#that really suit the au and help expand upon it

[aurora-boreas-borealis]

Why am I always so torn over the idea of sharing and developing ideas as a group?

[chowadoe]

so more on that role reversal au...

Shadow (created as a Weapon Against Humanity) who was eventually raised, and exploited, by G.U.N to become Humanity's Ultimate weapon and Sonic, found by Robotnik

some more expanded thoughts below ^_^

SHADOW - G.U.N AGENT

Shadow was initially created with the intention of being a Weapon Against Humanity. after a life-altering incident, G.U.N. takes Shadow into their custody, raising him to become one of their top agents, exploiting him.

he's constantly under government surveillance... inhibitor rings (developed by G.U.N.) are clamped onto him like a shock collar so he is unable to tap into his full power. (Shadow has neither tested nor does he know the extent of his strength.. he has never tried removing them. G.U.N. is the only one who can remove them.)

the hypocritical method in wanting their weapon (cough trained dog) to exercise and develop restraint on his own terms, and yet forcefully acclimating him.

Shadow’s aware of his past. Definitely struggles with Existential dread about why he’s on Earth and what he was made for. he wants to (and feels like he should) do good, but if he was initially made with destructive intent… is he compensating this way? is this what he really wants? no.. he shouldn't think like that.. Maria would want him to be good..

If not to make the world the better a place, if they still treat his kind as inferior and sometimes, even a threat to the whole human race, does humanity and this planet still deserve its rite for redemption? What is humanity? Is that something he’s capable of, as a weapon of mass destruction?

what is he trying to prove here? His docility? His ability to be obedient and be, by human standards, good? what does that mean in a world that may never accept them, and much less him- a synthetic and all-unnatural organism forged from humanity’s worst and an alien race only capable of Evil and wrongdoing. a being so perfectly suited for any and all forms of persecution. Humankind’s scapegoat. He thinks about Maria.

Maria remains a guiding light. Back then, she would sneak Shadow out to gaze upon the Earth, her former home. She misses it, the lush greenery, the sun, the people. she hopes that Shadow will get to experience what it’s like.

au shadow is emo edgy in a sad wet adult 40yo cat leon kennedy kind of way. au sonic is emo edgy like a 14yo that found out you could buy a tattoo gun on amazon without a license. I know nothing about resident evil

when he's not on a mission, he's usually in his "room" (extremely generous word for containment chamber/training facility.) he's like a hamster in a cage with toys to play with . (treadmills. race tracks. dummy robots. Ak-47s.) He's allowed to freely roam HQ from hours 6am-10pm, and if not, he is usually escorted by a guard, unless its Rouge sneaking him out. But beyond that, it's not like the ultimate lifeform needs that much sleep, and it'd be bad to have their ultimate weapon roaming the halls without supervision. but let's say there's the occasional nocturnal scavenger providing him a bit of nightly mischief that even the most complicated most difficult to navigate ventilation system cannot keep a natural-born burrower out..... (haha)

SONIC - ACCOMPLICE

Robotnik’s “accomplice” (adoptive son?)

Sonic goes along with Robotnik’s schemes but has his own ulterior motives .. after all, working under someone is still infringing on his sense of freedom, independence, and pride.

He only rlly helps out Robotnik out if it helps him… robotnik makes some new tech that tickles his , esp if smth that happens to enhance his existing abilities. sure he’s more than capable of doing things on his own but what’s better than to play with his new toys with his already existing toys (GUN. shadow.)

and if he manages to break them in a day then he’s found an issue that robotnik needs to troubleshoot immediately. eggman should really be Thanking him!

his only known goal atm is to find things that stave off his boredom. from what Shadow's gathered at least. but maybe there's more...

has a very bad No Good Fixation on shadow's inhibitor rings for whatever reason. wonder that could mean.

Still fucking around with roles and nothing's rlly set in stone. Im just kind of giggling kicking rocks and throwing pebbles in the water to see what lands ^q^

Rouge is still there! A contractor for G.U.N. A Recovering/reformed Jewel thief who joins the task force (maybe?) 

the gang is also there! still brainstorming roles though. emrmmm

[dangan-stuck]

We're here, dammit. This is DanganStuck, and these are the V3 character casts!

SPOILER ALERT. This whole thing contains major spoilers for V3! 

So, this all started when we found a dead body in the Lab… 

Sorry, it’s an inside joke!

Hello, I guess? I don’t know what I’m doing, but here I am, telling you about the Danganronpa x Homestuck AU crossover.

I’m developing this project (?) with [ @happy6machine , @julia-bunncat ] and with the help of some other cool guys as a support team. Lots of headcanon material has accumulated, and progress in the development of the au has simply... stalled, and I thought I’d try to share it >_< because I haven’t seen anyone else doing something like this so extensively!

I’ll start with V3 (my current fandom fixation) and castes, I guess!! The choice for some characters was pretty obvious and straightforward (ex: olive cast for Ryoma and Tenko, purple for Kokichi, indigo for Gonta and etc.), others were more unusual options (violet for Kaito, whaat?), but I swear I have an explanation behind them :Ъ

But first, I’d like to make a small remark: We hadn’t set a specific lore for the whole thing. Sometimes we experimented with transforming characters into trolls during gameplay to see how it would work, leaving the game plot, killings, interactions and so on untouched. Other times, we made up certain plot snippets and events as if they all lived on Alternia. Occasionally, we’ve stayed in the session area (which we’ll discuss further), prescribing classpects, castes, quadrants, and so forth—all these options were considered.

Now back to the castes, let's go in order:

• Himiko is the weakest, slowest, and laziest member of the V3 cast. She isn't very bright, or at least she's too caught up in fantasies. She's also, well, red. I didn't see the point in making up something special for her, so I just put her in the rust caste. It also makes the dynamic between her and some of the other characters very intriguing, which I'll discuss later. Her desire to perform tricks can be interpreted as 'service/entertainment for the people', literally a jester for the public, which suits the lower castes. But what are the tricks? Well, rust and psychic powers, right? :D So Himiko has psychic powers, though not very powerful ones... And still calls it magic, of course.

• Kaede was a… difficult case. OK, my excuse: I wanted to include a representative of every caste (except Fuchsia) at least once, and Kaede got caught in the hot seat. But she's bronze for more than just that reason!  There's a joke that I'll tell you about some other time, because I want to hold its punch for a while. As it is, we're hooked on the scene in the first chapter where Kaede immediately falls on her knees in front of Miu (instinct of subordination??). Also, the music is associated with birds, and all animals are associated with the bronze caste. Of course, Kaede is extremely... feisty and enthusiastic for such a caste, but luckily she has many highblood friends—including Kaito, who stood up for her in-game, and if they were trolls, it would work perfectly ;)

• /heavy sigh/ Keebo.

I originally drew this art [link] when my friends and I were just starting to get through V3, and I just liked the sort of black dynamic between the three of them. I didn't think much about the castes at the time, but ironically they haven't changed.

There are some problems with Keebo, because he's obviously a robot, and I want to keep him as a robot in this AU. The most realistic option is that Keebo is a prototype for a new kind of drone to be used on spaceships. After all, he is an advanced AI imitating a troll, so it makes sense to give him some blood color. Gold blood is often associated with the "trolls are used as batteries on ships” theme, and Keebo was literally created to maintain ships. It's... a bit of a stretch, really, but that's all we have for now. I think the lore will be expanded upon in the future.

• Korekiyo. Giving him gold blood was sort of a joke at first, playing on the fact that Korekiyo, like Sollux, has a point that grants him duality—his sister. However, as we fleshed out the lore, the choice felt increasingly fitting. I'll be writing separate posts, probably more than one, to outline his lore because, folks, this is FIRE. I never particularly liked Kork in the game, but now- hell, I LOVE him. Have pity on the poor boi; he's suffered a lot.

• Ryoma and Tenko. Since they both get the olive caste on the same principle, I will combine them. Guys, It's literally a catboy and a catgirl; what other questions could there be?

Okay, technically, Tenko also receives olive blood because she is combative and strong, which are characteristics of this caste. She generally looks like a cat herself ([EN] we’re referring to her fangs and headband with ears in the beta design, her collar with the bell and some of her facial expressions on the sprites), and her temper matches her caste. I'm not sure how to adapt her hatred of men to Homestuck... yet. Maybe she'll hate highbloods instead? That's something to think about.

Ryoma, for his part, with his whole cat theme (his Lusus is a cat, of course), the resemblance of cat ears on his hat, and his tendency to stare into space—he's a good fit too. And despite his small size, he is quite strong.

• Maki. And that's where the problems and doubts begin to unfold. We were deciding whether to make her olive or maybe jade, given her backstory. After all, she disguises herself as a caretaker in canon, and you wouldn't expect a girl from an orphanage to turn out to be a professional assassin. On the other hand, you might expect that from an olive caste troll. Actually, there are indeed olive assassins. But several factors convinced me to give her this particular caste:

- Maki herself is like a wild cat. Her killer stare, mouth shape, quick reactions, strength, agility, grace.

- raising jade trolls as ''assassins'' sounds not only ideologically dubious (after all, the jade caste has a special place in troll society), but also illogical. Jade's killing instinct is probably suppressed, otherwise there would be complete bloodbath in the brooding caves, they wouldn't get along with each other, they wouldn't be able to take care of wigglers.

- yeah, we've sort of canonised Maki being raised by a group of trolls to be an assassin. And raising an olive for that purpose is a perfectly reasonable idea, given their natural abilities.

- the idea for the jade caste came from the fact that children are attracted to Maki. However, Maki gets surprised by this fact every time. She calls it silly, paradoxical, and strange. Well, it wouldn't be strange at all if wigglers were attracted to a jade blood troll; that's natural. But the fact that they are attracted to an olive one should come as a surprise, even to Maki herself.

• Kirumi. Wasn’t overthinking it. The caste is given to her at the same time because of the method of exclusion (others don't really fit) and because of her calmness, composure, and desire to care for others. Kirumi can also be very, very dangerous, just like the jades in canon ;)

• Rantaro. Anybody ordered male jade? I love them personally, despite knowing they're very rare. Well, that choice is pretty obvious: Rantaro is filled with the desire to care for and protect his younger siblings. Where else could he end up but in the jade caste? He's also just a handsome guy with the cutest face, and he's GREEN, dammit! I made my choice immediately. And there's already a story about him! It's small, but we're definitely going to expand it.

• Shuichi. Do I have to explain anything??? Well, in case someone doesn't know, teal caste and detective work are two sides of the same (hee hee) coin, there was simply no other way.

• Angie. Blue caste. Uuuh, yeah, the elimination method again, I suppose? At first, I considered gold blood to maintain the original palette, but Angie has a blue caste psycho vibe to me. Damn, she's brainwashed half the class at some point! What else could it be but minor mind control? Also, Angie is quite bossy, feels at ease, and has the markings of a dominant personality (oh, the Love Hotel scene...). Blue caste suits her.

• Tsumugi. So, okay, given all her statements about her being "plain" and "nonexistent," it would seem that she should have been given low blood. But listen to this: she BULLIES MIU!

...okay, this might not be entirely obvious, but Tsumugi often makes all sorts of sarcastic comments about the other characters, most of which you can only notice if you replay V3 with knowledge of the plot. Her tweaks towards Miu are more noticeable, though, and considering that Miu herself is an indigo blood, it goes down well. Tsumugi is high-blooded enough to tease the indigo troll, saying things like, "Hey, why is it that as soon as someone starts talking back to you, you immediately turn into such a wimp?" She's also high-blooded enough to ignore Kaede when she tries to talk to her at the beginning of the game. Her blue caste might be the reason the killing game worked out at all, considering how many mistakes Tsumugi made. Who knows, maybe she also created Flashback Lights with her psychic powers...

And... eh. I confess. I wanted to keep her in blue colors, in addition to all the above reasons, so I didn't really consider any other castes.

• Miu. Indigo caste, wow! Well, considering her behavior and the fact that no one had ever punched her through the entire game, it’s CLEARLY obvious. Only a high-blooded troll, a really high-blooded troll, could afford to be so rude to those much lower down. The funny thing is that she targeted low and mid-bloods more often: Kaede, Shuichi, sometimes Himiko, Korekiyo, and Keebo. She didn’t bother, or almost didn’t, with Gonta, Kaito, and even COOPERATED with Kokichi—as if she had to, as if she were afraid of crossing the paths of those above her in caste. Also, Miu said she liked it when Kaede and Shuichi knelt before her...

You might ask—why not purple caste? Still, Miu’s strange behavior is a bit like that of a purple-blooded schizo, isn't it? Well... Firstly, there's nothing to suggest that Miu belongs to this weird purple cult. Secondly, Miu’s odd behavior when someone insults her gives us an interesting, almost Equius-like, God forgive me, “I'm superior to you, but I want to obey; it's SO WRONG but so arousing” conflict.

• Gonta. There was no reason to even try. I did have a stray thought, due to Gonta's nature and his connection to bugs, to place him in the bronze caste, but...no. Given his immense power and his lack of insanity like that of the purple-blooded trolls, you can't put him anywhere other than the indigo caste. Plus, he's from a noble family himself. And this ALSO creates a cool dynamic and adds interesting lore aspects to Homestuck!Gonta that I like VERY much and will definitely cover in other posts!!!!

• Kokichi. Oooh reeeally, who'd have thought? Of course he's purple-blooded! It's not that simple, though. Kokichi is definitely not a crazy purple cultist like most members of the purple caste. We are going to be talking about that separately, and believe me, I will give this guy a lot of lore, because I freaking love him. There isn't much else to say–no other blood color suits him better.

• AND HERE WE ARE: VIOLET-BLOODED KAITO, WAT???? Okay, let me explain!

1. I have a headcanon that violet-bloods are not as obsessed with the hemospectrum as land trolls. This is due to the fact that they are mostly isolated, living in the sea. In that environment, there are only fuchsia caste above them, and no one below them Occasionally, rare purple-bloods get caught on the shores, but EVEN then, their status isn't significantly lower. They don't live in a society where lower-bloods are constantly stigmatized and killed for no reason. They simply don't have any possibilities to "grow" those oppressive, rigid attitudes. Eridan shows this well: no matter how much he talks about hating land dwellers, he always interacts with other trolls on almost equal footing—for example, by hitting on everyone and asking Karkat for advice.

2. Kaito has strong leadership skills and a desire to guide, mentor, and support others. He stands up for Kaede, takes Shuichi under his wing, and protects Maki. This demonstrates the attitude of a strong leader willing to take responsibility. It seems very reasonable for an intelligent, thoughtful violet who knows that he is in a position of authority and must be relied upon. He can't afford to appear weak. No wonder he hasn't told anyone about his illness...

3. He conquered the sea... AND CAME TO LAND!!! All these stories about Kaito in Homestuck could become TRUE if he really is a troll with access to EVERYTHING. Fight a pirate king? Hell yeah! And he WANTS to go into space! Maybe not to enslave worlds, but to get off the planet and pilot a ship—why not? He has nothing to fear, unlike many other trolls, as he'd literally be in charge, with only the Empress above him. But back to his travels: tired of his life at sea, Kaito could just go and explore the land, and nothing can stop him. No other troll but a sea troll could afford to do that (although land trolls shouldn't go to sea).

4. Kaito is daring. And combative. He is pretty much the only one in the class who has no problem expressing his displeasure to Kokichi (a purple blood!) regularly and hitting him. Kaito is generally capable of aggression (I shudder to think how Shuichi must have felt when he was punched—minus another protagonist?) and emotion, which is also characteristic of the highblood. Even when he tries to stop Kokichi at the end, he's probably the only one who can do so after Gonta and Miu was killed.

5. COLOUR SCHEME. Let's just leave him with a beautiful violet. Especially as a highblood, he has every right to dress up. Even a star coat :з

Aaand yeah that's it! It has been a bit of a journey, hasn't it? Gosh, I'm really embarrassed. If you made it to the end, I love you guys so much!!!! I hope you enjoyed it!!! I'll develop this thread if there's minimal feedback and people are interested. And, uh, if you have any questions or anything, go for it. Questions help develop this whole thing.

TRANSLATION PREPARED BY MY FAVORITE WONDERFUL FRIENDS SUNSHINES I LOVE YOU WITHOUT YOU THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU <33333

[nixie-deangel]

Author love!!!! What are the 5 favourite fics you’ve ever written and why?

💚💙💜💚💙💜 Nonnie, know I am laying the gentlest of kisses upon your forehead and hugging you tightly.

Honestly though Nonnie, I enjoyed writing all of these for a variety of reasons. Each piece I've written holds a special place to me. Also please know Nonnie I cried when I got thise because i've been feeling a little blah about my writing but I went back and reread these and remembered why I loved them while I was trying to figure out which of my works i would add to this because damn it was HARD narrowing it down to five once I started rereading my stuff. So you know what people you should take the time every now and again to reread your own stuff!

In no particular order, here are my favorites I've written:

You Make Me Bold, You Make Me Strong: DCEU, Clois, NSFW.

Perhaps, she thinks, maybe she’ll get him to come once more for her. Though, she muses as she tilts her head, watches the way he pants, the way he’s gripping the sheets — doing his level best not to tear or damage them — she could probably squeeze two more out of him. Before calling it a night and letting him rest. Yes, she decides and shifts, widening her knees, getting herself more balanced, she’ll get two more out of him before letting him float without flying. 

Why: Because Clark absolutely DESERVES to be railed by his petite wife and her collection of stap-ons! Like, come on! He's a good boy! He deserves to be rawed and turned into a crying, whiney, blubbering, over stimulated mess.

Didn't Know I Was Lost: Star Wars, Obikin, Modern AU.

No, no, he thinks and shakes his head before pinching himself harshly on his cheek. “Ouch,” he muttered to himself, opening his eyes as he ignored the sting. Swallowing, around the lump once again forming in his throat, he simply stares. Because Obi-wan was still there. Still wrapped up in a perfectly tailored suit and his long beige coat, sitting with no bag in front of his front door. Or both Obi-wan and Anakin both try to make a grand gesture, but only one of them succeeds at it. Also feelings are discussed.

Why: This was honestly a delight to write, despite the angsty bits of it. It kind of just poured out of me and was like my hands were possessed as the story just flowed onto the doc. Was also beyond fun to play around and pack in so much emotion to the only one bed prompt.

The Malfunction: The Flash, Coldflash, Modern/Model AU.

Because of course Iris had mentioned at the last family dinner that she had been asked to cover one of the hottest stories in Central. Barry just wishes he’d bothered to actually ask her which one because standing not ten feet from him is Leonard Snart, Barry’s ultimate celebrity crush and a personal hero of his. *AU where Len is a model and he meets awkward Barry, a tech at a photo shoot.

Why: I wrote this when I was dealing with some feelings about my body issues and this is what came out as a result of me just deciding to not give a fuck about other's opinions and being comfortable with myself! I specifically wrote it as coldflash though, because of Wentworth Miller, who's own statements about people commenting about his body, also helped me with mine.

I'll Be Your Guard Heart: TGM, Hangster, Shifter AU.

Jake only loses control when it comes to Bradley Bradshaw and he was okay with that.

Why: Because I needed Jake to be an absolutely petty, feral, over protective, possessive bitch that's hidden under a veneer of cocky asshole! Really though, it was fun to write. Fun to come up with. And it's been fun expanding upon! (because I am planning to add more to this universe eventually!) Plus it is my favorite thing I've written so far this year.

Uncovering the Meaning: The Flash, Coldflash, Soulmate AU.

“It doesn’t matter, Leo. The little freak wouldn’t love you anyway. No one could love you, boy!” Lewis taunted cruelly. Len felt himself flinch from the memory of his father’s voice from the nightmare that’d woken him up. He brought his left hand to rub at the deep scar on the left side of his chest, but after a moment, he simply laid his palm flat against it.

Why: This was the first thing I'd written in years that was longer than 2k, so it holds a special place in my heart. Plus I met my bestie @asexual-fandom-queen through writing this!

[thehomelybadger]

26 Questions about Run at the Cup.

Hi!

Since I just finished off my 33 chapter Arcane/CaitVi Hockey AU fanfiction, I asked folks for any questions that they might have about the universe (or just for me) around the fanfiction. So I thought that I'd pull them all together, answer them in one big post, and then direct folks here.

These questions are mostly pulled from twitter or discord, and are asked anonymously. If you're new to it/have never heard of it, you can check out the fanfiction here:

My asks are always open if you want to pepper me with more questions - I literally love talking about my process and creating stuff. But yeah, let's get the ball rolling!

These questions have spoilers up to the epilogue (chapter 33) of Run at the Cup.

One of your original goals for RATC was to include a sex scene in every chapter, and you later decided that didn't suit the story that it ended up being. How far, exactly, did you stray from that goal?

I think the first disc stuck to the format of smut-a-chapter pretty well, but as soon as I got to chapter 7 and 8 in my planning, I really had to take a step back from the idea of smut-a-chapter. Part of doing that was a friend of mine pointing out that another fic - breakneck - already was a smut-a-chapter offering, and the other part was around chapter 7 and 8 was when we really got a look at the Landsman abuse and I wanted to focus more on telling a story of healing instead of a sexual relationship. It felt the best narratively for Vi to take a step back and appreciate boundaries, and at that point we were 100% of the rails of the original vision. I also had my friend Felix - he drew the art for the fic - point out that the story was way more important than the smut when I complained that sometimes I just wasn’t feeling up to writing smut.

Caitlyn obviously makes a point to never sleep with another hockey player except for Landsman and Vi. Vi rather vocally does not have that rule. Are there any players we see in RatC that she has a history of that nature with?

Ahh, crucially, Caitlyn and Vi both adhere to the rule of no teammates. I actually think both have had flings  with hockey players, but probably not anyone that we spend much time hanging out with. I hint at Sarah Fortune and Vi having a past-tense fling that I never really expanded upon, and at one point I wanted to write some Caitlyn and Evelynn one night stand stuff that never really felt right after I abandoned the whole smut-a-chapter premise.

There are so many characters in ratc, and so many povs, how did you get into each of their heads and give them all their own voice that stayed consistent throughout the story?

So one of my other hobbies - other than hyperfixating on a fictional hockey team - is dungeons and dragons as a forever DM. My rule for creating NPCs is to give them a ‘pillar’ - essentially one solid character trait that I can lean back on when viewing things through their lens. Claggor, for instance, was always trying to teach and never raised his voice. Poppy was always going to be cheerful and loyal. Leona was always serious, except when dealing with Diana. Mylo was never serious, until there was a weak moment. All of those ‘pillars’ helped shepherd me in the right direction - the only characters I didn’t really have a pillar for were the hockey announcers, who’s entire personality can be summed up as ‘hockey announcers’.

When did you realize this was going to become Big™ , or was this all the plan from the beginning?

If I ever knew when anything was going to be big in terms of wordcount, I’d be much more successful at writing. The real time I knew was somewhere in Disc 2 when I had written like 3 10k+ word count chapters in a row. I remember thinking ‘oh, shit, I’m fucked’. What’s crazy about this is that I still feel like I left some story threads on the table - I could write 80k more of just Sumprats shenanigans, easily. In terms of Big as in popularity - dude I have no idea when I knew. I still don't really believe it.

Which was your favorite smut scene to write?

Oh man - hands down the hotel smut scene in the Summer Isles  - though that’s technically cheating, because the smut doesn’t actually happen. But I can see it like a shot in a movie - the slow tracking shot over the discarded clothes with some energetic, strumming guitar over top while we see the bed come into frame, the pan over and continued tracking towards the bathroom - all this evidence of wild sex. If the question is ‘which smut scene that’s actually smut’, I’m going with the phone sex scene - it was good to finally get these characters admitting how much they liked one another.

How did you pick and choose which LoL champions (not from Arcane) you brought into your world? As there are so many available and ones you picked seemed to work so well. Was it 'character is hot/cool and I just want to write them', 'I need a champion that would play hockey/act in x way' or any other way

A variety of reasons! Illaoi was included solely because my wife thinks she’s super hot, but for me it became characters I really liked, characters I could see the personality of, and characters I could ape the kit of in some way. Ahri being charming and evasive, Illaoi’s tentacle-like poke checking, Diana being good in close, and Leona being a hard hitting defender were all nods to the league kits, among others. Basically, when I was filling out the roster and was out of Arcane character slots, I started grabbing characters based on what role I envisioned for them on the team and backfilled from there. I’m glad I did their personalities justice!

I'd love to know, if it isn't a bother for you to explain it, the process behind you deciding each character's position on the ice and skillset. I'm basically in awe of how you took each character from the show/game and made them each a particular type of hockey player. But you might have talked about this already so no worries if it's too repetitive!

It all depended on what I wanted to write for the most part, and I approached it from two angles - what was most interesting for me to write dynamically, as in action wise, and what was most interesting for me to write emotionally, as in what they brought to the Sumprats as a whole. I leaned on a lot of sports knowledge that I’ve accrued over my 31 years around the sun, and figured out what archetypes would be most fun and narratively satisfying to convey. So, as an example - Claggor’s soft and assured ‘we’re gonna get you out’ from the show was a big big reason why I made him an enforcer - the quiet confidence and clear smarts. Poppy being undersized but a major bruiser in the game led to her entire personality and playstyle. Ahri being a winking and confident figure in LoL lore led to her being a flashy and charming person with a lot of scoring - etc etc etc. It came together fairly organically!

If you had to pick another sport as the medium to tell the story, which sport would it be? Ik you were intending on making it a hockey story with lesbians vs a lesbian story with hockey, but do you think the sport and play of hockey specifically were integral to how to told the story/the journey of the characters?

This is such a tough question to answer, because I’m not sure I could’ve told it with any other sport. Hockey is inherently chaotic, and the beautiful thing about it is that it comes down to players - you can have a grand strategy, but sometimes it’s just ‘our player is the best on the ice’ and that’s enough. I think there’s probably a pretty awesome Rugby story in here, maybe - or football/soccer - I can see their roles with Caitlyn as an attacking midfielder and Vi as a sweeper or something, but both of those are far more team focused. Also, hockey is lesser known of the major sports, and I felt like talking about how goofy it sometimes is to folks who might not know about it.

What did you learn during/after writing this that you didn't expect?

Such a good question. I learned that I love writing big casts of characters and I learned that I have a knack for conveying what I see on the page. I also learned that I can tell a story that goes every way possible in terms of POV and style, and that having a bunch of threads to tie up is an awesome problem to have. I also learned that I’m somewhat fragile as a creator, and that taking steps to protect myself from having my feelings hurt doesn’t make me selfish - just makes me human.

If you had to support a team yourself (not including the Sumprats), who would you support and why?

Can you imagine Bilgewater Schooners twitter? Can you imagine how batshit insane it must be? I’d be 100% on board with that franchise.

Why wasn’t there more Grapes content?

You all weren’t ready for it. The world still isn’t ready.

Is there something you wished you could've explored more but didn't get the chance?

So many things. So so many things. This is why RATC is crazy to me in hindsight because I felt like I left a lot of meat on the bone when the fic is like 300k long and is one of the longest CaitVi fics around. SarcastCity and I joked about a whole sequence where Mylo strikes out with a bunch of women, I didn't get into the Evelynn sub-sub-subplot, I barely scratched the surface on MOST of the K/Da stuff that I wanted to do, CaitVi adopted a dog at one point, there was an entire anti-police side of the fic that I just cut because it didn’t really fit into the vibe of the fic (you can still see foreshadowing of it in early chapters), there was originally going to be an entire other side to the water reparations where we’d see grainy footage of Silco and Cassandra arguing about it and that’s how a lot of it was revealed - before I decided to make Powder more of a central figure in the documentary. The entire fic changed in a bunch of little moments. Art is cool that way - it kinda leads ya where you need to go sometimes.

Who was someone that you enjoyed writing a lot that you didn't expect to?

When I put Graves into the fic, I never would’ve expected to fucking love writing him as much as I did. As soon as I wrote his first book snippet, I knew that I needed to stop immediately because if I wasn’t careful he’d take over the entire fucking fic. Second place was every scrap of podcast content - it’s so addictive to write this meta-narrative bullshit about your own world building. It’s just giving you a reason to talk about your own fic in universe and I had to stop myself from writing 13 more Taylor Swiffer sequences. Lastly, twitter was always a blast to get going. Shout out to everyone who loaned me their likeness for that!

You’re a pretty big basketball fan Badger, and knowledgeable at that, is there any reason you chose Hockey besides you also liking it? Like, did you feel the “action” would be better?

There are no sanctioned fistfights in basketball, which was a huge L. In all seriousness, I considered a basketball fic before going with hockey because, while I love basketball with my whole badgussy, hockey has so much more meat on the bone with regard to playstyle and expression. You have hitters, shooters, goalies being weird, you’ve got gum chewing angry people and hockey stadium chants. Hockey is a vibe that I really was excited to convey, and basketball - to me, anyways - has less of a physical aspect to it and it’s a little less entertaining to write about. Baskets happen all the time in ball, but in hockey, a goal is celebrated by everyone on the ice, everyone gets a fistbump, and the action stops while the crowd gets to rewatch it over and over. You don’t get any better than that for narrative drama.

You've talked some about the sumprats superstitions, but who is the most superstitious and what are some sumprats superstitions

Ashe is probably the most superstitious, but all sports players are superstitious to some degree or another - especially hockey people. I think every time Leona tapes her stick up, she has to unwind the first piece once - because that’s the way she did it when she scored her first goal. Claggor probably wears the same style of socks that he had when he was 18. Riven’s skates are a size too small, because she believes it makes her faster. Graves needs Caitlyn to tap his post before every game he’s in net otherwise he won’t play.

What was the hardest part for you, as a writer, to get through?

The entire fic came together relatively quickly, honestly. I wrote it in less than a year and most of the time in big 2-6 hour chunks of my day. I think the most challenging thing from a craft standpoint was the Landsman Scandal - because it had so many moving parts and I was using a character invented solely for that sequence in wewon1, and you needed to like her and buy into her right off the bat. I also needed to balance out how heavy the chapter was with moments that the reader could breathe around - I didn’t want to evoke a desperate, awful thing, but I wanted to inform. It took a few days of serious brainstorming before I got it the way I wanted it, and even then I was making edits in the posting window of Ao3. But in terms of actual hardness to write - the run up to the finals was really tough to get through because I felt like not much was happening narratively and I really needed to work at it to get it where I wanted it. The actual physical typing of the story wasn’t hard, but the games were annoying me a lot - they always felt too slow or sluggish or poorly conveyed. The thing I’m most proud of looking back is definitely the Powder chapter - I wish I had done more of that.

Why is Landsman so hot? Why did you have to make Landsman so hot? Should I speak with my therapist about this?

Oh yes. Immediately.

The story focused on Cait and Vi but as a whole was a story about team dynamics - little pieces like Hot Girl Shit, characters we would consider unremarkable as irl players like Poppy or Mylo, the gradual push of Graves to Ekko as main tendie - that grew into their own stories. Was this a case of supporting cast offering spontaneous great idea opportunities that you went along with, or was it always planned that X character would get X storyline?

I didn’t really set out with these storylines in mind, but one of the things I wanted from the get was this line to be true: “Usually, it’s the people who sit five, six seats from the starting lineup that give you the edge. Our job as leaders is to make sure that when those folks’ numbers get called, they’re ready.” - Vi, chapter 4. I wanted to basically reinforce that idea by having the players grow into something that was stalwart and could be relied upon, and just let the characters kinda swirl around with that idea. I didn’t realise that Ashe would wind up being so important but I kind of fell in love with her as I wrote her game - same goes for Riven’s speed and Darius’ faceoff potential. 

Which supporting character that isn’t Mylo ended up being your fave?

If it’s cheating to say Sevika, then I loved Poppy. Every scene Poppy is in I just had a blast writing, but gum-chewing, constantly glaring, scowling while insisting she’s smiling Sevika really leapt off of my keyboard. If I allow myself to take credit for any one thing, it’s casting Sevika as a coach.

if Vander hadn't died and had become the Sumprats coach instead of Sevika, would Vi still have been drafted by them and how would she have felt about it? 

Woof. It’s hard to see Mel hiring Vander, but say that she did and Vander coached Vi - adult Vi, 32 year old Vi with all she feels towards him - I can only really see it as Vi demanding out. She wouldn’t have the ego to get him fired, but I don’t think she’d be willing to play for him after everything. I also think the Sumprats are nowhere near as good with Vander as a coach - in my head Vander was good enough to drill Vi’s lessons into her head but had no idea how to keep a team intact, and that was Sevika’s specialty - the ‘us vs them’ mentality is all her.

I'd love to hear anything about your writing process. When you do it, how you think and feel about it, etc.

My writing process begins with having a very patient wife who puts up with me being glued to a screen for 6 hours at a time while talking to myself - usually in funny voices or imitating crowd yelling. I also do a lot of my dialogue in the shower where nobody can judge the faces I make - most of Caitlyn’s speech and the podcast dialogue came from me showering and yelling to myself, getting hyped up, and trying to remember lines. I basically do my functional adult tasks with the sequences I want to convey running on my head in a loop, until it’s time to sit down and crank it out. One part of my process that I don’t recommend is that when I sit down to write, I don’t get up until the chapter’s done. For me it’s a straight shot or it doesn’t get done at all - I need the entire flow to work on that one sitting. It has the side effect of my wife watering me and feeding me while I’m glued to banging words out onto a screen, and occasionally I’ll come up for air to refill my water battle and talk to her about her Animal Crossing island or something - anything - that isn’t hockey lesbians, before I go back to my cave.

obligatory question about which scene you were most looking forward to writing

So, chapter 32 was basically in my head the entire time I was writing the fic - everything between chapter 2 and 32 was me impatiently jiggling my leg waiting until I could write the Won’t Back Down song from the crowd. But the more surprising bit was how much I was looking forward to the karaoke scene - I wound up putting it off a few times in the fic until I was finally able to lock it down right after the Landsman Scandal, which felt like a great time to put it - just the idea that we all could use a break - as readers and characters in the story - and then we get one. Also, Pray is a fucking HILARIOUS song and I love that I got to use it.

if caitlyn and vi were to have a dog in this universe, what kind, what would they name it, and what would jinx choose to call it instead

This was actually a cut plot point at one time - the dog adoption sequence. They have a boxer named Bowser who has three legs, and Powder calls him Leonardo because it’s not his name but he squints sometimes like DiCaprio, and one time he ate an entire cheese pizza.

actually, kind of bouncing off my other question, are there any scenes that weren't originally planned that you really like?

Originally, there was no Melvika - it was a Melora subplot. But then I wrote that initial conversation between Mel and Sevika where they meet and Sevika passes her test and I thought to myself ‘oh.’ Every single Melvika moment was unplanned but I loved crafting it, showing this little love story in the margins of the page that was slowly and steadily unfolding.

Did you decide to change any major plot points after you'd started writing?

Two major ones: First and most impactful, there was going to be a riot in the original story that led to the team rallying behind the city - it was going to be this sequence of each of the Sumprats walking into the practice facility saying ‘have you heard, yet?’ that tied in what actually happened. But it felt tonally out of place and I was already really invested in exploring the abuse aspect of the fic, so I scrapped it - it’s a story worth telling at some point but the feel-good underdog sports fic wasn’t the place to explore that space. Another more impactful thing that certainly won’t be surprising to some: Vi’s injury was initially going to be a career ender. When SarcastCity and I started talking around the end of Disc 2, I actually told her that version of the story - that Vi’s knee is busted irrevocably and Caitlyn has to win without her, and the two have to find their way towards one another in a bittersweet finale without hockey to unite them. SC talked me around on that one - made the case that Vi and Caitlyn deserved to play hockey together for years and years, and after thinking about it for a while it really truly felt like I was being sad and dramatic for sad drama’s sake - angst for angst’s sake isn’t something I wanted to play into. So I changed it and it’s a lot, LOT better as a result.

How did you keep everything in order? Did you have an outline?

Calling it an outline is kind of insulting to other outlines, I think - I had an unhinged and fucked up google sheets document that listed the players, positions, and general vibe of their character arc, but I didn’t totally stick to it. I also had a chapter title list that I also changed a lot - I mostly knew my end point was ‘Caitlyn skates for 20 minutes and they come back to win in Game 5 with an injured Vi’ and worked my way to that point.

Thank you to all who submitted questions! If you have more, feel free to drop me a line.

-Badger

[antares-8]

hello! i recently finished rereading the pilgrim's progress and honestly, it's some of (if not the) best beast!wirt fic i've ever read! there's a lot of stuff that i've realized makes it so good, especially after giving it more than one read through.

first of all, beatrice's characterization throughout the whole series is AMAZING and feels really accurate to the show. she's angry and almost always ready and willing to punch a man, but that's only part of her character. like, i've seen a decent bit of otgw fic where she just gets reduced down to "the angry one" but in tpp, her other emotions get the spotlight too sometimes and it makes her feels so real and human. she's determined and stubborn and willing to go to the ends of the earth for the people she cares about and you can really feel it!! she's her own person with her own stuff to deal with and it makes her so interesting in this series. i think she's possibly my favorite character.

(also, in writing that paragraph about beatrice i realized that tpp, or at least the arc with the witches, has a lot to do with grief and anger. this is more of a half-formed thought, but the way they're fairly consistent elements throughout and fit in perfectly with its other themes. i'm not exactly sure what else to say about this since i haven't put much thought into it until just now, but it's definitely something i like about it, although it's more of a personal preference.)

characters in general are one of tpp's strong suits, i think! the ocs created for this series are amazing without detracting from the main cast. felicity sticks out to me in particular, likely because we get to see things from her perspective. her motives manage to be understandable without detracting from the sense that she's in the wrong. also, shoutout to peg-leg polly, whose character description is amazingly evocative, as well as literally everything else about her. 10/10, no notes.

i think something else tpp does amazingly is all the "side" stuff. not "side" as in, like, subplots (this is all pretty much main plot, which is part of why it's so great), but as in "not the first thing you think of when you think of a beast!wirt au." "weren't you someone's son" is possibly the best example of this. we get to see how wirt's family is affected personally, something that's so often ignored. and it's a *whole main plot thing*--they never get fully shoved off to the side. the same goes with the unknown's reactions to wirt as the "new beast"--it's not glossed over. in fact, it's one the things the story is based around. tpp is BUILT around the stuff that's not immediately obvious, and it really makes it stand out in the best way possible.

and somewhat relatedly, wirt's character arc, about CHOOSING to stay in the unknown, is so good! it takes 30 works and tens of thousands of words until he fully admits it to himself but the payoff is so, so worth it. the line at the end of "to wind thy soul" where wirt says he *wants* to stay is built up so beautifully. it's another one of those things that makes tpp so unique and amazing.

and last, but definitely not least, is the WORLDBUILDING. there's a lot to say about it, but i love your version of the unknown!! it feels so real and alive, and the people in it do too. it really manages to capture the feeling of the original show--there's darkness, but it's not ALL sad times and eldritch horror, and some things are even a bit silly. and the way the unknown keeps on feeling mysterious even as we learn more and more about it is impressive. the fact that some things are mentioned but never expanded upon (like the beast-cult or the wars against nature) is far from a flaw here--they make the unknown feel like a real place, and help keep up the sense of mystery, magic, and a long history by sounding so interesting while being left mostly up-in-the-air. and the idea of using edelwood to cleanse corruption is also so good. like, if i force myself to look at it from a doylist perspective, i can say that it might exist to avoid a moral quandary which would seriously hurt everything that tpp is trying to say (although honestly, i don't think that it's a bad thing if that's the case; i love worldbuilding but making sure it plays nice with story and message is important, often moreso than making it feel "good"), but i have to force myself to think like that. while reading, it's foreshadowed well and feels so natural that i sometimes forget it was created for this series. and that's just one part of the worldbuilding! so much of this version of the unknown feels so in line with everything the show gives us, and there's so much attention to detail. it's so fantastic and i love it!!

also, a couple small details i noticed (and are appreciated):

in "all that was lost," enoch says that he can tell beatrice + greg where wirt is if they stay the night, and in "wish i was a shadow" it's mentioned that enoch vists the queen of the clouds a lot. did. did enoch ask the queen of the clouds where wirt was for beatrice and greg?

in "only one thing" greg mentions that he's sure that the cloak wirt gave him is enchanted, and in "gone to the tree" wirt mentions that he'd only tried to imbue something with his protection once before. did wirt enchant greg's cloak?? if so that's ADORABLE. wirt really loves greg huh?

anyway, yeah, the pilgrim's progress is amazing!! i didn't realize that i had this much to say about it, but it honestly deserves all the praise i can throw at it. there are some other small things that i love, but this is getting pretty long as it is. i can't wait for the next update, and i hope that you're doing well!! <3

First off, thank you for making my day! (And hopefully inspiring me finally finish the next installment. One can hope, right?) I always love to hear from readers, especially readers who enjoy my work.

Beatrice is a lot of fun to write. She accepts no nonsense (except when she doles it out to get something), her first impulse is violence, and she's fiercely loyal to all those she loves. Plus, some of her reactions to Wirt are just hilarious. She knows enough to realize how weird--or perhaps extraordinary--he really is.

I wanted to say something about how family was important in the show (the bluebirds, the brothers), but the truth is that I really like outsider POV and the parents gave me a good opportunity to play with that. That can remain our secret.

Sometimes, I feel like this entire series is just one big exercise in worldbuilding. Because the Beast is so well-known (and feared), I have to think about how the new Beast interacts with the world in general and how the world's reactions reflect back onto the character. That being said, I've still got a few headcanons that I'd like to explore.

Both of your theories regarding small details are correct. Enoch asked the Queen of the Clouds where to find Wirt waaaay back in the beginning, and Wirt added a few enchantments to the cloak before giving it to Greg. The enchantments... well, let's just say that no one will ever try to bully Greg while he's wearing it.

Unfortunately, I can't say for certain when the next update will be out. The next one is a new arc (or maybe it will be the one after that, because I've got another WIP that could become part 31 instead), so I've been obsessively tweaking it to get everything set up correctly.

As Wirt says to the people who try to drive him out of their town with torches and pitchforks, have a nice day!

[captastra]

Resident Evil Gift Exchange 2023

And part 2 of my gift for @madparadoxum for @sstewyhosseini RE gift exchange!! A fic paired with the moodboard I created and I really hope you like it! In this AU, Carlos works at a local garden and Jill stops by one day to start volunteering. A fun little meet cute that I may expand upon later 💗!

Season of Love

Words: 1.9k

Genre: Fluff, Slice of Life, Meet Cute

The day was turning out better than Carlos could ever imagine. Spring had started off more like winter, a chill in the air that had hindered some of the growth in the community garden. They had spent weeks trying to keep the more delicate plants alive and while a few had not lasted, the rest had finally started to show signs of growth.

Carlos had just set off some of the new volunteers to tend to some of the plants when he got an elbow to the side.

“Heads up, your new lady friends coming by.”

Tyrell pointed past the gate that marked the edge of the garden. Carlos glared at him, rubbing his side but unable to not look up in hopes what his friend said was true. After a few moments, a woman with short brown hair and a serious look on her face finally came into view.

“You finally going to ask her out today?” Tyrell raised his eyebrows and gave him a knowing grin. “Or are you going to chicken out like every other time before?”

“Will you shut it,” Carlos hissed, continuing to glare at his friend even though she was too far away to hear. “I’ll only speak to her if she comes in.”

Tyrell shrugged, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “Suit yourself man. I’m tired of seeing those puppy dog eyes of yours every time she walks by since you first met.”

“I ain’t making no eyes at no one.” Carlos tried to act nonchalant, but even he couldn’t deny the effect she had on him. “Jill’s just…you know…” He shrugged, unable to explain his feelings nor willing to explain them to his friend.

“Something you’ve never seen before and want to get to know better?” Tyrell continued, nudging him again. “C’mon, go say hi to her! Then you won't have to mope anymore about her walking by.”

Before Carlos could say anything, a volunteer ran up to them, needing Tyrell’s help.

“Sorry man, duty calls.” He gave Carlos a shrug but wearing a smug smile before walking away.

Carlos rolled his eyes but couldn’t hold back his own smile. He knew Tyrell meant well and for the life of him, he couldn’t explain why he never let himself talk to Jill since the first time she had stopped by a few weeks prior. The times she had come by since, they’d usually share a wave and his heart would always skip a beat when she smiled, but they’d doing nothing beyond that.

The last thing he needed to do was make it weird.

With a defeated sigh, Carlos went back to tending to the plants he had started to put in the ground before Tyrell had come over. He was picking up some soil when a voice from behind made him jump.

“Hey, Carlos, right?”

Carlos turned around and smiled. Jill was standing in front of him, wearing a nicely fitted t-shirt and shorts. She was giving him a small smile, a look of curiosity behind her gaze.

“Yep! Decided to come back?” Carlos looked around, remembering the last time she had stopped by, she wasn’t alone.

“If you’re looking for Claire, she isn’t with me.” Jill walked towards the plants Carlos was working on. She bent down, smelling the rosemary that had started to blossom earlier that week. “But she did insist I get out more and recommended…well more like demanded…I come to this place.”

“Did she now,” Carlos asked, trying to stifle a laugh. Clearly he wasn’t doing enough, because Jill averted her gaze as a slight pink forming on her cheeks. He wanted to do nothing more than continue to tease her, if only to see her blush, but decided against it. “Well since you are here, why don’t I give you an official tour?”

Jill glanced around before finally looking at him again. “I’d like that.”

“Then lets get started!” He stepped back, motioning his hand in a sweeping gesture towards the path they were standing on.

For the next hour, Jill and Carlos walked around the garden. He introduced her to the usual volunteers, though trying his hardest to steer clear of Tyrell, and pointed out the many different plants that were growing across the area. They made their way over to the small building that served as a store for people who wanted to buy some of the plants, supplies, or little trinkets that some of the volunteers made.

Throughout his tour, Jill asked a few questions here and there, but for the most part she simply listened and observed. Carlos found himself struggling to keep his eyes off her. There was something about the woman that he couldn’t resist and honestly didn’t want to. But he kept his distance, feeling relaxed at the chance to show off this passion project that he had come to love amidst the chaos of his life. And from the way Jill seemed to relax, her shoulders no longer tense, her smile soft and genuine, he sensed she was enjoying it too.

Eventually he caught up with Tyrell, who thankfully didn’t embarrass him too much. They chatted for a bit, even got a laugh from Jill that made Carlos’s heart pound harder in his chest before Carlos brought them back to the start of their tour.

“And there you have it.” Carlos clasped his hands in front of him. “Where would you like to start?”

Jill looked around, eyes taking in everything that made up the garden before a sly smile formed on her face and she looked right at him. “How about I help you out? You’re the only one who doesn��t seem to have a partner.”

Carlos took a few seconds to process what she was saying, before stepping over to the bags of soil he had been digging into before Jill showed up.

“You sure about that? Could get dirty.” Carlos couldn’t help himself. He gave her his most charming smile and leaned against the bang.

The snort Jill gave him was anything but ladylike, but that only made him smile more. “I think I can handle some dirt just fine.”

“Soil.”

“What?”

Carlos motioned to the bags next to him. “It’s actually considered soil. All the nutrients the plants need in it. But enough of a lecture, why don’t you come over here and grab some soil.”

Jill followed his instructions and soon the two of them were working on the rosemary plants. The two of them settled into a rhythm that left Carlos beaming, as if they had been working together for weeks. Every so often he’d glance at Jill, and find himself staring at her, at her focus, and skilled hands deftly handling the plant.

“You’re a natural,” Carlos commented after a long period of not talking. “Have a lot of plants at home?”

“Ah, no.” Jill smiled sheepishly, not taking her eyes off the soil mound she was working on. “In fact, I’m terrible at keeping a plant alive. I’ve killed a cactus. So, my life has resorted to fake plants that gather dust instead.”

Carlos stared for a few moments before he started to laugh.

“Not all of us can have a green thumb,” Jill said defensively, giving him a steely look.

“Ah, sorry,” Carlos began, trying to collect himself. “I don’t mean to laugh at you. Trust me, its not always easy. Plants can be pretty sturdy, but you have to be soil and dedicated from what I’ve come to learn.”

Jill nodded along; her hands frozen over the soil as she listened intently. Seeing her so focused, an idea popped into his mind.

“Hey, why don’t you take a plant home with you?”

“What?” Jills head snapped up at his proposal. “Why would you do that?”

Carlos shrugged, focusing his attention on his own plant that he had been planting. “Why not? If you’re going to come around here regularly, I want to make sure you’re on top of your game as you help out.”

“On top of my…” Jill huffed out, trailing off as she spoke. “Fine. I’ll take the plant.”

She stood up, wiping her hands on her shorts and leaving streaks of dirt. Carlos had to stop himself from trailing the streaks that were on her long legs.

“You sure,” Carlos asked, unable to stop himself. He hadn’t meant to strike a nerve, but now he was going to have fun teasing her. “It’s a mighty job. Wouldn’t want to hear one of the plants died.” He stood up, towering over her.

Jill pulled herself to her full height, an annoyed look on her face. “Then you won’t. Now which one did you have in mind?”

“Follow me.”

The two of them headed over to the store and walked inside. A couple and a woman with a kid were looking around the plants that had been stacked on the shelves that lined the walls. Late sunlight shone through the window, capturing the dirt and dust that floated around the room.

“Wait here.”

Jill stopped as Carlos went into a section of the store that was blocked off for volunteers and employees. After a few minutes, he stepped back out, carrying a plant that he had repotted this morning.

“Here’s your plant.” He held it out to her.

Jill stared at the plant for a moment before taking it from him and holding it against her chest.

“What is it?” She gently touched the big, dark green leaves that stuck up sturdily out of the pot. A single white flower stood out against the dark foliage.

“A peace lily,” Carlos answered, rummaging around in a drawer to find instructions she could take home with him. “I can’t imagine you’ll kill this one. The plant is hardy and will let you know when it needs watering. Ah here we are.” He handed here the small card they gave to all the people who ended up taking a plant home with them.

Carlos watched as she read over the instructions, once again enjoying the way she seemed to take this as seriously as she had with planting the rosemary only a few moments ago. He found himself wondering what it would be like to see that look every day, when she spoke up, interrupting his thoughts.

“Ok. I think I got this.” Jill nodded and put the card in her back pocket.

“You think?” Carlos raised an eyebrow at her.

Jill rolled her eyes. “Your plant will continue to live on under my care.”

Carlos started to respond when a phone started to ring. Jill quickly pulled out her phone, eyes going wide for a moment before she put it back in her pocket.

“Looks like I have to go. Thank you again, for today.” She turned to leave but paused and looked at him over her shoulder. “I’ll take care of the plant and keep it alive. I promise.”

“I don’t doubt that” Carlos said. “Now let me walk you out.”

Jill looked like she was about to argue but thought better of it. “Sure. Thank you.”

Carlos led the way and the two of them chatted about nothing in particular until they reached the gate that led back into the city. As Jill walked away, Carlos found himself watching after her, excited with how the events of today turned out and looking forward to when she came by again, whenever that may be.

[cottoncandywoof]

if i was more consistent or more hyperfixated, i would. maybe after i write at least some of my tmnt au...

i say this bc the original post was one that genuinely sent a flash of creativity in my brain. and your ideas are so good??? jack "flunking out" or getting overwhelmed by being God so he delegates would be amazing. jack starting to doubt and feeling that he isnt really suited to be God, maybe even wanting to quit and trying to give it to castiel and cass cas having to talk him down from it.

dean and cas coaching jack. dean forcing jack to take breaks because he realizes he cant just take care of all of it, not even chuck could. dean being "forced" to be back to work to help cas train the seraphims. heres where it really hits dean how empty heaven was left from everything. he probably scoffs more at chuck even if the angels were dicks.

honestly i wouldnt even be mad if the rebuilding of heaven worked in one season, and if it wanted to continue, it could follow one of the noob angels. who knows! i never thought about a supernatural continuation, but i think something like this could work to bring the past to a nicer conclusion + start a new era that builds upon the universe rather than sticking with the old characters that already went through everything. and it allows you to see jack actually *becoming* an adult and learning things! it would deepen him so much! and come on. casual canon destiel in the back i feel is the way to go (with even some funny horny scenes but now its canon). oohhhhh my brain is expanding atm

re: heaven

i think castiel's "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DIED ON A STUPID PIECE OF REBAR LIKE 5 MINUTES AFTER I DIED TO SAVE YOU"

vs.

dean's "HOW THE FUCK LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BACK?! WHY DO YOU THINK I LET MYSELF DIE IN THE FIRST PLACE??!"

would be the dramarama of heaven, would spread all over the cosmos, end up fucking up all of jack's plans because jack's starry eyed noob angels are way more interested in the cute little human who keeps busting into the heaven offices to chase cas around and be like "WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL YOU WERE BACK AND YOU DON'T COME DOWN TO FUCKIN' SAY HI ONE TIME??? AFTER THAT EXIT?!"

poor jack would throw up his hands and be like "well, i'm out. i gotta go focus on family therapy."

sam is like "why are migraines still possible in heaven."

[halloweennut]

I know this is the kinda typical au thing but a swap where Draxum and Big Mama swapped roles. Draxum is a very threatening, scary, crime boss running the battle nexus and lou jitsu's ex, still has huginn and muninn that turn into little dogs when using the cloaking magic, and Big Mama is an eccentric warrior alchemist that hates humanity but still uses her weird words and is like unnervingly nice even when she's trying to kill you.

Jokes on you because i love that

Baron Draxum is still violently himself, just bitter still and angry. He rages against the idea of letting the humans rule the surface that was rightfully theirs, but the Council can't be swayed and he certainly doesn't need more scrutiny on him.

He was raised as a weapon and then told to find peace.

His version of peace is running the Battle Nexus. Even if war was declined, he would make sure that the Yokai had worthy warriors at the ready to fight, and make sure they were backed by thousands of loyal fans.

He has his dealings with the shady and seedy underbelly of the Hidden City. Draxum has title, money, and power, and can make even hardened crime bosses bend to his will. Few cross him and his control of certain dealings, and those that do serve as perfect examples as to why they shouldn't.

Even so, he gets *bored*. There's only so much he could do in this role. On a whim, he opens a hotel for the yokai hidden on the surface, and for those who wish to go to the surface with a quick access point in and out. It also expands his territory further and greater. Draxum even lets himself use a cloaking brooch to wander the gilded, elegant hotel he built as humans began to show interest. He has designated floors for them, separate from the yokai, and just nice enough to justify the amount he charges them per night. They don't see any of the grandeur given only to the yokai.

Then, Lou Jitsu walked in the front door, entourage in tow.

Baron Draxum wasn't exactly thrilled to have him there. But he was charming enough to get his way to a private suite out of the designated floors. Draxum wasn't even sure who he was outside of someone famous. Lou, upon hearing that Draxum hadn't seen his movies or anything, forces him to sit and watch a marathon. The yokai knows its not even for his own benefit, really, but for Lou’s own ego.

The movies are drivel, but damn, Lou could fight. Really fight.

"If you're that impressed," Lou said, flipping his coiffed hair, "You should come to see me film tomorrow."

Draxum had no intent to.

He found himself, half-awake, on a sound stage the following morning. He tried not to snarl or make disgusted faces around the humans or their technology, irked as he was. Lou appeared from his trailer, looking every bit classic hero, making his way to his marker. Just before the director called for action, he lowered his sunglasses and winked at Draxum, before slipping into his character and beating the living hell out of stuntmen.

Afterwards he smiled, proud, and asked Draxum what he thought. Draxum cant tell of he's impressed or what, but the ego drops for a second, and the yokai couldnt help but offer praise.

Lou Jitsu would make a fine addition to the Battle Nexus.

And naturally Lou wore him down to the point he dropped his guard. The fighter landed a hit, a confident, ever smiling mouth on his, Draxum was all of 3 things.

1. Shocked at the suddenly

2. Confused by the fact he happily returned the damn kiss

3. Happy to call Lou *his* perfect fighter.

Is Lou kidnapped? I mean, yeah. Draxum’s Like That. But he's Draxum’s, so that lends to more perks than being locked in a cell most of the time. And Lou enjoys the Battle Nexus enough, even while missing home, but Draxum still plies him with praise and lingering hands and kisses. He feels like a bird in a gilded cage, loved but a damn prop. The one exception to Draxum’s hatred of humans, the perfect fighter for all to emulate. It takes the fight out of him and the wind from his wings. All he wants is to retire, and maybe things could go back to how they were between him and Draxum. All he truly craves is peace.

He doesn’t get the chance.

Lou finds himself in a dark lab in a small cage, cocooned in spider webbing bars that he couldn't quite break. There are creatures around him that look to be hybrids of multiple animals, mystic or not. Save a small box of equally small turtles. They're easily within reach and so adorable that he cant help but coo at them. Unfortunately a way to get out of the cage isnt in reach like they are. He shouts out into the echo of the lab, shouting for whoever had taken him to reveal themself and let him go.

Big Mama is still Like That. But instead of becoming a crime boss and all that, she clings to the glory of war, her status and pride as a warrior, and wants nothing more than to raise an army against the surface. She delves into alchemy, dabbling in science, and gets put on the Council watch list. She isnt angry like Draxum is, but she's ruthless, cruel, and doesn’t care if some yokai or her mutated soldiers are lost.

All she had needed was a perfect fighter, and lo, Draxum all but put one at her feet. She watched every single one of his battles, studying every move Lou made until he was one of the only things on her mind. Big Mama had her perfect warriors - little turtles, with their natural armor - now all she had to do was mix their DNA.

Lou knows her well enough as Draxum’s old warrior compatriot. He was his prized fighter and lover, so obviously he was brought to all the post-battle parties and other little things, and had rubbed elbows with the entire gentry and nobility of the Hidden City. Big Mama was always in attendance, sweet, doting, quick with honeyed words between nonsense ones. He chalked her up to being eccentric, even if he felt her eyes on him plenty. It was nothing new, really. He was famous and hot, why wouldn't someone keep their eyes on him.

If he had turned around, he would have seen that the gaze was akin to the look a spider has for a fly in her web. That's all he was to her, really. And similarly to a spider and a fly, she took his life from him.

Lou barely escapes with the turtles, covered in mutagen, leaving her castle engulfed in flames as he felt his body crack and change into a rat. It isn’t the peace he wanted, nor the retirement. But at the very least, he could give his new children the peace he so craved.

Away from limelights, battle arenas, and yokai looking for glory. Away from prophecy and sacrifice. No one would steal that from them, ever.

[namjooningelsewhere]

War Of The Hearts - #1

Pairing - OT7 x reader (DJ) and OT7 x Lily

Word Count - 6154

Ratings - 18+

Genre(s) - Mafia au, Angst , Fluff, mentions of smut.

Trigger Warnings - Mentions of Death, Mentions of Trauma , minor alcohol consumption, mentions of torture and shootouts and mentions of bloodshed.

Summary - You've been lurking in the shadows, protecting the seven of Bangtan even if it means you must give your own life. After all, that's what you do when you are in love with someone irrevocably. That pain seems to be miniscule in light of their safety. But it was never about you, for all you are is a speck of dust in the universe they have created for them and their girlfriend. Your heart's at war, but it's fine, you can smile through the pain as long as it means they smile- for her.

A/N - This is something I wrote while I was camped out somewhere extremely serene and this happened to hit me right there. There will be a part two to this and a final one.

This is my first OT7 written fic, and one of the writers whose OT7 writings I absolutely adore and a sucker for turned out to be my beta reader for this fic, and the best part? She reached out!!!!Thankyou Jay @jayhopely ❤️ for beta reading this for me❤️ Thankyou for taking out time for this and giving me such wonderful insights on this. I really have a long list to thankyou for🤭 Also, for the title and also helping me with the summary as well. Im so glad to have found a friend in you luv✨❤️

Stupid, An absolute Fool is what you and anyone else who knows you says. There are a lot of things that you have achieved in the twenty six years of your life on earth.

A feared Mafia woman who belonged to the most powerful Mafia circle - check

A woman who single-handedly runs an arms racket all over the country and internationally without giving a flying fuck to the other members of the circle - check

You were passed down this business as the only child to the notorious Lee Jihyun, but expanding it from Seoul to International organizations was all your doing.

But the people who knew you in close proximity, one of the very few that you could count on your fingers, knew that you had a side list as well, a rather embarrassing one.

Falling in love with people who are already in love with someone else. - check

Witnessing their entire dating history in eight years by staying on the sidelines yet not giving up on them. - check

Remaining scarily calm when you're held at gunpoint but having no balls whatsoever to just say a simple I like you to the seven people who have been the centre of your attention. - Check

"You're drooling" Jeh states, pushing a flute of champagne in your hands. You rolled your eyes at him but didn't take your eyes off the seven men who stood talking a few meters away from you. Dressed in all black suits with diamond cufflinks and each with a montone tie except Jungkook who had left a few buttons open, were a vision to the eyes.

"Go away before I gauge your eyes out" you scoffed at your bestie who made sure to remind you every time the boys and you happened to be under the same roof. "They have a girlfriend, I hope you know that." You murmured a silent acknowledgement.

"But again, when has that ever stopped you? I think I stopped keeping a count after 9, but I think this one is here to stay. It's been three years and they've been going strong. That's the longest for Bangtan.'' he added and you rolled your eyes again. You were literally there when Lily joined them, literally there when they introduced her to the circle after six months of dating her, and you were also there all the times when they brought her to parties like this one and fawned upon her.

In all these years, you were sure of one thing- Lily was the heartbeat to the hearts of Bangtan and you were just a mere spectator who listened to the beatings of the said heart.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" You heard a voice next to you. Your gaze was fixed on Yoongi who was scowling hard at some shit Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook were pulling. Without looking at the side, a smile crept at your face, and you whispered a, "Yes, they are"

Looking at the seven men often threw you into a trance and you never wanted to snap out of it.

"You should try talking to them, you know" the same voice spoke again and you smiled a little harder but in pain, "Naah, they already have someone who reigns their hearts, I'm happy to watch them being happy." You heard a small chuckle from your side but a voice pulled you out of your trance.

"Lily, baby girl we've been looking for you." Namjoon walked over to you, and your neck snapped at the side to see Lily standing beside you. She was smiling, but there was something unreadable in her eyes.

Wow! Just wow! You literally had confessed your undying love to their girlfriend. How more embarrassing could you be?

Before you could say something to Lily, Namjoon pulled her into a kiss and you backed off. Lily looked at you but you immediately moved away in haste before the years welling in your eyes threatened to spill.

Fuck your life.

You move away from the party and towards the pool. You watch the calm turquoise water glistening in the moonlight. Basking in the silence, your thoughts began running wild again.

You and the boys grew up together, it wasn't like you were friends; just the kids of the members of the circle who were trained together, but the boys were always kind. You were the only daughter/girl in the circle who was set in to take after her father. So it was a regular occurrence where people made fun of the fact that a woman would run the business in this line, or there would be times when they would try to imply that a woman wasn't strong enough or ruthless enough.

But when it came to the boys, they were nothing but supportive. Usually when comments like these would put you down they made sure to assure you with comments like "Comeon DJ these are just old geezers, you're way better than most of us anyway" or "You're built for this aren't you?".

They challenged you every step of the way to prove that you were no less. They were with you along every step of the way, speaking for you and at times fighting for you and with you.

But later on life happened and the unspoken friendship transitioned to just mere acquaintances. But the eighteen year old DJ who fell in love with all those stubborn idiots stayed right there.

A light tap on your shoulder bought you back to back to where you were wrapped in the silence of the moment. You turned towards the source and the second time you froze again. Lily!

"Listen I'm really sorry for earlier okay, just know I didnt---"

"I'm sorry" she apologized and you looked at her bewildered. Why was this woman apologizing?

"Why are you apologizing? Gosh this is embarrassing, I should be the one to apologise."

She caught your hand and stroked her finger at the back of your hand. "I'm sorry it's me and not you." Exactly what you needed! How is this even logically possible? What exactly was this woman apologizing for? For example, you would have gladly clawed out someone's eyes if they would look at your lovers like that, and here she was apologizing because your love wasn't being reciprocated.

You now know exactly why everybody always said Lily was here to stay, and why she was the woman who was dating Bangtan for three years when most of their relationships wouldn't even see the light of the six month mark. This woman was too good for her own good.

Before you could respond, Hoseok's voice echoed through the place. "Baby we need to leave, everyone's looking for you." He pulled her by his side and kissed her head. You looked down, this was painful.

"DJ, Good to see you." He smiled at you and you nodded. "Good to see you too, Hoseok -ssi." You greeted him back and excused yourself from the couple, Hoseok looked like he was seconds away from shoving his tongue right down Lily's throat.

"Enjoyed the show DJ?" Jeh smirked and you scoffed at him. "You know right you're actively trying to get yourself killed? Can you not rub it in my face anymore?"

"Exactly, why would you willingly put yourself through this pain? This is just you, this one sided love that you're harbouring inside will kill you one day, and not to mention your side job of being their body guard." Jeh rubs your back and you sigh, blinking back your tears.

It was useless, you had been through this conversation with Jeh a million times before and you were sure you would be again, a million times in the future, but the outcome would always be the same.

"Let’s leave please." Jeh nodded and you took his arm towards the exit.

------

You played with the gun on your table, dismantling it and assembling it again and again. The events of yesterday still ran fresh in your mind and there was a deep frown etched in your face as Lily wouldn't leave your thoughts. Her apology kept repeating in your mind over and over again. Why would someone apologize over something like this? Why wasn't she jealous?

"Duty calls bodyguard DJ." Jeh walked into the study, a different conviction in his stride. Very strangely he enjoyed these body guard duty calls. So basically you had another side job which started off by accident but you continued doing it by your own free will.

It was 7 years ago on a fateful night you happened to be in a crossfire that happened when Bangtan was out on a drug deal, and things went haywire and somehow they were double crossed. The rival gang had managed to ambush the seven of them, you were barely a wall away in that old abandoned factory, when the gunshots rang.

Watching the seven trying to eliminate the men, you had commanded your men to start firing at the opposite gang, and suddenly out of the dark night the seven men were not alone and somebody else was also firing at the rival gang for them.

The shootout ended with the elimination of the rival gang, but you never showed them your face and your men had been surprisingly sneaky to avoid any interaction.

Since that night, you were somehow indirectly involved in keeping a watch over the shady deals that had a chance of going wrong. As deluded that sounded and as powerful they already were, this wasn't absolutely necessary and it wasn't like every deal went south.

But there were instances when this duty ended up saving either of their lives.

It started when Yoongi got shot in the shoulder, when Taewon tried to cross him and you ended up shooting the sniper who was stationed behind Yoongi. You managed to put the sniper out but Taewon somehow managed to put a bullet in his shoulder. Yoongi had raised his injured hand to shoot him, and you had striked exactly that moment aiming straight between his eyebrows.

You were absolutely sure Yoongi wouldn't have noticed it considering both had fired at the same time.

And so began your side hustle, which ultimately made your best friend realise you were absolutely and hopelessly in love with the seven boys of Bangtan.

"Who is it now?"

"Jimin and Taehyung killed Dong-Hyun yesterday, his father is out for both of them, something is going down at 12 tonight in Sinchon." Jeh added and you stopped the assembling of the gun and looked up.

You leaned your head back and reached for your phone out of your pocket. You dialed the one number that would exactly know where Jimin and Taehyung would be. It would be hilarious if anyone ever knew that one of the members of the circle were tailed like this, they'd gasp in surprise but yet you had successfully managed to tail them and locate them in times of need and you had your network to thank for that.

"They're out for the Busan Consignment, should be heading back by 11." So that's where Song-Ho would catch them exactly an hour later in Sinchon.

"What are you going to do now? What if they kill them?" Jeh asked and you walked over to his side.

"They're definitely going to kill him if they lay their hands on him. What if they never see him in the first place?" You smirked, and Jeh knew right there it was time to break the pattern.

You arrived at Sinchon bridge just as the message said and Jeh made a few calls to pin the exact location. "Second left from the bridge near the old checkpoint." You began walking and Jeh jogged up the distance sighing in irritation. Nothing of this made sense to him, but he would be there to make sure you didn't get your ass busted.

"We have a car, you know?" Jeh announced and you laughed. Clueless idiot! "We can't alert them you know?" You sing-songed and he let out an annoyed sigh. The things people do for love.

"Make sure the obstacles are set and keep the shooter on standby if this fails they come in. Those rats need to be killed today." Song-Ho's boisterous voice echoed through the silence of the night and the men with him got in action.

"Hello Song-Ho," You walked up to the older man, who was immensely surprised by your presence. He definitely wasn't expecting you to be here. "DJ what are you doing here?" He looked at you with a stern expression and all you wanted to do was laugh in his face.

"Let's rephrase that question a little bit Song, what are you doing here?" You added mirroring his expression and fishing out your gun from your jeans. His eyebrows furrowed when you unlocked the safety lock and held it casually, rotating it in your hands.

"This is none of your business DJ, I suggest you leave if you want your pretty face safe." He stated smugly and that my friend was the first strike.

"What if I'm not leaving Song-Ho? What if this is my business?" You snickered and he lost it. "Kill this woman." He ordered his men and nobody moved. Jeh and you burst out laughing and he looked at you like you had grown a second head.

"They're aren't your men Song-Ho. You should have looked a little more carefully"

The men in question immediately pointed their guns at Song Ho and he broke out in a cold sweat. Check mate! Exactly what DJ was known for.

"What the hell is this? None of this is for you DJ. Why are you in the middle of this?" He tried to plead but you weren't in a particularly generous mood today. You hopped on to the bonnet of the car nearby and looked at the men who immediately held Song down.

"You're whore for those boys aren't you?" He spat and you chuckled. The audacity of this man. "Rot in hell you little slut.'' he spat again and you brought out the calm DJ smile while Jeh rained punches on the old man's face.

"I don't have all the time in the world Song-Ho to track down your antics. I'd rather eliminate the threat right away, I don't leave loose ends, you see and yes, I'll see you in hell old man." You pulled the trigger and aimed straight for the head. Song-Ho fell to the ground.

"Dispose him off and clear up the mess." You got down from the bonnet and started walking again. Jeh kept staring at you while you two walked, and soon enough Song-Ho's car passed by you. Job done.

"Is this how it is going to be? We eliminate the threat even before it reaches them?" Jeh questioned and you nodded. It was logical, why wait for the danger to run its course if you could nip it in the bud itself?

You were still walking when the anticipated Jimin's Porsche Cayenne passed by and you breathed a sigh of relief. They were safe.

"You really are something else you know DJ?"

The next morning marked the beginning of a new chaos for the Circle. The useless buggers had been a tad bit too careful and Song-Ho's body had been discovered and identified.

The circle immediately called for a meeting and all the members had assembled in an instant, also not to mention Song-Ho was a member of the circle.

"Namjoon, are you sure Song-Ho wasn't killed by you considering his son was his victim?'' Senior Jung questioned and Namjoon cleared his throat. "With all due respect Jung-nim, it was Dong Hyun who tried to kill Jimin and Taehyung and what happened after was a measure of self defence. I'll have you know we don't intend to violate on purpose. But we don't sit idle either if someone tries to cross us." There, right there was Namjoon, the guy who had the command that would have you listen. You could bet your life, it would be him to head the circle once senior Jung would retire or be killed or die naturally.

The room fell silent and you studied the faces in the room. They looked like they were extremely pained by Song-Ho’s death, but those two were a pain in the ass either way, so really, they should be thanking you.

All you wanted was to laugh till your eyes cried when Senior Jung tried to make Song-Ho's murder sound like treason or like somebody was out to get the members of the circle or trying to overthrow their dynasty. Bullshit! Just tons and tons of bullshit! What the actual fuck were these old men going on about.

You breathed a sigh of relief when the meeting was over, and you hurried out. Shit like this was claustrophobic as it is. You were walking out when you bumped into someone. "I am so sorry, I wasn't looking." The voice said and you looked up to see a smiling Lily.

"All we do is apologize when we meet." Lily chuckled and you smiled as well. She is sweet. "Lily." she introduced herself and you giggled. She looked amused. "Why are you laughing?" She asked and you laughed a bit more. You of all people definitely knew Lily, and here she was introducing herself so modestly.

"Of course I know who you are, Ms.Lily." you replied and she laughed, "Oh please DJ, Ms.Lily? Just Lily.” you nodded your head and suddenly she took your arm and started walking towards the door.

If she wasn't pulling you along, you would literally have frozen in your place. Was this woman for real? You walked with her and she was staring at nothing, looking like she was contemplating something.

"How long?" She asked and suddenly that piqued your interest. You knew exactly what she was asking but you were literally unsure of answering her.

"You want the hard truth or a satisfactory lie?" You asked and she giggled. "Of course the truth, dummy."

Dummy.. the fuck? No one ever called you a dummy, if anything it was always the opposite.

"Eight years." she gasped and immediately hopped right in front of you. "Are you for real?"

"Exactly what I wanted to ask you." She smiled at you and took your hand again. This woman really needed to stop. "Why aren't you jealous or something?" You asked.

"Jealous of what? It's not like I have control over your emotions. And besides they are that kind to be loved." She added and you literally could feel the room spinning.

This woman is incredible, literally incredible. How is she like this? Is it even valid to be so understanding?

"It hurts doesn’t it?" She asked suddenly, her tone dead serious. You nodded and she squeezed your hand a little bit tighter. But before she could say anything, Jimin came barreling towards her, pulling her in his arms and by default your hand too. You tried to pull your hand away, but you froze when she held it tighter. It was like she didn't want to let it go.

"DJ, woman I've been looking for you and--” Jeh froze midway when he saw the awkward situation you were standing in- Jimin hugging the shit out of Lily and your one hand tightly clasped in hers.

You threw him a ‘save me’ look, but right at that moment Namjoon joined the crowd and he acknowledged your presence, and Lily let go of your hand. You literally thanked the heavens a million times in a second.

This absolutely did not make sense.What the fuck was that? Jeh nudged you and you bid your goodbyes and left.

"What on earth was that?" Jeh stopped you once you were outside. "I'll tell you when I figure it out". Weird. Fucking weird was what you wanted to call the day.

At Crecenzo : Bangtan House

"It's confirmed. Song-Ho was out for me and Jimin that night. Something was up at Sinchon" Taehyung spoke up.

"And he was killed before he got to us?" Jimin added.

"Well, it looks like it." Taehyung added. Namjoon frowned from his seat. "So this explains only one thing." Before he could speak up, Yoongi pinned a piece of paper on the board and attached the thread from the last pin.

"108." Yoongi announced. Jin choked on his drink and his face immediately turned red. "Are you fucking serious?" He sounded shocked and the rest weren't any different either.

"This is insane. I don't exactly understand this. What the fuck is this person upto?" Namjoon looked at the board. 108 events in 8 eight years. He was baffled to say the least. He had absolutely no idea how someone magically turned up when shit hit the fan and saved the day.

They were powerful men, but they were human too. As prepared as they could, sometimes things could work out against them but somehow every time there was this magical someone who would swoop in and save the day.

Namjoon still remembered the day, absolutely clear. The day he wouldn't forget until he breathed his last. The only day where he saw death hanging tight over their heads. The day where he saw death close over his loves, the day where he thought he was going to lose the six pieces of his heart.

Right before they exhausted their bullets, and Taehyung got injured, a group of men came in suddenly out of nowhere and started raining hellfire on the rival gang. Namjoon never believed in God, but that day, that miracle made him thank the presence above. But before he could thank the men, they had already disappeared in different directions.

He couldn't go behind them since Tae was injured, but those patterns kept repeating and soon enough Yoongi drew the pattern to trace it. But the complicated part was it was never tracked. Eight years and still no clues.

As long as it didn't harm them, they didn't mind. And according to Jin, eight years is a long time to harm someone. And you don't help someone when you have wrong intentions.

Bangtan was fullyaware of your side hustle, they just didn't know who it was and why. Everyone had their own concept.

"So what now?" Jungkook asked and all the six heads looked up at him and it was already established that there wouldn't be any clues. But what did they have to lose?

What they didn't know was there was another storm brewing up in their own house. The love of their life was up for nights now contemplating something or maybe rather someone!

Life fell into routine after the weird encounter with Lily and things rather calmed down.

"This is so nice when we are just being baddies and not being someone's guardian angel." Jeh chimed in. You were out in the city to do some mundane tasksf. You smacked the back of Jehs head, he could get to you in ways no one could but you would still give away your life for him if the situation demanded and the little shit knew it.

"Code Red." Jeh suddenly alerted you and you looked in his direction. Chan-Yeol. Absolute piece of shit. He and his older brother were the most troublesome people you had encountered, they were all bark and no bite so you always kept them at an arm's distance.

"Look who the cat dragged in!" Chan-Yeol sneered at you and Jeh and instinctively your hand reached for your gun, and Jeh held your hand to stop it. "Talking about yourself Chan?" You asked and Chan-Yeol growled.

"Think you're too smart, aren't you DJ?" He scoffed and you just waved your hand infront of your face. "I don't think darling, I already am." He looked like he was about to burst, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at you straight in his eyes, "After Bangtan it's you, just you wait." Okay now he had your full attention. What was this about Bangtan in line?

He started walking away and you jogged up to him leaving a baffled Jeh behind at your sudden interest. "I want in." you announced and he stopped in his tracks.

"What do you mean DJ?'' you shrugged your shoulders and looked at him and with the most false convincing look you could muster. "If you're up for taking Bangtan down, I want in." he looked at you with suspicion yet you still remained as calm as ever.

"Scared now? So that we won't hurt you next?" He said with a smug smile and you could literally take him down without lifting a finger. Funny how they think they could destroy what you've built in all these years. You had a reputation for being the destroyer and well, Bangtan was Bangtan.

"Yes, very scared Chan. But you will reconsider right if I help you in it? Come on man cut me some slack." He literally smirked. His face screamed "oh poor baby, look at you so scared."

"I have the ace of Bangtan, and I have something that will destroy the root of them. Wait till you see them destroyed. I'm going to rip those bastards heart.'' You were genuinely curious as to what he had on them.

You were for sure going to be surprised.

You texted Jeh to go back to the warehouse and wait for the dispatch of logistics if needed. You were about to take a risk and hell, you were all about it. Well Bangtan may have played a part in it.

Chan-Yeol gestured to you to come with him, and you followed. The younger one was definitely the foolish one, full of ego. Did no one ever teach him to be cautious?

You followed him in your car while Jeh rushed back. You may or may not have kept an eye but now getting this shit thrown at your face. This was something another level planning that the universe was putting you up against.

You arrived at a warehouse right on the outskirts of the city. Chan-Yeol got down and roughly grabbed your hand and led you to the entrance. Damn this was it. You were counting patiently in your head to not rip his hands right out of his sockets.

You walked into the old warehouse and you immediately saw red. Right there was a figure slouched on a chair and you recognised it- Lily. Damn these assholes had hit a new low.

Chan-Yeol came barrelling towards you and the younger one stepped in, “She is in this with us Hyung.” He looked at you and smirked.

"Welcome DJ, we just got stronger" he high-fived his brother and right at that moment, Lily chose to wake up. She looked at you with bleaky eyes and you felt bad. Fuck, she didn't deserve this- getting caught up in the crossfire because she chose to love someone in this line.

Lily was absolutely calm when she saw you, and you just tapped two fingers behind you to gesture you were on her side. You pretended to check your phone and exclaimed loudly. "Shit!" the brothers looked up at you and pretended to panic.

"Bangtan knows you got her here, we need to move before they ambush us." The Chan brothers laughed. You facepalmed. There was no chance you'd be able to get out of here alive between twenty men and moreover, you'd end up getting Lily killed too.

"Have you gone nuts? Do you realise shifting her to some place else will give you a window to plan ahead and turn it on them." You mustered up the all courage you had and they stopped for a second. Good, that's exactly what you needed.

"Don't be stupid, you need to be smart even if it means to retreat a little. That makes you wise." They discussed something in a low voice and you just hoped you got into their head enough. They skeptically nodded their heads.

"But we're going to your warehouse, you're taking us there. They won't think that far." You jumped in joy internally. Fools, absolutel fools. "Done. Let's move now before they're here."

They grabbed Lily roughly and followed you. Lily was pushed inside the van and Chan Yeom stayed behind in the van while the younger joined you in your car. You immediately texted Jeh.

You: Eta 20, bringing two banquets alert NJ.

You were sure Jeh would take over and plan it accordingly. Since you started driving, Chan-Yeul was chattering his lungs out about how he was going to bargain and what he would bargain for in exchange for Lily. Really was it that easy? You tuned out his mindless chatter and concentrated on driving.

You arrived at your warehouse and looked at the guy beside you. He was busy looking out of the window and you cleared your throat. The men in the van immediately got out and you led them inside.

You called out to Jeh to take Lily inside and the men filed in. "This is nice shit." The older one chirped and momentarily you felt bad for them. Poor things didn't even know what would happen next to them.

''So you didn't tell us why you wanted Bangtan down?" Chan-Yeom circled around you like a prey and you stifled a giggle. "Who said I wanted them down?"

Chan-Yeol suddenly made a move towards you, his fists ready to punch the shit out of you, but you twisted his arm and spun him around in your grip and aimed your gun at his head. "What were you saying Chan-Yeol? You would hunt me down after Bangtan? Is it?"

Chan-Yeom snarled towards you but you tightened your grip on his brother and he stopped midway. Taking that as cue, your men encircled the crowd and shot the Chan brothers men one by one and a million gunshots later, all there was left was Jeh, the Chan brothers and Lily and you.

"Alerted Namjoon?'' you asked Jeh and he nodded. "You fucking whore!" Chan-Yeom snarled towards you and you took the perfect shot at his knees. He wasn't your prey after all. It would only be fair if he was thrown at Bangtans mercy. After all, it was their woman whom he had messed with.

He fell to the ground wincing in pain and Chan-Yeol took the gun lying near one of the dead men's feet and aimed it at you and you reacted exactly at the moment aiming it at his right shoulder. The brothers winced on the ground.

"Why didn't you let me die?" A voice spoke behind you and you looked at the woman in disbelief. "And what would that get me?" You replied and she smiled. Fuck, the woman wasn't even shook.

"If I wanted something like that, I wouldn't have waited for eight years. I told you this that day and I am telling you now, I am happy watching them happy. And you, my buddy, make them happy."

You added but there was still the underlying pain inside. You had to accept the fact that maybe they would never be yours. And you were okay with it.

The door flew open and footsteps followed in. You leaned on the wall next to you and Lily rushed to hug the members. Namjoon held her in a tight grip and the rest of them followed suit. You stood at the side as always, watching the men you loved pour their tears out as if no one was watching. The lot in front of you weren't any mafia, but just seven men who almost lost the love of their lives. They finally smiled when Lily assured everyone she was okay and automatically a smile spread across your face. Shit you were whipped for these men.

Jeh cleared his throat and the group immediately glanced at the men on the ground. Namjoon spoke first, "Mind if we take them DJ?" You smiled at him.

"They're all yours Namjoon-ssi, after all it's your woman they've put hands on." Jimin and Hoseok dragged the men with them. You were about to turn over when Jungkook came running towards you and engulfed you in a bear hug muttering a million thank yous.

You froze in the spot, everything coming back to you from the past eight years. His tears kept streaming onto your jacket and immediately tears welled up in your eyes. It was painful, to have him trust you with that vulnerable emotion yet it wasn't you who it was for. He was just thankful to the person who saved his woman.

You quickly pulled away, there was no way you could hug him back and let him go. One by one everyone hugged you and thanked you. You literally felt a million emotions in a minute and you couldn't even process it.

"Thank you for saving my life DJ." Lily held your hands and you smiled at her. She hugged you once again before leaving and you sighed. Hell you couldn't hate this woman. She was sincere and she had no ulterior motives.

As soon as the men left, you broke down and Jeh held you close. Being on the side was a different thing but it was different when they hugged you and thanked you for saving their woman. All the love, pain and the saddness that you had it inside, you were seeing it in their eyes but they weren't for you. It was never going to be you.

At Crecenzo : Bangtan House

The boys filed into the house after taking care of the Chan brothers. Lily was in the shower and they fled to her room waiting for her to come out.

"Baby girl, fuck fuck thank god you're okay. We thought we lost you." Jimin and Jin hugged her from both sides, tears streaming from their faces. Lily hugged them back tightly.

"You're okay right? They didn't hurt you right?" Taehyung asked, taking her hands in his. She smiled and caressed his face with her delicate fingers and he leaned into her touch.

“I’m really okay, you guys don't worry." Lily tried reassuring them but it was of no use, Jungkook just wouldn't stop crying and neither was Jimin. Hoseok and Namjoon stood silently while all of this unfolded. Both of them had a bit of trouble expressing themselves, but they would make sure you knew they were thankful for your safety when they snuggle next to you today.

That night Lily had different thoughts as she laid in her lover's arms. There were a million things in her mind. For starters, the fact that you could have easily gotten rid of her, yet you didn't. You were true to your words and somehow she didn't at all mind the fact that it had been eight years, that you of all people were in love with her lover's for eight years.

Suddenly Lily found a way to the issue at the back of her mind. She had been noticing you for quite some time. Your good intentions only confirmed it. She knew exactly how to proceed with this situation and she exactly knew now where and how to fit you in.

After all, you were her last chance and her last hope.

Florenzo - Your Penthouse :

A few days passed by, all you did was wallow in your house. You were drunk on your sorrows and the alcohol didn't seem to be helping at all. Shots after shots of whiskey went down your throat but the burn was nothing compared to what your heart was feeling.

"DJ, wake up woman! I swear to god I will kill you if you don't wake up right now. You've been holed up in here since a week now."

You groaned at the light flooding your room. You finally managed to get out of your room and freshen up. You showered and brushed your teeth and wore your comfortable clothes when an urgent knock sounded at your door.

You uttered a come in and Jeh came rushing in, "You have a visitor." He said and you started wondering who exactly could it be. But you stopped functioning the minute you walked into the lounge of your house to see Lily sitting there. What did she want now?

"Hey." you greeted her and she moved over to you and hugged you. You hugged her back and she went back to the couch, lifting her coffee cup to her lips. Your staff placed your cup infront of you and looked at her in confusion.

"I came here to talk to you." She started and you took slow sips of your drink, "Yeah tell me." you replied and she took a long breath and circled the cup.

"I came to ask if you wanted to join us?" She asked and you furrowed your brows in confusion. "Join us as in?" You were genuinely confused.

"By joining us I mean, be ours. Join our relationship" you choked really hard in your drink and the air wheezed out of your lungs. What the actual hell was this woman talking about? Lily rushed over to you and patted your back and you looked at her bewildered.

"Be yours?" You asked again to make sure.

"Yes, DJ be our woman. Be ours. If you're okay with it, date us, the eight of us."

What the actual fuck? You were almost sure you died and woke up in an alternative universe where the girlfriend of the people you loved offered you an in in their relationship.

The words kept ringing in your ears.

"Be ours".

Part Two to be continued.

[sinner-as-saint]

The Unseen.

Hades!Bucky x Reader AU

Run-through: Your father is forcing a profitable marriage proposal upon you. Unwilling to endure such a thing, you run away from home and deep into some unknown woods. Naturally, your father sends his people to find you and bring you home, but this causes you to run deeper into the woods to a point where it feels like you’re not even in the same world anymore. Though fatigued; mentally, emotionally and physically, you manage to find shelter. You stumble upon a mysterious, handsome stranger. The God of the Underworld is baffled upon seeing you because it has been millennia since a mortal entered his dark, forlorn kingdom. And it’s been even longer since he felt something for someone… 

Themes: hades!bucky, fluff, angst, smut, 

You staggered through the woods. 

Holding on to whatever you could find to help you keep your balance, and not fall flat on your face. You had been on the run for days now; running from your tyrant father and his people, running from a marriage proposal which was being forced upon you, running from the only place you called home. You wondered, was it really home? 

You were currently deep into the woods. Famished, dehydrated, sleep deprived, your body covered in small cuts, bruises, insect bites and scratches. Your clothes were soiled. You could barely hold yourself up, but you had to get as far away as possible. 

This part of the woods was so dense that the sunlight barely got through. There was more fog around you than sunlight. Actually, you could no longer tell what time it was. Perhaps it was not daytime. 

Your throat burned, your tears had dried, your stomach rumbled in hunger; you were miserable. Your heart hurt at the thought of your mother; you had to leave her behind as well. You missed her, terribly. 

You walked on, and a while later you felt the ground beneath your feet get more soft and damp. Your senses were alert. There must be a water body close by, you thought. You rushed forward, and let out a raspy sigh of relief when you saw the cool, slow-moving river which snaked around the large trees. You could just tell by the sight of it that it’s water must be ice cold. The thick fog condensed and danced above it. It looked mystical. Too good to be true. 

You rushed to the river, kneeling by the side of it and picking up handfuls of water and drinking to satiate your thirst. You cleaned yourself as best you could - getting rid of all the dirt and muck from your face, and limbs and clothes. 

You felt at ease for the first time in the past days. You got up and sat back down at the river bank for a while, feeling light and almost comfortable even though you were all alone inside a dense and cold, and dark forest. You chuckled at how much safer you felt here compared to back at your father’s house. 

A minute later, you tensed up when you heard distant animal sounds. You panicked and took off running; deeper into the woods. You found yourself running alongside the river. You didn’t have a plan, you didn’t know where you were headed, but you knew you had to keep going. You couldn’t have your father finding you again and dragging you back home to marry whoever he chose for you just so he could profit off of it and expand his businesses; you refused to be a pawn in his games

You ran, stumbled, fell and stood up again. For hours. And just when you felt like you were about to pass out from fatigue again, you noticed a gate in front of you. It looked rusty and old, with dead vine all over it, surrounded in fog. You couldn’t see past it but something told you that once you’d get past it, everything would be alright. 

So you did. You pushed open the gate and stepped into what seemed to be a poorly kept, dying garden. Though disorganized, and unkept; it felt almost familiar. It felt like coming home. You looked further and saw what seemed like an abandoned, dark manor, almost as grand as a castle. The whole thing looked like an old, forgotten private property. 

“Help…” you called out with the little energy you had left. You doubted anyone lived here, but you called out anyways, just in case. “Help!” you called out again, falling to your knees on the rough ground. 

And right before passing out, you heard something getting closer and closer. It sounded like it was galloping… several of them. Horses? In here? 

Your eyes rolled back as you could no longer hold yourself up. You saw something approach you. Your blurry vision picked up on a tall, dark figure approaching. Whatever that was, it caught you right before your body fell to the ground. 

It was a man. Even in your insensible state, you could feel the dominant, strong, virile aura surrounding him. 

His low voice was the last thing you heard before you gave in to the darkness, “...I’ve got you, my love. You’re home now...” 

---

The god stood at the entry of the spacious bedroom, in the middle of which was a large bed, upon which you laid; comfortable, but still unconscious. 

Hands stuffed in his pockets as he leaned against the doorframe, he contemplated. Everything. He doesn’t remember the last time he had something so beautiful, and alive, inside the walls of his dark and dangerous kingdom. 

He wondered where you come from. Who were you running from? Why did you cry for help? How did you find the Underworld? The moment he saw you first entering his kingdom, he thought that you might be a lost, wandering soul. But then when his hands touched you, he felt your warmth and realized that you were very much alive. 

If you had made it through the entire woods to get here then you must be stronger and more courageous than you look, he thought. 

He stepped closer so he could hear your soft breaths. So full of life… he thought. Whatever it was that you were running from, he made a decision to protect you from it. He felt the urge to wrap his arms around you and shelter you, keep you safe forever. Why so? He didn’t know. He had never been so attached to mortals before. He barely even met any of them. 

But you… you walked right into his kingdom, and now you were making him feel things he had never felt before. 

The god had always been alone. He never quite had company, and he stayed as far away as possible from his dysfunctional family. So having you here was new, but also something he didn’t know he needed so badly. 

“Who are you, pretty human?” he whispered as he lovingly caressed your cheek while you slept. He had healed all your cuts and bruises the moment he picked you up in his arms, and placed you in his chariot. Now he was just waiting for you to wake up so he could talk to you. 

He couldn’t wait to meet you. 

---

You woke up to loud, warm puffs of air fanning your face. You peeled your eyes open, expecting a headache but there wasn’t one, what you did find though was a fairly large, mean and dangerous looking three-headed dog with shiny black fur standing beside you, on the bed, looking down at you with tongues hanging out of each of its mouths and wagging its tail so hard that its body moved side to side along with it in excitement.  

Your eyes widened even in the slightly hazy headspace, you almost took off running again but your body refused to get up from the comfy bed and then you saw the playful look in all three pairs of eyes and you immediately calmed down. 

“Hello there...” You whispered as you squinted and reached out to pet it. You gave it soft scratches behind the ears and under the chins and it immediately tackled you with wet kisses. You squealed and chuckled as you sat up, trying to escape the adorable monster. 

Maybe you had died? You thought to yourself as you kept petting the dog once it calmed down. Perhaps you were in some sort of after life, hallucinating about a three-headed while wearing a very vintage-y black gown with long, puffy sleeves; and sat in the middle of the softest bed ever inside what seemed to be a chamber fit for a Queen. 

“Am I dead?” You asked the three-headed animal. It didn’t answer, obviously so you tried to dig your memory to find something which would explain how you ended up where you are right now. All three heads laid on your lap, as you lazily pet them while thinking; you remembered running… deep, deep into the forest… you remember being tired, so tired you felt like you were about to pass out… wait you did pass out! In the garden. The dark garden, with the horses and the tall man. 

You gasped as you heard a voice, not far from you, answering your previously asked question. “No you’re not. Surprisingly.” 

Upon hearing the voice, the dog got up from the bed and immediately ran to the man who had just spoken. You got up from the bed too confused and nervous, standing and watching him cautiously as you took in the man’s appearance. Your heart raced the more he stared into your eyes with his deep, stormy ocean blue ones. 

He could easily be classified as one of the most handsome men you had ever seen. Tall, dark and dangerous; dark hair, dark suit, dark shoes, dark rings on his fingers. He looked like dominance and power personified. A rugged, intimidating alpha male with sophisticated charm. Icy eyes with a fiery look in them. 

He looked like a god. 

When you finally got over the beautiful man, you realized what he had just said. “What do you mean, surprisingly?” you were aware that this was the same man who had answered to your cry for help earlier so you were trying your best to be polite. 

The sound of your voice made his cold, frozen heart race. “You’re not dead. Just in the realm of it.” He spoke, confusing you even more. “You’re in the Underworld. My Kingdom.” 

You frowned, thinking hard on what he had just said. Wait a minute… you looked down and saw the three-headed dog sitting obediently at his feet, very much well-behaved. You looked back up at the handsome stranger and stuttered while getting your words out. “You can’t… you can’t be real.” This wasn’t a dream? 

He flashed you a lovely smile. “Really? Why not?” 

You looked around, panicking again. This can’t be real. This can’t be real. This can’t be real. “Because you’re a myth. You… you don’t exist. You’re not supposed to.” 

He almost chuckled. “And yet, here I am. Forgotten by most mortals, yes. But still very much real.” He took small steps forward as he spoke. You found his voice to be calming, soothing.

“Hades?” you couldn’t believe it. You had heard stories about him at school, read about him in books but never in a million years would you have even for a moment considered that he could be real. 

“The one and only.” He answered, looking down at his feet to find his beloved dog looking up at him. “You’ve met Cerberus already.” 

Hades. God of the Underworld. That sitting at his feet was the Guardian, the ultimate Hellhound. How can this be real life? Anyone else would’ve freaked out upon finding all this out, but you remained surprisingly calm. “You look… I mean, aren’t you supposed to be… you know-,”

He finished your sentence with an amused look on his face. “Bearded? Crowned? Carrying a pitchfork? Riding in a chariot?” 

You nodded. 

“Well, you mortals aren’t the only ones who evolve every now and then. Us gods, although more or less forgotten, have to keep up as well, don’t we?” 

You smiled faintly but it disappeared as quickly as it came. 

You were still a little anxious, and you fidgeted with your fingers. He noticed and walked up to you. Without a word said, he reached out and gently held both your hands in his large ones. He spoke up again, “I know you’re a little nervous. I expect you to be, given the circumstances but I assure you, you’re safe here.” He said, softly. 

You looked deep into his icy, sharp eyes which despite their intensity managed to provide you with a sense of comfort; effortlessly. Who would’ve known that the God of the Underworld could be so gentle? 

“Thank you for helping me.” Your voice was barely above a whisper but he heard it alright given he was so close to you. He squeezed your hands a little, as if to say ‘You’re welcome.’ Your hands fit in his perfectly, you noticed. He stood just a feet away from you and you could feel the power radiating off of him. 

He smiled gently. “If I may ask, how did you end up so deep into the woods that you stumbled upon my Kingdom? What are you running from?” He wanted to figure this out since the moment he saw you. 

“My father.” 

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why is that?” 

“He wanted to marry me off to a business associate's son so he can profit off the alliance and expand his own businesses. I refused, repeatedly. But then I found out that he was planning to forcefully fly me out somewhere, to marry the same guy. So I took off. I ran from home, and didn't tell anyone where I was going.” You exhaled shakily. “And now I’m here.” 

He nodded, slowly and calmly as he hid his utter disgust at the mention of you almost becoming someone else’s wife. 

He noticed how you started tearing up while speaking of your cruel father, so he simply pulled you closer and tucked your head under his chin while running a soothing hand down your back. His arms wrapped around you in a safe embrace. You felt the cool material of his suit against your flushed face as he held you close. He smelt amazing. You wrapped your own arms around him, feeling his taut body beneath the material of his suit. 

You hadn’t been hugged in a long time, so you started tearing up even more, until you began letting out little sobs. He tightened his grip around you, pressing you against his muscular torso. “Shh, my angel. It’s alright. I’m here now. You’re safe.” 

You held back a sob, your voice cracking as you spoke, “But if… if he finds me, he will…” 

The god pulled away a little, his hand reaching up to gently cup your face and tilt it back so he could look into your teary eyes. “He won’t find you here. I will keep you safe, don’t worry.” He wiped the fresh tears which escaped your eyes. 

You were once again lost in his eyes, just now noticing the flares of grey in them. You were both caught in the moment, when you heard a low whine. It was the adorable monster who had managed to get in between your bodies. You looked down and cracked a little smile. 

“Of course, Cerberus will keep you safe too.” 

---

You and the god had quite a long conversation leading up to dinner. A conversation often interrupted by a certain three-headed dog’s constant need for attention from either one of you. 

You learnt a lot about the one whose Kingdom you were in. You found out that he’s been here forever. Despite being dark, cold and barren you could tell he loved his realm more than anything. 

You had to ask him about Persephone and he had you surprised when he told you that unfortunately their relationship didn’t last long and that she left him for good shortly after they got married. 

You also found out that those closest to him call him ‘Bucky.’ And that his one true friend has always been the hell-hound and guardian of the Underworld, who also was currently asleep at your feet. 

“Doesn’t it get lonely?” you asked, watching him from across the grand dinner table. 

He took a sip of his wine, never breaking eye contact with you. “Not anymore.” he answered and you melted. 

Over dinner, you spoke some more. Then he noticed you got all quiet. Damn it, he cursed. This was the moment he had been dreading all day. 

“You miss your home.” He wasn’t asking, simply stating. He noticed how you pushed your food around on your plate. You weren’t as curious to know about his kingdom anymore, you weren’t chatty; just quiet all of a sudden. He missed the sound of your voice. 

Home… “Not home, no. Just my mother. Sometimes I feel like she’s the only parent who’s ever truly loved me.” 

He could feel the pain in your voice. But some of the rules of the Underworld were such that even he couldn’t bend them. “You know I cannot let you leave.” 

You had that bit figured out the moment you found out who he was. “I know.” 

He was surprised by how calm you were. “You… don’t ardently wish to go back home?” 

You looked up from your plate and at his handsome face. “Going home would mean that I’d have to face my father. Now that I’ve been gone for so long, upon seeing me he’d either obliterate me or drag me down the aisle and marry me off against my will. I prefer none of those things. As for my mom, I do miss her but she’ll survive. She’s a strong woman.” 

The god listened, leaning back in his seat; very much at ease in your company. “And what about you?” 

“What about me?” 

“What do you want?” 

You cracked a little smile. Or perhaps it was a smirk. You mimicked his body language, leaning back in your seat as well. You twirled the wine around in your glass. “For now, I want to be away from my family. I feel safe here. I don’t want to leave.” 

He found himself wanting that as well. 

---

You woke up the next morning to a sight which made you chuckle. No, it wasn’t an overly excited Cerberus. It was breakfast, along with a generous serving of pomegranates. 

You ate it all up. Then set out to find the god after you got dressed and ready for the day. Somehow, everything one could need could be found in the large closets found in the room you slept in. You had only been here for a little while but you settled in just right. 

You walked along a shadowy corridor. Bucky had given you a tour yesterday, hence you knew that this path led to the throne room. And that’s where he was; manspreading on his throne, wine glass in one of his hands while the other lazily stroked his beloved three-headed guardian; who sat by the feet of his master and wagged his tail as soon as you came in sight. 

“Your Majesty.” You spoke, walking further into the room and stopping at the stairs which led to his throne. 

He smiled as he watched you standing there, dressed in a dark grey dress. Similar to the one you wore yesterday, just a different color. “You look beautiful.” 

“Thank you.” You looked down at the dress, smoothing the soft fabric down as you spoke. “Also thank you for breakfast.” 

He caught the smirk you had on your face. He knew the reason behind it. “I assure you I wasn’t trying to be funny.” 

You took the liberty of walking up the stairs which led to his throne. “I didn’t say anything.” You whispered with a smirk and reached down to greet Cerberus. “So what do you do all day?” 

He took a sip of his wine, watching you as you knelt to the ground beside him and gave the dog endless pets. “I’m a god.” He sounded cocky. “That’s plenty of work already.” 

When you looked up at him and smirked, he could’ve sworn he felt tingles dance down his spine. There you were, a beautiful woman happily sharing space with him inside his dark kingdom like it was no big deal, with no intention of leaving anytime soon because you said it yourself that being here made you feel safe. 

The more he looked at you, the more he saw the light radiating off you. The light he so desperately needed. The light which balanced out the darkness he carried with him. The light which showed him glimpses of possible futures with you, if you’d be willing. The god was content in your company. He doesn’t remember the last time he felt the need to protect something so fiercely. 

“Come with me.” He stood up and set his glass aside, holding his hand out for you to take. 

You took it and he helped you up. “Where are we going?” you asked, as he led you down the stairs and into the corridor again. 

“There’s so much for you to see. My kingdom isn’t just full of darkness and death. There’s beauty here too, of course, none quite like your own but close.” He spoke as he led you somewhere, holding your hand carefully in his as though it were made of glass and would shatter if he let it go. 

You rolled your eyes at his comment, pretending as if it didn’t make you all flustered. “Is it now?” 

The god led you all the way to the place he was most fond of in his entire kingdom, other than his beloved throne. It was a vast garden, fit to be the backyard of a castle. There were more kinds of plants and flowers than you could count. Cobblestone walkways leading to what seemed to be a pond in the middle, surrounded by stones and moss. 

The dark red roses caught your attention rather quickly. You reached out to touch the soft petals and you felt Bucky’s presence behind you. He was so close that you could feel his warm breaths against your skin. 

“It’s so pretty.” You whispered. 

He reached around you and plucked one of them, handing it to you. “Just like you.” He mumbled and you gave him a genuine smile as you accepted the gorgeous flower. Dark red, like blood and sin. 

Amongst the numerous plants, trees and shrubs you managed to spot the one growing pomegranates. You cracked a little smile. Even though the garden was partly shadowy and foggy; the rays of sun which came through were golden and gentle. As you looked around, you spotted a yellowish weeping willow tree and walked towards it, the god followed you. 

“You’re the first one to ever step in here, you know that?” he said while thinking about all the times he spent hours in here wondering if one day fate would ever allow him to find someone he could share the joy of being here with.  

You reached out to touch the dangling leaves and looked back at him. “Well thank you for the privilege, Your Majesty.” You teased. 

You walked a few steps forwards, standing under the willow tree and admiring his secret garden when you felt his arm snaking around your waist as he placed his chin on your shoulder. 

Neither of you said anything. He was more than happy to have you here, he had been lonely for way too long. You said to yourself, ‘this isn’t so bad.’ 

He had told you about the rules of the Underworld before, you knew you couldn’t leave. You didn’t want to either. Sure, you missed your mom a lot. But going back out there would mean having to live in constant fear of what if your dad finds you. And what would he do if he does? 

Being here meant that you’d be safe and wouldn’t have to worry about anyone catching you. You didn’t fear anything here. It was quiet and the handsome god was great company. You felt all warm and tingly as he held you close, yet it felt comfortable and natural - like you were meant to be here with him, as if you had known him all your life. 

As of now, neither of you knew where this mutual attraction would go, or what it would end up being. But at the moment, just having the other one there was enough. He gave you the safety you had been searching for all your life and you provided him the warmth and light he had craved for millennia. 

---

Days in the Underworld were surprisingly peaceful; filled with surprises, visits to the garden, learning more about the god and finding out why he stayed as far away from his family as possible, wandering his kingdom all day, reading… time just flew by. And before you knew it, you had lived in the Underworld for months. 

Your bond with Bucky morphed into something more affectionate and sweet. Lingering touches and longing stares turned into deep, passionate kisses and always having to sleep in the same bed because otherwise nothing made sense. It wasn’t just love, it was tender adoration. It was warm, and light and safe. 

You hadn’t been intimate yet, but the sparks flew around whenever your hands touched at night, or when your eyes met from across the table at dinner. You were both holding back from taking it a step further. It wasn’t like he wasn’t dying to have you in his bed, or that whenever he kissed you good morning you didn’t feel the need to get on top of him and ride him until the sun came up the next day - but you were both waiting for a sign from the other and it was driving both of you insane. 

It got really, really heated one time. Bucky was on his throne, with you in his lap. His hands slipped under your dress and lazily caressed your thighs while he kissed the hell out of you. Your fingers tangled in his hair, while you gasped and moaned through the kiss. 

But just then Cerberus barged in, barking and jumping around with nothing but chaos on his mind. Bucky let out a loud sigh while you hid your face into his neck and giggled. It was those moments which made you love the place all the more. Not just the place, but the god as well. 

Winter came and when the weather was the coldest, and you spent all your time indoors is when the memories of your mother started tormenting you. She used to spend all her time baking in the winter, so you asked Bucky if you could too. He, of course, let you have anything you wanted whenever you wanted so naturally he let you. 

You tried so hard to keep yourself busy and happy but you couldn’t help but miss your mom. Bucky noticed it. And it broke him. He gave you everything one could ever need. You had everything here, and yet he could see how your eyes weren’t so shiny and curious or filled with magic and light anymore. You were dimmer than when you first came here. 

He began seeing you wandering around his home a lot less as you spent all your time either in bed or standing on one of the balconies, staring out at the woods longingly. No amount of books, or poetry or visits to the garden or your favorite food or kisses from Cerberus made you happy any longer. And Bucky’s worst fear was materializing in front of his eyes. 

You were no longer happy in the Underworld it seemed. 

-

One night, he found you curled up in bed earlier than usual. He stood at the door and watched you. You weren’t crying, you were just sad. He walked into the room and called out, “Angel, are you okay?” 

You sat up immediately, not wanting him to see you like this but at the same time you couldn’t fake being happy either. So you gave him a faint smile. “Yes, just a headache. I’ll be fine by morning.” 

He smiled faintly. His heart breaking at the sight of the sadness in your eyes. “Come with me, I have something to show you.” 

You got out of the bed and took his hand. He led you to one of the libraries he had; the coziest one with the huge fireplace and the perfect window which allowed you to see the breathtaking view of the gentle snowfall. 

You stepped further into the room and saw that he had the fire going already and the room was much warmer than anywhere else in his castle. You walked right over to the large window, pressing your palm against it as you watched the light snowfall; clean, dazzling white and calming. Your headache faded little by little. 

You felt a soft, warm blanket being placed upon your shoulders and you immediately wrapped it around you. Turning your head to the side you found Bucky right behind you. He kissed the top of your head and wrapped his arms around you. 

“Feeling better?” He asked and you nodded. 

“Much better.” 

You stood there, basking in the comfortable silence and the warmth of the room, just watching the snowfall and how it accumulated on the ground; a fresh, thick blanket of ice. 

“You miss her.” Again, it wasn’t a question from him, just a statement. 

“Who?” You pretended not to understand. 

He kissed your cheek and whispered, “Your mother. Your home. You want to go back, don’t you?” He sounded almost heartbroken and bitter. 

You remained quiet. You didn’t say anything. No… ? 

He spoke up again. “Even if I let you go, you will never be willing to come back here. To me.” He pulled away from the hug and walked over to the fireplace, shifting the burning wood with a brass fire poker. “Why would you?” He sounded pensive. “Why would you come back to this dark, barren kingdom when you can be perfectly happy out there? You must feel like you’re being held captive here.” 

He didn’t turn around to face you so he couldn’t see the silent tear which fell down your cheek. So he thought that if given the chance you would run away from here and never come back to him again? Did the past months mean nothing? Did he not see that he was all you wanted? 

Your throat burned. 

“Is that what you think of me?” The crack in your voice caught his attention. He turned around to face you with a worried look on his face. He couldn’t believe he made you cry. You weren’t sobbing, but you couldn’t contain the tears. “You really think I’m gonna be happy out there, without you?” 

That broke him. 

“Angel… I didn’t mean to…,” it was rare for the god to find himself at a loss of words but now he did. 

You wiped your tears away. “Did you even notice that I haven’t cried in months? Not since I met you because you make me the happiest I’ve ever been. This dark, barren kingdom you speak of feels more like home to me than when I lived with my family.” 

He walked up to you and pulled you into his arms. “Baby… I’m sorry.” 

You hugged him back. “I don’t feel like I’m being held captive. I don’t want to leave you. But I can’t help but miss my mom. I don’t want you to think I’m not happy with you anymore, I am. But I… It’s… I don’t know.” 

“I’m sorry.” He said, pulling away to look down into your eyes. “I need you here, with me. The thought of you leaving me forever and never seeing you again, it… it kills me.” 

You held him by the back of his neck and pulled him closer. “I’m not leaving.” You gave him a sweet kiss. “I love you.” You kissed him again and sensed his surprise as he kissed you back feverishly. You whined when his mouth left yours only to kiss down your neck, nibbling on your skin and leaving dark red marks behind. 

“You drive me crazy, you know that?” He mumbled as he kissed along your throat, walking the two of you back until he plopped down on the soft, velvety couch with you on his lap. You looked at him with nothing but hunger in your eyes. He looked at you and smirked; burning desire, lust and sin in his icy blue eyes. 

“Likewise.” you whispered. 

His hands grabbed you at your butt, firmly as he pressed you further into him. You could feel him; big and hard under you. You moved your hips against him, grinding on him out of desperation and whining in need. 

He chuckled against your lips. “You’ve had me by my heart ever since you walked into my life.” He spoke as he cupped your face gently. “I never knew I could feel so deeply for someone until I met you.” 

You stared into his eyes, your heart overflowing with all that you felt for him and your body burning with desire at the same time. So much so that you could no longer sit still on his lap. You needed him so bad it almost hurt. 

You leaned into his touch. “I feel the same way.” You leaned closer, gently caressing the back of his neck. “Falling for you was so easy.” You felt his body tense under you. 

He groaned. “Come here…” he pulled your face closer and pressed his lips to yours immediately, kissing you passionately and making your body tingle; biting your lip before shoving his tongue past your lips and kissing you like he’s famished and you’re the only thing which can satiate his profound hunger. 

Next thing you knew, he pushed you down onto the couch and hovered above you. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer. You moaned and whimpered, body squirming under his. You needed him, terribly.

Bucky’s mouth left your lips as he kissed his way down your body, undressing you in the process. Your long, flowy dress found itself on the floor as he settled himself in between your legs. His handsome face just inches away from your dripping core. 

He looked hungry, and feral ��� a man who wanted to do bad things to you, and you were more than happy to let him do whatever he wanted. “You’re mine.” He growled before he leaned in and kissed your wet folds, his tongue slowly circling around your throbbing clit and licking down, parting your wet folds with ease.

Your body felt hotter and lighter as a pressing need to release formed deep inside you as you felt his tongue stroked your most sensitive parts. “So fucking sweet…” he looked up at you and found you with your eyes shut, head thrown back in pleasure. “Look at me.” He ordered and the authority in his voice made you tremble.

You opened your eyes and supported your upper body up with your elbows digging into the couch and you took in the sight of him in between your legs. His strong arms wrapped around your thighs, keeping you in place and close to him. He maintained eye contact as he licked in between your wet folds again, making you whine as he teased you. His touch was deliberately slow, pleasurably agonizing. 

“Please…” you cried out, whimpering and begging him to take you already. 

Your hand flew to his hair and you tugged on it gently as he flicked his tongue over your clit over and over again. His stormy blue eyes watched how you lost control under his touch; legs shaking as he teased your entrance with the tip of his tongue. His hands wrapped around your thighs, securing you in his grip as he pushed his face further into you, making you cry out loud until you came undone. 

He kissed his way up your body again, then lifted off you for just a moment to get rid of his clothes. Once done, he was hovering over your naked body again. 

“If it were up to me, I’d keep you here…” he leaned in to kiss you on the lips, “just like this, forever.” He loved the sight of you; naked, hot and squirming under him. He desperately wanted to keep you there forever and never let you go. 

You giggled. “Fiend.” 

He smiled as he looked down at you. “Where have you been all this time?” He leaned in to kiss you again as his hands touched you wherever he could; letting his hands linger at your breasts and taking his sweet time; caressing and kissing your skin. 

His hands slipped in between your legs with ease; caressing your inner thighs as he went. You moaned into the kiss; his touch was slow, and gentle and enticing but also fiery - much like himself. 

You whimpered and squirmed under him, and he smirked through the kiss as he pushed his erected cock past your tight entrance, pulling your legs up to wrap them around his waist. You moaned out loud as he pushed into you, your back arching off the surface of the couch. He grunted once he filled you up entirely, giving you a couple of seconds to adjust. 

He grabbed both your hands, laced your fingers together with his and pinned your interlaced hands down above your head. He stared into your eyes, lips parted as he struggled to fit inside you. He had always wondered how he would feel inside you. How warm and how tight and snug you’d feel… but you felt better than he imagined. 

You threw your head back, moaning. You were so full of him that even you couldn’t even form a proper thought. His lips found yours again, trying to get you to stay quiet while he rolled his hips against yours. He pulled out and pushed himself back into you, and watched in awe how you struggled to fit him inside of you. 

“Come on, take all of me…” He mumbled breathlessly as he pushed deeper into you. You heard him gasp and swear under his breath as he rocked into you. Your nails sank into his skin, around his shoulders; which you held on to as he pounded into you. 

He bit your lips, kissed your open mouth, and shoved his tongue past your lips while he rammed into you; and you never once complained. He stretched you out completely. And it did hurt, but the pleasure compensated for the pain. Your legs trembled around his waist, he thrust deeper into you; fucking you like only a god could. 

Your back arched off the couch as you felt a familiar warmth washing over you. Bucky growled and bit down on your shoulder to keep himself from being too loud while he fucked you. He was relentless. The sound of his moans and grunts sent tingles dancing down your spine and you were sure that his bite left a mark. 

Bucky’s hand found its way to your front and he pressed the palm of his hand against your lower abdomen. He liked the rush of excitement which coursed through him each time he felt his cock deep within you. His hand travelled all the way to your neck and he gently squeezed the side of your throat. Hard enough to make you lose your mind while he kept pounding into you incessantly. 

“Fuck…” you heard a barely audible moan leave his lips as he rammed his cock in and out of you incessantly. 

You felt him quicken his pace. You tightened around him, and he groaned, pounding into you; growling and mumbling swear words under his breath. You felt the pressure in between your hips grow until you couldn’t hold back anymore. 

His other hand toyed with your folds; his fingers furiously rubbed the skin around your clit and made you tremble and whimper again. You moaned, craving more and more of him. With a few more strokes of his thick cock, you felt his thrust becoming irregular, and felt his cock throb against your walls. You tightened around him, feeling the burning hot need to cum grow hotter and hotter inside you until it exploded.

You came with a loud moan, gushing all around him. Bucky came right after you; buried deep within you – growling under his breath. His warm cum shot at your walls and trickled out of you when he carefully removed his length from your entrance. You were a whimpering mess. And so was he. 

He collapsed next to you. You were shaking just a little as he tucked your head under his chin and ran his soothing hand down your back; while kissing the side of your head. 

“I love you too, angel.” 

 ---

 Bucky agreed on letting you go for a few days, so you could meet your mom. But he had one condition: 

“My mom will freak out!” you exclaimed. 

Bucky shook his head. “Mortals can’t see him as the guardian of the Underworld. Your mother will see him as just a regular dog.” 

“Then how can I?” 

“You’re special.” He walked over to you and pulled you into his arms, kissing your forehead. “You were meant to be here. To be mine.” 

“Are you sure about this?” You bent down to give the excited three-headed little monster scratches. 

“Absolutely.” He was sending Cerberus along with you for your safety. 

You smiled at the dog and looked up at it’s master. “Alright then. When do I leave? And how?” 

The god smiled. “Right now. I’ll take you.” 

You smirked. “You know we can’t show up in a chariot being drawn by horses, right?” 

He chuckled. “Trust me, angel. Come on, take my hand.” 

You did. And the next thing you knew, all three of you were surrounded by black fog, and less than a few seconds later, you found yourself standing at the entrance of a beautiful, gated home you didn’t recognize. You looked beside you and there stood your beloved god and his trustee guardian. You realized it was night time. 

“Where are we?” you looked around, not recognizing the neighborhood. 

Bucky grabbed your hand in his and Cerberus’ leash in another. “Your mom’s place.” He led you to the front door and rang the bell. You were confused, but too excited to see your mom to ask any further questions. 

Needless to say, your reunion with your mother was filled with tears and teary smiles and hugs. She then told you that her and your dad were no longer together and that this was her home now. She didn’t know where your dad was, and neither did she want to. 

“Oh honey, who is this handsome young man?” Your mother asked, once she realized that Bucky was there too. 

You went along with the story you and him had concocted before leaving the Underworld. You told your mother that Bucky was your long term boyfriend and that you ran away to him because you were in love with him and couldn’t agree to marry someone else. 

“I’m gonna be away on a business trip for a couple of weeks, so I thought why not leave Y/N with you until I return. After all, she’s been wanting to see you.” Bucky spoke to your mom politely and won her over within a few minutes. The god was indeed very charming. 

After leaving Cerberus in your care, Bucky parted from you at the doorstep with a long, deep kiss. “I’ll be back for you, angel. Miss me.” 

You smiled, kissing him back. “I will wait. I love you.” 

“I love you more. Take care.” he kissed your forehead, and left. 

Leaving you behind to your mother whom you had missed, but who also had a thousand questions for you. You answered all of them, lied at most. 

---

The first week went by almost too quickly. Mother-daughter quality time, gossip and all. Cerberus was a sweetheart and each morning when you woke up and saw him in the kitchen keeping your mom company, you’d freak out for a moment or two. Then you’d eventually remember that she couldn’t see him for what he truly is and you’d calm down. 

By week two, the jittery feeling of being back with your mom had died down. Not that you didn’t enjoy spending time with her, but the fear of your father finding you caught you off-guard often. 

It was someday during the third week of you being back with your mom that your fears hit you hard. You had a terrible nightmare where your dad was back and was trying to take you away again. It was spine-chilling to a point where even Cerberus picked up on it. 

You woke up to him whining and licking your face. You sighed in relief upon seeing his heads looking down at you in worry and confusion. 

“I’m okay,” you gave him some pets and he immediately curled up on the bed beside you. You snuggled beside him, caressing his fur which looked shiny thanks to the moonlight coming in through the window. “You miss your daddy, don’t you?” You saw his multiple ears perk up at that. You giggled. “I miss him too.” You give his paw a kiss. 

“Well good thing daddy’s here.” You heard his voice coming from the dark shadow of your room. Cerberus jumped out of bed and was surprisingly quiet as he greeted his master with much excitement. “Hello,” Bucky greeted him, “how about you go home now? I know you’ve missed it.” One last scratch behind the ears and a snap of Bucky’s fingers later, Cerberus disappeared into black fog.

You sat up in the middle of your queen-sized bed and leaned over to light the soft, golden lamp shade by the side of your bed. You blinked in confusion. “Bucky?” You were pleasantly surprised. The soft golden light made him look almost angelic despite his signature, all black outfit. 

He gave you his signature cocky smirk. “Were you expecting someone else at this odd hour, angel?” 

You rushed out of bed and right into his arms. He wrapped his arms around you, holding you close and he kissed your hair. “I’ve missed you so much.” 

“I’ve missed you too baby. You have no idea.” He pulled away and cupped your face so he could get a good look at you. He leaned down to kiss your lips, deeply. You felt warm all of a sudden. 

You smiled through the kiss before pulling away, asking in a hushed tone, “How come you’re here at this time?” 

“I sensed that something was wrong. You were having a nightmare, weren’t you?” 

You nodded. “But I’m okay now.” 

“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.” 

You rubbed your nose against his. “Doesn’t matter, you’re here now.” 

He grabbed your face and kissed you again; down your neck and along your shoulder. His stubble tickled your skin and you giggled as quietly as you could. You felt his hands caress your skin under your shirt, inching closer and closer to your breasts while he walked you back and eventually pushed you down onto your bed. 

Your body tingled and burned under his warm touch, and there was nothing you wanted more than to have him buried deep in you. Ever since that first night together, you craved him almost all the time. After all, he made love to you like a god. 

“Do you know how hard it was, being away from you for so long?” He whispered, sounding gentle, but also demanding and hot. 

Suddenly you felt all confident and sassy. “Why don’t you show me then?” 

He smirked and grabbed your oversized t-shirt and tossed it over your head and somewhere behind him. The sight of your bare body underneath him made him growl. “Is this how you slept every night? Almost naked?” He whispered in your ear as his hands roamed your body, mainly toying with your breasts. “Did you touch yourself, while thinking of me? Hmm?” 

You gasped and moaned just at the sound of his voice, he was barely touching you. 

He pressed his mouth to yours again, impatient to just have you already. His mouth didn’t leave yours as his hand slipped in between your legs with ease; caressing your inner thighs as he went. His touch caused a shiver to run down your spine as you moaned through the kiss. 

“Shh,” he mumbled against your lips. “Can’t have your mom find out that her daughter is being a dirty, dirty little girl for me now, can we?” He ran his fingers up and down your folds, gathering and smearing your arousal around as he went. 

He messed with you for a little bit; stroking your walls with his fingers and making you whine. You whimpered quietly under him as he nuzzled your neck and nibbled on the skin along your throat. “Please…” you pleaded. He chuckled. 

“Please what, baby?” he teased you with his fingers, keeping you on the edge. 

You whined under your breath. “I need you… please…” 

His lips found yours again as the two of you hurried to unbuckle his pants and he pulled it down enough to free his erected cock. He couldn’t wait any longer. “I need you too baby,” he kissed you deeply, “but I’m gonna need you to be quiet for me, okay?” 

He pulled away and waited for an answer. You nodded, breathless already. 

“Good girl.” He pressed his forehead against yours while he pushed his erected cock past your tight entrance. You moaned under your breath as he did. You whimpered as you felt all of him. His lips found yours again, attempting to get you to stay quiet while he rolled his hips against yours. 

“Shh, angel.” He whispered in your ear before pounding into you like his life depended on it. He buried his face into the crook of your neck, something which had become a habit of his, as he groaned under his breath at how your body welcomed him perfectly.

You failed to form proper thoughts as he rammed into you. The sounds he made were downright sinful and you loved it so much; knowing that you had the power to make him lose his mind. 

“You’re all mine, you hear me?” He mumbled. “Tell me you’re mine,” he whispered right at the shell of your ear, and you moaned quietly at how he sped up into you.

You did as he asked. You told him again and again that you were his. And no one else’s. You couldn’t imagine loving anyone else. 

Bucky held you like you were the most fragile thing ever even while he fucked you like there was no tomorrow. You were a tear-stained, whimpering mess as you came around his thick cock. He came right after you, grunting and groaning under his breath. 

“I love you. So much.” He whispered, kissing the side of your face to calm you down. 

You smiled, breathless still. “I love you too.” 

 He stayed with you, in your bed long after you two were done going at it for a second time that night. You snuggled into his side, your hand lazily across his torso. “Are you gonna stay for a little longer? Have breakfast with mom and I?” 

He caressed your cheek with his thumb, “Won’t your mother ask how I got here?” 

“I’ll tell her that you got here quite early while she was still sleeping.” 

He raised his eyebrows at you rather dramatically. “Look at you lying without any shame.” 

You giggled and got on top of him, straddling his waist and placed both your palms against his toned chest. “Oh the things I do for love,” You leaned down and kissed his lips with your own swollen ones. 

He smiled. “Does your mom like me? As your… boyfriend?” He asked, sounding a little worried and it made you laugh because he was… him - a god, a king, ruler of the Underworld and here he was worrying about if your mom approved of him or not. 

You pulled away to look into his eyes. “Yes. She likes you quite a lot actually. Who wouldn’t? You’re perfect.” 

He smiled, his heart exploding at your words, as his hands caressed your exposed thighs. “I like her too. We’ll visit her every now and then, don’t worry.” he spoke and then looked around at your bedroom. “I like it here.” 

You kissed him again, pouring all your love out into the kiss. You pulled away again, “Also I was thinking maybe we could go back tomorrow.” 

He knew perfectly what you meant but he was dying to hear you say it. “Where to, angel?” He reached out and grabbed your hand, bringing it to his lips and kissed your knuckles. 

You smiled down at him, your heart exploding with just how much love you had for him. 

You answered, “Home.”

[izusun]

*hands you an AU dump to hoard like a little goblin handing a small coin to a dragon*

OKAY so basically: after the doctor's visit where Izuku learns he's quirkless (I hc that they went when he was about five n' a half), Inko does a little bit of research on quirks and more specifically on her son's notebooks, learns that he's even more brilliant at quirk analysis than she originally suspected, and (after looking at some not great quirkless statistics) she instead informs Izuku that no, he's had a quirk all along! It's an analysis quirk!

So she updates the quirk registry, and Izuku goes through his life believing he has an analysis quirk, albeit teased for being a late bloomer, but he still can't shake the insecurity being quirkless for that one and a half year gave him.

He does research on all sorts of things, hacking, knife throwing, first aid, and building his own support gear and takes to all of it like a duck to water. He also does research on UA's policy for support gear in the entrance exam (cause surely they've gotta have a policy for non-offensive quirks like Koda and Hagakure) and finds that he can take one with him if he builds it himself. He goes fuckin bonkers.

Anyways: he trains with Katsuki, cause they're relationship is pretty good since Izuku has a 'quirk.' They both demolish the entrance exam. (Also Izuku kinda swears a lot because Katsuki rubs off on him)

Aizawa doesn't notice a goddamn thing is amiss until the battle trials on the second day (he decides to shadow All Might that day), where when he was using his quirk to silence his students while Izuku was rambling, he just didn't stop, as if he didn't notice anything was wrong. It happens again during the USJ.

So at some point during the sports festival, Nedzu (who is now intrigued because of Aizawa's complaining) invites Izuku into his office during a free period and lets him go ham on analysis, all while Aizawa is secretly there erasing Izuku's 'quirk.' Nedzu invites Izuku to be his personal student (making Aizawa go grey), he says yes, and then Nedzu drops the absolute BOMBSHELL that Izuku is actually quirkless. Cue an existential crisis.

(Also Izuku gets captured at the training camp alongside Katsuki because of his "analysis quirk," wonder how well that goes for him~)

- Goblin anon (sorry this one was kinda long)

GOBLIN?? DUDE???? HOLY SHIT I KNEW YOUR AUS ARE ALWAYS PHENOMENAL BUT THIS RIGHT HERE??? D U D E

i misunderstood the prompt a bit but i genuinely don’t know how to backtrack, so here you go goblin. sorry again o(TヘTo)

ok first of, inko taking on a stronger stance to support her son? love that of her. like, she doesn’t say sorry when izuku turned to look at her and cried that he can’t be like all might. instead, she took him in her arms and assures him that he will be a great hero. at first, of course half of it is lip service because she doesn’t know how to help her quirkless boy be a hero, since, you know, heroes need quirks.. (or do they)

and then she comes across a quirkless self help group which rang many many warning bells in her head. what kind of life do quirkless people live when a google research of them resulted in subsequent pages of results like how to stay safe when quirkless, or how to find jobs when quirkless, or quirkless mortality rates?

she fears for izuku, until she notices that her son’s smart. too smart for his age, but inko thought she’s just being biased. but izuku’s wit is something many people notice, for an instance, when izuku goes to the park to play and his friends’ (the few ones who stayed) parents tell her that her son’s smart for a quirkless person, she realizes that izuku’s wit is far more vast than normal.

then a thought worms into her head but wouldn’t it be bad to lie…but also, no one would be any the wiser.

further pushed by all the statistics she keeps seeing, or the lack thereof, about quirkless people, she makes the decision and pours it to izuku.

izuku who’s far smarter than his age and understood what his mom is asking from him. izuku who already saw the disparities between quirked and quirkless people at the tender age of five. izuku who knows what it means to lie about something as personal as a quirk, but realizes that it’s necessary for him to do so if he wants to live a “normal” life.

so he agrees; he tells inko that he’ll work even harder to sharpen his mind, and to keep expanding his knowledge.

when izuku’s quirk file is officially updated, he watches how his peers and teachers revert back into treating him as izuku. he regains his old friends, but he chose to drop them because he doesn’t want to surround himself with people who thought he was less for being quirkless.

katsuki stayed, surprisingly. katsuki stayed and everyday he kept bothering izuku to “get your quirk already!” katsuki stayed because he can’t fathom that the smartest boy in their class (of course not as smart as him, psshh) is quirkless. deku couldn’t be quirkless. (but if he found out that izuku, indeed, is, i wonder what would happen…)

katsuki was one of the loudest to celebrate when izuku announced that his quirk arrived.

“finally!” he screams and bothers izuku about the semantics of his quirk. he really wasn’t surprised to find out that izuku has an analysis quirk because he thought that nothing else would better be suited for izuku.

he doesn’t know that izuku pours so much of his time into learning and studying, often bypassing basics and intros to take more of the developed courses that are usually recommended for older ages. he doesn’t know that izuku is just a naturally smart kid with the ability to fill the gaps of his young mind with knowledge upon knowledge, storing and stacking them until he feels that he’s laid a sturdy foundation for his fake quirk.

then izuku began threading into different areas. he learns how to get into cyberspaces; hacking into accounts and delving more into how to access private information. he doesn’t thread too close lest he gets caught, but he learns the logistics of maneuvering around the web and burrowing in empty spaces to branch out his own. he creates and designs web algorithms for himself, just so he doesn’t trigger anyone who is looking into the web movements. he hones this and uses it to access more information.

then when he deems it enough, he turns his attention to something more tangible and something more physical. he learns other ways to be a hero; how to fight without a physical quirk, how to win against bigger opponents, how to use analysis quirk in fights.

izuku becomes more than a fake analysis quirk user; he creates it.

mental quirks are hard to describe, more so to compress, thus he creates new definitions of an analysis quirk. what used to be a silly lie is now a tangible fact that izuku believes in. because what makes a quirk? because what makes analysis a quirk? he learns these semantics (often political) and uses it to his advantage.

then he finally threads to hero analysis. at first it were classmates he analyzed; eyes running quickly at their forms and watching with great interest before calculating everything he’s seen and transversing it with the things he learned, and bridges these two facts together to create an analysis. it was a struggle at first: he didn’t know which to put emphasis on until he realizes, he doesn’t need to. he weaves them together and lets his analysis run long and watches how his hobby comes into fruition.

following his classmates are current heroes. these were more tough and more fun, and any of the information is less shared. he doesn’t tell his classmates or teachers about his analyses, only katsuki. and katsuki’s breath hitch every damn time at izuku’s talent quirk.

it is in their second year of middle school that midoriya begins to incorporate the facts with himself to create physical performances. the issues and things he learned through observing are now practiced by himself. he calculates the best way to fight with a body as petite as his, often taking examples from pro-hero hawks and other women heroes. their agilities and physicality suit izuku’s young body; he doesn’t see the merit in punching his way through things when he physically cannot.

so he learns ways to ease his muscles. he learns ballet and gymnastics; lets his muscles contort and mend themselves anew. he finds his balance and roots himself firmly, and learns to calculate his actions so he doesn’t waste his energy. katsuki doesn’t say anything, but he sees izuku’s dance and falls in love.

then in the spring of their third year of middle school, izuku learns how to build and handle weapons.

this is the easiest. izuku learns that weapons aren’t tools, but extensions of his arms and hands. they are not to be revered and not to be depended on because they can fail. instead, he learns to wield weapons as though they are parts of his bodies. he learns how to use swords and often narrowing to wooden sticks that can be picked up anywhere; he learns how to fire guns and how to hide daggers in his uniform. he learns that his body is the best weapon to use and that tools are just arsenal to help him win.

then he learns how to build them.

by summer, izuku begins reaching into UA’s servers. they are hard codes to crack, but not impossible. it takes him five days to access old entrance exam videos. the next day, the videos are snuffed and he is left to try digging deeper into UA.

he fails.

nezu must have caught onto his codes and proceeded to build walls against it.

so he slithers out. but a five minute video of last year’s entrance exam is enough for izuku because he learns two things: one, heroes must defeat villains and two, heroes must save others.

izuku prepares for this. unknowingly, katsuki is taught these same principles. katsuki would grumble and tell him that he knows what heroes must do, but izuku continues to hammer it down to him.

by the time of the UA entrance exam, izuku falls into the ease of having a fake quirk. he passes the written exam with flying colours and although it took three teachers to approve his support gears (present mic had to pull in powerloader, midnight, and hound dog to ensure that the well designed support gears are made by the hero student examinee and not by a support student examinee. majima saw the works and begged nezu to allow izuku to be his student.), izuku still succeeds and dominates the entrance exam.

when the zero pointer was released, he had flung himself towards the girl crushed by debris and yanks her out. he doesn’t waste a modified grenade to explode the zero pointer because through his calculations, doing so would not only create more collateral damage, but would also endanger the examinee in his arms because she still would be caught in the crossfire.

nezu hums in appreciation from the screening room, after all, smart minds always do think alike.

izuku gets a whopping 92 in the physical aspects of the entrance exam.

katsuki gets 85.

aizawa gleefully takes them in.

izuku thinks that no one will ever know of his and inko’s secret, but one look at nezu’s beady eyes and he knew that the stoat knew. it became a game to them, then. a game to see who else would realize.

and while izuku is smart, he doesn’t realize that nezu has basically taken him as his personal student the moment he and izuku had created a bet.

it takes two months for aizawa to figure things out. surprisingly, he is the only one to do so and he only realizes due to the many untimely attacks of LoV.

——

how angst would it be if katsuki realizes that izuku’s always been quirkless during their captivity in the LoV’s hideout.

[krafterwrites]

Just remembered that my SatBK AU exists so I’m going to post about it some, starting with the AU version of Team Dark. Lancelot already exists obviously, and I haven’t really changed him at all except giving him the same background as his normal counterpart, which I’ll expand on in a later post. Next up is Rouge, who steals valuable artifacts and hoards them in her hideout, so she’s pretty similar to her canon counterpart. One thing that has changed, though, is that she has a jewel encrusted dagger that she can use whenever she needs to fight. Lastly, we have Omega, who’s the result of Eggman trapping a particularly bloodthirsty spirit inside one of his strongest suits of armor (For context Eggman creates clockwork things and mechanical suits of armor instead of robots in this AU). Omega immediately wrecked Eggman’s base and all of his other creations upon being put into the suit, since his spirit was at rest before this and he was pretty mad about being woke up. After getting free, he would make it his personal mission to cause Eggman as much trouble as possible for bringing him back into the world again. As for how the three members of the team would meet, they would all be inside of Eggman’s base with their own goals when their paths would cross. Rouge would be in there first, planning to steal an artifact that she heard was inside of the base. While still in the process of finding it, Omega would arrive and start tearing the place and all of the clockwork creations inside of it. Lancelot would show up last, investigating the scene because of the huge amount of chaos that Omega was causing there. After all of Eggman’s forces are defeated, things would start to cool down and talk with each other to find out what was actually happening. They would all find out that they have a common goal of taking down Eggman, and would decide to form a team in order to help each other out with this goal

[your-brilliant-lady-m]

Part 2 - Basic Concepts of Miraculous Ladybug: Kwami

Kwamis are a fun concept and one of the main draws of the series. They make sense story-wise because, firstly, our characters need some support system. And since a lot of conflicts are centred around secret identities, characters should be able to discuss their double life with someone. As magical beings they could also be used to expand the lore, introduce new concepts and drive forward both the plot and character development. It doesn't always happen but Kwamis are a good idea. Some people who write AU's think that Kwamis are redundant, but I have to disagree.

Origins and nature

Where do Kwamis come from? What are they? It's never explained. Oh wait, it was explained in a comic people can accidentally find. You decide to explain the origins and nature of magical beings who are one of the key elements in your magic system and worldbuilding IN A SIDE COMIC, which has zero effect on your main story. Sounds legit.

Here it is.

So, Kwamis are abstract creatures. They can become tangible and interact with the world because of the miraculous jewels. Essentially, each Miraculous acts as an anchor to the material world for Kwami. They existed since the beginning of time and were invisible observers of the universe. Until they settled on Earth and observed how humanity came to be. This is where things get interesting.

Kwamis are the embodiment of abstract concepts. But, some abstract concepts were created by people (like everything mentioned in the comic: beauty, math, love, etc).

Kwamis wanted to help humans. And then, a human, who couldn't see, hear or touch a Kwami creates miraculous jewels. And now these beings can interact with the world, use their powers and grant them to humans. Yet, they are completely under control of their holder. I'll discuss it later, but why did Kwamis accept this deal? They are practically enslaved. At the same time they care about people and generally love humanity.

According to the wiki Kwamis grant powers because of "the privilege of having the ability to be perceived by mortals". What? Did I read that right? Kwamis agreed to be enslaved and used as a power source, because they wanted to interact with material world. That's it, guys, end of the story.

We also know these things about nature and abilities of Kwamis from the show:

1) need food, but only to provide the power for the holder;

2) can't phase through precious metals (Chloe's bracelet in "Rogercop"), their own miraculous and humans;

3) they can control if they phase through things or not – meaning that if they want to, they can (this way Tikki can stay in Marinette’s purse without much trouble and Plagg sleeps on Adrien’s pillow);

4) they can perform magic without a holder but they don’t control it very well, there are certain types of things that they can’t do without a holder;

5) they are immortal but can get sick for some reason, a non-magical reason mind you;

6) technology can't detect them in any way, you can't film, photograph or record their voices (writers establish this many times, but promptly forget all about their own rules in "Optigami", where Marinette talks with Kwamis over the phone without any problems).

If I missed something important, then let me know.

Look, the questions related to origins and motivations of Kwamis might not be very prominent in your story right now, but you must answer them in case you might need to involve these facts in the plot down the line. It's important to avoid contradictions in the serialised story with liquid plot, that can't be set in stone. It's a made up world for the sake of everything sacred! You can make up explanations and rules, of course as long as they don't contradict common sense.

Plausible ideas for origins and nature of Kwamis:

1) Kwamis are immortal spirits, whom humans accidentally summoned and bound with spells to Miraculous stones. They remember their existence before this. This version doesn't really explain their desire to serve people and love for humanity, however. It would be more logical for Kwamis to resent people for enslaving them. It doesn't explain how humans could create those spells and Miraculous stones either.

2) Kwamis are physical manifestations of abstract concepts who existed simply as fragments of matter for a very long time without sentience, until they were accidentally summoned through the Miraculous stones and bound by humans to serve them. Kwamis do not remember their existence before Miraculous. In this version Kwamis serve humans and love them because they have never known a different kind of existence. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide any explanation on the creation of Miraculous and spells.

3) Kwamis are gods, who created the universe with all its elements and concepts including humanity (similar to Valar and Maiar in Tolkien's Legendarium). They wanted to help their creations but discovered that their power was too wild and unpredictable for that. So, Kwamis decided to give up their free will and magical independence to help humanity. Together they created Miraculous stones for humans to use and sealed themselves inside. Kwamis as gods were abstract concepts, who didn't have a body. The act of sealing their power in the Miraculous gave them an opportunity to interact with outside world (an anchor) and each Kwami chose an small animal form (because humans easily formed bonds with animals, had animal companions (pets), small animals look non-threatening and familiar). Kwamis intentionally choose certain animal forms to suit the human symbolism. Humans later used magic that Kwamis discovered for them to place spells upon small gods (spells related to identity protection and so on). This version answers most questions, but if Kwamis are gods then powers they grant to people seem to be rather small.

Feel free to add more. I would be interested to hear your ideas.

Identity Protection

In "Origins" we learn that Wayzz can sense the aura of Butterfly Miraculous, a negative aura of activated Butterfly Miraculous, to be more precise. And yet, Tikki and Plagg are genuinely surprised to discover the identities of their holders in "Dark Owl". There are several things wrong with that.

Can Kwamis sense each other's presence? They shouldn't be able to do this to protect the identities of their holders. On the other hand, they are ancient spirits. So, their inability to sense each other seems weird. Unless it's the same situation as with the spell that does not allow them to speak the name of their holder aloud.

But if they can sense each other like Wayzz did, then it means that Plagg and Nooroo were living in the same house for over a year and nothing happened. I mean, Plagg could have just come upstairs, take off the brooch from Gabriel, while he is asleep and return it back to Fu.

This question lies right here, on the surface. And that's only one massive and very obvious plothole. How to fix it? Establish that Kwami can't sense each other for identity protection. In "Origins" Fu meditates on his balcony and Wayzz sees a charged Akuma flying by. That's how they discover that Butterfly is in Paris and the Miraculous is in the wrong hands. Perhaps, Gabriel akumatizes someone for the first time to survey the surroundings and general public is not aware of this. This works better in the narrative, giving Fu time to select holders for Ladybug and Black Cat. It also establishes whether Hawkmoth can remove the Akuma from someone without Ladybug and discharge it. Maybe it depends on the circumstances (sometimes he can, but if this person was akumatized many times or their emotions are too strong and their mind doesn't want to let Akuma go then Hawkmoth can't pull the butterfly out with his magic). This scenario allows for Volpina to happen on "Heroes' Day". Silly recurring Akumas like Gigantitan and Mr. Pigeon could still happen. In this case Gabriel didn't want to akumatize the guy more than 70 times on purpose. It just keeps happening against his better judgement because evil butterflies are automatically attracted to Mr. Ramier. This way repeated attacks of Mr. Pigeon annoy Hawkmoth just as much as they do the heroic duo of Paris (I did not sign up for this Nathalie!).

Let's come back to the spell mentioned earlier for a moment. Kwamis can't say the name of their current holder out loud, but apparently, they can exploit a loophole in the spell by confirming the identity of their holder in another way. The spell doesn't work with other holders. Kwami can say the names of other holders if they know their identity. That being said, can the holder order the Kwami to tell them the identities of other heroes if they know them?

Kwamis know how each Miraculous looks with or without camouflage. Can the holder order the Kwami to tell them how each Miraculous looks in disguise (I liked that Grimoire doesn't have pictures of camouflage for identity protection)? Guardians can recognise Miraculous in any mode (Su Han). Did Fu teach Marinette this? Does she know how each Miraculous looks like unactivated?

Oh! Since we are discussing camouflage, let's take a moment to appreciate the Mother Of All Plotholes. Plagg didn't recognise Peacock because of the plot.

Relationship with Holder

I absolutely loved the idea that Kwamis must obey their holder introduced in "Sandboy". This concept opens tons of plot opportunities. It's such a great idea that makes sense, has potential, can create conflict. Why, oh, why didn't writers develop it more?

Like, it was so good. It can be a great push for character development. This concept resolves so many existing inconsistencies within the plot. It's mind-blowing.

Why can't Nooroo simply leave Gabriel, so that he wouldn't be able to transform? Because Gabriel bound him with Miraculous to always stay near.

In "Sandboy" Tikki asks Marinette's permission before going to the meeting. Plagg lies to Adrien instead. This implies that usually Plagg's holders weren't kind to him or feared his power (Su Han's remark in "Furious Fu"). Perhaps, his holders were taught to keep the Kwami of destruction under constant control. So, Plagg in turn has learned not to ask, because if he doesn't ask permission then his holder can't deny him freedom with magic.

Can Kwami lie to their holder? Maybe they can't lie to their holder about their nature, origins and powers and other Miraculous (but Kwamis can't reveal the location of Miracle Box, Guardian's identity and can't confirm identities of other holders known to them in any way). Kwami would be forced to speak even if they don't want to. That's why Nooroo told Gabriel everything about the abilities of the Butterfly Miraculous and the wish secret of Ladybug and Black Cat.

But Kwamis can lie to their holder according to Plagg in "Sandboy". If Kwamis can lie about everything (including powers) then Nooroo didn't have any reason to be honest with Gabriel way back in "Origins".

Speaking of Gabriel and Nooroo. Can Kwamis harm their holder? Maybe doing so would harm the Kwami as well. Can they do it only when the holder is not wearing the Miraculous? Can Kwami take their Miraculous from their holder? Will they disappear if they try to do so? It seems like Kwami disappears only when the holder takes off the Miraculous with the intention of renouncing power, the words "I renounce you" are not necessary.

Other Kwamis can take the Miraculous from people if it's not their own (Wayzz in "Feast"). But what if it wasn't possible. Imagine what could happen if it's not possible to take the Miraculous by force from the transformed or untransformed hero. Just like Lady WiFi couldn't remove Ladybug's mask. A person has to willingly give up the Miraculous. Only in this case, it's possible to take it. For example, somewhere around the middle of season 3 Hawkmoth could have trapped Ladybug and Chat Noir and cut off any escape routes. His Akuma tries to take both Miraculous, but they don't budge. Then afterwards, every Akuma tries to manipulate the heroes using hostages, illusions or mind control. It's hard to say whether this version will be better than canon, but it's a fascinating theory.

You can use the idea of obedience to create more situations contrasting the relationship of Plagg and Adrien, Gabriel and Nooroo. I liked how canon created a storyline about Plagg learning to control his powers without a holder and Adrien helping him. However, why would you stop here? Give us some flashbacks about Plagg's previous holders, tell us what kind of people they were. Expand the lore and add some character development for Plagg and Adrien. The same thing goes for Marinette. What kind of battles did they have in the past? What kind of people past holders were? Did Ladybug and Black Cat heroes always get along well? Were they allies or enemies? Were they always lovers?

Give us more information about Butterfly and Peacock holders. Perhaps Nooroo has dreams about his past holders who were good people. Show us what kind of things a Butterfly holder with good intentions can do. Tell us more about Duusu and her past holders, sprinkle in a few bits of info about Emilie and Duusu's relationship, just a few vague hints to preserve the mystery. You have a lot of screentime each season and instead of doing filler episodes dedicated to love drama, you can use them for developing minor characters, relationships between them and lore.

[eyes-eye-eyes]

Do you think you could write something for the giant zombie Tommy au, I really liked that idea👉🏽👈🏽💕

Of course!! I've really wanted to expand on this idea! I'm not really the best writer but I'll do what I can o7

Completely unedited btw, written all at once at 1am

tw // blood, body horror, horror elements

Giant Zombie Tommy Part 1

Tommy was so fucking hungry. It could of possibly been from the blatant lack of food that Dream and him received in the prison, or the prior malnutrition biting him in the ass but, he guessed it was because he had just been dragged back from limbo and tossed back into his body that had been rotting in a prison cell. Well, almost all of him had made it back into his body to his knowledge. There was a gaping hole left in his soul that had been left behind... somewhere. The most concerning part about that however, is that some sort of... being, had taken it upon itself to settle itself in the hole. It was nothing short of fucking terrifying. But, as the days passed, it became easier to think about his soul being whole and not two separate pieces. There were no voices or visons he saw but perhaps what he felt was even worse. The urges, the horrible thoughts. And the disgusting feelings he couldn't even begin to describe to someone using words. His body felt... incomplete. That something was hiding under his skin and he just needed to pick at it enough for it to break and push through. He also felt so trapped in his body, as if he was straining not to tear at the seams from just blinking. It was almost as he was wearing a skintight suit over his skin and he wanted nothing more than to tear it off. Things all changed in one moment however, and Tommy couldn't of been more glad.

The clanking and shifting of a dispenser brought Tommy out of his thoughts. Dream rose from his spot on the floor across Tommy to wait patiently in front of the object. Soon enough, a faint clicking could be heard and Dream opened his arms up to receive an armful of potatoes.

"Here's your share for today Tommy, enjoy your first meal back from the dead!" Dream said cocking his head toward Tommy.

Nothing he said had registered to Tommy however, his brain was full of only thoughts about the food being tossed towards him. A sudden, painful hunger erupted from his gut and he wanted nothing more then to gorge himself on anything he could find. The potatoes were gone before he even had the time to blink, his hands cramming them so hard in his face and his teeth making quick work of the uncooked potatoes. Once he had a speck of matter in his stomach however, things got a lot lot worse. His gut, his brain, his soul, urged him to keep eating even if there was nothing left to eat. Or so he thought at first. Tommy's eyes, the dull grey they had been previous had small specs of red floating in his iris, trained on the potatoes Dream had grasped in his hands. With no more than a second of thinking, Tommy launched himself across the room in a rush. Dream looked up quickly only to be met with the face of the ravenous teenager lunging at him. He brought his arm down in a quick arc and managed to hit Tommy straight in the face with once of the potatoes in his hands. The force sent Tommy flying to the ground, smashing his face against the hard obsidian floor. Both of them sat panting, gathering their barings for a moment before Dream rose from his position on the ground.

"What the fuck was that Tommy? What were you thinking? Did you really just try to hurt the only person whose cared about you this whole time?" His voice dripped with venom, but Tommy couldn't hear any of it.

Tommy was trapped in his head, all muscles aching for him to rip the thing apart that denied him to feed. He could feel his humanity slip away to reveal something much more sinister, but he couldn't bring himself to stop it because it just felt so right. His hands felt so much more comfortable sharpened into deadly daggers, and his mouth felt so empty before his teeth sharpened into razors. Something was still missing however, his body feeling still so tight and constraining.

"Are you even listening to me? I'm trying to-" A shrill shriek filled the air as claws dug into Dreams legs, Tommy using the fact that Dream was scared to grab him and toss him to the ground. Blood leaked sluggishly from the gashes where Tommy's claws had sliced through the skin like butter. Tommy couldn't help himself, and licked a few drops of blood off his shimmering claws. The taste of blood filled his senses, filling him with the urge to find more. With his eyes closed tightly, he lapped all the blood off his claws, and finally the sense of tightness his body had felt had dissipated. He did however feel cramped in a different way now, and as his eyes peeled open and... why was the room so small? Where was..

Sprawled on the ground, next to a claw that was as big as he was, was a tiny little Dream. His eyes were blown wide and his mouth hung ajar. The struggle to scramble away from the giant claw resting next to him was nothing short of pathetic, his arms shook so much that he only served to drop his injured leg on the hard ground over and over. Tommy only had a second to think about the situation before the smell of Dreams blood once again flooded his senses. And well, how could Tommy say no to a little snack that had just offered himself up?

hope you enjoyed!! Lmk if you want more!!

[doodledrawsthings]

Oh The Humanity! AU  Masterpost

Hi! Making a masterpost for this AHiT AU so y’all have one place to just find all the important bits that I and other folks in the fandom have done for this AU! Everything will be under the read more

AU Premise: Snatcher steals a time piece from Hat Kid and Bow Kid to mess with them. He tries to use it during one of the Death Wish fights, but turns out the particular time piece he stole was faulty/ something was up with it/ he broke it in a weird way that really messed it up. Because of this, when he broke the piece, instead of rewinding time back a few minutes, it sent his form back about 300 years, returning him to human form, but with all his present memories. Now, he’s stuck as a human as and has to wait for the Time Traveling Alien Kids to fix the time piece and return him to normal, while also being forced to confront his past.

You can find most of this in the tag #oth!au. I will also be updating this as new stuff gets added or if I find that I’ve missed something. Let me know if there’s something I missed that you’d like me to add, cuz boy howdy i didnt realize how much is stuffed into this AU, and I dont remember what I’ve already said and what I’m saving for future stuff:

Significant Events in the Main Timeline story (these are kind of in order and kind of not. There’s more to be added, just not yet):

this au has a bunch of different endings thanks to the lovely ahit fandom’s contributions.

This all happens sometime after This comic. So, by the time OTH!AU happens, Moon and Snatcher are at least on“awkward acquaintance” terms with eachother and snatcher is trying to be nicer to him. He’s still got his moments of being rude and snappy tho, but thats just because he’s snatcher.

The first actual post i made In regards to this AU+ @positive-polygons​ comic interpretation of the beginning of the AU. He breaks a weird time piece he stole and he reverse ages back to being alive again. : Link Link1 Link2 Link3

Snatcher asks moonjumper to watch over Subcon while he’s stuck like this Link

Bow takes him to Nyakuza Metro to get new clothes. He trashes the Prince get-up as soon as possible. Link

Arctic Cruise Arc Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4

Some comics, they learn his name is luka at some point

Moonjumper is taking care of Subcon. They do things way differently than snatcher but they’re trying their best. 

Cooking Cat comes by to cook and help out. She’s very motherly to everyone. She’s taken Mu on as an apprentice, so she’s usually there with her whenever she drops by.

The birds are wrapping up a collab movie. The main cast are invited to the premier party, as Hat and Bow acted in the film. Snatcher gets to wear a nice suit and he has some interaction with the conductor and grooves. Link Link

at multiple points, MJ checks in with snatcher for status reports on how subcon is doing. This is usually where their bonding moments happen and they become less and less awkward with each interaction.

At some point around mid to late story, they find out that Subcon is starting to freeze over again. Snatcher was the only one who could melt the ice so this now gives them a time limit.

The Mirror incident Link Link  second fic by @greentrickster​

as snatcher gets along with the kids more, they remake his mailman hat so he can use badges and equip him with his own umbrella. Link Link

at some point snatcher realizes he doesn’t wanna go back to being a ghost.

Main-timeline ending is a Boss battle with Vanessa. Link

General Headcanons:

Almost everything you need to know about moonjumper and the prince and vanessa’s relationship Link

Snatcher and Vanessa have known eachother since they were kids. Their marriage was arranged, but they were good friends

OTH! Snatcher is aroace 

about snatcher’s feelings on defeating vanessa (*human!/final boss vanessa ending) Link1 Link2

This fic has a really good interpretation of the horizon that I’ve pretty much adopted, myself. Link

regarding snatcher’s expression of empathy and emotion both as a human and as a ghost Link1

Snatcher gradually takes on a fatherly role towards the girls. He is constantly trying to deny it as he comes to realize it but eventually accepts it. 

he’s actually pretty graceful with the umbrella  Link Link

Hat kid’s a good leader, but she can often be reckless and stubborn. Significantly more chaotic of the two space gremlins. She’s a lot like snatcher in a lot of ways, and because of that they are constantly butting heads but they get along better as Snatcher both gets used to being human and grows fonder of the two girls. She’s a bit closer to Snatcher, having been the most adamant about being his friend (initially out of spite but yknow) and they have a lot in common. 

People frequently mistake snatcher for being Hat Kid and Bow Kid’s visiting father. They usually comment on how much he looks like he could be HK’s biological dad. Both are in denial of this throughout the main timeline of this au. It’s a running gag. Link

snatcher is sometimes completely oblivious when he enters Dad Mode sometimes

Bow, on the other hand is generally a bit more shy and careful than hat kid is. She tends to take the passenger seat, taking on a more supportive role. She’s also way more polite. In this sense, she has more in common with moonjumper, and gets along with them quite well and she frequently goes to visit him the most often, on her own.

 Her and snatcher’s relationship kind of parallels snatcher’s relationship with MJ. Snatcher, having once been a big jerk to these kids, is now trying to teach bow to take more of a leading role and be more confident.

as this au takes place not long after the Clearing Incident comic, Snatcher and MJ’s relationship is a bit awkward in the beginning. Over the course of the AU their relationship would build up to be more brotherly.

the subconites like moonjumper but they miss their boss. MJ spoils them tho, which they appreciate and occasionally take advantage of Link Link

moonjumper learns to stand up for himself, snatcher learns to be more vulnerable

moonjumper is the badgeseller. Only hat, bow, and snatcher know this. 

snatcher very much enjoys feeling warm, its one of few saving graces he clings too in the stressful early part of the story.

snatcher doesnt like looking at himself in this AU. He’s very self-conscious about his “pathetic human body.” He doesn’t like being pitied and he doesnt like being seen as weak.

snatcher frequently has nightmares about his past.

after recieving the mailman hat, people start refering to him as The Mailman. Link

his voice frequently cracks a lot, especially in the beginning, since he keeps trying to use his Loud Ghost Voice, which can do a number on human vocal chords. Link

the kids bully him constantly Link Link Link

his arc is that he learns that it’s ok to be human and it’s ok to be vulnerable and to open up to people, and he learns to accept his past and who he used to be

the girls accidentally call him dad sometimes, which freaks him out at first, but he gets used to it eventually. Link

he adopts them, for sure, it just happens post- whatever ending.

beard. Link

Spin-off AUs, Alt Endings, and Fanfics, Oh My!:

That ending where habijob kills moonjumper  Moonjumper goes to fight Vanessa, alone. In one version they win, and in another, they lose, and snatcher has to return to ghost form to retrieve them from the horizon. by @habijob  Link Link Link 

From The Horizon fic by @greentrickster Link

@lindendragon‘s hypothetical endings where snatcher is captured by vanessa Link Link

@fedoraspooky‘s spinoff au where the timepiece takes him back even further and turns him into a kid Link Link

@positive-polygons‘s Vanessa Spinoff Link

@doodleimprovement‘s Royal ending Link

@erekiosuncreativeideas​‘s fanfic, Being Human, her version of the au’s story in chronological order starting from when he breaks the timepiece Link

@lemonadesoda​’s Fanfic series, And I Don’t Think You Hate This As Much As You Wish You Did, fills in and expands upon the ideas in  my comics for the AU Link