#that they've found the only thing they'll ever need

[dropkicks]

i made julie & frank for my dark urge run bc i thought it would be funny but instead the way he looks at her like the most precious thing in the universe is killing me

[absolutely-esme]

What do you mean he's not eldritch?

What if all of the members of the Bat Family other than Tim Drake were secretly eldritch abominations?

They all work very hard at pretending to be human, and they've even gotten pretty good at passing. They can even mostly avoid the uncanny valley when in their civilian identities. There was a heck of a learning curve, but they've gotten things figured out for the most part.

Enter: Tim Drake

Weird, poorly socialized, probably autistic Tim Drake

The Bats think they've encountered a fellow eldritch being in disguise, and one that seems like he could use some help blending in. Naturally, they're quick to welcome him into their fold. Jason is delighted to take his turn at being a big brother mentor.

It takes a comedically long time for anyone to realize something's up because there is an absurd amount of overlap between stuff you need to know for masking and stuff you need to know to pass as human.

Meanwhile, Tim is amazed that the Bats have apparently decided he's cool enough to hang out with. It's like something out of his daydreams. They even have good advice for him on problems he hadn't known how to ask about. They are so patient and understanding about it, too. They never get annoyed with him for not already knowing. They also seem to be okay with the bits of weirdness he can't change.

Just weird kid Tim getting bundled into an incredibly helpful and supportive found family of eldritch entities. They're all going to get a good grade in human-ing, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve.

...

I imagine the Bats are various different kinds of eldritch abominations because they're still adopted. They look wildly different when not in human form.

Bruce is a mass of... shadows? Smoke? Something dark and formless that shifts and flows in different ways depending on his mood.

Dick kind of looks like a pile of owls that is also somehow a single body.

Barbara is a spiral galaxy with stars that are also eyes somehow?

Jason is a solid-looking mass of muscle with six strong legs, a thick coat of shaggy hair, a mouth that opens much further along his body than it seems like it should, and even more teeth than you'd expect a mouth that size to have.

Stephanie Brown is kind of like an incredibly dense storm system with purple glitter.

Cassandra is a silhouette through which undiscovered nebulae can be seen. What she is a silhouette of depends on her mood.

Tim, they have only ever seen in his meticulously well-crafted human form. He's really good at that part even if he needed some help with the behavioral bits.

Damian is half human. Talia saw a mass of living darkness trying really hard to pretend to be a man and decided she was into that.

...

Dick: So, eye contact is actually pretty simple once you have the formula figured out. You need to cycle between looking at the other person and looking at something else at the appropriate frequency. If you look at them too much it will come across as staring. If you look away for too long they'll think you're not paying attention to them. You'll need to experiment to figure out the appropriate frequency.

Tim: *frets*

Jason: You don't have to look straight at their eyes, just in the general direction of their face.

Tim: Oh! I can do that!

...

I think Eldritch Bruce having history with the league of assassins in a markedly less inentional way than Canon would be funny. Like, you'd think an encounter between an eldritch abomination and a cult would be deliberate on someone's part, but no.

Bruce was still young and unskilled at differentiating between normal and abnormal human behavior.

[cupids-chamber]

❝ 𝐃𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 , 𝐌𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 .ᐟ ❞

SOULMATE !! . . . who can't wait to see you, they count down every second that they spent without meeting you, without seeing your perfect face in all its glory. They count every moment wasted without your presence, calculating how exactly they could and will payback for that wasted time . . . when they finally meet you . . . Time that they wish they could've spent with you . . .

SOULMATE !! . . . who finally sees you in the middle of the street, just a glimpse of you . . . as the red string connecting you both glow gold in his eyes, they feel desperate as they watch you walk away . . . without noticing . . .

SOULMATE !! . . . who makes a run for it, when they see you getting lost in the crowd . . . who chases you and calls for you . . . They don't know your name, yet for some odd reason they guessed right when calling for you . . . Like they've known that name for ages . . .

SOULMATE !! . . . who cups your face with the most ecstatic of smiles, looking at you for the first time, they've dreamed about how their first meeting with you would go. . . they sure as hell didn't expect this ending, they expected something more dreamy . . . romantic . . . but they couldn't help but forget those little thoughts when your lips slightly part and you tilt your head in confusion, he's going to lose it thinking of you and all the things he wishes to do with you at the moment . . .

SOULMATE !! . . . Who'll eventually let go of your face only to slowly grow flustered and slightly red, they'll stammer over their words randomly but awkward and tense air never comes back, . . . they try to desperately find the words that begin to describe how they feel at this moment . . . finally meeting you . . . the love of their life they've been waiting for . . . And they'll make sure to make you know that . . . even with their little vocabulary at the moment.

SOULMATE !! . . . Who believes you're all they ever needed to complete their life, and who can't help but be more than grateful that they finally found you. That they finally met you . . .

| Masterlist | Kofi | Join Taglist

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©cupids-chamber, do not repost, plagiarize, translate, or adapt my work/theme without prior permission and or confirmation.

[lavender-butterfly-cookie]

Shadow of wrath (Beast Y/N cookie)

Holding the light of patience was never an easy task. Y/n had learned to be patient and in all honesty it was a lot harder than y/n cookie made it seem. I mean, it's gotten to the point you question if it's patience or tolerance by now. And who could blame you? You had to be patient with your old comrades and they became beasts. You have to be patient with your new comrades and by now you've grown tired of their woes. You have to be patient with your kingdom so that it can prosper.

but your patience has been running thin. It's been running thin for a very long time now. You tried listening to the light of truth when you found yourself questioning what patience you had left but their voice was growing annoying. Why did you have to wait for the other cookie before you get to tend to your own needs and wants? Why must it be your problem if they fall behind?

But alas, you stayed patient. You were an ancient with a purpose bestowed upon you by the witches. You would not fail them. Not like how you failed your friends all those years ago. Though now you're questioning if that was really your fault. After they were sealed away you lived with the belief that you could've prevented it, that you should've tried harder, that you weren't patient with them. But now... You're actually taking what went down into deep consideration.

I mean, you never told them to become corrupted. Heck, you were patient with them. What had they disliked so much that they had to become the beasts they are today? And was it really your fault they became that way when all you had been was nice and patient with them? No, no you don't think that's how it works. If anything, you should be mad, not guilty. You sealed them away for valid reason and you were justifiably upset with them. Why'd they have to go and ruin everything?

Well it's not like that mattered anymore. They were gone and now you had to give yourself time to recover from that. If you ever saw them again them maybe they'll have the decency to apologize.

...

But no...

...

they just couldn't, could they?

You look on from your balcony of the castle as your kingdom is burning. Cookies running for their lives, the sky painted in grey clouds, the smell of ashes and fresh jam mixing together in the air as the screams and the chaos of your kingdom deafened your hearing. And yet, you couldn't move. You could only stare on with wide eyes as the chaos reflected in your eyes. Tears pricked in the corner of your eyes and you were at a loss. It all happened so fast- too fast for you to have a chance to interfere. Who could've done such a thing in such short time?

"Oh y/n cookie!~ Where aaaaare youuuuu?~"

Your blood ran cold when you heard that voice. It came from within the palace, that much you could tell.

So it was him.

You ran indoors and to your throne room... Only to find that the blue jester was not alone.

"Finally! We meet again, traitor."

"Long time no see, y/n cookie"

You stared at the five beasts before you. Shadow Milk cookie was sitting in your throne with his chin resting in the palm of his hand. Burning Spice cookie stood not too far away by his left side, axe hoisted onto his shoulder. Mystic Flour cookie floated besides him. Eternal Sugar cookie was sitting on the arm rest of the throne on the right side, leaning on the back. And Silent Salt cookie stood beside her.

"Hello dear. Did you miss us? Did you?"

"..."

You were stunned into silence. How were they here? Why were they here?! Had they really been responsible for what was happening to your kingdom? Probably but right now you had to actually focus on the fact that they've escaped the silver tree in general.

"H-how..."

You mumbled, but it was loud enough to hear for them. Shadow Milk cookie laughed and stood up.

"Does that really even matter anymore? Nah, I don't think soooo"

Well, there's goes that explanation.

"Why?..."

You asked, even though you knew what they'd say.

"Why?... WHY?!.... Do you even hear yourself?! You betrayed us and still have the nerve to question why this is happening?!"

"Tsk, as expected. This is all simply a punishment, y/n cookie. For deceiving us all those years ago. And forcing us to endure countless years of imprisonment"

You stayed frozen in place. That's what this was about? They could've dealt with you head on but to cause such harm to so many cookies just to hurt you? That was far worse. You looked down, the screams of terror and anguish from outside still audile from the throne room ringing in your ears. Everything you had worked so hard for... all the cookies who believed and trusted you... all of it gone in an instant all as a form of... punishment?

You felt the tears well up in your eye before falling to your knees and keeping your gaze downcast. The tears started rolling down your cheeks as the gravity of the situation fully set in.

"Now don't be so dramatic, dear. It was a necessary sacrifice that had to be made. But don't worry. All can be forgiven if you just join us"

You felt a knot twist in your stomach at her sickeningly sweet voice. Silent Salt cookie just remained silent. Well what else could you expect. But what really got to you was how they said they'd for give you if you joined them.

"Forgive... Me?..."

You repeated softly, as though the concept was foreign to you.

"Forgive... me?!"

You repeated again, louder this time, which caught the beasts slightly off guard. You stood up and glared at them, the tears still rolling down your cheeks.

"You think it's ME who has to beg for forgiveness from YOU?!"

You yelled, freely letting the anger drip into your voice as you took a step forward. You've never been so angry before and the beasts were unsure what to make of this. They didn't anticipate that this would be the reaction they'd get from you.

"It's YOU who should beg ME for forgiveness! Do you have any idea what you put me through?! How much patience I lost from having to fix what you had done to my life?! You think I wanted to seal you away, NO! You think I lived on like nothing happened- NO!!!"

"I have endured COUNTLESS sleepless nights because of you! I had to rebuild my kingdom, change who I was, accept your absence, find joy in what I had, BECOME WHO I AM TODAY!"

"All for you to just take it away in a matter of seconds"

"And you have the nerve to demand apologies from me?"

There was silence after that, before you let out a huff. Then another. Then another. And it soon transitioned into laughing. The Beasts were starting to realize the effect their actions had on you and began worrying that maybe they'd gone a bit too far and pushed you past their breaking point.

Shadow Milk cookie stood from the throne and was about to approach you...

When he was suddenly blasted into the wall by a vanta black colored magic energy. He flew through the throne and several walls behind it, leaving ruin in it's path. The other beasts quickly turned back to look at where their comrade had been shot through with wide eyed expressions before looking back at you.

A malicious smile played on your lips as a shadow was cast over your eyes, your hand still outreached from the energy release. For the first time ever, the Beasts experienced fear as they stared at you. Shadow Milk cookie hadn't risen since that hit. Your tears had dried quickly and left black markings on your cheeks that started at your eyes and ended at your jawline.

"Welp, ya finally did it."

You said cheerfully as your hand dropped to your side.

"I've lost what little patience I had left in me. You could've stayed in the stupid tree but nooooooooo! Ya had to come and ruin everything like you always do. Well then,"

You placed a hand over the soul jam that you wore in the form of a pendant, the color n t darkening to the same vanta black color as your power. Your voice now eerily calm

"I'm done being patient. If I can't guide you through the waters of patience..."

You looked up at them, the shadow over your eyes disappearing and revealing that your irises had gone from it's original color to black.

"Then I'll drown you in my ocean of Wrath!"

[heartfullofleeches]

Loser (incel) Reader and Sex-maid bot Yan. Reader orders their new toy same day shipping - grateful to the gods for not having to deal with the hassle of making themselves presentable to other humans, and no longer having to clean their room. A little mistake in mailing leads to them getting their robot a day later than expected, and a large crack in its visor. Reader is obviously pissed by this development, but powers the bot on to see the extent of the damage. It works just fine - minus the loss of its built in knowledge and abilities.

They know their prime directive, but they can't wash a single dish or fold clothes. Other parts of them still function so Reader is fine keeping them around and teaching them what to do while it warms their bed. The Bot feels so useless to their master. All they ever do is question them and break every vase they hold like the ditz it is. Their master even gave them the nickname of Melon likely for the damage they've taken. They'll probably have their memories erased when the repair team comes in....

"All fixed. Just a few unplugged wires at that nasty crack. There seems to be some other bugs, but we'd need to take it in to examine."

"You said they work now, right? It's fine. I don't want to have to teach them how to organize my desk properly again. Those figures are collectables."

Their master was letting them keep their precious memories?... The human had never been the nicest, but they weren't outright cruel either. It was almost....cute how protective of their belongings they were. It was their possession too... Fully capable of pleasing their master in all forms, Melon wouldn't waste their second chance.

They cook their master's favor meals without over seasoning or cooking it. They wash clothes and scold their silly master for wearing things multiple days at a time. They wait hand and foot by day and nights....nights are their favorite part. They sit quietly through their master's God awful attempts at flirting in the off chance they ever seek a human mate - but something's off. There's an ache in their chest whenever they imagine their master with another. Their answers to their master's terrible flirts comes start from that hole when the correct thing to do was tell them of their errors and why no human would want them if they said those things.

No human deserved them anyway... All their master needed to be satisfied - was them

Crackposts under cut - suggestive themes

Melon: Master, what's this? :)

Loser Reader: My body pillow. It stains easy so put it down.

Melon: Ah, it's precious to you then? I'll take good care of it :D

Melon: Master, what's this? :)

Loser Reader: A knife. Be careful with it.

Melon: Oh, it's dangerous? I'll keep it far away from you! <3

Melon: Master.... who is this?

Loser Reader: My crush from highschool. Meant to throw that picture away after they rejected me

Melon: They don't mean anything to you anymore?... I think I've found somewhere to store that knife

-

Loser Reader: sighs My friend really wants me to meet their sibling. Guess I better get dressed.

Melon, on their knees: Master ~ it currently 1:14pm. Time for your daily bi-hourly head

Loser Reader: My wha- [ziiip] Fuck, wait-

-

Loser Reader, attempting to flirt: you are a moderately attractive person and in the case I snap and kill everyone - I'd go on the run and change my name with you... or save you for last. How was that?

Melon, wiping fakes tears: You have such a beautiful way with words, master

-

Stranger: Oh, hello- Is Y/n home? We meet online at while ago and they gave me their addresses in case I visit because I only live an hour away

Melon: Hmph, can you pleasure my master while rearranging their game library in alphabetical order at the same time? I think not. Good-bye!

[jelsah27]

imposter syndrome talked ab just some forewarning

In History Class

MC: *walks into class with a small smile on their face*

Deuce: Good morning, MC. You seem happy today.

Ace: Yeah what's got you all smiley?

MC: Well, Kalim and Jamil were at my dorm the other day. Kalim really wanted to know about foods from my world and Jamil tagged along for obvious reasons. At on point Kalim wanted to look at my room and he found my snap-out-of-it post-it notes on the wall.

Deuce: Snap-out-of-it post-it notes?

MC: Oh, yeah they help remind me that a lot of the problems I think I have aren't really as problematic as I think. Like "Every personality is a creation of experiences that make you you." or "My friends like me because I am me". You see a while ago I figured out that I have a bit of Imposter Syndrome.

Ace: A bit of what?

MC: Well, it's pretty much I feel like I'm not the person everyone thinks I am. I'm not the gifted child everyone remembers or the smart person everyone seems to think I am. That if I can't hurry up and live up to everyone's expectations that they'll figure out I'm not as great a person they think I am and be disappointed and angry that all I am is an empty shell of who they believed I was and leave. Some times it will also come in the form of believing that my friends only want to be around me out of pity or that if I don't like what they like or want to do the same things as them then they will leave, even if they've reassured me they love me. I think the worst thoughts I ever got from it was when I started to believe that my personality was fake and that I didn't know why I was so different than the kid everyone liked. I started to believe that I had faked my personality from different shows, books, or even people to even have one.

MC: Honestly I didn't even realize it was imposter syndrome till someone else pointed it out to me after telling them this. I genuinely had no clue I was so disgusted with myself till I was talking with them about it and they pointed out that none of what I was saying was true, that everybody knew who I was and loved me as I am. I think I cried when they told me that.

Deuce: Prefect... I had no idea...

MC: It's alright, I've been learning to get better at combating it. Anyway, Kalim asked me about it and I basically told him and Jamil what I just told you. He then asked me what I'm doing to overcome it. So I told him about the main things that have helped. Reminding myself constantly that I am not fake or hiding who I am from people I love and who love me. Whenever I feel negative thoughts try to take over, think about one positive thing that I have done or something someone had said they love about me for every dark thought. If it gets to bad though, go to someone I trust and ask them flat out about those thoughts, it helps a lot. And twice a week I make a post-it or journal about one or two small things. Maybe a compliment someone gave me, or a task I completed. So every day or so since they've-

Jamil: *walks into the room* Prefect, here. I must get to class before Kalim catches something on fire I mean gets into trouble. Have a good day.*hands MC a small note and leaves the classroom*

MC: *smiling contently* It say 'Thank you for helping Kalim study yesterday great sevens know he needed it and your smile is unique'

Deuce: *getting out paper* If it helps you, I'll gladly join in.

Little bit of a rant u can skip I hope you enjoyed the post <3 Y'all I'm sorry I didn't mean to trauma dump but I really like the idea. But the story is true and I did cry (and it was in a restaurant) when my sis told me I was wrong and she knew who I really and she loves me. That our friends won't leave because all humans have opinions and we are allowed to clash. And that my personality isn't fake, that everyone's personality is what they've created themselves and that people add and take away from themselves all the time and work on parts of themselves they don't like to become better. That my brain was just being dark when there was many lights around me, waiting to be recognized. If any of y'all read this its just one side of imposter syndrome, there are a few versions and many levels of severity. I genuinely think you are awesome and perfectly imperfect the way you are!

Anywho thanks for reading!

[thesorcerersapprenticeu]

Chapter 8: Crushed

Summary:

The moment has come, the beginning of the trauma, and that's all anyone needs to say. Well, well, well! A D-D-D-D double update! Feel free to check out the chapter of my "Hold on" story, at least anyone who might be interested.

Notes:

I don't want to say too much, after all I've had far too much to do, but here it is. The beginning of all evil, the bearer of all trauma, and all because of you and Powder. Enjoy reading, and feel free to leave a comment and Kudos!

---

You had already forgotten that the people from above, from Piltover, always called Zaun a shithole. Not exactly forgotten, you just tucked it away somewhere in the back of your mind, along with the rest of your life's information, before you were down here with Vander and the others.

However, you often remembered them, your real family. You always asked yourself "What are they doing today?", your siblings and your parents. Maybe they've become scientists, your siblings, and are now doing research at the Academy or somewhere else.

But you didn't care whether your parents ever really looked for you.

Normally you would not care, you are quite sensitive and had hoped for it at the beginning. The Undercity was cruel at first, dangerous and even the air was a risk for you. In the early days you probably would have planned an escape, but there was something.

You were not alone.

Powder and Vi, Claggor and Mylo, they were just as hopeless cases as you that Vander had taken in. You and the sisters spent the first few nights in the same room, while you were turned to the wall, playing dead, Vi kept trying to strike up a conversation.

You only answered when Powder tried. You don't know exactly why, but you had a bond with her because she was like you.

But although you got on better and better with everyone, you never really stopped thinking about Piltover. The mistakes of your past still haunt you like a shadow, every step a memory and every breath a mistake.

And what was going on now?

Vi. Was. Way.

While you're sitting in bed in the basement with Powder, she with the Bunny in her hand and you with a book, Claggor and Mylo seem to be planning something. They're running around in a panic, putting things on the table and literally screaming. You hear something about "enforcers" and an "attack".

But it probably wouldn't come to that anyway. While you continue to relax and try to compare your spellbook with the notebook from the Academy of this Jayce Talis, something happens.

"Well, if the enforcers hit tonight, we'll be ready..."

Your gaze goes across the room, along Powder's silhouette, hugging the Bunny tightly and listening to them. Then it hits the table with weapons on it.

Surely they'll never be able to fight the Enforcers with that? Especially because of the armor, you need something stronger.

 You look at the table again as your hand seemingly automatically picks up the Enforcer gadget in your coat pocket. What lies on the table in front of Mylo and Claggor, and their hope against the Enforcers, is almost embarrassing.

Vanders gauntlets, a wooden bat, a glass bottle, a key? Mylos lockpick? And a small array of nuts and bolts?

"Dibs on the Bat." Says Claggor as he points to the table.

You won't win a single battle with that! They're not seriously going to pull that off, are they? And anyway, where is Vi?

"No no no no, I found it."

"But I called it."

"I found it"

"Respect the dibs, I called it already."

While the two of them continue their unnecessary discussion, you are more worried about Powder and Vi. As you watch, Powder tries to hold back tears with her beautiful blue eyes, something you've been doing for the last two hours. She gently strokes the bunny's head and looks in your direction, your eyes increasingly deciding to let a few tears flow.

Where is Vi? Has something happened to her? Was she perhaps taken by the Enforcers? Damn! Normally she always comes back!

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the door is ripped open. Your mind can barely follow as Powder jumps out of bed and runs over, blocking your view. It was Vi, you're very sure of it.

""Where's the -" She's cut off as powder charges into her, holding her tightly. She had a huge smile on her face as she hugged her sister. Actually, you would have run right in with Powder, hugging Vi and feeling safe. But something is wrong.

Why is she alone? Where is Vander? Where did she come from, and why does she have that look on her face?

Vi appeared distressed, worried and fearful all at the same time. She trembles slightly and you can literally see the shiver following her. Something must have happened to affect even a strong person like her. It looked like she had scars in her eyes, scars that reflect the trauma that happened, and that's what's important now.

Vi takes a deep breath, and as you analyze it, she does her best not to cry in front of Powder. She shakes her head slightly, and walks over to the table where the 'weapons' are. But unlike Mylo and Claggor, you saw right away that she was damn serious. It was that look again, where it looked like she had a fire in her eyes that wouldn't stop at anything or anyone. Your suspicions were confirmed even more when she suddenly reaches for Vander's Gauntlets, which also caught Mylo's attention.

"Hey. Those are Vander's. Slown Down- What's going on?"

The room is dead quiet, not even the wind can be heard. Your own thoughts circulate around Mylo's question, Vi's strange behavior must have a reason after all, but what reason was so bad that she would reach for Vander's gun.

You look to Powder, unlike you, she seems to have understood something. The look of sadness and worry in her eyes tells you that Vi probably doesn't want to talk about it, so it's pretty damn bad.

Vi looks up, and you immediately notice that despite her seriousness, the fire in her eyes was no longer there. She answers in a low voice, looking down slightly and almost frightened.

"Benzo's dead"

What? I must have misheard. Benzo? Vander's friend Benzo? Why? How? Who?

The tension is at an all-time high, nobody can believe what they have just heard. No one is looking at anyone, no one is talking, no one is breathing and no one is moving even a little bit. It's surreal to think that just a moment ago there was such a warlike, loud atmosphere here.

Claggor, who seems to be wondering the same thing as you, breaks the tension like a hot knife through butter. But not as sad and distraught as you or Powder, no, he answers Furious.

"Dead?"

"They took Vander."

While Vi looks away, apparently out of frustration at not having been able to help, Mylo now also gets involved.

"Who took Vander?"

Vi shakes her head, it looks like she wants to do it alone, either she has a score to settle or there's a lot more to it than that.

"I don't know, but I need to help him."

Mylo responds directly to her statement without wasting a second. It's as if he hadn't even heard her, but one thing was apparently clear to everyone:

"We're going with you."

Vi, looks around. One look at the weapons, another at you, and especially one at you. Her gaze softens for a moment as she looks from you to Powder, but then something seems to come back to her. Her gaze becomes serious, almost set and already fighting.

"Whatever killed Benzo...was like noting I've ever seen. It tore him apart"

Impossible. Not even Vander could tear a man like Benzo apart, that much strength would be beyond his body. Unless the person doesn't count as human, maybe something like a drug to go beyond the human limit?

But who would create such a drug? Or more importantly, why? Why did they kill Benzo but take Vander? Do they want Vander...

You follow Powder's gaze on Vi's fist as you continue to think, slowly the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and the decision seems clear: another riot. Led by Vander back then, this one to be led by monsters or fully drugged humans? And probably also by Vander, but this time even more dangerous than then.

Claggor, standing behind her, places his hand on her back in a comforting manner. He also looks quickly around the room, especially at Mylo, and starts talking.

"You're not doing this alone, Vi."

Mylo, who quickly stands next to them, wraps one of his arms around Vi and continues to cheer her up.

"He's our father too. And our friend. Do you know where they took him?"

They continue talking, but too quietly for you to hear properly. You quickly wipe away your tears with your sleeve and put your two books in the pockets of your coat. At the same time you keep a strong grip on the enforcer gadget, you would certainly need it, after all it has already proven once how useful it is with the rotation.

Powder runs past you, at a small crate that was filled to the brim with inventions. She quickly grabs out a couple, as many as she can carry, and walks slowly in Vi's direction.

Vi doesn't look at her, as reaches down and takes one of Vander's gauntlets, puts it in a bag with a few other weapons and swings it over her shoulder,

"The old cannery, near the docks. He said..."

She doesn't finish the sentence, walks slowly in your direction and you panic. Her serious look as she slowly walks to your bedside scares you about the whole situation. You slowly realize the gravity of the situation, with Benzo's death and Vander's imprisonment, everything will now come to an end.

Vi doesn't look down at you, she kneels down and looks you in the eye. She looks at you, the little frightened boy, in such a way that you feel the calmness behind her behavior; the pure patience to solve the whole situation without leaving problems behind. What would you do for good? Could you do anything at all with your rather tiny power?

"Y/N...I know you want to help...prove yourself." Her voice is soft as it meets your ears, as are her eyes and features, all of which are comfortingly soothing. But you don't understand what exactly she's hinting at until a few seconds later.

Why doesn't she want me around? Does she see me like Mylo, just as a burden? Or am I not worth saving Vander? Why? Why Vi?

"I -

"And Powder...I'm gonna need you to sit this one out." She sighs, but no matter how calmly Vi says it, the meaning remains the same.

Powder's entire expression falls, you see how she breathes faster and barely holds the inventions. It's all about to collapse. Then Powder takes a furious stance, raises her eyebrows and responds according to her feelings.

"What?!"

"You're not coming. "

"I'm not afraid! "

"It's too dangerous. "

"But families stick together. You said it yourself."

"I know what I said."

"But-!" Powder stops her angry replies for a moment, turning to the bed and dropping her eyes to your form. She sees you, looking not only sad, but disappointed, as well as her. For a moment she sees your tears, threatening to flow because of the realization, but you say nothing, which pushes her further. "We Want to Fight! We can help, Me and Y/N-

"You're NOT Ready!"

Silence fills the room again. As a shock runs through you and Powder at Vi's statement, Vi takes a step towards her. You can't process it, it feels like time has stopped for a moment, the fact that Vi thinks neither you nor Powder can do anything to help hurts more than anything. It was like back then with your parents and siblings.

"You and Y/N, you're all I have left. I can't lose you"

Then why are you leaving us alone?

It hurt, a deep ache in your heart that runs through your whole body and makes your bones brittle. You notice the tears slowly streaming down your cold face, leaving a feeling of warmth that seems too short and too foreign.

You get up, walk closer to Vi and stand right next to Powder, who looks at you with tears in her eyes. But somewhere inside both of you was the urge to prove yourself, to finally show them that you're not just dead weight.

Vi takes her hand off Powder's cheek, where she has just been wiping tears, which has only made it worse. She reaches into the bag and pulls out a flare, which she gives to Powder with the instruction:

"Here. If they for you both, take this and run. Wherever you are, light it up and I'll find you. I promise."

Powder's hands reach for the object, she turns to you and you both look down at Vi's promise. She puts her forehead against her sisters. They embrace for a moment, one with tears in her eyes and the other with a look of pure determination.

Then, to you. She goes down again, wraps her arms around your back and hugs you like a cuddly toy. You hug Vi too, continue to cry quietly and don't really want to let go. But before she lets you go, you look at Powder again, which Vi sees, and whispers something in your ear.

"Protect her."

With that, she leaves, Claggor and Mylo behind her and right by the stairs. As she closes the door, she takes one final glance through the small gap, looking at it as if her heart would break. You and Powder are literally devastated with tears in your eyes as you look at her.

But that's exactly what they have to do to protect you.

And with a final glance, she is gone.

<hr> </hr>

Everyone was gone, only you and Powder were left in the room. Like pets left behind without use, you were to stay there while the others freed Vander, without you.

That's so unfair. Why are they all going without us? Why always the two of us?

Powder was sitting up in bed again, but was completely upset. Tears streaming down her cheeks, a suitcase was open next to her, with Vi's Bunny doll sitting inside, the Crystals in the doll's arms.

Powder's whole life had just been turned upside down, her sister was away with her bigger 'brothers'. And she was here, with you, but completely useless according to the others. Just as useless you two always were on the jobs Vi picked up somewhere, just as useless when there were heavy things to carry, just as useless as when Benzo died and just as useless as when Vander was taken away.

We can help in other ways, can't we? While they somehow distract the people holding Vander captive, we can free him. We can help... We can...

Your thoughts are circling around each other, while you haven't moved a bit. You look like a mental patient, still standing in the exact same spot as the last time Vi looked through the door. The only difference now was your head, which was much lower than before, and your face.

Your face was absolutely blank. A serious look, huge eyes that showed nothing but anger and fear and an aura that you had never had before in your life.

The Situation is breaking you down to your core, breaking your character in the worst possible way to annihilate the toxic traits you have. Your stubbornness, fear of weakness and self-destructive behavior were always going to catch up to you, sometime.

It is our fault. It is our fault, because we are weak, because we couldn't defend Vander, because even though Vander was Captured, he is still stronger than me and Powder combined. Can we ever help?

Powder keeps crying, and even though it hurts like hell to hear her like that, you won't be able to do anything about it anyway, why should you? you're weaker than anything else in this damn world.

A monkey's head suddenly flies across the room, bounces off the wall and hits the floor, where the situation slowly gets your attention. Still, the monkey toy doesn't stop and clapping is cymbals together as it spun in a circle. Powder screams louder, but you don't stop her, your mind is in too much of a storm right now for that.

You can still hear her crying, screaming and whispering. She seems overwhelmed, her own sister has rejected her, it was the worst thing she's ever had to endure. She stands up quickly as you slowly look in her direction, grabbing the suitcase and holding it over her head.

Normally you would either say something or think something when you see it, but your mind is completely blank.

The monkey stops, and the only thing you hear in the room is Powder's ragged breathing. Then she drops to her knees, drops the suitcase and watches the Little Blue Crystals fall out. Your eyes follow the Little Crystals as memories from the apartment come flooding back. The magic you felt back then and the huge power of the gems.

The Explosion Crystals? She still has them?

Apparently the memories wash over Powder, the Crystals on the floor spark out something minimally like electricity, and she has grown huge eyes. The crying stops, the sudden breathing stops, and the only thing that remains is a path. The path that will now change everything.

She turns around, meets your eyes with hers and hastily begins to speak.

"We-!" She stops for a moment, bends down and packs the Crystals into her small hip pocket. Then she runs a hand skeptically through her hair, which was now in front of her face and completely disorganized. "We can help them!"

What is she up to? Does she want to follow them? What are we supposed to do with the Crystals to help them? Wouldn't they destroy the whole cannery?

"If we bind these to the monkey, we can send him to the bad guys and..." She takes a deep breath, lets her cheeks swell and holds her hands in front of her face. Then she moves slightly closer to you, your eyes still focused on her face. "Boom."

"Are you...sure about that?" You were afraid, the previous anger was gone and it left you feeling empty. But you couldn't think logically about the power of the crystals right now. "What if they hit us?"

"That won't happen! " It was funny to think that she was crying a minute ago, but now she seems so full of energy. "Come on we can do that...just you and me."

Maybe it was the warm feeling in your stomach that made you turn the corner and join in. Or maybe it was the feeling of having to prove yourself that was suddenly in the foreground for both of you, especially after Vi left you here.

"Protect her"

You feel lightly at the pockets of your cloak: your spellbook, the notebook from the apartment and the Enforcer Rotation Gadget. Everything you needed was there.

And with one look into Powder's eyes, you could see that the previous sad, abandoned look had changed. There was a fire in her eyes, a blue that seemed just like her Sapphire colored eyes...Pure Determination. But here, where it was all or nothing, it was a Dark Determination that put everything at stake.

With that you nod.

"Okay...Let's go then!"

And with that, you were on your way to pure ruin, which will change everything forever.

<hr> </hr>

Powder knew exactly where the Cannery was. But to get there, you had to take the path she suggested, not the normal one. There seemed to be something like a warehouse right next to it, but how you got there... You had to crawl through a tunnel.

But it was the safest way, well, safe in the sense of no people. But if you look at the huge walls you crawl past, everything seems useless in terms of safety. A bad feeling slowly lines up in your stomach, something, something bad is going to happen.

Powder continues to crawl in front of you while she keeps one hand on the waist bag, you keep one on the Rotation Enforcer gadget for safety.

While it goes on, however, your mind is already thinking ahead, for all purposes.

They will definitely encounter opponents, and then they will have to fight. Although, Vi will be able to fight them, even if it depends a lot on the crowd and the opponent. Mylo, meanwhile, will free Vander, and Claggor is there to help.

You look forward, and at the same moment Powder looks back at you, and you can't help but smile a little. But still, the fire in her eyes is like Vi's, and that means that somehow everything will be alright.

And then we both come along, flatten the bad guys with our homemade bomb and save the day. No, we'll just save everyone! We'll prove to Vander and Vi that we're worth existing! We're here just like you, we're neither useless nor unimportant!

You can't avoid it: It all feels like the calm before the storm. The last time you were considered so unimportant was with your physical parents, and that ended with you running off and meeting Vander at the bridge. But here? Vander was trapped, people with a lot of power are trying to bring everything down and you have to survive somehow.

That's where the bad feeling in my stomach came from.

"All good Y/N?" Powder asks, with her head forward and a slow view out of the tunnel.

"...Yeah...All good." You answer, quietly and with a guilty conscience that you're not getting it for her, from your bad feeling.

So there you both were, outside, peeking through a window that was blocked by a pair of wooden planks. Powder scans the area while you try not to fall off the small stone step that was by the window because of your poor sense of balance.

You look through the window, and gasps. Vi is facing a man twice her height and width, it looks like an unwinnable fight, and right now that means you and Powder need to act as fast as possible.

The cool air that just touches every freed part of your skin. Your heartbeat, which is pounding through your whole body and stopping in your ears. The adrenaline pumping through your body and making all your limbs fidget.

A small rustle catches your attention, which at first seems like a shock that makes your eyes widen and your legs twitch, but it was harmless. Powder reaches into her pocket and pulls out one of her inventions:

The monkey doll, which is now transformed into your weapon.

Deckard, unknown to you, tops outside, bumps into the door where the others were and startles you. Powder startles, as do you, and slowly becomes jittery. It's getting harder to breathe, and it feels like the climax of your life is about to come.

Powder takes two of the crystals and puts them in gizmo's, the monkey's, container. She closes it quickly and looks behind, the monkey's trajectory seems to become clear. The two of you, in a moment of tension, put your heads together, feeling the warmth of hers, and she whispers something to the monkey.

"You have to Work...For us, okay?" Powder says, in a soft voice that gives you goose bumps and red spots on your cheeks.

She holds her forehead against it for a brief moment before she winds up her intention. She grabs the monkey through the window, taps it on the head and lets it run off with clapping cymbals. Your panic rises; if anything goes wrong, lives will end and yours probably will too.

Come on little monkey, just work.

While the Monkey walks, the cymbals clap and leave a sound. The crystals begin to crack and spark as they become more and more unstable with each hit.

The explosion will be damn strong, one stone was already enough in the apartment to take the whole building down, but we need one to save everyone.

Deckard stops his attack against the door, and turns to the monkey. His face holds a confused expression as he slowly looks down at the object. As you hide many meters away, panic slowly rises within you.

Because...

The bomb did not explode.

Something must have gone wrong.

You panic, turn backwards and look through the window. You couldn't see the monkey, but that only fueled your panic and the adrenaline in your blood. But the monkey wasn't far away, you would only have to take a few steps and you could detonate it manually.

Why didn't the monkey ignite? It should have exploded immediately when the cymbals banged because of the movement.

In that moment, you make a millisecond decision that changes everything and everyone.

"I'm sorry Powder."

You don't give her time to react, it would have been too painful for your heart and you wouldn't have been able to bear it. A quick foot on the floor and you throw yourself into the window, hear Powder's voice behind you and turn up.

And there you were for a second, straight out in front of Deckard. You literally jumped out of the corner, and his gaze met you immediately. Hungry veins drenched with Lillan fluid point in your direction as your eyes meet his.

You and Deckard, who remained focused on the enemy that faced them. But no matter how quickly he would have tried to react in this situation, you were far quicker:

You yank your right arm out of your coat pocket and pull out the Enforcer gadget, time seems to stand still as your eyes scan the whole situation once more, for the last time.

In front of you, right on the ground, is Powder's monkey bomb, which you now have to activate manually. A few meters in front of you Deckard, a monster disguised as a human, who was pumped full of drugs and would tear you apart in a second. But for everyone else present, the realization came a moment too late, putting you in the position of death.

With an outstretched right arm, you throw your self-named 'Steel Ball' at the Little Monkey Bomb with full force. For a moment, everyone looks from afar, even the people you didn't recognize at first: Silco and Sevika. As if the rest of the situation had become completely uninteresting, everyone looked at the little boy and the seemingly floating steel ball, which was flying towards the monkey at breakneck speed.

Your mind was completely blank, not a single thought dared to question your determination. But still, rooted somewhere in your mind was the knowledge of what was about to happen.

But unfortunately, the realization came a moment later to Deckard. And still a few moments later to the others. But it was too late.

But in the whole situation, you were already so far gone that there would never be a person who would understand your thought flow.

Even if I desperately tried to run away, the explosion would hit me anyway. So I can stop right here and take them all with me.

An Apology Is A Promise To Do Things Differently Next Time, And To Keep The Promise...

"Protect her"

I'm sorry Vi.

Everything simply exploded.

Your 'Steel Ball' didn't even get to pop on impact and let out the Thin Steel Wires. The monkey exploded within a fraction of a millisecond; the whole warehouse shakes, it flies into the air and the fire rises up into the sky, leaving a noticeable blue color and smoke.

Powder was launched from her position but... she wasn't scared. She had nothing to fear, she proved herself. And thus begins her love of explosions and the feeling of always having to prove herself to others.

Deckard was there one moment and gone the next, the explosion absolutely shredded him and threw him away. With that, the explosion made its way to Silco, but before it could wound him directly, Sevika shoved him back through a doorway and took the brunt of the explosion for him.

The Shimmer stockpile ignited into flames as the explosion made contact. The fire traveled down through the entire factory and made its way into a room where a scientist was consecrating. He barely had time to react before the fire engulfed him completely.

The blast entered the room where all of the others were. When one of the shards hit the ceiling, the blast knocked Claggor's goggles off and sent a splatter of his blood with it. He was thrown into the wall and died instantly, a nightmare for him, but a dream for the others.

A metal pipe stabbed Mylo's shoulder, sending him into the wall as well, but he wasn't dead. He looked over and saw his friend's body, but he couldn't find him alive. He tried to pry the pipe out of his shoulder but stopped when he heard the unforgettable sound of cracking. He looked up and could only watch as the concrete slabs fell on top of him. He didn't survive.

As Powder fell through the air, time slowed. She reached out and gently touched a particle of magic with her finger.

She was happy.

She proved herself.

And she was even prouder that you did the same.

Vander was lying on his front with a large stone slab on top of him, that had fallen from the ceiling along with the concrete that had fallen upon Mylo. The explosion had forced the door from its position and knocked Vi over, the door resting firmly on top of her unmoving figure.

Vander woke up slowly, grunting in pain as his whole body was riddled with pain. He looks around as best he can to take in his surroundings. That's when he sees the sights he wished he hadn't. He saw the limp arm of Mylo hanging out of the rubble. Then Claggor's goggles in the middle of the floor, cracked and bloodied.

But everyone was only hit by the shockwave, not like you. The direct explosion, the released energy was released from one second to the next and created a detonation that was unsurpassed.

And that's exactly where you were.

But your luck at that moment was second to none:

Your Steel Ball was swung over you by the shockwave, protecting you from all the building pieces falling on you. He jumps up, letting the steel wires radiate out and stopping many of them before they all hit you and kill you outright. But of course he can't stop everything.

A long and pointed wooden plank goes along the steel wires, but is not held in place. As you are burned by the explosion and pushed away, you land on your stomach, back up. At first you don't feel the pain at all, it doesn't feel like a plank of wood is stabbing through your ribs and intestines, tangling in them, hoping to rip them out miserably.

But of course that's not all: a few of the large piles of stones hit the steel wire and destroy your shield, saving your pathetic life from death. However, unfortunately for you, a large, sturdy stone falls straight down at high speed and buries your right arm.

But that's not all, in addition to the unbearable pain, because your brain can't create more adrenaline, there are the remaining stones that bury you alive. With a huge weight they press your weak little body to the ground and deny you any movement you could possibly think of.

So there you were, after everything you've been through so far: Buried alive, with a completely crushed arm and two spellbooks in the pockets of your cloak. Blood draining from your body. Oxygen slowly running out. Hope already extinguished. All were indicators of the condition you had only read about in books until now:

Death.

Normally you would be screaming now, for help or anything that your blood-filled lungs would allow. All your thoughts would end logically and with full hope that "someone will come and save me". But now? Most of the others were injured or dead. Because of you and Powder.

So you just stop thinking, breathing or simply living. You wouldn't be able to cope with the disappointment that you are any other way. Because of one thing you finally wanted to do right, so many have been hurt and died.

A little blood makes its way out of your mouth, even though you have already given up, you lift your head as far as you can and simply let the substance flow out. The red, warm, metal-tasting substance reads out of your mouth and stains the ground beneath you red. But through watery eyes you see the entire floor beneath you is red, not just through your mouth, but through your intestines and your crushed arm.

"Silco!"

What was it exactly, did you just hear a voice? Or are you already in a near-death experience and just needed a little push to the other side? But you think for a moment, it sounded like Vander, but deeper and more like a monster. But with this brief thought, the pain you are slowly feeling at full height and the feeling of failure, you give up.

But not quite.

You could hear another voice a few moments later, but only softly and interrupted by your loud heartbeats. It must have been Powder's, the only voice that sounded happy in this situation. With the last of your strength, which you thought had left you some time ago, you smile.

"Because you're a Jinx! DO YOU HEAR ME?! MYLO WAS RIGHT!"

The last power in your body gave its all to listen in, just before the end came. Everything else became quieter, the burning of the fire, the sound of the wind, your breathing and simply everything.

"No. No. No. No. Violet, please!"

The moment you stopped absolutely on your life, you missed something. On the one hand, the quiet weeping of Powder, but on the other hand...

Did you miss the blue light shining out from under the stone where your right arm is buried? You didn't see the piece of a corpse that came closer and closer to your arm either, but everything has its time.

And with that you speak your last words... At least before your rebirth as "The Sorcerer's Apprentice".

Powder... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry... I wanted to believe... I really wanted to believe that I could do something for once... Goodbye. Powder... goodbye.

---

Notes:

Holy shit, what a chapter! The end of a life will always come, whether before or through illness. But this death is already quite hard for someone like you, but it's only the consequence of your actions. Thanks for reading, as I said, leave kudos and a comment on this terrifying chapter!

[canonizzyhours]

The thing that really upsets me about the canyon is - look, they're always claiming their opponents are committing the sin of Character Hate, right? Character Hate is supposedly always bad faith and always wrong. But the only takes on Izzy that they'll accept as not qualifying as "hate" are ones that require incredibly bad faith uncharitable interpretations of other characters.

Season 1 left a lot of stuff about Izzy open to interpretation. But one thing was clear: what Izzy said to Ed in the "namby-pamby" scene was not just cruel in the usual way it's cruel to tell someone who's heartbroken to just man up because he'd be better off dead than acting like this (which would be bad enough honestly), it was the absolute most hurtful thing Ed Teach specifically could hear at that moment because it was stabbing him directly in the core trauma he'd carried for his entire life. Ed's absolute worst fear in the whole world is that the violence he's capable of, as exemplified by having killed his dad, proves he is a monster instead of an actual human person capable of love or friendship. So Izzy tells him he's just embarrassing himself trying to reach out to others, says his real self is a violent monster, then goads him till he does something violent and says see, this is the real you. That's insanely targeted. If you sat down and tried to think of the single most most incredibly harmful and triggering thing you could say or do to Ed you couldn't have done any better.

So that means the viewer has two options for how to interpret Izzy:

1) Izzy does not really know Ed very well at all when you get down to it, despite how long they've worked together. He doesn't get what Ed's trauma is all about or how it affects him and the fact that what he said is Ed's absolute deepest fear is just a coincidence. So he truly does not understand just how hurtful he's being and would never have said that stuff if he'd known.

or

2) Izzy does understand Ed pretty accurately and therefore he is being incredibly viciously cruel on purpose by deliberately reinforcing his most painful and unhealthy beliefs about himself, knowing how it's going to affect him.

Those are the only two possibilities! You could have an Izzy whose relationship with Ed was close enough to deeply understand him, or you could have an Izzy who actually cared about Ed and didn't want to hurt him. But you could not have both. The closer you assumed Ed and Izzy were, and the more actual trust and intimacy and understanding you thought existed between them, then the crueler you had to assume Izzy was being.

But the canyon didn't want to accept that! They want to insist that Ed and Izzy had a really close relationship involving trust and intimacy and understanding AND that Izzy cares deeply about Ed's well-being and only ever wants to act in his best interests. So they found a third option, which was to just throw out Ed's entire character arc.

If you refused to believe Ed's arc was what it very obviously was, then you could deny that Izzy was actually being all that hurtful. You just deny that Ed's arc is about fearing the exact things Izzy told him were true about himself. Instead they said...well, a lot of them just didn't seem to really care that they didn't have a clear sense of what Ed's arc was at all, but those who did seem to care about Ed settled on: Ed's problem is that he actually DOES have something deeply wrong with him that makes him uncontrollably violent and he's simply trying to run away from that, which is unhealthy, so Izzy is looking out for him by trying to force him to confront these hard truths, which he needs to do before he can grow. But unfortunately Ed completely overreacted to Izzy's harsh truth-telling.

Now I mean think about the narrative this implies. This means OFMD is a romcom centered around the idea that the indigenous lead's deep seated belief that he's an uncontrollably violent monster is ACTUALLY TRUE and the white man who tells him so is just trying to help him. That would be a narrative that was (a) incredibly mean-spirited, (b) intensely racist, and (c) made no sense at all as a love story centered on this character. Which is how you should be able to tell it's an absurd read! And it's supposed to be the people who say "no, Ed's arc is what it looks like, which means Izzy either isn't especially close to him or is emotionally abusing him on purpose" who are spreading character hate.

This is why we're always pointing out that you have to understand Ed is a lead character and Izzy is a supporting one. I know the canyon thinks that's some sort of pedantry but it matters here, because if an interpretation you like because of what it does for a supporting character's arc comes at the cost of making the lead character's arc totally nonsensical, that's a pretty basic way you can tell it's reading against the text!

So now we're post season 2. And season 2 not only unsurprisingly followed up on the character arc Ed actually did have in season 1, but it managed to go with the canyon worst case scenario of repeatedly reinforcing that Izzy really does not understand Ed very well in many ways AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME specifying in his final scene that Izzy DID understand JUST enough to realize the whole time that he was being terrible to Ed and did it anyway on purpose for years. Super embarrassing for those guys. I guess the massive tantrums they threw about season 2 aren't really a surprise.

#406.

[coupleoffanfics]

How would Batsis! y/n become a villain?

I found this while trying to clean up my writing drafts. Not sure when I wrote this, but I decided to post it because why not.

Jerome Route

If she had no friends, that connection with Barbara, or relationship with Jeremiah then Jerome would have a considerably easier time charming y/n. The emotional neglect from the family makes her desperate for any sort of contention leading her right into the hands of Jerome.

The family would believe that y/n can be saved, but she sees them trying to save face. Trying to stop her from telling Jerome all the big bad Batman's secrets by saying they're sorry and that they care. She doesn't end up telling him about their identities because someone has to keep Gotham safe. She's with Jerome, but she doesn't agree with everything he does.

y/n might purposefully sabotage Jerome's schemes. It's not because she cares for the family, no. It's for Batman and his Robins to keep innocent people safe. She keeps the family and their personas separate. At least she'll try to see them as separate.

Her logic is backwards and hypocritical, but frankly she doesn't care enough anymore. All that matters is Jerome's love. Who needs friends or family when you can have Jerome?

y/n and Jerome probably argued over wedding ideas.. Jerome wants a circus theme with a replica of his mom as a pinata. While y/n wants a traditional, elegant wedding. They compromise by letting y/n have that traditional vibe with the ceremony and Jerome can go batshit with the reception.

Jerome never put so much thought into something before and he never wants to do that again.

The Batfamily was not invited of course. The family most likely hears about it or even sends wedding photos. y/n probably has Joker or some other villain walk her down the aisle. Bruce sulks about it for months.

Post-Spray Jeremiah Route

If y/n had no one else besides Jeremiah and her moral compass was cracked. Then of course she's almost going to believe everything he tells her.

There's no denying that Gotham is a modern day Babylon. Yeah, the world would be better without it. Maybe it would be a good thing if we do get rid of it. Yeah, we could rebuild it!

But she'll run into the same problem of not fully following Jeremiah's ideology. At least how he goes about obtaining the goal of cleaning up Gotham. The cult stuff freaks her out a lot. When his followers bow down to her and praise her, she'll tell them to stop but he orders them to do that.

After expressing her discomfort over the cult and the followers' behavior, Jeremiah will distance her from it. Having her become sheltered in the bunker or a manor hidden away in the woods. Meaning the only relationship she can have with anyone who isn't Jeremiah is Ecco. Even then Ecco is  just another follower that was trained to be a guard dog.

This version of y/n wouldn't be too involved compared to the Jerome route. But if Jeremiah was caught and sent to Arkham, y/n is sneaking in to break him out. It could be by disguising herself as a guard or forcefully entering it with full confidence.

The family would try to reason with her if only they could actually talk to her. Again since she's not hands on it's a rarity for them to see her.

The few times they've met face to face was when their hero personas. Jeremiah and Ecco were busy fighting off the others, giving them time to talk. If they try to convince her to leave him, she'll either ignore it or tell them about how he's all she ever had. The only family member that could possibly break through to y/n would probably be Jason or maybe even Barbara.

Jeremiah and y/n get offended when they're compared to Joker and Harley. They'll clearly be different because they have a healthy and loving relationship. People probably come up with the comparison because of his physical appearance and he hates it. They're not wrong when they say their relationship is loving, but it being healthy is debatable.

y/n is more than willing to kill or torture someone if they were to do anything to Jeremiah. Though once again her hands are off, but doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.

y/n is the type to write like love letters and put them into Jeremiah's pocket before he leaves. He's in the middle of fighting Batman and suddenly a pink paper with a red heart border falls out of his pocket. Seeing it makes him scramble to grab it and shove it back into his pocket. He'll read it later.

This y/n might live a more semi-normal life, but probably struggles with loneliness and depression. Since Jeremiah is often working and Ecco is Ecco.

Sprayed Route

The moment y/n realizes what is happening she goes to Jeremiah and contacts Barbara who informs the family. They'd probably find a cure, but for the sake of story and angst let's say they can't.

Everyone is just forced to watch y/n become what essentially a Joker lookalike. Or she could look completely the same, doesn't really matter because they'll all be horrified by the drastic change.

She'd use the knowledge of their identities against them. Dangling it above their heads, but it isn't long before they realize that she isn't going to say anything. Oh, but she's definitely telling Jeremiah all about this. Of course he swears to never tell anyone and he might start working with the family to lock y/n up.

Not only was she endangering herself, but others as well. The best thing for everyone is to lock her up.

If she learns about Jeremiah working against her. She'd be so heartbroken. Violently throwing and smashing everything in the room she was in before coming up with an idea. 'He'd never be against me, they probably forced him to work for them. It's all their fault. They always ruin everything, but I won't let them take him.'

Out of all of the other possible routes this y/n would be the most vindictive. She'll guilt trip the family with her sob stories of their neglect, their personas won't won't react. But she knows they'll be thinking about what she said hours later. She'll spit out insults and won't hold back fighting.

Her once passive and defensive fighting style has completely flipped to almost recklessly aggressive. The only way she'll stop fighting back is if they restrain or knock her out.

Arkham isn't hard for her to adjust to. She'll explain to her few visitors (Jeremiah, Barbara, and Alfred) that it reminds her of Wayne manor. But less lonely.

Barbara and Alfred are the only family members she'll allow to visit her. As she still has a bit of a soft spot for them. Will not admit it, but she's always pleasantly surprised when Babs visits her or Alfred sends her some of his cooking. It almost makes her tear up and feel immense sadness. Just almost.

Probably besties with Riddler or something. Most Arkham inmates know of the name Jeremiah Valeska by how much y/n will mindlessly ramble about him. They also know not to mess with him because they'll be put on top of her shit list.

Masterlist Here

[sunnydayjackass]

Hi can I get jack comforting his so after they found out they were lied to about why their hours were cut? (Sorry if this isn't something you're comfortable answering. I'm just really angry about my hours being cut and then LIED about why)

I'm sorry I'm getting to this so infinitely late, as someone who got their hours cut so hard they had to get a new job (resulting in my absence amongst other fucked things) I feel you and hope these bring comfort and that things have gotten better since you sent this.

Cause look, hours being cut is shitty- that's an absolute given. And Jack's immediate response is to provide comfort and reassurance that "It'll get better, sunshine. It's only temporary, I'm sure." But low-key he's probably glad to have more time with you to himself. Until he sees the stress this puts you under. Unfortunately, Jack can't pay your bills, stock your fridge, keep the utilities on, ect. And it's those tangible things that drive him up the wall that he can't help that make him double down even harder onto doting on you and spoiling you with affections. Which is well and good, the comfort is nice for a while and his encouragement can help.

But you're still stressed.

And then, you're angry because you were lied to about it. Maybe you were told that "they just didn't have the hours to give" "things are tight right now" or whatever generic bullshit higher ups like to give. But you find out from a coworker that they've been working doubles, or someone reaches out to you because they desperately need a day off to get something done, whatever.

And like work place gossip is want to do, when you clock in for one of those shifts, someone tells you the real reason why you've been cut so hard.

And when they tell you, they tell Jack. Because when isn't he over your shoulder or attached to your hip? Not that they know. But y'all know.

And you're furious. Rightfully so. That someone could be so petty as to fuck with your money. Your livelihood. Especially after Ian up and left you to shoulder everything on your own. But where you're left to silently seethe, bite your tongue, and put on a fake smile to work even harder in the hopes that maybe they'll "award" you with more hours so your water isn't shut off...

Jack is oddly silent. Absent after you hear the news. Which, maybe that's not the worst thing because maybe he's been a bit of a distraction. So you don't think too much of it at the time, you have to focus up. So while you're toiling away, Jack is floating through the workplace. Looking for the name tag of the superior who was fucking with you, who stressed you out to tears, who made you so angry; he could feel it radiating off of you. And that simply won't do. Jack can't have that and won't stand for it.

It's in the evenings, when you're already fast asleep; either so worn out from scraping up what extra you can at work from your coworkers to busting ass on your actual shifts, or simply just so stressed you need rest- that Jack does what he feels is retribution.

He's heavy handed, we all know what Jack did to Nick and that was for asking you out. Someone who fucked with you to the point you were so upset? Shit. Said superior is mentioned in the news, for either losing their shit completely or dying in a particularly gruesome self inflicted way. It's a bit of a long game, at first it's to get your hours back up to where they need to be. And lastly, it's a lesson- even if the victim doesn't know it, to never fuck with Jack's precious sunshine. He'd do anything for you and while maybe he can't provide, he can certainly remove obstacles. Not that he tells you, no.

Jack is back every morning or incredibly late, plenty of time to curl his large form around you and hold you close. Whispering to you that he's taken care of the problem, he's taking care of you, how he adores you ever so much, and that you deserve the world.

Gossip and rumors swirl about, and while it's awful what happened, this new manager seems far more amenable to what you need in hours and scheduling. So you're back where you need to be, where needs are being met, bills are being paid, Jack is happy that you're happy-thats all he wants for you, sunshine.

Just make sure you don't take too much overtime, he might feel neglected❤️

[malikselfindulgence]

RED SON X READER BLURB ☆ 1K WORDS

Description: How Red Son tends to show his love to his partner :3

Content: RED SON REFERRED TO WITH HE/SHE/THEY PRONOUNS! I personally see her as genderfluid but any hc is cool. Reader is gender neutral

Fic under the cut!

Red Son doesn't really ever say "I love you" 

He might have whispered it once, but you were half-asleep in his lap and the warmth from his hands threading through your hair turned your brain to mush, so you could've been imagining it. Besides that, he's never said the dreaded L-word.

You're not sure why- perhaps an aversion to such disgustingly vulnerable words in general, or his parents hammering lesson after lesson of how displaying emotions so openly is weak. Or maybe it's a lot simpler than that, and the thought had simply never crossed his mind.

Red Son does love you, though. You know this, and they know it too. They tell you they "tolerate your company" and that you're "just adequate enough to be in their presence"- both code words for I like being with you. 

Red Son's love is his driving force- it builds up in his chest and overflows out of him, despite his insistence that his heart is black and cold.

For her family, it's countless nights spent in her lab, working on their next plan to overtake the world, it's trying to live up to her father's legacy, not allowing a single smidge of dishonour to smight her family's name, it's continuing to live in the demon bull fortress, despite the fact that she's over 400 years old now and old enough to live in her own house. 

For his friends, it's reminding them of their self worth when needed- however brash and blunt he may be, it's watching Mei's streams as he works, leaving small comments to show her he's listening, it's helping MK fix up his dreadful noodle-cart while begging him to put it out of its misery and purchase a new one already.

For you, however, it's a bit of a mix of these.

For the first few months of your relationship, it was a lot of trial and error. There was a cultural gap between you and Red Son, demon courting being completely foreign [and frankly concerning] to you. And even if there wasn't, Red Son had no relationship experience. They were still reeling from having friends now, never mind a romantic partner.

Red Son would try to read up on mortal's courting customs [or "dating", as he's come to learn], he'd sit through those crappy rom-com movies and shudder each time they did something over the top, he'd even thought about asking Mei for help, which was just wholly embarrassing, and he totally didn't try to subtly do so only for her to call him out on it and laugh immediately.

It started out with a lot of choppy romantic gestures that just weren't….Red Son, despite how hard he tried to enjoy them, and after a long conversation [or two, or three-], you two eventually found your rhythm, one you both enjoyed and found comfort in.

Red Son built you things- trinkets and machines and the like. If you mention off-handedly that you'd been wanting this thing for ages but just never had the money or time, you best believe they'll be showing up on your doorstep the following morning with a box hidden behind their back. They also fixed things for you- your fridge, your washing machine, your kettle. They grumble the whole time about how out-dated and rusty and repulsive your tech is, but they've never once turned down your requests. They've even offered to upgrade your TV a few times, but you're just too attached to the old thing.

Red Son spends a lot of time with you, even if you two aren't actively engaging in conversation. You'd sit across from each other, or in each other's laps, doing your own separate thing, just in each other's company. Every once in a while you pipe up with a random thought or question, and he shares his own as well before you two fall back into comfortable silence. You like watching him work with his hands, and he likes seeing how passionate you get over your hobbies. He shares parts of his life with you and you do so as well in turn.

Red Son's also shockingly touchy with you. She's not one for grand acts of physical affection- picking you up in public and hand-feeding you syrupy fruits and whatnot, but she will loop her pinky finger around yours when you walk, she'll kiss your forehead just before you head to bed, hug you from behind when she's freshly awake and still sleepily dazed, and once she gathers up the courage to do so, kiss you when her feelings rush through her body and send her hurtling towards you. She always has to be touching you in some way or another.

Most importantly, Red Son tries for you, and for themselves. They still mess up sometimes, they still get scared and terrified and defensive, they're still figuring themselves out, but they try for you. Red Son'll try out a new food just because it's your favorite, or will dabble in new music genres for your sake. Even more than that- Red Son tries to be more open, they try to talk about things they've never spoken aloud before, they try to listen to you- they start taking breaks more often, and eating better, and their self confidence rings a little truer and a little less fake each day. It's more than you could ever ask for. 

So, no, Red Son doesn't really say "I love you", but you don't mind. You hear it in the shared space between the both of you, in the mugs of your favorite drink freshly brewed and handed to you when you're stressed, in the angry notes scolding you for not resting properly, in the brush of his hand against yours. You hear it loud and clear, and you whisper your response into his hair every morning, every evening, every night,

 "I love you, too." 

[trans-jon-rights]

Heya. Here is some outline I wrote for a potential fic. It got out of hand.

Anyway, enjoy :3

It's 5PM. Elias asks for Jon in his office. He just got promoted. That's a good thing, right ?

Elias asks Jon which assistants he wants. He asks for Tim and Sasha from research. Both are competent, and he'll need them. Elias tells him that they'll be informed so he doesn't need to bother. They must be home already. He should go enjoy his weekend before starting the new job.

Then, Monday is here. Jon goes to work in the Archives, one entire hour early. It is better to make a good impression. It's around 10AM, and he realises his assistants aren't here. He tries to text or call them, but there's no cell service. It's fine. He'll just go up in Research. Perhaps they just didn't get the memo.

When he reaches the doors, they are locked. The heavy wooden panels won't budge an inch.

It's fine ! It's just- the building is just old, and he's never really been strong physically or whatever, but it's fine. Maybe he'll just wait a bit. It'll be okay.

12AM is there. Then 4PM. Then 7PM.

Still no signs of anyone. No one's checked on him, no Tim, no Sasha, no cleaner, no Elias- No one.

The doors are still locked, taunting him with their ornate brass plate reading "Archives" in a neat cursive.

Another day pass. Then another. Then a week.

Jon keeps reading Statements and organising the Archives. It's the only thing he can do, right ?

He found lots of Statements that wouldn't record on his laptop. Somehow, they work on the old tape recorder he's found.

He keeps going.

It takes him longer than it should have to realise that he didn't suffer from any side effects of the hunger he feels. It has been too long since he ate, yet he doesn't feel himself grow weaker. Just restless.

He is trapped alone under a building he can feel is bustling with life.

He keeps reading.

Again and again.

Statement after Statement after Statement.

He must have recorded at least over a dozen when he realised he didn't change the cassette even once. Yet, when he checks the files, there is always a new one with his voice reading the attached Statement. The handwriting on the label is his, but he doesn't remember writing it.

Statement after Statement after Statement.

Again and again.

Tim and Sasha are concerned. It's been months since they've heard of Jon. Sure, Elias said he'd gotten another job but- it doesn't sound like him, leaving without even a note.

The Archives are as locked as they've always been, ever since the death of old lady Robinson.

Then Elias calls both of them in his office. They've just gotten a promotion. They're now Archival Assistants.

He said not to worry about the Archivist. He'd found one suitable enough.

Standing in front of the doors leave them with an uneasy feeling of being watched. Still, they cross the threshold.

They refuse to believe the creature facing them was ever anything human.

[puppyplayhouse]

I'm not sure you remember me but I've had another thought plague my brain

Wolf hybrid Chan and reader who's scared to live alone, I really hope your seeing my vision here

So let's say things fall into place when someone breaks into readers apartment and now the place they once called home no longer feels safe so they look to move to a much quieter area and hopefully move in with someone untill they can feel a little bit more comfortable again

And wolf Chan is tired of working a bunch of hours and barley making rent so he's on the lookout for a new flatmate and after some time they end up contacting eachother

Chan thinks nothing of the first time they meet up he's lived with people in the past doesn't see why the reader is so nervous, he's sitting across the table from them and can hear how fast there heart is beating but doesn't say anything to not spook them even more

Were as the reader is sweating bullets across the table because there still not over what happened and now doing what was always thought not to do, don't talk to strangers let alone move in with one

The move in is smooth Chan helps carry most things since it's nothing really difficult for him and he really just wanted to get his scent on everything without making it too obvious

They merge well together better than they could have ever thought, they hang out eat at the table if there both home watch movies maybe even a few boardgames

One thing Chan might have forgot to mention is that his friends come over whenever they want regardless of the time if there near they'll drop in to say hello or sleep on the sofa for the night

After there movie night they split ways and head to bed tired after a long day and some really good food

Couple hours go by and everyone is asleep cozy under the blankets when the reader is woken up to the sound of the front door opening but there's no way because they definitely locked it before going to bed and the neighbourhood doesn't really attract attention like that

They continue to listen and can hear some muffled voices still down stairs and she's suddenly can't breathe because it's happening again how can they be so unlucky there vision is fading in and out they feel like there gonna throw up and then an idea finally makes it's way through all the panic they just need to run down the hall and get to Chans room how hard can that be it's just a couple of feet away that's it

Except they feel like there walking on a glue trap everything is going so slow eventually cracking the door open slightly to hear how close they are, now what sounds like they've moved to the kitchen and scrambles down towards Chan's room burst through the door dives right onto his bed and quietly but also loudly trying to wake him up

It doesn't take long before Chan shoots up out of his sleep frantically looking around for what keeps hitting him and them he sees it , teary eyes looking right at him and he feels like he's been hit by a truck so overwhelmed with needing to protect them suddenly he's up putting himself between them and his bedroom door asking them what's got them so upset and after explaining what they've heard he slowly makes his way down stairs towards the kitchen and hears footsteps shuffling around so he waits until they try leave

Not even two minutes later the intruder walk out the kitchen to head to the sitting room and Chan jumps pushing them to the floor that's met with a very familiar scream he looks up and sees Felix he's long time best friend and beneath his other best friend Changbin not looking to impressed with being tackled to the floor

Chan explains what's going on and looks a little embarrassed that he's maybe overreacted but his friends understand completely and just wanted a little snack before staying the night after apologizing he heads back up stairs to tell the reader there's nothing to worry about and they can head back to bed only when he gets to his room there nowhere to be found

Chan told them that no matter what they've not to leave until he give the all clear but then he hears it the little sniffles that come from under his covers

Pulling them back he's met with a scared face and tears running down there cheek and immediately gets to comforting them wrapped them in not only the blanket but his arms tells them everything that's happened and how it's just some friends that need a place to stay the night and he must have forgotten to mention that they do that sometimes

After a couple minutes of rocking and helping the reader take some beep breaths do they realize the position there in

It's not awkward but it's the closest they've ever been to each other. Chan suddenly aware of how nice they smell how perfectly they fit in his arms, the reader is now aware of how beautiful Chans eyes are and how much heat he gives off and doesn't want to move wants to fall asleep like this every night if possible

That's definitely just the left over adrenaline running through there body because that's the only reason they could be thinking like this nothing to do with unspoken feelings no way

A few nights go by and both of them are suddenly too busy for dinner or movie night together just straight to bed after work only there not sleeping, just tossing back an forth imaging being curled up under the blankets with no where to go and just lay in eachothers arms so the reader decides to make the first move and heads to Chans room and lightly knocks on the door hoping he doesn't hear it but of course he does

They peek through the door and with a little wave explains how they can't sleep and just wanted to see if he was up, a couple minutes of slow awkward conversation Chan scoots over and pats the empty spot next to him inviting them into his bed

And who's saying no to that??? nobody is, so they make there way over greeted by the warmth and comfort of Chan

It's almost like he knew what they both wanted but didn't verbalise it and it's the best sleep they've had in days and it would only make sense for that to be the arrangement from now on because sleep is so important and it's definitely not for anything else

Even though there friend group pokes fun at them over there living situation and how they can't see how infactuated they are with one another there happy enough with what they've got and wouldn't change that little bubble of each other they get every night

This one is a little more on the softer side and written out very messy so I apologise

Also I need to think of a different scenario other than them moving in together it's always that for some reason 😭

THIS IS SO CUTE YOU HAVE OUT DONE YOURSELF ONCE AGAINNNNN SLOW BURN ROOMMATES TO LOVERS I EAT THAT SHIT UP EVERY TIME

[starlightshadowsworld]

Bsd except the Headmaster doesn't come to the Agency to see Atsushi. But because he has a case.

It's assigned to Junichiro and Atsushi as it doesn't seem too complicated. Both of them are goofing off and excited to take a case together.

Junichiro introduces them to the Headmaster and Atsushi somehow manages to hide the terror that overtakes him.

Junichiro just thinks he's nervous and tries to reassure him they'll be okay.

Everyone thinks Atsushi's just nervous and give him advice and reassure him that their here for him.

But they start to catch on, this isn't just nerves.

They've seen Atsushi when he's nervous, this isn't that. Atsushi is polite to the Headmaster but when he thinks no ones looking, there's terror in his eyes.

And isn't that something. Atsushi's gone through so much during his time at the Agency. Only a handful of times has Atsushi been afraid, usually when his life's in danger.

And this random client illicts such fear from him.

No one at the Agency knows about Atsushi's past. They know that he grew up in an Orphanage and not treated kindly.

Nothing else.

The Headmaster is civil, polite but when he's with Atsushi there's an undertone of malice. You only notice it when you look for it.

They've all dealt with asshole clients but this, this is different. It reminds Dazai and Yosano of Mori.

They call a meeting and discuss their concerns. Their kindness drives Atsushi to tears, he's been so afraid to say anything and the words start pouring out.

Atsushi asks them if they know why he doesn't but himself anything other than food. None of them know. He tells them when he was 11 he found sweets while cleaning.

Some kids told the Headmaster Atsushi stole them. "I wasn't allowed to own things, those were reserved for people and I wasn't human.... So he punished me."

Atsushi, in a sad but rather detached way tells his friends about the hammer, how he couldn't do it so the Headmaster did it.

"He made me sit there, for hours... And than I had to take it out."

Everyone is horrified, Kyouka is holding him in her arms along with Kenji and Junichiro.

Dazai is seething inside, Kunikida is seething on the outside. Yosano is gripping her cleaver and Ranpo is serious and mad.

"Atsushi, who is this client?" Asks Fukuzawa, softly as fatherly rage swelling up in his heart. But he won't lose his temper here. He knows, he's put the pieces together but they need to hear it from Atsushi.

"The client is the Headmaster."

Suffice to say Atsushi is dropped from the case, as is Junichiro. Ranpo figures it out in immediately and the bastard is kicked out by Dazai.

Who may or may not have threatened the Headmaster. Along with everyone else with various bodily torture of he dares to ever show his face here again.

"Who would've known, he turned out to be so kind." Said the Headmaster. Dazai smiles at him but his is not kind.

"Atsushi is kind. He always has been, not because of you but despite of you. You just had to make him the monster so you could justify your actions and the abuse you faced. Your pathetic."

Kunikida pulls Atsushi into a hug, tells him no shadows from his past l will ever hurt him again, not on their watch.

And Atsushi breaks down being held by the people he loves.

[birdiesaves]

THE MARTIAN ( novel by andy weir ) change as necessary !

mankind reaching out to send people to another planet for the very first time and expand the horizons of humanity blah, blah, blah. 

i’m pretty much fucked. 

they got the parades and fame and love of the world, i got a firm handshake and a hot cup of coffee when i got home.

i would only be “in command” of the mission if i were the only remaining person.

what do you know? i’m in command.

it wasn’t your fault. you did what you had to do. 

in your position i would have done the same thing. 

it was a ridiculous sequence of events that led to me almost dying.

everyone thinks i’m dead. 

ok, i’ve had a good night’s sleep, and things don’t seem as hopeless as they did yesterday.

i won’t be able to whip something up with tinfoil and gum.

fear my botany powers!

but hey, time is the one thing i’ve got.

i wonder if they'll ever find out what really happened.

i’ll spare you the math. the answer is _________

bleh. i’m going to bed

my life depends on you

i played a lot of dungeons and dragons.

i have an idiotically dangerous plan 

i suppose i’ll think of something. or die.

the answer is: i don’t know.

all i accomplished today was thinking up a plan that’ll kill me

also, i have duct tape. 

after a search of everyone’s personal items i found my answer.

that was sarcasm, by the way.

this all sounds like a great idea with no chance of catastrophic failure.

do you have any idea the magnitude of shitstorm this is gonna be?

how come aquaman can control whales? they’re mammals! 

i expected it to be cold, but jesus christ!

now, on to my next task: sitting around with nothing to do for 12 hours.

i ask for a picture and i get the fonz?

the whole world’s been rooting for you. 

really looking forward to not dying. 

please watch your language.

sorry we left you behind, but we don't like you.

you're sort of a smart-ass.

your request for “anything, oh god anything but disco” is denied.

no. you’ll fuck it up and die.

i took it apart, found the problem, and fixed it.

i don’t see anything... i can hear it, but... it’s down here somewhere, but i don’t know where.

the subtle and refined “hurl my body at the wall” technique had some flaws. 

named after the greek goddess who traveled the heavens with the speed of wind. she's also the goddess of rainbows.

i'm not giving up. just planning for every outcome. it's what i do.

your poster outsold the rest of ours combined.

why are you such a nerd?

you should try to be more cool. wear dark glasses and a leather jacket. carry a switchblade.

you started my training by buying me a beer.

so now i have to do boring-ass experiments with test tubes and zzzzzzzzzz....

frankly, i suspect you're a super villain.

just once i'd like something to go to plan, ya know?

no? ok... what was that!? oh, nothing? ok...

for now i just want to go home.

there's always hope

are we just watching a tragedy play out?

you’ll survive this. i don't know how, but you will. 

i've defiled enough historical sites for now.

tomorrow night, i'll sink to an all new low!

tomorrow night, i'll be at rock bottom!

be a smart-ass to a guy seven levels above you. see how that works out.

i remember when you were shy

the attitude comes with the job

and by “enjoying” i mean “hating so much i want to kill people.”

there aren't many people who can say they've vandalized a three billion dollar spacecraft. but i'm one of them.

what's our role in all this? if something goes wrong, what can we do?

how do you come up with this shit?

i admit it's fatally dangerous, but consider this: i'd get to fly around like iron man.

i need you to come back in and make a bomb.

i knew that guy was a mad scientist!

i think we should just go with my iron man idea.

well if you won't let us then- wait... wait a minute... i'm looking at my shoulder patch and it turns out i'm the commander. 

give me a minute. you're the first person i've seen in ______.

i think about the sheer number of people who pulled together just to save my sorry ass, and i can barely comprehend it.

i represent progress, science, and the interplanetary future we’ve dreamed of for centuries. 

they did it because every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out. it might not seem that way sometimes, but it’s true.

yes, there are assholes who just don’t care, but they’re massively outnumbered by the people who do. 

[formosusiniquis]

A Steddie / Buckingham comedy of errors of sorts. It goes like this.

Robin thinks Chrissy Cunningham might be her non platonic soulmate. She's smart, a little goofy, observant, seems like a great listener, and after what the rumor mill is saying was a pretty intense summer has really come into her own. It's a shame she went straight from dating Jason to Eddie Munson.

"She said she's working on herself," Steve claims, more in tune with the gossip than she is, "pretty hypocritical of you to say guys and girls can't be friends."

Which is pretty hypocritical of him when she knows he only cares cause he's already planning his wedding to Chrissy's new boyfriend; he needs Eddie to be single otherwise he's pining away for his perfect co-babysitter for nothing.

But it doesn't matter if they are dating or if they aren't or if Chrissy Cunningham with her perfect strawberry blonde ponytail is her soulmate, because her parents keep trying to set her up with some friend of a friend. She needs to do something quick before disaster strikes.

Melissa and Richard Buckley still know how to tie one on, when the occasion strikes. They're parents now, they've settled down some. Given in to the picket fence life, keep their yard mowed so Gayle Collins down the way stops glaring. They haven't done anything really crazy since that weekend they left Robin with Minerva and went to see what that whole Woodstock thing was about. Now they mostly just stick to getting as high as they can and stargazing on the weekends that Robin is off with Steve, a sweet boy kind of a square but the brownie recipe he gave them makes the best edibles.

Melissa can tell her daughter is lonely, she notices a lot of things about Robin that she won't tell them. Richard has noticed that their dealer Eddie has started bringing a friend along with him. Eddie is a sweet boy too, raised well respects his elders something they care about now that they've become them, he is also obviously and fantastically gay. Like all the parents in Hawkins, Richard and Melissa have heard how Wayne Munson has taken in that Cunningham girl after she came back from her trip out of state. Melissa remembers being a vaguely out of control youth and knows that a trip out of state is code for one of two things, and Chrissy doesn't look like she's ever been pregnant. Chrissy seems like a girl who might like their daughter.

Steve would die before he denies Robin just about anything. She is the platonic love of his life, they nearly died together, they've come out together. He's pretty sure as long as he has Robin and his kids he'd be content for the rest of his life, romance be damned.

A sentiment Robin seems to agree with since she wants him to fake being her boyfriend. Obviously, he says yes. Steve is a good boyfriend, he's always been a good boyfriend. He's attentive, great with parents, knows when to keep the pda to a minimum but also knows when to put on a show. He used to be pretty sure that Mr. and Mrs. Buckley liked him. So he's not really sure why they pulled him aside before movie night.

"Your parents hate me."

"There isn't a parent in Hawkins who hates you."

"You mom just asked me if I didn't think it might be better if I found someone more suited to me."

"What does that even mean?"

"It's basically mom code for I think your the worst person my daughter could have brought home. If I had the choice I'd kill you so why don't you do us both a favor and fuck off."

"I don't think that's right."

"Rob, I love you but conversational nuance isn't exactly your thing."

Eddie likes his job. Sure it's technically not honest work, but who knows maybe down the line they'll legalize it. He's getting in on the ground floor, an entrepreneur. Hawkins is surprisingly pro-weed and Eddie is just fine sticking to that after this summer. His favorite customers are the old folks. Like Miss Brenda at the library or the Buckleys. He always brings Chrissy along when he goes out these days, she feels weird staying in the trailer by herself and he likes having her nearby. She puts people at ease.

Except the Buckleys, who seem strangely obsessed with her. They ask her pointed questions about Dorothy, and surely they mean an actual Dorothy, surely the nice middle aged couple aren't trying to figure out if Chrissy is queer. Sure he got some vibes off of Buckley the younger, but that was before she started dating the love of his life. Now he's starting to think his whole gaydar has gone to shit.

Chrissy, a baby gay who has just broken free of the nastiest case of comp het Eddie has ever seen, answer honestly. She doesn't know a Dorothy, is that one of Robin's band friends? How is Robin, she is so sweet. Chrissy just wishes she had more time in the day so they could see each other more. She's dating Steve right, they make just the cutest couple, don't they think?

Eddie can tell Melissa doesn't. A surprise when even Wayne likes Steve Harrington, thinks he's the bees knees. Loaned him a screwdriver or some shit when the guy was over fixing something at the Mayfield place. She smiles though and agrees that Steve is quite sweet, in a tone that Eddie is far more used to hearing used when people are talking about him than about Steve Harrington. He blinks and the next thing he knows Chrissy is agreeing for them both that dinner on Friday sounds lovely; she'll bring a dessert.

Like she's ever baked in her life.

Chrissy Cunningham has had a rough couple of months, but she's settled now. Sure, she had a breakdown so bad in Eddie's trailer that she ended up having to get professional help; but she got that help and a new support system for herself. Really, the only way life could be much better is if she were dating Robin Buckley.

Eddie likes to tease her, calls her a baby gay like she's a wobbly legged deer still figuring things out. She's had eyes on Robin since the fifth grade, when she got her hair cut short to her shoulders the first time and her teeth still had a gap before her braces went on. Steve is a great guy, she's seen him with the group of freshmen that follow him around like ducklings; she's also watching him now and he's spent most of dinner making moon eyes at Eddie instead of his girlfriend.

She doesn't understand how, Robin is a vision. Full of spit and vinegar, she is firecracker mad glaring at her parents across the table. "You really brought him here? I'm dating Steve, can you not accept that?"

A lot happens at once, Chrissy isn't entirely sure what is going on but it feels a lot like a pot boiling over, something left too long unattended.

"We aren't trying to set you up with our dealer," Mr. Buckley said. "You're not exactly his type."

"Chrissy is such a nice girl." Mrs. Buckley tries.

"You said you stopped that," Steve to Eddie, a lethal pout on his lips and downturned eyes.

"Well, I stopped with the kids," Eddie tries, "I gotta pay the bills somehow, sweetheart."

"Chrissy?" If Robin was a vision in her sharp eyed rage, she's radiant in her pink cheeked surprise.

Once the shock, surprise, and comedy wear off Chrissy thinks there will be tears. Robin's parents seem nice. They seem like the kind of parents you confide in and who hold you tight. She thinks about her mom doing something thoughtful, thinks of her quietly accepting who she is and who she loves; and when she can't do that she thinks of Wayne and Eddie and knows she'd cry once they were alone and the theater of it all was over. So she thinks she might need to make the most of her moment while it's there. "I don't want to be a homewrecker," she jokes, something she's picked up from Eddie, "but I think your boyfriend has his eyes other places."

"Boyfriend, what boyfriend?"

"They're showing Clue at The Hawk this weekend, if you want to go with me?"

Robin can't nod her head fast enough.

"Stevie, I noticed you find yourself newly single," Eddie says, sorrow so fake he should rethink his decision to go within 10 feet of the drama department. "If you could bear it, would you want to crash their date make it a double?"

Steve agrees so fast a bit of hair escapes his coif, it falls in a curl at his forehead.

Robin's parents both seem pleased, pleasant smiles that chrissy is becoming more accustomed to seeing on adults now that she resides in the Munson place. "They'll be smug about this forever," Robin confides. Her smile betrays her lack of real dismay.

Chrissy got her girl and her best friend got his boy, so she thinks it's all's well that ends well.