#the disappearance of childhood

[retroinspired]

[bluerosefox]

Tim, buddy, what do you mean you might had accidentally made a Love Child?!

Danny finds out that

1. He's a clonish 'love child' of two heroes

2. He was accidentally created during one of his donors mental break downs after losing his father and best friends (one of which was his other donor)

3. CW interfered before his creator realized what he made and pulled him out of that dimension because "it would had lead that world to true ruin if he found out at his state of mind. He's better now but it would had been the final straw for him should anything had happened to you in his care and given who he had to partner up with later... I did what I had to."

4. Due to Danny having a bad fall out with his parents after he told them about being Phantom (they didn't attack him... but they did disown him.) Danny is left adrift of what to do. He doesn't wanna bug Jazz, she's in college and dorming. Tuckers place has no room. Sam's parents would never let him stay. Vlad was a definitely a no go. And Dani (Ellie) last check in was near the Amazon rainforest.

5. Danny finds out some of his powers might not be as ghostly as he thought... it does explain the huge power boost some of his powers have compared to other ghosts.

6. He went to Clockwork... who proceeded to tell him the truth, smile his cryptic smile while saying "and now. Have fun this time around. I'll see you again in due time Daniel." Before yeeting him into a portal.

7. Danny woke up in his home dimension.... deaged to being five years old (the age he would be if he stayed and grew by now) (DC timeline is slower than DP in this)

8. He woke up apparently his creator's home city... during a Gala (Danny woke up in a garden, dazed and confused. His memories are fuzzy)... and wandered into the party... and apparently he looked like a perfect mix of his.. dads? Which catches A LOT of peoples attention.

9. Especially with Tim Drake-Wayne and Conner Kent-Luthor just announcing they're dating that very night.

10. Rumors and gossip of a random kid, who looks just like the recent happily announced couple, go flying quickly among the elite... and reaches certain ears before it gets to batfam and supers (I have a feeling they learned how to block out rumors and gossips during these events)

11. Those ears happen to be Lex Luthor and Ra's al Ghul (both who are there at the Gala just to annoy and unnerve the Bats and Supers)

12. By the time the rumors get to Tim and Conner, they find Danny almost getting taken away by one of those two.

[yashley]

ashley in c3e109

[hyperfixatinator]

I have a DP x DC AU brainworm about Danny and Tim being long lost siblings (twins or otherwise).

Because both of them have faced evil future versions of themselves who've almost ended the world in some way through altering time. If Clockwork had been watching Danny's world-ending timelines, then who's to say he wouldn't keep tabs on Tim's as well?

Imagine that the brothers had to be temporarily separated at a young age to ensure a peaceful future. Danny had to be in Amity Park to gain his ghost powers and become the new Ghost King. Meanwhile, Tim had to stay in Gothem to become the new Robin, something he'd have been less likely to do if Danny stayed in his life.

However, their separation was only supposed to be temporary. What if both Dan and Future Tim were from futures where they never reunited as teens? Heck, what if both of them were from the SAME future?

The Nasty Burger explosion happened, Danny killed Vlad and absorbed his soul, and became Dan. Dan grew too powerful for the GIW to handle anymore, so the government tried reaching out to the Justice League. But oops! Future Tim already killed off and tore down that whole organization, meaning the world no longer had it's protectors to stop this new foe.

Though they were strangers, the future brothers unwittingly collaborated in sealing the world's fate.

Back to the present, the Observants wanted Clockwork to get rid of Danny and also Tim before that timeline came to pass. What they didn't understand was Clockwork's plan.

See, the Infinite Realms needed a new monarch to replace Pariah Dark, but not just anyone would do. In timelines outside of Dan's future, the U.S government would've started a war with the Infinite Realms anyway. One that would guarantee Earth's destruction and offset the balance of other realms near it.

The war is set to start in Amity Park, but the information blackout is preventing it's citizens from getting outside help. Mid-to-late teen Danny can't bring down the Anti Ecto Acts alone. He'd be struggling to keep the Realms beings from invading his home as it is. And the government's iron grip on the city makes it nearly impossible for news to get out to the masses.

Danny being the brother of a vigilante detective across the country is another story.

Batman's mentorship would give Tim the training needed to eventually track down his lost sibling. And through Red Robin's connections to the Justice League, Danny could get help overturning the Anti Ecto Acts while he keeps declarations of war at bay on his end. Danny and Tim's combined efforts could be what's keeping the world at peace instead of ending it.

Long story short: Clockwork kills two birds with one stone by uniting a pair of long lost brothers through the prevention of an interdimensional war.

[zu-is-here]

Blackout

Aftermare Week by @bluepallilworld

Geno & Error by loverofpiggies

Nightmare by jokublog

[aurorangen]

Even when the good people came

Transcript:

[When my mum came home, I told her what happened and she promised never to leave me alone] Payton: I'm so sorry my baby [hugs Vincent close] I will never leave you alone again. [Still, she didn't reach out to anyone for help and was scared to report him, so life went on]

[Work became a place of security for her. Despite not knowing the details, people at the hospital looked out for her well-being. As with me, it was at Charlie's house and I spent every moment with his family whenever she was busy. Like after school, one of his dads would pick me up and I'd be part of their routine]

[Sometimes Pam would come along and we'd all hang out together before it was time for our parents to come. Reading comics, playing videogames or make-believe: my favourite childhood memories were at his house]

[Then came my mum's overnight shifts, which led to frequent sleepovers. I felt like I was part of their family already, his dads were more of a father figure to me than my own ever was. I was always welcome and I felt safe with Billy and Josh. They were Uncle Billy and Uncle Josh to me even before meeting Renee]

[It wasn't long before they caught up on why I was always sleeping over at theirs] Billy: Vinny…is something happening at home? You can tell me anything buddy. [I wanted to let it all out right there, everything that has happened, but my heart couldn't]

[princeparadiso]

no childhood should be like this

[grand-line-shenanigans]

Always always always thinking about childhood friends au

[saydada]

dnd au ( insp by @alkalinefrog !)

i tried to make hiccup less ooc in this clip ksdhsj

[yinyuedijun]

okay so on that note would anyone ever want a delulu happy ending sequel to translation about doing your best to pass down your culture to your children even when you feel a disconnect to it . because I would write it if everyone politely agrees to suspend disbelief that that couple would ever stop manipulating each other

[jdah]

Jinwoo: I’ll tell you the best motivator I have ever experienced

Suho: What?

Jinwoo: (disappears)

[sprog-writes]

He'd been silent.

Inko couldn't fault him. She'd expect she'd become the designated driver for her son and their friends when she found herself having to purchase a car, but she'd always expected Izuku to be able to act as buffer.

The silence wasn't awkward, but it was certainly tense, and it was clear Katsuki wasn't going to speak up first.

"He used to come home crying everyday, you know?" She said. "You made his life hell."

Katsuki met her eyes in the rearview mirror for a second before she got her eyes back to the road, the occasional street light their only chance at actual seeing each other.

"I know." Inko expected him to. "How can I make it up to you?" She didn't expect him to ask that. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened and she clenched her jaw, wiling herself not to tear up.

"You can't, Katsuki," she said, harsh. "There is nothing you can do to make all the shit you put him through ok and there never will be." She flicked her gaze back at him again. "You're going to have to live with the fact that it's never going to be ok, Katsuki."

Katsuki didn't respond. He stopped looking at her, instead moving his sight towards Izuku's sleeping form in the passenger seat.

"He's been happy," she said. "He's happy at UA, with his new friends and God only knows what the hell he sees in you that you're included in that." She took the next turn a bit too sharply and tried to contain herself again by breathing slowly. "You'll do well not to ruin this for him, Katsuki."

[spending-life-pretending]

started reading the lymond chronicles and I truly have no idea what’s going on but I do like the funny words this guy is speaking to me

[moeblob]

Ladd: but why would you kill me when I'm willing to kill for you?? Lass: omg you can't just say you'd kill someone, Ladd. that's murder and it's frowned upon.

(and then Ladd does kill for her but it's fine and part of the job)

[colorfuldream]

Okay so I've seen it a few times now and there are people who genuinely believe the Squid Sisters have the least content out of every group. I mean, I get forgetting Deep Cuts but the Squid Sisters do have as much as Off The Hook. Sure, OTH is starting to look like favorites now but the SS aren't left behind. Here's an itemized list:

They're in every main story mode. They have three whole games about them. The concept of story mode revolves around them. Just because they aren't proactive in them doesn't make it not count. Their quips and banter are what made us care and learn about them. It did flesh them out. They don't have to actively help to be main characters and receive development. The only game you could argue that is Splatoon 3 but it has a writing problem in general. It did close their story, subtle but interesting and well-written (for what Splatoon is), across the three games.

A short story. They're the only ones who have that. That has insane development, providing a lot of details about them. Like, that's a MAJOR thing that's lore-dumping so many things.

They're in almost every concert. They're in all but two concerts. They're canon too. This gives them a lot of presence in the franchise.

Lots of illustrations. Makes sense. Of course they are with how long they've been around. Still an important sign that they're a major part of the franchise (obviously, the main story is about them). It's always nice to see them in different situations anyways. They also get some lore out of them, fleshes them out and whatever. Which brings me to my next point.

Different outfits. It's not only giving us a sense of how they dress, but it's telling a story. Said it before but, for example, we know Marie likes dressing up for Story Mode and be a mentor of some sort. If you pull that string, you can get that she's someone who puts on a façade depending on the occasion and likes teaching/guiding people, her idea of mature and cool is a traditional outfit from her hometown.

Special Fest variants. Yes, they all do. However, the thing that differentiates them is that this is outside their game and, even though they were mostly reskins, they did get fully new outfits and hairstyles which neither other groups did.

Technically, they got a DLC. Even if it's the old hub and basically promo for Side Order.

They're in Smash Bros. That's not nothing. They're not spirits, they're full-on assist trophies. They better be in it honestly, but it's still something they have over the other two groups. It solidifies their status in the franchise.

Many songs, including remixes. Obviously, but they're also on the Splatfest list which never happened before outside of special events. They started it in Splatoon 2's Final Fest and started it in Splatoon 3's regular Fests. They're trend setters! Which leads me to...

Boss Fight. Final Boss, even. Callie started it. Literally. She fought us. The fact that she was The Final Boss™ puts her above the others. They wish they were her.

Solos. They did it first. They've also got not one but two mash-ups of their solos so it gotta count. I would argue that theirs are special too as they're meant to be solo pieces while the Anarchy Poisons are always put together be it on the soundtrack or the concerts. They were made to, and it's lovely, as Deep Cut's continuing the trend OTH's set: a united group that values each other and their work over fame. Their music is made to be together. Anarchy Rainbow and its Poisons is just that, something that's all of them, always. They were also fused in every live version, and the in-game live version, unlike Tide Goes Out and Bomb Rush Blush. These were forcefully mashed up as each sang over the other, desperately trying to drown out their will and win this fight. It's only now, years later, that they get an unexpected mash-up, joyful and harmonious —which in a way is a part of their story, them reclaiming this song as they bring their solos together. The Squid Sisters are working for themselves, they now do whatever they want with their careers and what they sing, how they sing, when they sing is up to them and only them.

They're the end credits of every game. Special mention to Splatoon 3 that just sacrifices its own idol group for them. Unlike Splatoon 2, Deep Cut was involved in Story Mode and for all the 10 minutes they spent in it, the end credits should have been theirs as they sure as hell didn't get a DLC. Their equivalent was a last minute addition at that, unceremoniously added later on without much spotlight. Jeez, they could have had a second collab song instead or something!

They've got the final battle song for every game. Makes sense because it's their story and their games, it's the culmination of their work every single time. Unlike the credits, they at least shared the spotlight with Deep Cut... Hey, if Marie's their boss, doesn't that make her a part of their group or vice-versa? She better be, she's the one handling their paperwork after all (poor woman, it's a mess too and they're not spending wisely. Shouldn't have been talking about becoming a manager, Marie, you're getting roped up in too much silliness and Callie won't help).

Participation in 2 Final Fests. By that, I mean actually having a team and representing it. Otherwise, they're involved in every Final Fest.

Merch. I mean why wouldn't they have some?? But it had to be added. Special note for the concert CD and special edition. I guess I'd put there the interview bit Marie conducted in Splatoon 3's soundtrack bonuses. That's another bit of trivia/insight on her work. The Nintendo Magazine interviews also count as they're relevant to their characters.

Their song is a major part of their world and franchise. Calamari Inkantation has a special place in the lore and the franchise. It's THE song but also THEIR song.

4 amiibos. They might not give their outfits (which I kinda like because I'm not fond of how they did it for the others) but they give out gear related to their story, the game, and that we should have gotten. At least they're fixing that flaw I guess.

Storyline during the Splatfests. Not sure if it should be added but it did culminate into long lasting conflict between the two of them and started their storyline. Since it's missing in Splatoon 3, I think it should be noted. It fleshes them out and makes them feel a bit more alive, like they're affected by the results.

Most of these could apply to Off The Hook too. My point is that the Squid Sisters haven't been neglected, not from Nintendo's point of view. They're more than included, arguably the stars of Splatoon 1 and 3. The thing is that Off The Hook is the fan favorite right now so most of our attention is on them, not the others. The Squid Sisters have also been so ingrained in the franchise that we're used to it. We readily accepted they would be the stars of Splatoon 3 because they took over most of Splatoon 2 until Octo Expansion. We assumed the other two groups would get DLCs, or that Deep Cut would be involved in OTH's like in the Main Story, only to realize that Nintendo didn't give a damn and gave the spotlight to OTH alone in an attempt to replicate what Splatoon 2 did. Obviously, once we got over Side Order, we kinda realized this was unfair and that there was favoritism. It didn't help that OTH was featured in regular battles and that Splatoon 2 and 3 handled Splatfests differently, with special events and work done to the idols. We've come a long way since the first game, which itself had changed plenty during its time, so it feels unfair that the Squid Sisters didn't benefit from what the others got or for as long. That doesn't mean they didn't get a lot and weren't the favorites for a long time.

Now, I'm gonna address the thing that made me write this in the first place:

They do have a story and development. Just because it wasn't in your face doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Up until Splatoon 3, the story wasn't as obvious as it could be when it came to the idols. Marina's background is clear-cut, because you cannot be too subtle about it, but apart from some big lines, it wasn't directly stated, nor was her development in Octo Expansion (it's heavily linked to Agent 8 and the Octavian but the fact that she comes to be comfortable in what species she is and overcomes her fear of being found out and rejected should count as a story). She's fascinating and it's important to the world.

But that doesn't leave the Squid Sisters flat and boring. They had an arc! Them slowly resenting each other because of their time as Splatcast anchors, because they were always pit against each other, because of the way being an idol works, is a story in itself. It was bad enough to get Callie to free Octavio, who's a terrible, dangerous person as far as she knew then, and go to the Octarians, poor, underground enemies. The Hypno-Shades are more like heavily suggesting you to obey, we know that Callie had some sort of free will to put glitter, of all things, into their ink. She also was fully conscious of her actions when freeing Octavio, and we know this guy isn't a mastermind and world class manipulator. Marie wasn't doing much better, working a lot and being stressed. Fame drove them apart and broke Callie down to the point of going to people who wanted hers dead. She freed a war criminal. Once Marie saved her, mostly from her own despair, they decided to do their own thing. They didn't need fame or their careers. Family was more important. Tidal Rush was their solos crashing against each other, not listening and trying to sing over the opponent, until Marie blasted on a song that meant the world to them. The hymn of sea kind. The song that they won that fateful contest with when they were young, the reason why their dream came true. The song that they sang when safinf their dear grandpa, powerful enough to make Octolings give up everything and try to join the surface. A beautiful memory. Something that was theirs. And so they sang. Together. "I remember everything!" The innocent days they practiced for the contest, the terrifying ride to Inkopolis, the nervousness of their first Splatcast. But they were together. She wasn't alone. Marie had always been on her side. Neither of them wanted this. If it had been up to them, nobody would have compared them to each other. They wouldn't have been choices for their last Splatfest. It's a certain kind of cruel to ask which of the two teenage girls was the better one. Callie wasn't angry at Marie, she was angry at the system. She felt awkward, self-conscious, worthless because of her status as a celebrity, because she as a person didn't matter. Her comfort? Who cares. Take the photos, sing the songs, be careful to be perfect. She was overworked, isolated, and the only person she could count on was put in the same position and told she was a competitor.

Fresh Start is the two of them reconnecting away from show business. Going back to their roots. They stop being idols afterwards, they don't sing much anymore. They get their own careers. Callie slowly finds the strength to be in the spotlight after so long and goes back to acting, unlike Marie this seems to be more of her thing. Marie keeps on with her podcast, now using it to hype Callie up. Splatoon 3 even shows us that Callie is some sort of spokesperson, announcing that an Inkopolis stage will undergo reconstruction. She's rebuilding her career on her own and making it her own. The Squid Sisters, while some of the most people in the world, weren't recognized in the Splatlands. Sure, Shiver and Frye probably didn't give a damn about Inkopolis musicians but Big Man is a fan, he's even showed them their music, and he still didn't recognize them. They're known for their music, their names possibly for themselves. Splatoon 3 is the only game not to give them a story, even its details don't imply much. But the previous two games did.

It's a story of two girls who got famous too soon, too suddenly, and got eaten by showbusiness. It's two young women taking their power back and breaking free from the idol life. It's a family that managed to heal from the damage fame caused over the years.

I dunno but I think it's beautiful and I'm a sucker for stories that criticize being an idol and family coming together. The Squid Sisters' entire thing was being idols, that's their entire concept, especially identical ones which is dehumanizing enough. It's fitting and not something you'd expect out of Splatoon of all places but it's the kind of franchise that gets surprisingly deep and dark in its smallest details.

No, they're not neglected or underdeveloped. Their story is there, just not as flashy as you'd expect. Their presence is something we're so used to that we don't clock it anymore, moreso when the other group gets attention too. Splatoon 3 didn't handle the writing well, as fun and silly as it gets, and it shows in a lot of ways. It's easy to go "so what was the point of the Squid Sisters being there?" when the story didn't bother doing anything with them for once but they weren't the only one neglected nor did they not get content in other ways!

[etherfall]

May we have a fic about one of the many nights N was trapped in that castle by Ghetsis per chance?

TW for some small injuries I suppose, nothing too serious

It had been four days since the Shadow Triad had kidnapped N and locked him within the confines of the Team Plasma castle. In that time he could feel his hope of escape slowly slipping away.

The room that he had been placed in did not help matters either. It was grey, colorless and nearly completely empty, almost as if it was unfinished. The only pieces of furniture were a large skateboard ramp and a basketball hoop, dull in color and covered in dust. He had been sitting in the middle of the skateboard ramp, staring blankly at the wall for hours. The presence of night and day was little but a faded memory. 

N clasped his hands together, looking down at the bloody bruises that covered his knuckles. For the first two days he had been repeatedly punching and throwing himself at the great metal doors, begging anyone to let him out. But his energy soon faded and he had no motivation to do anything but sit there and wait. He felt his shoulder throbbing as well, but didn’t bother to look at what injury might be there. 

There was a low creaking sound, and he blinked his eyes wearily to see the two Team Plasma Queens step inside and shut the door behind them. They had visited a few times before in the previous days. Although they were on the enemy side, N didn’t mind their presence whenever they came in. The two were kind to him, at least. They whispered softly to each other, before glancing at N.

“You’re injured.” Concordia noted with a hint of sorrow, stepping forward and tilting her head gently.

“I wouldn't be if you let me leave this place.” He muttered softly. 

Anthea stepped up besides Concordia, pulling out a few pieces of cloth out from her dress pocket. She held them out to N.

“Please take this, I insist. We mean no harm to you under our care.” She said with sincerity.

N hesitantly took the cloth from Anthea's hand. Although he was unhappy with his situation he really couldn't be too bitter towards the queens, who seemed to care at least a little about his well being.

An awkward silence hung in the air as N hastily tied the cloth around his injured fists. Anthea cleared her throat softly, breaking the lull of conversation.

“Regent Ghetsis has requested that we visit you.” Anthea said in a gentle yet commanding tone, standing with her hands clasped regally in front of her.

“He has advised us to give you the opportunity to join our cause,” Concordia added on, tilting her chin up with potency. “For the liberation of all pokemon, and an end to their suffering.”

N looked the sisters in the eyes. He shook his head softly. “I’ve told you this before, I’m not joining you. Why are you still doing this?”

Concordia's eyes hardened. “Pokemon have been hurt over and over again by people. Any efforts for their salvation will be futile by normal means.” 

“The only option left for us now is to free the dragon and fight the Champion.” Anthea added on.

Concordia nodded her head. “Only then will we have the power to save all pokemon from humans.”

“You know how dangerous the dragon is, right?” N said, getting up shakily on his legs. He stood up to face the sisters. “Surely you two know the legend. The last time the dragons were summoned their battle threw everything into turmoil.” He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“It could destroy all of Unova and all that you think you are working for.”

Their expressions were stoic, but N could have sworn that he saw a flicker of hesitation in their eyes. However it was quickly masked. N pressed on.

“I was raised by pokemon.” He said, his voice desperate but firm. “And everyone I knew did nothing but love them. People connect with pokemon by battling, that is how their bonds grow stronger.”

 He took a step forward. “Separating people from pokemon will do nothing but hurt us all.”

“N…” Anthea warned, her voice steady but sharp. “You don’t understand–”

“The Champion!” He exclaimed, interrupting her sentence. “My father. The man you swear to defeat. He loves his Pokémon more than anything in the world, and they would die for him as well. Defeating him will be like destroying the freedom for Pokémon you claim to pursue.” 

His voice wavered slightly. “I know that what you're doing is for a good cause, but separating people from pokemon isn't the answer.”

“Please,” he was practically begging now. “You need to understand that this liberation is wrong...”

The sisters stared at him blankly with matching expressions, and any hope of changing their minds withered away. 

Concordia dipped her head slightly. Whatever emotion she might have been feeling was hidden behind her empty expression. “We highly inquire that you rethink your stance, N.”

N shut his eyes in defeat. “Look. I know that you two think that you are making the world a better place by releasing the dragon.”  

He looked back up, taking in a shuddering breath. “But please just listen, and consider my words.”

The sisters were silent, yet their expressions did not give away any of their emotions. Together, they turned towards the door. Anthea turned her head back slightly to address N one last time.

“Thank you for your time N, we will report your response back to Ghetsis.”

Concordia stepped out into the hallway, with Anthea following close behind. Their crowns glinted in the light as the door was pulled closed. With that the doors slammed shut once again, locking with a clicking sound.

N slumped back down, feeling his confidence eroding. He pulled his poncho tighter around his shoulders, squeezing his eyes shut. He couldn’t understand why Team Plasma was trying to drag him of all people into this mess. Deep in his mind he hoped that the sisters had taken some of his word to heart.

His heart ached. He missed his family. He missed his dad. There was nothing he could do to tell if they were coming to save him. All he could do now was wait.