#the answer is nothing. she's gonna use her skills for evil. as a treat!

[luscinai]

full post later but on this blog it's canon that lu's other mom is selina. and by that I mean be careful of your pockets <3

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

The funniest thing is JIANG CHENG HAD MULTIPLE CHANCES TO DO THE RIGHT THING but every time his jealousy and resentment towards wwx won. Are we gonna forget that his jealousy for wwx is the main thing that jin sect used to separate wwx from a little "support" he had left

Whuuuut? But he tried so hard during the biggest turning point! 🥺

Jiang Cheng’s brows were knitted. He rubbed the vein that throbbed at his temple and soundlessly took in a deep breath, “… I apologize to all of the Sect Leaders. Everyone, I’m afraid you don’t know that the Wen cultivator whom Wei WuXian wanted to save was called Wen Ning. We owe him and his sister Wen Qing gratitude for what happened during the Sunshot Campaign.”

Nie MingJue, “You owe them gratitude? Isn’t the QishanWen Sect the ones who caused the YunmengJiang Sect’s annihilation?”

Within the last few years, Jiang Cheng insisted on working late into the night every day. That day, just as he decided to rest early, he had to rush to Koi Tower overnight because of the thundering news. He’d been suppressing some anger under his fatigue since the beginning. With his natural competitiveness, he was already quite agitated since he had to apologize to other people. When he heard Nie MingJue mention the incident of his sect again, hatred sprouted within him.

The hatred was directed at not only everyone who was seated in this room, but also Wei WuXian.

Lan XiChen responded a moment later, “I have heard of Wen Qing’s name a few of times. I do not remember her having participated in any of the Sunshot Campaign’s crimes.”

Nie MingJue, “But she’s never stopped them either.”

Lan XiChen, “Wen Qing was one of Wen RuoHan’s most trusted people. How could she have stopped them?”

Nie MingJue spoke coldly, “If she responded with only silence and not opposition when the Wen Sect was causing mayhem, it’s the same as indifference. She shouldn’t have been so disillusioned as to hope that she could be treated with respect when the Wen Sect was doing evil and be unwilling to suffer the consequences and pay the price when the Wen Sect was wiped out.”

Lan XiChen knew that because of what happened to his father, Nie MingJue abhorred Wen-dogs more than anything, especially with how intolerable he was toward evil. Lan XiChen didn’t say anything else.

But he's such a wonderful diplomat, who had no way of protecting his brother. Curious how he doesn't expand on what he means by that debt and just lets the hate about the Wens take over even though Lan Xichen tried to get more information even though it would have helped to show Wei Wuxian was not power hungry.

Taking this opportunity, Jin GuangShan spoke, “Sect Leader Jiang, this was supposed to be a matter of your sect. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to barge in. But now that things are like this, I’ll have to caution you on the topic of Wei Ying.”

Jiang Cheng, “Sect Leader Jin, go ahead.”

Jin GuangShan, “Sect Leader Jiang, Wei Ying is your right-hand man. You value him a lot. All of us know this. However, on the other hand, it’s hard to tell whether or not he actually respects you. In any case, I’ve been a sect leader for so many years and I’ve never seen the servant of any sect dare be so arrogant, so proud. Have you heard what they say outside? Things like how during the Sunshot Campaign the victories of the YunmengJiang Sect were all because of Wei WuXian alone—what nonsense!”

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng’s face was already quite dark. Jin GuangShan shook his head, “In an event as important as the Flower Banquet, he dared throw a fit right in front of you, leaving however he pleased. He even dared say something like ‘I don’t care about the sect leader Jiang WanYin at all!’ Everyone who was there heard it with their own ears…”

Suddenly, an indifferent voice spoke up, “No.”

Jin GuangShan was in the middle of his fabrication. Hearing this, he paused in surprise, turning along with the crowd to see who it was.

Lan WangJi sat with his back straight, speaking in a tone of absolute tranquility, “I did not hear Wei Ying say this. I did not hear him express the slightest disrespect towards Sect Leader Jiang either.”

Lan WangJi rarely spoke when he was outside. Even when they debated cultivation techniques during Discussion Conferences, he only answered when others questioned or challenged him. With utmost concision, he overcame, without fault, the lengthy arguments of others. Apart from this, he almost never spoke up. And thus, when Jin GuangShan was interrupted by him, he experienced a far greater shock than annoyance. But after all, his fabrication was exposed right in front of so many. He felt a bit awkward.

The good thing was that, not long after he felt awkward, Jin GuangYao came to save the day, exclaiming, “Really? That day, Young Master Wei busted into Koi Tower with such force. He said too many things, one more shocking than the next. Perhaps he said a few things that were along those lines. I can’t remember them either.”

His memory could only be equal to Lan WangJi’s, if not better. As soon as he heard it, Nie MingJue knew that he was fibbing on purpose, frowning slightly.

Jin GuangShan followed the transition, “That’s right. Anyhow, his attitude has always been arrogant.”

One of the sect leaders added, “To be honest, I’ve wanted to say this since a long time ago. Although Wei WuXian did a few things during the Sunshot Campaign, there are many guest cultivators who did more than him. I’ve never seen anyone as full of themselves as him. Excuse my bluntness, but he’s the son of a servant. How could the son of a servant be so arrogant?”

He never believed at all what Jin Guangshan was saying, and he was only jealous because Wei Wuxian always overshadowed him and shouldn't have. Wei Wuxian only ever cared about showing off like he said and never took Jiang Cheng's feelings into account and cruelly ignored him for everyone else. Obviously Jiang Cheng wanted to stand up for Wei Wuxian like Mianmian and Lan Wangji, but he had no power (never mind that Lan Wangji and Mianmian had a lesser position in all of this and despite being mocked tried to be heard and keep Wei Wuxian from being blackened). What? Noooo, he's not at all buying into what Jin Guangshan is saying about his own first disciple he's always expressed faith in Wei Wuxian.

With him having brought up the ‘son of a servant’, naturally there’d be some who connected it to the ‘son of a prostitute’ standing in the hall. Jin GuangYao clearly noticed the unkind stares. Yet, his smile remained perfect, not at all faltering. The crowd went with the flow and voiced their complaints.

“In the beginning, Sect Leader Jin asked Wei Ying for the Tiger Seal with nothing but good intentions, worried that he wouldn’t be able to control it and lead to a disaster. He, however, used his own yardstick to measure another’s intents. Did he think that everyone is after his treasure? What a joke. In terms of treasures, is there any sect that doesn’t hold a few treasures?”

Ignoring the rioting voices behind him, Lan WangJi stood up as well and exited. After Lan XiChen understood what happened a few moments ago, hearing how the direction of their discussion worsened, he spoke up, “Everyone, she is gone already. Let us settle down.”

Now that ZeWu-Jun had spoken, of course the people had to give him some face. In Golden Pavilion, one after another, they began to denounce Wei WuXian and the Wen-dogs again. They all spoke with passionate hatred, letting their indiscriminate, irrefutable loathing dance in the air. Using the atmosphere, Jin GuangShan turned to Jiang Cheng, “He’s been plotting for a while to go to Burial Mound, hasn’t he? After all, with his skills, it wouldn’t be too hard to set up a sect of his own. And so, he used this as a chance to leave the Jiang Sect, intending to do whatever he pleases in the bright skies outside. You rebuilt the YunmengJiang Sect with so much work. He’s got a few controversial traits in him to begin with, and still he doesn’t restrain himself, stirring up so much trouble for you. He doesn’t care about you at all.”

Jiang Cheng pretended to stand his ground, “That probably isn’t that case. Wei WuXian has been like this ever since he was young. Even my father couldn’t do anything about him.”

Jin GuangShan, “Even FengMian-xiong couldn’t do anything about him, huh?” He chuckled a few times, “FengMian-xiong just favored him.”

Hearing the words ‘favored him’, the muscles beside the corners of Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched.

Jin GuangShan continued, “Sect Leader Jiang, you’re not like your father. It’s just been a couple of years since the reestablishment of the YunmengJiang Sect, precisely when you should be displaying your power. And he doesn’t even know to avoid suspicions. What would the Jiang Sect’s new disciples think if they saw him? Don’t tell me you’d let them see him as their role model and look down on you?”

He spoke one sentence after another, striking the iron while it was still hot. Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, “Sect Leader Jin, that’s enough. I’ll go to Burial Mound and deal with this.”

Jin GuangShan felt satisfied, speaking in a sincere tone, “That’s the spirit. Sect Leader Jiang, there are some things, some people that you shouldn’t put up with.”

After the gathering ended, all of the sect leaders felt that they received a terrific topic for conversation. They walked quickly as they discussed with all their might, their passionate hatred still burning strong.

No this is not Jin Guangshan taking advantage of Jiang Cheng's well known complexes over his dad and Wei Wuxian. He is not using the fact at all that Jiang Cheng hates that people flock to Wei Wuxian naturally to set off Jiang Cheng's complex about being seen as lesser than Wei Wuxian in anyway. Jiang Cheng was powerless after all to stand up for Wei Wuxian's reputation and help.

[amelee23]

Vintage Kiss, Nearly Missed | Park Minhyuk

Pairing: Female reader x Rocky (Park Minhyuk)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Warnings: None

Length: 2k words

Summary: MJ loves to mess with her by putting her in situations that don't fit her nature. She tried getting used to it, but this time around MJ hit the jackpot when it came to a dare that would change her relationship status with Rocky.

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Becoming friends with the members of Astro was the start of a tireless journey. She couldn't believe how many things came to fruition because of Myungjun's jokes - and considering his wacky mind, it wasn't a normal day if she didn't feel the rush of adrenaline at least 5 times. The stupider it was, the stronger the temptation to make it true; costume parties, comedy skits and competitions of all sorts. Life with them was always exciting, Myungjun made sure of it from the get go - as they were extremely different in nature, he had a knack for turning things in her life around. Although getting used to such fun was pretty heartwarming - it wasn't what suited her best. She came to love the thrill but calmness was her motto. And well, it ended with her getting a 'boyfriend' because of it. 

It happened through the mystery drink challenge - whoever got the most bad ones was to be punished by receiving a ridiculous dare from Myungjun. (As if the drinks weren’t enough of a punishment by themselves.) As much as she prayed to the angels above for her opponent, Moonbin, to be the one to grimace - the oyster taste hit her tongue and she knew she was done for. As for the loser, Myungjun made sure to hit her where it most hurt - he made her become a 'nurturing girlfriend' to one of the members of Astro for 3 days. (Originally it was a two weeks but she fortunately had amazing negotiation skills.) They were all staring at her expectantly so she would choose who she wanted to take care of - but it was as if Myungjun knew that she had taken a liking for a certain someone.

Minhyuk's eyes widened out of their orbits when he was chosen. He was good at cooking, independent and strong, so why feel the need to nurture him? She could have chosen anyone else, like Sanha for example, kid can't cook to save his own life-

He couldn't understand it no matter how much he thought about it - perhaps she chose the lesser evil, or she just wanted to hang out with him. Either way, he couldn't refuse the dare so he was just another one of Myungjun's victims. 

---

She couldn't pretend like she had made lunch boxes before - she really hasn't, and making them for Rocky was extremely embarrassing. The cute sausage octopi failed her, and she gave up without even trying on making anything fancy. She made a heartfelt steak (she could never do wrong with meat when it came to men) with some salad on the side. She also bought some snacks they could enjoy when they're together. The girlfriend act had to be perfect or else she would have to feel Myungjun's wrath. 

Minhyuk was, in one word, impressed. He didn't think she'd go through with the joke, less be hugged the moment he opened the door and given free home-made food. Myungjun made sure to spy properly and evaluate the merch and remind them they need to go on a cute date too.

"Date? That wasn't part of the conditions!" She suddenly snapped completely out of her calm state, her brain going in a frenzy. 

"It is now!" Myungjun rebutted with a laugh. Minhyuk was standing in between them, confusion written all over his face. 

"We can watch a movie?" He suggested, to have an easy getaway from what his hyung suddenly wanted. 

"No 'lets watch a movie and not actually pay attention to each other', yeah? It better be a real date, yeah? And it better be cute!!" Myungjun's tone increased in volume with every following question. 

"Got it, got it, sheesh." Minhyuk once again had to jump in to clear the waters, as things were getting a little too heated. "We'll go on a date… do you know how to roller skate?" 

Caught off guard, with Minhyuk looking straight into her eyes with such intensity, she furrowed her brow and thought back if her parents ever took her out to do such a thing. 

"I don't think so. Just ice skating, I guess."

"Great, then we'll go try it out together." A flash of something unknown to her occupied Minhyuk's eyes for a second. She had no idea what he was thinking - or where the idea even came from. Maybe it was in the attempt to save her from Myungjun, or he simply wanted to go roller skating and had no one to tag along with him.

In a nutshell, Minhyuk didn't understand why he was chosen and she didn't know why he was so willing to take her on a date. The answer was staring both of them straight in the face, but perhaps they had something more in common besides calmness - they were both thick headed. But they had no time to think about that as Myungjun was yelling at them to cuddle on the couch. The 'nurturing' part wasn't even there anymore. Not that the girlfriend part was - MJ was basically making two friends be awkwardly close to each other physically. Even if they had crushes on each other - thing which they both denied - they felt too cramped and forced to enjoy it. 

Evening came by eventually, after about 10 different incidents when they had to dodge each other and pull away as if burned because Myungjun was pulling pranks. But right when they saw the waters had calmed and they could sigh relief, Dongmin proved them wrong. The look on Minhyuk’s face hearing Dongmin ask “So are you guys gonna wear cute matching outfits tomorrow?” was of utter betrayal. Of course Myungjun loved the idea, and the unfair number of conditions to the losers punishment only kept increasing.

“What about those cute overalls you bought with me?” Moonbin suddenly asked her. “Since Minhyukie likes that type of stuff too, maybe you can both dress vintage? It would fit with roller skating, honestly.” she looked at Moonbin as if an Angel just descended on earth to save her. She ought to thank him later.

“That doesn't sound half bad.” Minhyuk commented, but Myungjun didn’t really look satisfied with Moonbin’s solution. Nevertheless, they just shut him up and proceeded with planning ahead some cute vintage outfits. They were excited about it, almost alike kids.

They said their goodbyes when dark came over the streets, and she headed home to put together the outfit that she promised Minhyuk she would wear. A slight palpitation took over her chest and she clenched the clothes close, as if she was a teenager all over again, even if this date wasn’t even real to begin with. Still, she knew she had to catch a blink of sleep if she didn’t want to be a zombie tomorrow, even if the emotions got the best of her with the moon up high.

Minhyuk had no fancy car to pick her up with, and no fancy facial expression either. Their greetings were very friendly and normal - but an unfamiliar awkwardness overtook them as they walked side by side to the skating rink in the city. Minhyuk indeed matched her blue jeans overalls with high waisted baggy blue pants - but he chose to wear a white shirt while she wore pink. They stole glances at each other the whole way -  as if to check if the situation they were in was even real. It very much was, but they only realized it when they had arrived and were getting their skates at the reception - the workers there were very much treating them like a couple. A wave of warmth crept up her face, but also a bit of paranoia; because Myungjun was always there to check on them if they were being lovey dovey, and now he wasn’t even there, but she felt the tingles of romance in her belly. Perhaps it was strictly because he wasn’t there that the feelings felt free to surface.

Minhyuk tried to act all knightley by letting her hold on to him as she stepped into the rink -  but he was the first one to lose balance. Trying to flex his years spent in ballet, he acted as if nothing happened and didn’t even try holding onto the railing like she was - perhaps he was trying to impress her. She, on the other hand, had no thoughts of impressing anyone. Her legs were wobbly and she didn’t seem to get along with being on so many wheels.

They were supposed to have a romantic date but eventually Minhyuk separated from her and she only noticed when she felt him whoosh by her - that he caught onto the trick of roller skating way before her and he was just showing off by that point. Even all of the other couples were staring at him.

“Are you gonna do a triple axel next?” She jokes, but Minhyuk just smiled like a kid in response.

“I’ll even do a quadra.” He boasted, a dimple showing on the right side of his face. Right as she was about to stop him - because she knew from the beginning it was a bad idea -  she saw him start skating faster so he could try and go into a turn. She braced for something that would end up in even a trip to a hospital, but thankfully the speed made him lose control and he just ended up slamming into the side of the rink he was heading towards. Slowly, along the railing, she headed towards him to check if he was okay, and saw he was cursing under his breath and holding his hand tightly.

“Sh*t, I hit my hand on the railing.” He mumbled, and she spotted the red spot he was talking about.

“That’s what you get!” She rebutted. “I don’t know what got into you.”

“I thought you liked people who do crazy weird things?” He asked, a childish curiosity in his eyes. His gaze was a lot more serious, though.

“Me? I like chill and calm, honestly. That’s why Myungjun steps on my tail so often. He can’t stand me being so passive and getting overly sentimental about my plants.” Minhyuk took in her words with pure thirst, a light suddenly coming on in the shine of his eyes.

“You get sentimental over flowers?” He asked, the smile he once wore reappearing on his lips. It was extremely charming, and one of the reasons she found herself often swooning after him. “That’s so cute.” As if the air got knocked out of her lungs, she couldn’t say a thing as Minhyuk approached her silently. She dared look up into his eyes and was met with a happiness that was hard to describe. They would have had the most movie-like romantic kiss, if Minhyuk didn’t once again lose balance on the skates when he leaned in to kiss her. She caught his torso and stabilized him, giggling with her entire heart. Softly grabbing onto his hand, she placed it on the railing next to them so they both be supported, and stole a quick kiss from his lips before dashing away to the exit of the rink.

“Let’s grab some shaved ice on the way home!” She told him from afar. “Both to eat and for your swollen hand.” Minhyuk shook his head but continued to smile, carefully following the railing to catch up to his now girlfriend. It was foolish of him to believe he needed to change anything about himself to be liked back by her. All that became apparent as her soft calming voice filled the ice cream shop they nestled at to enjoy each other’s company - her body was finally relaxed, her gaze filled with love and affection. From now on he knew to stick to his own ways around her, even if they were old fashioned - or he would be missing out.

[petri808]

Paid By the Heart

Bakudeku, A!Bakugou/O!quirkless Midoriya.  Growing up Midoriya was picked on and bullied, harassed by the other sexes. In desperation he turns to the only Alpha he knows, begging for help. They reach a deal for the little Omega to use the Alpha's scent to keep the other's at bay... but was that really a good idea? Intermingling their scents for years had a consequence that left them only one option.

The life of a quirkless person in their world was a sad one, but couple that with being a small Omega; double whammy. Ever since that fateful doctors visit informing his mother, he’d never have a quirk, Midoriya Izuku was shunned at school, even bullied for being a small, gangly nerd. He was easy pickings and there was nothing he could do about it.

By the time he’d hit middle school, life was a lonely existence for the young man. His solace was in books or chronicling the exploits of his favorite hero All Might. For outside of that little bubble, pain and frustration was the norm. If only he’d been born an Alpha or at least a Beta, maybe then he’d gain a small measure of respect, quirkless or not. But no, the universe decided, he was to be an Omega, the lowest of the ranks. Could things get any worse?

The answer was yes. When he wasn’t being bullied, he was being harassed. Horny teen Alpha’s really were a bane of his existence. This lot didn’t care who or what he was, only interested in the scent he gave off. At least going into heat was still a few years away, because that could lead to bigger problems.

Sometimes things got so bad in school, Midoriya would hide in teachers classes or the nurses room until finally one called his mother about it and she promptly put him on scent inhibitors. He’d been too embarrassed to tell her what was going on. At least now he gained a small reprieve, but that didn’t stop the bullying. What could he do?

Midoriya racked his brain to come up with a solution, including quitting school altogether. Not ideal, no, considering learning was one of the few things he actually did enjoy. That’s when he realized, if only he had someone to protect him. Like a bodyguard. But who would be willing to help a small omega? He didn’t have any real friends that were Alpha’s or at least bigger Omega’s. Though he did know one Alpha…

Nah, Bakugou would never willingly help him. Despite growing up around each other, once he was deemed quirkless, the boy shunned him completely. They were complete opposites in personality; him being shy and Bakugou a bastion of anger.

No one dared to mess with Bakugou Katsuki, least get an explosion to the face.

But desperate times, called for desperate measures and Midoriya was tired of the split lips, black eyes, or torn clothing. He didn’t want to be shoved and messed with anymore and the one Alpha, despite their rocky relationship, who didn’t pick on him physically, was Bakugou. So, one day after school and a particularly egregious fight, Midoriya waited at the foot of the staircase of their apartment building. He lived on one floor and the blonde Alpha lived on another. As he waited, thoughts of what he should say worked their way through this analytical mind.

The man wasn’t going to do this willingly, that was a given. Bakugou’s main focus in life has always been power. To get to the top someday as a hero like their idol All Might. Maybe that’s a potential answer, play to the man’s desire to protect. Frankly, Midoriya wasn’t sure if it would work, but he had an alternative. He’ll pay the man to be his bodyguard. Not that he could afford much, but if it took getting a part time job or something, it beat getting assaulted.

He stands up from the step the moment he smells the Alpha coming. ‘Breathe, Izuku, stay calm…’

“Outta my way nerd!”

Midoriya swallows hard, fidgeting with his fingers nervously. “K-Kacchan, I need to talk to you— ask you a-about something.”

“The answer’s no.” The man starts to push past the smaller male. But Midoriya grabs his arm to stop him. He whips around, grabbing the hand on his arm and throwing it off. “Do you have a death wish?!”

“Please, Kacchan!” Midoriya grovels with tears streaming down his cheeks. “I can’t take all the bullying anymore.”

Bakugou narrows his eyes. “Nothing I can help you with nerd, now get out of my way before I do hurt you.”

Midoriya drops to his knees with his head hung down. “Kacchan…” He looks up now with sullen eyes, sad and forlorn. “I-I—will you please protect me?!”

“Argh!!!” Bakugou growls. This stupid Omegas scent was filled with such desperation it was rattling his senses! “Deku what the fuck makes you think I’d help you?!”

His shoulders slump further. “I know you have no incentive to help me. I’m just a worthless quirkless Omega. But I’m desperate Kacchan. I have no one else to turn to and I’m willing to pay with whatever I can afford.”

“I don’t want your money idiot.”

“Please! I’ll do anything!”

Fuck!! No matter how much the little freckle-faced mouse irritated him, he could never lash out except with words. Bakugou knew exactly why the man was so desperate, saw him picked on by the other sexes. The fresh cut above the man’s eye and torn shirt was evidence enough, but laying a hand on Midoriya, he just couldn’t do it. Plus, he believed his mother would kill him.

“Ugh!” He groans and snaps. “Fine! But you are gonna pay somehow. You’ll cover my lunches at school for starters and… I don’t fucking know, but I’ll think of something. So, what the fuck am I supposed to do?”

“Oh, thank you Kacchan!” In his elation, Midoriya jumps onto and hugs the larger male, snuggling his face into the man’s neck.

A flush of heat colors Bakugou’s cheeks. “Oi! Oi!” He peels the man off. “Get the fuck off me nerd!” Too close! Too close! Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Midoriya’s earthy scent pleased his inner Alpha and in his happiness that scent exploded.

“S-Sorry, Sorry!” He bows and takes a step back. “Thank you, you saved my life Kacchan.”

“I still don’t know what the fuck you want.” He crosses his arms. “I ain’t just gonna beat people up for you unless I really need to.”

Midoriya’s eyes widen and he waves his hands, “no, I wouldn’t ask you to! I hope that just being around you, or,” his face heats up, “like your presence and scent on me will deter them. And eventually they’ll just stay away out of fear.”

Unlike a lot of the Alphas their age, Bakugou had no desire to engage in primally driven acts. In fact, those types pissed him off too. Just mindless idiots as far as he was concerned. He wasn’t about to let stupid mating instincts distract him from his goals. “So basically, a fake relationship?” His lack of giving a damn about such trivial matters made it easy for him not to care. “As long as I don’t gotta be affectionate and shit.”

“R-Right!” Just the thought of intimacy made Midoriya bloom red. “Yes, nothing like that. Just the illusion of being your property.”

“Ha! I kinda like the sound of that!” Bakugou finally smiles, though more like an evil smirk. “You’ll be my bitch from now on!”

And so that’s how it was for the next few years. Each morning before school, the Omega would swipe a bit of sweat off the Alpha and rubbed it on himself. With the man’s scent on him, all the other Alphas and bullies stayed clear. They never eluded to any relationship, barely even hung out together, but everyone was too afraid to question it. Midoriya quietly went through the school days and for the first time in a very long time, he could finally relax. Even though his life was still lonely.

Once they finished middle school, Bakugou moved on to the prestigious UA Academy for pro heroes in training, while Deku managed to get into their Support program. Turns out his passion for learning and analytics was a skill he could trade on. Since they’d be at the same school, they could keep up the same rouse. Not that Bakugou seemed to care. Though the trade off for his part of the deal had perks with the Omega still footing any request he made.

Things continued unabated for the first two years of high school and Bakugou didn’t pay attention to the subtle changes taking place. Midoriya still dutifully came for his scent every morning before class. The Omega continued to pay for his services. But he failed to notice a change in the Omega’s scent. Where once the smaller male reeked of sadness, now there were hints of elation. The man smiled brighter and even had a bounce to his step. Midoriya was blossoming in the Support program. He had friends to call his own and Bakugou couldn’t be more thrilled the guy wasn’t trying to hang around him anymore.

It wasn’t until the third year was halfway through when the changes became glaringly noticeable. Midoriya continued to pay, but gathering his scent had grown from sporadic to nonexistent. Perhaps he wasn’t in need of Bakugou’s help anymore? No one was bullying him, on the contrary, the Omega was a top student in his program who’d gained the respect of his peers.

Bakugou corners the man outside one day between the dorm buildings. “Oi, Deku, what’s the deal? You don’t need me anymore?” He refused to admit it bothered him to not be needed.

“What do you mean?”

“You keep paying me, but never come for my scent.”

“Oh… well, you see, now that I’ve found my place here, it’s, um, hurting my reputation that I smell like an Alpha. I still pay because I do appreciate everything you did for me Kaachan.”

“What the fuck? You getting all horny now, looking for action but nobody giving you that kind of attention?”

“What?! N-No!” He waves his hands desperate to wipe the statement away. “That’s not it, I’m not looking for that! I’m even on Heat blockers. It’s just, the Alpha’s they treat me differently. They’ll talk to me like they respect me but always at an arms distance and it’s frustrating. Even after a few months without your scent on me, they still keep a distance.”

It was driving Midoriya crazy! So, he started to question, what will happen when he does want to be courted by an Alpha?! What helped in his youth now backfired and the plans were blowing up in his face. The reputation of Bakugou having staked his claim years ago on the Omega would make finding a partner almost impossible unless he could find a way to distance himself. Who in their right mind would dare touch the Lord of Explosions chosen mate?!

“I hope once we graduate and go our separate ways, people will finally realize we’re not together.” Midoriya was sure that once the blonde settled into pro hero life, he’d start dating as well, and that’ll take the heat of his back.

“Tch, well I’m not a charity case, so stop paying me if you ain’t getting a benefit out of it. Guess that’s it.” Bakugou’s turns his back to the man and starts walking away. He tips two fingers, “see ya around nerd!”

Huh? Well that went easier than he’d expected it to. All this time avoiding the conversation only for Bakugou to have no real reaction. Guess this really was just a business transaction for the Alpha. Midoriya shrugs, so be it, and continues on his way.

Unfortunately, things weren’t all that it appeared to be for the Alpha. After walking away from the Omega, a dull pain centered in his chest making it a little hard to breathe. But not wanting to show weakness, Bakugou ignored it and continued to strut back to his dorm room. Perhaps he’d overexerted himself again in the gym.

It’s a pain that started a couple of months ago that came and went, that he equated as simply working too hard. His muscles are still adjusting to the heavy schoolwork on top of the skirmishes the students got pulled into. That had to be the answer, for what else could it be? But after a week of the pain not letting up, Bakugou finally relented and consulted the nurse.

“Well,” the nurse, Recovery Girl sits back on her stool. “Don’t know what to tell ya, cause they ain’t nothin physically wrong with you that I can find. But if you think it’s muscle related, ease up on your workouts and take magnesium supplements.”

“The fuck you sayin old hag?! I can’t stop exercising. My quirk demands a topnotch body!”

She shrugs her shoulders, used to the hotheaded Alpha by now. “Then just learn to live with the pain. It’s not uncommon from pro heroes to suffer from pain, especially those with strong quirks like you have. You’re kinda young, but with how hard you push yourself, it’s inevitable.”

“Argh!” Bakugou storms out of the room. Fucking useless old bat! Two months away from graduation and being told he’s already developing, what, an old person’s problem?! “Fucking hell!” This is bullshit!

He flies it out of the room so quickly, that when he rounds a corner in the hallway, runs smack into a body. “Get the fuck outta my way!!”

“Kacchan?! Oh my god, sorry I didn’t see you coming!”

The world stops cold. “Deku…” suddenly the pain in his chest lessens as the calming scent of the concerned Omega wraps around his body. Bakugou’s eyes flash wide. “Oh, fuck no!” Quick like a bolt of lightning, the Alpha races away leaving the shocked and confused Omega standing there alone calling after him. Bakugou grits his teeth as he beelines it back to his dorm room. ‘It’s just a coincidence!’

“What was that all about?” Midoriya mumbles under his breath. It was the first time he’s seen the Alpha look, scared? No way, the Omega dismisses the notion. Bakugou wasn’t afraid of anything. He must have just been surprised to see him.

He continues on to the lab where he’s close to finishing a new project. The Alpha, Shouto Todoroki, requested a better cooling material for his suit. The pro needed something that insulated the cold from his quirk for a longer lasting effect. That way Hellfire would also be more sustainable.

It was a major nod to the Omega considering the man was up and up against Bakugou in terms of power. Currently, they were the top two pro students and Alpha’s of UA. Plus, Todoroki was not only cute but the complete opposite of Bakugou in personality. He was always kind to the Omega. Not that anything was going on between them! But the minor attention was exactly what triggered him to back away from his old friend.

From that moment in the hallway on, every time Midoriya came into contact with Bakugou, the Alpha turned heel and avoided any interactions. He couldn’t lie that it didn’t hurt just a little. They’d never been the closest friends, but it was as if the blonde was angry with him and that bothered him because he couldn’t understand why? But he also wasn’t gutsy enough to question the man either. Did turning down his scent hurt Bakugou’s pride or ego? Frankly, that would not be surprising.

The day of their graduation was a whirlwind of activity. The stadium packed just like the Sport event; even a similar turn out. Family and friends were there to celebrate, pro’s and companies were there to recruit. First the Support class, then the General studies, and lastly the Heroes courses all went up and received their diplomas. After the ceremony, the students were sent to designated spots to meet with their families and friends first. From there they could venture around to see other people.

“Thanks mom,” Midoriya hugs the crying woman for the umpteenth time that afternoon.

“I’m just so proud of you son!”

A tap on his shoulder cuts into the tender moment. “Forgive me for intruding Mrs. Midoriya. My father would like to meet your son.”

The pair’s eyes widen as the Number One hero stood in front of them. He was such an imposing figure!

“N-Nice to meet you Mr. Endeavor!” Midoriya bows.

“My son tells me you were able to create a better suit for him.”

Midoriya looks to his friend then back to the man. “Yes, sir I did.”

“Good. Perhaps you’ll be very useful in the future.” Endeavor nods his head and simply walks away without another word.

“D-Did he just?!”

“My father would like me to bring you by the agency next week for an interview.”

“Oh, wow really?!”

“Yes,” Todoroki chuckles.

“I’ll leave you two to discuss things,” Mrs. Midoriya cuts in. “It was nice to meet you Todoroki.”

After the goodbyes, the two men continue discussing the interview. Things like what he should bring, how he should dress, and what time to arrive. Midoriya had assumed Endeavor contracted out support work, but it turns out they have in-house staff.

“There is one last thing I would like to discuss.” The Alpha takes hold of the Omegas hand. “You see I’ve grown quite fond of you,” he leans down, sniffing at the scent gland of the smaller males neck. “Your scent…” his voice grows soft like a purr, “I wish to court you properly Midoriya Izuku.”

“W-What?”

“WHAT!?!!”

The feral growl behind him causes Midoriya to flinch. Before he can register just what the hell was going on, he was pushed back and a second Alpha stood between him and Todoroki.

“K-Kacchan?!” He grabs the man’s arm. “Kacchan what are you doing?!”

But the larger male simply grabs hold of him and pushes him back again, all while staring down the other Alpha.

“This mouse is taken,” Bakugou growls low and narrows his eyes, challenging Todoroki.

Todoroki glares back unflinching. “You don’t care about him, only took his money for protection. That doesn’t make him yours Katsuki.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!”

“You don’t,” the man grins. “Three years I watched from a distance. How he’d sneak into the dorms in the morning, pay for your lunch in the cafeteria, and for what? We could smell you on him yet not once did you two ever hang out with each other.”

“S-So what! That doesn’t mean I don’t care about him! I took the protector role to fucking protect him!”

Todoroki scoffs, “I bided my time and once the daily visits ended, I started making my move. Not once did you ever stop us because you ran away from him! Stupid fool, how dare you decide to claim him now!”

Bakugou lowers his head just slightly, fists clench, and tiny explosions going off in his palms. “Fucking icyhot bastard. You don’t know what I’m feeling. Think I don’t know I fucked up when I shoulda faced the music sooner.” He stares straight up. “But I do know now, Deku’s mine! Hear me?! Mine!! And I am not fucking giving up my mate to you or any other bastard!”

The blonde pulls Midoriya forward, hands gripped to his arms. “Tell him Deku! Tell him you’re mine!”

“But am I? You’ve never shown any interest in me before Kacchan. Todoroki has helped me so much and now because of him, I’ll be interviewing for Endeavors support staff. Yes, your scent protected me from bullies, but I thought it was always just a business transaction.”

“N-no!” Bakugou staggers back clutching to his chest as the pain swiftly doubles. This can’t be happening! “You can’t pick him over me Deku!” The sting of rejection was worse than a villain breaking every bone in his body. He cries out and drops to the ground in a fetal position as the pain rips through his chest and knocks the wind out of him. “Fuck it hurts!” It was too excruciating, so much so, his body was slipping out of consciousness in response.

“Kacchan?!” Midoriya falls to his knees too and grabs the man, shaking him. “Kacchan, what’s wrong with you?!” He felt helpless as the man’s eyes rolled back in his head.

“Wow Katsuki… you really do love Midoriya.”

The Omega looks up at Todoroki. “How do you know that?!”

Todoroki points at Bakugou. “If an Alpha covets an Omega but is rebuffed, they are stricken with illness. It only happens when we truly love someone.”

“S-So if I turn you down, you’ll get sick too?!” Why is this whole love stuff so cruel?! This was not what he’d expected to happen! Tears gather in his eyes. “That wasn’t part of the plan. I-I just wanted to know what he really thought about me.”

“Fret not,” Todoroki smiles at him. “You’re cute, but I’m not in love with you. But now that you have your answer, my role is done. I’ll see you at the interview next week,” he winks and walks away to find his girlfriend.

“O-Okay, thank you Todoroki!” Midoriya turns back to the comatose man by his side and continues shaking him. “Kacchan! Please wake up! I’m here! I’m not going anywhere! Just wake up!”

A small crowd gathered around them, but he didn’t care, too concerned with Bakugou’s condition. Had he known an Alpha could suffer like this, he never would have attempted this little rouse. Todoroki was the one who suggested it, but neither of them could have known the blonde had fallen so deeply in love.

With the help of Bakugou’s teacher, Shota Aizawa and another staff member who came on the scene, they take the unconscious Alpha to the infirmary. They place him on one of the beds where Recover Girl checks him over. The man was out cold, but his vitals were steady.

Midoriya takes a seat by the bedside, clutching to his friends hand. It’s been an hour since they’d arrived and according to the nurse, it was now a waiting game. “Please,” the Omega squeezes the Alpha’s hand, “come back to me Kacchan…” He closes his eyes to rest them, laying his head against the man’s arm. He was so emotionally exhausted from the ordeal of the day, but he’s not moving until the man wakes up. Six years and never once he allowed himself to hope, until now.

“Mmmm,” Midoriya stirs at the feeling of fingers treading softly through his hair. “That feels so nice,” he purrs to the familiar scent of burnt sugar he’d come to know so well. It wrapped around, calming, calling the Omega out of his dream.  

Wait! Burnt sugar?! He pops up immediately, “Kacchan?!” Scrambling onto the bed and swaddling the Alpha. “I was so worried,” Midoriya buries his face in the man’s neck. “Why didn’t you just tell me?!” He sniffles.

Bakugou wraps his arms around the man, leaning his head against his and relishing in the contented tones exuding from the Omega’s scent. “I’m up now, so stop crying Deku.” He sighs, “and I didn’t tell you cause I’m an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot.”

“Yes,” he lifts Midoriya’s face, fixing his eyes in a stare, “I am. All because I didn’t want to admit I was weak for you.”

“So, you really mean it? That you want me to be your mate even though I’m quirkless?”

“Did I fucking stutter? But guess what Deku?”

“What?”

The Alpha kisses him roughly, nipping his lip before pulling away, “I’m claiming my final payment.”

“Oh!” Midoriya giggles, “what’s the payment?”

“You.”

~~~XX~~~

Just because they finally figured things out, didn’t mean either of them wanted to rush into a relationship. It was simply satisfying to know they wanted to be with each other. And for that reason, Midoriya continued to use heat blockers as a birth control, just like he’d done for the last several years.

The Omega respected the fact Bakugou focused on having a good career in the pro hero world. His ambitions to reach the top given a whole new incentive in order to provide for a family one day. But the Alpha was proud of his betrothed’s advances as well. After high school, the up and coming Support technician proved his worth for the Endeavor agency while he himself worked as a side kick to the head man himself.

Bakugou dreamed of one day owning his own agency, but until then, he pushed himself hard under the constant tutelage of the number one hero. They were both paid well at their jobs, and continued to maintain separate homes… for now. The blondes excuse being he would court Midoriya properly this time around.

Except when it came to sex. That part of their relationship was consummated two nights after graduation. In a protected knotting, they marked each other and staked their claims for all to see. Bakugou  had been pleasantly surprised to find the shy, docile man was quite rambunctious in bed. But contrary to popular belief, it was closer to a vanilla encounter.

Both of them had been too excited and also nervous being a first time for either of them. Having been Midoriya’s protector for so long, the Alpha was almost terrified of hurting the smaller Omega and it took gentle coaxing to allay those fears. But in the end they’d been left satisfied and fully affirmed in their decision to spend the rest of their lives together.

Once the workload kicked in, any free time they had were spent together at one or the others apartment. Bakugou would take Midoriya out on dates, to dinners, movies, or anywhere the man fancied though it was rarely a lavish affair. The Omega preferred the quieter moments such as lounging on the couch and cuddling during a movie.

This went on for two years as the Alpha slowly built up a savings. He knew it would be several years before he could buy a bigger house, but soon enough he was ready to afford a 2 bedroom apartment in a nice area of town. So, he made up an excuse to stay with Midoriya while he moved into the new place, furnished, and prepared it to accept a mate.

“Perfect!” The blonde stands with his hands on his hips admiring his handiwork. Everything his Omega will need was purchased and set up in what will be their new nest. He’d spared no expense on a top of the line, plush, memory foam bedding. Extra blankets, pillows, you name it, Bakugou bought it. And last but not least, he scented all the fabrics with his musk. All that remained was surprising Midoriya.

He timed the reveal for the last week of the month, explaining his apartment was ready again and he wanted Midoriya to see the changes.

“Where are we going? This isn’t the direction of your place.”

“It’s the direction to my new place.”

“Kacchan, you moved apartments without telling me?”

He kisses the back of the Omegas hand, “well a surprise isn’t a surprise if I told you about it.”

When the elevator opens, Bakugou leads him to one of the apartments. He opens the door and gestures for the man to enter. “Welcome to your new home Izuku.”

“Huh? My, but I have an apartment…” the Omega gasps when he turns and finds his Alpha on one knee. “K-Kacchan,” his hands fly up in shock and face lights up.

“It’s time to officially cash in my payment chip,” the blonde grins, holding up a ring. “Izuku Midoriya, will you be my life mate?”

Moisture instantly builds in the Omegas eyes, “yes! Yes!” His hands shaky as the Alpha slips the ring onto his finger.

Bakugou gets to his feet and kisses the man slow and steady. He takes Midoriya’s hand. “There’s one thing I really wanna show you, then we’ll go pack up your apartment.”

“Oh my goodness!” The omega squeals at the site of his beautiful new nest and throws himself onto his Alpha, hugging and kissing the man. “Kacchan, you spoil me!”

“You deserve to be spoiled,” he smiles back. “Test it out.”

Midoriya dives onto the bed and bundles the blankets to his nose. It smelled like Bakugou! He closes his eyes with a moan, taking it all in and burying his face into the fabric. The Alpha laughs at how childlike his mate was behaving, but that was Midoriya for you. Just a ray of sunshine who wore his emotions on his sleeve.

While the Omega relishes in his new surroundings, Bakugou just stands back in admiration. To the outside world the pro Alpha hero was a temperamental hothead who took shit from no one. But those in the know, knew Midoriya had him wrapped around his finger.

The Omega never took advantage or made it feel like an obligation. Bakugou just came to realize he could be himself with the man. No keeping secrets or holding back. Their long history delving back almost two decades meant Midoriya knew him well and he Midoriya. This little mouse could calm him down without his Omega pheromones. But boy does those scents drive him wild too!

Just picturing his freckle faced cherub cuddled in his arms with a child between them sent a delectable shiver racing straight to his groin. Bakugou chuckles in his head, probably why the man was smart enough to stay on the birth control, because he knew without it they’d have already started a family before they were ready.

“Join me— Kacchan!” Hands reach out, beckoning him to the bed.

The Alpha grins and plops down close, pulling the Omega to him. He kisses Midoriya’s forehead. “I take it you’re happy?”

“Of course!” The man nestles deeper into his Alphas arms, resting his head against his chest. “But I’d be happy anywhere as long as I have you with me.”

Bakugou relishes in the euphoric scent his mate was giving off. It made his inner Alpha preen with pride. “Never in my life have I wanted a family more than I do in this moment. And I don’t care if they have quirks, are quirkless, as long as they’re healthy, and they’re ours.”

“Mmm, our own family…” child Midoriya’s dreams could never have predicted the life he ended up with. “Sometimes I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

“Did I ever tell you thank you for pulling that stunt at graduation?”

Midoriya sits up, hesitant, his scent immediately registering anxiety. “No.” Why is he bringing that up now?

But Bakugou counters with calming Alpha pheromones as he pulls his mate back into his arms. “I still can’t stand the smug bastard, but I’m glad icyhot helped you help me get outta my own head or I wouldn’t have this life.”

“You had me so panicked Kacchan! I thought I’d killed you or something.”

“Pfft, I’m tougher then that.” He kisses Midoriya’s forehead, sweeping his thumb lovingly over and caressing the Omega’s cheek with a grin, “but I think in the end I really got the better part of the deal.”

[springfieldblues]

my long ass review for S32E03 Now Museum, Now You Don’t

warning: LONG because i rambled about history more than i thought i would

id been looking forward to this one because i like art history, especially after seeing how they tried their best to stick to historical accuracy in the previous episode I, Carumbus. this time however….they didnt try that hard. i dont know why i thought theyd go through that sort of trouble again LMAO

but its okay, i dont really expect the simpsons to be the paragon of historical accuracy or anything. especially in anthology episodes told through a particular character's lens (in this case, lisa, whos already feverish so whatever)

first i just wanna say that this is, i guess, less of a review and more of an accidental list of history fun facts. so im just gonna get my general thoughts out of the way first.

the episode was fun! to me at least haha. i mean it got me to think and do a lot of research on my own so that must count for something. besides a couple of really weird ones, the jokes were good. anthology episodes tend to be….not that good but i thought this one was one of the better ones so far. idk.

anyway on to lisanardo da vinky its the renaissance! jesus christ the italian accents in the beginning of this segment were annoying as hell but i also feel like that was the joke lmao. ill be real i kind of tuned out for a second there when grampa started rambling so idk what he said.

i told myself i wouldnt get nitpicky with historical accuracy if the jokes were funny (final edit: so that was a lie) but this meh bit with the pizza guys and mascots was really not worth ignoring the fact that its impossible for italy to have any tomato-based food in the 15th century (tomatoes were brought to europe from the americas in the 16th century, and pizza as we know it today—flatbread, cheese, tomato—originated in the late 18th century)

oh this next part was kind of legit tho. lisanardo, like the real leonardo, became andrea del verrochio's apprentice at his workshop. i loved this next bit:

"Whoever paints the sweetest cherub will have the honor of having MY name signed on their work. That's what great artists do!"

SO YEAH as it turns out, lisanardo painted the sweetest cherubs. the painting here is called The Baptism of Christ, and the real leonardo assisted verrochio in finishing it. specifically, he painted the cherubs in the corner.

this causes verrochio to quit and go someplace with less talented people: a music school (yes, verrochio did quit painting after getting owned by young leo and his mad angel painting skills. he never did anything with music tho, he was more of a sculptor)

alongside lisanardo, in mr largo-verrochio's workshop we have barticelli (botticelli bart), dolphatello (donatello dolph), ralphael (raphael...ralph) and mediocrito (no one that i know of. sorry milhouse) (and kearney i guess but they dont refer to him by name). botticelli and donatello are said to have also been apprentices at verrochio's workshop, but raphael came a couple of decades later so he couldnt have been there. and donatello was too old so that claim is a bit questionable. but anyway

it IS true that leonardo's peers envied him, to the point where he was anonymously and purposefully accused of being gay (a major crime punishable by death in 15th century florence) while he was still working at verrochio's workshop

we are then treated by what im pretty sure is the fourth time the show has used 'at seventeen' by janis ian, this time sung by a dejected lisanardo (man they really do keep making yeardley sing these days huh) who only wishes to be appreciated and not envied.

"I'll show them all! I'll show them all in a secret diary that no one will decipher for 400 years!"

some of lisanardo's future inventions. who wouldve known

so after barticelli, for some reason (revenge??? or something?? what was his plan here idgi) steals lisanardo's diaries full of blueprints of her inventions and takes them to mr burns who i have to assume is pope alexander VI here, they decide to use her inventions for war.

"With these, we can kill the most evil people in the world!! ....Slightly different Christians."

leo actually did this of his own accord. im surprised this is what they decided to do with lisanardo instead of talking about leo's love of nature and vegetarianism (not a single mention of that in this episode? come on...) then again, trying to do good only to end up indirectly making things worse is a very standard lisa storyline. i guess they didnt want to miss the chance to have evil pope burns (very fitting, especially for that era since they were all about money and controlling the people)

so lisanardo decides to leave for france, unlike the real leonardo who was more or less persuaded by his ultimate fanboy king francis I to move to france.

"Lisanardo, I have many questions. Why are you hitting yourself? A nerd says 'what'? And how is it possible that I am rubber and you are glue? Et cetera, et cetera."

that line may seem a little random, like hes just nelson saying nelson things (and i mean, obviously he is) but the real francis also "had an unquenchable thirst for learning, and Leonardo was the world’s best source of experimental knowledge. He could teach the king about almost any subject there was to know, from how the eye works to why the moon shines." so yeah, he did have many questions and lisanardo, finally being appreciated for her intellect, was happy to answer them all. its very interesting how lisa assigned this role to nelson in her retelling of da vinci’s life :^)

and so she lived the rest of her days in france, nat king cole's 'mona lisa' plays because duh, and they make a da vinci code reference because duh. and the segment ends. and not a single time did they show the actual mona lisa painting. the fuck?

(ngl i was fully expecting bart to say 'leonardo da vinky' for a second here)

so this next segment is about french impressionist painters, most likely the batignolles group, a name adopted by the early representatives of impressionism. its much more vague than the lisanardo segment since no one here is referred to by name (except moe, more on him in a sec) but i dont feel like it really matters in this case. bart is prrrrooobably claude monet but its hard to say, this segment is kind of a mish-mash of a lot of things. also i gotta say i really liked how lisa introduced the story to bart with an 'if you hate the formal study of art' and not 'if you hate art' because thats exactly my headcanon. i LOVE the concept of artist bart and whenever its referenced it just makes perfect sense to me.

anyway the segment opens in 1863 at the école des beaux-arts (back then it was actually known as the académie des beaux-arts), preserver of traditional french art styles. skinner reviews his students’ paintings one by one. praises the plain, unimaginative paintings depicting your typical european countryside landscapes. very run-of-the-mill (haha get it...cuz theres….a windmill) (although the real académie didnt approve of such basic stuff, they wanted artists to draw epic historical and mythological scenes) then he gets to barts painting and he gives him an F- because the painting made him think.

(the paintings in this scene arent real famous paintings as far as i know but they are inspired by real paintings enough to get the point across)

in comes barney dressed as bacchus as a model for the students to sketch, which i just loved:

barney: “You prefer robe open or robe off?” skinner: “Just cover your privates with this walnut shell.” barney: “Whoa!!! So roomy!”

skinner gasps in horror at bart’s sketch, which “looks nothing like him” and bart explains that “it shouldn’t; we’re making the art that we feel because we can’t compete with a camera.” damn, you go bart. take that, realism. draw what you feel!!

(also no, you didnt need to hold still for 17 hours for a daguerreotype. 30 min tops.)

nelson haw-haw of the week: FOIE-gras!

so here they are at the moulin rouge (“enjoy it before baz luhrmann ruins it” hey shut up. i love that movie), which wouldnt be built for another 26 years, but it is the most widely known gathering place for bohemians in the public consciousness so i can understand why they went with the moulin. nelson delivers this anachronistic line:

“This époque keeps getting beller and beller!”

which alludes to la belle époque, the golden age of france usually dated from 1880 to 1914. made me snort so ill let that slide

and heres moe! as henri de toulouse-lautrec, who was actually born a year after the year this segment is set in. yo moe szyslak he was just 1

toulouse-moetrec introduces himself as the chronicler of the demimonde (not an actual job). an iconic figure associated with the moulin rouge (largely due to his affinity for alcohol and prostitutes), toulouse-lautrec was also a painter, having illustrated a series of posters for the moulin himself. he simply had to be in this segment, anachronisms be damned, just because they decided to include the moulin. cant have one without the other.

and yes he did have a walking cane where he kept his liquor.

i love how everyone drinks absinthe in this place. theyre bohemians what else would they drink

toulouse-moetrec points out that barts paintings are the greatest thing hes ever seen (and hes seen like five things!) and that hes a genius. milhouse realizes that they should stop doing what the teacher says and use their own minds to instead...start doing what bart says lmao. to the easels!

next we have skinner hyping up chalmers about the art his students made for the salon de paris, an art exhibition that the emperor of france will attend. he assures him that none of these paintings will encourage debate, provoke thought or be out of place at a dentist’s office. when they unveil the art, theyre both SHOCKED at how scandalous the paintings actually are.

this reaction was kind of accurate. impressionism was severely rejected at the salon de paris, due to paintings not looking finished enough to them, they thought they were ugly and vulgar for depicting nudity in a contemporary setting (historical and mythological nudity was fine). these impressionist paintings were sent to the salon de refusés, which is. yeah. the place where they sent the rejects. the salon de refusés does not make an appearance but this scene makes a reference to it when the artists get expelled from the royal salon. also:

“What about our student loans?” “Oh they’ll be refunded. We are not barbarians, I mean, come on.”

(god if only)

so the painters are down because they want the emperor to actually see their paintings. toulouse-moetrec pipes in once again with an idea.

“There is one thing the emperor loves more than anything.” “France?” “No, he hates France.”

apparently the emperor really loves cheese, which makes sense since its napoleon III (who loved cheese) and homer (who loves cheese.) so the painters roll into the salon inside a giant wheel of cheese (obviously.) as lenny said, “Eh, you know French cheese. Very runny.” napoleon III chases after the wheel into a room, where the wheel falls apart after getting chomped on by the emperor. now that they got his attention, the painters proudly show the emperor their impressionist art, which he couldnt be more indifferent about because he just wants to eat his cheese dammit, and he awards them with the royal medallion just to kind of get them out of his way. skinner immediately starts kissing ass (as he does) until marge’s like ‘hey wait a minute. you expelled these students from the royal salon’ and an executioner immediately starts ominously measuring skinners neck.

“Uh, sir...is your tongue sticking out because you’re dead or because you’re mad at me?”

and thats the end of that lmao (gore in this episode, gore in the last episode, and next week we’re getting gore too cuz its THOH, what the hell is goin on)

we get a short intermission with maggie, who wants a story for her too! lisa tells her that renaissance artists loved to put babies in their paintings, especially baby angels.

here she is showing her The Triumph Of Galatea by raphael:

King David Playing The Harp by peter paul reubens:

and a very simplified version of pretty much any depiction of hell by hyeronimus bosch lmao:

not much else to say about this one, really. but i really liked that sky!

the last segment is about frida kahlo and diego rivera. or as bart puts it ‘the one about a fat guy whos wife is too good for him.’ i was REALLY looking forward to this one because i love frida and i thought itd be a cool opportunity for animators to go bonkers and do really cool shit with her art as inspiration…..but the segment is not about frida, its about diego and his selling out to capitalism. and its also yet another story with homer and marge drama. no funky cool animation here. sigh i guess i’ll take it

the story begins in 1929 at la casa azul, frida’s home (now museum dedicated to her life and work.) frida and diego are getting married. this courtyard definitely did not look this way yet back in 1929. also theres something very cringy yet funny about lovejoy saying spanish words the way he does, i honestly cant decide how i feel about that one

the writers know theyre being cringy with their gringoness so they go along with it.

moe: “Spanish for ‘best wishes’!” mel: “Spanish for ‘congratulations’!” bumblebee man: “Spanish for ‘muy bueno’!”

OH YEAH BUMBLEBEE MAN this is his new voice actor, eric lopez! hes not mexican but its still great to finally have a latino actor voicing a latino character and hes very excited to be part of the show so i hope to hear more of him!! im rooting for him

el barto/zorro makes an appearance which i am very confused about. he has jack shit to do with frida and diego and mexico in the 20s-30s. el zorro was set in the spanish california of the early 19th century. their use of the original theme song makes me think they just wanted to flex their disney privileges tbh

lets not talk about that that whole scene was bad

anyway diego announces he and frida are going to new york, without even asking her first. frida is obviously pissed.

“Don’t worry, as a woman, you’ll be treated with much more respect in America.”

so in new york, diego is having a bit of a business meeting with mr burns as one of the members of the rockefellers, who is commissioning him to draw a mural for the rockefeller center. its kinda funny how he refers to him and frida as socialists even though they were very much communists lmao its okay you can say it. ok so far, but then frida says ‘yes, we hate the capitalists! right now, a young socialist is being born who will take them down! mr. bernie sanders. i hope hes quick about it’ and that was a simple enough joke and couldve been left at that but then its immediately followed by this weird as fuck family guy-esque cutaway gag to bernie as a baby:

“Getting a cootie shot should not cost your lunch money. And if you don’t listen to me, listen to the Bernie Babies! What? Everybody’s got goons.” *larger babies start beating up this other baby* “I disavow that, and welcome it.”

this confused me so much that i had to ask one of my american friends to help me understand, but even she was like ‘uhhh yeah thats a weird joke,’ especially now that hes been out of the race for months (then again these episodes take almost a year to produce. i guess they couldnt be bothered to replace it with something more relevant.) whatever that was weird and confusing and unfunny moving on

frida is pretty irked that diego is going through with this deal. after all, it goes against everything they believe in. im not sure how the real frida felt about diego doing the mural, but she did feel a bit of rage during her visit to the united states, especially the obvious disparity between rich and poor. she hated having to interact with capitalists and found americans very boring. in this segment, frida seems to be acting more like the american communist party, which diego got kicked out of for accepting commissions from wealthy patrons. in any case, frida is pretty upset about this whole thing.

and finally we get the first and only kind of surreal frida moment. kinda. maybe. its more cartoonish than anything but im desperate ok

interesting how they felt like they had to add a “don’t smoke” in big letters after showing patty and selma flying away on their giant cigarettes. i wonder if this is something theyre making them do now? i remember hearing something about them toning down patty and selma’s smoking

diego comes home to frida, drunk as hell, followed by the marx brothers. i cant believe they didnt make a marxism joke come on it was RIGHT THERE. THE MARX BROTHERS. KARL MARX. COME ON

frida paints her feelings.

this makes diego realize that frida is a genius and he is not half the artist she is. he proclaims he will now show his awe of her by sleeping with other women, starting “an hour ago.” to which frida replies, “and i will start sleeping with other women, starting two hours ago.” yes this was pretty much their relationship. though im just wondering how the hell did diego not know frida was this kind of artist until now? i know homers an idiot but jeez. art was how frida and diego met, diego knew from the get-go that frida was an incredible artist. i guess the fame got to his head or something. again, homer just being stupid.

“well enough already, while the art is still deco, okay?”

its time for the mural diego painted, Man At The Crossroads, to be unveiled:

rockefeller examines it. good and great so far, and then...uh oh

“Who’s that fellow…? With the beard, and the bolshevik smile…” “That’s the founder of Soviet Russia, Lenin!”

“B-b-but he’s a communist!” “Oh he just attended a couple of meetings.”

rockefeller will not have this communist in the temple to capitalism that is the rockefeller center, so he orders diego to paint over it. diego stands his ground and refuses. despite rockefeller’s threats, diego says that theres only one person he wants to be proud of him no matter what and in true homer & marge fashion, frida is touched by this. they happily leave the rockefeller center.

now, the real story of Man At The Crossroads and the rockefeller center was actually not that different. as soon as the rockefellers found out diego had snuck in a portrait of lenin into the mural, they ordered him to paint over it, to which he refused. diego even offered to include abraham lincoln and even american abolitionists in the mural as a compromise, but the rockefellers simply did not want any references to communism whatsoever. they did not complain about the hammer and sickle, though. yes, they did know diego was a communist and hired him anyway. what did they expect? lmao. diego said:

"Rather than mutilate the conception [of the mural], I shall prefer the physical destruction of the conception in its entirety, but preserving, at least, its integrity."

so they decided to destroy the mural before it was even finished and they never talked to each other again.

diego then repainted the mural at the palacio de bellas artes back in mexico, this time known as Man, Controller of the Universe. this new version included even more communist leaders and a depiction of john d. rockefeller jr. drinking at a nightclub, right underneath a depiction of syphilis bacteria. cue nelson haw-haw:

this was the version they used in the episode also, since the original was, well, never finished and also destroyed. only a black and white photograph of it exists, taken by diego before it was destroyed so he could remake it.

right so, homer!diego then pulls a Barthood and finishes the episode with a large mural summarizing the entire episode. he says some rick and morty thing i didnt get because i dont watch the show idk idc

the end

ALRIGHT NOW ITS TIME FOR THE STORY OF VINCENT VAN MOE

[somedayonbroadway]

Oooo Im interested in your Star Wars newsies AU

Ooooooookay so this is gonna be interesting. I will be basing this particular AU off of the original trilogy (the best one by far. Nothing will ever beat it) though if you’d like to see the prequels or any other Star Wars movie done, or a different Star Wars story that I start making up on the spot, just let me know!

This is also going to be very similar to the storyline of each and every character. So I’m only going to do the three main characters, but if you’d like to hear about more, just let me know!

Star Wars AU

Characters

Racetrack Higgins — Luke Skywalker

Katherine Plumber — Leia Organa

Jack Kelly — Han Solo

Crutchie Morris — Chewbacca

Warden Snyder — Emperor Palpatine

Joseph Pulitzer — Darth Vader

Medda Larkin — Obi Wan Kenobi

Todd Kloppman — Yoda

Spot Conlon — Lando Calrission

Obadiah Wiesel — Jabba The Hutt

Racetrack Higgins

Anthony Higgins lived his life as a farmer on Tatooine.  

He lives on this hot, desert planet with his aunt and uncle, who constantly try to convince him that everything he’d ever need is right there on Tatooine.

Anthony does not believe them.

Growing up fascinated by any kind of ship he can get his grip on, he acquires the nickname “Racer” from his friends and is named an excellent pilot. He wants to explore the galaxy, but on the insistence of his uncle is forced to stay at the farm on account of the dangers that would come if he left.

Everyone was terrified of the Empire.

Race wanted to make a difference.

Growing up, Race had always been told that his parents had been good people. His father had died as a pilot during the clone wars and his mother had died getting him to safety.

Race never had a reason not to believe them.

He lives a relatively normal life on the farm on Tatooine, though he longs for so much more.

When Race was born, he was secretly given to his aunt and uncle by a woman he believed to be named Medda Larkin who lives in the desert land away.

This woman looks out for him, against his uncle's wishes, though, upon asking him why the old man has such a quarrel with Medda, only to be left without an answer.

Frustrated by his friends following their dreams and leaving the desert planet, Race finds himself staring into the sunset daily, wishing he could fly past it.

And one day, he gets his chance.

After inspecting new droids his uncle purchases, he finds a message of a beautiful girl begging for help from a Medactrine Larkin (I don’t know. It felt right).

Wandering off, Race goes to investigate, asking Medda Larkin if she was related to this mysterious person after being attacked by Sandpeople who knock him out and nearly kill him.

With the droids, M7-TN and BK-03, Race discovers that Medda is Medactrine and was once a Jedi Knight, one that fought side by side with Race’s father, whom she trained in the ways of The Force.

Though he at first declines Medda’s offer to travel with her to help the woman in the message, a Princess Katherine Plumber, after he tries to return to his farm, he finds it destroyed, the bodies of his aunt and uncle carelessly laid in front of the door to his home.

So he goes.

This embarks Racer on the path to him truly becoming The Chosen One.

Upon running from the people who murdered his family, Medda informs him that they have to secure travel off of the planet

That’s when Race meets Jack Kelly.

Race and Jack weren’t immediately best friends, but Jack wanted to protect him. Race was never entirely sure of why.

The Force is strong with Race, even though he never knew it.

Medda begins to train him in the ways of the force.

Race is forced to watch his mentor get struck down right in front of him and while he’d only known the truth for a few days about Medactrine’s true identity, he felt as though he owed his life to her.

Because she saved him countless times over and he didn’t even know.

Racer joins the rebellion after Medda dies, hearing her voice in his head, clear as day, telling him to run.

He is the pilot that blows up the Death Star whilst the majority of all others who tried died around him in their TIE Fighters.

Medda is guiding him the whole time. He uses The Force.

Race has the piloting skills of his father.

Race travels to a galaxy that many believe to be deserted to be trained by another Jedi Master by the name of Klopp.

He trains for a long time, becoming an unofficial Padawan and learning the ways of the Jedi who are nearly extinct.

He nearly gets killed by a yeti

He gets his hand cut off by the very man the whole galaxy fears.

He is told one day that he is the galaxy’s last hope

Jack Kelly

Jack grew up an orphan

When he was young, his parents were killed by the Empire and he was kidnapped by a local gang and made a part of it, a slave to it.

He grew up in a life of crime. He’d never asked for it.

After escaping that gang, leaving someone he loved dearly behind, Kelly, he runs off and joins the Imperial Navy as a flight cadet, naming himself Jack Kelly in honor of the girl who helped him escape.

After years of service, Jack wants a way out, a way to get away from this life only to be tricked and thrown into a monster’s den by con men who are infiltrating the navy in search of a lot of money.

It is in this monster’s den that he meets a creature with fangs, horns and golden skin with one leg. His name is Charbeddon. Jack calls him Crutchie.

Eventually, after escaping the navy and teaming up with the group of cons and thieves, Jack ends up doing the Kessel run in twelve parsecs in a ship that he nearly won in a game of cards, The Millennium Falcon.

He makes it clear that he’s an excellent pilot. Well, as long as he has his lucky dice with him. They were the first thing he ever stole.

After being betrayed by the small gang, Jack finds that he’s better of when it’s just him and Crutchie

Though he goes back to win the Millennium Falcon off of the man who cheated him at cards, one Mr. Spot Conlon, who is forced to put his money where his mouth is when Jack wins and claims his ship as his own.

After this, Jack and Crutchie leave for a small planet called Tatooine to find a crime lord that had been mentioned to him once who is putting together a big job

Long story short, Jack ends up owing this crime lord a big debt, ending up with a price on his head that sends just about every bounty hunter in the system out looking for him.

Jack meets Race and immediately knows that he wants to protect the kid, though he does not truly understand why at first

Jack Kelly is named the best smuggler in the galaxy at a very young age.

After escaping Tatooine after promising the crime lord he would pay him back within the month, Jack finds himself on a journey that changed him for good.

He saves a Princess, expecting a reward.

He didn’t expect to fall in love

Though he is hesitant to join the rebellion at first, his overwhelming urge to protect Racer like no one protected him growing up takes over and he flies after the kid right before the Death Star is blown up, saving him from being shot down.

Jack and the Princess, Katherine, get off to a rocky start until they finally admit they have feelings for each other

Jack is eventually captured, along with Katherine and their droids, by the empire

Jack is tortured for information; the location of Anthony Higgins, though during the first session of the shock torture, he isn’t even asked any questions.

Eventually, Jack is told he will be the test subject for a trap they were setting for Race. Jack had no hope of escape.

As he’s being led to the trap, Katherine admits that she loves him to which Jack can only respond that he knows

He’s frozen in Carbonite and shipped away to the crime lord that put the price on his head, being fixed as a permanent decoration in old Weasels hide out.

Katherine Plumber

After being given up by her mother, Katherine is adopted by a Senator the Queen of Alderaan

She grows up in a political setting, learning day in and day out about the Galactic Empire.

She vows to be a part of taking it down

She is the reason that Racer joins the rebellion in the first place.

After her ship gets infiltrated, the young princess finds a droid and records a desperate massage for someone her father spoke of often and trusted above anyone else. She asks Madactrine Larkin for help. She’s their only hope.

Katherine had a team of people find a weakness in the Death Star, something they could use to destroy it. She sends the plans with the droid BK-03

And then Katherine is captured by Darth Vader, the man most feared in the galaxy.

Even as she is defiant and strong in her ways, when the evil man aims a planet killer at her home, she caves and reveals what she’d done only for her home planet to be blown up anyway

She is then held prisoner, believing she will be executed soon

Until she’s rescued by a kind boy and a much too devilishly handsome young man who drives her crazy.

Katherine is much more than just a Princess. She’s a senator and eventually, a general

She’s a natural born leader.

Just like her mothers, biological and adoptive

Katherine finds herself often being treated like a damsel in distress, when in reality, she’s tough enough to handle herself.

After she’s captured once again by the Empire and the man she thought he hated but turned out to love was turned into a statue and sold away, she is the one who goes out to save him

Maybe they both get captured immediately, but at least she got that far

She is made a new slave for Weasel even as a newly blind Jack is trying to beg Weasel to leave her alone, that he’d pay him back in full and even more but he is taken away and finds Crutchie waiting for him in the dungeon.

Katherine is forced to wear demeaning clothing and held by a chain around her neck like Weasel's new pet.

Even after Race tries to save them, he gets captured as well. He is fed to the monster they have underneath them only to kill the thing and be taken prisoner like Jack and Katherine has to watch the whole thing.

She is forced to watch while the only friends she has are taken out on Tatooine to be eaten alive by a giant man eating plant

This is where Race gets the upper hand and Katherine is given the opportunity to finally kill Weasel and escape with Jack and Race.

She is very sneaky and very quick and even when Jack tries to protect her, she ends up saving his skin just as much

Katherine Plumber is strong with the force, though she believes Race, her brother, must be the Jedi of the family

She finds out all on her own, through accidental Force Searching that Darth Vader was the Jedi Knight Joseph Pulitzer, who was also her father as well as Race’s.

Katherine is honestly a badass.

Let me know if you guys want to see any scenes from this one!

For more Mood Boards and AUs, click here!

[seasmonster]

Same Ring ➳ Barbara Gordon x Reader

Summary: You come home on a normal day with something special to ask your girlfriend.

Words: 1.1k

Request: @carolinesbookworld​ asked: 19. “Not to toot my own horn or anything, but the dog loves me more.” 

Originally posted: 7/7/20 on @beskarjedi​

Your face broke into a smile as you entered your apartment. It often did; your home, and the two amazing creatures that resided in it with you, made you happier than you could ever have imagined yourself becoming. Today, though — today was special. As you called out a “honey, I’m home!” you felt your stomach flutter with butterflies.

You placed your bag on the rack by the door and fished out the bone you’d gotten for your German Shepherd puppy, Bandit. Taking a second to check your face in the mirror — you did have a half-healed cut on your lip, but there wasn’t much to be done about that — and patting the pocket of your jacket, you straightened yourself and made your way to Barbara’s office.

“Hi, baby,” you greeted as your came up behind her, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek.

“Welcome home, sweetheart,” she answered, twisting in her chair to look at you. “How was your day?”

“Incredibly boring,” you sighed. “Better now, though.” You grinned, placing a series of kisses on her face.

“You’re cheesy.”

“You’re cute when you blush.”

“Are you gonna take a nap before going back out?”

“I thought I’d stay in tonight, actually.”

“You’re gonna let the bats take all the glory for a night?”

You smirked, wiggled your eyebrows suggestively, and opened your mouth, only to have Babs clamp her hand over it and roll her eyes. After a few seconds and a warning look, she dropped her hand, but continued watching you warily.

You waited until she let her guard down before quickly stating, “I think my night’s going to be more glorious.”

“Stop it.”

You snickered as you moved to crouch beside her and scratch behind the ears of Bandit, who was asleep on her lap. She was big enough now that she was able to jump in and out of Barbara’s lap whenever she felt like it, much to Babs’ displeasure. The dog opened her eyes briefly, looked at you, and went back to sleep.

“Not to toot my own horn or anything,” said Babs, “but the dog loves me more.”

“Can’t blame her. However —” you took the bone out of your back pocket and waved it in front of Bandit’s face — “I come bearing bribes.”

Bandit’s eyes opened again and she quickly snatched the bone out of your hand and leapt from your girlfriend’s lap, deciding to enjoy her treat in the other room.

Babs watched her as she trotted out. “Where’d you get that?”

“Oh, I stole the femur of a bad guy I killed. Figured, why not? He wasn’t using it.”

She glared at you.

“Kidding. C’mon, I’m a thief, not a murderer.”

“You were a thief,” she corrected, tilting your chin up to look at her.

You smiled goofily, adoringly. “I was a thief,” you confirmed. “Until this beautiful girl in a bat costume came and made me see that there were better things I could do with my skills.” You took one of her hands in yours, brushing your lips over her knuckles. “It’s our anniversary,” you mumbled against them.

“Our anniversary is in November.”

“Of when we started dating, yeah. But tonight’s the anniversary of you kicking my ass, knocking the evil out of me, and making me gay.”

“You weren’t evil, and I’m pretty sure you were already gay.”

“Oh, but I was so much gayer after seeing you.”

She rolled her eyes again, but she was smiling. God, you loved that smile. She was so, so beautiful.

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, you know,” you told her. “You, Barbara Gordon, are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the coolest, toughest, most badass person I’ve ever met. You make me so happy every day with all your tiny, sweet little actions, your goofy jokes, the adorable things you say—”

“You’re really getting into this speech, huh?” she asked, giggling.

“Bear with me here, baby. As I was saying, you make me happy, and you make me feel fulfilled. I’ve spent my whole life chasing after things I thought I wanted and now… I’ve got nothing to chase, nothing to ask for. Everything I want is right here.” You shuffled, adjusting yourself so you were down on one knee.

“W-wait a minute, are you— is this—”

“I thought about doing it in a more romantic setting, but I know you’re not big on grand gestures.” You fished the small velvet box from your pocket. “But I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” You positioned it before yourself, one hand holding the bottom and the other waiting on top. “So, Barbara Gordon —” you opened it — “will you bring me to Wife City?”

Babs opened her mouth to answer, but closed it and tilted her head when she looked at the ring. “What made you pick that ring in particular?” she asked, voice an octave higher than normal.

“Uhh… the jewelry magazine you left open on the coffee table with this particular ring circled in red pen. I know I’m not a genius like you, but I am able to take a hint.”

She slapped her hands over her face. “Oh my god, I’m an idiot. That wasn’t meant as a hint.” When she pulled them away, she was blushing furiously. With a huff, she took a key from the ring on her belt-loop and unlocked one of the drawers on her desk. Out of it, she drew a box matching the one you were holding. “I didn’t mean to leave that mag out. The reason I circled that ring is because it was the one I chose to get for you.” She flipped open the lid of the box and, sure enough, inside laid an identical ring.

You stared at it for a second before the two of you broke out laughing. As the laughter slowly turned to little giggles, the two of you stared at each other lovingly. Her free hand came out to stroke your cheek while you gazed up at her.

“I like that, though. Matching rings, it’s cute,” you told her. Your voice dropped to a whisper as you asked, “so I take it that means you’ll marry me?”

“Of course I’ll marry you. I’m just mad you beat me to the punch.”

After the two of you exchanged rings and placed the boxes to the side, Babs turned herself to you, took your face in her hands, and pulled your lips to hers.

You couldn’t help but smile into the kiss.

[wednesdaywarriorswc]

so since my expanded crowfeather kills ashfur AU actually gained some traction i’m gonna expand on some different parts. today: Breezepelts involvement.

-He’s born to Nightcloud and Crowfeather,the couple aren’t mates but they both love and dote on their son.

-he’s 4 moons younger than holly jay and lion.

-he’s generally a good cat. determined to prove himself as a strong warrior. he gets a crush on heatherpaw pretty young.

-he notices heatherpaw sneaks out some nights and follows her to the mouth of the tunnels one night. he waits for her to come back before confronting her on what she’s doing. she explains it’s harmless and her and lionpaw are just having fun and begs breezepaw to not rat her out. he agrees not to but tells her she can’t carry on forever.

-he’s heartbroken but continues to try and be her friend. his crush becoming slightly obvious to most cats but heather and breeze.

-the tunnel scene with the siblings when they almost drown still happens and breezepaw gets jealous of lionpaw as he’s strong and brave.

-the dark forest recruit him under the pretence of making him a strong warrior and gaining heatherpaws heart. he quickly realises that the dark forest is evil and when he mentions this to his DF mentor, he’s given a vaguely threatening comment about “wanting to be stronger” and that “you wouldn’t poor heatherpaw to find out would you” with the implication of hurting her.

-he continues to train there in fear but puts on a brave face becoming very respected. when he becomes a warrior and antfur is seriously getting into it he becomes more and more afraid.

-he decides to tell kestreflight and onestar what’s happening. they’re in shock and angry but use this to their advantage and breeze becomes windclans DF spy. the clan begins to train more with moves breeze teaches onestar in secret.

-he’s warned by kestrel not to tell anyone else in case he gets in trouble but he decides to tell heather tail and crowfeather. crow tells him he’s doing a good thing and that he’s proud of his sons bravery.

-one night antfur wakes him up and says crowfeather just snuck out. they follow him and see him meeting up with leafpool and they overhear that ashfur knows leaf and crow had kits and he wants to announce it to everyone.

-breeze drags antfur away and he’s confused and angry and upset that his dad lied to him and broke the code so much. antfur wants to stir up trouble in honour of the dark forest but breezepelt tells him he won’t have to as ashfur seems pretty set on doing it. antfur agrees to keep quiet and leaves. breezepelt stays out on the moors all night unsure what to think.

-breeze is cold to crowfeather and nightcloud for several days and is eventually pulled aside by his dad who asks him what’s wrong. breeze explodes at him asking him why he did it and did he love them and can he be trusted. crowfeather begrudgingly answers his questions and tells him he loved leafpool. but it’s been over a long time. and although they’re his kits. he’s never had any contact and they don’t know. for their safety. and it doesn’t change a thing about how he loves breeze.

-breezepelt accepts this. but doesn’t forgive him immediately. his upset fuelled partly by the almost relationship between lionblaze and heather tail.

-at the next gathering crowfeather goes hunting during the day and ashfur isn’t there like breezepelt and antfur thought he would be. antfur is stressed havoc hasn’t been wreaked but breezepelt just shrugs and tells him maybe he wasn’t invited to the gathering this moon.

-a few days later breezepelt and crowfeather go hunting together and crows request, to try and fix their relationship. they bump into jayfeather and leafpool gathering herbs at the border and jayfeather and breezepelt awkwardly leave as leafpool wants to talk to crowfeather.

-crow and jay awkwardly talk about mundane things. breeze says he knows crows their dad and he doesn’t resent jay and his siblings. it’s not their fault they exist. jay is surprised but is grateful for his kindness. leafpool and crowfeather get angry and upset with each other and they leave. confused jay and breeze say goodbye.

-crow says that hollyleaf has been accused of ashfurs murder and is being put on trial in camp. she’s in a makeshift prison and is being looked at and treated like dirt. breeze says he’s sorry and asks if it was hollyleaf. he gets angry for a second and says no. it wasn’t. breeze realises it was him. and they’re silent the whole way back to camp.

-brokenstar and tigerstar ask breezepelt what he knows about the situation in training as they’ve heard what happened from the thunderclan trainees. he tries to protect his father but he gets pinned down and reminded if he doesn’t comply heathertail is such a pretty she cat and it would be a shame for her to have horrible scars.

-he tells them it was his dad and they use this to their advantage. Antfur announces it to windclan and makes breeze back him up. windclan send crowfeather to thunderclan where he isn’t punished considering ashfur did try to kill fire star and squirrelflight and was conspiring with hawkfrost and is left to windclan. windclan demote crowfeather to apprentice and he isn’t allowed to leave camp without a warrior present and he isn’t allowed to go to gatherings, all this indefinitely.

-crowfeather accepts his punishment. he sulks but works hard to protect himself. breezepelt takes this time to start forgiving crow seeing him so broken and hurt and lost.

-next moon at the gathering they get an announcement that hollyleaf died in a badger den collapse in thunderclan and they hadn’t been able to retrieve her body. everyone is shocked and nobody talks to breezepelt on the way back. heathertail gives him comfort and says it would be best for crowfeather if it came from him.

-he tells crowfeather what happened and he collapses into himself. his daughter died because of him. crow asks to go out of camp to mourn in peace. onestar allows this is breezepelt goes with him. allowing him to mourn without judgement.

-after awhile crow tells breezepelt to head back as he needs a minute on his own and he’ll join him. breezepelt figures out what he’s going to do and gets heathertail and tells her he’s going to the tunnels to find hollyleafs body. she agrees to go with him as they both know what can happen if you lose your way in the tunnels. they’re far behind him but manage to catch up as he gets to a tunnel entrance crowfeather wasn’t running and didn’t know where he was going.

-he’s cross the two would put themselves on the line for him but grateful they would help. breezepelt tells him it’s not fair his own kid can’t be buried and that crow would do the same for breeze. crow says he’s do more for breeze at even the implication of danger.

-when they’re in the tunnels fallen leaves greets them, recognising heathertail from her time down there. he agrees to take them to hollyleaf as she’s dying and trapped under a rockfall and he’s struggling to maintain her. they dig her out together and take her back to windclan. promising to tell fallen leaves if she makes it.

-she does survive. with a broken back leg and lots of muscle damage and scratches. the clan wants punishment for crow disobeying orders but onestar declares that he suffered enough thinking she was dead. having to dig out your daughters corpse is punishment enough.

-over the next moon hollyleaf begins to heal, crow and breeze repair their relationship and crow becomes friends with hollyleaf. hollyleaf tells breezepelt to stop being afraid and to tell heathertail he loves her as he doesn’t want to miss the chance and regret it forever.

-breezepelt manages to work up the courage and tell her. she tells him she likes him too and they work towards being mates. breezepelt is the happiest he’s been in moons but knows what the dark forest could do to her so tells her to keep it secret from antfur. she’s offended to have to hide their relationship but she agrees in the end.

-hollyleaf goes home after two moons of healing, they told thunderclan she was there almost immediately. accusations were thrown but nothing came of it in the end. she’s happy to go home and crowfeather tells her he loves her and her siblings and that he hopes they don’t hate him.

-life goes on for a few moons, the dark forest recruits more cats and breezepelt continues his charade.

-when ivypaw joins the df he tries to subtly warn her to stay away but she doesn’t get it and he gets worried for the apprentice.

-he’s forced to go to the moon pool with brokenstar when poppy frost goes in an attempt to wreak havoc. jayfeather puts up a good fight and jay is horrified after everything they’d been through breeze would trust them. breeze pins down jayfeather and tells him “if you know me so well read my mind then” when in is mind he tells him to pin down breeze then leap forward and brokenstar would be right there.

-they win the fight defeating brokenstar and jayfeather asks why he helped them while he was attacking them. breeze tells him he doesn’t believe in the df ways and is a spy for windclan. they’ve been training for a fight against them since he was a young warrior with the skills he learns from them. but antfur is a true believer so he’s in danger all the time.

-jay tells him ivy is their spy and they confer on matter between the clans from then on. they gather the leaders and tell them what’s happening. and agree to train their clans with the two apprentices help. breezepelt tells the leaders to not be so harsh to all the df trainees when the fight comes. they’re threatened in the df if they want to leave and some don’t even know it’s true purpose.

-when it comes to the final battle. breezepelt pretend to be on the df side and stands with them. the clan inc. crow, night and heather are shocked. he gives them a fake sneer and then throws himself at the nearest df spirit, attacking them, pinning them down and killing their spirit. he’s accused of being a traitor to the df and he agrees that he is and the battle begins properly.

-at the end of the battle he finds out about ivypools death and feels a strong sense of guilt and responsibility. he fully forgives his family after the battle. telling them he doesn’t hate them and that life is messy and he loves them.

-after the battle, ashfoot still dies and onestar makes breezepelt his deputy. crowfeather is so proud that if he couldn’t become leader he’s glad his son could.

[saitamaandmanakoblog]

Manako and Saitama

The Monster Association Accident

“I don’t wanna die,” Manako says, and Saitama’s gut freezes over with chilling ice.

“ What ?”

“I don’t wanna—” Manako sucks in a sharp breath, and then continues, “I don’t want to die. I haven’t even done anything yet, I—I haven’t achieved my dream—” she chokes off with a watery laugh that’s three degrees to the left of quietly hysterical, and Saitama rips his hand away from the her stomach to make sure that the burnt blood didn’t brake.

“What the hell are you talking about? Dying? Manako, your not going to die.” Saitama refuses, to believe that.

Manako just shakes her head. It spreads an uncomfortable extra layer of sweat into the crook of Saitama’s neck. Saitama grimaces. 

“The doctors, they—they said they don’t know how to help me.”

Saitama’s lungs stagger.

“I’m dying,” Manako repeats, frenzied. “I’m dying and I—I haven’t done anything, I—I could have live longer —?” She trails off, voice getting weaker with each question that Saitama’s isn’t able to come up with and answer for.

“What do you mean—?”

“‘I failed ,” Manako gasps out, her hands grabbing the hospital blanket her knuckles turning white. “I can’t—I can’t do anything right, I tried so hard and now—now I’m dying and—and—”

She looks up, at Saitama’s, and there are tear tracks down her eyes are red rimmed and wet, and Saitama’s never felt actually helpless in his entire life until now, because this— this —this is his friend, crying hopelessly right in his face, he failed being a hero for Manako , if he was more careful he could save her in time.

“Manako, I—”

“I promised you that We’ll achieve our dreams together,” Manako cries, rambling on, “and I don’t even know what, and I can’t—now I won’t , because—because I can’t save people anymore, don’t have time to fix the relationship between Humans and Monsters and I’m gonna die , and—”

“Manako—”

“ idiot . If I wasn’t so much of a coward I could —make the world a better place—and now I’m Useless, and I can’t do anything right, why can’t I ever do anything —?!”

“ Manako ,” Saitama yells, hands snapping out to grab his friend by the shoulders and hauling her upwards, so he can get a look at her face. He glares down at his BFF, “Shut the hell up! Your gonna be ok.”

Manako just shakes her head, and she’s never, in all the time that Manako’s known him, looked so unhinged. And not in a crazy way, but in the way that grief makes somebody. Like how Aden use to looks at her during the mines, sometimes, when she thinks nobody’s watching her, and she stares at the Diamonds and gold it’s just absolutely—

Manako has tears streaming down her face, and she hiccups even as Saitama gives her another shake.

“I Can’t save anyone,” so many friends and strangers I could have saved. “I can’t save anyone if I’m dead!

“Manako... ”

Saitama lets go of Manako’s shoulders, lets the monster fall on the pillow . Saitama moves his arms behind her and laid back on the hospital bed with her. He tilts his head and stares outside of the window and thought.

They learned the same thing in class, poetic ideologies back in 9 grade before going up to 10 grade . In middle school, the words always came with an level of thinly veiled scorn, but Saitama’s always been able to see how that scorn was superficial, at best.

Like maybe they’d convinced themselves they thought it was all a load of bull, but deep down they held onto it, clung to it. Hoping, just secretly hoping. Saitama couldn’t really fault them, much, because so had he.

And then monsters started to appearing more during middle school and people started dying, and it’s like the Government had sworn to prove to Saitama that the ideals of heroes it was all just a shitty cover for a safe home that was, secretly infested of evil, The civilians that Tokyo vilified and scorned for their inhumane practices, always lifting Tokyo up as the was helpful among all the other injured civilians—the hopes and dreams, the one filled with heroes and Monster Discrimination.

Tokyo was filled with humans and hidden monsters underground, but so was everywhere else in the world—and humans lied, and cheated, and treated anything outside their norm with scorn. Anything they didn’t understand or approve of was unacceptable just like monsters.

But there are still good humans and monsters that helped out with the troubles of society.

Saitama looks down at his small friend trembling in his lap, and feels sick with the world, because—because—he could have done so much more to help Manako?

He remembered how they become friends. Manako was really shy when she first saw Saitama for the very first time meeting a human at the park. by the time they get older and graduated. They’d already been on the run, since the monster found out about Manako betraying her own kind, but Manako seemed to take everything with a sense of urgency—she had to get that technique down now , she needed to be good at her own skills to survive also the part that she got better at making gadget or other items.

Manako was good. Saitama had already known that before he even officially improved his gaols too. Manako was a prodigy. She was talented, quick on the uptake, smart and resourceful and never had to be taught something twice before she mastered it and moved on—everything Saitama wasn’t . Manako was the perfect Evil Monster that they wanted, but the only problem that they have with her is her loving natural caring side and saw it as a weakness.

Manako sobs something totally incoherent into Saitama’s chest, and Saitama feels his stomach roll queasily. How much of all that stress innate talent, and how much of her innocence has gone —?

How many friends did she saw get killed?

Saitama sits up. He wraps one arm around Manako’s waist, slides one underneath her legs, and stands up. Manako weighs absolutely nothing in his arms, and it makes Saitama’s stomach flop over on itself again.

Manako gulps and shudders and leans into him, burying her face into the collar of Saitama’s jacket. 

“’I’m scared ,” she whispers, haltingly, so quiet that the words almost get lost in the fabric of Saitama’s Jacket. So quiet Saitama almost doesn’t hear her.

Except, he does.

Saitama takes a moment to adjust his grip, making sure he’d got a good hold on his childhood friend. He pauses for a moment, ducks his head down so that his chin digs momentarily into Manako’s head, and breathes in.

“You’re not gonna die, you dummy.”

Saitama won’t let any human or monsters hurt her again.

And he will succeed achieving both of their dreams together no matter what, he just need to get the 3 smartest people he knows, Geno,Child Emperor, and Dr. Kuseno, I hope they will help me find a cure for Manako.

[wackapedia]

Hello, My Alien! || Part 5: Yeontan

Taehyung X Reader

Y/n is traveling to Terran-03 to find her soulmate, Taehyung who is also from her home planet. Two aliens in one roof, what could go wrong?Fluff, a dash of angst, crack, and alien things

Hello My Alien Masterlist

You quickly gather your bearings, startled at the shrill shrieking voice waking you from your sleep. The nearest star still hasn't set, so you assume it is still early in the afternoon. "Don't sleep on the carpet. Sleep on the bed, its large enough for both of us." Taehyung speaks. If he's talking to you or not, you're uncertain. "Who the hell are you?!" The shrill voice speaks again. You look around, unable to find a Terran form who could be the owner of such a voice. "By the way this..." Taehyung picks up a black ball of fuzz, "This is Yeontan. My pet. He's a dog." "He's... Angry at me..." You tell Taehyung. "What? No, his face is just like that. Yeontan, this is my Alien. Say hi." Taehyung instructs Yeontan. "Your what? No, I'm not gonna say hi! Why is she here?!" Yeontan barks again. "I'm sorry. I don't have a place to stay." You answer Yeontan who was still angrily snarling at you. "Are you... Wait you understand him?!" Taehyung's boxy frown expands as his jaw drops in shock. "You don't?" You question. "No! That's so unfair, why cant I understand my dog?!" "The skill of allspeak is only gifted to the royal bloodline." You answer. "I know that. But WHY?!" Taehyung dramatically pouts. "I mean, I brought him here so that you wont get lonely but I'm now getting the feeling that you'll just talk about me all day." "For starters, you're not that important, so don't flatter yourself. I'm not obsessed with you." Yeontan answers. You snicker at this little dog's attitude. "What did Yeontan say?" Taehyung demands. "Should I tell him?" You ask the dog. "Tell him whatever, I don't care." "He said no." "Here, I bought you some new clothes." Taehyung brings in bags and bags of clothing. "Why is it so many? Its not like I'm allowed to go outside. And besides, I'm not staying that long." You tell him. "Did your beacon respond?" "No but-" "Then let me make your earth experience worthwhile, okay? Plus, I couldn't decide on the clothes, I think you'll look good in all of them." There it is again. That fluttering within your midsection whenever Taehyung shows you a hint of affection. "Also, you are allowed to go outside. But not if you're alone." He adds. "How are they, by the way? Your friends at the dormitory?" You ask Taehyung over dinner. He made some homemade food, learning from the video on his communicator device. "They're busy with work. And don't call them that, they're your friends too. They've been asking about you. They're all worried." Taehyung scolds. "Not Jimin, apparently." You supply, pushing around a chunk of meat around your plate. "Ah. Jimin's just like that sometimes. We also quarreled a lot when I started. I'd understand if you think he's mean." "I don't think he's mean" You supply. "He's nice. And cute." You giggle to yourself. Taehyung raises an eyebrow. "Well he is mean. He called you an alien." He answers, a little on edge. "I am." "Yeah but, you're my alien." You try to calm the fluttering on your insides. "He also called me a 'Harry Potter'. Which I do not understand." You tell him after a few moments. "Ha! We should watch that movie together!" "Thank you for letting me stay here. For the clothes, and the movies, and dinner." You whisper to Taehyung, who was half awake at 3am. You and Taehyung spent the next seven hours watching the first three Harry Potter movies, Finally catching Jimin's reference in calling you a "Harry Potter". He lived in the room under the stairs, just like you did. "Was nothing..." Taehyung groggily answers. "I have something for you. I was saving it but I think you should have it, If you'd like." Rolling over to the edge of the bed, you rummage through the bottom of your carrier to retrieve what you've been looking for. Taehyung leans over to you, resting his cheek on your shoulder, to stare at the small item on your palm. "Oh, my god." His sleepy condition is now nowhere to be found. "Is that a bonbon?!" "The very last one I have." You say, rolling to lie on your back, causing Taehyung to be directly above you. His elbow is supporting his weight next to your arm, his face a breadth from yours and his eyes gleam at the sweet treat from your home planet. Before you could think, Taehyung's lips descend to your cheek. It was the briefest contact. An explosion of colors and abstract shapes take over your intellectual processor. You try your best to recover. "A-are you going to eat it now?" You ask him. "No, I'm keeping it for my sad days. I want to sleep now. Goodnight!" Taehyung snuggles next to you. Your brain exhausts itself and eventually, you fall asleep as well. The next day, Taehyung leaves for work early in the morning. He leaves you instructions that fall on your sleepy ears. You continue on your slumber as he taps your forehead lightly before leaving. You jolt up in bed, hours later. "Excuse me?!" Yeontan, who was snuggled next to you, complains. "I'm sorry. What did Taehyung say before he left?" You ask your furry little housemate. "He said Jungkook and Hobi are coming over. They have questions for me and you're going to translate my answers." "Okay." "I think you should take a bath. You stink. Follow me." Yeontan leads you to the bathroom, guiding you on how to operate the bathing device called a 'shower'. Water immediately sprays out of it, drenching you in your sleepclothes. "Take off your clothes! Yes, all of it! Do you shower with clothes on in your planet?!" He yells at you. You ought to be intimidated but his cute little form stops you from feeling so. "Our clothes have this self-sanitizing-" "I don't care. Get in." After the whole bathroom tribulation with Yeontan, He finally deems you presentable. Soon, there was a knock on the door and you assume that its Jungkook and Hoseok. "Hold on, something smells..." Yeontan sniffs the air. "I've already took a bath, give me a break." You tell him as you approach the front door and twisting the knob open. "Its not you, dummy. Its-" Yeontan's barking is interrupted upon seeing the stranger at the door. The man, who was neither Jungkook nor Hoseok, had an evil, unnerving glint in his eyes. He aims a device at your head, causing you to collapse. The man picks you up like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder, and disappears at the hallway. Yeontan could only bark as the elevator doors close before him.

[coastcities-archive]

19. “Not to toot my own horn or anything, but the dog loves me more.”

Barbara Gordon x Fem!Reader

Your face broke into a smile as you entered your apartment. It often did; your home, and the two amazing creatures that resided in it with you, made you happier than you could ever have imagined yourself becoming. Today, though — today was special. As you called out a “honey, I’m home!” you felt your stomach flutter with butterflies.

You placed your bag on the rack by the door and fished out the bone you’d gotten for your German Shepherd puppy, Bandit. Taking a second to check your face in the mirror — you did have a half-healed cut on your lip, but there wasn’t much to be done about that — and patting the pocket of your jacket, you straightened yourself and made your way to Barbara’s office.

“Hi, baby,” you greeted as your came up behind her, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek.

“Welcome home, sweetheart,” she answered, twisting in her chair to look at you. “How was your day?”

“Incredibly boring,” you sighed. “Better now, though.” You grinned, placing a series of kisses on her face.

“You’re cheesy.”

“You’re cute when you blush.”

“Are you gonna take a nap before going back out?”

“I thought I’d stay in tonight, actually.”

“You’re gonna let the bats take all the glory for a night?”

You smirked, wiggled your eyebrows suggestively, and opened your mouth, only to have Babs clamp her hand over it and roll her eyes. After a few seconds and a warning look, she dropped her hand, but continued watching you warily.

You waited until she let her guard down before quickly stating, “I think my night’s going to be more glorious.”

“Stop it.”

You snickered as you moved to crouch beside her and scratch behind the ears of Bandit, who was asleep on her lap. She was big enough now that she was able to jump in and out of Barbara’s lap whenever she felt like it, much to Babs’ displeasure. The dog opened her eyes briefly, looked at you, and went back to sleep.

“Not to toot my own horn or anything,” said Babs, “but the dog loves me more.”

“Can’t blame her. However —” you took the bone out of your back pocket and waved it in front of Bandit’s face — “I come bearing bribes.”

Bandit’s eyes opened again and she quickly snatched the bone out of your hand and leapt from your girlfriend’s lap, deciding to enjoy her treat in the other room.

Babs watched her as she trotted out. “Where’d you get that?”

“Oh, I stole the femur of a bad guy I killed. Figured, why not? He wasn’t using it.”

She glared at you.

“Kidding. C’mon, I’m a thief, not a murderer.”

“You were a thief,” she corrected, tilting your chin up to look at her.

You smiled goofily, adoringly. “I was a thief,” you confirmed. “Until this beautiful girl in a bat costume came and made me see that there were better things I could do with my skills.” You took one of her hands in yours, brushing your lips over her knuckles. “It’s our anniversary,” you mumbled against them.

“Our anniversary is in November.”

“Of when we started dating, yeah. But tonight’s the anniversary of you kicking my ass, knocking the evil out of me, and making me gay.”

“You weren’t evil, and I’m pretty sure you were already gay.”

“Oh, but I was so much gayer after seeing you.”

She rolled her eyes again, but she was smiling. God, you loved that smile. She was so, so beautiful.

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, you know,” you told her. “You, Barbara Gordon, are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the coolest, toughest, most badass person I’ve ever met. You make me so happy every day with all your tiny, sweet little actions, your goofy jokes, the adorable things you say—”

“You’re really getting into this speech, huh?” she asked, giggling.

“Bear with me here, baby. As I was saying, you make me happy, and you make me feel fulfilled. I’ve spent my whole life chasing after things I thought I wanted and now... I’ve got nothing to chase, nothing to ask for. Everything I want is right here.” You shuffled, adjusting yourself so you were down on one knee.

“W-wait a minute, are you— is this—”

“I thought about doing it in a more romantic setting, but I know you’re not big on grand gestures.” You fished the small velvet box from your pocket. “But I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” You positioned it before yourself, one hand holding the bottom and the other waiting on top. “So, Barbara Gordon —” you opened it — “will you bring me to Wife City?”

Babs opened her mouth to answer, but closed it and tilted her head when she looked at the ring. “What made you pick that ring in particular?” she asked, voice an octave higher than normal.

“Uhh... the jewelry magazine you left open on the coffee table with this particular ring circled in red pen. I know I’m not a genius like you, but I am able to take a hint.”

She slapped her hands over her face. “Oh my god, I’m an idiot. That wasn’t meant as a hint.” When she pulled them away, she was blushing furiously. With a huff, she took a key from the ring on her belt-loop and unlocked one of the drawers on her desk. Out of it, she drew a box matching the one you were holding. “I didn’t mean to leave that mag out. The reason I circled that ring is because it was the one I chose to get for you.” She flipped open the lid of the box and, sure enough, inside laid an identical ring.

You stared at it for a second before the two of you broke out laughing. As the laughter slowly turned to little giggles, the two of you stared at each other lovingly. Her free hand came out to stroke your cheek while you gazed up at her.

“I like that, though. Matching rings, it’s cute,” you told her. Your voice dropped to a whisper as you asked, “so I take it that means you’ll marry me?”

“Of course I’ll marry you. I’m just mad you beat me to the punch.”

After the two of you exchanged rings and placed the boxes to the side, Babs turned herself to you, took your face in her hands, and pulled your lips to hers.

You couldn’t help but smile into the kiss.

[trying-write-fanfics]

Shouji Mezo X Reader part  6 Remember

They went back to class. Aizawa explained the assignment to them as Y/n typed a letter to her brother. Honestly she didn’t think her situation had reached her brother. Though they were family, they didn’t really talk about much. Maybe if someone died, their mom would be force to spread some information, but Y/n saw her as a person who would try to bring the dead back just so she wouldn’t have to talk to all four of her children. That being said, she did like her siblings, enough. They weren’t close enough in age to tease her like they use to. When they were children they did, but now they all just treat Y/n like she’s only a child that needs minimal protecting. I mean yeah they see her as frail, but she’s someone else’s job. Her oldest brother was her favorite. He didn’t change, even though he was always protective of Y/n. He didn’t understand her well, nor did she understand him, but she was grateful for his efforts to minimize the damage done. 

“Hey, Miss Velia, do you wanna sit with us during lunch?” Tsu asked.

 So she did. Momo made her nervous, but she would keep with the lie as long as she could. She didn’t know what would happen if she was found out. Everything catches up eventually. She gave out hair advice, skin care, but then they asked why she singled out Bakugo. Y/n explained being someone who isn’t hero driven can see why he wouldn’t be likeable when he made pro. It just seemed he was sticking his self worth on others and will forever compare himself which will always make him unsatisfied. He won the sports festival but felt he never got a real win. It made sense why it felt that way, but would he truly be happy if Todoroki used his left side? No something else would surely come up in her eyes. He needs to get his ass kick to taste victory for real. Then the girls asked if Y/n had any other advice. 

“Honestly don’t take my advice too seriously. I never wanted to be a hero.” She told them. 

“Then why do you know how to fight?” Mina asked. 

“It’s a good skill to have in these times. Sure hero killer stain would never target me, but that doesn’t mean other crazy people with quirks are out there. Besides with a quirk like mine it’s expected that I learn something.”

Momo’s eyes widen as she figured it all out. 

Once the students were back at the dorms Momo went to Jiro and Izuku. They were the two closest people to talk to in such a private conversation. 

“I have something to tell you guys. Aizawa lied about who miss Y/n Velia is.” Momo told the two. 

“What do you mean?”

“She’s not just some random person. Here I have a page I wanna show you.” Momo pulled out her phone.

“She’s the daughter of a government official!” Izuku was surprised, but that wasn’t all.

“She’s our age.” Jiro added. “How did you know something was up.

“I’ve met her before.” Momo said. “Her father invited my family over to a benefit to get people to sign a petition. I don’t know if my parents ever signed it, but people compared our quirks. She could create and use quirks as long as she understood them, and I could create objects as long as I understood them.” Momo explained. 

“Why would he lie about her age, and why isn’t she in school?” Jiro asked.

“From what little I know about her, a lot has changed. The next time I saw her she told me she couldn’t use her quirk, and then she just didn’t show up: but here’s this photo op with her and her father.” Momo showed another webpage. “Her name is (full name).”

 Though they were speaking quietly they were in a hallway. Once Shouji heard they were talking about the teaching aid, he listened. He stayed in the stairway. This all wasn’t as shocking as he thought. He knew something was up with that girl. Turns out she’s his age, but that wasn’t a surprise. It took like 2 days to figure something was up?

“Why would she be here though? What could she gain by helping Aizawa.” Izuku asked.

“I have a theory, but I could be wrong. Her mother is a scientist in quirk biology. She could be researching quirks and what better school than U.A?” Momo explained.

The information spread, Shouji wasn’t the only one eavesdropping one the conversation. Once it got around the class had a discussion. Of course Y/n wasn’t present yet. She was researching a topic for a busy work paper.

“Should we ask why she would spy on our class?”

“I knew something was up!”

“If we ask does the whole experiment fail?”

“We never consented to that.”

“Maybe we did in the agreement forms. No one ever reads those.”

“But why would they hire a 15 year old, so many other people would be way more qualified.” 

“Hey she has Instagram!”

Aizawa sighed. Of course they would figure something was up, not only was Y/n not the best actress, but she got into a fight with another student and asked for “the tea”. It was like a town hall debate on the girl’s existence at the school. They were wrong, she wasn’t here for her mother, she was here to get away from her mother.

“Well congratulations, you guys are good enough detectives.” Aizawa told the class. He decided to come clean with it all, her position in the school wasn’t the weirdest thing to happen. “(Full name) is here because she committed a lot of petty crimes.” The whole class gasped. Why would someone like that be in the school. “Calm down, she’s more of a threat to herself than any of you. She mostly was accomplice or accessory to a crime by letting the real criminals escape.”

 The class roared with questions. They knew she was rich, but why would someone like her have to commit a crime!

“Quiet! Next person to interrupt is going to be suspended.” Aizawa said. “She is still a minor, just like all of you. I did capture her, and use excessive force when I took her down. When the court decided our punishment, I was given the task to take care of her. Since she’s young, they’re hoping I can guide her to a better path, one that doesn’t end a jail sentence. I figured she can help you guys understand petty crimes, and help her understand her own quirk better. She doesn’t have a phone to contact anyone. We read all her mail, and she can’t communicate with her mind, so she isn’t contacting her old gang.” 

Yaoyorozu’s hand went up. 

“What do you mean she doesn’t understand her quirk?”

“Most you guys have used your quirk when you used your quirk outside of school. (Last name) was instructed to not use her quirk by her family. It seems every time she uses her quirk she gets hurt in the process, but it’s not like Midoriya’s where he breaks his fingers or arms. It’s all random what comes back.”

“Nothing happened to her when she copied my quirk!” Bakugou yelled.

Shouji raised his hand. 

“What is it?” Aizawa asked. 

“She had something on her stomach, it was a lot bigger than what I could see though. Is that the affect of her quirk?”

“How did you see her stomach!” Mina asked. 

“She was looking at it when she was picking up the assignment yesterday.” Shouji answered. 

“Damn Shouji I wanna see that sort of action!” Mineta yelled.

“Quiet! From what I know she gets rashes, coughs up blood, or a blood pressure burst, asthma attacks, and some other side effects.” Aizawa explained. 

“How do you know for sure she’s not dangerous?” Jiro asked. “She did attack Bakugo.”

“She didn’t hurt me! She just cheated is all.”

“I must admit I should keep a better eye on her. After seeing the sports festival and you work studies, any of you could probably take her now that you know her quirk.”

“But she does know how to fight.” Tsu said.

“In your future as a hero you will need to be able to combat all sorts of fighting styles. Her best strength is the element of surprise. Since all of you have seen her quirk, know its her weakness, I’m sure you guys could take her down if she tried.”

“What is she doing now?” Jiro asked.

“A paper.” Aizawa replied “she’s under surveillance.”

“When you captured her, you said you used excessive force, was she that scary of an opponent?” Izuku asked. 

“I misjudged her. I didn’t see her use her quirk much when I had to chase her down, so when I went hand to hand combat with her, I was surprised she didn’t rely on her quirk. I thought she had something up her sleeve like a bomb or a flash grenade, so I had to take her down fast. She sacrificed herself so two others could escape. She’s not the big evil scary villains you are all use to, she’s a teenager just like you, who can help you with your training.”

 The atmosphere changed. They wanted to be mad because they were really lied to and put with someone who could be dangerous, but she wasn’t as dangerous. She was just like them, wanting to help someone else in a dire time. 

“What about school for (last name)” Kaminari asked.

“She’s been an online student. She doesn’t have to show up for her classes.” Aizawa explained.

“What’s gonna happen to her now? Since we know…” Tsu asked. 

“I’ll tell her later that you guys found out, but she’ll still be my teaching aid. It’s not like she’s allowed back home.”

“What’s happening to the (last names)?” Momo asked. 

“They’re gone for long periods of time. Sure Y/n can take care of herself, but it got her in a life of criminal activity.”

The class went back to teaching. There was a gray cloud around them. Iida, Momo, and Shoto were all realizing that they met Y/n at least once. Momo already knew, but she was trying to analyze everything she remembered. Shoto remembered how she was with her mother, they were asking his father questions. It was a private meeting, but they came to the house a couple times. Endeavor kept the two kids separated. Shoto assumed it was because he didn’t want Shoto to remain childish, but maybe it was something else. Iida’s situation was the same as Momo’s, but he wasn’t as young. He remembered her father and mother joining his family for dinner. Y/n came and didn’t leave her parent’s side. He didn’t even remember her talking at all. It was a dinner about politics. 

Izuku tried rationalizing everything Y/n had said to him. How she called him beefcake, and worried about his quirk. Her mother is a scientist of the biology of quirks. She couldn’t be a criminal, but she was. How could they trust her not to do anything. They were attacked on the USJ. Now they’re keeping her nearby.

[seddm]

Star Vs The Forces of Evil AMA

A list of the most important or interesting things from the AMA on Reddit from yesterday. The questions were answered by Daron Nefcy (show’s creator), Dominic Bisignano and Aaron Hammersley (writers, supervising producers), and Adam McArthur (Marco’s voice actor).

“I'm not sure what Star and Marco's future looks like but I know they are very much in love now.” the most important of quotes. 

When asked if Starco was planned from the beginning Daron simply said “It was planned. We never did anything just because we got pressure from fans” in one answer, and “I did have it planned for some time“ in another one.

Daron wanted for Star and Marco to make mistake and date other people before finally finding each other to grow from those experiences, the “messy” nature of relationships in the show having been on purpose to treat them as real teenagers.

The Severing Stone did break a curse, but the curse was never the reason behind Star and Marco’s feelings. Breaking it simply allowed them to start realizing that their feelings had nothing to do with it (which implies placebo effect as the only actual impact of it in that regard).

Aaron Hammersley thinks that Star liked Marco since the beginning, but feelings started growing after the Blood Moon ball.

Right now there are no plans for more books, comics, or DVD sets, but Daron would like to work again with Star if Disney ever wanted more.

Ever since they got renewed for a 4th season they knew it would have been the last one, and set out to write an ending for it. Daron is very satisfied by the ending they wrote and said this about its open nature:  My goal was to create a satisfying ending that still left room for more. I feel like it’s in the DNA of the universe to solve one problem but create another. That’s Star Butterfly! I know it may not have been satisfying for everyone, but I hope it inspires a lot of fan fiction and drawings. I didn’t want to solve everything and leave the fans nothing to play with! Plus, if I ever got to do more with Star I want something to play with.

Toffee was a historian and researched the Butterfly family and their magic like no one before. The skull pauldrons in Moon the Undaunted were from family members of the royal court he killed (so the cheekmarks were just intimidation / “rule of cool”).  

Meteora’s rebirth was all Eclipsa’s doing, but she didn’t know if the spell would have worked or not, that’s why she was initially in tears.

Seth has been dead for a long time, and he was put in the book just to have some supplemental elements for the show’s world, without ever having intentions to use him in the series.

Tom still has his fire-travelling powers, since they’re inherent to being a demon.

Ponyheads evolved out of their bodies thousands of years ago. Princess Pony Head’s mother is dead (not as a result of magic being gone, she was already dead).

Ludo stole the tadpoles from an orphanage.

Omnitraxius was just a “middleman to accessing the Multiverse”, so his death doesn’t affect the structure of alternate realities.

According to Daron Starfan13′s real name is Amanda Jacobs, according to Adam it’s Deborah Perla.

The hardest episodes to write are those where they need to get to a specific plot point, and they need a story to introduce it in a natural feeling way.

Earth and Mewni are the only dimensions that got cleaved together. 

Doop-Doop is gone, but the laser puppies are regular puppies now.

Daron sees the Blood Moon magic as both a curse and a blessing, but didn’t provide any further explanation for Eclipsa’s father’s portrait talking to Marco beyond “magic”.

Warnicorns are unicorns who feed on the blood of their enemies.

Among the episodes that didn’t end up becoming a thing Daron mentioned one about Skullnick dating a monster, and one about Rafael’s job (he’s an artist).

Daron confirmed that the first Mewman settlers were indeed humans who fell through the Magic Well in Echo Creek.

They tried writing an episode about Monster Arm’s return several times, but they could never make it work. Daron believes that it might still be inside Marco, and might come back one day (doesn’t really make any sense given magic’s destruction but hey who am I to question The Daron). According to Adam it makes his immune system stronger.

Daron wouldn’t want to do a crossover episode.

Toffee genuinely believed he had won until, and I quote, “he got his face blasted”. So he didn’t really know how all turns out. But they still wanted to end the show with magic’s destruction as a way to pay him homage. So he wasn’t right all along, but he also was.

Star and Ludo are totally going to play basketball together, eventually.

Between The Cure and The Smiths Marco would absolutely like the latter more, according to Daron; according to Bisignano he’d like the Bauhaus.

Dominic Bisignano (writer, supervising producer, storyboarder, director) would have liked for the show to have more slow paced episodes, with less jokes and less self contained story lines, to better explore the characters. 

Erik did turn back to normal with magic’s destruction, but he has “the painful memory of having been a squirreltoad”.

The Realm of Magic is very sensitive and people aren’t supposed to be there, that’s why Moon washing her “wounds” in it was enough to throw everything off balance.

Star on Wheels was inspired by Daron falling in a lake as a kid as a result of not being able to brake on her bike; Lake House Fever by Hammersley’s experience of being snowed in a cabin with his wife (then girlfriend) and her parents.

Marco’s cheekmarks were just due to his exposure to magic, and weren’t connected to the Blood Moon.

Star would love Pringles, but they do upset her stomach.

Easter egg in Cheer Up Star: in Rafael’s shack a painting by Van Gogh that has been stolen and never found again can be seen on a shelf. So he either drew a replica, or he’s the one who stole it.

ANSWERS BY ADAM

(I’m making a separate section for these because it’s harder to tell whether what he says is canon or not, since Adam wasn’t involved with the show’s writing)

Nachos is still with Marco.

Marco still has his Princess Turdina outfit.

Father Time is still fine, since he wasn’t a magical creature (obviously, or the Universe would be kinda done...).

When asked about what he imagines Marco doing after the finale, he answered “hopefully supporting Star in whatever she's doing, as well as still using those butt-kicking skills he developed in the Neverzone!”.

Ludo got his goons by bullying them into submission.

Just gonna post a screen for this answer about Brunzetta because it seems a bit “wishy washy” and phrasing is important to convey that.

Adam thinks that Marco might have worked with Janna, if he hadn’t gotten together with Star.

Gustav was measuring the Diazes in their sleep (in The Other Exchange Student) to make them custom alpaca wool sweaters.

According to Adam Dave (Tom’s father) was just a regular Mewman who worked as a barista at the coffee shop Lady Lucitor frequented. She tipped well and he fell in love.

Toffee called Marco a disappointment in Storm the Castle because he thought he’d have been more of an adversary.

[the-mic-drop]

Shonen Jump Rap Cypher by Rustage

Lyrics below the cut

If anyone wants to break down some lines that you think not everyone will get, please feel free!

Monkey D. Luffy- One Piece (Performed by Rustage)

Starting with the number one, hey

How’d a pirate get this long, hey

‘Cause I eat the gum-gum, see them run run

when I hit that gun, hey

Sailin’ I’m taking no breaks when my crew’s on the move as we pillage the grand line

Looting the treasure we can find

I’m blowing up like a landmine

Going gear second, I reckon that I’m a weapon

I’m wrecking up those who threaten in messing with my own brethren

Stay reppin’ look where I’m headin’

No question the Yonkos sweatin’

I’m bettin’ in words I’m yellin’

I’m the king and there’s no forgettin’, UH

Gon Freecss- Hunter x Hunter (Performed by Fabvl)

I’ll jump the competition, really there’s no contest

Channeled future Nen and most of y’all ain’t even bomb yet

It’s nonsense

Pro exams completed as a child

Hisoka, I think these clowns are living in denial

So don’t make me power up, I’ll call the thunder at my right hand

If you want the strongest Shonen, then you called the right man

They might stan

Treat you all like Pitou, it won’t take long

Name is Gon and this time, I’mma make sure that you stay gone

Naruto Uzumaki- Naruto (Performed by None Like Joshua)

Oh, better believe it’s Naruto

Who’s the best hero? All of you know

My legacy is happening, I got a type of running named after me

while you’re slow

Can’t keep up with my chakra flow

Except Hinata, I’m her Ho

Kage

All I did was call her and I told her to come over ‘cause my parents are not home

Out of these ninjas, you can watch my dub

Even all my filler is so far above

When it comes to Boruto, why y’all givin’ up

like I did with simpin’ on Sakura?

Killer B’s rapping, but I get the encore

With the power that I bring, I don’t really want yours

‘Cause I came from the swing, everybody shunned more

Now you’re looking at the king of this Jump Force

Yami Yugi- Yu-Gi-Oh! (Performed by Connor Quest!)

I’mma master, you be

practice newbies

That’s a doozy

for Yami Yugi

Puzzle did something like a hadron tunnel

‘cause now I got Atem through me

Champ of the match see fans fawn, no matter what hand’s drawn

I’m kicking up dust, metal tanks in land form

When we d-d-d-d-duel there’s sandstorms

Cards are flippin’ I need an answer quick

and I might find my Dark Magician

If I wish, and believe hard enough in the heart that’s in ‘em

(Heart of the cards)

I see Seto’s fear

Pull the fifth part of Exodia

Guess it’s all came to a head, so clear

that your deck’s gonna get X’d, oh dear!

Asta- Black Clover (Performed by Eddie Rath)

Welcome to the magic

It’s a tale that’s tragic

Filled with a pain that’s harder than plastic

especially when you discover you don’t have it

When I started I was less than amazing

But now that I’ve been chosen by the Grimoir, I’m rising to the occasion in a blazing flame of

Magic

Ain’t no Hocus Pocus and Abracadabra

Not a wizard you joke with

This is not Gandalf the Grey, but you shall not pass hopeless

Better be ferocious

Was the poorest orphan living in darkness

but now that I’m focused, I be thanking all my hardships

Ichigo Kurosaki- Bleach (Performed by IBDL)

Uh, hittin’ back with that Bankai

Got that power like I came out of the Dangai

Pops passed the torch; now I’m the fam’s Don guy

Think you Aizen, but you lookin’ like that Don guy

Y’all like Soifon, your raps barely sting

My bars are Getsuga Tensho, got that masterful swing

They say, it ain’t over til the fat lady sings

But you’ll know it’s really over when that black lady sings

Koro-sensei- Assassination Classrom (Performed by CDawgVA)

Mach speed

Blow up the moon and now I’m making these children write essays

Comin with tentacles teach you a lesson in why you don’t mess with the sensei

I amaze

Used to be the Reaper, now I run this class

I can turn a loser to assassin, do it real fast

Light Yagami- Death Note (Performed by Zach Boucher)

I think I’ve been out of my head

Gift was given, made some poor decisions, that I wish I didn’t, but I’d do it again

Feeling different, I was on a mission to achieve my vision with a page and a pen

Sit and listen to the words I’ve written

I ain’t even finished ‘til I see that they’re dead

Don’t even try to pretend

There’s no malicious intent

Stay in my thoughts, stick to the morals I’ve got,

and kill everyone who is not

Just never get caught, ‘til every criminal rots

They’ll consider me as a god

At whatever cost, that’s how I excel

Cannot be stopped, even if I fell

I’m taking them off if you couldn’t tell

I gave up a lot to give you this L

Shoyo Hinata- Haikyuu!! (Performed by Shwabadi)

Yah, here comes Hinata

When I’m on the court the enemy has got their guard up

Never gonna fall off, bet I’m gonna pop off

Way short, but I’m packing punches like a sawnoff

Hot like a sauna, this ball of fire don’t know nada

but I’m gonna chase desire to go farther

every jump will take me higher

They put walls up, so I had to learn to fly

Putting up points, spiking it, or clearing the way

Best decoy, got a little something to say

to anyone that doubts that I’m here to stay

Only got one goal, that’s to play the game

Underestimated, I’m the ace, you just wait

when I spike it past the net, you might take it to the face

Izuku “Deku” Midoriya- My Hero Academia (Performed by Divide Music)

Coming in with 100% of me

I got you all trembling

Oh just with a flick of a finger

put you back where you’re supposed to be

I’m not, holding back

I got you so calculated. I’m

one step ahead, One for All gon’ be demonstrated

Get it? Got it? Good.

Nothing better and you should know

Started at the bottom

but I made it to the top so

Step aside, I’m climbing to great heights

with All-Might by my side

Reppin’ U.A. with pride, oh

Yusuke Urameshi- Yu Yu Hakusho (Performed by GameBoyJones)

Giving you the finger, Spirit Gun

Send you off with Botan, then you done

Hit you with the stick, and I didn’t need a grip when I’m pulling from the hip, then click!

Because I’m, locked loaded, the clip is ready to go

Got a, shotgun in my hand that’s ‘bout to blow

Cause I’m hittin’ you quick fast

givin’ you whiplash

wearing these Spirit Cuffs

You could be human or demon, cause honestly, I just don’t give a fuck

If you’re looking for the best, just know there’s no other

‘cause I’m flexing out here like I’m the youngest Toguro brother

Gintoki Sakata- Gintama (Perfomed by Shao Dao)

They call me, Gintoki, slim not stocky

Lemme Shonen Jump on your leg and your body

Odd Job Gin, don’t mess with my possee

If you touch my hair, then you will be sorry

Ne, boge (Hey, bloke)

Nanikore, uruseena (what is this? Not good.)

Cause you’re way too sloppy

Got a silver soul, Shiroyasha

Swing my sword and Amanto scatter

Gintama, not Kintama

Tell Shinpachi we need money

If Kagura or Katsura bring more trouble, we keep running

Pay rent? That’s a waste of time

That weather girl, I will make her mine

You can beat me up and that’s fair and fine

But if you hurt my friends, then prepare to die

Tanjiro Kamado- Demon Slayer (Performed by DizzyEight)

Look, slayin’ demons that’s what we do

If you filled with evil, then my blade is highly lethal

If you comin’ at my people, pray to god I never meet you

Ever mess with Nez, you KO’d when I see you

I’ve grown stronger from that fateful day they found me

I trained hard to hone the skill, the progression so astounding

My style like breathing water, that mean you can never drown me

Whirlpool, that mean I’m slicin’ everything around me

Emma- The Promised Neverland (Performed by FrivolousShara)

E-M-M-A 63194

Listen to what I’ve gotta say

The others walked, seems now we’ve gotta run away

Don’t you talk, adults are the enemy

You can break every bone in my body, I won’t falter

and if the plan fails, the idea simply alters

Ah, these demons scheming, but they ain’t the only monsters

Our combined IQ breaks the safe, strength in numbers

Now we’ve woken from the slumber

Never ending perfect Summers

Across the farm, you can’t help but wonder

Soma Yukihira- Food Wars! (Performed by DiggzDaProphecy)

See I’m the anime Raekwon

The chef baby, stay calm

You can’t stand the heat

Stay out the kitchen, get a day job

Word, and the finale’s superb

I take a sec, put on my band, an’ I’ll be happy to serve, uh

So ma, tell me what you like and I can hook it up

Ya boy’s got them recipes the best couldn’t cook it up

And she gon’ bust from the taste of my meat

Chef, boy are these boys always cookin’ up heat

Jotaro Kujo- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (Performed by Dreaded Yasuke)

It’s my go, they call me Jotaro

Don’t get me mad, I’mma go fat only with jabs you go through silos

Got that drip from Cairo, girls will simp my silhouette

I know think it’s a typo fighting with a platinum psycho

None of y’all is a threat

What you gotta say in your breath

Better speak with a bigger chest

Now you lyin’ down with my pet,

while Iggy piss on your neck

All types of disrespect, what you expect?

Go against a vet, better get your techs

wanna get swept through the complex,

now who is next?

Bobobo- Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Performed by BassedOlaf w/ ThighHighSenpai)

Bobobo making the foes stare

Call me the master of nose hair

Look at the hair on the heads of these anime characters,

brother, it’s no fair

But I’m better than these guys, don’t you understand?

I came second place at screaming face-to-face with desk fans

Afro is full of surprises, look at my power’s immense

Leaving beauty screaming-

(Bobobo, that makes no sense!)

Hunting hair hunters, Saitama, I’m coming for you

Don Patch a better Super Saiyan God than Goku

Son Goku- Dragon Ball (Performed by DaddyPhatSnaps)

Oh they went and called Kakarot

had to be danger

Leave em flat-footed like they in the gravity chamber

I’m just looking for a challenge, can you battle me stranger?

Shonen legend in the saddle and the power is major

Level up on the track, flow Ultra Instinct

Bye bye bye fusion dance is always in sync

Wink

And they wonder why I’m last on the song

‘Cause when all of y’all were talking

I just formed a Spirit Bomb

[cruelfeline]

Another one of those “Catra didn’t abuse Hordak; he abused her, and it was terrible!” posts crossed my dash today, and it got me thinking again. About something I haven’t seen elaborated upon before. At least not recently.

This isn’t going to be about whether Hordak ruined Catra, or whether Catra manipulated Hordak (that’s this masterpost right here!). They both harmed one another, obviously, and I’m not going to go into who was the “more evil” of the two.

What I am going to go into is a bit of a breakdown of why Hordak treated Catra as he did. Not specifically why he used certain punishments (hint: it’s because he has nearly no positive social skills because have you seen Horde Prime?), but whether or not he should have been more supportive/trusting of her in seasons two and three. Obviously not four, because yikes, but should he have been more willing to accept her as a trusted subordinate?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: strap in, friends and neighbors. We’re gonna look at why Catra was a poor investment from the get-go. But first, a disclaimer!

I am in no way condoning the sorts of punishments Hordak inflicted upon Catra. Asphyxiation and Shipment off to Beast Island are not CF-approved methods of behavior modification. Got it? Good. Now, to business.

The chief reason I feel that Hordak was right in not trusting Catra, despite her efforts at serving him, is because said efforts weren’t honest. And like, I know that sounds sort of cheesy, given that we’re dealing with Hordak here, but hear me out. 

When Catra pledges her loyalty to Hordak, she’s lying. Mind you, she might be lying to herself as much as she is to him (meaning that she might temporarily believe in her own conviction), but that doesn’t change the fact that she is never truly loyal to him. Her goals are never really his goals. She’s not like Entrapta, invested in his interests, actually bonding with him in any way. She has no true allegiance to him beyond using him, and his trust, to “beat” Shadow Weaver and Adora. And while I’m not certain Hordak knows enough about her personally to understand the emotional reasons, I do think that he recognizes her as someone who is trying to climb rank for personal goals. Unlike Entrapta, who cares nothing for rank and is always genuine. 

Catra’s personal goals resulting in damaging decisions is readily apparent in her little mini-arc with Shadow Weaver during season two. Hordak orders her to send Shadow Weaver to Beast Island because Shadow Weaver is legitimately dangerous. She has knowledge of the Horde. She has knowledge of sorcery. Hordak is making a sound, if admittedly cruel, tactical decision to kill her because she represents a severe danger to him and the Horde at large. Instead of accepting this sound logic, Catra keeps Shadow Weaver alive because of her own emotional connections to her. 

Now, I’m not blaming Catra for this in a moral sense, really, because I know the painful reason she does this, but pragmatically, this is a horrible decision. Shadow Weaver does escape. And she does spill Horde secrets to the Rebellion. And she lets the Rebellion in on one of the most devastating attacks the Horde endures besides what happens in season four. 

Hordak is right. He’s not nice about it, and he’s definitely not gentle in his reactions, but he is absolutely right about what should have been done regarding Shadow Weaver from the beginning. 

Add to this glaring error the fact that Catra lies to him about it. How is he to work with a second-in-command that makes terrible decisions, against orders, according to her own personal goals, and then tries to cover it up? It’s just not wise for him to truly trust her.

Also: when he does actually trust her, fueled by his own issues with self-worth and her manipulative lies, she leads him down an incredibly self-destructive path. She sentences his one true friend to death. She never truly focuses on supporting his plans or supporting him, instead providing stability only as long as it benefits her. Once her deception is revealed, she turns on him violently. To save her own life, yes, but that life wouldn’t need saving if she hadn’t essentially killed Entrapta to get her little victory over Adora.

And yes, yes, Hordak is evil, and his plans shouldn’t be bolstered, but that doesn’t change the fact that, to him, Catra is dangerous. Though supporting him didn’t have to just include supporting the warfare; supporting him could have included supporting Entrapta, who helped him with his illness and his true personal goals.

Now, add to all of this the fact that she can physically kill him at any time, and I feel that it’s pretty apparent that him giving her legitimate trust was a Bad Idea.

But CF, you might say, CF, what if he was nicer to her? What if he hadn’t endangered her with his temper, been a Good Boss instead of choking her or trying to send her to Beast Island? 

Well, dear reader, maybe she would have been a safer subordinate to him, then. Maybe. But remember what she did to Entrapta. Remember what she did to Scorpia, who only loved her and never, ever hurt her. Remember that Catra, in her pain, lashed out and hurt every one of her friends. Badly.

Given that fact, I still don’t think she would have been a safe bet for Hordak. I mean, she wasn’t, in the end, was she? He actually did give her legitimate trust in season four, and... well. We all saw what happened.

So! In conclusion: this idea that Hordak somehow wronged Catra by not giving her the trust and praise that she deserved is silly. He didn’t give these things to her, in seasons two and three, for valid reasons pertaining to her actual bad decisions and lack of trustworthiness. He wasn’t being petty, or cruel, or manipulative. He was acting on sound logic. 

Shame he failed to continue with that logic in season four; it might have protected him, but we all know why things ended as they did.

[burr-ell]

I really want new episodes of Teen Titans. Especially where the extended DC universe is concerned. I wanted to know exactly how Beast Boy got separated from the Doom Patrol and why they didn’t contact him until 5 months passed after Robotman’s coma. Where were they exactly when the Brotherhood were hunting young heroes? Why did Robin just up and leave Batman when he was barely a late teen and if he’s still in contact in anyway with the Batfamily.

Ever wonder where the Justice League were and how The Doom Patrol were nowhere to be found during the Brotherhood of Evil debacle? I really wanted to see more of Beast Boy’s relationship with Mento and how it contrasts with Robin’s relationship with Batman. I really want new episodes and give us some an actual satisfying conclusion.

(answering these together bc they kind of relate to each other)

to be honest, i prefer to keep the DC extended universe in a more headcanon-y context when it comes to TTA. it’s my understanding that the writers/producers (david slack, amy wolfram, rob hoegee, glen murakami, etc) have actually gone on record about the adult heroes, that they wanted to keep them out as much as possible for fear of them outshining the teenage heroes. there were also a number of legal embargoes forbidding the appearances of certain characters (which is why kid flash and wonder girl aren’t part of the main lineup even though they were part of the original NTT), and i think the creative team tended to view that as a blessing in disguise at the end of the day. and honestly, considering how dc has treated their “big names” at the expense of the titans, i don’t blame them.

buuuuuuut…there’s still some fun speculation to be had, and i’m nothing if not a big ol slut for TTA headcanons.

i get the sense that beast boy and robin both left their respective mentors by choice, in attempts to strike out on their own. they’re both very clever and independent people with savior complexes a mile wide; they’re also both very competent and capable heroes in their own right who impressed their mentors with their skills. even if the doom patrol or batman had reservations, they most likely figured they might as well give their proteges their blessing because they were gonna do it anyway.

(there are so many robin/beast boy parallels. so many. if nothing else, i agree that i’d like a hypothetical season 6 to give us at least one episode focusing on them.)

it’s possible that beast boy was kicked out of the doom patrol, but it’s not likely imo; i don’t think he would have been permitted to keep wearing the old colors if that had happened, if nothing else. he clearly still respects the doom patrol enough to keep wearing their uniform, and he obviously still considers them to be family, even though there was still a rift between him and mento.

robin most likely left batman under similar circumstances as the NTT comics, as those are the sources the cartoon draws from the most—he wanted to get out of batman’s shadow and be his own hero. a lot of people seem to think that robin and batman had a falling-out of some kind that made robin leave, since that happens in different versions of the story, but i don’t really see the case for that interpretation. the only real evidence that people have put forth for that theory is the way robin introduces himself to the thug in “go!”, but i don’t get “resentment toward batman” vibes, just “i’m tired of being tied to my mentor, i’m out on my own now, and i’m 100% ready and able to throw down with anyone who doesn’t think i can handle it” vibes.

don’t get me wrong, there had to be conflict leading up to it, but i think it was still ultimately a respectful parting of the ways.* he more than likely does keep in contact with the batfamily to some degree, but i doubt they’re calling every week or anything—maybe on birthdays or other days of significance, or after something like the apprenticeship happens. the batfamily at this point is also probably just batman, alfred, and batgirl, all of whom have their own missions to take care of—and i imagine a TTA-verse batgirl would hew closer to the pre-crisis version of the character, where she’s several years older than dick to begin with and is a grown adult woman with her own job and responsibilities.

as to why the doom patrol’s distress signal didn’t reach beast boy until five months after robotman’s deactivation, i don’t know. it’s possible that they’d been held captive for awhile and simply didn’t activate the distress call until they absolutely had to (likely, given mento’s pride and the fact that beneath it all he ultimately respects beast boy’s independence), or it just took the device that long to reach beast boy’s location while also avoiding being found by the brain or anyone else that would compromise it. i’m not sure it’s the sort of thing that needs explaining.**

i also don’t doubt that the brotherhood of evil kept the doom patrol busy through misdirection while they hunted down young heroes. i imagine that was primarily immortus’s job; he seems like a clever enough tactician on his own to keep the doom patrol out of the picture.

*(there’s also the fact that robin is a few years younger in TTA than he is in NTT, where the fact that dick grayson is now a legal adult who wants to keep doing hero work instead of going to college like bruce wants plays heavily into his desire to leave. there are different and more heated tensions there by design. 

i think people also bring too much of the BTAS version of dick into it, the one where he thinks bruce is “going too far” in his crimefighting and leaves. not to put too fine a point on it, but that version of nightwing’s origin sucks. maybe don’t leave the titans out of the origin story of a character who wouldn’t exist without the titans, huh?)

also, since i first wrote this, the robin 80th anniversary anthology book was released, with a self-contained story about robin leaving batman that was written by marv wolfman. (from what i understand it’s quite good.) that story features a very amicable, professional split between the two, and marv wolfman is one of the few writers who really seems to get dick grayson as a character, so i’m gonna take his word for it.

** it’s worth noting that there’s a storyline in the early years of NTT that has some very strong parallels with the “homecoming” two parter; the discovery and repair of robotman especially plays out the same way almost beat for beat. that’s not super-relevant, just fun trivia.