a brighter path, even as tensions rise within his gang led by the enigmatic Dutch van der Linde. With danger lurking at every turn, Kate must navigate treacherous territory to protect those she holds dear, all while finding love in the most unexpected of places.

Story Tags: Original Character(s), Widowed, High-Honor!Arthur Morgan, Arthur Morgan Does Not Have Tuberculosis, Chubby!Arthur Morgan, Canon Divergence, Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, Slow Build, Slow Burn, Child Loss, Infant Death, Eventual Smut, Eventual Sex, Eventual Romance, Emotional Sex, Eventual Pregnancy, Fluff/Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Sweet/Hot, Touch-Starved, Sexual Tension, Romantic Angst, Romantic Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Trauma, Canon-Typical Violence, Men Crying, Torture, Blood and Violence, Survivor Guilt, Aftermath of Torture, Caretaking, Injury Recovery, Period-Typical Racism, Anxiety, Self-Hatred, Self-Doubt, Depression, Emotional Constipation, Historical References, Major Character Deaths, No Beta, Over 200k Words

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Ch 1 - The Years Creep Slowly By Kate becomes entangled in a heist with two strangers, Hosea and Arthur, forging an unexpected bond amidst their criminal endeavor. Ch 2 - The Snow Is On The Grass Again A fisher of men and A strange encounter. Ch 3 - The Suns Low Down The Sky Welcome to Horseshoe Overlook Ch 4 - The Frost Gleams Where The Flowers Have Been It's time to collect a debt. Ch 5 - My Heart Beats On As Warmly Now A well deserved hunt with Charles, met with an unexpected surprise back at camp... Ch 6 - As When The Summer Days Were Nigh The battle begins, and the past is revealed. Ch 7 - The Sun Can Never Dip So Low Kate is not immune to the dangers of the land. No matter how much she loved it, the land will never love her back. Ch 8 - Or Down Affections Cloudless Sky A blissful sunny day after a long hard night. Ch 9 - A Hundred Months Have Passed Kate and Arthur share a tender moment in the quiet of the night. Ch 10 - Since Last I Held That Hand In Mine The Course of True Love and other Revelations Ch 11 - And Felt The Pulse Beat Fast Arthur and Hosea share meaningful conversation after a night of advertising some moonshine. Meanwhile Kate finds herself involved in a dubious mission with John and the boys. She patches up Arthur as the day ends with an air of unspoken desire. Ch 12 - Though Mine Beat Faster Far Than Thine - Part 1 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God in a world that is ugly with violence and hate. Ch 13 - In Dreams, She Comes To Me - Part 2 Arthur’s life is ebbing out like the tide. Kate must work quickly and diligently to reverse the cruel hands of fate. She is aided by the help of an unexpected ally. Ch 14 - A Hundred Months ‘Twas Flowery May As Kate navigates Arthur’s recovery, she discovers that true strength lies within her trusted companions, finding relief in their unwavering support during the trials of his healing journey. Ch 15 - When Up The Hilly Slope We Climbed Arthur struggles to adjust to his new disabilities. Meanwhile Kate finds a job outside of camp for them, providing a few days respite and some much needed alone time. Arthur finally reveals his feelings. Ch 16 - The Past Is The Eternal Past Kate and Arthur welcome a new life into the world. The scene brings back tender memories of Arthur's past, he finally finds the courage to open up to her about his family. Ch 17 - To Watch The Dying of The Day Say, isn't it strange? I am still me, and you are still you. In this place. Isn't it strange how people can change? From strangers to friends, friends into lovers. To strangers again. Ch 18 - To Hear the Distant Church Bells Chime The gang finds a new hideout at Shady Belle, just outside the heart of the new modern America. With Jack still missing, Kate and Arthur must work together to find him. Amidst the tension, Arthur confides in Kate about his deepest regrets. Ch 19 - We Loved Each Other Then The Gilded Cage. Kate and Arthur attend an exclusive garden party hosted by the Mayor of Saint Denis. As the night progresses, their mutual desire intensifies. Ch 20 - More Than We Dared To Tell In vulnerability they meet. As the world fades to a gentle hum, their hearts beat as if they're one. In the aftermath, quiet and deep. Love whispers promises they'll keep. Ch 21 - What We Might Have Been As tensions within the camp simmer and new challenges surface, the gang finds themselves slipping further into uncertainty. Amid the chaos, Kate and Arthur navigate the weight of their individual struggles, leaning on their bond to weather the storm and hold onto what matters most. Ch 22 - Had But Our Loving Prospered Well As Dutch readies the gang for their next big score, Arthur is sent to Saint Denis to settle unfinished business, only to face a ghost from his past. Meanwhile, Kate's come down with an illness, but a vivid dream sparks a newfound resolve to secure her and Arthur's future—no matter the cost.

Ch 23 - To Call Up Their Shadowy Forms In a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled poker game, Arthur and Kate find themselves ensnared in the deadly consequences of their choices during a fine night of debauchery. Ch 24 - The Story of That Past Tension runs high as Arthur grapples with the weight of impossible choices, his loyalty to the gang tested against his growing desperation to protect Kate. Meanwhile, Kate endures her own silent battle, caught between the chilling reality of her imprisonment and the lingering hope that Arthur will not abandon her. Ch 25 - The Hope That Could Not Last The time of outlaws and gunslingers is coming to an end. Arthur risks everything in a dangerous gamble to free Kate from the law. While the weight of the world threatens to crush him, Kate’s unwavering hope burns brighter than ever. Ch 26 - I Care Not To Repeat Arthur’s unexpected act of kindness sets the stage for a fragile alliance between two men shaped by loss and loyalty. Upon returning to camp, they must work quickly to prepare for yet another journey. Ch 27 - Words of Mine Long Years Ago The journey to Annesburg is steeped in silence as tension brews. Arthur wrestles with his emotions and fights a losing battle to shield Kate from the oppressive weight of his sins. Ch 28 - I Would Not Cause Her One Regret Under the tender care of Wapiti's medicine woman, Kate receives life-changing news that will forever alter the course of her and Arthur's future. In the midst, she uncovers a gift left by Hosea, something that will carry them through the journey ahead. Ch 29 - There Is A Future Thank God In the midst of their desire, Arthur's long-buried sorrows rise to the surface. Overwhelming with intensity, Kate's tender heart is determined to sooth his pain. In the aftermath, they share a quiet, contemplative moment, their thoughts turning toward the future.

━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━ If you're interested in reading about my OC, I linked some posts about her below! <3

Kate McCanon Lore Face and Voice Claim OC Commission! Spotify Playlist About me!

[nmakii]

Cuteness with Yan! Alastor... Imagine Alastor drinking too much and getting drunk with the reader (the reader hates Alastor, because he is always irritating you)... Well, what no one expected is that Alastor was drunk and drunk reader with these are being cute with each other, as if they were a couple (something they are not).. Well now reader is in her bed with drunk alastor by her side, while reader caresses his ears (it wasn't because a drunk Alastor threatened the reader not to leave him and that she had to cuddle him).. Imagine the two of them waking up the next day in each other's arms, it would be funny

WHISKEY ON ICE, SUNSET AND VINE

— alastor sucks. he sucks even more when he’s drunk cause he acts so weird.

— i drank likeee 6 shots n a beer tday! i wanted more but my friends cut me off thats sucks fam i also kinda puked a bit after i swam

after the battle against heaven, lucifer helped make the hotel much more grander than it ever was; magnificent rooms, beautiful decor— it was like a heaven in hell.

and to celebrate the rebuilding, what better than a few drinks?

as you uncapped another beer, alastor caught your eye— swishing the whiskey in his glass as he talks with niffty. that remaining smile on his face as annoying as ever.

taking a huge chug of your beer, the sour taste lingering on your breath as you glare at him. quite obviously, to add.

“my dear, is something the matter..?” alastor asked, smile seeming strained from his confusion. “shut up, bitch” you huffed and walked away, sitting onto the sofa with angel, leaning your head on his shoulder.

“what’s wrong, toots? ‘ya had too much already? party’s just started like 25 minutes ago…” angel laughed. “noooo… ‘m just a little sleepyyyy…” you whined, gagging slightly at the vomit that threatens to come out.

you take another sip of your beer, settling onto angel’s shoulder properly before your eyes slowly shut.

angel had let you rest for the majority of the party. that is until cherri dared him into doing something for money, something he couldn’t resist.

“yo, smiles! sit in my spot for a bit, will ‘ya?” angel called out to alastor; quite intoxicated already, but not quite showing it. “hmm..? alright then” alastor nodded, taking angel’s spot.

as soon as alastor sat down, you clung back onto him, as if you thought alastor was angel. a little hiccup came from you as you settled your head in his chest.

alastor— taking the opportunity to be close with you, since you had a particular distaste for him, decided to bring you in closer. he had wrapped an arm around you, pulling you onto his lap, close enough to rest his head on your’s.

“‘m sleepy… you… smell super nice” you sighed, bringing some of alastor’s coat closer to your face, breathing in the scent. “mmh… why, thank you, my dear…” he grinned, the static in his voice making his thanks sound disingenuous. “come now, let’s get you to bed.” he laughed as he carried you to your room.

as alastor dropped you on the bed, he fell down with you. “go nowww… small bed, y’know?” you pushed alastor away, settling into your bed. alastor was, unfortunately though, stronger than you. he was able to keep still despite your pushing. “don’t act like that, dear. just sleep on top of me, we’ll fit.” he said, pulling you onto his chest and laying a hand on your head.

as you dozed off again, your hands reached to touch alastor’s fuzzy ears. under your touch, alastor hummed, quite comforted by your warm palm.

you yawned out, covering your mouth as the scent of alcohol reeks from you. alastor laughed at how adorable you seem as he pats your back. “go to bed already. i’m quite sure we— or at least you’ll be hungover tomorrow.”

unbeknownst to the two of you, charlie and angel had gone searching for the two of you. “ahh, where could those two have gone..? and more importantly— how did no one see them leave?!” charlie frowned as she checked the rooms in the hotel.

“calm down, charlie… alastor’s an overlord, rememba’? he could totally protect s/o. there’s really no need to worry…” angel told charlie, comforting her.

“oh, they’re in here!” charlie yelled out as she opened the door to your room. “aww… they’re cuddling! so cute…” charlie cooed at the sight. “ahh, sure…” angel hesitantly agreed.

“c’mon, let’s leave them alone. wouldn’t wanna wake them up…” charlie beckons angel to leave as she quietly closes the door, leaving to return to the party. “tch, can’t wait to see if someone’s getting murdered tomorrow…” angel sarcastically mumbled to himself.

the next morning, you woke up. curtains still closed the way you left it when you settled in, and one pounding headache.

your head reeled as your vision blurred, losing your sense of balance as you rolled off alastor’s chest. wait— alastor’s chest..?

you slapped him awake as you yelled at him. “what the fuck are you doing in my bed?!” you scowled. “hm? ah… i believe we were both drunk, nothing happened, i’m quite sure.” alastor assured you.

“i’m not worried about that, fucker! why the fuck were you being all cuddly?!” you frowned, pushing him out the room. “my dear, i believe it was you who kept touching my ears.” he smugly reminded you. “urgh, get. OUT!” you enunciated as you slammed your door shut.

“alastor!” charlie waved her hand out as she ran towards him. “sooo, i saw you and s/o last nightttt… did you two figure out your differences and become friends now??” charlie asked excitedly. “ah, unfortunately not, dear.” alastor’s eyebrows furrowing with annoyance.

[starry-907]

Animation vs Life SMP

alright so i said in the tumblr community if we got new life series and influencer arc ep 3 on the same day i'd post my (currently very minimal and disorganized) thoughts for animation vs life series! and uh. we did indeed get new life series today soooooo yeah.

thoughts below the cut cuz it will likely be a bit long shgsldjf

Explanation of life smp

so! for those of you that don't know what life series/life smp is, it's basically hardcore but you have (usually) 3 lives instead of just one (there's been 2 seasons that don't follow that exact idea). when you hit your last life (referred to as your "red life") you get to be hostile and kill others outside of specific circumstances. last person alive wins! there's been 5 seasons so far (and a vaugely canon april fools ep), with the 6th season starting today, leading to me writing this here.

a lot of folks also add in some additional lore with these beings called the watchers, with the lore being that they're the ones organizing the games and kinda keeping the players locked in this loop of death games. i think one of the content creators has his own lore involving the watchers, martyn inthelittlewood.

if you want an explanation of ava/avm i can't type that here or we'd be here all day so instead i'll just link this post i made a while back that should help explain some stuff

The foundation

essentially this au starts with the idea of what if instead of mcyt-ers, the watchers decided to nab some silly sticks for their death game instead? the current lineup that they grabbed is:

Vic, Chosen, Dark, Second, Green, Blue, Yellow, Red, Purple, and Mango. i might add the mercs if i want more people for more complexity, but i'm still in the baby stages of ideation here.

thing is though, the watchers want to have a pawn member actually in the games, so they can manipulate events the way they want to, whenever they need to. so.....

(yeah that's right i made drawings to go along with this explanation)

ok so it isn't just because they're also purple, it's because they seemed the best candidate in terms of skill and such. cunning and resourceful, but still desperate for approval in a way, so just breadcrumb some praise and you should be able to get them to do what you need them to do right?

i mean purple does eventually realize something's up and doesn't listen to the watchers as much (when they can get away with it).

purple's changes

of course, being made a watcher does come with some changes, external and internal.

external, they get these floating eyes around their head, and the watcher symbol on their back. both of them are usually not visible, only really showing up in low light (light level 3 or less) or when under extreme stress. somehow no one's really questioned it? i mean if you're stuck in a death game (that you don't know is a loop of death games), your friend suddenly getting a bunch of eyes isn't a major concern.

what does garner attention (esp cuz these can't be hidden), is the fact that purple's elytra have turned into full on feathered wings (also with the watcher symbol). they don't allow for flight in the games (unfair advantage), but they do serve as a more... permanent reminder of where purple's ultimate loyalties should lie.

(in case you can't tell, i'm working with majority morally dark watchers here. there are some that don't like the idea, but most of them are more than down for it).

ok jumping ahead a bit we're talking curses!

what's a life series without some curses and patterns, eh? i do not have many right now, but i do know what the biggest one is, i'll do that last.

mango gets a curse to always fail to protect a close ally from death at least once

vic is cursed to always have one death that was preventable

blue has sort of a reverse of mangos, she will have at least one death protecting an ally.

ok starry but what about the canary curse?

i'm glad you asked. who's the one that always runs into battle first in ava, and is therefore the one to always die first?

THAT'S RIGHT. HECK YOU *CANARIES YOUR RED*.

i realize there's other characters that could've fit but at the same time canary red just hits so much more to me. granted the watchers didn't know for sure who their canary would be during the first game, but once red died they just collectively went 👀 and hit him with the curse.

after the first game, the ends of red's bandana become stylized to look like wings, and anyone who knows how to look can see faint images of canary wings on his shoulders. only purple knows the exact reason why.

hey so are they just stuck forever or what

uhhh haven't fully thought this part through. HOWEVER! i do know the main focus characters of this au! purple is clearly one of them, since they have a connection to the watchers (kinda against their will). the other primary focus character... well a lot of folks headcanon that the winners get to remember the past game(s) as a reward for their victory, and the first winner is someone who's more than used to dealing with having an urge in the back of their mind to kill.

basically woe, platonic bugduo upon ye. dark wins the first game, learns about the watchers and stuff, and decides to work with purple on trying to break the cycle. also! for those of you who know how third life ended take that but instead it's chosen and dark. tragic siblings.

(i guess dark did wind up fulfilling their code to destroy the chosen on- *gets exploded*)

other misc things/the scenarios imagined

they would go through all the current games, i don't have many ideas for limited life though (i've only watched all of third and secret life, i need to catch up on the others)

i realized that the boogey curse session from secret life could be very interesting to deal with (blue would be the one to start with the boogey curse), i might write that one if i ever write things for this

purple realizing at the start of limited life that everyone had their memories of third life erased (except dark, they realize dark knows but maybe by that point the alliances are already made)

purple gets to go feral at least once as a treat. is it the boogey curse? red life urges? the watchers? who knows but they get to go feral

as i said, dark is able to resist the red life urges a bit better due to experience with the mission code (which is somewhat suppressed by the watchers, they don't want to let their game be ruined by something like that). also remember how scott didn't kill anyone while affected by the boogey curse in limited life yeah dark does that and it's actually the worst

red notices the wings, he knows about canaries but he doesn't know the full significance of them.

idk what associations the winners would get (i'm still thinking about the different winners at this point anyways). I think yellow would win one, maybe also chosen or second...?

unlikely alliances, unlikely alliances as far as the eye can see. double life especially

PLEASE if you have any ideas or questions come yell at me in my ask box, i would like to talk more about this and i'm curious what thoughts y'all might have

[wandanatsgf]

Right Where You Left Me

Pairing: Maid!Wanda x Noble Woman!Reader

Word Count: 2.7k

Summary: Wanda is your maid who you fall head over heels for. But like all good things, you knew it wouldn't last. You knew your life was already decided for you, but that didn't mean you couldn't enjoy your time with her while it lasts.

Warnings: This ends sadly and contains smut. Read at your own risk. Also I wrote this in two hours so there's probably grammar mistakes so pls ignore those.

You had never understood this strange feeling inside of you, the way you would cringe when you danced with a man or when he kissed your knuckles. You didn't understand why the idea of marrying a man brought feelings of dread and despair. You didn't understand how such simple actions from a man could elicit such strong emotions in a woman. And then you met Wanda.

Wanda is your recently hired maid and god is she gorgeous. She has long brown hair and eyes as green as emeralds. You tend to get lost in them quite frequently, much to Wanda's chagrin. And every time her skin touches yours it sets you ablaze, which is what's happening right now.

"Does this corset really need to be so tight?" you complain to Wanda who is helping you get dressed. It's making it really hard to control your slightly labored breathing. Wanda's presence was really doing something to you today.

"I'm sorry my lady but I'm just following your mother's orders," she says apologetically. She continues to help you get dressed and then she gets to work on your hair.

"You know you don't have to call me my lady when we're alone, Wanda. Y/n is fine," you tell her as she fixes a curl that was out of place.

"Ok Y/n," she says, trying it out. Your name sounds so good coming out of her mouth, you could listen to her say it for forever. Unfortunately you have duties to attend to today.

"Thank you for helping me," you say once Wanda announced she was finished.

"It's really no problem, Y/n. It is my job after all."

"Yes I know but it's only right for me to thank you."

Wanda smiles at this and you swear you've never seen a prettier sight.

"Have a good day, Wanda," you say as you open your bedroom door and slip out of sight.

You spent the majority of your day entertaining your parent's guest, Steve, a lord from a neighboring country. You talked with him for hours, however your heart wasn't in it. You could've cared less about what he was saying. You would've much preferred to be reading a book or talking with Wanda. And by dinnertime you were ready to rip your ears off if you had to hear another story about a battle.

"Thank you so much for accepting our invitation," your father says as everyone takes their seat.

"It really mans a lot to us that you rode all the way out here to visit us and our daughter, Y/n," your mother adds.

"The pleasure is all mine," Steve says.

"This actually brings us to an important topic, Y/n," your father says. "We, your mother and I, are hoping you would be open to courting Steve." You knew he wasn't really asking, he was telling.

"I would love to father," you say, lying straight through your teeth.

"Well that settles that. I think this calls for a toast," your father says.

The rest of your night was spent drinking and pretending to be merry, but you couldn't get out of your own head. You knew your parents wanted you to marry soon, and you had put it off for as long as possible. Now you were being set up with Steve and you felt hopeless.

Around midnight you bid your parents and Steve goodnight and headed to your room. Maybe you could cry in peace there, but when you enter you see Wanda waiting for you.

"How was your day?" Wanda asks as she helps you out of your dress.

"Honestly it was horrible. I had to spend the whole day with Steve," you say, your face wrinkling up in disgust.

"He can't be that bad."

"He's not bad...he's just not interesting," you say carefully choosing your words.

"Well men never are," Wanda says. She pulls off one of your many petticoats, accidently grazing your thigh. You let out a low moan and you hope Wanda didn't notice. You don't think she did because she finishes taking it off and sets it off to the side.

"Oh?" you ask. You can't tell if Wanda is giving you a sign or not. Or maybe you're just reading into things.

"Well you know how men are. They just talk about hunting or battles or money. It's all very boring."

"Oh yes of course," you say agreeing with her. Wanda continues to undress you, but your thoughts are still plagued by the awful news you got at dinner today.

"You know my parents wish for me to court and probably marry him and I don't know if I can do it," you blurt out. You hadn't meant for that to come out, but you just feel so safe in Wanda's presence. Despite the short amount of time you've known her, you've grown close to her. At least as close as you've ever been to a person.

"Why not? It's not like there's someone else and Steve could give you a life of luxury." Wanda unties your tight corset and lets it drop off your body.

You think carefully before letting your greatest secret slip. "I don't think I could ever love him, Wanda. Not the way I love you." At this Wanda's hands still and drop to her side.

"Y/n are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"I'm in love with you Wanda Maximoff. I know it's wrong and we barely know each other and my parent's would never approve but I can't help how my heart feels."

"Do you really mean that?"

"I mean every word Wanda."

"I'm in love with you too Y/n. I have been since I first started working for you," she admits.

You carefully turn around and plant a soft kiss on Wanda's lips. She tastes like strawberries and you can't get enough.

Wanda pushes her body as close to you as possible, slowly walking the two of you backwards until your body hits a wall. Your thighs open up to make more room for Wanda to position herself between them.

Wanda's lips move from your own to your neck, making you arch your back.

"Please Wanda."

"What do you want baby?"

"I want you to touch me please," you beg.

Wanda obliges and slowly moves her hand down your breasts, fondling them through your undergarments for a minute. You thrust your hips up against her, getting impatient.

"You're just so needy for me aren't you baby?"

"Mhm I just want you so bad Wanda please," you mewl.

Wanda's hand moves to cup your mound and one of her knuckles lightly grazes your clit.

"Is this what you wanted? You want me to touch you right here?"

"Yes Wanda," you breath out. Your loins were on fire and only she could extinguish it.

Wanda slowly rubs her fingers against you and it takes everything in you not to cum then and there. You never thought this would happen, and now that it is you didn't want it to end.

"Let go for me baby. I'll still be here," she says. Her fingers start to move faster against you and it breaks your resolve. You cum in your underwear, moaning like a mad woman.

As you come down, you see Wanda staring at you.

"What?" you ask.

"You just look so beautiful doing that I want to see it again."

This time Wanda gets on her knees between your thighs and slowly pulls your underwear off. She can clearly see your arousal and it turns her on, making her let out a low moan. She lifts your left leg up over her shoulder and dives in.

The wet slurping sounds are unholy but they only turns you on more. Your hands grab onto Wanda's hair and you pull her closer to your heat. Her nose bumps against your clit and your hips thrust against her.

"Right there Wands," you moan out. The brunette woman continues to lick and suck your clit until you finish all over her face.

Wanda slowly works her way up your body, leaving kisses all over your stomach and chest. She makes her way up to your mouth and leaves a soft kiss there.

You gaze into her eyes and see nothing but love and admiration. It makes your heart melt.

"Let me return the favor," you tell her. You swap places with her and gently take off her clothes. Saying she's gorgeous is an understatement. She looks like an angel.

You kiss her as you start to fondle her pussy, messing around to see what she likes. You can feel her moan against your lips and it gives you a surge of pride knowing you're the one making her moan.

You dip one finger into her entrance and you feel her buck her hips against you. Clearly you had a much stronger affect on her than you thought. Her wetness coats your hand.

You thrust your finger inside of her, watching her writhe in ecstasy. It was a sight you knew you would never get sick of. You add another finger and watch as her head rolls back in pleasure. Soon she is cumming and you continue to fuck her through it.

Once she's calmed down you take your fingers out and lick her arousal off of them. She tastes so good, and you tell her as much.

The two of you spend the rest of the night in each other's embrace, enjoying your time together.

You wake up and you think it was all a dream before you look next to you and see a brown mop of hair sleeping next to you. She looks so pretty and peaceful when she sleeps, but you have to wake her up.

"Wanda. Baby. Wake up," you say as you gently shake her.

"Good morning honey," she says.

"Good morning," you say. You lean down and place a kiss on her lips.

'We have to get up y'know," you say as her lips move against yours.

"Just give me one more minute," she says. She continues to kiss you until you can't breathe anymore and you have to pull away.

"Now we really have to get up and get ready," you say.

"Fine," Wanda grumbles.

You each help the other dress and look presentable.

Today you were supposed to hang out with Steve again. The only thing that made that even bearable was the thought of going to bed with Wanda by your side.

"I'll see you tonight," you say as you cradle her face in your hands. You place a passionate kiss against her lips before walking out.

You spend the next couple of weeks like this. You spent your days with a man you hate and your nights with the woman you love, the woman who owns your heart.

"You know we could run away together. We could live in that abandoned cottage near the woods and have a garden and never have a worry again," Wanda says one night. The two of you are cuddling in your bed.

Deep down a part of you knew it was nothing but a dream, but the thought of living with Wanda made your heart soar.

"I want nothing more," you say, never truly thinking Wanda was serious. You lean in and capture her lips with yours.

That night you fall asleep with a pit in your stomach. You still needed to tell Wanda about the now official wedding plans (well your mother was planning a wedding but Steve hadn't proposed yet. You knew it would be soon though), but you would rather live in delusion than end this. And that is what you did, at least until Wanda comes storming into your room a few days later.

"What is this I hear about a wedding between you and Steve?" Wanda questions.

You were currently brushing your hair at your vanity, but you set the brush down when she stormed in.

"There's nothing official but word is he plans on proposing soon and my mother is planning a wedding even though there isn't one yet."

"And you weren't going to tell me?" Wanda asks. You can see the pain and anger on her face and it makes your heart break.

"I was going to eventually Wands. I just couldn't. I couldn't ruin what we have just yet."

"Are you going to deny him Y/n?"

"I-I don't know. I don't know if I can."

"Of course you can Y/n. You have a choice here."

"I don't think I do Wanda."

"Please Y/n," she begs. She begs you to choose her, but you can't let your delusion cloud your judgement anymore.

"I'm sorry Wanda, but we should've known this would never work," you say. You can feel your perfectly applied makeup start to run down your face, but you don't care. You look how you feel, a mess.

"Why wouldn't this work?" You can hear the pain and desperation in her voice.

"Because..." you trail off. You don't want to give her the real reason. You're afraid. Afraid of your family, the townspeople, and a life full of unknowns. You knew that going with her to the cottage the two of you had always talked about would mean giving up everything you have ever known and loved.

"I'm sorry Wanda but I can't leave them and I can't disappoint them." She knew you were talking about your parents.

"You always complain about them controlling you, y/n and you're letting them do it now. Is your happiness really worth their happiness?"

You nod and that is all the confirmation Wanda needs to realize her life was about to fall apart. She was about to lose the love of her life and there was nothing she could do about it.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Wanda," you say. You fall to the ground in a heap of petticoats and skirts. Wanda moves to comfort you, but she knew that would only make this harder.

"I'm sorry too Y/n," Wanda says. She leaves your chamber and you sob harder. You knew you brought this upon yourself, but that didn't make you feel any better.

The next morning a new maid walks in, telling you Wanda had quit last night. From that day on all of your days blurred together. Time was pointless without her. Living was pointless without her.

Exactly two weeks after you had ended things with Wanda, Steve proposed. You don't even remember saying yes, but you must have because you now have a huge, shiny ring on your finger.

You expected Wanda to come to you after the news of your engagement made it's way through the kingdom, but she never showed.

Maybe if she had came back for you things would be different. Or maybe if you had ran away with her you wouldn't be where you are now. But you had backed yourself into this corner and there was no getting out.

Your dress is beautiful. It's big and poufy and white. But the person at the end of the aisle isn't who you want to see. Instead of emerald eyes you see cerulean. Instead of a smooth face with delicate features you see a rough face with harsh lines. He's all wrong, he's not her. But you made your choice. Your parents and their wishes come first. Maybe in another life you could chase your happiness, but in this one you were chasing theirs.

After the wedding you resided yourself to a life you hated with a man you loathed, even though you knew it wasn't his fault. If only you could feel the same way about Steve that would make life so much easier. But no matter how much you tried to love him you were still repulsed when his lips touched yours or when you laid in bed side by side.

Sometimes you couldn't stop the sobs that would fall at night, knowing you had made a mistake with marrying him. You should've ran away with Wanda, but now it was too late. You had kids to take care of and an estate to run.

Despite that you let yourself dream about the woman you left all those years ago, the woman you still loved. You hoped Wanda had lived a life far more happier life than yours. You hoped Wanda had moved on and found someone else. You hoped Wanda and new her lover lived in the cottage that was meant to be yours's and had a plentiful garden and never wanted for a thing.

However Wanda's reality was much sadder than what you had wanted for her. Wanda spent her days at the cottage by herself, over come with grief. She never moved on. She spent her days gardening, reading, and crying. Everyday she hoped her lover would come back to her. She never did.

[threepandas]

Bad End: Heroic Collection

New Haven wasn't a major metropolis. Some big city like Delhi or Tokyo, Jakarta and the like. It was big for the area. A major hub for commerce and crime on a local scale. But Nationally? INTERNATIONALLY? Not even close. No matter WHAT the great ambitions that haunted the Mayor, late at night, may tell you.

So, really, there was NO fucking reason for any A Listers to be here.

NONE.

Our biggest exports were fancy fucking jams and that one fashion line I couldn't pronounce. We had honest to God Jam festivals in the fall. It was a circuit, Mayor gave out awards. There were pies. Firestrike always ate himself sick. Agent always laughed at him. I... Fuck, my head was ringing. I'd hit that last building HARD. Was pretty sure I tasted blood. Not... not sure if that was because I busted something in my mouth or...

Over my comms, I could hear my teammates fighting. Trying to hail the Alliance. If we could... could just hold on...

Long enough for the major players to GET here?

Then what? I had to wonder. Staring at a burning bus in front of me. It was half way lodged through Mrs. Brahimi's shop. Please, God, let her and the workers have got out all right. I'd been there just this morning. She made me those stuffed flatbread things. Said I was still too skinny. Should rest more.

I use the twist remains of a book return to lever myself to my feet. Book..? Oh. I'm by the library. Which..? Fuck. Main one. That's city hall.

Smoke rises around the city I've lived in all my life. Fires everywhere. I'm supposed... supposed to be a hero. But I can barely stand. Feel sick as the world sways. My body is one big bruise. Gotta... gotta keep fighting. Helping. Save people.

In the distance, I can hear screams.

I'm coming. I promise. I'm coming!

I make my screaming body move. Stumble. Catch myself. Then keep going. The hiss and spit in my ear tells me that my communicator is probably half broken. I don't try it, in case that breaks it the rest of the way. Wrench doors from half crushed cars to free trapped civilians. Lever wreckage, hold it with trembling limbs, so people can crawl to safety. Run. Please, god, RUN!

We aren't strong enough.

He's here, The Collective.

A hivemind super threat. Alien supposedly. So far above my team's pay grade we know basically nothing. The kind of thing we were expected to never realistically see. We're nobody's. Fuck it, we're HAPPY being nobody's. It meant we got to go home each night. Didn't face The Horrors. Like him.

He CONSUMES.

Hungry. Trying to fill some void that's never going to fill. Supposedly a planet eater. Gutting worlds for resources, materials, to continue his own expansion. Now fixated on Earth for it's continued refusal to die. For its defiance. Some A+ sort of monster, to our high C rank. At best.

Fuck... we dealt with HUMANS. Fought gimmicks and tech. Little fish in our little pond. Now this tsunami was bringing the ocean to US and it was all we could do, to swim and survive.

I leaned against a half smashed car. Braced myself against it, more then anything, then started pulling pot shots. I... I was gonna black out soon. With a concussion like this? Probably wasn't gonna be waking up. Especially if those THINGS found me before a friendly did.

All across the city I called home, The Collective had Drones tearing the place apart.

They'd almost be pretty. Tall, elegant, androgynous lookin, supermodel twinks in battle armor. Drones apparently covered their lower face. I'd know the "commander" by their uncovered face and "use of adornments". Useful! Except they could fucking SWITCH on command, so you have to take out ALL of them.

Because they weren't a collection of different soldiers.

THEY weren't a THEY. That? Was a fucking HE. Singular.

You don't consider each of your individual cell as people. Each follicle of hair. Why would HE? God damn it. It was like fighting a giant. Against Gods. They just kept coming. And my ammo? Was not endless.

Worse. The drones had stopped looking. I don't know WHAT they had been searching for. But now? They started to converge on me. On city hall. Fuck. I... I couldn't even really stand anymore. My vision was blurring. I knew for a FACT my shots were shit. But dense as they were crowding? It seemed enough. Kept them back.

Three cartridges left.

Two.

Only one more...

The Alliance was coming. Half my team had gone silent. I could hear tears in the voice of Tech, back in the office. They had our life signs. Built into our armor. I could only imagine what mine looked like. Prayed, like I hadn't since I was a kid, that the others were just unconscious. Safe somewhere.

Someplace this nightmare couldn't reach them.

I doubted I was that lucky.

Tech was begging me to hold on. Giving me ETAs. And... And I was out of bullets. The block half full of Drones. I had escrima sticks. A fucking tazer. It would have to do. Sticks came out, as I swayed to my feet. No longer letting the car behind me hold my weight. What's a little... let's say, hundred or so, on one? Eh?

Bring your friends. Let's make it a fair fight.

I'll go easy on you.

Bravado until the end. Remember, never know who's watching. You are a symbol. Before you are a man, you are their HERO. Don't you DARE let them down. Even if you die. Especially when you die. B.. Bravado until the end. Plaste on a smirk and say a one-liner, we got hope to shoulder.

I took down about three Drones... I think... before the rest swarm me.

Feel hands pinning my arms. My torso. Everything. A weak point between the panels is ripped open. High grade military fabrics doing jack shit against their impossible strength. The distinct pinch tug of a needle in my skin. Cold spreading. The sudden exhaustion of a powerful sedative. I... am gone.

Time... is blurry.

Now and Then running together in my senses. My brain. The concussion doesn't help. Or... or didn't? It feels... gone? Gone-ing? Oh... look, sky. Clouds. Pretty. Wasn't I standing? I am standing. No... no being dragged. Chair? Not chair. Stairs? Carried. Pretty window..... where am I? Fuzzy. Bluzzy fuzzy purple beans~ he he he~ oh! Those are the... watch'ma call it! Gucci chairs! That rich lady had! Neat. Plurble.

Ouch! Why'd you pi...?

My mouth is dry as sand. But suddenly? I am hyper aware. The floating drift of my mind VIOLENTLY gone, replaced by alerted and focus. Drones surround me in a vaguely familiar hallway. Shit. I think it's that rich designer's place. My helmet is off, but my mask is still in place, thank god. The Drones stand far to close for my liking. Their many eyes, amused.

So glad to entertain, you Fuck.

I am frog marched down the hall. Damn near dragged. They were too smart to restrain me with my own cuffs, unfortunately. So my hands are bound behind my back with something tight I can't get a good feel off. Bastard secured it to my belt, too. Great.

The Collective's "Face" is surrounded by what must be every jewel in the city. Piled high in some vague sorting pattern I refuse to even try and comprehend. He's trying on rings. One on every finger, to see what matches his skin tone. Looks good. Already, he has a pearl stud and some earrings he's decided he likes. He looks up as I'm dragged in, and I realize immediately what one of "a few other differences" between him and the Drones are...

It's the EYES,

They GLOWED.

Metallic almost. Nearly neon. They reflected the light in a way the Drones simply did not. It made their face... horrificly predatory. Made for WATCHING, somehow. Unnerving and haughty. Beautiful still, but uncomfortable to be near.

Sitting up on a table that basicly swallows the room, dead center like a show piece on display, with one long leg tossed over the other and no fucking shirt on? The Face looks almost carefully, artfully, staged. To maximize some "haughty yet coy, alien prince who maybe wants to fuck you" shtick.

Does... Does he not realize I'm NOT one of the usual opponents? I mean. Flattered at the "join me! The Darkside has sex and cookies!" set up. Always fun. Classic, really. But, like? I would be... at BEST... a solidly MID goon.

Also "NO".

Gonna preemptively throw that out there. Maybe some expletives for flavor. Suggest someplace sunless to shove it. SOLID "No". Good try, though.

Around me, the Drones are shaking with silent laughter. Staring down at me, their pale eyes dancing with amusement. It's creepy as hell. Unnerving to be the center of attention like this. For this many eyes, utterly in synch, to surround and watch my every twitch. Act fascinated and amused, like I'm some little animal performing tricks.

The Face hasn't dropped his Seduction to the Darkside routine. If anything, he seems delighted by the defiance. Which... yeah, that tracks. It's why he's harrasing out planet to begin with. That one's definitely on me. So, better question? Not that I'm not glad and all? Why the FUCK am I not dead.

"And lose my HERO? Perish the thought~" drawles The Collective, the posture light and lazy, even as something dangerous threaded itself through their tone. It sounded... possessive. But that couldn't be right. "I would NEVER do such a thing! In fact, we are going to have to be far more careful with that little processor of yours. Far too fragile. Just the one, too. Horrifying, really."

Thanks. Just what every guy loves to really make 'im feels special. Insults.

Fucker.

More laughter from all around me. I grit my teeth. Come oooon, Alliance. Where the hell ARE you guys!? Could REALLY use a rescue! The hands holding me still are drifting. Fucking handsy. Damn near stroking even as they hold me immobile. They're looking for the clasps and buckles on my armor. Have already found the obvious ones. Fingers oh so casually drifting over, to grip, flex, and tear them apart.

I do NOT like how loose my armor is starting to feel. Barely able to hold on. Protect me. Limited as that protection may be. I think I'm developing a horrifying empathy for clams. Crustaceans in general. Anything that gets slowly pried from the safety of it's shell, too certain doom.

The Face casually tosses the rings he was playing with aside. Tens of thousands of dollars bouncing off to God only knows where. He slides from the table to stand. Shit. He's huge.

The androgynous twink supermodel thing he has going on? Fucking LIES. Twists your perception of how, EXACTLY, strong the Face body IS. He clears seven feet easily, is muscled in that distinctly "never see me coming until it's too late" sort of way all the ninja types are.

The tattoos. It's the FUCKING tattoos! They give the illusion that he's slimmer then he actually is.

It HIDES MUSCLE MASS.

I can't tell if that's vanity or strategy and I hate it. Glare as he sashays towards me. Hips rolling in that elegant catwalk strut. I'm forced to my knees. Because of course I am. How ELSE will the bastard loom and gloat? Though really, weak as I currently feel, it's more that the Drones holding me up? Stop doing that. My knees more or less just give up on their own.

"Like what you see? You're staring so intently~" He mocks. If he were being genuine, I'd call it teasing. Flirtatious. But I know better. "It IS a pretty body, isn't it? I worked hard on it, you know. All sort of fun little details~ Might honestly be one of my favorites. If you're good for me, I'll let you explore it~"

THERE it is.

Darkside. Sex and cookies. Sign up today. Fuck you and not in the fun way. Keep your hands to yourself, Collective. You're not convincing me. You could tell me the sky was blue, and I'd make three presentations with a PowerPoint, on why you were a liar. No, still No, and a hefty fuck off No for spice.

Three steps away. Two steps. One.

A man that tall and dangerous? Frankly did NOT need heels. Figures he'd wear them anyway. Sharp enough to kill a man. Right infront of my folded knees. I refuse to look up. No more fucking games. Did have to wonder, though, if those pants... if they even WERE pants? Were painted on or not. Very tight. Looked vaguely metal yet leather.

Shit.

Fingers, splayed wide as they run themselves through my sweaty and probably bloodstained hair. Couldn't have been nice to touch. Wrong angle and just a touch too big to be a Drone. Light as a lover, sweet almost, soothing. Before it inevitably tightens, gripping the strands. Honestly not as hard as I expected, didn't even hurt.

Still, my head is forced back.

Back and back and back, forced to arch my spine, hang awkwardly at some forty-five degree angle. My thighs and abs already screaming. A Drone grabs the back of my armor and, with an almost casual yank, my chest plate is violently snapped free. Both tossed to the floor away from us.

"There we are~" the Face hums down at me, eyes nearly hypnotic in how the light moved from within, grin full of sharp and deadly teeth. "No more of that ugly thing in the way. I much prefer this~"

"Tell me, Little Hero, do you remember? Becoming mine."

No, I certainly do fucking not. What the HELL is he-!? From behind the Face a Drone steps. Dressed differently to the others. Casual clothes. Like... actual street clothes. If they weren't GREEN I never would been able too-...

In horror, I watch as the pigment of the Drones skin melts away to a middling average. So utterly nondescript a blend of ethnicities that it's genuinely hard to place, but won't stand out no matter where he goes in the city.

I... I had seen that face.

SAVED that man.

Thought he was CUTE! T..Thought WE were having some sort of MEET CUTE! Oh God. That was at the festival. I was out of costume. Saved him from getting crushed. Then my teammates handled everything before I could slip away. So I just... stayed. Showed the cute tourist the festivities.

We ate FANCY JAMS, YOU FUCK!

I pined our that cute tourist for WEEKS. Was UNBEARABLE. Tech threatened to shove me off a roof! Oh my god.

Laughter.

Dozens of mouths, laughing in perfect sync. The noise layered and bouncing strangely around the room. Deeper then it should be, higher as it swings. Like a radio or voice modulator that someone is messing with. A momentary loss of control. My anger fizzles out to fear. Oh... oh yeah...

I forgot I was fucked.

At.. at least I know why?

A step forward. Past too close and now basically in my lap. A foot on either side of my knees. I try not to think exactly where my face would be pressed if I wasn't dragged back, to hang near painfully arched, so he could lean down and I could be forced to make eye contact. That way lay madness.

He moved his other hand to my face, cupping it. Dragging his thumb possessively across my mouth. He hummed, pleased.

He pressed closer, sliding down my front to his knees, straddling my lap. REALLY hoped that WAS, in fact, a weapon in your pocket there, buddy. Because I am not liking the handsy direction this is going, nor have I come to terms with my meet cute being a monstrous planet killing warlord. Not feeling sexy, my guy.

....okay, a LITTLE sexy, but that is hormones and we ignore those.

Fuuuuuck, wandering haaaaands! Now would be a GOOD TIME for door kicking rescues! I do NOT want to learn anything new about myself today! I want to go HOME. Sleep forever, maybe! Have a burrito the size of my head! Oh god. Think unsexy thoughts. Math. Sad puppies! Sad puppies doing MATH!

The Collective had dragged me upright. Pressed my face right up against their Face's bare skin. All I could smell was expensive cologne and man. Warm skin. Oh god, I am so gay. This is hell and I am very, VERY gay. If evil, why sexy hot hot hot? Hormones are making very convincing arguments. Horny brain says let's make terrible life choices.

No! Nooooo. Stop it, Me! We are fucking better then this! God damn it, you trainwreck, you are a ROLE MODEL! Act like one! (But horny...) (NO!!!)

God I was never going to mock the fuckers who hesitates at the "sex n cookies" speech again. Persuasive mother FUCKER!

"Aah~" he sighed contentedly, far too close to a moan for my sanity's liking. Hands having finally found the hidden zippers of my undersuit. Slowly dragging it open. "You are FAR too cute~♡"

"I can't wait to get you off this worthless little rock. Back to ME. I'll have so many WAYS to take care of you~ Backups and rudimentary supports we can set up, at least until I get you something proper."

Horrifying. Deeply Horrifying. REALLY never wanted to know what terrified and horny felt like, but here we are. Distantly, I hear thunder. There's no clouds. A flash of red through the skies. Green followed by metallic purple. Oh thank fuck. Keep his attention. Just... just keep his attention.

"We'll use me as a base. Keep you in stasis. Away from all these ugly, dangerous things~! Just you and me. Perfect. BETTER. Infinite and beautiful. I'll make all sort of bodies just for you to play with. Even let you keep this one! If you want. It'll be a precious memory for us, of where you began. How we met."

A mouth on mine. I can't breathe. Can't escape the arms wrapped around me. My protests do little more then waste oxygen. I feel light headed. Come one, team Alliance! He's here! HE'S HERE!!!

"You're going to be MINE, little Hero. I finally figured it out. What I was missing. It was YOU~♡! My beloved, delicate, little thing~. I'm going to take SUCH good care of you."

"Forever~"

[m-jelly]

Hi, Jelly 😘 What about Levi and reader as adoptive parents? Let's say they adopt a little girl from an orphanage. It would be interesting to see moments in their lives: they took her from the orphanage, they bring their daughter home for the first time, her first birthday in a new house, she calls them mom and dad for the first time)))

I changed this a little bit to fit with Levi a little more, hope that's okay.

Hope for Clover

Levi x fem!reader

Future AU, soldier Levi, Captain Levi, married couple, fluff, romance, adoption.

When a major battle on another planet finally comes to an end, Levi returns home to you after being away for two weeks. As the soldiers return to their homes, Levi goes back to the planet you live on together with a new addition to the family. Clover is a little girl now orphaned that Levi saved. The two of you discuss what to do with the sweet three-year-old and decide to become her parents.

@ladycheesington @levisbrat25 @nyxiieluna @li-anne @galactict3a

@youre-ackermine @thebobaprincess @2moth-anon2 @cypidity @nbinairyn

@bts-spnlvr12 @darkstarlight82 @emilyyyy-08 @levistealeaf @pelicanpizza

@hideandgopeep @notgoodforlife @demonic-bird @searriously

The vids were praising the legion galactic army for facing off against a race of beings that wanted to consume the whole of the galaxy. Multiple races banded together with the humans for freedom. The last stand against them was on a planet near the edge of the galaxy and it seemed like everyone won.

It made you happy beyond words to know that the galaxy was safe once again and your husband would be coming home. You used to be a soldier and had incredible tech skills. You met Levi by being assigned to his ship while he went on special missions. One thing led to another and you ended up becoming lovers, then married.

After you got hurt badly during the galactic war, Levi urged you to take a step back, so you did and your job was to help them from a distance. Levi and you had even moved to a planet known for its pure beauty and to help those recovering from wounds. It was full of rolling purple hills, blue flowers, two bright moons and suns, vast lakes and beaches. It was heaven for you and Levi.

As the shuttle arrived with your husband, you felt a knot in your stomach as you wondered what condition he was in. He always told you everything was fine and then would come back with scars, so you could never predict how he would be. The last two weeks were the hardest of all the battles, so something had to have happened.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you stood with only a few others waiting for the arrival of the soldiers. You watched as the other men got off first and people parted leaving you alone and no husband. You panicked a bit but another shuttle landed, this had to be your husband but you weren't sure why he had special treatment, he never liked that.

Your eyes widened when Levi stepped out with a little three-year-old girl on his hip. "Levi?"

He walked closer allowing you to see the little girl had a robotic leg, she'd clearly lost her leg in the war. "Hey." He leaned over and kissed you passionately. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." You smiled at the green-eyed little girl with thick ginger hair, she was a vision. "Who is this princess?"

The girl giggled. "I'm not a princess."

"Really? How odd because you look like one."

Levi grinned. "This is Clover. I...I saved her...she...she's alone." He looked at you with sad eyes. "I...I was hoping..."

You took Clover from Levi and hugged her. "Do you want to live with me and Levi?"

She nodded. "Please!"

You hummed a laugh. "Wonderful. Well, let's get you inside and well-fed." You placed her on her feet. "Let's go."

Levi placed his hand on your lower back. "Thank you."

You kissed Levi's cheek. "She's an orphan, we want kids and she needs us. She's ours now."

"Yes, she's ours." He smiled softly. "I still want more kids."

You giggled. "We'll make one of our own someday, but for now we have a wonderful daughter to care for!"

Clover had adored her new home and it flustered her that Levi and you bought her so much and gave her a big room. She had a lot of toys to play with and you both were gentle with her, so she knew she could do things at her own pace.

Levi would take her to the doctor once a week to make sure her robotic leg was working well and taking to her body. The two of you would teach her things and play with her often, but she was still very shy when it came to you. She was close with Levi because they'd seen war together, but you were new to her.

You worried that she wouldn't like you and didn't want you as a mother, but Levi told you how much Clover loved you. He told you Clover always asked him to tell her stories about you, to show her pictures of you and to tell her all about the things you liked. Clover wanted to get very close to you, she was just very shy.

After learning from Levi about Clover's adoration for you, you began noticing how she would peep at you, spy around corners, watch you as you moved around and look out for you when she was with Levi. It was adorable how she was with you and you would always say hello and often she'd stay with you, but sometimes she'd blush and run off to a new spot to spy on you.

One day you were sat in the garden working on a gadget to assist you with your fruit growing. You were humming a little song to yourself when your soldier training kicked in, you could sense Clover was close. So, you pretended not to notice, like she was a cute little kitty.

Clover shuffled closer to you, her cheeks pink with a blush and a rabbit plushie in her arms. She peered over your shoulder to look at what you were doing. "Mm...what you doing?"

You smiled softly. "I am making a little device to help me look after my fruit."

She walked around and stared. "Fruit?"

You nodded. "I'm growing all kinds of fruit from different planets. I also grow veg too." You looked up at her. "This device will be placed in the ground and it'll project a grid. Anything inside the grid will be monitored and I'll be updated on if they're ready to harvest or if they become sick."

She crouched and looked at the device. "Coooool." She looked up at you and gave you a toothy grin. "You're smart! I want to be smart like you."

"Well, I can teach you a few things. I used to do a lot of tech for the Legion Galactic Army."

She sat down. "Wow."

You felt your cheeks heat up. "I used to do a lot for Levi and his crew. I was the reason their suits kept them safe, their weapons protected them and the ship stayed flying."

Her eyes sparkled in delight. "Wooooow." She stared at your right hand and arm to see it was robotic like hers. "Umm..."

You wiggled your fingers at her. "Lost this in the war, but Levi saved me. He saved us both it seems." You smiled as she touched your hand. "We match."

She grinned. "We're twins!"

"That's right."

She crawled over and sat on your lap. "I like you." She hugged you tightly. "You're so pretty and cool."

You hugged her back. "Have you been trying to be with me like this since you arrived here three weeks ago?"

She nodded shyly. "Yes."

You kissed the top of her head. "You're so sweet. I'm here for you, always."

Clover had been with you and Levi for a few months now, she was very comfortable with the two of you. She would help you both out and always want to be around you. She would follow you around the most, which warmed Levi's heart that she'd taken to you so much.

Today was her birthday and you'd planned everything for her to ensure she had everything she wanted. This was probably the first one she would remember. So, you and Levi wanted to make it extra special.

You helped Clover change into a cute dress for the day before helping her comb her thick hair. "There we go."

Clover grinned. "Thank you." She reached up and held your hand. "Ready."

You walked with her into the living room to see Levi had finished the last touches. "Happy Birthday, Clover."

Clover gasped when she saw all the decorations, the balloons, banners, hologram animals and bunny-themed things everywhere. She released your hand and hurried forward to see the presents waiting for her, a big cake you had baked and Levi wearing an outfit that matched Clover and you.

Tears filled Clover's eyes. "Mm..."

Levi knelt down. "Happy Birthday, kiddo."

She ran over and jumped into his arms. "Thank you."

He hugged her tightly. "I can't believe you're five! You're growing up so fast."

She sniffed and ran over to you. "Mummy! Hug!"

You dropped to your knees as the wind was knocked out of you. You hugged her as you felt your heart race. "Wh...what...did you call me?"

She pulled back and kissed your cheek. "Thank you, Mummy. I love you."

You smiled brightly through your tears. "I love you too, sweetie."

Clover smiled at Levi. "Thank you, Daddy! I love you."

Levi shuffled over and hugged you both. "You're very welcome. We love you so much."

She released you both and smiled. "Do I get a birthday wish?"

"Of course."

You nodded. "What do you wish for?"

She giggled. "To be a big sister!"

Both you and Levi looked at each other, your cheeks heating up. As Clover ran to open her presents, you and Levi started thinking about her cute wish. As you watched her open her presents, the two of you held hands and cuddled up to each other.

Clover hurried back over to you both and lifted her bunny. "I also want to gift this to the baby." She lowered it. "Mummy, Daddy? Will you make a baby?"

Levi tugged you closer. "I think a nice big family would be good."

You giggled. "Me too."

[tociminna]

Strands

This is the first piece of fiction I ever wrote, and I posted it on AO3 exactly six months ago. When I started writing I had no real plans. I was getting an overcomplicated daydream out of my head and into a google doc.

It is now half a year and over 150k words later. Writing has been a balm and a bulwark against some pretty awful events; it has eased the dread and pain of a major new chronic illness (I already had two so it is especially unwelcome). I've also met several lovely people on AO3 and Tumblr and it's been such an uplift to have a way to share my brain rot.

Anyway, here's the story. It's a short, G-rated piece of fluff, Gale/fTav. Here's the link to AO3 if you'd prefer to read it there: Strands

He is struggling with the leather tie, cursing under his breath, when he sees a familiar pair of boots stop before the half-open tent flap. It's early - he hadn't been able to sleep much, the orb snarling hungrily every half-hour or so - so to see her awake and moving about is unexpected.

“Gale?” she calls. “Is everything all right?”

He gives up on the dratted tie and emerges from his tent, shaking his now too-long hair ruefully. He'd been ignoring it for months, despite Tara’s endless nagging. Like any cat, she had a firm belief in proper grooming. The battle royale over his beard had ended in detente, and that only because he had left her with Blackcloak.

“I'm perfectly well, only sick of this mop falling into my face at inopportune moments. It was manageable a month ago, when our… adventure began, but no longer. Perhaps it's time to do away with it entirely.”

At this, Niamh cocks a skeptical eyebrow. Her left one, it's only ever her left. He finds himself noticing these things, finds his eyes on her even when she's speaking with the others or working on her own. 

“No,” she says, humming softly - always humming - as she eyes his unruly hair thoughtfully. “Were you trying to tie it up?”

“I was. Imagine my disgust to find I couldn't manage such a simple task. Indeed after a few attempts my arms began to tire, though how I could not tell you. I don't quite understand how I can lift a heavy pack or flip an iron pan, but can't manage to hold my own arms above my head for longer than a minute or two without fatigue. Perhaps the mechanism…” he trails off as he sees her trying and failing to hide a smile.

“That's quite normal,” she assures him. “I learned how to do it so long ago I hardly remember, but it's not a natural movement. Can I show you?”

She holds out her hand for the tie and he feels a spasm of guilt. She is always doing this, always helping, always noticing when he needs help, and he never can do enough for her. She never seems to need anything, self-sufficient and closed away.

Well. Not entirely closed away. He remembers with sudden clarity the warmth and directness of her gaze at the party, the small touches and smiles and jokes in the tendays since. He remembers the sweetness of her lips in the Weave in almost unbearable detail and is horrified to find his face flushing at the memory.

She drops her hand, seeing his hesitation. “Or, we can ask Lae’zel for something sharp and cut it all off for you. What do you think?”

“No, no,” he huffs an embarrassed laugh. “I'm sorry, you're very good to offer. In fact I was trying something akin to how Lae’zel wears her hair - only the front parts pulled away from her face. How is that done?”

He hands her the tie and is surprised when she pivots to fold herself gracefully onto the rug in front of his tent. 

“Here,” she turns to pat the cushion behind her, “sit behind me and watch how I do it.”

He sits obediently and a good deal less gracefully - curse these creaky old knees, maybe he will finally take Halsin up on the offer to look at them - as she swiftly undoes her upper braid to let her hair hang free.

She has beautiful hair. It flows back from her curving, silver-grey horns to end below her shoulders in a gentle wave. It's white, cloud-white with a hint of storm grey at her temples and throughout the length, though in the flickering torchlight it shines with the colors of the fire. He has spent substantial time around tieflings, Waterdeep bustles with all kinds of people, but he has never seen one of her coloring. 

Karlach had asked her, once, about her lineage. White hair and bluefire eyes, with a warm copper skin, pointed to an unusual infernal bloodline. Niamh had said very little, as was her way when asked about herself or her history - only that she hadn't grown up with other tieflings during her childhood in Silverymoon, and didn't know anything interesting or useful about her background.

He wonders again about her life, who she was and who she is, as she shakes her hair loose and holds up the tie.

“Are you watching?” she asks.

“Always,” he replies, and once again blushes at the slip. 

He hears the smile in her voice as she instructs him to follow the motion of her hands. She deftly parts, twists, and ties the upper half of her hair into a neat bun, then undoes it and repeats the motion to make sure he has seen it.

It is far less complicated than any of the somatic gestures required for spellcasting, and he feels a surge of irritation that he found it so difficult at first. Surely a prodigy like himself ought to be able to manage something so simple without aid, he thinks, with the thread of shame and self-loathing that has woven itself into almost every waking moment.

She has turned to see if he's paying attention and he sees her face briefly contract with… not pity, but pain, as she watches him. He summons a smile of thanks and takes the tie from her. 

“I think I should be able to manage with some practice now. My undying gratitude, lady, as always.”

She looks at him silently for another moment, and then she turns away from him again but remains seated. “Yes, practice. Repetition and study. You can begin now. See if you can tie my hair up properly.”

He freezes, of course. “What? You don't need to - that is, I don't mind practicing on myself, you've already been - I don't - ”

“Gale. Hush. Just try it a few times. Don't pull too tight.”

He hushes, and slowly, carefully allows his fingers to pull back her hair. It is fine, and heavy, and silky in his hands and he suddenly can't quite remember how to breathe. He hears her humming again, sweet and soothing, and he thinks of the Weave. Of gossamer filaments and the faint scent of rosewater, of remote beauty and perfection.

He gently twists her hair, applies the tie, and realizes that it is not remoteness or perfection that he desires, not any longer. It is the softness of her hair, the weight and scent of it, like apples and salt, that he wants; it is the quiet sense of trust and peace as they sit on the ground, together, alone. He sees a nick in one of her horns near its tip, probably from catching a blow meant for him or one of the others, and feels a strange contracting sensation in his chest. The orb, however, is oddly quiet.

“Good!” she says, sensing he has finished. “Take it out and try it again.”

He does. She continues to hum in what he now understands is relaxation, and pleasure at his touch. So he can do something for her after all. He knows he can't go much farther than this, and she knows it too. She's been channeling any frustration into combat or her violin sufficiently well that he can't really tell if she's bothered by his inability to be physical. He himself has a lifetime of mental discipline to bolster him through this sort of thing, this drawn-out self-denial. Despite this, it daily becomes more difficult not to declare himself, orb be damned.

He ties and reties her hair, gently touching her in the only way he can, until it becomes apparent that the rest of the camp is waking. It's impossible to tell the time of day in the Underdark, and though there's enough strangeness here to satisfy his curiosity for a lifetime, he is glad they'll be leaving for the mountain pass and Lae'zel's creche once they finish up their business at Grymforge.

She sighs. “We'd better get armed and armored soon. Another day awaits.” She turns again to smile at him, and he knows without the aid of the tadpole that her thoughts have run similar to his. Then she scoots to the side and pats the spot where she's just been sitting.

“Your turn.”

At this point he is too relaxed to argue - an almost entirely new state of being for Gale Dekarios - and slides off his cushion onto the rug. It still holds the warmth of her body and he does his best not to focus on this too much.

She settles herself on the cushion behind him. Her touch in his hair nearly makes him gasp, despite the fact he'd been expecting it. She is running her fingers through it, stroking, gently pulling tangles loose, and he closes his eyes to lose himself in the sensation. Her hands are strong and dextrous, musician's hands, and he has not felt a touch like this in so, so long.

At this point she has gone from humming to murmuring a full-blown lullaby and he laughs. 

“This is hardly the way to prepare me for battle.”

She laughs back at him, quiet and delighted. She sounds happy, and that something in his chest squeezes again. 

“You've got lovely hair,” she remarks. “It's got so many colors in it. Brown, red, silver. It reminds me of some of the old trees around Silverymoon.”

“Silver unfortunately becoming a predominant shade,” he quips.

“Yes, but I like it.” And then, so quietly he can hardly hear it, “Stress and pain and terror will have that effect. I wish I could help.”

She finishes her twisting and tying and drops her hands into her lap. He feels their absence keenly - he suspects he probably always will, now - and impulsively turns to take one in his.

“You help so much, every day, in so many ways I'll never be able to count them or thank you for them.” He looks earnestly into her strange eyes, willing her to believe him. “But I'll do my best to be of use as long as you need me, as long as I can.”

Her mouth curves into a half-smile, strangely sad. 

“You don't have to be of use. I'm just glad and grateful you're here.” 

She pushes off the ground, still holding his hand, and pulls him up after her. 

“Though undoubtedly your aim with that firebolt will improve now that your hair isn't falling into your eyes,” she comments, examining him. “It looks good. You're not intending to change anything else, are you? The beard?”

“Oh no,” he laughs in protest, “the beard stays. I fought hard with Tara to keep it.”

She bites her lip and, to his shock, reaches up and cups his face in her hand. Her thumb brushes feather-soft under his cheekbone.

“Good.” 

They stand like that for a moment, eyes locked, his hand making its way up to her wrist and holding her there. The orb chooses this moment to flare to life, pinching and twisting horribly until he can't help but wince, and she seems to come to herself and takes her hand away.

“I'm sorry,” she says. “I know better.”

“So do I,” he replies. “But I can't bring myself to regret it.”

[cuppajj]

Hwello! Black Pearl anon back again with another inquiry about the good ol' Duskgloom Sovereign in BAAU—

So BP would understandably be enraged after Dragonberry whoops her tail, but do you think she would do anything besides sulk and await the day DB returns to get revenge? 

BP strikes me as a character who, while not in the best headspace, would dread the idea of being defeated by a land Cookie, and would want to avoid such a fate at all costs. Maybe a fight with DB is a wake up call that some major stuff is happening outside the Duskgloom Sea, stuff that could potentially one day come knocking at her door.

CRK lore is a bit iffy about whether or not BP can leave the Duskgloom Sea, but I doubt she would remain idle after seeing the threat that DB alone poses to her… 

BP begrudgingly might be willing to make a deal, perhaps to ensure the safety of her sea, perhaps to gain even more power, perhaps to simply help others work against DB (and the other [Neo]Beasts)… or work with them.

idk I might just be nerding out about BP too much. love baau regardless, you're doing a beautiful job!

Helllloooooo BP anon :)

That is a good question!! I also like the idea of her actively hunting Dragonberry down, but it just depends on if she can leave the duskgloom sea… which honestly I’m pretty sure she can (afaik the duskgloom sea is just her stomping grounds and not a place she’s tethered to), she just has no reason to.

That is unless she’s petty enough to chase after Dragonberry! It’s fun to think about a minor saga where Dragonberry’s kingdom is threatened directly by the legendary. I’m fairly certain her kingdom is coastal, so I can see a vivid image of the beast of pride stepping out on her balcony to see the mer looming over the horizon with hateful, glowing eyes. If she’s here, Dragonberry figures, then she wants something from her; and she knows what that is.

Dragonberry would be more guarded since BP showed up to her kingdom, so there are liabilities all over the place, but she’s not against sending Black Pearl into the sea again. She might even bring Pitaya out to play!

Cue part two of the epic girlboss anime battle that ends with BP getting her ass kicked again, but she did put more of a number on Dragonberry. The beast would probably respect her enough to offer to leave her sea alone (there’s nothing of interest there like she first thought) if she plays nice and does something for her; I totally see her interested in a (subservient) ally in BP, who could serve as some good intimidation for the beast—especially towards Cacao, whose licorice sea is gradually getting closer to invading her kingdom’s waters. And if BP refuses… Dragonberry won’t be mad, won’t even kill her if she can, but she’d laugh and look forward to knocking on her door a third time.

If they do become allies then Dragonberry would definitely know that Pearl still wants to destroy her; compromise or not, she’d always be eager to fight the mer again.

[zorosangell]

⛥ﾟ・。 protector: chapter twenty-two

synopsis: " you were supposed to stay a crewate, just another back to watch, " he tightened his hold, " i didn't even notice the change until i woke up one day and realized i'd take a bullet for you "

cw: violence, gore, fighting, mature themes, profanity, MAJOR/MINOR ANIME SPOILERS, follows the plot of the anime, slowww burn.

a/n: reposting from another account

After the battle was won, the crew, as usual, celebrated with a huge party in the castle, complete with a fully stocked banquet, music, and your usual Strawhat shenanigans.

But all good things must come to an end, and after taking a free bath, the crew hightailed it with all the food you could carry.

You gave Vivi the option to sail with you, but as nearly everyone guessed, she decided to stay back and help rebuild Alabasta.

Though that didn't mean you couldn't give her a proper send off.

After wishing Vivi goodbye and departing from the desert island, the crew discovered a stow-away on the ship.

Miss All-Sunday.

Or Robin, as she liked to be called.

With nowhere to go and nowhere to return to, she asked to stay with the crew, and Luffy complied.

So the crew set sail, soon realizing that the log pose was pointing towards the sky.

Nami was stumped, but after a ship nearly crushed you all to death, you discovered a map to a place called Skypiea in the wreckage.

And after enlisting the help of a couple trash collecting monkeys and the descendant of a liar, the crew traveled up the Knock Up stream and finally landed on the Sky Island.

And after a couple run ins with the locals, and a kidnapping from a runaway lobster, you, Zoro, Robin, Chopper, and Nami were now stranded on an altar in the middle of the Upper Yard.

A place sacred to the god of Skypiea.

"I can't believe that overgrown crustacean just dropped us out in the middle of nowhere," Zoro huffed, annoyed, as he watched the creature swim back to who knows where.

"Does anybody know where we are?" Chopper asked, taking a seat on the rail.

"One thing's for sure," Nami sighed, "we're definitely somewhere in the middle of the Upper Yard."

"This seems to be an altar for sacrifices," Robin stated, taking note that the Merry was now perched on top of a large, decorated stone.

"Wait, sacrifices?" you cocked a brow.

"Nami, what's a sacrifice?" Chopper asked. 

"Y'know, It's... like an offering to the gods."

"Oh, that's all? I thought it meant being boiled alive in a big stew or something."

"Actually, that pretty much it," you nodded.

"WHAT?!"

"Regardless of the method, the thing being offered is generally someone's life," Robin agreed.

"Are you tryin' to tell me we're all gonna die here—WHOA!" Suddenly, the reindeer lost his balance, falling off the rail and tumbling down the steps of the altar.

"Chopper!" Nami exclaimed.

"Dammit!" Zoro groaned, jumping off the edge to go after him.

Robin managed to sprout some arms at the bottom of the steps and catch him, but just as he took a breath of relief, a shark jumped out the clouds below, ready to attack.

Chopper screamed, but Zoro was quick to his aid, tackling it back underwater.

"Oh no! What is that?!" Nami squealed, eyes wide.

"A shark in the sky," Robin answered, quizzically, "A skyshark?"

"Zoro! Zoro!" Chopper called, running back up the steps.

"That idiot better not get himself killed under there..." you bit your cheek, the slightest hint of concern in your voice as you peered over the edge.

He needed air at some point.

"What if he's eaten?! It's all my fault!" Chopper cried, nervous.

"If he was eaten, the clouds would've been stained red," Robin assured... in her own way.

"How can you stay so calm at a time like this?!" Nami exclaimed.

Just then, Zoro and the shark burst from the clouds, the swordsman having uppercut the life out of the fish.

Literally.

'Thank God... should I still say that here?'

"I can tell you one thing," he groaned, walking back up the steps, "We are not gonna make it across by swimming."

"What kinda swordsman punches a shark 'stead of using his blade?" Nami cocked a brow, unamused.

"Fish probably didn't like him 'cause he was too dense. Dumbassery makes you chewy," you rolled your eyes.

"I can hear you two!"

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Chopper smiled, taking a deep sigh of relief.

"Whatever happened to your precious swordsman's pride, huh?" Nami teased.

"Would you give it a rest for once?!" Zoro shouted again, removing his soaking shirt.

'DAMN!'

You could feel your face heating up at the sight, the water providing a dewy glow to his incredibly toned chest.

You had seen him shirtless a couple time before, but the image always got to you.

It was honestly a little embarrassing, as if you were a young girl with a schoolyard crush.

"You might want to close your mouth before he sees," Robin smirked, snapping you out of your stupor.

You glowed with embarrassment, letting out a flustered scoff as you quickly composed yourself.

"Shut up..."

"There's a whole school of them!" Chopper screamed, taking note of all the dorsal fins popping up from the clouds, "What are we gonna do?!"

"I'm not sure," Zoro sighed, "But if that first one was any indication, we're not gonna have much luck fighting them off."

"We've got to do something. We can't stay here forever," Robin added.

Zoro shook his head, ringing out the water from his shirt, "If leaving us here was that lobster's idea of a joke, it's not very funny."

"Perhaps this is the Heaven's Judgement we've been hearing so much about..." Robin stated quizzically, peering over to examine the altar again.

"'Cept you'd think this God would try somethin' a little flashier, ya know?" Zoro shrugged.

Nami tossed the swordsman a blue tank top, muttering something about cutting off all your distractions so you could get her out of this mess.

'Jerk.'

"Eh, couldn't say. Never met the guy," the scholar turned to you, "What about you, (y/n)? You have the Angel-Angel fruit. Certainly you've seen some manner of God before..."

You paused for a moment, thinking back to see if you could remember anything about when you first got your devil fruit.

It was so long ago, and apparently traumatic, that your brain blocked out most of the event.

"If I did, I wouldn't remember. I got my powers a long time ago," you shrugged, "All I do remember is hunger, then a horrible taste, and a sudden pain in my back. No God."

"Either way, I'm not sure what the solution is. We definitely can't set sail with the hull looking like this," Zoro turned towards the ship, taking note of the damage the lobster left, "Hey, Chopper, try to figure out a way to fix the ship."

"Uh, okay!" Chopper nodded.

"Why should he fix it? Are you going somewhere?" Nami asked, raising a brow.

"I'm gonna find a way into the forest," he nodded, throwing on the shirt, "We should probably make this our base of operations. You guys can keep lookout. I'm sure Luffy and the others are headed this way." 

"Zoro, if you wanna go into the forest, well, I guess that's okay with me. But you haven't really told us what for..." Chopper asked.

"There's supposed to be some kinda God on this island—I wanna meet him."

"Wait, that's a terrible idea!" Nami exclaimed, "I mean, what are you gonna do when you actually find him?"

"I don't know. Depends on if he behaves himself," the man smirked.

Your brows flattened.

'Seriously...'

"Zoro, you're the bravest person I know," Chopper marveled.

"And the dumbest," you rolled your eyes, "Keep talking like that and you'll be smited before we even get there."

"We?" he raised a brow.

"Someone's gotta make sure you can find your way back. I let you go by yourself and we won't see you for weeks," you teased with a smirk.

"Hey!"

"What about his priests?! You guys gonna beat them up, too?" Nami scolded, placing her hands on her hips, "The last thing we need is you two pissing off a God!"

Zoro turned to the girl proudly, "By the time I'm done with him...this God is gonna bow before me."

'Dork.'

"Dork..." you rolled your eyes, outstretching your wings.

"Yay! Go, Zoro!" Chopper cheered.

"I don't believe in him, anyway. What do I care about pissing him off?"

As Nami said her prayers, you began packing your day bag, which was complete with a loaf of bread, some water, and ten bottles of sake.

'Perfect.'

"Secret Technique: God's Messenger, Six Point," you whispered, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath.

Just like that, about six of your feathers popped off, floating in the air.

"Stay with Chopper in case he needs help. Let me know if he's in trouble."

They gave a quick wiggle before zipping off to the top of the mast, perching there to surveil from all angles.

"That vine looked pretty sturdy," Zoro noted, looking up at a low-hanging branch.

"Ah, excellent idea," Robin nodded, "Mind if I tag along?"

"Sure. Long as you promise not to slow us down," he shrugged.

"Wait a minute! Where do you think you're going?!" Nami shouted

"At least a thousand years have past since this altar was built," she smiled, "The sense of history here is amazing. You feel it?"

'Not particularly, no.'

"A place like this is sure to be filled with all kinds of old relics. Imagine all the valuables we could discover. The possibilities are endless."

"I'll join!" Nami smiled, nothing but money on her mind.

Robin used her hands to bring the vine into reach, and the three of you climbed up to the crow's nest for a jumping point.

Zoro took the vine in his hand, clearing his throat for an oddly long time.

You cocked a brow, "The hell are you doing?"

He took a deep breath before swinging over, making Tarzan noises the whole way.

"It's official. He's lost his mind," Nami sighed.

A couple chuckles slipped from you, "That man is an idiot."

Robin grabbed the vine on its journey back, and swung over herself, Nami doing the same thing once Robin made it.

"Be careful! If you fall, you'll most surely die!" Robin called.

"Is that your idea of helping?!" Nami glared.

Below, the skysharks circled the dead one, each taking turns eating the creature.

"She's right... I'm dead if I fall..."

"Uh, Nami-" "Alright, I'm goin! If that's what you want!"

She jumped off, screaming the entire ride.

You couldn't help but laugh.

And it was a good thing Robin went before her because she prevented Nami from becoming a splat on a tree.

"Thanks for catching me," Nami panted, dropping to the ground.

"Anytime," Robin nodded, turning and starting off in the forest.

"You realize I could've just flown you over, right?" you smirked, landing next to her.

"You tell me that now?!"

"I was trying to tell you!"

"AHHHHOOOAAAAAHHHH... is what you should've done," Zoro shook his head.

"THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!"

"Long-sword..." you stated, mapping out the image of it in your head, before making appear out of light in your hands.

"Kunai knife."

"What're you doing?" Zoro asked, brow raised as he watched you.

You had been at this since the group left the ship, and he didn't remember you having this ability a couple days ago.

"Back in Alabasta, I discovered I could make weapons out of light," you started, forming the kunai in your hand, "I made a bow and arrow and defeated the blue haired woman. So now I'm training myself to be able to come up with whatever I want instantly. That way, I can be battle ready in a second."

Zoro nodded, taking a quick moment to process the information.

"Need help?"

You cocked  brow, a little confused, "You wanna help?"

"It's always good to level up your skills," he shrugged, "And the stronger you are, the easier my load'll be."

You turned to him, a sly smile on growing your face at the teasing opportunity.

"If you wanted help just 'cause it was me, you coulda said it."

His breath hitched, and his cheeks lit up in crimson.

He didn't expect you to pick up on that.

He didn't even realize that's what he was doing until you said it.

It was almost as if his body went on auto-pilot when he asked, like it knew that's what he wanted to do before he did.

"Shut up!" he loudly scoffed, "You want my help or not?"

"Okay, okay!" you laughed, holding out your open hands, "Don't give me any warning. Just say any kind of weapon and I'll make it appear as soon as possible."

He nodded, taking a moment to get a list going in his head.

"Ready?"

"Yup."

"Katana."

It took you a moment, but you made it perfectly, using Zoro's as a reference.

"Faster. Flail."

That one took you a little longer.

"C'mon, faster. Axe."

You got it instantly.

"Good. Arrow."

You also got it instantly.

"Keep it up. Whip."

That one took you way longer than it should've, the image taking time to come up in your head.

"C'mon, don't slow down now. Bow."

You got that sooner.

"Good. Mace."

You got that one instantly.

"I think I have a suggestion," he chimed, hand on his chin.

"Lay it on me," you panted, catching your breath.

You were now discovering just how much energy it took to make the objects, especially one after the other.

You would definitely need more training.

"It looks to me like the quickness of the object's appearance depends on how familiar you are with how it looks. It's why the mace was conjured faster than the flail," he started, "So to train that, you should probably try to memorize the images of weapons you'll frequently use while doing one of our training workouts."

He turned to you, handing over his water thermos.

"Training like that should help you up your strength and speed at the same time."

"Thanks," you smiled, accepting it gratefully and taking a couple good swigs.

"We should probably stop for now. Can't have you too tired if we're gonna keep exploring this jungle."

You nodded in agreement, handing him back his thermos, when he suddenly got an idea.

"But one thing..." his smile grew, making you raise a brow, "Do ya think you could conjure up some sake?"

You snickered, "It's light, Zo. I doubt you'd be able to drink it."

He blushed at the nickname, but quickly played it off.

"Damn..."

"You can take a couple bottles out my bag if you want 'em," you offered, turning to show your backpack.

"A couple? You mean you have—CHRIST, WOMAN! Did you pack anything else?!" he exclaimed as he opened the flap, your supplies ninety-five percent alcohol.

"I brought bread! ... And a thermos of water..."

"Dehydration's gonna kill you before any skyshark will..."

"Hey! I—" you stopped your sentence at the sound of a faint whistle, along with a feeling of dread rolling down your spine.

'Huh...'

"What's wrong?" Zoro firmly asked, resting his hand on the handles of his swords at your sudden stop.

The dread was from one of your feathers.

'CRAP! ALREADY?!'

There was a look of fear and worry in your eyes, as if you were seeing something he couldn't, and it was beginning to frighten him.

"Is she alright?" Robin asked, she and Nami stopping to turn around and check the commotion.

"(y/n)!" Zoro exclaimed as you suddenly went limp, catching you by your shoulders and holding you up.

One by one, your feathers were disappearing, sending a burning sensation echoing through your back.

"Fire... Priest... Merry," you muttered staring up into the sky as the images came rolling through your head, eyes flicking through each new one.

Your feathers had never done this before, and it was honestly quite frightening.

For both you and Zoro.

The swordsman overheard you leave some feathers on the Merry just to be safe, but he had never seen them give you such a physical reaction before.

Was it because of your increased strength?

Suddenly, the image of Chopper being burned flashed in your head, before quickly disappearing, your last feather gone.

"Chopper!" you gasped, breaking free of Zoro's grasp and jetting off at top speed in the direction of the Merry.

"(y/n)!" Zoro called after you, a nervous pit sinking in his stomach.

'Dammit, take me with you!'

Judging by the few words you muttered, what you were running into sounded like it was serious.

And he wanted to be there to back you up.

"Robin, can you sprout one of your eyes on the Merry to see what (y/n)'s seeing?" Zoro sharply asked, turning to the dark-haired woman, "I wanna know what she's up against."

"I'm afraid the ship's too far out of my range," Robin tried, but failed, "Her reconnaissance is one of the many things she has me beat at."

The scholar did her best to fight back her smile, knowing that this was not the time nor place.

But you and Zoro's adorably romantic interactions had amused her since she first joined the crew, and she made getting you two together a little passion project of hers.

So if she had a chance to talk you up, she would.

"Damn it," he grunted, turning back to the direction you disappeared in, "We gotta go after her."

"Now, hold on a minute," Nami stopped him, grabbing his arm, "If getting this far took us this long, then imagine how long it's gonna take us to get back to the Merry, even if we run the whole way."

Robin sighed, slightly saddened that she wouldn't get to see Zoro's grand gesture, but accepting that what Nami had to say was logical.

"(y/n)'s the fastest out of all of us, and incredibly strong. She'll get there and defeat whatever's attacking the Merry, then use her feathers to be back in no time flat. But for us, we'd only slow her down. We should keep moving forward, instead. We're sitting ducks just standing here."

Despite the objections of his heart, his head knew that Nami was right.

"Fine," he grumbled, starting back on the trail, now eager to get the trip over with so he could get back to the ship.

He knew you could handle yourself.

He was confident you could handle anything thrown at you.

You were a strong and independent woman.

'Dammit...'

So why was his first instinct to be your protector?

[spiegelgestalt]

Some stray observations and speculations before the new episodes come out

Vi has yet to win a major victory in the undercity. Also since the time skip someone contemplated/tried to kill her in every battle. She truly doesnt fit into Zaun anymore

Sevika on the other has gotten two victories in the last three episodes. Working together with jinx truly benefits her (and in retrospect: vi lost the bar battle even though she beat sevika because jinx intervened)

Caitlyn has currently a really important story arc and I hope they stick the ending. Caitlyn runs into another savior dilemma: you go into a situation full of good intentions and well meant plans and the fuckers screw you over, hurt you and hurt the people around you. This is an experience a lot of well meaning helpers have. And I still think that while her reaction is understandable it's not correct. I come back to Cassandra's sentence: the people in the undercity deserve to breathe. Because it's such bullshit. It's your industries that caused that, you produced that smog - you should clean it up - it's common sense - but Cassandra frames it as a favor and now that the people on the undercity aren't sufficiently grateful that favor is revoked

Ambessa strokes the cheek of a child who got hurt by the smog. That child looks like a young Viktor. And once again I'm struck by the fact that it piltover expected Zaun to just accept this and how much piltover freaks out over attacks that did just a fraction of the damage piltover did to zaun

Caitlyn got a letter from Ambessa during a grieving process. I really hope that they don't just blame the whole thing on Ambessa/foreign influence and call it a day (currently they are doing pretty well)

If you take the songs into consideration and interpret them as expressions of the two cities you notice that piltover is still not understanding. They think they can get this problem back under control with violence while Zaun is saying: yeah come and kill me I don't even care anymore. But I will hurt you as much as I can in the process

Arcane is in part about generational violence and it's very telling that it's especially the young characters who are all for the violence happening (cute enforcer girl and cute street urchin)

I have to say it somewhere: Caitlyn isn't ready for jinx, piltover isn't ready for jinx I'm not even sure if Ambessa is ready for jinx.

I kinda want to write a meta about Ekko/Viktor as the two people who try to help the undercity within the system and how they are both screwed over. Viktors findings are taken for piltover and used against Zaun and ekko is a) in danger to suffer the same fate (I have thoughts about heimerdinger you all) b) in danger to lose all he has built because of something piltover did

I think I'm one of the few people who didn't think that indepence for Zaun was the solution to everything. I think it was to little to late. also jinx is all about making piltover eat the consequences of their actions. Shes quite literally zauns curse. But I also think that ist sevika who truly wants war. (note the raining metaphor some people noticed. Everytime a person from piltover got rained on it was because of something jinx/powder did)

Heimerdinger is gearing up to repeat his own cycle by plucking another street urchin from the undercity. After Viktor he got Jayce and now he wants Ekko. I can't help but notice that neither Jayce nor Victor benefited from his teachings

One day I will write about arcane relationship to Disney and the little mermaid and the og little mermaid but in short: Viktor is the little mermaid who loses his voice, doesn't get the prince and dies in the end, silco is very heavily Ursula coded (just look at his introduction!! )

If anyone wants me to go deeper into any of this observations feel free to ask me. I'd be happy to.

[bonefall]

My birthday was a couple days ago, and I got to see my bio dad for the first time in a while. He surprised me with the fact that I have a little half-sister, whom I've never met and who was adopted about two years back. So, I wondered if any situations in BB mimic this or have a theme of "secret siblings" or "secret family"? Sorry if this is a weird ask; this blog is honestly just such a cool little place and I love the way you approach the subject matter and take the flawed misogynistic foundation of the WC books and make them so much better (JUSTICE FOR BUMBLE!!!). I've also learned a lot about healthy and unhealthy relationships here and am really glad for your deep dives on Squilf and Bramble. Thanks, Bones!

Not weird at all! I really like exploring all the little nooks and crannies of complicated familial dynamics. I think one of the untapped strengths of WC (that the writers seem to be unaware of) is how their MASSIVE cast allows them to present all sorts of unique dynamics. So I like to pick up on it, since they don't.

For secret siblings...

I'm pretty heavily leaning towards Ambermoon being adopted by Wildfur, as a surrogacy. Something feels correct about it. Especially since Icecloud is getting retooled into a post-Battle of the True Eclipse birth, and a major supporting character in AVoS-era stories as a friend of Alderheart.

Thinking about it, I should zoom in and expand this. Maybe have Icecloud, somehow, acquire forbidden knowledge that would invalidate the Queen’s Rights and he (transman) struggles with if he's going to use it to expose his parents as an excuse to help Ambermoon.

(Especially since Ambermoon and Icecloud are basically nothing alike. Amber is independent, bold, and vain. Ice is jessie pinkman big-hearted, disorganized, and deceptively meek if you look past his "chill" demeanor)

But that's wip-- there's also Breezepelt and the Three, who are going to have an actual friendship. In particular I can't unsee Breeze and Lion having a deep one. I know I commit the Cardinal Sin of borderline himbo-ifying Lionblaze in BB, but I can't help it.

Hollyleaf ended up nabbing a bunch of his most violent roles to make her villainous descent smoother narratively, so BB!Lionblaze's story ends up being more focused on Ashfur's abuse, comic relief with cats in other Clans (something that the very serious Jay and Holly have a hard time providing), and the emotional fallout of the big reveal and Bramblestar's turn on them. Breezepelt slots neatly into that.

They were friends. Lionblaze's whole life came down around the reveal, everyone looking at him and his siblings differently, like they're suddenly something terrible. Why can't we find a silver lining, Breezepelt? Why can't we call ourselves brothers if the whole world is going to do it anyway? So much is changing, but THIS doesn't have to, we will take their weapon and turn it to armor, my ally, my friend, my brother.

(and when Breezepelt is lashing out at the three because of the Dark Forest's influence, Lionblaze is there, taking the blows and trying not to give in to the impulse to send him flying with a single paw)

There's also Harespring and Kestrelflight of WindClan and Owlclaw of ShadowClan. All of them are from a single litter between Whitewater and Mudclaw. She was going to raise the three of them alone as ShadowClan cats, but when the sire was smote, Whitewater felt they were cursed.

She was able to give the oldest two to their bio-uncle, Torear, but the weather was so bad that day and the runt was so sickly and small that it surely would have killed him. I don't think Owlclaw ever finds out why his mother always treated him with suspicion, but it did mess him up horribly.

Over in BB!DOTC, Thunder Storm is getting more half-siblings earlier. Clear Sky and Falling Feather had two daughters-- Pale Sky and Tiger Sky.

I want to explore the way that the various stages of Clear Sky's life acted on his kids. How any little curiosity Thunder Storm had about the life he might have had if he wasn't abandoned is crushed by seeing kittens who weren't. How Clear's favoritism of his oldest child set the trio against each other from the start. How this idea of "love" is toxic yet intoxicating.

It feels good to be the golden child. The power it gives you over his sycophants is satisfying. To know you, and you alone, have what someone else craves. Problem is, that's conditional, and it's cruel.

What Thunder Storm learns from his time with his biodad is that Clear Sky is not his father at all. He's taught him exactly what he DOESN'T want to be. There may be similarities-- in temperament, in physical prowess (though BB!Thunder is three-legged, he's still ripped), in taste and senses. But Thunder Storm's father is Shaded Flower.

(BB!Gray Wing died in the first book, rescuing Shaded Flower from being trampled by a horse. Xey're a patron of wisdom, Shaded Moss is taking the role of fatherhood to Thunder)

His sister is Rainswept Flower. His mom is Bright Storm. If there was a bond he could have had with Tiger Sky and Pale Sky, it dies simply and cruelly on the knife they used to cut each other out.

Pale might have wanted to mend it, she was the gentler one. But she dies in the First Battle along with her mother. Tiger Sky is too stubborn to accept any help, should Thunderstar offer it, and Thunderstar isn't in the business of begging for others to like him.

Naturally I'm lowkey obsessed with them lmao. I need to make a BB!DOTC overviewww