#so outside dealing with “”regular“” people shes “”human“”

[dragonballnewstar]

Yknow what? -unmoths your Ampa-

I wanted to show off her device. It's supposed to be a longer comic but life is making it certain I can't draw so posting these for now--

[hugsandchaos]

Seeing Double

Part One, Part Two, Part Three

Summary: A ghost who looks a lot like Phantom comes to him in search of protection, and their newest member instantly agrees. He calls her his little sister, and sooner or later, Phantom also might end up with a new brother.

*bangs pots and pans together* @vixen-uchiha, @starlightcat04, @blueliac, COME GET Y’ALL’S JUICE!!!

Phantom smiled to himself looking up at the night sky. The event he’d been waiting for finally started a few minutes ago, the top right “corner” of the moon was dark with the tiniest hint of red on the “edge”. He was pretty grateful for being allowed to go outside for the lunar eclipse. Especially since the other members of Young Justice got to tag along as well. He could hear Wally explaining the specifics of the event to Conner below, but ignored it.

Phantom was well above the trees so he could get a perfect view of the lunar eclipse, so it wasn’t very hard to ignore them. Especially since he was so happy about what he was going to see soon. And by soon, he meant an hour or so. Since they were so far out from the city the civilization in general, Phantom also had an amazing view of the stars. It seemed like every second he spent looking at them instead of the moon, a new one would pop into existence. Or he’d recognize another constellation.

He leaned back so he was floating with his back facing the ground and crossed one of his legs over the other. He folded his arms over his abdomen and smiled fondly, acting as if he was laying on solid ground instead of being in midair. Then a small blue fog of smoke came out of his mouth.

Phantom quickly swung himself upright and looked around. He really didn’t want to deal with any ghost fights right now, he just wanted some peace. As he scanned the area around him, he noticed something in the distance. It definitely wasn’t a star, and it was too small to be a pod. It might be the ghost he had sensed being nearby.“Phantom?” Robin called out. The ghostly hero glanced down below.”Everything alright?” He asked.

Phantom nodded and went back to looking at the ghost.”Yeah, just a second. I think I see something.” He yelled back. He squinted his eyes to try to see if he could recognize the ghost. It didn’t take long for him to figure out who it was, and when he did, a huge smile broke out across his face.

“Danielle!!!” Phantom called out.

He quickly rushed towards his younger clone. He didn’t notice his friends calling for him, but he noticed that Dani had definitely spotted him since she was also hurdling towards him. They reached each other somewhere midway and Phantom slowed down enough before they practically collided with each other. Dani didn’t really slow down as soon as him and knocked him back a little, but he wasn’t too fazed by the impact and wrapped his arms around her.

He hugged his sister considerably tighter than he usually hugs people, and spun around a bit as a small way to release some of the new, excited energy. Dani laughed a little as they spun, then he stopped.”How have you been?!” He asked excitedly.

“I’ve been great!!” She said. They both ended the hug with big grins on their face, very happy to see the other after months had passed. Phantom was about to ask her about her time apart from him, but she opened her mouth to speak.”I’ve seen so many cool things that I wanna tell you about, and guess what?!“ She asked. She held her mouth open and pointed at the upper part. That’s when Phantom noticed her canine teeth were a bit bigger than a regular human’s.”I’ve grown fangs, like yours!” She exclaimed. The older halfa gasped softly. He wasn’t quite sure what emotion had just swelled up in his chest a little, but he’s felt it before, and it was definitely positive.

Was it pride? Was he proud of her? He wasn’t sure if that was it or not, but the feeling remained.”That’s so cool, Dani! They’re fang-tastic.” He said.

Dani’s grin grew a little bit wider when he said that.”Why, fang you!” She said. Suddenly, her expression changed drastically from pure excitement to what looked like distrust. Her eyes looked at something behind him, and Phantom quickly turned around to see what or who it was that caused her reaction.

Megan was floating there.”Who’s your friend, Phantom?” She asked kindly. Phantom calmed down a little and smiled again. He glanced back at Dani again and noticed how she looked a little confused, but still defensive. He floated back to be next to Dani.

“Hey, Megan! This is my little sister. She has the same powers as me.” He said. Him talking with his friend so calmly and casually seemed to help Dani relax. Which was what he was hoping for.

Megan’s smile grew as she looked over at the other halfa.”Really?! You’ve never mentioned your relatives before!” She said. She held a hand out.”It’s really nice to meet you, Danielle. I’m Megann! Well, Megann is my Earth name.” She introduced herself. Dani glanced over at Phantom. He knew what it was she was asking and gave her an encouraging nod. With the affirmation that it was safe, Dani smiled and shook Megann’s hand.”Nice to meet you too.” She said with a small smile. For a moment, Phantom was happy that they hadn’t met her in some kind of fight or had a misunderstanding. Then he remembered something pretty important. Not wanting to make it awkward, though, he decided to try to play it cool.

He gave Megann a slightly apologetic look.”I’m sorry, but would you mind letting us chat for a bit? We have a lot to catch up on and talk about, and something tells me it’s going to get a little personal.” He asked politely. He tried to make it understandable and reasonable, and to him, that sounded like a good explanation. He’s been pretty private about his life before he joined Young Justice, anyways.

Megann nodded.”Oh, yeah, of course! I’ll let the others know what you’re doing if they ask.” She said. The older halfa agreed with that idea and nodded to show it. The martian turned around and flew back to the others, and once she was gone, Phantom glanced over at Dani.

She turned to him at the same time, also looking pretty serious. Seemed like they both had something to say.”You go first.” Phantom said. Dani remained silent for an extra minute. Phantom waited until an idea of what it was entered his head, and he didn’t like it one bit.”It wasn’t Vlad, was it?” He asked. Dani shook her head.

“I was... I was spotted by one of them.”

Those words briefly made Phantom’s core stop. The sweet moment suddenly turned way more sour than he was expecting. His eyes widened in shock and horror and they both floated in silence for a while. With each passing second, Dani looked more and more like she’d start to cry. Tears were slowly starting to form, but she was holding back.”I don’t want them to catch me... We both know I can’t go into the Ghost Zone, so... I didn’t know what else to do.” She said. Her voice came close to cracking at the end.

Phantom quickly pulled his mind back together. An urge to protect his sister began to block out the fear he also felt for her and he pulled her into a hug.”They won’t get the chance. I’ll do everything to make sure of it.” He said. He wasn’t entirely sure how he’d be able to actually protect her against part of the government, but he wasn’t lying. He was going to do whatever he could to protect her from the Guys In White. Dani hugged back.”Thank you.” She said.

“Anytime.” Phantom said. It was practically obvious to him. As long as his core was still vibrating and his heart was still beating, he’d protect her against anything.”But listen, my team doesn’t know I’m a halfa. They only think I’m a ghost. I think you should say the same.” He said. Dani nodded.

They soon ended the hug and Dani looked better than before. Phantom noticed something above and pointed behind her.”Look at that.” He said. Dani followed his gaze and let out a small, amazed “ohh” under her breath when she saw it. The lunar eclipse wasn’t complete yet, but it was getting there. A part of it was still white, but the majority of it was getting more and more red, and even looked a little orange.”I saw one of those before. Lunar eclipse, right?” She asked.

“Mhmm.” Phantom confirmed.

The two remained there for only a few minutes, watching the moon change ever so slightly, before Dani filled the silence again.”Can we meet the rest of your teammates?” She asked, turning to face him.

“Duhh! This way.” Phantom said, then flew to where his friends had set up camp.

It was a pretty short flight, and once there, his teammates were already looking at them. The group had used Megan’s bioship to fly out an hour or so away from the mountain and brought their own tents, and obviously some campfire snacks along with other necessities. They were all aligned in a circle with a sort of “entrance” facing the direction of the bioship. Phantom landed with Dani close behind and glanced back at her to make sure she wouldn’t get overwhelmed or anything. He wasn’t entirely sure how good her social skills were. She looked a little bit surprised, but overall okay. Phantom turned to his team.”Hey, guys! Hope you don’t mind one more.” He said, gesturing towards his sister. Dani smiled and waved at them.

Megan was the first of them to speak.”Not at all! Come on over, the eclipse is getting closer.” She said. Dani accepted the invitation and began walking over to them. Phantom obviously followed.

He noticed Conner looking a little surprised, but brushed it off since everyone seemed a bit surprised to learn that he apparently had a sister. Dani floated off the ground to be more at eye level with his friends.”How come all of your friends are taller than me?” She asked, glancing back at Phantom. He just shrugged and grinned.”I guess you just got the short end of the stick.” He said. Dani rolled her eyes and looked back at them.

“I’m Danielle! It’s nice to meet all of my brother’s new teammates.” She said. Robin held his hand out and Dani accepted it.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I’m Robin. That’s Wally, Artemis, Conner, Kaldur, and you’ve already met Megan.” He said. Phantom leaned closer to Dani and pointed at Wally.

“He doesn’t really believe in ghosts, so feel free to bug him when he’s not training or on missions.” He whispered.

Wally glared at him and Robin and Artemis both muffled a laugh behind their hands.”Hey!” Wally snapped. Dani gasped almost slightly offended, then grinned mischievously.

“Oh, I’d love to!” She said. Before she said something else, though, Conner spoke up.

“Megan told us you’re his little sister, but I didn’t expect you to look practically just like our friend. You could be mistaken for twins if it wasn’t for the age difference.” He said. He didn’t seem upset, and Phantom was a bit relieved about it. He didn’t think that Conner would start anything, but he had anger issues and had... negative reactions to being reminded that he’s a clone of someone who doesn’t like him.

Dani shrugged a little. “Well, yeah! I’m his clone, so of course I look like him and have similar powers.“ She said. The camp went quiet. The atmosphere wasn’t exactly heavy or intense, but it certainly wasn’t as happy and calm as before. Dani noticed the change and at first was confused, then she started to grow nervous. She glanced between Phantom’s teammates.

Finally, one of them spoke.“You said she’s your little sister.” Wally said. Phantom immediately hopped onto the defensive, but tried to remember about their treatment towards Conner and not mistake his confusion in his voice for something negative.

Dani seemed to make that mistake, though, since she began floating closer to him with a pretty nervous expression.”Yeah, because she is. Just because there’s no legal documentation or something doesn’t mean she can’t be my family.” Phantom said. Dani stopped right next to him and nodded in agreement. To her surprise and not her big brother’s, his friends all seemed almost a little heart warmed by this. Conner just looked surprised.

“That’s nice of you. To give her a family.” Kaldur said.

“I don’t see why I wouldn’t, but thanks?” Phantom said. Dani suddenly flew upwards and looked at the sky.

“Enough with the sentimental stuff, we’re going to miss it!” She said. The older halfa quickly remembered the reason they’d come outside in the first place and let out a small “oh”. He followed her lead and smiled at the moon once he was above the trees.

It was now completed and fully red. Sure, there was still a tiny bit of lighter red, but the huge majority looked a lot like blood. It was a little creepy, but Phantom still couldn’t help but admire it. It was amazing, and made him almost forget about the talk he’d need to have with Kaldur and Red Tornado, and possibly the rest of the league later. He’d think about that after the eclipse was over. For now, he was just going to enjoy the sight.

[sylusjinwoon]

{ 155 }

follow you.

jinwoo sung x fem.reader

{ i will follow you way down wherever you may go | i'll follow you way down to your deepest low | i'll always be around wherever life takes you | you know i'll follow you... }

anonymous said: Is it possible to have a scenario with Jinwoo where f.reader is dealing with a co-worker in his 50s at work who makes her uncomfortable by making inappropriate remarks in his conversations with her and never respects her personal space, she isn't scared of him but he makes her anxious and nervous at his sight for 7 months straight...and she doesn't tell Jinwoo until he starts noticing that she spaces out more often lost in her thoughts. (Its a true event that happened to me at my work and I hope you can write a comforting scenario for it😮‍💨 also eager to see more of protective Jinwoo 😏)

lately, you found yourself dreading the thought of going to work.

you were a young woman who was a regular civilian in this world filled with hunters, gates, and monsters. ever since these strange gates began to appear all across the world, thousands of people awakened with this unique ability to combat against these threats-

your boyfriend being one of these well known hunters.

however, you were not one of those special humans that had awakened with these abilities.

which was why you worked a regular office job in the midst of the city. and your job was by no means too difficult-

however, there was just one tiny issue with your workplace-

and that came in the form of your highly persistent coworker.

he was a balding man that appeared to be in his mid-50s named ryung. the moment your assigned cubicle was directly next to him, the man made it his life's mission to constantly flirt with you. in between breaks, he would find you and proceed to talk to you, all while placing lingering touches against your arm or shoulder.

"you're so beautiful, hehe."

"you say you have a boyfriend, but i don't believe he's serious about you. hell, if i were 30 years younger, i would have snatched you up and put a ring on that pretty little finger of yours!"

"damn, your ass looks fine in that skirt..."

hearing such constant remarks was enough to make you shudder.

despite the many times you told him you had a boyfriend (that also worked as a powerful hunter!), the man refused to back off. and the fact that this had been going on for nearly 7 months now made it so much worse for you.

now, you were filled with anxiety when ryung casually saunters up to your cubicle. even during the times where you purposely ignored him, the man would simply proceed to linger outside of your cubicle, forcing you to listen to his heavy breathing and crazed mutterings, only walking away when the sounds of your other coworkers approaching forces him to make his retreat.

you thought about turning in your letter of resignation several times, but always decided against it, since this was a good job that paid well-

and you didn't want your boyfriend to do all the heavy lifting when it came to your shared finances.

being so caught up with your thoughts, you couldn't even touch the breakfast your boyfriend had made for you, making him frown in response. he calls out your name several times, but you remain completely unresponsive to him.

"sarang." he calls out your nickname while brushing the ice cold glass of orange juice against your cheek. the sudden, icy sensation felt against your skin successfully manages to break you out of your thoughts, forcing to face your boyfriend's concerned gaze.

"jinwoo... what is it?"

jinwoo sighs before running a hand through his hair, placing the glass of orange juice back on the table. "i was asking you if you were okay for several minutes now, and you just recently responded to me. is something bothering you? i noticed that you haven't been yourself lately... ever since you started your job at that company."

you shift around uncomfortably in your seat, feeling as though you were being interrogated by jinwoo.

"it's nothing, jin. just-"

"bullshit it's nothing."

jinwoo then casually sits back in his seat with his arms crossed, his voice coming out as strained as he was clearly trying to control his anger.

"has ryung been bothering you again?"

your mouth goes dry, meeting jinwoo's gaze with wide eyes.

"h-how did you know about that?"

a smirk paints his handsome features. "have you forgotten just who your lover is?"

ah, that's right... he was the shadow monarch. he probably placed a bunch of his soldiers within your shadow and saw what was going on through their eyes.

"i could always have bellion rip through him for you?" jinwoo asks you while letting out a series of rich chuckles, but you were only half-certain that he was simply joking.

"n-no, you don't need to go that far. ryung is harmless... but a nuisance."

jinwoo hums before gesturing at your plate of breakfast. "come on, go ahead and finish eating. i'm going to take you to work."

"oh, you don't need to, jinwoo-"

"sarang, please, i insist."

with his voice dripping with a saccharine sweetness, you could no longer deny him. letting out a sigh, you give him a nod before returning your attention back to the delicious breakfast jinwoo had prepared for you.

you spend the next thirty minutes making small talk with your boyfriend, setting up plans for the upcoming weekend while being filled with an eagerness for the end of the week. once you finished eating and jinwoo had washed all the plates did he grab his keys. smoothing out your blouse and skirt, you grab your own briefcase while walking out the door with jinwoo.

throughout the whole drive to your workplace, jinwoo holds on to your hand while keeping his other hand on the steering wheel. during every stop light, he brings the back of your hand up against his lips, giving it a sweet kiss while basking in your joyful giggles.

soon enough, jinwoo arrives and parks in front of your office building, unbuckling his seat belt before heading out to open the door for you. seeing him smiling down at you, you give him his hand and allow him to walk with you into the building.

upon entering your workplace, several people recognized jinwoo and immediately greet him (all while trying to hold back their awe). your boyfriend keeps his hand on yours, simply returning their greetings with a smile before escorting you to the elevators.

the ride to the twentieth floor was filled with eager giggles and soft kisses, and you quickly felt your anxieties melt away. a few seconds later, the elevator doors slide open as you and jinwoo walked into the floor where you usually worked.

but instead of allowing you to enter your cubicle, he places a hand behind your back, leading you directly towards ryung's office space.

as if sensing you, the older man looks away from his computer screen, raspy voice calling out your name in an almost possessive manner when he faces you-

only to let out a desperate gasp when jinwoo uses his powers to lift ryung off the ground.

"ack!"

"jinwoo!"

but jinwoo ignores your sudden cries of his name, eyes glowing a bright purple hue as he continues to lift ryung mid-air with his telekinesis. choked sounds were heard coming from the man, and your mind was spinning, becoming filled with a sudden panic-

you didn't want jinwoo to get in trouble because of this man!

"if you continue to flirt with my lover so shamelessly like that ever again, i'll kill you."

within seconds, jinwoo releases his invisible grip on ryung, causing the older man to land on his knees for him. he was coughing, with tears filling his vision as the fear was evident in his eyes. completely ignoring ryung, jinwoo turns his attention back to you all while giving you a sweet smile.

"come, i'll take you back to your cubicle, sarang."

you give jinwoo an exasperated sigh, running your hips against his all while whispering to him, "you're insane, using your powers on him like that...?!"

"so what? i put the fear of the shadow monarch into him. there's no way he would dare to flirt with you now."

as if on cue, you hear ryung let out a whimper while pretending to type something on his computer. you shake your head at jinwoo, but still accept his kiss when he leans down toward you.

only after he was satisfied with your kiss did jinwoo pull away from you. "call me when you're done with your shift, and i'll pick you up."

you give him one last nod, watching as jinwoo leaves your office before deciding to login to your own computer, ready to start your day with a confident smile on your face, secretly grateful for jinwoo's intervention as you were certain ryung would leave you alone now.

{ ... }

the next morning, when you came into work and saw that ryung's cubicle was completely emptied of his belongings, confirming your coworker's mention of his sudden resignation-

that was when you let out a relieved sigh while giggling slightly.

perhaps you would need to treat jinwoo to something nice after all.

a.n. - hhhhh more double updates because i love jinwoo soooo much! 😭

all stories are written by rei; reposts, translations, and plagiarism are not allowed.

[ceescedasticity]

Unforsaken, 15c

(All sections on tumblr)

(AO3, lagging behind but more polished)

"If this is going to be going on for a while maybe Zuste and Dyn and I should go… check on the other horses?" Zena says. "Or look for the oxen? We don't really have anything to do here, and it's — a lot."

"…Yes, that might be a good idea," Elrohir says. "Possibly all of us who are even part mortal should go do that."

"Except the swan-twins," Elladan amends. "…I guess being one-eighth-maia and spending most of two Ages as definitely-not-mortal swans cancels out being a quarter human."

After a quick consultation with Glorfindel, Celeborn, and Khitwê and Risyind to verify that there isn't really anything they can do here worth the substantial spiritual stress they're under, the non-swan peredhil plus Gimli withdraw to see to the horses, make sure the dragons are gone, see if the dragons raided the camp and/or ate the oxen, get water and rations for everyone, etc.

Glorfindel sends Asfaloth with them.

Legolas sends himself with them. (Yeah, he's more resistant to… all of it, but he really doesn't think he has anything to contribute here!)

Seconds after they've gotten far enough away from the crater that it no longer feels as bad as the Paths of the Dead, Elrohir and Elladan look at each other and chorus "Arwen," and Elladan starts rummaging through the pile of baggage set aside not to be taken into battle.

MEANWHILE IN GONDOR: The battle started in midmorning, and Aragorn had to go back to doing king stuff as if there wasn't an epic battle with dragons and an umaia going on. Arwen though withdrew to her rooms, said she wasn't to be disturbed outside an emergency, and watched as much of the fight as she could through the Orthanc-stone.

'As much as she could' wasn't everything for several reasons: she couldn't simultaneously watch the Warden-fight and the dragon-fight; the Warden's brightness shone strongly enough through the palantír that it was uncomfortable to look at for too long; and most annoyingly her concentration wavered and she almost dropped the damn stone again when Celeborn started throwing Wizard's Clay.

(Arwen knows she is the one who suggested bringing Wizard's Clay into this but she is still… taken aback by that.)

So she knows, already, that they won and are all alive.

She doesn't know so much of what's happened since then, because getting the palantír to focus on the seething swarm of orc souls or anything in proximity to them is very hard.

Happily the stones still connect just fine.

They have a jubilant and disorganized conversation—

They killed six dragons and fended off another until it ran away,

Elladan shot one in the eye—

Did Arwen see when Zuste threw an axe down a dragon's throat? She probably finished that one off, Arwen should make a big deal out of it—

The ex-orc souls are a lot, yeah—

Khitwê and Risyind found one of their people already, or Sharlinnu did—

The swan-twins found Nimloth right away and she knew which was which—

Did Legolas and Gimli have one of their little competitions about the dragons? They couldn't have the usual kind because there was only one dragon at a time, but they did their best—

The Geese are going to be soul-carriers, can all great birds do that?

What's going to happen to the living orcs? Will they just hear a regular Call when they die now?

Did you hear when Maglor sang the Warden was hiding in a hole in the ground?

Actually Elladan and Elrohir don't know much about how the battle with the Warden went down besides the Singing, there wasn't time to talk about much before the Crucible started emptying—

It looked like Turgon struck the final blow, which seems fitting—

Did Arwen see if something bit Celeborn?

That was Asfaloth, actually—

What—

So that's going on.

Turgon finds Squint curled into himself, specifically not looking at the Geese or at— Oh, hell, if he saw Glorfindel they're probably lucky he didn't run back into the Crucible. "Squint?"

Bellow? I don't know what's going on. I don't know what those birds are talking about. I don't know anything about what they said. Or about giant birds. I don't— None of this means anything to me.

And under the circumstances there's nothing to say but— "That's great, Squint. You're doing really well. We're gonna be okay now. Your kids from Varm are here — Mist and Rain — you want to go see them?"

I don't know… Squint trails off, then, so hushed as to be almost imperceivable, Is it safe?

Oh, kid. "It's safe. We're safe. They can't see us anymore." He wants to try to explain that the Dark Lords can never touch them again, but he's not sure Squint would be able to believe it, or even hear it.

All right. If you're sure.

Straw meanwhile has found her way to Khitwê and Risyind without any help. Mist! Rain!

"Straw!"

Whiterot holds them back again, but Straw reaches out, and they reach back, and they make contact.

It's not comfortable contact, for any of them, but they hold it nonetheless.

Look at you.

"We always remembered — we never forgot—" Mist stammers.

Risyind fumbles off her vest to show off the back, embroidered with a narrow-eyed cat glaring through dry grass. "Look, even if we couldn't talk about it, we always—"

That's beautiful, I've never seen anything like that before, Straw says.

(Straw can't really precisely see it now, either. She's not strong enough in spirit to manage that much perception of inanimate objects.

But she can see the love and care that went into it.)

"That's proper Pelndoru work," Sharlinnu says, coming back. "They kept good company in a proper civilization to grow up and then kept exciting company with the Journey-Elves to save us. Turgon — Bellow — found Squint, they're right behind me."

…Give or take a detour around some particularly agitated spirits who Sharlinnu just walked through and Squint would rather avoid, anyway.

You found homes? Good places?

"Great places. Risyind made the most of it every time she got a Sea-seat, she gave speeches—"

"Khitwê fits right in with the Dannûru, just now he stabbed a dragon—"

"That's — what we're usually called, now. You — don't mind, right?"

Of course not.

Mind the dragon more, Squint says. Those are dangerous.

He reaches out, too, to Khitwê and Risyind and Straw. It's uncomfortable and unnatural and they keep holding on.

"We're fine, we're not hurt, we were with good friends," Khitwê says. "With — with people who understood. We were careful, like you said, and didn't explain everything until we found people who understood. We missed you—"

"We love you, we love you, you were, were — there aren't better parents in the world—"

Well, Straw says. We weren't on our own.

"Tarnish is already with one of the Geese," Whiterot says. "Screech, if you stay here and make sure Khitwê and Risyind stay where they are, I think I can find Burn."

She finds Celegorm first, still trying to sort through the ex-orcs to find the one he's looking for. "Five minutes," she says. "Less than."

"I'm not finding him anyway — what?"

"Looking for Burn."

"Oh. Yeah, we can handle that."

(Burn was a rather unusual orc-who-knows in that his memory triggers weren't anything to do with himself. He barely remembered anything of his own first life. What reminded him that orcs were elves — in multiple lifetimes! — was one apparently very impactful incident of being stuck with Reckless and Whiterot while they mutually picked a fight about First Age politics.)

"That whole thing was more your fault, though. I would've dropped the subject if you hadn't flown off the handle, I really didn't care."

"Sure, and that's why you came looking for me to argue some more when I was too dead inside to pursue the subject—"

It's actually under three minutes before Burn laments, Really? You're doing this now?

"I was looking for you, actually," Whiterot says. "Come on, you should say hello to Mist and Rain before you go with the Geese."

Burn is fainter, quieter than Straw or Squint or Tarnish. Whiterot can't hold on to him, but she sticks very close.

(Whiterot and Burn were the oldest of the Varm goblins. Tarnish and Screech were born and died in the Second Age of the Sun, and Straw and Squint were born and died in the First. Whiterot and Burn were born under the stars and died in Angband, and though the Sun was born before Whiterot's elf-self died she never saw it. Burn was older yet. And it's not like the others were anything resembling children, but… it meant something.)

[kiwibirbkat]

My idea for esmp2 highschool!

The highschool is for magic and anything associated with it. Witches, creatures, gods, all are welcome here.

The world has no overall authority and is full of tons of different kingdoms. The biggest authority is actually the school they all go to

Shubble:

A witch (obviously)

Went to the Academy for elementary and middle school

All witches are sent out to the regular world to test their competence and responsibility before they return to the Academy for college and getting their magic license

Shubble currently has what is essentially a magic learners permit (they can do small spells and potions, NO MAJOR SPELLS)

Academy provides them with a small fund for housing (and, for the first month, food (you are expected to either grow/conjure your own food or get a job to buy your own after the first month))

Stayed in a very small room in one of Dawn's taverns so she could afford to buy food with the fund at first, goes and builds her hut in the mangrove forest after they were kicked out of the Academy because she can't afford to stay in the tavern and can't be tracked (nobody but Shubble has gone into the mangrove and come back out again, so she's left mostly alone)

She is stressed af because they still made the villagers and now has to deal with getting kicked from the Academy, being a high schooler, AND taking care of the villagers

The Academy actually doesn't give a shit, Shubble is just incredibly paranoid and ran away after the first few letters reminding them to come back

And of course! Tortoise is their familiar still

Joel:

Still a god

Was raised by Saint Pearl but she kicked him out for being an annoying teen

Literally just 16

Still lives in one of his temples and is taken care of by the villagers that worship him

Has access to basically everything he did before (Pearl isn't cruel, she just got tired of his whining)

6'11 and still growing

WANTS a beard, it simply WILL NOT GROW!

Lizzy:

Was someone's familiar at the Academy before getting hit by a spell gone wrong (was supposed to temporarily turn her human, it ended up permanently turning her into an anthropomorphic cat)

Literally just has a box on her head with her humansona glued to it and eye holes cut out

Lives in her own house outside of any of the kingdoms jurisdiction because not many people like to settle next to the smog of Gobland so it is quite literally free real estate

Was going to start Animalia but she couldn't get the spell that happened to her to happen again

Does not have Ariana Goate, she is her own celebrity with no affiliation to this random high schooler

Sausage:

His king has not turned evil yet!

Just lives the life he lived in the flashback but goes to highschool

Is only at the school because he can talk to animals

Also, he still has a beard! Joel, the god, only has a stubble, but this man just has a full beard because Eddie is a rabbit man and didn't teach him to shave

Katherine:

A princess! Her parents are really strict, monster hunting is her rebellion

Swears she shouldn't be at the school, because she's not magic in any way!

Cursed.

Really really buff but hides it with flowy sleeves and long skirts on her dress

Lives in the kingdom she did before she started GlimmerGlove (obviously, it's her parents kingdom)

Joey:

After their ship got attacked, he washed up

Seeing him screeching about a living skeleton, he was thrown into the school for technically having an association with magic

Due to a combination of never having education, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia (and generally not caring), he is very much struggling in school

Katherine was assigned to tutor him for being an all A student

He saw her roll up her sleeves one time and got a crush

Not "piratesexual" just pan with an attraction to strength and power

Lives on the ship that he built himself

Gem and fWhip:

Still twins, Gem just got really lucky with her genes

Both part human and part goblin

Gem is slightly shorter than average with a very light green tint to her skin, slightly bigger canines, and pointier ears

FWhip is literally just a little taller then the average goblin with slightly softer ears

FWhip lives with his mom (the queen of Gobland) and Gem lives with her dad (the king of Dawn)

Their birth finally lowered tension between Gobland and Dawn! They were only born because they had been at war before their parents got married at 18, which technically stopped the war, but the people of Dawn and Gobland were still very aggressive and tense before the twins birth

False:

Amnesiac still

Lives in the forest that she randomly woke up in one day?

Built her own house and decided to start mining iron to build machines

Some type of hybrid, but got her wings ripped off somehow, so they don't know what type

Pix:

A phantom hybrid

Lives with his parents technically, but they aren't home often

Still obsessed with history

Jimmy:

A toy that magically came to life!

A sheriff

Has Tumble Town because nobody wanted to live in the Mesa

He's the only one in Tumble Town other than his cat and his horse

Only the law in this land, he just ignores that.

Scott:

Has no parents

Adventured for most of his life before finally settling down

Technically has Chromia but all of his "citizens" are llamas

He just wanted an excuse to build cute buildings and gardens

His great great great great (lots of greats) ancestors were elves, which is why he's in the school (that and his magic eye)

Oli:

From another universe

Climbed into the heavens for a dare because he got really reckless after his close friend died

Got bored immediately and jumped down

Just a normal guy. Only in the school because he literally fell from the sky

Never got arrested by fWhip

Homeless outside of his tent. Insists it's a kingdom called the Olipeligo

The other empires (concerned) keep offering to buy him a house or something but he insists he's fine in the Olipeligo

Hermes is Joel's childhood toy that came to life somehow after he got kicked out. He just got attached to Sausage, so now Joel and Sausage are teen dads that co-parent him

[thevindicativevordan]

How are you feeling on Absolute Superman as a character? I dunno, Absolute WW and Batman are right out on the gate with their massive changes, but this Superman still feels like it's business as usual despite not being Clark Kent. Maybe it's 'cause I've seen some of this stufff done by Morrison already.

Absolute Wonder Woman is straight up the same person as her mainline counterpart despite her different background. I cannot think of a single moment where she's done something yet that made me go "Earth 0 Diana would never do that". I imagine that's Thompson's intention, she's changed Diana's upbringing, powerset, and gear but not her character. Despite everything, this is still recognizably Wonder Woman. Tradeoff is that I don't know if Thompson will take advantage of the opportunity to give this Diana her own unique personality quirks, to really make this Diana "hers".

Absolute Batman is different specifically from Scott Snyder's New 52 Batman - but not that different from "regular" Batman. By that I mean Snyder wrote New 52 Batman as a chatterbox. Either he was constantly talking and even dropping quips, or he was monologuing to himself in narrative boxes. Absolute Batman is much more terse, helped by how Alfred is the POV character instead of Bruce, but that's how writers usually write Batman. Usually he doesn't talk much, which means while this Batman is a departure from the mainline version under Snyder's pen, he's not that different from the regular guy. More brutal to be sure, mainline Batman doesn't usually maim people - but even then he sometimes cripples them. Batman isn't too different either.

Snyder advertised the AU as maintaining the core of the heroes while changing the circumstances and some of the details. Keeping that in mind, it's no surprise Superman doesn't diverge too much from his mainline counterpart either. For the record I thought issue 2 did a great job in laying out what this Superman's deal is. As Lois notes, he's still testing and coming to terms with his powers. He has mixed feeling regarding Earth and humanity. He's proud of his heritage as the son of workers, we see that in how he tells Lois he's another "Child of the Dirt". Kal claims solidarity with the human working class, even calling them by the same title he gave to the Kryptonian laborers: People of Steel. In other words they are his people. We've gotten a leftist Superman before in the early Siegel and Shuster as well as the Morrison New 52 Action run, but this is the first Superman who openly says "yes I am a working class hero and a proud one at that". Everything about Aaron's revamp of Superman emphasizes that. His parents are laborers instead of nobles, his first foe is a megacorp that uses Peacemakers as a Pinkerton-esque organization to beat down the workers. Superman's first act as a hero we see isn't catching a helicopter or smashing a car, it's singlehandedly clearing out a mine of diamonds and asbestos so the impoverished miners don't have to risk their lives. Even the new backstory for his s-shield, which recasts it as the mark of laborers, on Krypton feeds into that.

But he does actually say something that mainline Superman wouldn't: he flat out tells Lois she's everything wrong with Earth. When Clark acknowledges humanity is flawed, he usually follows it up with an impassionate defense of how humanity is good despite their flaws. On some level Clark needs that to be true, because he views himself as human (at least at the start), as one of us. Clark needs to believe we're good in spite of our flaws because he needs to believe the same of himself, and wants to think we will accept him. Kal meanwhile just let's that accusation hang there. Clearly he has seen the worst of humanity, and he's not making excuses for us. Some of us are bastards. Some of us might be irredeemable. To me that was very illuminating in how it teases certain aspects of Kal's backstory. Kal is an outsider, he's Kryptonian, and he's viewing us from outside the box.

Biggest difference between New 52 Superman and Absolute Superman? New 52 Superman was cocky. Even downright arrogant at times in his early days which I loved. Clark would openly taunt the cops and criminals alike. Know why? Because he had the happy Smallville upbringing! His earliest memories of life on Earth were of loving his parents and being loved. Smallville was a happy place that instilled in him a sense of self-worth. When the Kents died it was when he was already almost a man, and he had Lana still. All of that gave him the confidence to challenge the world, because it was his world too. Absolute Superman? Doesn't have that same confidence. Presumably he saw how his father and mother were treated for being Labor Caste. Kal knew they weren't valued the same as the higher castes, and you can imagine how that might have affected his sense of self-worth.

On Krypton Kal learned that the people in charge rarely have the best interests of their underlings in mind. However the morals he was instilled by the Els were of the same nature as what the Kents traditionally teach. Kal is compassionate, courageous, and determined to make a difference. As Lois notes, his ethos are solid. It's his purpose and place in life that remains a question mark for now. What we have gotten so far I like, but we won’t know the whole of this Superman until we get more details on his wanderings across Earth prior to where we see him in issue 1.

Funnily enough, Absolute Superman is the only one of three who actually feels like he's living up to Snyder's pitch of "underdog heroes". He's on the run with zero support. Batman has his mom, Alfred, and his childhood friends, he's working a six figure job, he's not isolated. Diana has Steve, her Pegasus, and the military backing her up (for now). Kal? He's got no one except his suit AI, and while Sol is helping stay alive, it's not supporting him at all in his heroic ambitions. Even Lois, while coming around to supporting him, hasn't actually quit her job and ran off to join him. At the end of issue 2 he's still a lone wanderer. All those people he worked to save in issue 2? Brutally gunned down by Peacemaker. Of the three it's Superman who feels the bleakest, and I'm loving it. Finally have a Superman book with the balls to ask the question: "is it worth it to try and be a good man in a world that spits on anyone who wants to better it?" Looking forward to seeing how the book wrestles with that central theme.

[raptorladylover6969]

So me and @koi-fish-boy were having our daily yapping sessions like always cuz we’re so cool and awesome like that, and we were talking abt how Soyona and The Handler are like, polar opposites of each other, parallels almost. Opposites as in like the way they present themselves, their overall (known) personalities, and their connections to dinosaurs (specifically the raptors) in some way.

With the raptors, it’s like Soyona is more scared of them, she’s less confident with them than she is with people. She acts like she has everything under control when it comes to having power of the raptors, but really, she isn’t THAT confident in herself, because the raptors are very unpredictable. Dinosaurs in general are extremely unpredictable. A regular human like Soyona can’t conform to the raptors non-linearity (CHAOS THEORY RAHHHHH) because she herself is too linear for them. Too predictable.

Meanwhile with The Handler, she treats these dangerous carnivorous creatures like they’re domesticated dogs. She’s much more confident with them then she is with people, as Scoot Kreamer said in an interview: “It started with wanting a character who was more comfortable with dinosaurs than she was with people.” And that quote really brings into light her connection with these dinosaurs because we can make somewhat of an assumption that she spends majority of her time around prehistoric animals, her raptors specifically. Because she’s more “anti social” in a way, she’d able to conform to the raptors way of living and match their unpredictability, because by what we’ve seen in the show, she IS very unpredictable.

Presentation wise, Soyona presents herself with a clean, classic rich lady look. To make herself much more approachable. Her demeanour and overall tone and body language, and clothing style gives her a welcoming look. To trick people into thinking she is someone they can rely on, put trust in, only for her to completely switch around, and reveal just how malicious, ruthless, and dangerous she is. She hides under a disguise, luring in people, make herself look like someone’s cool rich aunty, but in reality, behind that mask, she is an absolute killer.

The Handler is much more forward with how she presents herself. She radiates a dangerous aura on the outside, and inside. She makes herself look unapproachable, untrustworthy, and dangerous. The complete opposite of Soyona’s clean and luxurious outfits, she wears a utility jumpsuit, and combat boots that BOOM whenever she walks in comparison to the CLICKCLACKS of Soyona’s fancy heels. She’s someone you’d tell your kids to stay away from, the living embodiment of “stranger danger”. Instead of looking welcoming, she instills fear into the hearts of people around her.

Both Soyona and The Handler’s appearances and overall behaviour seem to be involved within their comfortability in their lines of work. Soyona works with people the most, she’s always making deals, buying and selling, talking to tons of people, she HAS to make herself look presentable and conform to regular societal norms, and also because she seems to be more comfortable around people than she is with spending 24/7 with no one around her but dinosaurs. Because even she knows their unpredictability.

The Handler is constantly working with dinosaurs, her comfortability is with these dinos. She needs to present herself to conform to THEM rather than people. She barely talks to anyone other than people she has to, otherwise she’s silent. She’s more tender and more “humane” with her raptors, and finds comfort and security within the raptor pack. Being a regular person wouldn’t necessarily work if you’re working with these kinds of animals *cough cough Owen Grady COUGH COUGH.* she has to match the mannerisms of her raptors, match their unpredictability overall.

(@koi-fish-boy also mentioned how Soyona focuses on control of the raptors rather than respect, like The Handler does.)

[molosseraptor]

how does a presa canario compare to a corso? thinking of getting either in the distant future but its hard to find sources of info that seem actually reliable

the breeds are actually a lot more different than you might think. size and structure are fairly similar, with the Presa being rectangular in all ways vs Corsos being blocky or more square in head type. depending on lines, it's more likely to have a Presa that's more athletic, heat tolerant, and higher energy than your average Corso. Presas tend to be more intense (prey drive, defense, etc.), more likely to have generalized human and animal aggression, more independent, and it can be hard to find a good one due to lack of health testing in the breed community. there are people out there doing it right, but they're few and far between. the Corso community is also a shit show, but health testing is the norm and it's easier to find reputable breeders.

from what i've seen, Presas are typically ok with household dogs/dogs they've grown up with and have regular exposure to, even if they end up with same sex or generalized dog aggression. you're still likely to have a dog that's not safe around other animals, like cats or livestock, without extensive training despite how they feel about dogs. with people it's hit or miss, but i haven't met a single Presa i'd describe as social with people outside of their household, and some will even show aggression to people in the household who aren't "their" human. their independence coupled with the higher prey and defense drives and propensity towards forward facing aggression make for a dog that needs a lot of careful exposure and training to be safe in public or able to do any type of sports. there are breeders that have been consciously selecting for more biddable Presas and dogs that can do performance sports, so they would be the best place to start.

of the two people I know that have had both breeds, the one who has done a lot of sports and hiking and more public stuff with her Corso will not be getting another Presa. They're making the best of it, but the differences between the breeds are greater than expected, even with a lot of research and careful breeder selection. The other, who spends most of her time at home and prefers not having to leave her property and actually downgraded from Filas to Corsos originally, prefers the Presa now that her kids are grown up and she won't have to deal with child visitors in the home. neither breed is better than the other, but one might be a better fit for what you're looking for in a dog.

[verdemoun]

hello! i have a question for the time warp au :)

i vaguely remember you saying that the gang don’t really make friends outside of each other in the modern era (please correct me if im wrong lol), but for the few non warped people they do interact with, what is that like?

thank you!!

yeah absolutely!

most of the gang simply can't make friends. they weren't well socialized to begin with - not exactly the friendly sort in 1899, but trying to make friends with 100 years of social changes is nigh impossible.

there's a few regulars eg the people john works with, the parents of the kids' friends, the gang's doctor, and psychologist. most people just... think there's something off about them. not quite neurotypical

isaac's friends parents' are all terrified of arthur just because of what a wall of a man he is, his resting stony expression and glare. this is despite the fact arthur is the most doting father and kitchen wife who makes the best cookies for fundraisers. this fear is largely shared by isaac's friends, who start getting used to arthur only for charles to show up with his obviously anti-social nature and that peak 1907 condition. they're just scary looking dudes, no matter how well intentioned they are it's a roadblock to normal human conversation

their doctor is convinced the gang have escaped some sort of cult and has asked on multiple occasions if they need help escaping. he dreads seeing them, esp since he usually sees them when they're newly warped and still have that 19th century feralness about them. their psychologist is more forgiving, having figured out the timewarp herself trying to research some of the things the gang have casually brought up in therapy eg blackwater

john would hate it if he ever found out but most of the builders and tradesmen who regularly hire him think of him the way john thought of nils at manzanita post. he may be good at what he does but he speaks so little they assume he either doesn't know english or has an intellectual disability. but he gets the job done so they don't push

similarly, when abigail is dealing with other parents when it comes to her children she has a certain trad wife vibe that a lot of people really don't like. she has a few super tight knit friends (in addie's friends' parents) because she is lovely but in general she sometimes forgets what is and isn't normal in modern era. casually dropping she was a 17 year old prostitute when she met john, that john's been to jail multiple times. that she's been to jail multiple times. they used to travel* the country with john's family. casually had a farm for a few years before moving* to the big city. even their cover story paints a very weird life

hosea gets away with just putting up the grouchy old man 'kids these days' attitude, but he will gladly use a self-serve check out over having to deal with people. he is deeply suspicious and loathes all strangers unless he's given a reason not to - like the barista at the cafe he frequents remembering his order.

the ones who are best at making "friends" ironically are bill, mac and micah. bill and mac moved out of the city so their standoffishness is seen more as classic southern country boy behaviour, but are viewed as decent fellers by most of the local community.

micah has a lot more confidence than the rest of the gang when it comes to talking to people, and (un)fortunately creepy sexist dude is timeless. he's such a particular brand of obnoxious that the people he regularly engages with tend to remember him pretty quickly.

[sulfuric-deity]

Hermitcraft Pokemon AU thoughts!

(If using this as reference please tag as 'Hc poke au' so I can see, also feel free to tag me :))

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This has been haunting me for a while so I figured I would throw them here for some people to enjoy

Basically this region would have a gym for some types (the most i could fit), and the order is pre determined so each gym holds pokemon of a certain level. Once you get through all of them four are randomized to be your big trail at the end, with their real Pokemon.

The pokemon trial is a BIG DEAL needing to be signed up for and then selected as it is so intensive.

The main antagonist is an organization researching 'Sculk' who got infected :)

As well as an unusual myth that seems to be interested in a few of the members. The Watcher.

Now onto hermits and the rough order of gyms!

OTHER ROLES:

Rendog-

He is the host for the trails, the charming man who will guide you along your journey. However, somethings seems a little off about him...were his eyes always red? He is not infected with Sculk like the others think, instead The Watcher is using his eyes to gain information about its victims.

Xisuma-

Head pokemon professor, oversees all other branches of research as well as the trail. Elusive to the public, who has never seen his face, but close with the gym leaders as he is the one who calculates pokemon level for that year. Absolutely distraught at the appearance of Sculk, and values the safety of his friends over himself.

Cubfan-

An odd pokemon professor, researching the effects of pokemon moves on humans. He is considered odd, and many protest actually using people for his trails, but he is very careful and ensures consent. Was chosen to go and supervise the Sculk trials alongside the company to see if its harmful to people. (wink wink nudge nudge)

Mumbo-

The youngest pokemon professor, he focuses mostly on the evolution of pokemon and how and when it occurs. He is likely the professor you would see the most, interacting with gym leaders and Ren. When Xisuma begins to evacuate things, and Cub goes missing he is forced to run everything himself. On top of that, his close friend Grian goes missing. Absolutely crumbling under the pressure of the many tasks.

DocM-

The head of the organization researching the Sculk, he seems unaffected by the possession. (Until too late hehe) Cold on the outside, friendly on the inside he won favor of many gym leaders, even if the HEP and public are skeptical of his involvement. He is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Cleo-

She is the head of HEP (Human, Environment, Pokemon) who focus on the human treatment of pokemon and the protection against pokemon rampages. They were tasked with monitoring the Sculk situation. With their 'no bs' attitude, you'd think they would have no friends with all the goofballs around, but its actually just a front for their pure sarcasm.

Joe Hills-

A member of HEP who came from distant lands, wont tell you exactly how or why but will spin fanciful tales of adventure. Actually under arrest for breaking pokemon out 'illegally' in his original region. Protected by HEP now, at least for a while.

XbCrafted-

A field expert HEP member, usually taking care of water based missions. He is close friends with Keralis and beef, often teasing that he could defeat their regular teams easy. During a mission to investigate Sculk along a beachfront, he goes MIA. He is eventually found stranded on an island with all his pokemon fainted, talking to a volleyball with Keralis's face on it. He is fearful of the man after being haunted by the small volleyball child.

Zedaph-

The last member of HEP, hard to spot and even harder to understand in a conversation. Smart enough to be offered a spot as a professor but denied it as he 'doesn't want his creativity limited.' Takes care of the technical aspects.

Gem-

Current Champion! Rumored to be Etho's sibling or otherwise related she takes great pride in her title. Known as GeminiSlay, her pokemon are ruthless, mostly tanks and quick attackers. She often worries about how the public compares her to Etho despite their obvious differences. She takes care of her gym leaders, but always looks for opportunities to drop in for surprise battles, especially with Pearl and Joel.

Grian-

Very close with Pearl, former water gym leader but retired the position to her after she defeated him. Now he takes joy in annoying the other gyms and assisting Mumbo is his research. Still an expectedly powerful trainer. Snail, marine biologist man, surprisingly smart. Goes mysteriously missing during the Sculk breakout, and is found stolen by one of the legendaries of the region (the Watcher.)

GYM LEADERS:

BdoubleO- Grass

Disgruntled about being the first gym leader faced, but takes great pride in wowing the trail-goers and being a difficult first challenge. He takes excellent care of his gym, and enjoys his trail. He claims to be the only Gym leader who defeated Etho. One of the longest standing leaders. During the Sculk infection, he helps to maintain a safe area and contact Etho for help.

Pearl- Water

Takes excellent care of her pokemon and it shows, they are fiercely loyal and in tune with her. Sometimes seeming to move as one entity. Admires Gem for her determination and skill, the pair have a joking rivalry. Also very close with Tango, she likes having the upper hand in battling. She pushes Tango to train his pokemon better against water types. She leads the search for Grian when he goes missing, facing off against the legendary by herself.

Tango- Fire

A bit hot-headed, he can sometimes gain a one track mind when it comes to his projects and forget about his responsibility as a gym leader. He created his own trail, and ensured it was as far from the scorching flames the trail-goers would expect (Decked out themed.) Close to Zedaph, and often helps in HEP contraptions. When his dungeon starts to gain a consciousness of its own, he is surprisingly delighted, even if it costs him possession.

Impulse- Rock

Stubborn, vengeful, and critical he relies on his combined Gym to help even out his flaws. Despite what he considers fatal flaws, he is intelligent, loyal, and protective of his friends which compliment his other half. Like earthquakes he is a powerhouse with his pokemon, often intimidating trail-goers. Although they are very quickly shown otherwise with his welcoming personality.

Skizz- Ground

Overly trusting, friendly, and slack he relies on his combined Gym to help even out his flaws. Impulse pushes him to grow and match his level, as well as not immediately giving up on a grudge. While he calms and grounds Impulse's intense energy. The pair make a deadly duo and are the trial-goers first introduction to the concept of double battles. Warm and welcoming he surprises a lot of people with his demeanor.

Scar- Normal

While normal types seem boring, Scar would adamantly disagree. They have very few weaknesses, and have the potential to learn to many moves outside of their type! A lover of all pokemon trail-goer expect scar to be easy, but are very wrong. His Persian, Jellie, is not as friendly as her trainer. Distraught by the loss of Grian he is incredibly frustrated he cant go to look for his friend due to his wheelchair.

Keralis- Bug

Wide eyed and not that competitive Keralis aims to just have a good time. He showers any trainer who makes it to his gym with compliments luring them into a false security. Despite not being competitive, he is ranked higher than the rest for a reason. Bug types are underrated. Keralis was terrified when XB goes missing, he completely closes his gym to go looking for his beloved princess.

Ijevin- Poison

Goopy spooky guy, takes great joy in being so relaxed and still absolutely destroying people. Stock up on poison heals and hope he's having a good day! He is also one of the original leaders, and has fallen into a comfortable groove and gained mad skills. Overall reliable, and sturdy.

Beef- Fighting

His bulky figure leads most people to believe he is a ruthless fighter, and while this is true, he also has a heart of gold. During XB's disappearance he too closes his gym, strong arming any authorities away as he searches for his friend. He is the one to first find XB, who is fearful of Keralis after being haunted by the ball man.

Hypno- Psychic

A slinking, cheeky figure. No one has ever seen his eyes, and it is rumored that he can brainwash people with his gaze. It is of course not entirely true, but he continues it as it tons of fun watching trial-goers squirm as he watches them. Close with Wels and Ijevin, who takes great pride in making fun of being super effective against his pokemon. One of the older gym leaders.

Welsknight- Steel

What better category for a knight? With speed and tactic he tears down those who get in his way. He takes pokemon battling very seriously, but only because the competitiveness brings him joy. If he wins or loses, he had an amazing time. Although it can be hard to tell, the glare he gives while focusing would make anyone nervous. He plays heavily into the knight bit, people are unsure if je truly believes it (he doesnt.) But...recently he seems a tad more aggressive. And was he always so fascinated with the colour red? The watcher has taken a particular interest in the knight, and is attempting to use him in much the same way as Ren.

(Joel) Smallishbeans-Dark

His sarcastic ease makes most trainers doubt his skills, and he takes great pleasure in watching their faces fall as they realize it is NOT an easy fight. He is not what you'd expect for the Dark element, and he enjoys using contrast to highlight the shadows rather than just cast everything into night. One of the newer Gym leaders, he insists Etho would not get past him in a pokemon battle, and has spent most of his carrer jokingly threatening the man, and trailing after him to beg for a battle.

False- Flying

The strongest of the gyms she is known as the 'Queen of hearts', as she often destroyed the dreams of those who dared to face her. She is the last hurdle before the final stretch, trainers often get sloppy now and she takes advantage of it. The longest reigning leader, she doesn't seem to want to retire anytime soon. Very close with Ren, but too busy to immediately notice his changes.... She is vital in helping drive off the Sculk, her powerful team helping to clear infected Pokemon and trainers.

Etho-

Former Champion, held the title for many years before willingly giving it over to his apprentice. He is many peoples spark for wanting to be a trainer, and he is still incredibly talented. (Despite Gem's boasting.) Now he wanders across the land to revisit friends and watch the youngsters train, until someone is able to make it to his newly established gym. Having a soft spot for ice types he took up maintaining a gym as hobby and to still enjoy battling hard-working trainers.

[mielwriting]

Venti 🦠?

Gods Can Get Sick? - AlbusLebron - 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game) [Archive of Our Own]

Available here on Tumblr and on ao3!

Illness was not an issue he ever had to reckon with as a wind wisp. He envied his siblings in that regard. The Thousand Winds were unable to related to his sickness, so they tried to comfort him in their own ways. Some of them stayed with Venti, while others scoured the continent in search of a solution. They snuck into the Akademiya’s libraries, swept through Cloud Retainer’s blueprints, and even searched the remains of the Fontaine Research Institute for a cure to a divine cold. He had gotten sick plenty of times before, but each time, some wind wisps searched Teyvat. They hoped that, in the centuries since the last time he was sick, someone had come up with something that could help him recover faster. 

Meanwhile, Venti was sorely rethinking his decision to live outside. Normally, he loved the outdoors! He loved laying on a high branch at Windrise, feeling the way the breeze shakes the trees, and occasionally feel the cool rain on his skin. Now though, his whole body ached, and the roots of Vennessa’s Tree simply felt uncomfortable. 

While his old friend’s Tree was normally his go-to healing spot, that was more for magic issues, such as alchemical corruption or losing some of his power. Against a regular (divine) cold, the Tree was unfortunately unable to help. 

Venti didn’t want to risk infecting Dvalin, and Andrius was never too comforting. He would love to rest in the hands of his (friend’s) statue, but his stronger-than-a-human’s sneezes would attract unwanted scrutiny, and likely bother the people in the plaza. And then the Sisters would notice, and insist on trying to heal him or having him rest in the cathedral’s recovery wing. And then he’d be stuck listening to choir songs singing praises he didn’t deserve, while all the sisters prayed to himself so he could get better!

So, he stayed at the roots of Vennessa’s Tree, trying to make himself comfortable, while several wind wisps tried to comfort him. He closed his eyes, and tried once again to relax. 

“Oh! Apologies, I wasn’t expecting you to be out here.”

He slowly opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the voice, where Grandmaster Jean was standing. She looked concerned. 

“Grandmaster Jean!” He mouths the word ‘acting’ as she goes to correct him, “What a pleasant surprise! What brings you to Windri-Achoo!” Venti groaned.

“I often visit Lady Vennessa’s Tree to clear my head. Are you alright?”

He winced at the thought that he was adding more stress to her plate, “Of Course, Grandmaster Jean!” He wished his voice didn’t sound as hoarse.

Jean looked conflicted, then took a few steps towards Venti and sat down next to him, “I hope I’m not being too presumptuous, but… I wasn’t aware Archons could get sick.”

Venti sneezed again, then looked at Jean, “Oh, it’s just something I have to deal with every few centuries. Alas, even gods are not immune to colds,” He sighed dramatically, “Perhaps this is my punishment for stealing Master Diluc’s wine…”

She looked at his lap, where several wind wisps were currently resting, “Then are the… wind spirits also sick?”

He followed her gaze to the sleeping wind wisps, “Ah, no, they’re just trying to make me - Achoo! - feel better.” 

“Is that why you’re spending more time at the Tree? You mentioned before that it helps you heal.”

“Alas, Valiant Vennessa’s tree only helps heal ailments of the magical kind. Such a mundane problem cannot be healed from a magical source.”

She looked down at her own lap, “I know it’s not my place to question your judgment…”

He placed a hand over his heart and closed his eyes, “Grandmaster Jean, you wound me! I can take any criticism you have to throw at me!” He let his hands fall to his sides, opened his eyes and looked at Jean, “I value your opinion, really! Whatever it is you have to say, please don’t let my status as an archon keep you from sharing!”

“If Lady Vennessa’s Tree can’t heal your cold, then why are you still sitting outside? Fresh air and exercise is imperative to a quick recovery, but so is proper rest. I can’t imagine it’s easy to make the trip to Windrise every day. Surely there’s a park closer to your house.”

“Oh, I don’t actually have a house in the city! I usually just sleep outside.” 

She looked horrified, “Lord Barbatos-”

He quickly interrupted, “It’s fine, really! I love the outdoors!” His smile didn’t seem to convince her. 

“I cannot in good conscience allow a citizen of Mondstadt, archon or otherwise, to remain outside while they are recovering from an illness. I can offer you my house’s spare bedroom.”

“That’s really not -Achoo! - necessary, Grandmaster Jean. Really, this just happens sometimes. I’ll be fine in a few days… ah… ah… Achoo!” 

“I insist, Lo- Venti. We don’t want whatever you have to get worse. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want myself, your other friends, and all your… wind spirits to worry you aren’t taking care of yourself.”

He gasped, “I can’t believe you Grandmaster Jean! Using my compassion against me,” he draped his hand over his forehead, “Oh, woe is me if- Achoo!... Ah… Ah… Achoo!” He dropped his hands back to his sides, “... I’ll go, if only to give you peace of mind. You may have a point about proper rest.”

She smiled, “I’m glad to hear it,” she held a hand out to help him up. As he stood up, several wind wisps roused from their sleep and floated up beside his head. 

“There’s plenty of room for the wind spirits too.”

He took her hand, and smiled earnestly, “Thank you, Grandmaster Jean.”

*** 

An hour later, he was laying on her spare bed, which he had to admit was much comfier than a tree. He was still sneezing every few minutes, but he was as relaxed as he could be in present conditions. Several of the Thousand Winds floated next to him. 4 were trying to sing to him, 3 were nuzzling against him to provide comfort, and others were playing with his hair. 

One of his braids was dangling over the edge of the bed, and 2 wind wisps were quite entertained by watching it sway in the small breezes they created. The other braid had come undone entirely, and 3 wind wisps were trying to rebraid it for him. 

Each time he sneezed, they lost their grip, the half-done braid fell apart, and they had to start over again. It would be a few sneezes before they learn to braid his hair quick enough. They don’t seem to mind having to start over. In fact, they seem to really enjoy constantly braiding his hair. Venti suspects that if his sneezing didn’t regularly undo their progress, they would’ve redone the braid several times by now.

Venti doesn’t want to think about the chaos the other 988 winds were out causing. Instead, he thinks about how nice Jean was to give him the bed even though he probably caused more work for her. He would have to repay her somehow once he got better. 

For now, though, he was content to doze off, safe in his old friend’s house. 

[hardworkandguts]

Weekly Catch-up #1

So, let's see how this works. It's the start of a new season and I have put maybe too many shows on the list to check if they're interesting or not. I'll be experimenting with the format to see how can I make this work. Pretty sure next time I won't be so wordy because I can skip explaining the premise. Or even writing at all, there's weeks where there isn't much to say and once again, I'm not going to do recaps.

(next week)

What was on?

Kowloon Generic Romance

(ep 1,2) One of the shows that caught my eye early on, a (checks title) romance anime set in the Kowloon Walled City that was never demolished between two co-workers at a real estate company. Reiko Kujirai loves new experiences, while Hajime Kudou prefers things as they are. One day she finds herself falling for him, and later finds a photo of them... in celebration of their engagement. It looks quite good, and for so much talk about nostalgia, it does have a certain retro touch to it, almost like a 90s OVA that was lost to time. Judging from the initial two episodes, between the visuals, the intriguing world and the plot mysteries, it's the frontrunner for best show of this spring.

Witch Watch

(ep1, 2) Maybe it's becayse how much I like Kiki's Delivery Service (and maybe I should do a post on it), but the concept of "new witch graduated and must now deal with the outside world" kind of draws me in, that's how I ended up watching Flying Witch, a show I still think of occasionally. Witch Watch however is very much a romcom about Nico Wakatsuki, a witch who ended her training in the witches holy land and is now back in regular society, and picked her childhood friend Morihito Otogi as her familiar, as he's from a long line of Oni. It's looking great if you want something quite silly, her general clumsiness and not knowing the details of spells doing a lot for it. Best joke, the spell to make things lighter she later discovers when used on people turns them into airheads. Then later, they discover things get heavier to compensate, and I'm not going to spoil the joke the episode ends on. Second episode has them going to school, and Morihito's attempt at keeping her identity under wraps doesn't get past her introduction in the first day. I think this is going to be fun, even more knowing it will stay with us until Fall.

Your Forma

(ep1, 2) Right, who's been playing too much Deus Ex before doing their designs for in-brain HUDs? Am I complaining? No, I kinda want to play that game. From the first two episodes, it starts as a murder mystery where Harold, the android partner of Echika Hieda, an investigator capable of diving into said brain implants and also doesn't like robots, is found to be a suspect as he's one of the three models that look like the suspect. It's a bit hard to tell where it's going by now beyond the resolution leading to some tension between the leads, but it's also a bit of a tired scenario by now: brain implants, androids breaking Asimov's laws (no sorry, the Laws of Respect), and I'm sure we're getting into if they have rights in no time. While it has good ideas visually, I've found character design and backgrounds a bit uninspiring, and the story... Yeah, I feel I've been here before. It's distributed by Remow, so check if it's available in your area on YouTube.

Summer Pockets

(ep1) Had this as a "maybe" because the story of a boy who uses his Summer break to help sort his departed grandmother travel memorabilia at her place in a small rural island and clear his head after some swimming related incident and meets four different girls reminds me of a trend many years ago of shows that were technically very pretty, very slow paced and mostly focused on the low drama of the mundane and human emotion, where the main character and the rest of the cast help each other out with their own problems and limitations, as the gentle music plays over the cicadas, maybe with some supernatural element, and then finished on some sort of bittersweet nothing of an ending because the important was the growth along the way or something like that, and... I'm not sure if I'm in for that ride. First episode really didn't do much to quiet that feeling, and since Spring 2025 seems loaded, I'm giving it three episodes to do it. At least it has two things going for it - it looks pretty and unlike Tasokare Hotel I can at least go to the Play Store and see the game it is based on.

Gundam Paper Jam In Tray

(ep 1) So, this comes just days after (finally) watching both Gundam 0079 and Zeta Gundam, and decided to watch it based on my fresh knowledge of maybe 5% of the whole franchise. It's set on a different timeline from the original show where Char Aznable steals the Gundam and leads Zeon to victory, then disappears. It's hard to say that much about it, as the first episode was a bit messy and tried to push too many ideas at once without really giving enough attention to any, but it looks pretty good and should be at least mildly entertaining should it work out a pace at which to tell a story.

Uchuujin MuuMuu

(ep 1) the description - a socially anxious college freshman has to share her apartment with a space cat who's trying to rediscover technology lost to his people - was enough to get a "yeah, maybe" out of me, and while I didn't expect the edutainment parts of it, it may elevate how bizarre everything is. So, the race MuuMuu belongs to blew up their own planet in the middle of a war, but not before killing all scientists and smart cats, so by exclusion, MuuMuu is an idiot, and is now disassembling home appliances trying to figure out how they work, and let's be honest, if cats could do that, I'm sure they would. Unfortunately for him, while Sakurako can search things on her phone, she can't exactly explain how they work, either, which also serves as a comment on how very little we know of things we use every day. I think I'll stick to it, it has the potential to get really weird.

Apothecary Diaries

(ep 2.14) So, after making everyone think about "frogs", it was time for the fan service episode, which opened the way for a new mystery in the imperial palace Maomao has the opportunity to solve. It's not a particularly difficult one for her, but still provided another insight on how Jinshi protects the order in the rear palace, so it was dealt in half an episode. For the second half, it keeps moving towards the finale as Jinshi and Gaoshun discuss when to bring her inside his other (possibly even bigger IYKWIM) secret that she kind of figured out already, but tries not to think about too much.

Food For The Soul

The first show I added to this season "must check" list, it's another cute girls doing cute things, based on the greatest Japanese tradition of showing food, in the same week I watched Wakakozake, so what could go wrong. Well, it *could* be boring, but within the first minutes there's a character trying to pass a bribe to a university clerk to let her start a club with less than 4 members. Gremlin. Yes. At the end we know the main purpose Shinon had to create the club was to have a place to hang out, shattering the dreams Mako had of cooking and going to restaurants together. If it turns out to be group Wakakozake, it's a winner.

Mono Weekend Animation

Right, from one club to another, now the stories of two girls who joined the photo club in their first year of high school, and now are running it. Or, trying to, as Satsuki misses her senpai who graduated and is now in fetal position under the table and An mostly followed her into the club for reasons. Then they meet a mangaka who was burned out after finishing her last work and forgot to send them a camera, and needs inspiration for a new work, and finds the adventures of the two girls just the thing. This is both another cute girls doing cute things anime, with a hint of hobby anime, as you can guess, photography and video. Sure, why not (extends the spring posting window to three weeks).

'Tis Time For "Torture", Princess

(#266) Ah, one of the things this series does best, introducing new characters and making a mockery of expectations immediately, this time the Hell Lord's older brother, who obviously looks as menacing, but is also as considerate as him. Do I want to see this animated in the second season? Yes.

In other news:

Makeine was confirmed for a second season. Kind of surprised but happy with it.

The movie version of Rose of Versailles gets an April 30th release date and English dub, on Netflix (via).

City The Animation by Arawi Keiichi gets a trailer, should be one of my favourites for the Summer season, already hinting it will have some of the "didn't need to go this hard" animation of Nichijou.

Also getting a new trailer, the new Ghost In The Shell adaptation by Science SARU scheduled for next year. It's apparently not following the tone set by the 1995 movie adaptation, but closer to the occasionally goofier source material, which will certainly be a big point of contention for those who see the Oshii version as the standard Major.

Questions?

Anonymous didn't ask, but sent re: Guild Receptionist:

Its funny because the Guild Receptionist anime completely botched the novel because the novel actually has really good pacing and the anime basically deleted half the novel cast off just so they could give Jade more screen time. The first volume goes into depth about why there are bosses and the ancients, also they cut off so many key elements that it feels weird and empty

Ooooh, that really explains a lot why it feels off and a bit all over the place. Really a missed opportunity on what's a cool concept but at least now I know it's an adaptation problem.

[slowd1ving]

I. THAT'S WHAT ALL THE PEOPLE SAY ･ﾟ FRANCIS MOSSES

"Your usual, Mr Francis Mosses?” you repeat with the same inflection. It has to stay the same. A name to a star will not make it any more personal – it’ll remain the same cold distance away, stay the same burning core of amorphous light, in a fixed set of constellations. It has to. But you’ve overlooked the most salient point. Humans are not stars. There's a reason you stuck with this shitty diner job: routine. So, why the hell does that keep changing for you? warnings + general: amab!reader, nsfw, depression, smoking + unhealthy habits, diner au, trauma, military background (made up unit for doppelgangers) so canon divergence, obsession lowkey

MISC. MASTERLIST

THAT'S LIFE MASTERLIST

MASTERLIST ・゜・NAVIGATION

NEXT PART・

‘That’s life (that’s life), that’s what all the people say.’

Tinny, crackling music permeates the small diner. Sound waves echo against the chequered tiles bathed azure in the blue hour, and return to the record player in an endless cycle. Rinse and repeat. Devour yourself and be devoured in exchange. Ouroboros.  

Is there particular meaning to be found in musing over such philosophy? Maybe, maybe not – the only witnesses to tell you otherwise are the winking lampposts stationed outside the building. Thus, these thoughts keep you company on such cold days; there’s no one to tell you otherwise, after all. 

There’s not much else to do here. You’d change the record, but the only vinyl left behind by the old owner is the old ‘66 Sinatra. You’d clean up, but that’s all you really do. You’d talk to someone, but this hour before sunset isn’t the time slot of any of the usual regulars. 

Day in, day out, they come at their methodical intervals: Mr Henryk Jameson at quarter to five, a new woman on his arm each time; Mr Steven Rudboys at six, desperately rushing home with two takeout boxes for himself and his retired father; and Miss Mia Stone at half-past twelve, who talks a big deal about her students while she tucks into her onion rings and beef burger on her lunch break. 

There are others, of course, but these are the ones who remain most salient in these changing times. 

Here, there’s never a rush. It’s a languid sort of pace, one that allows you to be one of only two workers that run this place. The quarterly margin for the books is awful narrow; it dances on the line between profit and loss, and occasionally plays jump-rope with it. But you’re not here at the edge of town to make money.

You like the quiet life. 

You leave making money to the businessmen in the city, with their pinstriped suits and powdered foreheads. They’re regulars at lunch: hands gingerly poised to avoid greasing their harsh charcoal three-pieces, mouths pursed like an asshole sphincter as they sip their scalding instant brew, and eyes constantly honed in on other businessmen hawkishly. 

Some things just never change, just like this diner. It was the same three years back: same red retro bar stools, same fluorescent neon graphics, same polished black counters that left behind countless fingerprints. 

Still no customers. 

You slip a pack of Old Gold from your apron, lighting the last stick with the stovetop. At least you have the courtesy to step outside while you smoke, unlike some of your uncouth patrons. Some people just won’t understand basic manners, and that’s fine (it's not fine). 

The heady nicotine rush soothes you. At times like this, it reminds you of the field ration pack new recruits received on a weekly basis. 

Doppelgänger Detection Department: Special Extermination Unit. Honourable discharge, May 7th, 1973. Humanity’s adapted to its challenges well. 

You breathe the smoke out; it trails grey against the blue fog of the sky. The taste lingers: slightly nutty, moderately sweet. 

You know this flavour well. 

It preludes the adrenaline of battle.

‘You’re riding high in April, shot down in May.’

Why does the Special Extermination Unit want its cadets high on the rush while they fight? The answer’s surprisingly simple. 

Forget fear.  

It’s drilled into each new recruit. Fear clouds your mind. Fear leads to irrationality. Fear tears apart that which must remain compartmentalised. 

Better have cadets slightly out of the loop of the mind than pissing their pants in the face of a doppelgänger. Or faces (plural). Or lack of one. 

On the quiet road, a small van emerges from the mist. It’s nothing special; a white standard model awash with the indigo haze of dusk. You take a drag whilst observing it; when it pulls up into the diner driveway, its wheels crunch on the gravel with a sound that suspiciously resembles a breaking ribcage.

This is new. 

Your universe has been slightly tilted on its axis of rotation. 

When he takes a step towards the fluorescent light blinking from the joint, his breath comes out in neon puffs. Just like you – except, you know, your lung damage is significantly worse. 

You’ve never seen him before. Methodically, you observe him in your scrupulous capacity: a habit from your regiment that you’re hard-pressed to let go of. He’s of shorter stature than you, just an inch or two. Dark brown hair is slicked back neatly under a cap that blatantly reads ‘MILKMAN’ in bold letters. While his white shirt and dark trousers have been ironed, there are slight wrinkles in the fabric that betray his hard labour. 

While you observe him, he observes you. Those tired eyes gleam brick-red when you jostle the stick of nicotine in your fingers, and you don’t doubt the gleam in your own. He moves closer, and you can see the pronounced eye bags under his eyes and the gentle arch of his nose. Closer still, and your eyes can pick up his lashes, while your olfactory senses notice the milky, powdery scent that breaks through the smoke. 

Wordlessly, he moves past you. The heavy glass door swings shut behind him, and you swear quietly as you step on your still-lit cigarette to snuff it out. 

He’s waiting when you go in; his hands roughly loosen his bow-tie as he stands at the counter. No, he leans against it with his hip: tiredness more pronounced in the harsh neon incandescence. 

Your routine has been broken for the first time in three years. 

“Hard day?” 

“Mm,” he acknowledges laconically with a hum, not a word more of affirmation. You give up in your meagre attempts to further crash and burn this aforementioned routine. 

“What will it be for you, then?” The end of your question is markedly more flat. Boredom has seeped in once again. 

“House special.” His voice is low when he replies, vibrating at a frequency that sticks into your own sternum. “And a coffee to-go.”

“It’ll be ready in five or so minutes, sir.” You rip the small receipt from the pager and hand it to him – that marks the end of your conversation. 

Whilst the onion and beef cooks on the griddle, you take the time to watch him. He’s a singularity – an anomaly – in your Frank Sinatra-hazed day. Though, despite his strange role in your life as an unexpected variable, he seems painfully ordinary. His head’s tipped back against the cherry-red leather booth: eyes shut in a way that relaxes his face and makes him look at peace rather than exhausted. No, scratch that. Who are you kidding? He looks even more exhausted like this – hands unfurled on his lap, shoulders loose in their sockets as he slumps. 

Even his hat looks exhausted, deflating slightly on the seat beside him. His hair loses its slick quality; it’s messy in a way that pushes you to add an extra shot of espresso to his cup. He deserves it more than those stick businessmen in their suits, you think. 

You turn down the volume dial of the record player. Just a bit, until the vocals and instruments blend together as a singular ode to swing. It creaks from disuse – you don’t think it’s ever been turned. 

When you walk to his table, you do so soundlessly. Doppelgänger senses extend further and better than human ones; you know from ample experience. In the welcome video for new cadets, the crackling voice mentions such every few minutes. Even with your boots that squeak on newly-mopped floors, you manage the walk silently. 

Just as softly, you place his order down on the table and take that instantaneous moment before the aroma reaches him to observe once more. 

His face is serene. Soot-black lashes flutter as he finally registers the source of warmth and the caramelised aroma of the dish, and you take a step back. 

“Mm,” his hum is quieter this time – sleep-tinged. “Thanks.”

That short exchange is nothing less than your galaxy finally exploding. 

You don’t know his name. But you’ve got a great memory, and he’s currently the crowning supernova in the middle of it. 

‘But I know I’m gonna change that tune, when I’m back on top, back on top in June.’

The unexpected variable turns into an expected one. 

You haven’t seen him for a week, but he shows up during your shift seven days later – eerily at the same time he had previously. He looks the same – you’d know the signs of a doppelgänger, of all people – and you breathe a sigh of relief. 

Wait. 

Why would you care?

You thoughtfully thumb the plastic of the pack in your apron pocket as you deliberate the question. You’re not one to get attached to people – you’ve blown through the brains of faces that looked almost identical to your comrades-in-arms, with nothing more than indifference. 

So, why?

You really shouldn’t have started the philosophical thoughts at this time. It appears you’ve Pavlov’ed yourself into introspecting when dusk begins. 

He sits in the same booth he did last time, half-pressed against a window on the left side. His hair is mussed once more, while his bow-tie is strewn haphazardly on his cap. It almost feels like a routine is beginning. Except it’s not, since he’s awake this time. 

He looks at you with those dark brown eyes, and you don’t look back. 

And you’re determined to stick to your pessimistic and mundane world-view, so once you place his food down, you head into the azure realm to light a stick once more. 

You watch his white van, parked neatly in between those two pale lines while a stray cat circles around the warm tires. He watches you in turn. You can feel those pinpricks of pupils, boring straight into your back as you breath the menthol in, and out, and in, and out. Those instincts and reflexes of yours have been honed to a furious degree, after all. This much is child’s play. 

Are you a deviation from his routine, as much as he is to yours?

You’re not sure what to think. 

‘I said that’s life (that’s life) and as funny as it may seem, some people get their kicks, stomping on a dream.’

It’s the third time meeting him that you learn his name. It’s not like you learn it on purpose, but you’ve finally got a name to put to your blue-tinged anomaly. 

“Your usual, sir?” Your voice is polite, yet anyone could sense your exhaustion clear in your cadence. It’s been a long day, filled with numerous Miss Mia Stones after she brought her colleagues over – an exponential increase of imaginary students to talk about. Ever since he began eating here, there seem to be more deviations to your peaceful boredom. 

“Francis Mosses,” he replies without a hum for the first time. You pause in pre-filling the pager. The world grinds to a halt for a brief, starry moment. 

“Your usual, Mr Francis Mosses?” you repeat with the same inflection. It has to stay the same. A name to a star will not make it any more personal – it’ll remain the same cold distance away, stay the same burning core of amorphous light, in a fixed set of constellations. It has to. 

But you’ve overlooked the most salient point. Humans are not stars. 

“Yes, please.” He maintains eye contact this time. Perhaps it’s the fatigue that’s trained his gaze on you. Perhaps he’s slightly delirious. Perhaps it’s neither. 

Regardless, you can feel a slight shift in attitude, and you don’t like it. 

It’s different when the Businessmen in Pinstripe Suits come by. They’re very Important, they proclaim, so don’t mess up their Coffee and get it done Pronto. They don’t give names, only business cards. They don’t give names, only leave smoke from their Marlboros behind. They don’t give names. That’s how you like it. 

Their seats remain fixed – prime positions to glare at each other while simultaneously flaunting their contracts and suits and new watches. These constellations remain constant. That’s the rule of nature you’ve noticed. It shouldn’t diverge.

It shouldn’t.

It can’t.

You won’t get close to anyone. This is fact.  

‘But I don’t let it, let it get me down.’

The typical reasons for joining the Doppelgänger Detection Department: Special Extermination Unit, colloquially dubbed “Execution Squad”, are one of three: a strong sense of patriotism, a keen desire for revenge, or a death wish. 

You are not a patriot, and you’re definitely unenthused at putting yourself through hell simply to die at the hands of a doppelgänger. Really, there are easier and quicker methods at killing yourself that don't involve this infernal training regime. 

Those invasive pests had broken apart your family. You pick up the weight of the gun to return the favour, losing a bit of your humanity in exchange. 

You take the dangerous jobs – risk is nothing with the nicotine and fury bubbling through your veins. You raid the abandoned warehouses, negotiate and exterminate the intelligent doppelgängers, and cull the ones impersonating animals. 

With each mission, you lose part of yourself. 

You shoot people who look like your friends, fellow humans like yourself. Children. Elderly. It’s exceedingly difficult to remind yourself it’s not human blood coagulating on your hands. 

Your sacrifice serves you well. Your anger bolsters your righteous path as Captain. It doesn't quite feel like revenge when it’s paved with gold and a heavy salary, but what do you know?

All stars burn bright before they die, right?

‘Cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin’ around.’

It’s been a little over two months, and the supernova has become part of your galaxy. 

He orders, he sits, he takes a short rest. While he eats, he watches you smoke. You think that’s the end of that, but it’s not. 

Mr Francis Mosses stops coming weekly. Rather, he’s begun coming nightly.

Just as the clouds begin turning that alizarin blue, he parks his compact van in the driveway. You hear him before you see him – senses enhanced by your years in this country’s pseudo-military, muscle and sinew tensed in anticipation. Each gravel crunch is a signal, each careful step a firework. You can hear the engine hum as though it was by your ear. 

You don’t know when the anticipation started. You don’t particularly like it. 

“Mm,” his voice has become slightly rougher. Those dark shadows beneath his eyes look particularly deep tonight, when the dusk coalesces faster. “What do you recommend?”

This is new. This is uncharted territory, but your supernova always throws out the map regardless. 

You blink, thoroughly perturbed by his sudden question. Self-consciously, your fingers thread through your apron ties. 

“I don’t know.” You’re carefully neutral, to the point where you’re even boring yourself. “I haven’t really given it much thought.”

You really haven’t. It’s not like you particularly care about what you eat; smoke distorts your perception of hunger, and you just pick whatever’s closest to you.

“Pick something for me, then, anything at all,” he offers. You stare at him like he’s grown another eyeball. This, you think, is the most words you’ve heard in a row from him. It’s slightly disturbing. “I think I’ll like whatever you choose.”

You stay silent, with neon lights dancing on your impassive face as a response. 

When you make his strawberry milkshake and chicken club sandwich, he’s not closed his eyes. Rather, he watches while you work, much like you’d watched him when he first came to the diner. And rather than his usual booth, he sits right on the cherry-red stools at the bar counter, right in front of the kitchen station. 

It’s unnerving.

The streetlamps create halos around him. He’s a cerulean angel, you realise, one that’s tired and exhausted from the divine lifestyle. 

For the first time in three years, you can hear something other than the vinyl. If you stop to think about it, you think it’s your pulse drumming impatiently in your ears. But that would be absurd. 

Everyone knows that when you die, your heart shrivels cold and hard. 

You've died several times over. A pulse is impossible.

‘I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king.’

From the very beginning in the Execution Squad, you’re taught two fundamental rules. The first is that though these creatures may appear human, you should extricate any and all pity you may have for them. 

The second fundamental is that doppelgängers work alone. Amongst apex predators like these, they hunt alone and live alone. These truths were observed when they first arrived, and you don’t question them. As a Captain, you’ve repeated the same tenets to your subordinates dozens of times, and they have served you well. 

That is the ‘routine’ you’ve created. Nothing good comes from its mutations.  

Don’t feel pity for these creatures. They’ll take your weakness and slit your throat with it. 

It’s supposed to be a simple operation. 

Use their lack of cooperation amongst themselves against them. A natural rivalry is present in the species.

You’ve grown complacent. It seems you don’t remember the most pivotal tenet of them all. 

But don’t expect this species to remain constant. 

You’ve already sent your Lieutenant back to base on your foolish assumption that this is just a simple extermination job. 

“Two confirmed doppelgängers in the vicinity, may be more in hiding,” you mutter. Your pistol is strapped to your thigh, whilst your shotgun rests heavy against your back. It’s a comforting weight. 

It’s also a false security. 

No one can deny your experience. You know your subordinates inside and out; you’ve eliminated their doppelgängers countless times. You shoot their faces. You watch the viscera drip from your sleeve. You tuck away your weapon. 

The bile stops rising eventually when you use enough bullets. 

That’s enough reminiscing. 

When you light the stick, you’re under the eaves of a crumbling factory. Rain drizzles from forlorn clouds – it’s winter, and you’re starved for warmth. Anything will do, even if it’s the hot blood congealing off your body in dense rivulets. 

It’s sickening, but you’re sick in the head and have been for a long time now. 

It’s not bloodthirst, but a cold detachment. Even without the nicotine, you think you could stay compartmentalised enough to face hordes of doppelgängers. 

Slightly nutty, moderately sweet. A note of sourness, you appreciate. 

You can sense several figures moving around in the factory. Even though they appear closer to each other than usual, you don’t think anything of it. 

After all, this is your ‘routine’. 

When you stub the smoke out into the soaked pavement, you know it’s time to move. Though there’s some unease lingering in the back of your throat, you dismiss it. 

You shoot the lock open. Your dark coat whirls behind you as the door clicks inwards. 

Several pairs of eyes swing towards you, and you freeze. 

How could you not?

These aren’t the people you’ve spent each day with for the past few years. These are your parents, your siblings, your cousins.  

No one warned you about this. 

This wasn’t in the manuals you read. 

When they say your name, you crumple like the building you’re in. Your tears cascade like the rain outside. 

You know their faces. They’re real, breathing mementos of long-gone humans. You want to believe; you can feel your precious tenets disintegrating with each step you take towards your family. 

Your family.  

Through blurred eyes, you can’t examine them in detail. They croon towards you – hushed murmurings of love and comfort – and you cannot help but give in. The gun at your thigh, the gun at your back; they’re there because of them, your family. 

Those compartments in your mind. They’re gone, burst open as though they were floodgates. 

You’re held for the first time in a decade. Human warmth envelopes you, before it starts suffocating you. 

Give in, it says. 

You want to. You want to, damn it, more than anything. 

You lied when you said you didn’t want death. 

You crave it the most. 

“I’m sorry,” you plead. “I can’t.”

“Yes you can,” they coo, and for a minute it feels wrong to imagine otherwise. It feels like betrayal to think of them as anything other than kin. 

“I’m sorry,” you repeat through sobs. Your guns are drawn, and you aim at the faces you wanted to see again more than anything. 

This is love, you think. You bear this pain because you love your family. You love them, to the point where you shoot them so they can finally rest beyond the veil. You love them, to the point where you point your gun at yourself and drop it wretchedly when it’s out of bullets. 

You love them, to the point where you’d rip your heart out of your chest to quell their sadness. 

“I’m sorry.” 

Salty tears drip from your face as you shoot for the last time in your career. 

When your Lieutenant finds you, you’re drowning. You’re curled up inside the abandoned factory, bodies strewn around you as you clutch your mother’s face for the last time. It’s not a pretty sight – brain matter and blood drips from you in oceans. They bled like me. They bled like my parents.

You’re choking on the waves. You’ve gotten your revenge. 

You’ve gotten your warmth – the blood and tears and rain scald you. Devils burn when exposed to such liquids, after all; you’re too impure to carry on living. 

Your cries strangle you. Even when you gasp and heave, no oxygen enters your desperate mouth. 

“I’m sorry,” you repeat. Over and over, over and over, over and over, over and over, over and over, you repeat the same syllables. Even when the tears stop, your eyes are curiously blank and you continue the mantra. 

The lack of tears doesn’t matter anymore. The sky cries for you; weeks after the incident leave the area with relentless downpour that doesn’t cease even long after you’re taken away. 

I’m sorry. 

Revenge wasn’t meant to be like this. You had clear expectations; the doppelgänger was never meant to be family. You’d imagined a faceless creature. You hadn’t imagined this at all. 

I’m sorry. 

Episodes like this happen to even the most experienced within the unit. No one can shoulder this burden forever.

I’m sorry.

You’re honourably discharged. As of May 7th, 1973, you’re no longer part of the Execution Squad. 

“Go,” they say. “You’re free.”

No one says anything when you tumble in from hell into a small town on the edge of the city. There, you’ve been given a blank slate. They’ve scrubbed clean the blood from it – it smells like bleach and a myriad of cleaning chemicals. 

You’re allowed to keep your pistol. Though you’re not a part of the Execution Squad any longer, your badge allows you to keep it for self-defence against doppelgängers as a former Captain. It’s less work for the D.D.D – you take on the vigilant role, while they don’t need to put you on the payroll. It’s a pity for them, however. 

You don’t plan on touching it ever again.

When you sign the job contract for a shitty diner that only plays the same record on repeat, you savour it. Though your looping letters still come out bloody, it’s from beef patties rather than doppelgängers. 

It’s a fresh start. 

Here, you’ll create your painfully ordinary, mundane ‘routine’.

It can’t mutate again. 

Please. You plead with fate. Not again.

You don’t plan on feeling hurt ever again. 

‘I’ve been up and down and over and out and I know one thing.’

“My name?” 

“Mm,” Mr Francis Mosses hums. His eyes lazily trace you, and you know he can see the name tag pinned neatly on your chest. You say as much, with as little emotion as possible. 

This is dangerous. Your stomach churns in what could only be nervousness. 

“I’d like to hear it from you,” he comments neutrally. Or not. If you’re not mistaken, the earlier impassivity of his has melted slightly into amicability. You hope you’re mistaken.

Even so, your name leaves your lips like a promise. 

I hate myself. 

If he notices the hidden loathing, he doesn’t say anything. 

‘Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race.’

It happens on the eve of ‘77. Snow softly powders the welkin and the earth, yet everything is still blue. There appears to be no purity where you reside; just a sorrowful, mournful despondency trailing behind you like a grave shroud fluttering on the funeral pyre. 

You’re about to light your second cigarette when you hear that familiar hum of machinery. It sings to you, breaks your blood vessels and rebuilds them once more. 

You hadn’t expected him to come today – it’s a day that should be spent with family, not at some diner where even the most rambunctious couldn’t be found today.

The stick is left between your lips like a kiss. 

When he gets out of his van, he doesn’t move past you. You, the Cerebus of the underworld. You, the mad dog who can do nothing but guard. You, who couldn’t do even that, and failed in your duty. Your honourable discharge is anything but. You’re a disgrace.  

No, he doesn’t move past you. 

His jacket slips off his shoulders and wraps around you. You blink in surprise, sturdy muscles poised to act to this unknown danger. What is this?

He still doesn’t move past you – his nose is slowly turning red in the below zero Celsius weather, while his breath comes out in silvery plumes. It’s unfathomable. 

When he pulls out a lighter, you almost go into anaphylactic shock. 

But you don’t, because your body is a traitor who can’t even die properly. 

You bend obediently at the waist to receive the flame instead. 

This is new. 

It seems like your supernova was able to reach past his limits.

This gravitational pull – it has to be a black hole.

Your galaxies need a thorough reshaping once more, it seems.

“Go, Mr Francis Mosses,” you mumble. “It’s too cold out here for you.”

When he enters the warm diner with a small hum, you miss the small smile on his tired face. 

The heavy glass doors swing shut. You’re alone in the blue world, drinking in the menthol and tobacco and tar and all the flavours that exist on this pitiful planet. Yes, you’re a speck on the planet, and Mr Francis Mosses is at the centre of the orbit. It all comes down to him. He’s the sudden singularity that continuously tilts the axis of motion. 

You don’t think the belt of stars can ever be the same. 

When was the last time you felt like this?

He’s not in his usual space by the counter when you shoulder open the door. Instead, he sits at the booth closest to the record player – Sinatra’s mellow tenor can be heard clearest at the point where the sound waves reach their zero order. It’s a good spot, especially for the eve of the next year; it’s in direct sight of the digital clock that currently reads a quarter to ten. 

You step silently towards him, but there’s no use in that. He’s watching each pace, after all. 

You don’t know what he’s thinking. All this time spent among doppelgängers, and you’ve lost the ability to read humans in return. 

He’s unusual. 

What’s he scheming?

“What would you like, Mr Francis Mosses?” you ask instead. It’ll be an easier answer for you to bear, you think. 

This corner is particularly dim, lit only by the back glow of fluorescence from the reflective walls. You can easily pick up the dilation of his eyes as you move closer; with your sharp eyes, you can even pick up the reflection of you and that coat in his irises. 

He should’ve moved to a brighter spot, you think. You’re not particularly discerning when it comes to these matters. 

“I’d like to share a meal with you for New Years’,” his voice is husky-low with exhaustion. You pity him, having to work to the bone each day. “You can decide what we have.”

“Go home, Mr Mosses,” you reply. 

Maybe he’s like you. Alone, without a supernova to shift his axis. 

“I can’t,” he tiredly remarks. “You’re good company.”

This time when you cook, he keeps his eyes closed with the jacket covering him like a blanket. You’re damn sure it smells like any pack of Old Gold, yet he’s conked out like a baby nonetheless. 

You frown.

What’s with this guy?

He’s out for quite a bit – you watch the minutes drag out until it’s half to eleven. By then, you’ve painstakingly made waffles, generously topped with strawberries. There’s other dishes too from the diner menu: burgers dripping with onions and beef fat, fries coated in powdered spices, and a bottle of cognac you were planning on drinking on the steps tonight. 

It’s New Years’ Eve, after all. 

Your hand reaches out to shake him awake, but you freeze just before collision. 

What’s with this feeling?

Your stomach feels tight, but before you can react, your hand’s already clasped around his deltoid. It’s startling how warm it is; you can feel each steady thrum of his heart, each gasp of lifeblood as it oxygenates and pulses through his cells. 

“Mr Francis Mosses,” you rasp, low and just barely above the strains of swing music. The crackle of the record player seems to be louder than your hushed cadence, but the man awakes quickly regardless of your volume. He takes a moment to register his surroundings, before stiffening slightly upon spotting your hand still on his shoulder. 

You quickly retract it as though burnt. 

For the first time in a while, you can taste the food. It doesn’t go up in smoke, and it doesn’t go anywhere save your stomach. 

When you drink the cognac, Mr Francis Mosses drinks with you. His flushed face is something to behold, something that makes your solar plexus tighter and tighter. 

There’s a burning sensation that claws from your chest. You can’t be sure, but you don’t think it’s the alcohol. 

“Mr Mosses,” you say, glancing at the sky beyond the windows. It’s no longer blue – rather, the black firmament reflects nothing but neon motifs. You step outside, lighting a fresh stick as he follows behind you in a tizzy. 

“It’s midnight,” you exhale. 

“It is.” It is, and it’s the first time you’ve seen him smile like that. Eyes crinkled at the edges, teeth slightly on display. Your breath catches, and the cigarette in your fingers twirls, forgotten in that moment. 

“Happy New Year, Mr Mosses.”

Everything is supercharged. 

For the first time, you truly don’t know what the future will bring. 

[crimsonlyinglilly]

April of Angst and Whump, Day Seventeen

still on catch up

Left Behind - Damon questions the odd vampire living at the boarding house.

For @whumpril 2025 day 17 - Interrogation

For @chaos-company's Angstpril 2025 day 17 - "i did it all for you" Plus Angstpril bonus Alt prompt "what have you done?"

---

He knew better to get attached, he was simply waiting for Mikael's return.

The spell would break eventually; either because of father somehow or outside influences and Elijah would face his father's anger and the accompanying punishment for not waking him himself, despite Elijah's excuse of just following his orders not to interfere.

He had gotten used to being punished to matter what he tried.

It was better to wait nearby, he couldn't risk father going after his siblings if he left nor would he give himself the false hope of rejoining his siblings.

They had lives, were people, he had nothing, was nothing a weapon father had shaped.

Still, despite himself, he had grown comfortable in the peace of mystic falls, tolerating the regular surveillance and questions from the council.

Zachary had gotten him a job at the local library after he realised Elijah had barely left his family's private one during the first year. He checked in on him over time and asked him how he was.

Much like Elizabeth’s similar questions, Elijah attempted to offer them the answers they wanted, but as time went by the answers became more truthful.

Elijah liked the quiet, it gave him time to read the events and lives of the centuries he had lived through but missed out following father.

It also allowed him to slowly get used to dealing with people again.

Father had no interest in humans and they only really interacted with lesser vampires who much the time became their meals or rarer than that, witches, which was tense and short lived every time.

He found himself having to remind himself this was temporary, all of it would end when father returned and Elijah would thank him for it.

Thank him for giving him a purpose.

Just like he had for making him strong.

Yet Elijah was growing soft after a mere almost decade and a half, a sign he perhaps would need Father’s punishments to remind him of his place and purpose more clearly.

The new arrivals were making it only more oblivious to Elijah. 

His host's vampiric relatives.

Elijah didn't particularly like them as they clearly made Zachary tense and uncomfortable but Elijah was but a guest in the boarding house and it was not his right to interfere.

No matter how much he would prefer to, Zach had opened his home to him and gone beyond what was likely expected of him since the council had decided to allow him to stay under watch and now he was watching as these young vampires returned to disturb his life.

The first had been tolerable, he had apparently returned to experience his lost youth, it had made Elijah wonder if Kol or Rebekah had done the same over the centuries, they were of the same age, and Kol had loved acknowledge, perhaps he could have found something to replace magic.

Elijah had forced himself to stop thinking of that soon after he started, his siblings lives were not his to question, they were free and happier without Elijah, why else had they left him behind, why else hadn’t they told him about Niklaus’ true parentage. 

So the first had ignored him beyond suspicious glances and Elijah had granted him the same, even if seeing him with Tatia’s doppelganger burned something in him.

He had loved her and she, him; until they realised the new danger he had his family were to her and Hale. He had helped them pack and watched them leave until they vanished from his newly supernatural sight.

He knows some part of him resented Finn and Sage for what they had when Elijah only had memories of tiny figures disappearing into the distance. Watching Elena grow had helped draw the line between his love and the child in her image but Elena was still Tatia and Hale’s blood, a child of the family he had wished to be a part of and seeing one of the beasts that had been born from his blood family shook his control.

He was trained to kill, made for it, removing Stefan from Elena would be as easy as breathing and yet he held his hand.

He was only here to wait for father, nothing else.

He knew better than to get attached.

The second arrival however had none of his younger brother's wariness and intelligence as besides apparently making his brother as tense as Zachary, he had seen Elijah and instead of listening to the buried self preservation and stepping back from the more dangerous predator he had seen a challenge.

For the week since Damon’s arrival he had become used to turning to find the man in close proximity, blue eyes attempting to bury their way into him and seeing something, Elijah remained polite and evasive in answering his questions. 

Disappearing mid attempted Interrogation, replying with board or unrelated answers.

He was starting to see the other man’s mask crack, he noticed he was almost looking forward to seeing him snap. There was something about Damon that reminding him of both Niklaus and his much younger self;

It was the bravo of false confident and malice to hide the fear and loneliness underneath, that Elijah didn’t know if Klaus still needed and the desperate need to appear in control at all times that Elijah had lost to Father’s rage and overbearing very early in his long immortal life when he finally gave up all control of his life to father.

Warriors followed orders, 

Weapons followed their wielder’s wants, 

There was no room for Elijah in that.

So Elijah had been expecting it, when Damon’s patience ended and he acted recklessly without the fake charm, a chance for Elijah to deal with the boiling tension that was cracking his peace.

To put the younger man in his place and teach him the difference between them.

Although he discovered Damon had much less patience than he thought

“What are you doing here?” Damon demanded again after Elijah returned from the library, positioning himself to cage Elijah against a wall, Elijah allowed it.

“Waiting.” he replied honestly the way he had every time Damon had asked that question

Elijah would never admit it to anyone but he had been distracted by Damon's blue eyes that he missed the stake until a sharp pain swallowed his heart as it impaled it and the numbness of temporary death swallowed him.

----

“What have you done!?” Elijah heard Zachary's voice as he came back to, his vision returned for him to see his legs laying in front of him, he must have slumped down the wall to sit on the floor like a puppet with its strings cut, not a completely wrong image for him, he knew.

But his puppeteer had laid asleep for years before now.

“Come on Uncle Zach,” Damon laughed, Elijah could hear the grin on his face “I did it for you."

“I did it all for you." Father's common claim. 

“I'm doing this for you.” As Elijah choked on blood.

Elijah smothered his shudder and lifted an arm, movement slowed by his half dead state, to curl his hand around the stake.

Raising to stand as he pulled it out, Zachary jaw dropped as he saw him first but with Damon’s back to him, he was unaware of anything until Elijah dropped the weapon.

The wood clattered on the wooden floor and Damon spun.

“What the hell?”

“I told you” Elijah said, cocking his head and finding himself surprised at the flare of amusement and real smile on his face at their, mostly Damon's shock,  but then death had always brought a little of the old him back before it faded. “I'm a special vampire.” He repeated the words from their early meeting.

“You're not a vampire at all,” Damon argued. “You don’t drink blood, not even bunnies like Stef and now Stakes don’t kill you.”

“They do, you just don’t have the right one.” Elijah told him, tempted to share that decapitation and heart removal didn’t work on him either, but he found himself distracted “ And as for blood-” Elijah eyes tracked the pulse point in Damon’s throat as it jumped when the other man clenched his jaw, Elijah could understand why someone turned Damon; he had a very attractive neck.

“I don't feed on humans not for the same your brother does, I've been trained out of that.” He explained, “Humans were too easy of a prey, although my life was far easier when meals weren't so close.”

He moved tearing Damon from Zach side to pin him to the wall by the door,  with his whole body, “weren't so careless.” He hissed into Damon ear before moving down to breath over his jugular, he could feel the jump of the other man's heart, the sudden racing of his pulse made Elijah thirst sharper.

It was only meant to be a threat, a warning of the strength differences between them to get Damon to behave but now he could almost taste the mix of fear and excitement, so close a second and he could have fresh blood and Damon limp under him.

He wanted.

Elijah pushed himself away, shaking the desire away, he knew better than that, father always made him pay for any distractions.

A weapon didn't have wants.

Without looking at either of them he left the room, his point had been made.

“What the Fuck?” Damon's voice carried down the hall and Elijah found the echos of a chuckle building in his chest.

He had been decades since he last laughed, his short reunion with his siblings that had ended in fire and blood when he learned what they had been hiding from Mikael and him.

He knew better, yet-

Damon was going to be trouble, it seemed.

[general-ysines]

im gonna shoot myself if i see one more person say in complete confidence that the hightiers were never held accountable for what they did, that john was punished too severely in comparison, or that the high tiers didnt grow as characters.

johns actions are much more extreme than the high tiers', except maybe arlo. isen, blyke, remi, and most other high tiers were more focused on their own lives than terrorizing weaker people. most of the high tiers' (basically all of them sans arlo) problems were naivete, not realizing the flaws in their system. while johns actions did serve the purpose of showing the high tiers what its like to be weak so that they can realize what is wrong with the hierarchy, johns violence was more extreme than his bullies' and lowkey he was terrorizing EVERYONE, even the people who never did anything to him. johns actions are more extreme, so he gets more extreme repurcussions.

unordinary fans look me in the eye and say that john, who had been terrorizing everyone for at least a month Minimum, shouldnt have to deal w people bsing terrified of him. girl use ur brains. people are scared of john bc he has proved himself unreasonable and cruel, while none of them had problems w arlo (bc arlos actions towards most of them were 1. almost 3 years ago, and 2. considered normal by their society bc as the leader of the school he is also considered the disciplinarian whenever students act up, not considering teachers. his beating up people was different than johns beating up people) and none of the other hightiers had done really anything. cecile isnt innocent btw but none of them had problems w her either bc the few interactions weve seen her have with the common student (juni) seemed friendly..basically the people had little reason to fear the other high tiers outside of their power but john had taken his time making himself a person to fear. fr he was trying to terrify them?? why are we prtending that its unreasonable for them to be scared of him can we please be serious

also johns legal punishment in new bostin and suspension in wellston were both reasonable bc he was regularly hospitalizing people and completely out of control. i dont think u guys realize how strong john is. whenever someone who is seriously described as godlike in power ("god" tier as a term is not that much of an exaggeration by regular human standards) starts going around and beating the shit out of everyone important in a show of power something has to be done. john was EXTREMELY dangerous. also "the punishment wasnt equal" is literally kind of the plot. johns mental spiral at wellston was supposed to expose the unfairness in the system and show how bullies and vicious people should not be able to get away with the things they do to weaker people. we dont think john is that strong bc we're surrounded by the strong in the story, but he is IMMENSELY powerful and should not have been left unchecked. (note, im not saying he deserved readjustment. there should have been a punishment for his literal several counts of felony assault but readjustment was literally psychological torture and he was a month into being 16.)

the hightiers were criticised and held accountable, either by themselves or others. arlo knows full well that he played apart in johns mental spiral and apologised multiple times. remi knows full well that she was naive and should have realized the problem sooner, then takes active steps to solve it and creates a safe space for people of different ranks. blyke literally apologised for shooting at john and had a whole arc of realizing low tier conditions during the x rei outings and trying to be nicer to john and low tiers. idk if isen apologised properly but it is also clear that he knows better than to do what hes done now. the safe house was literally their way of trying to fix their mistakes and be better going forward. aka taking accountability and then working towards being better people??? hello???

also saw somebody say that they acted like the royals had the "moral high ground"... as if they didnt. hello who were the ones actually fixing the problems. who were the ones with real solutions. john was the last in the cast to take accountability and work to be better. john was the schools resident terrorist ??? hospitalizer ??? FELON ??? he has literal FELONY ASSAULT charges fam. and LOTS of them. half his graduating class is actually crazy. since he was rank 427 or something when his ability hadnt come in yet, we can say that there were probably at least 100 people in each grade, since hs is 4 grades. a graduating class is a grade. john beat up 50 people not counting zirian and whoever else in different grades might have attended, not assuming the half the grade thing was an exaggeration. we also arent counting the charges he added at wellston itself. seriously this guy is an absolute menace and the royals were actually better than him morally i dont know why thid is a controversial take in the unordinary fandom. do i have to spell out why "guy with criminal charges for severely injuring 50+ people, probably sending them to the hospital considering he put HIGH TIER remi and blyke in the hospital, who has been terrorizing the school for a while at this point" is worse than "trio of individuals who were raised ignorant to their society's flaws realize the problem and take active steps to fix it, even being so kind as to eventually forgive the guy that put two of them in the hospital like a month prior"

the joker arc is as much johns mental spiral as it is the high tiers' character developments. if u somehow didnt realize that the characters were changing for the better then now u know why fhe english teacher wants you to analyze why the curtain is blue. media literacy come back the kids miss you

[stitchwraith-stingers]

if i had a nickle for every fop / pokemon related post i made id have 3, which isnt alot but its werid it happened thrice

anyways nerd instincts on, come with me i will show you what full pokemon teams i feel like the characters would have, making like 3 of them in the process lmaooo

ill try not to give many characters repeating mon's cuz it probably makes me look repetitive but whatever its ok only human kids sorryyyy, feel free to ask abt other characters ill try to think of something

timmy turner's family would be one of those people that own 6 magikarp that only know splash down random routes, well hes not good at all with battling and arceus knows with how many battles he keeps loosing at school theyll never evolve, yes hes tired of all the comparisons with his bidoof

he grows up to be a fairy elite four member in johto!!! he has 2 sylveons on his team

chloe carmicheal's ace would be her yamper! the team above is her casual / contests, the one below is for serious battles, her family does so much at the same time - breed pokemon, check their friendship, hunt shinies, are professors, are gym leaders, they want her to become a champion while never missing for contests and having to battle highly expirienced trainers isnt easy for her oof, she probably has aton of mons in her PC and does eventually become the champion of johto

chester mcbadbat, i dont think i need to elaborate

AJ's ace would be reuinclus, though he just owns a mew, and probably multible, because of him being involved in some way in project mewtwo, chespin is here just for casual companionship, probably owns more ghost types as time goes on and chestnaught is the official mascot of the galax insitute, which many people there are confused about

trixie tang would only ever show her ninetales at school to appease her "feminine and elegant" persona people see her as, she sides all her "badass" mon's but cares for them deeply inspite of it all, also with the added bonus of ninetales cursing you if you get too close or smth along the lines

tootie would only own these two, no one knows how she got them

remy buxaplenty is not interested in battling, but he does keep his persian with him wherever he goes, furfrou incase he needs to look richer, his furret looks oddly purple....

kevin crocker's ace would be murkrow! he kept his uncles espeon, cutiefly is from his grandma

for the ANW characters, im gonna go by a fun rule someone had left in the comments that i reallyyyy liked :3 - every student has atleast one fairy type

hazel wells' ace would be elmoga, as its been her best friend since she was young, her zorua is a close second though! she owns alot of ghost types since her father is a ghost type specialist in the elite four in unova (moms a bug type specialist), constantly worrying that she wont be as good as the others in battling even though her school isnt big on battling and more bonding with ur mon

jasmine tran's ace would be jigglypuff! however its not uncommon to see her walking around with her popplio outside its pokeball, the jigglypuff was a gift actually, alot of people say its like theyre made for eachother, for reasons probably not actually positive, joltik is there after fearless and uses it to prank others, tinyyyy...... her leafeon had only recently evolved

winn harper's ace would be alolan raichu! surfing is just water skateboarding, so raichu helps with some cool tricks on the playground, theyre also rlly close with their furfrou, who they constantly also dye their fur to match their hair, and also cuz i think theyre a dog person in general, one of the few kids in their school to have fully evolved pokemon since their parents are gym leaders, loves competitive battling!

jenkins' ace would be his deerling, autumn form specifically, he also owns a douduo! from his home region of ye olden kanto, just a normal type specialist, no big deal

the doe twins would own two umbreons, ones regular the other ones shiny, theyve also been gifted tatsugiri and dondozo from their father from his fisherman days back in paldea, though they never use those two outside of battles, double battlers and weridos

whispers fred's main would be an absol! quiet but gets the job done, he also probably thinks that in addition to predicting natural disasters that his absol can sense mythical mons (which doesnt work that way, dont tell him), whismur helps him on the job, along with being a shiny he came across one day!, his slowpoke, ralts and eevee are there for emotional support, doesnt like to battle, probably thinks shiny pokemon are supernatural and brags about his whismur

dev dimmadome i like to imagine doesnt really own a pokemon of his own, they usually just breed and sell them off so he doesnt get to bond with them enough nor has he though about it, but during the battle of the big wand he gets them from foop, he and hazel have this grand battle (emolga probably does some thunder armor bullshit), the buneary refuses to evolve and admitibly doesnt like him, may or may not join hazels team instead and may or may not symbolise their relationship idk idk