#slip into my timestream

[whiskeyandtheraven]

“The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. Maybe they always have been and will be. Maybe we've lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them we've found each other. And maybe each time, we've been forced apart for the same reasons. That means that this goodbye is both a goodbye for the past ten thousand years and a prelude to what will come.”

~ Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

[the-coffeeaddict-tim-drake]

Tim Drake Fics Part 2

Pretty Boys and Identity Problems by DarnGoshit

In an effort to get over his crush on Robin, Kon pursues a relationship with a civilian Gothamite, Tim Drake.

Or, Tim accidentally Hannah Montana’s his crush... and it works?

Leap, Fall, Fly by malcyon

He tries to use his voice, “You have one of my shirts?” Tim looks at him, amused.

“Dude, I have, like, four.”

*****

Kon figures some stuff out. Tim helps.

A Minor Inconvenience by Sishal

Tim knows he shouldn't make potentially dangerous decisions on next to no sleep. Ah well, it will be fine, right?

Only A03 users can read this fic.

Another Mistake - or is it? by Sishal 

Tim makes another stupid mistake. Jason is there to pick up the pieces.

Only A03 users can read this fic

Awesome Big Brother by Sishal 

Tim is maybe infiltrating the wrong club. To be honest, he's not really sure. But he will at least try. Or, well, he would if Jason would let him.

Only A03 users can read this fic.

Tired Brothers by Sishal 

Tim is tired. Really tired. So how bad must it be that he’s the epitome of rested when compared to his brothers.

Only A03 users can read this fic.

Every Letter Counts by timbitsandpieces

Tim would much rather be taking pictures of Batman and Robin than literally anything school-related, up to and including this stupid English essay he had to do by tomorrow. He’d been putting it off, and was actually putting it off even further, when he remembered one thing. Jason Todd, aka Robin, was an English nerd. Maybe Tim could do both.

Robin landed right next to Tim, immediately scanning the surrounding area for danger. “What’s wrong, kid? Are you okay? What -”

“I’m failing English. Or, I will if you don’t help me with my homework. Please.”

“I - what?”

“My English homework. My essay’s due tomorrow. On The Outsiders. And the role of physical violence in it. You need to help me.”

All He Could Bear by Kgraces

Tim has been avoiding the Bats since he managed to save Bruce from the timestream. He needs to use the Batcomputer for a case, and he plans on leaving before Dick and Damian return from patrol. His carefully timed exit goes awry when Bruce makes an unexpected visit to the Cave.

For the first time since Bruce's return, they talk.

Bruce realizes just how much his third son is hurting and is determined to fix things.

No More Dead Robins by Kgraces for alwaysbeenhim

Tim's heart stops for fifteen minutes after flying solo gets him into trouble he can't outrun.

Jason is determined to fix things between the kid and the rest of the Bats. He won't let Tim be on his own again.

It's Called: Freefall by Kgraces

In the wake of the Widower's attack, Tim Drake has been left for dead. Badly injured and clinging to consciousness, Tim thinks he's hallucinating when he suddenly finds himself back in Gotham. He soon realizes he's not in his Gotham, but he's somehow slipped into another universe, one in which Jason Todd never died. He's expecting to be cast aside, just as he was in his own universe, but that doesn't happen.

Bruce finds a broken bird and takes him under his wing. Tim somehow finds a family, despite his worst fears.

He Knows by Ortholeine

Timothy Drake is a civilian, a normal boy. Kind of. He's normal in that he keeps secrets and has some hobbies. Those secrets and hobbies, though, are a little unique...and completely, 100% revolve around the crime-fighting family of Gotham. A good friend of the Waynes, Tim finds himself dodging his heroes' attempts to reveal their identities to him in a misguided attempt to keep the status quo. No one seems to want to let it rest, unfortunately for Timothy Drake.

We're Not Driving (How did we get here?) by TimTheToaster (tabletoptime) for ReplacementRobin

Tim stared at his phone, as if that would change what was on the screen.

Dick Grayson @FlyingDGrayson

It took some doing, and in some cases a little blackmail, but we've finally got the whole family together for a movie night! #WayneManor #movienight #familytime #schedulingisanightmare

15 minutes ago

Everybody's Heard (Bird is the Word) by TimTheToaster (tabletoptime)

5 times Batman heard other heroes talking about his wayward brother,

And 1 time they were talking about his son.

Takes a Little Time, Takes a Lotta Twine (To Get Us Back Together) by TimTheToaster (tabletoptime)

Tim was in Gotham.

Tim had pretty specifically been avoiding thinking about Dick as much as possible for the last few weeks. For the last year, really. No need to open that can of carnivorous worms.

Dick had other plans.

RedBird of Friendliness (In the Outlet by the Lightswitch) by TimTheToaster (tabletoptime)

5 times villains had something to say about Tim Drake.

And 1 time he was there to talk back.

buy the ticket, take the ride by Anonymous

Tim had always figured that if he ever woke up in Vegas sans-memory, it would be when he was older than fourteen. But there were some things he couldn’t control, and apparently whatever had happened last night that he didn’t remember was one of them.

Don't Feed the Birds (or they'll keep coming back Writer_loves_tropes

Red Hood is crossing the street one night and he's hit by a car. Tim Drake scrambles out of the passenger seat, but his Uber driver doesn't stick around to face Red Hood's wrath. Tim is 13 years old, so Hood knows he wasn't the driver, but Tim still wants to make up for what happened, so he says he owes Hood a favor. That is the beginning of an unlikely truce that turns into friendship that turns into little brother acquisition.

aka: Tim owes Red Hood a favor and through a series of back and forth favors, he gets adopted by the Red Hood and the Outlaws.

Enjoy!!

[loki-wants-an-army]

Brief summary of part of my Loki theory before I forget to write it down: maybe Loki's time slipping is actually because in a non-linear multi-branch timestream (imho its natural state) he became a sort of nexus point around which everything else shifts, or in other words he's not slipping, everything else around him is shifting cyclically while he remains fixed, which could be why he ends up in the same place but at different points in time

[thetorchwoodarchive]

Hello!! I was wondering if you guys have any recs for fics where Ianto meets a past version of Jack 💕

Sing Me Like a Choir by princessoftheworlds (JackIanto | complete | 62462 | E)

Javic Thane and Ianto Jones were never meant to meet, but that won't stop them from falling for each other. A love story where even time and space couldn't keep two men apart.

synchronicity by princessoftheworlds (JackIanto | complete | 1805 | T)

Sighing, Ianto continues further up the Plass, the soles of his boots striking against the cobblestone as he rounds around the water tower. Then he glances up, and his mouth drops open in shock.

Right there, standing smackdab in the center of the Plass, as striking and obvious as it could possibly be, is a bright blue wooden box with glowing windows.

Jack and Ianto have a chance meeting in Cardiff, two years and several tragedies too early.

minor details by fitzroysquare (JackIanto, Gwen&Ianto | complete | 12246 | T)

Jack Harkness is a liar. Jack Harkness is also a lie. Surprisingly, no one has seemed to have caught onto those two things yet.

[Or: Jack loses his memory and thinks he’s Javic Piotr Thane, conman. He acts like it, too.]

Of Motion In Perpetuity by Beleriandings (JackIanto, GwenRhys | complete | 106706 | M)

When Gwen, Jack and Ianto investigate a cold case from end of the nineteenth century, they find themselves pulled back in time against their will, fighting to protect each other and to get home.

Time Tracks by (Cyborgtamaki, thirteeninafez | complete | 174005 | T)

It took him a second to realise what had happened; what had felt like hours while travelling through the rift shrunk itself in his head to a mere instant of searing gold. That’s when the flicker of the fire in front of him finally registered through his confused daze. In his haste to get away from the flames around him, he slipped and fell, scrambling back until he was a safe distance away from the smoke and the heat. It was only then that he took notice of the voices behind him. He turned towards the noise of a deep, northern voice spluttering and saying, confused and almost angry.

“Who the hell are you?”

The man rolled over onto his knees and stood up, looking around like he’d never seen a street before. “Jones.” He sounded uncertain but then spoke again with more confidence. “Ianto Jones.”

Ghost Story by Mad_Maudlin (Jack/Ianto | complete | 70423 | T)

I called out. "Would you like to hear a ghost story?"

For a moment Jack didn't move, and I knew he'd recognized my voice. After a moment he said, flatly, "I don't believe in ghosts."

"It's a complicated story," I admitted, and pulled the watch from my pocket by the chain. "And it starts with 'Long ago and far away.'"

Requiem by engagemythrusters (JackIanto | complete | 2462 | T)

Captain Jack Harkness died on Satellite Five and woke to find someone he had never seen before in his life.

The Star of the Universe by celedan (JackIanto | complete | 23729 | E)

By chance, young Torchwood One employee Ianto Jones saves popstar Serenity Carter from aliens, and has to flee with her from their assailants. At the same time, the Doctor drags Jack Harkness back to Earth for an impromptu adventure. Running into each other, the two parties have to flee together and solve their problem while Jack's heart aches to see Ianto again after all this time.

Your Face Is Turned by copperbadge (JackIanto, JackOther(s), IantoOther(s), JackIantoOC | complete | 75390 | E)

Lo Boeshane has a promising career ahead of him as he enters his first year of Fleet Officer Training, but the war is still with him and life at Quantico Station can be difficult. Meanwhile, Ianto Jones is just trying to figure out why the Doctor kidnapped him to the fifty-first century and why Jack abandoned him at a school for the Fleet's military elite. He suspects it may have something to do with Lo, but his attempts to help the troubled young veteran may damage his own timestream beyond repair.

Another Chance by gmariam (JackIanto | complete | 3108 | T)

Jack Harkness meets Ianto Jones in a London pub, celebrating his birthday with friends from Torchwood One.

Resurrection of the lost by FredAndGeorgeForever (Jack&Ianto, Jack&Team, JackIanto | complete | 2794 | T)

It was a perfectly normal day at Torchwood when a demand came to help bring Torchwood four back. Nothing weird about that at all.

[samgirl98]

Forgotten Demon Twin

Next

Do I have three other WIPs? Yes. Am I starting a fourth one? Also yes.

Takes place after Batman vs. Robin and the whole thing on Lazarus Island and Alpha wars

Enjoy

Tim Drake, aka Red Robin, re-read the letter Prue had intercepted years ago.

No major discoveries aside from public record patents (attached). No assistance is required. –Spare

The patents that had been attached were the work of the doctors Fentons. From what little he could find on them, they were ‘ectobiologists’ who made inventions to capture and eliminate ghosts. He couldn’t get past the firewalls around their small city of Amity Park to find out more, though.

Neither he nor Prue had ever figured out who this ‘Spare’ was while they were in the League. It wasn’t something he had given much thought to after he saved Bruce from the timestream. However, after Ra’s Al Ghul’s death and the whole mess with Deathstroke… After Talia’s disappearance with her zealots, well…It may be time for Tim to ask the demon brat. He would bring it up during dinner.

____

The family was up in arms.

Damian would like to point out it was Drake’s fault. (And maybe his, but he would never admit it out loud.)

It started at the monthly family dinner. Father had suggested that the family get together at least once a month. Even Todd had shown up.

After dessert, Drake had brought up that he couldn’t figure out who had written two letters he had intercepted years ago and asked for Damian’s help.

Damian smirked at his brother Drake’s need for his help. He took the letters and frowned as soon as he figured out who had written them.

“Aw,” Damian said calmly as he reread the letter, “I suppose I should be the one to bereave my twin of his assignment. His reports will certainly go unread.”

He had forgotten he had a twin; he supposed it was time to tell him about the League’s fall and his, their, grandfather’s death. He obviously didn’t know about grandfather’s untimely demise if he was still sending reports.

Damian knew he was fucked when the table went silent for a moment. Then all hell broke loose.

“Damian, what do you mean ‘twin brother,’” his father barked asked.

Damian sighed; like he said, it was all Drake’s fault.

Thousands of miles away, Daniel Jack Fenton, nee Danyal Al Ghul, sneezed. Huh, that was weird.

Danny wrote his yearly report to the League. (It was always the same two sentences.) He hadn’t heard from them in years, but on the off chance they were still reading the reports from the Al Ghul’s failure, well, he wanted to keep them out of Amity Park.

It wasn’t a long report; some of his parent’s tamer invention blueprints were attached. He still hadn’t told them about his parents’ invention of the portal to the afterlife. He shuddered to think what his grandfather would do with that knowledge.

Now, all he had to do was send them out and hope he could keep the League of Assassins and Ra’s Al Ghul away from Amity Park for another year.

____

Bruce wished he knew where Talia was hiding so he could wring her neck.

She hadn’t hidden one son from him, but two.

“Damian, why didn’t you tell me about your brother,” Bruce demanded angrily. If Talia hadn’t told him about his second son, he would’ve thought Damian would’ve had the decency to do so.

Damian crossed his arms, “I forgot.”

“You forgot you had a twin brother,” Jason asked incredulously.

“Danyal was exiled when we were seven. He was ‘given’ the assignment of finding out how scientists outside the League interacted with Lazarus' water. Last I heard, he was placed in a small city with two scientists named Madeline and Jack Fenton.”

“He wasn’t mentioned often except to remind me not to be a failure like he was. I didn’t want to be exiled or worse. Neither grandfather nor mother mentioned him after I turned nine. Then I came to live with you, and he slipped my mind.”

“What the fuck, Damian? So, if I had never brought up these letters, we wouldn’t even know we have another brother?”

Damian threw his hands up, agitated, “I’m sure I would’ve remembered him eventually. Besides, we weren’t close. We weren’t raised that way.”

“It doesn’t sound like Danyal was raised at all,” Tim murmured.

“That is so fucked up,” Jason said.

The rest of his children and Barbara had stayed silent.

Dick was staring at Bruce, analyzing his expressions.

Bruce wished Alfred was still with them. He would’ve known how to handle this situation, and if not, he could’ve at least helped Bruce figure out his emotions.

“Tim, what can you tell on what you’ve found?”

Tim frowned, “Not much. I know Dr. Madeline and Jack Fenton live in Amity Park, but I can’t find much about the small city. The whole city is behind a thick firewall I can’t get past. I can’t find any news or social media from the residents beyond two years ago. The town’s website hasn’t been updated in three years and claims to be the most haunted city in America.”

“I didn’t even know the Fentons had a kid, let alone the brat’s twin. I was hoping Barbara could help me get past the firewalls to find out what’s happening in the city. My guts tell me there’s something more going on in Amity Park.”

“Of course I’ll help, Tim, that’s why I’m here,” Barbara immediately offered.

“Damian, what else can you tell me about your brother’s…assignment?”

Damian shook his head, “I told you everything I know.”

“Stephanie, Barbara, you can choose whether you want to come or stay. The rest of you pack your bags. I’ll ask the remaining Birds of Prey to care for Gotham while we’re gone. We are going to Amity Park to collect my son.”

“I think I’ll stay,” Stephanie answered, “I don’t want to get in the middle of whatever this is.”

Bruce nodded and left to pack. He had a son to pick up.

____

Father had decided that the private jet would be faster than booking flights. He had asked Damian more questions, but they had yet to be answered.

With a twinge of guilt, Damian realized he knew so little about his younger brother and what had happened to him. Like he told his family, he had forgotten about Danyal. The younger twin hadn’t been important to him.

He wondered how Danyal was doing. He doubted he had forgotten about Damian. How could he? He had been exiled from Nanda Parbat. He probably thought of nothing but his family while the rest of the Al Ghuls had erased Danyal from their minds.

Not even mother mentioned him.

Damian felt his guilt deepen when he thought of Respawn. He had been so excited to find out he had a brother, not remembering he had a twin brother. How could he have forgotten Danyal?

Father’s phone rang.

“It’s Barbara,” he said and put it on speaker. The rest of his siblings crowded around father while Damian stayed where he was.

“Talk,” father said.

“Geez, hi to you, too, Bruce.”

“What have you found?”

“Not much, but what I have is interesting. I found out more about Danyal, also known as Daniel Jack Fenton. He’s the Fenton’s adopted son. They fostered him when he was eight and officially adopted him two years later. They have a bio-daughter named Jasmine Fenton. She’s older than Daniel. He’s a junior in high school. I’ll send you his picture.”

There was a ding. This time, Damian got up to see his brother for the first time in eight years. Everyone always mentioned how much Damian resembled his father. Danial was the spitting image of Bruce Wayne. While one could tell that he and Damian were related, Daniel was lighter-skinned than Damian. His eyes father’s eyes stared back at him on Daniel’s face. His blue-black hair was longer and shaggier than Damian’s. His smile was mischievous, almost as if he was keeping a secret, and was amused by said secret.

“He doesn’t have much of a social media footprint. He has an old Twitter account with pictures of stars, galaxies, and other space-related things. Danny also has a Doom account—an online video game. There’s an article from two years ago when he found that one of the last two purple-back gorillas was a female, effectively helping save the species.”

Damian continued studying his twin’s photo.

“Either than that, I can’t find anything else on him.”

“How about Amity Park,” Tim asked.

“There’s not much I can find. It’s frustrating. I’m running a program to hack the firewalls around the city. They’re under a media blackout, from what I can gather. I’ll let you know when I find out more.”

“Thank you, Barbara,” father said, “keep me updated on anything you can find.”

“Will do,” and then she hung up.

Damian sat back down. This time, Richard followed him.

“How are you feeling, Damian?”

Damian gritted his teeth, not wanting to talk. But this was Richard, Damian’s Batman.

“I can’t believe I forgot about him. I haven’t even had an errant thought about Danyal. Neither mother nor grandfather mentioned him in years.”

Damian was also a little fearful of how this would affect his and his father’s relationship. After everything in Lazarus Island with Nezha, Damian thought he and his father had a fresh start. This secret had the potential to destroy the relationship they had started rebuilding.

“I’m sorry, father; I truly forgot about him.”

His father grunted, staring at the picture of Danyal. It was times like these that Damian wished Pennyworth was still alive. His grandfather would know how to deal with this.

The plane was silent after that. Soon, they would land in Amity Park. For the first time in eight years, Damian would see his twin.

I don't know when my next update will be. Please be patient with me. Thank you for reading!

Dpxdc AU: Damian decides that it’s time to go collect his brother from his assignment. Danny is starting to sniff out some non-ghostly bullshit for once.

Damian knew his twin had been exiled from the age of seven, banished to travel and observe how scientists around the world engaged with Lazarus water. The only word that Damian received that his spare was still alive were the letters of lab reports and findings that were sent back to base. As the Heir, he’s pushed to be better lest he himself be exiled or simply executed. Danny becomes a fleeting thought and then once Damian arrived in Gotham, a none existent thought.

They weren’t raised to be friends or even friendly. The were not taught codependency or allotted time to bond. The could have been perfect strangers if not for their appearance and the stories of Danny’s shortcomings becoming Damian’s praise.

It’s only once Tim informs him of an intercepted letter, one sent and saved from years prior, that Damian recalls Danny enough to care. Tim prompts him to share more, especially given the coup recently committed by Deathstroke (Slade) and Talia gone into hiding with her zealots.

At family dinner that night Damian supplies: “I suppose I should be the one to bereave my twin of his assignment. His reports will certainly go unread.”

Chaos in the Batfam ensues- meanwhile across the country- Danny sneezes and finishes writing his yearly report: “No major discoveries aside from public record patents (attached), No assistance required. -Spare”. He doesn’t know why he bothers, he hasn’t received any contact from his mother or grandfather since he was 10ish and certainly hasnt thought about his twin. But, if there’s a chance (even an itty bitty one) that his reports are being read and are holding off his reassignment, he’d rather keep assassins out of Amity Park.

Little does he know that this letter is about to be intercepted by Pru, former assassin and friend of Tim Drake. He hadn’t expected his twin to suddenly arrive and tell him that his job was done. And certainly, seeing a plane filled with an uncomfortable looking ‘family’ that requested he join them and get to know Gotham and his birth father, was not on his bingo list.

Danny does his best to let them down gently- and they seem to be accepting that he’s acclimated to this weird little town and will leave him be- when Danny suddenly has to transform into Phantom in front of them to handle a rocket sent by Skulker.

They are less willing to accept his appeal to be left alone after that… Damian is trying to “bond” with him and all the others are trying to “help” in their own way.

Sam and Tucker howl with laughter at Danny’s suddenly very large family- all while secretly working with the Wayne’s to get Danny the fuck away from the Fentons before the scientists do something they can’t undo.

[wellnoe]

What do you think Rachel and Madelyne's relationship would be like if they met? (Have they met?)

they have met! they met while maddy was married to scott and scott did not know rachel was his kid. i would say that they don't really have a relationship?

rachel is extremely upset when she finds out maddy and scott are going to have a boy, but none of those emotions really revolve around maddy? she's not angry at maddy, just upset that she won’t exist. she does say that one of the reasons she doesn't want to tell scott she's his daughter is because it could open up old wounds for maddy:

[id: a panel from x-men/alpha flight #2. rachel sits next to cyclops, thinking: "If I tell him, I'll reopen wounds that have barely healed. I'll always remind him--and Madelyne too--of what he had, and what might have been. He's made peace with his ghosts; maybe it's time I did the same with mine"./end id]

(i want to note that i think this is pretty much exactly what happens when rachel later shows up in a phoenix costume:

[id: rachel, off panel, responds to cyclops telling her he'd appreciate her not using a phoenix costume: "The outfit and the name, Cyclops, I mean to keep them both, I'm sorry it upsets you--but it's also none of your concern. You're married, remember? You may be leading this mission, but you're retired from the X-men." Maddy touches scott's shoulder, saying, "She's right Scott...isn't she?" Scott pulls his mask over his face, frowning, and says: "Sure."/end id]

like i think this is both about her saying he's retired from the x-men and her connecting that to him being married.)

anyway i think maddy and rachel don't really have a relationship. they get along fine and rachel gets really attached to her baby brother once he is born, but that's about it afaik until maddy gets all demonic and rachel gets a telepathic cry for help from nathan. she tries to see what's up, and mistakes maddy for jean.

[id: 2 panels from excalibur #6: rachel flies up to maddy, who is currently the goblin queen. rachel says: "Mom?!? It's me, Rachel!" Maddy responds, while blasting rachel out of the air, "Foolish girl, the Goblin Queen claimes but one child as her own--and he isn't you!"/end id]

rachel spends the rest of the event as a manikin, so they kind of end on a bad note i guess. i am unaware of any other time they met, but i have not read a ton of recent comics. my impression is that they don't really have a ton going on in their dynamic.

in terms of what their relationship COULD be like, i think it would be interesting to see their dynamic kind of focus around phoenix, and phoenix's relationship to jean, and what that means to both of them.

rachel and maddy are brought into being in 616 from encounters with phoenix that stem from the same event. phoenix has killed herself on the moon, and is attempting to return to give her memories to jean grey, currently cocooned in jamaica bay. as she does so, she encounters rachel:

[id: 3 panels from excalibur #52: Phoenix comes upon rachel's consciousness, floating in the air above new york. phoenix narrates: "I could conceive of no way to undo the evil I had done...save to return to Jean Grey the life force I had stolen. As I descended toward the Earth I sensed Jean, not in her cocoon, but floating high over New York." In the third panel, Phoenix narrates: "As I felt her psyche begin to slip into the timestream, I sent a portion of my essence to restore the stolen life force to Jean Grey...and followed Rachel into the future."/end id]

Phoenix then, at the behest of kate pryde, throws rachel into 616, with rachel unaware of any of this. And the essence that phoenix sent to jean does not actually go to jean!! when confronted with phoenix's memories of the destruction it has caused, jean, in her cocoon, rejects it. phoenix, still looking for something like jean, finds maddy, unaware, and unconscious.

[id: a panel from x-factor #38: jean and maddy stand face to face, eyes closed, telepathically observing maddy's memory of phoenix making contact with her. Maddy says: "You see what you rejected? Power! You sent the Phoenix away...sent it circling the globe. And it found me. I was whole...but not yet conscious. That bit of Phoenix, with its impressions and stolen memories awakened me...and gave me consciousness. I awoke...with Phoenix's dying thought. I stepped from the test-tube where I was grown...and called out our lover's name. Scott! I am what I am because you refused to take back what was rightfully yours."/end id]

i LOVE THIS. SO MUCH. They first touch phoenix on the same day, and they have completely different reactions and relationships to it. Phoenix is a nurturing presence for rachel, she saves her, cares for her, gives her power and a name that rachel wants, that rachel uses to honor her mother, who she and phoenix both miss.

and with maddy, phoenix is one more thing meant for jean and forced on her, one more thing that pushes her toward scott. it is really interesting to me that maddy says she is what she is because of jean's refusal to take what was hers. this is certainly true where phoenix is concerned: maddy gets brought to life, and she also gets jean's memories (even memories that predate phoenix, like annie's death. jean gives those memories to phoenix, phoenix gives them to maddy). but also, i think there's something there with maddy's role and what sinister planned for her. maddy has to have a child because jean died, and thus can't. if jean doesn't die, if phoenix doesn't kill herself on the moon, i think maddy thinks that she would never have been compelled into this role by sinister. she wouldn’t be forced into this role and this marriage and this motherhood.

it is so wild to me that they make contact w phoenix on the same day, and if they ever interact again, i would love to see phoenix brought up. i think there's room for a lot of sympathy between them! they both know what it means to be used as a tool by others. but also, rachel has a very weird and complicated relationship with her mom, where she loves her and wants to honor her memory and idolizes her and constantly feels rejected by her. i could see maddy's anger at and rejection of jean being really hard for rachel to get past.

thank you for asking this question i had a lot of fun thinking about it!!

[destinysbounty]

🔪

[Send me an emoji and I'll give you a headcanon related to it!]

Here's a thought: what if, while they were Krux's captives, Ray and Maya had also created the Staff of Elements as well?

In order to explain my reasoning on this one, let's first list off everything we know to be veritable, canonical fact:

Ray and Maya were members of the original Elemental Alliance, and were key players in both the Serpentine War and the Battle for All of Time

When Nya was roughly three years old, Krux kidnapped Ray and Maya, and forced them to build weapons/armor for his Vermillion Army

(This next point here is a bit iffy since it's technically in the realm of 'could be canon', but for now we're gonna assume it's just standard canon) Chen and Clouse played a significant role in the downfall of the Time Twins. This excerpt from a letter written by Wu in "Way of the Departed" explains it best:

"It is now, aging in bed, that I have put the full puzzle together. Master Chen, when he realized his defeat was imminent, had Clouse use dark magic to motivate an idea in Krux and Acronix: that their elemental powers were superior, and that they could win the fight Chen had just lost. He let them know of a secret nest of eggs from the Great Devourer. After 40 years of preparation they put the eggs to evil use: The Vermillion. You know the rest."

Ray and Maya are responsible for forging the Time Blades, which were used to seal away Krux and Acronix's elemental powers

The Time Blades are made of Chronosteel. The Staff of Elements is also made of Chronosteel

Okay, here's where things get a bit circumstantial, so bear with me for a sec.

Chen apparently knew, or at least hinted that he knew, about Ray and Maya's fate. Of course, it's entirely likely that he might have been bluffing as a way to manipulate Kai. But I'd like to entertain the idea that he was somehow telling the truth, and knew exactly what had happened to Kai's parents

Keep in mind that thing about Chen and Clouse using dark magic to twist the Time Twins into villainy. Also keep in mind that Chen and Krux both at some point try to manipulate/mess with Kai by similarly hinting that they knew 'dark secrets' about his parents, and that their war hero legacy wasn't as noble as it's been cracked up to be.

Also also keep in mind that Chen was somehow able to keep track of all the elemental masters - he kept track of them so well, in fact, that he knew Zane was alive and hired Ronin to kidnap him before Zane even had the chance to tell his friends - hell, I'd argue that Chen knew before even Pixal did. And given how collecting the elements was a crucial part of his plan, it makes sense that he'd go to extreme lengths to keep close tabs on everyone. I'm also like 200% sure that Chen used Clouse's magic in order to pull this off.

So with all that setup out of the way, here's how I think it went down:

Chen had been keeping an eye on Krux and Acronix for a while, probably ever since he ordered Clouse to magically corrupt them. So he knew that they'd been cast into a timestream, and he also knew that Krux had slipped out of that timestream 40 years early. Needless to say, he also knew that Krux had taken Ray and Maya prisoner. Gotta keep all those elemental ducks in a row, after all.

Maybe he'd already been planning on using Ray and Maya to further his goals, maybe he'd magically inspired Krux to kidnap them, or maybe he'd seen what Krux was up to and merely jumped on the opportunity as it arose. But either way, I'd like to posit the idea that at some point Chen reached out to Krux with a request. A commission of sorts. He wanted Krux to have his captives create a weapon that could harvest multiple elemental powers.

And by consequence, Ray and Maya were forced to make Chen's Staff of Elements.

I have no canon evidence to back this up, and this argument is entirely circumstantial, but can you imagine if it were true though? At the very least it'd make that scene where Kai gets corrupted by the staff just the tiniest bit angstier.

Think about it. Kai has spent his whole life mourning and missing his parents, wondering what happened to them and struggling to fill in the hole their absence left behind - and unbeknownst to him, the very weapon in his hands, the staff corrupting him, the thing that's been hurting him and his friends, was made by those same parents. At long last he has something of his parents in his hands, and he doesn't even know it. And it's being used against him. And it's coercing him into hurting his loved ones.

On the flipside, Ray and Maya accepted captivity in order to protect their children. Yet it was due to their captivity that their own creation caused their son to suffer.

Idk. It's just something to think about I guess.

[yescausewhynot]

FAREWELL

On my first day here, I think I heard someone say "oh, poor thing",

Feels like all I did was blink,

And here we are, ready to do something that... means something.

Intentional or not, you were all a part of this milestone I've crossed,

Softly turning the pages of a book, half of which is already lost.

Written are some to give you a hearty laugh,

And some that'll make you wanna rip the pages right off

Right now, we understand that goodbyes are often bittersweet,

And that if online classes had a "last bench", it wouldn't have been so obsolete.

Some people enter our lives, mess it up, and then leave untold,

But be bold, cause few are as permanent as love is old,

And memories of them stay forever as if they don't already weigh a ton!

Well, after all what can wash away, this very crimson, setting sun?

As time takes everything no matter how hard we scream,

Just the way snow slips away for spring to gleam,

Times when we cling to these memories like it's a hazy, fading dream,

I hope we filled our lives with more virtues than sins to redeem,

Only so we'd be proud to smile back at our sweetly long timestream.

I thank my teachers who taught us more than just our lessons,

My parents who I strongly believe, are sent straight from heaven,

And well ofc my friends, who made me cherish every minute and second.

...But so many past tenses here is not sounding very pleasant...

...because saying "when I was in school" makes me feel oh so ancient.

And right now is the last time I can dream of this moment.

Thanks to everyone who made school a place I loved going to,

And people who gave me few experiences saying it was cool

But had a fair chance of having me kicked out of school!

With every turn of a page,

We've seen each other change.

We might be shining on tallest mountains and thru deepest seas;

But take a moment to untangle from the wild, these pure memories,

For, you'll realize there are better things to do as you rest,

Than to curse the trees for hiding the forest.

[that1badassbitch]

He sounded hoarse, was the first thing Tim noticed. Not like a smoker, or like the Bat Growl, more like he was thirsty or had a sore throat. More importantly, he didn't look upset or hostile at Tim's presence, just a bit surprised.

He'd blame the delay in response on his exhaustion. "Where is 'here'?"

The boy shrugged under his blanket. "It's kind of Nowhere. An in-between."

"And, who are you?"

"I'm..." He paused, looking unfocused for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "I'm Danny."

That... felt strange. A somewhat ethereal being, humanoid but also obviously Other, going by a common American name. Though it might have been picked to make him more comfortable, like the humanoid form might be an illusion or a disguise.

Anyway. The briefings that Justice League Dark provided- well, the ones that didn't say "don't interact at all, run and wait for a magic user" that is- warned firmly against lying to the sort of beings that would be strong enough to help him.

"I'm looking for someone. I just- need to see the timestream. He must have made ripples or something to show where he went."

The boy nodded slowly, frowning a bit. "I guess that explains half of it. Um. Who are you?"

Ah, right. He had skipped over that. Giving his civilian name was risky, he was fairly sure, but if he was offended by being given a vigilante name he might be even more at risk-

"Red Robin," spoke someone else, and he turned around- he couldn't think too hard about how that worked, when he wasn't really standing- to see an old man. Blue skin, red eyes, one with a jagged scar, a full white beard that reached his belt, purple robes, and instead of legs he had a whispy, billowy tail. "Vigilante of Gotham. Also Timothy Drake-Wayne, and the Third Robin. Most importantly, you are a good man, and one who needs something."

Oh, he hated that he knew who he was. Before he could say anything, though, Danny behind him grumbled, "I hate that you make all these plans and never tell me anything about them."

"Calm yourself, highness." The blue man shifted suddenly, in an instant becoming toddler sized. "You know it would put you at risk if I visited too often, and I know exactly how to prune universes for the best outcomes." He turned his gaze to Tim, who felt uncomfortably seen. "You can call me Clockwork, Red Robin. Overseer of the Timestream."

Which was too convenient to be a coincidence. "I assume you know what I want, then. What do you want for helping me?"

He chuckled, nodding. "I do appreciate the timelines where you are so straightforward. You, of course, want the Batman returned. That is within my power. What I want, in return, is for my King to recover. And for that, you are perfectly suited."

Well. That sounded. Bad. His first thought was that he was being asked to give up his body, or maybe his soul. How else would he be able to heal an extraplanar being? And king? That had some mildly terrifying implications. But he'd already committed himself this far. And Gotham needed Batman. More than it needed him. More than the rest of the Bats needed him. If his death was what it took to get him back, then...

"No." Tim turned back to Danny, a bit startled by the vehemence of that refusal. His voice seemed to echo slightly, even as it rasped, "Don't you dare. If you can't get an honest agreement then I'm not doing it. I'm- I won't force this on anyone."

Clockwork looked at Danny with a sort of pitying sadness. "It's fine," Tim blurted, in case he was actually going to retract his offer. "I'll do it, whatever it is-"

"No!" Danny lurched towards them, his blanket slipping even as he stalled out after just a few feet. "You can't- please, don't- you're exhausted. You look more work out than I am. At- at least sleep first, and hear the whole thing. Don't blindly agree to this. You should know what you're signing up for."

He looked to Clockwork with wild eyes, and the blue being shifted again, this time into a young adult shape. "Of course, highness. Rest would be good for both of you. I will return later to discuss properly."

In a brief flash, he vanished, leaving Tim and Danny in the vague nothing of Nowhere.

Danny didn't look thrilled, but he shuffled his blanket back up to cover his shoulders. "You can take the bed. I don't really need it right now." He nodded to the side, where surely enough, there was a bed.

And Tim... was tired. He was close to a crash, anyway. And he couldn't risk leaving without finding B.

It took a few seconds to figure out how to really move- mostly he had to not think about it- and he settled himself in the bed. He only had a moment to look at Danny's back, and a sort of black-blue white-speckled swirl that appeared in front of the boy, before his brain fully checked out.

Just a little idea

What if when Tim went off to look for Batman when he was lost in time he bumped into Phantom.

They made a Deal

Phantom knowing CW helped him find Bruce and how to get him back safely, Phantom in return for reasons (hurt badly & recovering, or evolving in power) needed someone very ecto-contaminated (Ra's fault) like Tim, to be contained in.

From a magic user point of view, knowing very little of the GZ and how they work, Tim made a very powerful Deal with a powerful death being (High Ghost King Phantom: Hello!) and is now somehow pregnant (not really but they don't know that)

Danny while inside Tim inside his core can still hear the world outside normally and can share his emotions with Tim to communicate. Which looks a lot like Tim is speaking to his belly just like expecting parents do.

This could be angst or crack

or

my personal favourite, different genres for different pov's

Tim's would be happy, just regular getting his life back together being a total BAMF, coming of age type of vibe

The rest of the Batfam and other heroes pov would be angst, paranormal, psychological horror.

Misunderstandings galore

Dick regretting heavily his decisions which caused Tim to run away because he did not believe him and he has many Regrets.

Bruce feeling guilty that Tim felt the need to make such a decision as to make a Deal and end up pregnant just to bring him back.

Meanwhile the magic users have told the other heroes about Tim's situation and now think that he's going to give birth to the child of a very powerful death being and if something happens to Tim to risk the baby it would cause all of their worlds destruction.

so pretty much-

Tim-Girl Boss, Gatekeep, Gaslight

Batfam- Much Angst

Others- *panicked chicken noises*

~

Just an Idea

[whiskeyandtheraven]

“A broken heart bleeds tears.”

~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

[hdawg1995]

i'm not gonna wait till it happens to Ajax, i'm writing this painful fanfic NOW

When the warrior entered Sunbreeze Grove though the portal, there were a few things he didn't expect. He didn't expect to hear Dove arguing with someone... And he didn't expect to hear Scalla raise her voice.

He really didn't need this right now...

It had been... he wasn't sure. But it was the anniversary of His death. His sacrifice. Ajax could feel the ghost of a hand in his, slipping though his fingers like air. He could hear his own voice crying out to Him- he needed to ground himself and Sunbreeze Grove was perfect for that. Hector was helping too, but there was so much the dragon could do for his adopted brother. He couldn't wrap is young and destructive mind around the concept of heart break; loss and grief Hector seemed to have a concerningly tight grasp of, but things that were a bit more abstract we're still new.

Ajax could handle the fact that Tomix wasn't into him. That was fine, he cherished their friendship and wouldn't change it... but it seemed Tomix also cherished it.

"You didn't keep your promise." Tomix's brother had said at the funeral.

the memory stung and Ajax stopped in his steps to take a deep breath. He didn't want that man's words affecting him, he seemed to like saying cruel things and live as if he was superior to everyone his words hurt. The man's voice only upset the warrior so he took a few more deep breaths.

"Five things you can see." Hector's voice entered Ajax's mind. He was glad the little guy was using words now. Just sad its because of how much he missed Ajax.

"Okay." he said, turning his head and looking around the space just before the portal. "I see the bay... grass... The Guardian tower... dirt...you."

"four things you can feel." Hector nudged him though the portal. seemed he also wanted to get to sunbreeze grove.

"Uhhh-" he stepped though the portal. "-the portal... my gloves... hood...armor padding."

There was a calmness about the grove that washed over Ajax, his eyes closing and thoughts wandering to more peaceful things.

"three things you can hear." Hector wandered over to the lake and started taking a sip.

"You sipping the water...the wind...S-" Ajax's eyes snapped open. "Scalla?"

Hector whipped his head around, water dripping from his mouth and tilted his head. He gulped the water and stared at Ajax. "I hear Dove."

There was a shout and the two stared at each other. They defiantly just both heard Scalla.

This isn't the first time they've crossed paths or timestreams with The Other Hero- he regularly goes to her inn at the edge of time to catch up and she visits his, but this would be the first time outside of a space that seemed to bend reality. As he got closer to what was becoming a shouting match Ajax realized he... wasn't sure how ready he was to hear what the argument was about.

"The Void is NOTHINGNESS!" Dove almost growled. "If he fell into it, he is gone!"

"He Can't Be GONE!" Scalla surely growls. "When a soulweaver dies they go to the elemental plane spirits- and he WASN'T THER!"

Ajax had stopped at the edge of the fountain area. The void dragons and Elysia all glanced at him before turning their attention back to the two dangerous people getting dangerously heated. Dove had an air of power around him, his expression a mixture of tired and angry while the dragonlord was standing on trembling legs and her visor was up.

Ajax had never seen the visor up before- and he isn't sure how to process the fact that the first time he is seeing her actual eyes they are full of tears. Draco was in a similar state- only, his tears seemed to be held back better than Scalla's.

"Whats going on?" he asks, because he wants to be sure. He wants to KNOW that they are talking about what he thinks they are talking about.

Dove huffs and looks at Ajax. "Scalla here can't let go of a dead man."

"And Dove thinks I should give up on any and every ounce of hope I HAVE!"

Ajax... has never heard Scalla so load before.

"All because he doesn't understand what a soulweaver is." Draco adds with a bit of sass.

Ajax sits in the grass and takes a deep breath. "So you are talking about Tomix."

He REALLY didn't need this today. He wanted to calm down, relax, mourn in peace- not be audience to a shouting match about-

wait.

"Wait." He looked up at Scalla. "You're right, he wasn't in the-"

"Stop." Dove shot a glare at the human.

Ajax stood up. "But Dove, I- WE! oh we BOTH did it, didn't we?" He looks at Scalla for confirmation. "When we did Zeuster's stupid tasks!"

"That is the last time anyone mentions him." Dove demanded, but he was ultimately ignored.

"We've been to death's domain twice. If Tomix isn't in the soulweaver after life-"

"He fell into the VOID!" Dove points out but neither hero is looking at him. He is being out numbered.

"-Then he might be in the normal afterlife." Ajax finishes with a spark of hope in his eyes. "We-"

"OH SURE!" Dove roars. Birds flee the grove and several of the dragons join them. "Go into the afterlife and bring back this angsty man. I don't see you this upset about that serenity person!"

The grove is silent except for the quick gasp Ajax made. Scalla slumps, arms going slack and jaw falling open as if she was just struck. Its at this point Elysia steps between the three. She turns to Dove.

"Thats enough." Her tone is quiet but sad.

"Actually..." Scalla straightens up. "Serenity asked not to bring her back. Tomix never said any of the sort."

Dove glares at her over Elysia's head.

"What harm is there in looking?" Ajax pipes up.

He doesn't feel... hopeful. He feels like there is a weight in his chest, like if they check... there might actually be harm. What if he isn't there? What if he is? What is he going to do if Tomix's soul is there? would... that be closure? a comfort?

What if it isn't there at all? and Tomix-

Theres a hand on his shoulder. Looking over, its Scalla with Elysia at her side. they both look worried... Dove seems to be watching him.

"We'll look another time..." Scalla turns from him and looks to Dove. "I'm sorry for riling you up."

"I- you-..." Dove blinks a few times and sighs out "And i'm sorry too." He notably didn't say what he was sorry for but the Heroes figured that was the most they were going to get out of him. Ajax thinks hes sorry for what ever antics will happen next.

Scalla motions for Ajax to follow and he does, Hector at his heels. They sit on the fountain and the silence of the grove begins to grow less tense and more calm, peaceful, relaxing. With the calm washing over him he remembers why he came to the grove- and his hands feel the ghost sensations again.

"Me too." Scalla says, reaching out and holding Ajax's trembling fingers. Sure enough, he grasps hers back and he can feel them shaking.

"We failed so many times." he says.

"And we just can't seem to keep the people we care about around." Her voice is watery and Ajax swallows the lump in his throat.

"I don't know what i would do if he was down there, with death." he says.

"I think i would hug him." Scalla says. "Tell him hes an idiot. Tell him about Belle."

"I don't think i know Belle yet." He uses his free hand to wipe a tear away. "She cool?"

"I wish we knew her when he knew Tomix." Scalla's hand squeeze his and he can feel the grief.

He squeezes back and it turns into a kind of arm wrestling match. Its awkward since he is holding her right and and she is holding his left, and instead of leveraging the other into a downed position, they're just trying to get the other to yield. It works as a distraction until the sound of the dragons returning snaps the two back to reality.

Reality being Tomix is dead and it's the anniversary of his death.

the pair sit quietly as the birds chirp, the wind blows, and the baby dragons play fight. Its around sunset when Scalla stands and lowers her visor.

"I'm going to blow off some steam." she says with a wabbly voice. "I... need to do something."

Do something... yeah, Ajax should do something too. He stands and bids farewell to the grove.

when he enters falconreach its night. when its night, the portal near the stream is open. So he goes there. Goes to Ravenloss once again. He doesn't know what he'll do once he is there, but wandering the streets he finds Aegis' house. When he enters the elemental spirit of valor seems started and quickly hides something behind his back.

"Ajax!" he cries. "What- uhh w-what are you doing here?"

Ajax shrugs. "I needed to do something..."

"well, lets do something." Aegis sits what ever he was holding off to the side. "Come on, i heard there are some folks around town who need some help."

Ajax spends the night helping the residents of ravenloss and it feels almost good. He feels better, but the grief is still there. When he goes to sleep, Hector curled up into him as they stay at Aegis' for the night, The Hero doesn't notice when the icy spirit places the handmade plush doll between the two.

"happy death day, Tomix." he whispers. "I'm sure you wouldn't have minded if you got to spend the last moments of it with them."

Its probably a trick of the light, but the doll seems to be a little happier as Aegis leaves the human and dragon to sleep.

[justawfulxmenart]

OC October Week Two Prompt: Parallel Universe

A slip in the timestream causes two adolescent wolves from Renaissance Europe - Denza and Lorza - to meet two adolescent wolves from 1990's British Columbia - Seth and Hawthorne. Denza and Lorza belong to the great @koeyohte

Seth and Hawthorne are my babies.

[ablinkntime]

Honestly, Clarice would have been more concerned if his reaction hadn't been one of amusement. They'd all been just a mite horrified when they'd dropped in on Wolvie's reality, seeing tiny versions of X-Men they knew, but he'd grown on them as their pint-sized moral compass. "Honestly, he sorta bounced like a squeaky toy too," she answered with a giggle. "Absolutely unkillable, because he didn't know what the word meant."

Her hands drooped then, a soft sigh slipping from her lips. Eventually she slipped the phone back in her pocket. "Sometimes it's as simple as finishing your role. Heather was with us for so long she thought she might never get home, but then she got her chance and took it. Went back, got married… had a baby. But when we needed her, she came back. Another teammate, one I started off with, TJ -- she got out here for a spell because her home reality had gotten too unstable to send her back. Apocalypse takin' over or something. But she got the chance to come back with us and took it, because somebody she loved was still with us."

And then TJ got dragged back into the life yet again… It never failed. The endless cycle.

"And…" Clarice went on, folding her arms around her middle and leaning against the deck railing. "Some die, before they get the chance. We lost a member on our very first mission. Lost a few more along the way… lost the last one six months ago. Nate… got lost in the timestream, to save time itself. We do this so everybody else doesn't have to know that the multiverse is held together by duct tape and fairy wishes. Some of us earn our way out. Others stay because we have nowhere else to go." She looked up at him, her smile faint.

"Even if I could go back to my timeline, I never would. That place was hell. This place is paradise."

Jimmy had his moments when it came to socializing. Even before the claws came out, he's always been SENSITIVE towards scents, bright lights, loud sounds.

Because of this, he tends to stick close to what's familiar, and a bit away from strangers until they become familiar. But curiosity got the best of him as she talks about Wolverine but eternally five years old and without all the trauma. He has no idea what trauma she is talking about, as the only time he saw the man was through a holographic projection some time before his death, and only 'talked' to him through a letter. But he can imagine being a mutant wasn't any easier for his father than it's been for him so far.

He didn't know what he expected when he peeked at her phone, but the picture of a creature he can only describe as Wolverine but SQUISHY was definitely not it.

It actually gets a snort out of him.

"I'm sorry," Jimmy was quick to apologize, wanting to avoid offending anyone. "He looks like a squeaky toy."

But what she said last got him curious once more. He's back home with his little friends. Back home. Jimmy assumed that meant this Wolvie did get to return to his own universe in the end.

"How does that work?" Jimmy asked. "Some people get to go back home and others don't?"

[magicalgirlagency]

Also, if I may add something in defense of MagiReco, it's not like the original ending has been dumped completely, as there are explanations in-game on why certain narrative rules have been changed.

Exactly! I've noticed that people have skipped some first season episodes and went in to the second season, because the first season felt uninteresting and slow.

But here's the thing, the first season acts as an introduction to the series, the characters and their motives, and what makes it so different from its original source (after all, you can't replicate what MadoMagi has done).

It's supposed to build emotional investment, and to briefly explore the world around them. THEN, with all things done, the plot can progress and things can get interesting in the second season.

It's important to understand the context of things.

Also...

[Potential spoilers for those who haven't played the game app can be found below]:

Have you ever wondered why Madoka is still alive and existing in MagiReco? Why Witches are still around? And why MadoKami can't interfere directly?

Well, that happens because of certain anomalies in the timestream. This has called MadoKami's attention, and she starts investigating these aformentioned anomalies, as seen in her Side Story.

As the goddess investigates, she discovers that these time slip-ups and cosmic blockage are caused due to the fact that Iroha, Ui, Touka and Nemu have become Puella Magis. In reality, they shouldn't have signed a deal with Kyuubey.

In the original timeline, Ui, Touka and Nemu have died in the hospital due to their illnesses; and Iroha dies on a car accident shortly after her sister's death (this additional piece of information can be found in the Side Story from the 4th Anniversary card).

With all four girls alive, this sets up a domino effect with things escalating, as each piece falls, resulting into possible huge and drastic changes in the PM system.

And you know how I know all of this? Because I at least bothered to do my research before jumping to conclusions.

The anime shortens some things up, though; the game is more fleshed out, if you’re looking for something with more sustenance.

Long Story Short: Magia Record, in its entirety, is an AU. A looooong AU.

Like, we're still in the surface with the anime, and there's still the second arc with the aftermath of Walpurgis' defeat, the disbanding of the WoM and other Puella Magi factions appearing (if you're playing on the JP server).

Sure, there are bound to be certain differences and artistic liberties (game app and anime), much like MadoMagi has (anime, movies and manga); but the narrative and context pretty much remain the same.

It has become rather difficult to gather more information, as the NA server has been abruptly closed after the first arc has been finished (and the anime credits the third season as its FINAL season); but the wiki page's still there. You can check it all out at any time you like.

Nothing that MagiReco is doing is out of the blue, and it's a satsifactory combo of serious high-stakes with perseverance that gives you hope, that can satisfy both traditional MG fans and Puella Magi fans, if they're willing to give it a chance.

I'm not forcing you to like it; but it wouldn't hurt to step out of your comfort zone sometimes... then maybe, JUST maybe, you can give your veredict and form a concrete opinion instead of just bashing it all together.

You people have been complaining about me criticizing the OG series all the time in the past; but now, when I'm being open-minded about things, youre complaining even more?! This doesn't add up!

Even if MagiReco doesn't turn out your favourite, there are several other spin-offs you can try. Different strokes for different folks.

Magia Record IS different, yes. It may have flaws at times, but it's not the worst thing in the world. Just give it a chance; you might like it, who knows...?

[manesalex]

give me the world by @lire-casander

Alex Manes has been watching the love of his life from afar, until fate gives him the perfect excuse to act on his crush. But fate has something else in store for him.

OR

The While You Were Sleeping AU nobody asked for.

I don’t know about this being the AU nobody asked for! While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorite romcoms and Lire works her usual magic here, starting with Alex having a crush on Max to falling for Michael and all the complications and confusion that happens on the way there.

Parallel Line by @salmonthestoryteller

Maria laughed, turning to look at her again.  “Then I found out Liz was spending the night with Rosa, and I felt bad for Arturo so I sent him to get some rest.  So here I am, wearing antenna, to the horror of seventeen year old me, and sharing a shake with my high school frenemy.”

“Oh, are we sharing?”  Isobel took a sip of the shake.

“We are definitely sharing.”  Maria stepped close, pulling the straw to steal a sip of her own.  Their eyes met over the cup, and for a moment time felt like it stopped.

Isobel opened her mouth to speak, when the sound of gunshots and shattered glass broke the moment.  “Get down!”  She tackled Maria to the ground, but when the gunshots stopped and she pulled back she spotted the blood.  She felt like her own heart stopped at the sight.  “No… no, no, please. Maria?”

This AU starts with putting the aliens in different roles from the Pilot, Isobel takes Max’s place, Max takes Michael’s place, and Michael takes Isobel’s. It has some great shipping dynamics and a really cool idea.I’d love to see more of. Also, Maribel! *sobbing forever about my ship*

The Flowers of Frost by @pastelwitchling

As a Viking, Michael has a code he lives by. He has hopes of winning wars, marrying one day, and raising children to do the same. Then he meets a prince who never seems to feel the cold, a man no different, and no less wonderful, than a flower that grows in the snow, and everything changes.

He shouldn't fall for this stranger, he knows he shouldn't, but something, call it the stars' alignment or a sign of the Norse gods, always seems to bring them back together. And really, when had Michael ever disobeyed the rules of the skies?

This is a really interesting, unexpected Malex AU with wonderful Kylex brotp and Maribel (*continues to sob*) content. I really enjoy how Michael is just drawn to Alex and all the angst surrounding Alex’s immortality.

My Love is a Life Taker by @jocarthage

By the time he turned 15, Captain Alex Manes had been to every war zone and unofficial conflict the United States of America was involved in. It wasn't regular practice, or even heard of, for a Colonel to bring his son along on combat missions; the exception was if the child had been identified as Time Aware, able to travel in time along their own timeline using stolen alien technology.

So here Alex Manes was, 28, and ducking bombs, killing who he’s told to. On his way back from a mission, Alex slips into another timestream. It should be impossible. But he can hear a child crying and he heads towards the sound.

This is  the story of how Alex saved Michael and Michael saved Alex, with lots of time travel shenanigans and angst.

I have to admit that I’m really slowly working my way through this fic, so I’m not caught up. But I love the way the author explores characters’ mental health and healing. This is a fascinating idea and I love Alex and Kyle’s friendship and am looking forward to more of Michael and Alex’s relationship in it.

where they hang the lights by @leescoresbies

The laughter of his crew spins around him with the music, the station’s lights and sounds and the engine passing him by. Michael feels himself get pulled back, and back, and back - a place, a time, a man. A memory. Michael had fallen hard and swift and real in one perfect month that ended like a smashed bottle, real glass - all fractures - and almost two years later he’s still sweeping up the pieces.

Alex Manes.

Michael knocks the rest of his whiskey back, and feels like he's drifting in the black.

This is a wonderful space western AU that I’d love to see more of. I love the way this fic plays with flashbacks and lets us see bits and pieces of Michael and Alex’s past relationships while we’re seeing them reconnecting in the present.

Vague Space by @aewriting

Stranded on the backwater planet of Quelnin, mechanic Michael Guerin finds himself drawn into a complex species trafficking web at the insistence of his brother-in-law and boss, Noah. When he recognizes one of the beings for sale as his former lover, Alex Manes, the situation gets considerably more complicated... and dangerous.

I’m an absolute sucker for stories about healing, especially when it involves Malex and getting back together and this fic manages to take a really fascinating premise and incorporate healing into it. Watch the tags though, because they’re there for a reason!

[stryfeposting]

uncanny avengers unity era cable is possibly my favourite contemporary cable because (allowing for narrative squeezy time) a few months earlier he did a punisher-style suicide run at the entire avengers for the sake of his daughter, got his ass whooped into a TO-virus coma, napped through all of the avengers vs xmen brawl happening six feet from his head then slipped out the back door to take up a little light deadbeat dad work in the distant timestream before reappearing to join rogers's unity squad (who, remember, had whammied him good not long ago) for no better reason than he's slightly bored with nothing better to do.

people will like what they like, etc etc but i'm begging people to move on from the slightly flat providence-era cable characterisation and start mining the hills of post cable & deadpool content because there's so much chaotic dumb guy energy to play with there.

this. this is peak cable energy.