#the whole idea of growing up as a telepath is just fascinating!

[delyth88]

I'm fascinated with how movie-verse!Charles must have discovered and experimented with his abilities. I imagine he must have started off scared and nervous and then rapidly swung to being cocky and confident when he realises just how much control he has over everyone. He can make them do whatever he wants. He can make them like him, he can make them give him good marks in school when he didn't bother to try, he can make them be nice to Raven.

And then I wonder how long it took for this heady feeling to pass and for him to understand the humanity in each person and realise that he doesn't really want to control anyone after all.

And how easily it could have gone a different way.

[the-letterbox-archives]

is there a muse or inspiration you draw from when it comes to your stories? you just have so many and i’m wondering what fountain of immortal writing youth you drank from, dawg LMAO

last ask before signing off! but this is such a fun one to think about!

i don't have one surefire source of inspiration (other than my chronically silly brain), each story has a different landing pad that usually consists of a random thing that i've taken inspiration from, and a question to drive the work (some are very edgy or philosophical haha). they come from incredibly random sources, but i can list the ones i remember!

tales from a dying heart

where it came from: i wanted to write an anthology as a break from my old novella structure, and i was thinking about love. obviously i had to fuck it up because god forbid anything on the archives is happy. fun fact: that was originally the only story the archives was meant to hold! it was the first and only story, and the blog used to be themed after tales from a dying heart entirely (that's why my current pfp is still the heart itself)!

driving question: "why does love hurt people?"

the rockdove promise

where it came from: originally a group project that i had the idea for (i was itching to write something with mythology and more classic fantasy if that makes sense). when the others couldn't continue it, i had already fallen in love with the world and gods, so i added more to the worldbuilding, and added characters i was passionate about (and found my first ever character punching bag, laszlo).

driving question: "how can we save what we care about from oppressive control?"

insincere.

where it came from: i had one of my worst days where i couldn't get out of bed. i had the idea to channel the feelings into a story, so i got out of bed, and wrote insincere., then decided i wanted to keep it going after my initial bad day.

driving question: "how can we feel happy?"

on kingston alley

where it came from: someone, i think it was @noxxytocin, added me in a tag game that involved writing a scene with the provided line. i was a young, growing archivist back then and didn't understand the concept, so i wrote a short screenplay, giving it a fun mystery hook (because i felt like it) and some repressed sapphics, then decided to continue it because the format was so freeing!

driving question: "why do we forget the victims?"

school rules

where it came from: a novel i abandoned because the format wasn't clicking. i axed the mc, replaced them with sunny and remade the old mc to be what is now darcy spencer, and changed the format to my first ever first person story since my first novella!

driving question: "how does academic pressure hurt us?"

the dumaresq poems

where it came from: i was getting overwhelmed with my own expectations for uploads from the rest of volume 1, so i dug up some old poems of mine, rewrote them a bit, and put a cute woodsy aesthetic over it!

driving question: "how can poetry tell us emotional stories?"

the hunt is a dance

where it came from: another project with a friend that fell through, it didn't change much from then. i took the friends desired ideals of religious and folk horror and intertwined it with my own narratives of power, hatred, and misguided justice.

driving question: "why do we bend to corruption, and how can we stop?"

TITANSPINE

where it came from: @ominous-feychild and i were discussing some of her lore, and we both bonded over our love of telepaths/prophets in stories. i had always been fascinated by urban fantasy and had a vague desire to make it, but magic systems are so hard for me. that conversation sparked a drive to actually make it. i named it red velvet, then barlowe told me to change the it (thanks for that btw), and i created the protagonist that shaped the whole story and it's themes.

driving question: "how can we fight social and police corruption?"

n3xt y3ar

where it came from: scandal after scandal, feud after feud about the existence of generative ai and it snubbing real creatives tipped me over the edge, so i wrote n3xt y3ar out of spite, imbuing it with a main character near and dear to my heart due to our similarities, and a world i both loathe and fear. let's see a robot make a story with that motivation. fuckers.

driving question: "how do us creatives find hope in a world of generative ai?"

soleil éteint

where it came from: i wanted to write another fiction podcast style story (school rules technically being the first), and i was on a magnus archives high. i'm fascinated by fear in the real world, and dreams in writing, so with the motivation of some great fiction podcasts, i began writing soleil éteint, which flowed very quickly since screenplays and podcasts are quite easy for me to write as it turns out!

driving question: "how can we stop running away from fear?"

shatter the shield

where it came from: i realised i was long overdue for some tragic gays, and i wanted to experiment with a more distinct narrator without writing a fully discursive piece like a podcast or screenplay. as i was writing the prologue, i knew the narrator, kåre, wasn't the main character. but the love i gave him for the main character, roshan, was so palpable, it made me want to continue the story. i knew by how i wrote it that kåre was going to die, and soon, but i think that added an extra level to the themes of the story.

driving question: "why can't we accept love, and why can't we process grief?"

and of course, volumes 3 and 4 come from even more random places lmao- hope this explained my random writing process!

[shadowgale96]

What I Watched Last Month

Thermae Romae

9/10 It's about a roman architect, Lucious, who occasional falls into different Japanese time periods and implements his learnings back in Rome. I laughed so much. Lucious is hilarious to follow. He's so comedically passionate about baths. Only complaint is that the pilot's a bit of a drag, and there's CGI that doesn't look good, but its not constant. Overall, this is a nice watch.

Spy X Family

10/10

It has comedy, action, cuteness and overall its just a really fun anime. Every member of the forager family has a secret they're hiding and there own motives that is hidden from the others. Loid is a top spy, Yor duels as an assassin, and anya escaped a government lab that made her a telepath. The dynamic is hilarious with this 4-5 y/o reading everyone thoughts and secrets but also being a little kid about it, and the paretents being too socially stunted from their own careers to understand normal family behaviour, but anya still loves them all the same.

My only regret is having to wait a whole week for each episode.

This Boy Suffers From Crystallization (2014)

(7/10) Interesting premise with a boy who slowing turns to crystal when he's anxious or depressed. High school's already difficult enough without being a socially anxious kid who's crushing on his teacher that also turns into crystal. The movie's brief but sweet. It's also an lgbt+ romance that's filled with fluff and angst. Very cheesy and cliche, but I knew what I was getting into. It's clear that this movie didn't have much of a budget. it's mostly camera pans on still shots, but it's also clear someone really wanted to make this. <3

War of the Worlds (1953)

(8/10)

Probably don't need to explains this one. I enjoyed this classic much more than I expected. With how dated it is, I wasn't expecting much, but I can definitely see why it's a classic. The looming dread of the alien invasion grows throughout the film, making it an effective horror film even today. That being said, I was also sent laughing plenty of times throughout this film. I wish the characters were more fleshed out as well. but overall nice film.

The Angry Red Planet (1959)

4/10. Explorers go to Mars with no idea what kinds of dangers await them. Why didn't they just send a probe first? Don't ask questions. It's slow going and honestly the best part of the movie are the monsters that pop up albeit briefly. Giant spider bat is 10/10. In a movie like this (where characters are mostly confined to a single location and there isn't much budget or time for Special effects) there needs to be a lot of good character writing, but they all fill fairly basic roles. The movie kept disengaging me with how many times I thought "that not how someone would act." Is it a marvel of it's time? Well, it came out 6 years after WotW and apparently was only given 9 days to film, and it shows. Didn't dislike the film but was disappointed.

Queen of Blood (1966)

6/10

Aliens send an SOS to earth leading a ship of astronauts to a crashed ship and a strange green woman with a beehive hairdo. They bring her onboard and try to establish peaceful communication, but it all goes downhill as they learn the true nature of this alien race.

Half of this movie is them struggling to get to the alien, the other half is them finally bringing her on board. This movie is considered a horror but it's horror elements don't pick up until the last fourth of the film. honestly I wanted more by the time this film was done. A cliffhanger from a movie made in 1966 was also frustrating.

Creature (1985)

9/10

In response to an accident on Saturn's moon, Titan, astronauts are sent to investigate. Horror ensues.

Surprised I don't hear more about this movie more often. it was solid monster flick. Several moments were chilling to watch. how the monster kills and uses it's victims is fascinating and upsetting. The tagline for Creature is 'First you die...then the horror begins' and it holds true. Very satisfying.

Main complaint is that i wish the German guy wasn't so pervy. Why is everyone just okay with his behavior? and the characters should've had some more development before touching down on Titan.

Grave of the Vampire (1972)

7/10 It's hard to give a good synopsis for this movie, since the focus changes so often. First its about a woman who got assaulted by a vampire and a cop trying to catch the killer, than like 40 years go by and a vampire half-ling is taking some college classes and bumps into his vampire father.

Very bleak beginning. it definitely earns it's R. There was a lot of focal whiplash in this film. We focus on the mother and cop until about halfway through the film. It's fast paced and suspenseful. Although, it definitely needed to be condensed down and find it's focus, but It held my attention, and I was curious to see where it was going. Most of the characters were interesting to follow as well. Disappointing that there was a cliffhanger ending. but the movie is mostly wrapped up and chaotic anyway, so it doesn't ruin it for me.

Reptilian (2001)

2/10 This feels like a crack cross between Godzilla 1998 and Independence day, and it boarders between being absolutely awful and laughably bad. horrible effects, bad acting, nonsense plot and characters, but it did get a few laughs out of me so i'll give it credits there.

[ggukkieland]

📕CURRENT READS (2020 November)

🌹 Almost done with the list except for a few and I am excited to curate fics that are fitting for merry December 🎅❄🎄🤶 woot woot! 

I enjoyed this month’s reads - a mix of cyberpunk au, android au, werewolf aus, slice of life, exes and those on the verge of breaking up, and lots of beautifully-written drabbles which ended up in my list of favorites. 

Please send these authors some love by reblogging their content =)

✅ -  done reading   | S (smut) F (fluff) A (angst) 

🥕[Ongoing Series - to check weekly] 

Still reading the ongoing series from October’s reading list, whenever there is an update 😊.

Onyx @springbean - JJK | ABO universe, omega!reader, rouge!Alpha!Jungkook, roommates, cyberpunk au | A, F (this is so fascinating)

[2/?] years after the war, Soketh has become a bustling electric city of life and death. a world now filled with mystery, danger, and rules, y/n finds herself rooming with her old friend while trying to find herself in the city of dangerous dreams. however, her world is turned upside down when a rouge alpha enters their life seeking refuge and help…

Vulgar and Divine @yeoldontknow - JHS | elf!hoseok au, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage,  fantasy au, horror, suspense | A, S

[1/?] The Elf King buys your hand in marriage as an act of political strategy - you, the Banshee Priestess and your ability to forewarn death in exchange for your people’s return to your original home in the River Lands. You hate him for the way his kind make a mockery of death. Even before you meet him, you decide you will not grieve his death - not even a little. But then, on the day of your wedding you begin to weep - and it is not out of love or rapture.

Kitchen Confidential @glitter-kookiedough - KSJ | chef au, slow burn, enemies to lovers | A, F, S

[3/?] After years of annoying the life out of you, your rival, Kim Seokjin, pushes you a step too far and he knows it. As angry and resentful as you are, you don’t realize that something has been brewing under the surface for years. This weekend, that will change. 🌟 new chapter🌟

enemiestolovers drabble series @sincerelyourfangirl - JJK | enemies to lovers, fwb, co-workers | S, A, F

[3/?] Maybe the line between love and hate is thin. Especially when you’re in bed with Jungkook.

Challenge Accepted | What Happens When You’re not Careful | Risky Business

The Lost Luna @hobisbeautifulass - KTH | werewolf au, soulmate au, rival clans | F, A

[2/?] One Luna is born per a hundred-year cycle or so and only appears after the previous one has passed away.  This Luna was forced into hiding for seventeen years, but now she’s back, bloodthirsty, and ready to reclaim her throne.

Mutual Help @personasintro - JJK | bestfriend au, fwb au, fake dating | A, S, F

[24/?] in order for you to pretend to be his girlfriend, he helps you with your sexual desires ⏤ he calls it a mutual help

Bite Me @cheeky-kookie - PJM | vampire au | A, F, S

[1/?] Growing up, you always learned to look over your shoulder at night, hoping to never run into the catlike gleam of a vampires eyes. Yet, one night on your way home you find yourself staring into the very things you feared most. Dangerously beautiful and undeniably confident, Park Jimin was everything you knew you needed to stay away from, but he had other plans.

Nut Jobs @ironicarmy - OT7 | slice of life, crack, humor, friends au | S

[5/?] Eight friends. One terrible idea. A whole lot of trouble. Welcome to No Nut November.

Cherry Pickers @kimnjss - JJK | social media au, smau, gamer, fuckboi, vixen!reader, virgin!reader | F, S, A

[4/?] [updates daily] known for your body and surrounded by rumors about your sex life… rumors that he doesn’t think to doubt. until he’s meeting you… forced to realize there’s much more to you then the thonged shorts and lacy costumes.

(or, you’re a video vixen with an assumed identity and jungkook manages to see past it.)

Across the Board @out-of-jams - KTH | 20s, gambling, mafia au, enemies to lovers | S, A

[1/?] And now you’re indebted to the city’s most dangerous mob boss, forced to pay your dues in blood one way or another. With a gun pushed into your hands and your life at stake; once you’re in, you’re in. You’ll never get out.

🥕[Completed AUs/Series/Drabbles -  to read]

Through Time and Space @taephilia - 10.6k | KSJ | F, A, sci-fi, time travel au, adventure, doctor who au 

re: Untitled @to-star-lake - 18.8k | JJK | A, S, F, ceo au, arranged marriage, childhood acquaintance turned enemies (one of my favorites this month 🥰)  

01 02 03 04  ✅

Moral of the Story @suhdays - 7.7k | JHS | A, F, S, strangers to loves, soulmate au, OC can tell if people are telling the truth (really interesting)  ✅

In the Margins  @bonvoyagenoona - 31k | MYG | F, S, A, writer au, humor, enemies to friends to lovers, slow burn, editor!reader, writer!yoongi [also on AO3] 

01: Winter (5k words)   ✅ 02: Spring (6k words)  03: Summer (7k words)  04: Fall (13k words) 

Into my Bones @inkofyoongi - 15k | MYG | S, F, A, fwb to lovers, slice of life-ish, non-chronological (this is awesome 🌟) ✅

A Human Touch @snackhobi - 39.1k | KTH | F, S, robot au, android!taehyung 

01 ✅ 1.5  02 (will finish the rest of the chapters; this is so good)

Supply and Demand @scribblemetae - 5.7k | MYG | S, A, supernatural au, telepathic!myg, strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers  ✅

More than Us @jeongi - 11.3k | KTH | F, S, college au, roommate au, best friend to lovers

Moirai @jimlingss - 46.9k | KTH | F, A, isekai au, fantasy au, reborn as a villain in a video game

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Taking Flight @rmnamjoons - 15.2k | KNJ | S, sci-fi, post-apocalypse, rivals to friends to lovers au

Lining’s Silver @sketchguk - 14.1k | MYG | S, F, College au, idiots to lovers, enemies to lovers 

Even a Forest Fire Dies Out @9uk - 6.6k | JJK | A, F, exes au (a re-read) ✅

Southpaw @starshapedkookie - 30k | JJK | A, S, F, childhood friends, college au, boxer au, kinda e2l-ish (a re-read, that fight scene was just exhilarating) 🔥🥊 ✅

All That We Had @starlightauroras-writes - 13k | JJK | Heavy A, S, F, exes au, reunion, ex-husband!JK ✅ (author said there’ll be Pt2)

After the Honeymoon Fades @onherwings - 13k | MYG | A, S, F, established relationship (on the rocks), producer!yoongi, professor!OC ✅

Cozy Thief @bratkook - 5.1k | JJK | F, S, roommates au, mutual pining ✅

Quiet Baby by bratkook - 3.2k | JJK | S, established au, pwp, exhibitionism✅

Come Over by bratkook - 7.2k | JJK | S, pwp, neighbors au, voyeurism ✅

Tear You Apart by bratkook - 17.4k | KTH | S, pwp, slight horror, paranormal

01  ✅ 02 (to read)

Breathe @ephemeralkookie - 6.9k | JJK | A, S, F, exes au, multiple break-ups   ✅

Shield @namgukgalore  - 18.6k | JJK | F, S, slow burn, security guard!JJK, co-workers au ✅

Imitation of Art by namgukgalore - 9.6k | KTH | F, S, romance, friends to lovers

High School Reunion @btsarmy9593 - 6k | MYG | F, reunion, second chances ✅

One Night Ride by btsarmy9593 - 3.8k | JJK | F, hints of S, college!JK, noona, one night stand au ✅

Off the Table @fakeleaves - 11k | KNJ | A, F, exes to lovers  ✅

By its Cover @crystaljins - 38.9k | JHS | F, A, enemies to lovers, demon au, magic/supernatural, witch!reader 

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 ✅

Your Eyes Tell @njkbangtan - 40k | JJK | A, F, mild S, soulmate au, roommates au, enemies to lovers, slow burn, a bit sugar baby au, lawyer!reader, artist!jungkook 

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15   ✅

Popular-ish (drabble series) @hansolmates - 16.1k | JJK | F, S, A, popular!JJK, normie!reader, college au, fwb-ish

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09  10 11 12 13  ✅ 🥰

One More Time (Finale) - 7.3k | reunion ✅ 

No One @dfdph - 21k | JJK | A, extreme sports, slice of life, epistolary (in form of letters), heavy angst (not kidding! with trigger warnings; written so beautifully but angst may not be for all) ✅

Repercussions: Suspenders, Satin and Stockings @pars-ley​ - 3.1k | MYG | S, pwp, established relationship ✅

Have Faith in Me @aroseforyoongi - 6.4k | KTH | S, F, werewolf au, soulmates au, bestfriends to lovers ✅

The Art of Boxing @seokiie -  3.1k | JJK | S, pwp, boxing au ✅

Beautiful Confession @btsracket - 6.3k | JJK | S, F, fake dating, friends to lovers  ✅

Tongue Tied @btssavedmylifeblr - 12k | PJM | S, F, minor A,  crack, demon au, idol verse, established relationship, pwp  ✅

Infamous @sugaxjpg - 12.5k | KTH | S, A, secret relationship au, fuckboy au  ✅

Familiar Stranger @army-author - 7.3k | KTH | F, friends to lovers, high school au, mixed-up identity  ✅

Strangers Again @minniefilms  - 11.4k |  JJK | A, F, enemies to lovers, best friend’s boyfriend

01 02 03 04 drabble ✅

Ruin Him @kingsuckjin​ - 3.5k | JJK | S, pwp, virgin!JK, coworker au ✅

Sex Education @extravaguk - 12k | JJK | S, F, A, brother’s best friend, virgin!OC (actually came out fluffier than expected 🥰)   ✅

In your Eyes @sweetaesuga - 10.6k | JJK | S, F, A, college au, fratboy au, ex-fuckboy jk, friends to lovers ✅

Drabble Series: In Your Heart [4/11] ✅

Lunar Violence @taetaesbaebaepsae - 7.4k | JJK | S, rock band au, werewolf au, ABO dynamics, strangers to lovers ✅

A Fallen Bookmark on a Thursday Afternoon @cutaepatootie​ - 19k | JJK | A, F, S, strangers to lovers, takes the same train every Thursday 😭 ✅

There You Are @joonkookiemonster - 13.4k | JJK | F, S, ABO dynamics, werewolf au  ✅

Here I Come @jiminssthetic - 3k | JJK | S, pwp, college au, friends to lovers ✅

Morning Rush @atdawnsuga - 3.2k | JJK | S, college au, exhibitionism, strangers ✅

(in)Satiable @thatlongspringnight - 11.3k | JJK | S, F, incubus au, lucid dreams ✅

The Red Pool @ksmuttherapy - 3.1k | JJK | S, horror, vampire au, dusk til dawn vibes

inTOXICated @sugarjaee - JJK | A, S, toxic relationship, college au, fboi au  

01 02 03 04 05 06  ✅

Inebriated [Jungkook’s POV] - 7.4k, read after chapter 4 ✅

You’re so Creepy (drabble series) @whatifyoulivelikethat  - 2k per member | OT7 | F, crack, university au, creepy girl au, (actually cute) 

There’s always at least one campus creepy girl. Or seven. Part 1 (1st kiss) Part 2 (2nd meeting)

kim namjoon - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

kim seokjin - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

min yoongi - part i | part ii  ✅

jung hoseok - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

park jimin  - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

kim taehyung  - part i | part ii ✅

jeon jungkook - part i | part ii  ✅

🥕[Drabbles]

Feeling @sometimeinjoon - 2.3k | JJK | demon JJK, established relationship, a bit slice-of-life | love this so much ✅🥰

Warmth @artaefact - 306 words | JJK | fluff, fantasy au, incandesce couple ✅

Too Close @taestybae​ - 1.4k words | JJK | expecting parents au, boxer au, angst  ✅

“i’m yours, in every way you’ll have me” by taestybae - 0.8k | KTH | S, A, fwb au ✅

“Are you Sure?” by taestybae - 2k | KTH | S, F, brother’s best friend | love this!  ✅ 🥰

“The strings are attached already” @taetaespeaches - 1.8k | KNJ | angst, fwb ✅

Deep End @latetaektalk - 2.2k | MYG | angst, fuckboy au, a bit of fluff  ✅

Game Boy @suqakoo - 2.7k | JJK | S, gamer au, enemies to lovers, a bit of fluff ✅🔥

Reese’s It’s All for You @joonkookiemonster - 3.1k | JJK | F, demon au, roommate au, Driving me Wild Halloween Drabble ✅

Transparent @kingsuckin - 793 words | JJK | S, pwp, established relationship, see-through JJK shirt 😉 ✅🔥

Savage Love @whatifyoulivelikethat - | JJK | S, pwp, OC is yoongi’s ex 😬 ✅

🌹  Drabbles by @zephyoongist​  - I love the way these are written. Just beautiful. Truly fluffy (like butterflies in my stomach) and also gives off a deep/for keeps type of dynamics between the characters:

you and yoongi had an unusual friendship... - 665 words | MYG | fluff, mutual pining, friends to lovers ✅🥰

kim taehyung had only met you a few times… - 1.2k | KTH | fluff, accidental pregnancy au ✅🥰 (a fave)

there wasn’t any particular reason as to why min yoongi chose you to be his mate - his luna… - 840 words | MYG | fluff, werewolf au, slice of life ✅🥰

jung hoseok found you when you were about to make the biggest mistake of your life… - 1.5k | JHS | fluff, runaway bride, slice of life | really cute ✅🥰

[moonlit-imagines]

Mutant One Seat Over

Peter Maximoff x reader

warnings:

a/n: ahhhh anon you are so super sweet!!! thank you so much! to do this awesome request, reader is gn and has natural spider powers! (as opposed to engineering tech to accommodate powers, but i know you said “like peter parker” so i hope this is okay!) mwah!

prompt: anonymous: “Hi Could you do a Xmen- Peter X Spider!Reader one shot where the reader is a new student in the school for gifted youngsters and they have spider powers (like peter Parker). They don’t really attend classes or have any friends and Charles are trying to get them more comfortable in the school So he literally drags her to class. she has to sit next to Peter maximoff and he is totally mesmerized by her and and they become really close and starts dating.

Ps: hope your having a great day and staying safe. Your such a talented writer and also don’t feel pressed to do this I totally understand if you decide not to, just do what you feel like🥰❤️❤️”

Ever since puberty, you just haven’t been the same. I might have to mention that you’re a mutant, let’s just say that you had a different idea in mind when warned that “your body will go through all sorts of changes.” The surfacing of your mutation was startling, uncomfortable, and confusing.

Some lovely abilities you had acquired were: sticking to almost anything that came into contact with your skin (you’re working on it), being able to spin your own webs (which you were getting pretty good at, fantastic vision, super strength, and much more to be explored.

After a little mishap at school when you got stuck in a bathroom stall for three and a half hours, your parents thought it best to send you to a boarding school that was “much more your speed.”

“No. No, I don’t want to leave!” You pleaded with your parents once they broke the news to you. They were heartbroken that it had to go this far, but this is what needed to be done.

“It’s only until you get control of your powers, y/n. You need to be around other people who share your experiences.” You mom explained, grabbing your gloved hands. At this point, you couldn’t do anything without being covered from near head-to-toe in clothing, it stuck to you and only you.

“Yeah, I heard you the first time.” You snapped, jerking away and stomping up the stairs, but there was a certain sound that stopped you. A car horn. “You didn’t...” You glared at your parents and watched them avert eye contact from you, your heart broke into a million pieces. “A cab? Really? You won’t even take me there yourself?”

“Your suitcase is already packed, y/n.” Your dad’s ashamed tone gave you chills, you never thought you’d have to be sent off like this. You hesitantly stepped back down the steps while your dad walked into the mud room to grab the bag he’d stashed. “We’re sorry, but this is for your own good.” You snatched the bag from him and swung the front door open.

“We love you!” Your mom called as you slammed the front door hard enough to knock down a few dozen pictures and wall decorations throughout the house. “They’re never going to forgive us for this.”

—————

Truth be told, you didn’t enjoy this school at all. Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. The place was teeming with outcasts just like yourself, it made you sick.

At least you were in charge of yourself here. You came and went from your room when you pleased, but you pleased to stay in your room as much as you possibly could. Yes, you had classes, but you just so happen to miss...all of them.

“Well, we don’t know what they’re going through.” A voice mumbled outside of your dorm door. “It took me a while to acclimate to all this change, I imagine they feel the same.” You wouldn’t have let it bother you, but whoever was out there had just disturbed you from a fascinating dream that had taken you far from here. You threw off the covers and swung your legs over the edge of the bed, taking a moment to recover from the headrush.

“I’m so sick of this shit, some peoppe are trying to sleep!” You yanked the door hard enough for it to make a dent in the wall, but that wasn’t nearly as bad as opening the door to Professor Xavier, the headmaster of this boarding school, and another resident from the building, Hank. “Oh. Hi.”

“Mx. l/n, your teachers informed me that you have not been attending your classes, is this true?” The Professor interrogated, but you knew that lying couldn’t save you from a telepath.

“Yep, it’s true. The change of scenery’s just a little overwhelming, you know how it is.” You carelessly shrugged and even tried to close to door on them, but Dr. McCoy caught it and looked to the Professor in shock.

“Yes, well, maybe we could work on that. Why don’t you follow me to your next class? It really would be best for you to keep up with your studies. Maybe you’ll even make some new friends?” Professor Xavier wouldn’t give up on you, which was both comforting and exhausting. With a roll of your eyes, you peeled off one of your gloves and slapped yout hand against the wooden wall.

“Oh, no.” You deadpanned. “I’m stuck.” The two adults exchanged exhausted glances and stared at you in silence, you doing the same. You obviously were a stubborn kid, the Professor had seen this a hundred times before. But it gave him an idea, he knew the perfect candidate for a long lasting friendship, now he just needed you to quit all these games.

“Hank? Would you..?” Xavier politely suggested his friend’s assistance without outright saying it, so you were just a little puzzled when Hank stepped inside your room.

“Brace yourself, y/n.” He pushed his glasses up before planting his feet and grabbing you by each shoulder. Your eyebrows conjoined out of pure confusion, but just like that you were unstuck from the wall. He...okay, he was strong? That would have been good to know. Maybe they should have started with that before yanking you off of a hard surface. There were a few chunks of wood still connected to your hand, you’d have to pick them off later. “I suggest you put the glove back on, y/n. Wouldn’t want to get stuck again now, would you?” Hank gave you a forced smile and waited for you to do the right thing.

“Fine.” You pulled the glove over your hazardous skin and picked up your backpack. “If you insist, I’ll try out a class.” You huffed and dragged your feet across the hardwood floor, bringing joy to the Professor’s face. Maybe he enjoyed the suffering of mutant children.

“Splendid, this way.” He wheeled himself beside you, giving you a pep talk the whole way through the halls. “I do think you’ll like it here, you just have to give it a chance. Everyone here has something in common, that’s what makes it so great. I know it’s not easy having to leave the comfort of a familiar lifestyle, but life has a funny way of coming together, you’ll see.” You observed the decor that you’d ignored time and time again as you kept your head down and shuttled yourself from one place to another.

“Yeah, right.” You scoffed and stood in front of your classroom. It was already embarrassing showing up for class late in normal school, all eyes on you and everything. Was it any different in mutant school? Well, you were on your way to find out. The room went silent as the door crept open, you and the Professor entered with, you figured, all eyes on you.

“Class, some of you may know y/n, some of you may not. Please make them feel welcome here, I trust that you will.” Xavier took a quick look around the room and, just as he suspected, there was a vacant seat next to a mutant he had in mind. “Peter, raise your hand, please. Y/N, take the seat next to Peter. Enjoy the rest of your class, students!” The Professor exited as the rest of the class said their goodbyes in unison, it nearly gave you a headache, but you made it to your seat next to Peter and dropped all of your stuff with a thud.

“Peter Maximoff, nice to meet you. What’s with the gloves?” The silver-haired boy asked with a hand out to shake, with you reluctantly accepted. He didn’t seem so bad.

“I stick to things.” You answered in simplest form. “Aren’t you a little young to have gone gray?” You cocked an eyebrow while admiring Peter’s dime-silver locks that were almost distracting.

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you rush growing up.” Peter chuckled, running his fingers through the knots. “I’m a super-speeder. It just sort of happened. I don’t mind it, though, I think it’s sexy.” He shamelessly admitted, getting a genuine laugh out of you. Maybe he was one of the better people here, who knows?

“Whatever you say, Maximoff.” You leaned back in your seat, facing front to at least appear to be focusing, but you snuck a few glaces at the mutant one seat over. He, on the other hand, made his looks overt. The entire class period, his eyes were on you.

After that class period, you actually ended up enjoying your classes. The Professor checked up on your personal attendance often, chuckling to himself abour how simple his plan was.

“Do you really think it was a good idea to introduce y/n to Peter? Of all the people here?” Hank’s concern showed that he cared. Everyone here wanted the best for you, it was easier to see now more than ever.

“I had to start somewhere.” Xavier justified, which was actually pretty reasonable. There was no right way to deal with all these unique kids who had been through so much already. All he knew for sure was that they needed to feel supported, something he had absolutely no issue with.

Meanwhile, as your final bell rang...

You gasped when a gust of wind blew right past you. It wasn’t the wind that stared you, it was the obnoxious teen mutant that followed.

“Hi,” Peter awkwardly waved, then backed up to stand beside you, placing his hand on your middle back to lead you around the mansion going...well, who knows where you’re going? Not you, that’s for sure, “so hear me out. I think that we are like, the perfect pair. Wouldn’t you agree? Don’t answer that, I already know you’ll say ‘yes.’”

“Is there a point to this, ‘Quickie?’” An evil smile formed from your lips as Peter pushed a bit harder on your back, getting you to speedwalk with him.

“Hey!” I told you that story in confidence!” You stifled laughter and waited for him to continue. “Anyways, I’m gonna get straight to the point before you pull another fast one on me, my point? Well, yeah, my point...” He used his free hand you tap at his chin, then completely halted.

“Did you forget why you came here to talk to me?” You gave a disappointed shake of your head, but still seemed quite amused. The buzzing of kids around you didn’t even faze you, you’d just realized you were too focused on peter to even care.

“Can you maybe go over what I’ve said so far? It’ll jog my memory.” His request made you groan, but you did as he asked nevertheless.

“You said, ‘Hi. Hear me out. We’re the perfect pair. You agree. I told you that in confidence.’” At least your paraphrasing skills were on point.

“Right! Okay, okay. Back on track.” He continued on course, easing up on speed by just a pinch. “So me and you, right? Does that sound crazy? ‘Cause to me, that sounds pretty awesome. I mean, we are the hottest people at this school, we’d be unstoppable.” You’d finally started to piece together his ramblings.

“Are you asking me out or...something?” You tilted your head to analyze his lipless grin and raised eyebrows, was he clamming up?

“...Yyyyyes?” Peter finally admitted, finally showing his teeth through a smile.

“Alright, well...yeah, okay. We’re dating now.” You didn’t accept in the most conventional way, but you did accept, which counted for something.

“Really?!” Peter gasped. “Can I...can I kiss you?” Asking was everything, especially when you risk getting stuck to the other person. I mean, he wouldn’t mind being stuck to you, but he was a little hungry.

“I’m not gonna lie, Pete, we’re gonna need a lot of baby oil. It’s not gonna be pretty.” You made him burst into laughter upon the thought. “It’s not funny!” You playfully slapped his arm. “Where were you leading me, anyways?”

“Oh, nowhere in particular.” He explained through his wheezing. “I just really do not like standing still.”

taglist: @locke-writes // @randomawesomeperson102 // @captainshazamerica // @ravenmoore14 // @thisetaernallove //

[jadoue1999]

The X-Men and the member they lost - Chapter 2

Summary: Erik finds out he has a son. But life doesn't like seeing him happy, so it made sure he was already missing when he learned about his existence.

Previous parts: chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8, 

Chapter 2: Erik and his rotten luck with family

It had been a week since the 70s episode had aired and no new episodes had shown up since. That left plenty of time for thinking and pondering on what was this WandaVision show. After many theories, they had conceded to Hank’s idea. It definitely seemed like a glimpse into a parallel universe. The mystery of Peter’s implication still lingered in the air. Charles wasn’t sure if he really wanted the answer. This all-powerful woman with the same surname as the speedster could have decided to do anything with him. He had yet to show up anywhere; they had combed the background for signs of him, but they had found nothing. The team went as far as to call it a misleading clue, but he didn’t let himself believe that. It was too strange to simply be a coincidence. The telepath was in his office one night when Raven entered.

“Is this a good time?” Wondered the shapeshifter. The professor nodded his head yes and she closed the door behind her before taking a seat. While he didn’t look into her head, he could sense her determination and hesitation about what she was about to tell him. Finally, she took a breath, “we need to tell Erik. About Peter.”

Erik. How could he have forgotten?

He was the boy’s father after all, even if he didn’t know it yet. Raven had told him as she filled him in with what had happened when they were fighting Apocalypse. She had mentioned Peter’s confession and how close he came to tell his father the truth. He had kept silent since, deciding that no one was in the right to inform the metal bender other than his own son. But now Peter was missing, they had to get him back. Erik needed to know.

Charles agreed with her and they were off to Erik’s room. The man was reading a book in front of the fireplace, seemingly enjoying a moment of peace and quiet. He turned to them as they opened the door.

“Charles. Raven.” He greeted them as he closed his reading. “What’s going on?”

The professor wheeled himself forward to his friend, he knew he had to break it to him gently. “It’s Peter,” he started. The man looked at him, his thoughts echoing his confusion as to why he was bringing up the speedster. “He’s missing. Has been for about two weeks, but I wanted to make sure before telling you.”

“Okay,” Erik replied after a few seconds of silence, “have you found anything?”

He could feel Raven’s frustration growing as the metal bender barely showed any concern. Charles didn’t blame him; the man had only seen Peter for an hour at most in the last ten years. He felt the same level of concern to the boy as he would with any other students at the school.

“We have found something, we’re not sure what it is, but it’s definitely linked to his disappearance.” He paused, trying to see if Erik was starting to understand. He continued when he found no reason to believe so. “Do you remember when he broke you out of prison?” The man nodded. “And when he came back to help fight Apocalypse and was injured in the process?” Another nod, more hesitant this time. Erik clearly didn’t get where he was going with this. “What I’m trying to say is that he’s a very special person, I hadn’t seen his type of power before meeting him and Hank found him fascinating as well. Can you believe he agreed to break you out just for the challenge? Quite extraordinary if I say so myself. But my point is, Peter’s-“

“He’s your son, you moron!” Snapped Raven, earning herself an offended glance from Charles. “What? You clearly weren’t going to tell him with all that rambling.”

The pair looked at Erik, awaiting a reaction. Had they not been aware of the situation, they easily could have believed that he was doing an aneurism. The man didn’t speak, but the metal in the room started shaking. Raven called out to Erik to try to calm him down, but her voice fell on deaf ears. Only when Charles shouted at him to stop that the man gradually calmed down.

“I... I have a son?” He seemed beyond shocked as he finally acknowledged the truth. Charles nodded yes and met Erik’s gaze as the man spoke once again. “What did you gather about his disappearance?”

“Don’t you need a moment to collect yourself and take in the situation?” Wondered the telepath. The man’s thoughts were all over the place, filled with shock and worry. It was obvious he needed some time alone. “Erik, please take some time, join us when you’ll be ready.”

The man didn’t protest as Charles and Raven exited the room. They closed the door and met up with the team, informing them about the situation.

...

Erik, in all his life, had never considered himself lucky. He had lost his family in Auschwitz and was then used as a lab rat by Shaw. Once the evil man had been taken care of, many years later, he had then accidentally paralyzed Charles, one of his few friends. Then he was wrongly accused of killing the president and imprisoned for nearly a decade until he was freed. By his son. But of course, he didn’t know, because life was just like that with him, and he had gone on a quest to show the world the true power of mutant kind. That, of course, ended horribly; so, he went into hiding. He had built a family, a happy one even. He truly had hope for a better future, but life loved to prove him wrong. Madga and Nina had died, and he had been chosen to be a horseman for a god. He had, in his grief, accepted and it led to Peter having his leg broken. He felt sick to his stomach as he recalled the panicked look on the young man’s face, his eyes pleading him to do something. He didn’t know, why hadn’t he known? The boy had almost died, and he did absolutely nothing.

How could he even consider himself his father when he had already failed him so much?

Still, he might not even get a real chance to properly know him now that his son had gone missing. Erik definitely wasn’t a lucky person.

He looked at the fireplace that had previously given him comfort and suddenly felt like the heat was choking him. He paced quickly through the mansion; the corridors were empty due to the late hour. After getting outside, he decided to walk around the lake. The little waves created by the soft breeze always helped grounding him. His Nina always loved the water. They had installed a bird bath because she had requested that the surrounding animals should always have something to drink when they came to visit her. He wore a small smile on his lips as he sat on the grass in front of the lake and sighed.

“Hello, my darling,” he told the water. “It’s already been a year since you and your mother left. I hope you’re happy wherever you are.” A curious bird landed next to him, looking at the man with puzzlement. Erik smiled, perhaps Nina lived on in all the creatures she loved so much. He held out a hand to the small animal, not really expecting anything. Surprisingly, it flew towards him and landed on his finger. Erik felt his heart grow warm as the bird let him pet his back. The soft feathers felt so similar to his daughter’s hair. “You might not believe it, but I just discovered that you have a half brother. He’s older than you, but I’m sure you would have gotten along well.” The bird chirped at his words. He stopped stroking it, “but I’m afraid he’s gone for now. What do you think we should do?” The bird looked at him with its small eyes and stretched its wings, taking off in the sky to regions unknown. Erik dared a hopeful smile as he watched it fly away. He looked at the sky, contemplating the stars before getting up. “Don’t worry Peter,” he told the wind, “we’ll find you.”

...

The moment he had gone back in the mansion, he was intercepted by Charles who called him to his office. The wheelchair bound man had a few files open on his desk. He motioned Erik forward as he spotted his friend.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, I take it you want to know what we’ve gathered so far?”

Erik nodded, of course he did. Charles took the files with him and led them out. They entered the room containing Cerebro, he was about to ask him their reason for being there, but he was interrupted by his friend.

“Before we start, I want you to keep an open mind. We don’t know what exactly is going on.”

Erik frowned but agreed to the conditions, nonetheless. The bald man pressed a few commands on the board and the screens lit up.

Whatever he was expecting to see, it wasn’t this. He had expected government videos showing his son dragged out of a car, him being taken or even tortured. He certainly hadn’t expected to see a sitcom that somehow changed decades every episode. It seemed completely irrelevant, but the few cuts and creepy details kept him from dismissing the whole thing as a joke. The third episode was particularly strange. Fear creeped into his veins as the woman menacingly approached her friend. He wasn’t sure what was worse, the cut that showed nothing or the possibilities of what could’ve have happened to the poor woman.

When everything was done, he turned to the telepath. “What does this mean Charles?”

The man sighed, putting a finger to his head for a second before looking at him again. “I’ve called the others; they’ll be here soon.” He turned to the screen that showed the rolling credits. “From what we’ve gathered, this is a parallel universe. The woman, Wanda, seems to either control this world or is trapped there as well.”

“But what does this have to do with my son? As far as I’m aware, he’s never met this woman.” Their discussion was interrupted by Jean, Scott, Kurt, Ororo, Hank and Raven coming in. They had probably been woken up by the telepath’s call, judging by their yawns and sleepy eyes. After a few seconds of questioning from the tired young adults, Charles motioned them forward and opened one of the files he had with him.

“This is Peter’s file, I hadn’t really thought about reading it, since he’s past high school age, but Wanda’s comment made me curious.” He pointed to his personal information, it contained his name, address, and schools he had previously attended. Nothing seemed amiss. “I did some digging and it turns out that ‘Peter’ isn’t his real name. It was changed when he was very young.” He flipped the page, showing a government document authorizing the name change. The team looked at themselves in shock as they read ‘Pietro Maximoff’.

“So, what does it mean?” Chimed in Hank. “Sure, he has the same name as the woman’s dead brother, but there’s no way they’ve ever met.”

Charles scoffed in amusement, “yes, you’re right. But I searched through various archives to find more about him, and I came across this.” He pulled out an old newspaper clipping. It read: mysterious death of a teen leaves the police baffled.

The article had one picture, it showed a teenage girl smiling, like any other child her age. Erik looked at Charles, demanding confirmation about his suspicions. The telepath nodded, “this is a picture of Wendy Maximoff, Peter’s twin.”

The group was silent for awhile when Jean suddenly gasped. “Oh my god,” she covered her mouth in horror. “I once asked Peter why he didn’t like celebrating birthdays and he told me how he used to have two cakes but only had one now.” She looked towards Scott and Kurt. “I- I assumed he was being greedy, but the loss of his twin could explain it!”

Erik didn’t listen to the group’s reaction; he was too busy processing the information he had just learned. How could he miss so much of his son’s life? He should have been there to help him and make sure that he would be alright. Instead, he was too focused on getting revenge and he had missed nearly thirty years of Peter’s life. And with his disappearance, it unfortunately was very possible that he’d miss more. Everyone’s rambling was interrupted by Cerebro lighting up again. Erik watched nervously as the front of a house appeared. The woman and her husband were trying to get their babies to sleep, something they were apparently not keen on. They continued trying, Wanda even tried to use her magic on them, but, surprisingly, it didn’t work. Their neighbor came in, saying how she had heard them and could help. Then it became strange as Vision suddenly suggested that she shouldn’t help. Agnes looked at Wanda for instructions, asking if she wanted to restart the scene. Erik didn’t have to look around to know that everyone here was confused. Wanda brushed it off, to the confusion of her husband. All of a sudden, the crying stopped; the twins were asleep. Except they weren’t in their cribs. A slight panic settled in Erik’s stomach; the loss of a child seemed too dark for a show like this... right? Strangely enough, the twins weren’t missing, they had aged up to five. The screen cut to the theme song.

“Are the children mutants?” Asked Raven, uncertain about the change of event.

Charles has a pensive look to his face, “I’m afraid I cannot say, for now.”

The episode continued, with the twins adopting a dog. Curiously, Wanda seemed tired of hiding her powers, going as far as using it in front of their neighbor. The most peculiar thing happened when the two parents settled that the twins were too young to keep their dog. They suddenly aged up again, now ten years old. Erik had to give it to Charles, this show definitely wasn’t just a coincidence. Were they looking at a new concept for a mutant prison? It certainly seemed like it.

The scene changed to show the husband’s workplace, they were installing computers and people around him were trying to figure out how to make it work. After some corny jokes, an email showed up and the whole room read it together. The X-Men watched Vision wake up his co-worker who seemed to panic about contacting his father.

“That’s mind control,” gasped Jean, “I know that panic, it’s horrible.”

The man screamed about a woman in his head, probably Wanda, and became more and more agitated. Vision zapped him again and, like a switch, he was back to Norm, the friendly co-worker. The group watched in stunned silence as it cut to Wanda and her children. Billy was training the dog and seemed pretty good at it. The twins excitedly got up, wanting to show their father but Wanda told them he was at work. The conversation then turned into a classic “family is forever” speech; telling them how they’ll always have each other, no matter what.

“Do you have a brother, mom?” Asked of the boys.

She looked off in the distance, obviously wondering how to explain her brother’s situation. “I do,” she said, “he’s far away from here and that makes me... sad sometimes.”

Erik didn’t have time to dwell on the possible meanings of her words as the dog suddenly ran out of the door. The twins and Wanda ran out, chasing it. They lost sight of it. Suddenly, the redhead looked up at the sky in anger and told the boys to continue look for Sparky without her. The scene continued with the boys walking alone.

“What do you think she meant by far away?” Asked the boy in green, Tommy, if he remembered well.

His brother shook his head, “I don’t know, but how cool would it be to meet our uncle?”

The boys giggled and continued calling for their dog. Seeing how the episode was significantly darker than the other ones, Erik didn’t have much hope for the poor animal. Turns out he was right; it had eaten a poisonous plant and the boys were heartbroken. After some strange comments about bringing back the dead, they were back at the house. There was tension between Wanda and Vision. He told her about what happened at his work, accusing her of being the cause.

“You can’t control me the way you do them.”

The woman tilted her head to the side, clearly challenged by her husband’s words. “Can’t I?”

There were scoffs of surprise in the room as the credits suddenly rolled. The android didn’t let that stop him as he pointed out the problems with the world, they lived in. He went on to say that he had no memories of his life before the show. That was puzzling, did this place erase people’s memories to guarantee their good behavior? Vision then pointed out the lack of children, something Erik hadn’t noticed but was unmistakable once you realized it. Wanda sat on the couch, trying to explain why she wasn’t controlling anyone. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

“I swear, if Agnes comes in at that moment, I’m going to lose it,” whined Scott.

“I don’t know,” replied Ororo, “usually she just lets herself in.”

The doorbell rang a second time and Vision watched Wanda with accusations in his eyes as she walked to the door. She opened it and was immediately shocked at whoever was at the door. The android asked his wife for the identity of the guest with suspicion. The camera slowly panned over to the person, only showing to back of their head.

Showing his silver hair

The suspense didn’t last much longer, the camera showing that it was indeed the missing speedster. Quiet gasps were heard as Peter walked towards the woman.

“Long-lost bro get to squeeze his stinkin' sister to death or what?” His voice echoed on the walls of the room.

“Pietro?” He nodded his head and the two shared a hug. It lasted a few seconds and Peter pointed to Vision as he walked in.

“Who’s the popsicle?”

The audience laughed at his joke and the screen faded to black, leaving the team stunned as the credits rolled.

“We have to go get him,” said Raven. “I don’t think he’s safe with her.”

Hank nodded, “I think I can find a way,” he pointed to Jean, “I think you could open a gateway to wherever Peter is. I’ve adjusted the machine to focus on the frequency. If you really concentrate, I’m sure it’ll work.”

“Alright, Raven, Erik and I will go,” decided Charles.

Kurt stepped in, “you might need a quick way out, I can help.” He shook his head as Raven and Charles were about to protest. “I’m the one that noticed he was gone; I want to be there when we bring him back.”

The professor agreed and told them to go pack whatever they’d need and to be back as soon as possible.

***

Jean put on the helmet and closed her eyes in concentration. She held out a hand to better focus her power. Nothing much happened, but she frowned her brows with renewed efforts. Flickers of orange light made itself known, slowly gathering together to form a small circle. She grunted in efforts and the portal grew bigger. She opened her eyes which were now glowing a fiery orange and she let out a screech. The gateway was now big enough for them to go through. They quickly said their goodbyes, Charles leaving Hank in charge for the time he was gone. The four shared a look and took a determined step forward. Passing through another dimension definitely felt strange. Nothing seemed solid as they were suddenly free falling.

They landed on the grass. Erik quickly helped Charles back into his wheelchair and took a look around. There was a military base with soldiers that stared at them with dumbfounded faces. He could hear an alarm, probably trigged when they came in. An older man that seemed to be an authority figure started shouting at them, but Erik didn’t hear him. All he could see was the sign that indicated that Westview was in front of them; and the force field surrounding it.

***

Notes: I have to say, Erik talking to Nina is probably my favourite part of this chapter. I've also made up a scene of the boys talking together based on the image of them walking alone that was in the SWORD base in WandaVision. Next up: The x-men meet Hayward (Erik doesn't like him) and learn about who Wanda Maximoff is.

[thetravelerwrites]

Courtship of the Headless King: Chapter Two

Rating: General Audiences Fandoms: 忘却の首と姫 | Boukyaku no Shirushi to Hime | The Princess and The Forgotten Head Relationship: Female Human/Male Headless King Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Political Marriage, Power Dynamic, Headless King Content Warnings: Mentions of Suicide, Mentions of Murder, Mentions of Abductions Words: 4448

Lilya conducts her marriage interview with His Majesty. Please reblog and leave feedback!

There was a tense moment in which no one moved. The triplets and the king’s attendants watched apprehensively as Lilya stood there, taking in the sight she was seeing. Slowly, she took a step forward, and then another, and stopped right in front of the desk.

“Does that hurt?” Lilya asked softly.

The king actually took a small step backward, clearly not expecting this. For a moment, no one knew how to react to her question. After a minute of heavy silence, His Majesty picked up a pad of paper that lay on the desk in front of him and began to write.

~No, it doesn’t hurt.~

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Lilya said, placing a hand over her heart. “I’ve seen people lose their heads before; it always looked like it hurt terribly.”

The king began to write again. ~You were present during such barbaric acts?~

Lilya nodded shakily. “The royal family in Tritsia was captured during the war and were forced to witness many terrible things. Able-bodied countrymen were rounded up and executed en masse in a horrible show of power, even if they were just farmers or merchants. We were made to watch them all.”

All five attendants exchanged looks of horror.

~That must have been harrowing. How old were you when this happened?~

“It started when I was ten, after my father was killed, and carried on until Couliea claimed our land for themselves three years ago. I helped dig a fair number graves during that time.”

~How old are you now?~

“Nineteen, Your Majesty,” Lilya said.

Conversation died briefly, but after a moment, the king began to write again.

~Would you like to sit down?~

“Oh, yes, thank you,” Lilya said. Raba brought a chair for her and she took a seat. His Majesty waved his hand, and all five of the attendants bowed and left the room, closing the door behind them. Peridot winked at them as she exited.

~Are you not afraid of me?~ His Majesty asked.

“Not really, no,” Lilya replied. “After all that’s happened, I’m not afraid of very much anymore. Should I be scared?”

~This meeting marks three thousand, six hundred and sixty-two marriage interviews that I’ve conducted. You are the first and only woman who has seen me and not screamed, run, fainted, vomited, burst into hysterics, or begged me to let them go, fearful that I’d eat them or some other nonsense.~

“How awful. I couldn’t imagine someone treating you so cruelly. Why would they even come if they didn’t want to?”

~Pressure from their families. The political gain of a union with Banfarie would be a boon to any country on the continent. The appeal of that power and influence drives people to do things they don’t want to do. Either the women would cry hysterically and run away, or they would swallow their disgust and force themselves to conduct the interviews as if it were normal, all the while looking as if the idea of marrying me made them sick.~

“That was terribly rude of them,” Lilya replied, incensed.

His Majesty’s shoulders shook slightly, and Lilya thought he might be laughing.

~In all fairness to them, I am unusual and a little frightening.~

“That’s no excuse! So what if you’re a bit different? That’s no reason to make such a fuss. How would they like it if people acted that way around them? I know my feelings would be hurt. They should have been more considerate.”

His Majesty was completely still for a full minute. Lilya was beginning to wonder if he was alright, when he started to write again.

~You’re rather unusual, aren’t you?~

Lilya laughed good-naturedly. “I suppose so.” She looked at the paper and pen in his hand thoughtfully. “It must be difficult for you to communicate sometimes. I know most people of royal or noble birth are required to learn to read and write, but even in a prosperous nation like this one, many people are illiterate. Do you have trouble communicating with your staff?”

He moved his shoulders in such a way that it put Lilya in mind of someone shaking their head.

~No, since most of my staff are made up of fairies and spirits, my magic allows me to communicate telepathically with them. If needed, they can convey my thoughts to others.~

“Oh, I see! That’s how you spoke to Raba when the door was closed.”

~Yes.~

“Do you know any of the signing languages? Perhaps we could talk that way.”

His Majesty visibly perked up and began gesturing.

“Oh! No, I’m sorry, I don’t know the signing languages, I just meant that I’d be willing to learn it so that we could communicate easier with each other.”

He stopped signing, but he didn’t seem disappointed. Rather the opposite, he seemed touched.

~You’d be willing to learn an entire language just to be able to talk to me?~

“Well, yes. After all, if you accept me, I’d also need to learn this country’s native language to talk to the citizens. Adding another language to my curriculum wouldn’t be so bad.” She leaned forward a little, and His Majesty leaned back, as if intimidated. “This may be an impertinent question and you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but may I ask how you lost your head?”

~It’s alright. I removed it myself.~

Lilya looked both horrified and impressed. “Whatever for?”

He paused for a moment before writing again, and this time he wrote out an extended statement.

~I was the son of a concubine who died during my birth. Apparently, I resembled her very much and did not take after my father, the king, at all. The queen’s children, my half-siblings, bullied me relentlessly, often questioning the legitimacy of my birth and whether or not I was indeed my father’s son. They spread rumors about me and my mother, which eventually got back to my father. He also began to question my birthright and threatened to send me into exile. In anger, I somehow managed to pry off my own head and throw it into the Aurora. I think I’d meant to end my own life, but I survived somehow. When my father saw this display of my magical power, he reversed his position and put me first in line for the throne, even though he had four sons by the queen who were all older than me. I was crowned king the following year, and the year after, my father passed away.~

“How old where you when you became king?”

~Twenty-two.~

“How old are you now?”

~One hundred and sixty years old.~

Lilya’s eyes widened in shock.

~Does my age upset you?~

“No, not at all, it’s just…” She frowned in sympathy but fell silent. It must be lonely to have lived alone for so long, she thought to herself.

~I have not aged since I lost my head. I think the magic of the Aurora is what keeps me alive.~

“That’s incredible,” Lilya breathed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing happening.”

~My family has always been strange.~

Lilya chuckled a little. “How are you able to see and hear without a head?”

~Magic. It’s hard to explain to in simple terms, but I don’t see or hear in the same way as normal humans. It’s more of a perception of the wavelengths created by light, shadow, and sound by my whole body instead of my head. I can perceive those sensations similarly to true sight and hearing, but it’s not quite the same.~

“That’s fascinating,” She said, leaning closer. “May I ask you something else that might be a little personal?”

He seemed to laugh again. ~More so than you have already done? Please do.~

“You’ve only been conducting marriage interviews for the last sixty years, right? That means you had already been ruling for almost eighty years without a queen. Why did you suddenly start looking for a wife?”

~My attendants began to pressure me to marry and sire an heir.~

“Is that the only reason?”

~What other reason would there be?~

“Weren’t you lonely?”

His Majesty’s hands were motionless and he seemed to be thinking.

~Perhaps.~

Then he fell still again, as if he didn’t know what else to say.

Lilya smiled a little. “You don’t enjoy these interviews, do you, my Lord?”

He gave another shoulder-shake of laughter. ~No, not at all. I believe this may have been the longest conversation I’ve had with a human woman in my entire life.~

“Oh, goodness,” Lilya said, holding a hand to her mouth in surprise. “I hope I haven’t bored you, my Lord.”

~Not in the slightest. This has been surprisingly pleasant.~

“Oh good,” She said, relieved.

~You’ve asked me a fair number of questions. May I ask you something in return?~

“Of course, My Lord.”

~What is one thing you wish for more than anything?~

Lilya looked out of the far window and thought about the question. She had never spent much time wishing for anything, knowing that wishes did little to affect reality. After all, she had wished for her father back numerous times, and for the terrible atrocities committed against her country to stop, and that had never happened. The only thing she really wished for was the safety of her people, but how could she achieve that?

“Walls,” She said suddenly.

~Walls?~

“The borders of my homeland have no defenses. People from outside the kingdom come in and steal food, destroy crops, take livestock, and even abduct people right out of the fields, and we have nothing to stop them. My land grows smaller every day because people just come in and take whatever they like, whenever they like. I wish we could do more to protect ourselves, but we have no military or security forces. Walls would be just as effective as guards, perhaps more so.”

You care very much about your home and people, at your own expense, it seems.

“Yes,” Lilya said, clutching the pendant on her neck. “I… I sold the tiara you sent to me so that I could feed the people affected by a famine on our southern border. It was a lovely gift and I was quite touched by it, Peridot even took this jewel off for me to keep,” She pulled it up to show him. “But… my people needed food more than I needed a crown. I hope you won’t be too disappointed in me, but… I didn’t want to lie or mislead you.”

~I see. He sat quietly, as if in thought. Very well. It will be done. I’ll have construction teams sent out to Tritsia right away.~

Lilya looked up in shock. “Wha… You’re Majesty! I wasn’t… I didn’t mean…”

~I know you didn’t. It is my gift to you for your understanding and patience. This has been one of the most enjoyable mornings I’ve had in many years. That alone is worth giving you some peace of mind.~ 

He stood up and made for the door. Overwhelmed by his generosity and on the verge of tears, Lilya jumped out of her chair as his Majesty passed her.

“I’ll marry you!”

His Majesty stopped dead in his tracks and turned. He hadn’t brought the paper with him so he couldn’t respond, but he was rooted to the spot as if frozen.

“This is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me or my people. How could I possibly refuse?”

This spurred him to action. He walked briskly back to the desk and wrote on the notepad.

~I didn’t do it to buy your cooperation,~ He protested. ~It’s only a gift, nothing more. I expected for us to continue the interview after I made the arrangements. You don’t have to accept because you feel obligated to repay me.~

“No, that’s not it at all!” Lilya protested. “I don’t know what all those women saw when they looked at you, but it can’t be the same thing I see.”

~What is it that you see?~

She took a deep breath and attempt to gather her thoughts into a coherent fashion. “Maybe when they saw you, you reminded them of a storm that covered the sky at night, full of destructive power, and it made them afraid. But… all I can see when I look at you is what’s behind the storm.”

~Which is?~

“You’re the stars, not the storm. Your Majesty, you’re the light that shines when the storm passes.” She shook her head and laid it in her hands, unable to keep her overwhelmed tears from spilling. “Oh, I don’t even know if I’m making sense. But, Your Majesty, please believe me when I tell you that I don’t just want to marry you because I feel as if I’m in your debt, even though I most certainly am in your debt. I want to marry you because… I… I just do! I don’t even know how to explain it properly. I just… I would be happy to be your wife and honored to be your queen. If that’s what you want.”

~Wouldn’t you be happier marrying a normal man?~

“My Lord, I had no thoughts of marrying at all before I received your summons. If I did marry, it would most likely have been someone my family chose for me. With you, I get a choice. And I’ve chosen you.”

Slowly, he wrote, ~Are you sure?~

“Yes, I’m certain.”

~Then why are you crying?~

“Because I’m happy,” She replied, her voice shuddering as she laughed.

He held out his hand to her. ~You truly mean this? You’re accepting the proposal?~

“Yes,” She replied, taking his hand. “I’ll marry you right now if you want.”

He seemed to chuckle. ~It is enough that you said yes freely and without reservation. I am pleased.~

He turned toward the door, and it flew open after a moment, and all five of the attendants stood there with their mouths hanging open, staring at the pair holding hands. He must have told them the good news telepathically.

“Sire, congratulations!” Larima said. “It’s about time one of these women saw sense!”

“Larima, hold you’re tongue!” Aquamarine said, boxing one of his ears.

“His Majesty says that the wedding will have to be soon,” Raba told Lilya. “He regrets to have to rush it, but there is a political upheaval brewing to the west that he must take care of. He honestly hadn’t expected you to accept, so he hadn’t canceled his plans to intervene.”

“That’s quite alright,” Lilya said, grinning a little giddily. I can’t believe it! I’m really getting married! “I understand his Majesty must be terribly busy. I don’t mind if the wedding is soon. Oh!” She turned back to the king. “Can my family attend the wedding? I promised that I’d keep in touch with them, and I’d like them to meet you. Would that be alright?”

“He says that would be fine, except he’s worried that your family will not like him, which doesn’t normally bother him, but that it may cause trouble for you,” Raba said.

“It’s fine, I’ll explain everything to them. Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Lilya threw her arms around His Majesty’s waist, hugging him. He went completely still and his body tensed under hers, as if he were at the mercy of a pack of rabid dogs. Lilya, sensing his discomfort, released him immediately.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep! I was just so excited that I acted without thinking.”

If a headless person could gulp, His Majesty would have done so. He straightened his lace collar and waved his hand.

“He says it’s alright, he was just startled,” Peridot said. “He also says that as his chosen queen, your word is equal to his. You may give any order you wish and the staff with follow it without hesitation.”

“I understand, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

He bowed deeply in response, his arm across his chest as a show of respect.

Peridot clapped her hands eagerly. “Come now, princess! There’s much to do to get ready for the wedding and only a short amount of time to do it!”

The triplets led Lilya from the room, tittering happily. Once the door closed behind them, the king fell into a chair as if exhausted.

She’s like a whirlwind, He said to Raba and Larima. I am completely at her mercy.

“I’ve never seen you like this, My Lord,” Raba said. “She must have made one hell of a first impression.”

That is an understatement. Send a letter to her family inviting them to the wedding. It’ll make her happy to see them.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Larima said. “But… are you sure she’s the one? In all these years, after all those interviews, are you sure you’ve found your queen?”

It’s her; I knew it the moment I saw her, the second I heard her voice.

“The second she didn’t scream, you mean, sire?” Larima said. Raba flicked him in the forehead.

I’ve spent sixty years… no, much longer than that, looking for her. I’m not going to wait anymore. Begin preparations for the wedding immediately.

“Yes, My Lord.”

It took only a week for the preparations to be complete, seeing as the wedding would be a small affair. His Majesty said he would give Lilya any kind of wedding she wanted, no matter the expense, but she said all she wanted was for her family to be there and nothing else. All that was left now was to wait for Lilya’s family to arrive.

She hadn’t seen his Majesty since the interview, but she knew he had to have been incredibly busy. He was the monarch of a vast empire, after all, and he genuinely didn’t think he’d be getting married so soon.

A day before her family was due to arrive, a dress appeared in her quarters. It was gorgeous; a white, princess cut ball gown with a sheer layer of silk over the top painted with pink roses. The neckline was a low square-cut and it had half-sleeves with lace frills. On top of the mannequin holding it was a lace veil that trailed the ground and glittered as though it was woven from diamonds.

“Oh, how beautiful!” Lilya said. “Is this for me?”

“Yes, it’s your wedding gown,” Aquamarine said. “His Majesty had it sent down for a fitting.”

“It’s lovely,” She breathed, daring to reach out and touch the fabric, though it looked so delicate that it might disintegrate under her fingertips.

“Here, let us help you,” Garnet said, beginning to untie the laces.

Garnet, Aquarmarine, and Peridot assisted Lilya in putting the dress on. Though it fit like a glove around the waist, the skirt was just slightly too long. The sisters assured her it was a quick and easy fix.

That night, she was alone in her room looking at the dress, newly tailored and ready to be worn, and began to get anxious.

“What if I trip and tear it?” She fretted. “A dress like this couldn’t have been made in just a few days, no matter how many seamstresses worked on it; The lace on the train alone would have taken months to tat. It must be some kind of imperial heirloom. What would I do if I destroyed it? Would His Majesty be angry or cancel the wedding? What if he decides he doesn’t want a klutz for a wife?” Lilya scrubbed her face and sighed forcefully. “I need some air.”

She went to the long gable windows and unlatched one side, letting it swing open. The night air was cool and refreshing, and the aroma of the nearby gardens was soothing.

As she was about to close the window again, a wild gust of wind rushed in and caught up the veil, blowing it out of the window.

“No!” Lilya yelled, throwing her foot out of the window and jumping to the ground. It was a good thing her room was on the ground floor. She chased the veil across the lawn until it eventually got caught in the branches of a tree.

“Oh, come on!” She groused. The branched were too high for her to reach, so she was going to have to climb the tree in her nightgown to get it back. It didn’t help that there were no low branches for her to grab on, so she was basically going to have to shimmy up the trunk. How dignified.

“Okay,” She said, taking a breath before she started up. One foot, one hand, over and over. It seemed to take ages, and when she looked down, it was as if she hadn’t moved at all. “Ugh, I shouldn’t have stopped working in the stables. I have no core strength anymore.”

She was nearly at the lower-most branch when her foot slipped and she lost her grip, falling from the tree. She expected to hit the ground pretty hard, but she fell onto something soft. Looking around, she realized to her horror that His Majesty,  was on his back underneath her, having broken her fall. He was dressed in a casual white buttoned-up shirt and simple black slacks, likely his sleepwear.

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry!” She said, scrambling to get off of him. “Are you alright?”

He pulled out a small pad of paper from the inside of his shirt and a fountain pen.

~I’m fine. Are you alright? Why were you climbing a tree at this hour?~

“My veil,” She replied, pointing at the branches. “It flew out of the window. I was trying to get it back down.”

~Why didn’t you call the sisters?~

She laughed a little self-consciously. “I panicked. I was scared that I’d tear it and you’d be upset with me.”

~I wouldn’t be upset over such a trivial thing. It’s just a piece of fabric.~

“How did you know I was out here?”

~I saw you from the window of my suite. I was worried you would hurt yourself or that you were running away.~

She was a little alarmed. “Were you chasing me down to bring me back?”

~No, I was going to watch over you until you got somewhere safe. Don’t worry, you’re free to change your mind at any time. I wouldn’t hold that against you.~

“Oh,” She said, surprised. “Your Majesty, I have no intention on going back on my decision. I meant it when I said I’m happy to be your bride. You feel the same, don’t you?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he stood up and easily reached the branch with the veil. He was quite a bit taller than she was. Pulling it down carefully, he folded it and handed it back to her.

“Sorry to have caused you trouble,” She said, worried by his silence. “I’m afraid you’re bride-to-be is a little clumsy.”

~It’s nothing. Let’s go back.~ He held out his hand for her to stand up, and she took it, feeling sad.

He doesn’t want to marry me, She thought. He’s just doing it because I’m the only one who didn’t refuse him. I like him very much, but he doesn’t feel anything for me. That’s not fair to him.

The triplets met them back at the castle and escorted her back to her room. His Majesty left her in their care with a bow and went back to his quarters.

“Just call us next time, My Lady!” Garnet said. “His Majesty would be devastated if anything happened to you.”

“He might be inconvenienced, but I think devastated might be too strong a word,” She said. “He doesn’t even really want to marry me, he just thinks he has to.”

Peridot scoffed. “Why on earth would you think such a thing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m just the only person who accepted. I’ve only seen him once since the marriage interview, and that’s because he was rescuing me from a fall. He doesn’t really want to be with me.”

“My Lady, that’s absurd, of course he wants to marry you!”

“How can you be sure?”

“Look,” Aquamarine said as they reached her room. She opened the door and lay the veil back on the mannequin with the dress. “You see this? Where do you think it came from?”

“It’s an heirloom, right? Something that’s been in the royal family forever? It couldn’t have been made just for me, there wasn’t enough time for that.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Garnet said. “His Majesty himself made this gown for you.”

“He did?” Lilya exclaimed, looking more carefully at the gown.

“Yes, with his magic. Do you know what he said to us when we were waiting outside of the office door after you agreed to marry him?”

“What?”

“’She said yes!’ he said. Every interview before always ended the same. He would tell us, ‘I don’t like her’ or ‘she’s lying’ or ‘she looks like she’s going to pass out, take her back to her room and let her go home’ or ‘why do they keep sending these women with dirty souls to me?’ He always sounded so dejected. But when you accepted, he was so excited. I’ve never heard him sound so happy.”

“Miss Lilya, you must understand,” Peridot said. “His Majesty’s mother died when he was born, and he was raised by nurses. In truth, he grew up never knowing the love of another person. Now as a man, he has no idea how to express affection for others. Until now, it’s never come up as a problem, but he sincerely wants you to be happy.” She pointed at the dress as an example, and then to the pad of paper on her desk. “You see those notebooks?”

“Yes?”

“Ordinarily, those would only be in one place: and His Majesty’s office, since that is the only place His Majesty meets with people who can’t hear him telepathically. But now, every single room in the castle has a notebook, just in case you’d like to talk to him. He’s doing everything he knows how to do to make it comfortable and easy for you, he’s just operating outside of his, admittedly, vast expertise. Give him some time. He’s very intelligent, if a little dense and insensitive. He’ll learn.”

Lilya smiled softly, touched. “I had no idea.” She pulled the sisters in for a hug. “You’re right, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. His Majesty and I don’t know each other well, for all that we’ll be married in a few days. I think when he gets back from the diplomatic trip, we should spend time rectifying that.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea,” Aquamarine said.

Since my work is no longer searchable, please do me a favor and reblog this story if you enjoyed it. Help me reach a wider audience! To help me continue creating, please consider becoming a Patron or donating directly to my PayPal!

Thanks for reading!

My Masterlist

The Exophilia Creator’s Masterlist

[maxwell-grant]

Batman: The Idiot Root Part 2

Following @mirrorfalls​ ‘s ask and Part 1, in which I continue my look at the Batman storyline called “The Idiot Root” 

I feel a strange disconnect reading this storyline, in the sense that this comic is definitely hitting on some really, really good ideas, ideas that could make for a really gripping and incredibly disturbing storyline, but is passing them by too quickly for any of the ideas to sink in, which I’m starting to realize is a problem I may have with Batman comics in general.

But I’m definitely welcoming what this story has to offer. Peter Milligan really knows how to bring out the disturbing in Batman, and when paired with Norm Beyfogle it’s a winning duo.

...Huh, I guess Zeno is indian? Definitely doesn’t look like one, I just thought he was a random white dude getting too much focus. “Zeno” is not a Brazilian name, and I guess the intent was for it to be exotic on purpose? He did say he was “born here” when they arrived in the jungle, but...bruh, no

“my people”

Moving on

God, this should be harrowing and dramatic, and I feel like if this was a prose narrative you could get such delightfully unsettling descriptions of Crosby destroying the children one by one as the great horror from another world feasts on their minds and then the heads tethering him to this world explode as said horror bursts forth and talks about "dipping his tongue into all that succulent consciousness”, and I’m already sounding like I’m about to write a pulp horror story just describing it, but

but he looks so STUPID

he is just a GUY

I’m not even opposed to great horrors looking silly or ridiculous, I’m firmly in the “Mxyzptlk doesn’t need to be anything more than just a little guy in doofy clothing, and any attempts to make him “scarier” than he already is are hokey as shit” camp, but The Idiot’s not even that silly, he’s just a white guy in a straight jacket and a doofy haircut.

Like at this point I think the whole “Idiot” gimmick stopped being cute and funny and now it’s just frustrating and feels like it’s getting in the way of what could easily be a really, really great Batman horror story.

Not that it isn’t a GOOD Batman horror story or even nearing a great one, mind you, because this is still Peter Milligan with Norm Beyfogle at work, and they sell the hell out of the idea. But, again, it’s a couple steps short of being potentially the Batman horror story for the ages it could have been.

I do definitely like the “Zombies are the gateways to the real world” and the idea of a cosmic horror story where the great monster only uses the zombies as means to travel and sustenance, and the zombies themselves are just helpless victims. It’s almost like a Cosmic Vampire kind of thing.

Frankly, I would have liked it more if it was The Queen of Hearts from earlier that transformed into a cosmic vampire needing to hijack minds to survive, then you could blow up her inner struggle from before to greater proportions, as Batman tries to both save her as well as Rio from being consumed by an unholy abomination ever growing in power and bloodlust.

In fact, I’m gonna save this idea for later.

I get that De Freitas here is supposed to be a fairly typical “unsympathetic authority figure who doesn’t like the superhero and is going to be proven wrong by the story’s end”, and I’m definitely not about to start defending a cop character, especially a Brazilian cop, but I get the feeling that his constant remarks that he doesn’t trust Americans and their arrogance, and doesn’t trust American vigilantes, don’t quite make him as unsympathetic as Milligan intended. I absolutely think he’s right to be wary of Batman and to want this American superhero to stay the fuck away from Rio’s streets, which are more than enough of a handful to deal with as is without vigilantes and superheroes.

Well, I sure know who this asshole voted for in the last election.

To the story’s credit, getting torn apart by a crippling fear of birds is absolutely the kind of rushed, horror-movie finale that’s befitting The Idiot’s nature. It also means that The Penguin could kick this guy’s ass if warned beforehand of his capabilties and I absolutely want to see that happen.

Okay, I get that this is also very much an appropriate ending for a horror story, the hero finds a brief return to normalcy that’s forever tainted by an encounter with horror beyond imagination, and definitely not what I expected from a Batman comic, but...

That’s it? Batman just, left them? Didn’t drag the victims and Zeno to a Wayne Enterprises hospital to look after them, didn’t try and find a cure for their condition, didn’t stay in Rio to try and see where else the Idiot might have winded up, nothing? Didn’t even try to completely eliminate said idiot root from existence? Just, took a plane back to Gotham and brooded about it?

...Look, I don’t want to make this a pissing contest, I genuinely detest and never want to do those, but I gotta point that, in the one storyline where The Shadow encountered an ancient, all-powerful evil puppeteering the mindless husks of children to telepathically prey on mankind, the very first thing he did after temporarily putting it down was learn where it came from and travel halfway across the world to take a flamethrower to it.

And frankly I don’t see why Batman would have any reservations about doing the same thing, to a being that’s killed at least 60 people by the story’s count. But, really, he just feels bad about himself for a bit and leaves Rio (and Brazil by extension) to deal on their own with the potential return of a godlike murderous monster created by American machinations and perversions.

...Again, definitely wasn’t expecting that level of authenticity from a Batman story set in Brazil.

I guess overall I’d say I liked reading The Idiot Root, but it’s also one of those things that I keep having mixed feelings about due to the story not living up to it’s incredible potential. In regards to it’s depiction of Brazil, it’s definitely a lot better than I was expecting, considering the writer’s British and this is a Batman comic after all. I can definitely say there was some effort here (really undercut by the baffling decision to draw a supposed indian character as a white man but, hey, can’t win everything).

I can definitely say I’ll be mining some ideas out of this story for my own writings, thank you very much for introducing me to it. It’s quite fascinating, and if nothing else, if I ever get a job writing Batman, I’m definitely going to bring Mister Slim (under a more fitting name like Zé Magrão) back, definitely the most pleasing surprise from the book.

[somedayonbroadway]

Somewhat cursed (?) idea: Newsies/Gravity Falls (or a series like that).

Oooohhhhh...

Okay, so I’m gonna be completely honest, I didn’t grow up watching Gravity Falls. I was a Phineas and Ferb type of kid, but I always appreciated the idea behind Gravity Falls and I did watch the first couple of episodes the other day to get a little bit more of a feel for this AU.

Okay, so those of you who read my stories and my outlines know that I am a sucker for angst, so this AU is gonna be less of a children’s cartoon and a little bit more… well… not real… but… I don’t know… more angsty?

Anyways, here we go!

Gravity Falls AU

Characters

Jack Kelly — Dipper

Racetrack Higgins — Mabel

Katherine Plumber — Wendy

Medda Larkin — Stan

Just to be clear, the personalities here are not an exact match 😂

Anyways,

Jack Kelly

A seventeen year old orphan.

He and his little brother are sent to a new placement in a town called Gravity Falls with a foster mother, one Miss Medda, who has a fascination with the unexplained.

Jack has never really believed in the things she seems to find so amazing.

He loves horror movies but often tries to rationalize them which drives his little brother just about insane.

He’s OCD and a bit of a control freak, but it’s the thing that typically keeps him out of trouble.

Before Medda, he and his little brother had been in a few less than nice homes, so Jack was used to keeping Race occupied and out of the house.

During the first week with Medda, she gives him an old, mysterious book that has an odd number three on the cover

Jack becomes obsessed with the book and studies it, not necessarily believing it’s real at first, but talking about it like it is

He has ADHD and has trouble sitting still

Often overthinks scenarios and obsessively makes lists when he’s overwhelmed or trying to figure things out.

He loves to explore and loves to figure out the history of wherever he’s placed, even though he often believes it won’t last long.

He has a massive crush on one of Medda’s employees and flirts with her often

Jack is first introduced to the supernatural forces around him during a walk in the woods

He catches one of his neighbors, a boy named Charlie, practicing magic in the woods.

After the initial terror is worked through, Charlie becomes Jack’s friend. One of his best friends.

He’s told he has to keep it a secret from everyone, though most of the town is involved in theories and mysterious phenomena

Jack is forced to let the secret out when he discovers his little brother new friend, Graves, is a vampire

This is when Charlie, more affectionately known as Crutchie, tells Jack more secrets about the town and introduces Jack to Albert, a vampire who promises to help Jack’s brother

After this incident, Jack quickly gets swept up into the world of the unexplained 

He’s terrified of ghosts. He doesn’t like that they don’t have many rules

Racetrack Higgins

The little brother to Jack and basically Jack’s whole world for a long time

He’s fifteen.

He’s slightly naive and a hopeless romantic

Though he loves horror movies, he prefers romance dramas.

He always seems to be full of energy, despite being slightly abused before. Jack always took the brunt of it for him.

While he’s always curious and a bit of an adventurer, he’s often forced to stay back by Jack

He has ADHD, just like Jack.

Often, he attempts to lighten the mood and is seen as ridiculous and over the top, but Jack knows it’s mostly for his sake

Unlike Jack, Race hates to make plans and enjoys running in head first and winging it

Again, Race is a hopeless romantic and is perceived as a bit of slut by most of the kids at many new schools that he attends. Despite this, he remains optimistic about finding a boyfriend

Graves is the first person to show interest and Race is infatuated with him

It’s because Graves wants him to be

Jack tries to tell him he’s under a spell of some kind, but Race tells him he’s crazy

Graves lures Race into the wood, planning on kidnapping him and feeding his blood to his flock

Albert, Jack and Crutchie save his life and Albert becomes Race’s best friend.

Race is understandably frightened after this encounter and spends a lot of time in Jack’s room, finding the book that Jack has annotated and color coded

He becomes obsessed with the book too

He memories almost every outlined supernatural being and ways to deal with them

He eventually dates someone named Drake, a telepath with telekinesis who nearly kills Jack after becoming obsessed with Race

He is extremely creative and gets Jack out of trouble time and time again by thinking outside of the box

Though it appears to most that Jack is extremely protective of Race, most underestimate the lengths Race would go to protecting Jack

After many odd and dangerous dates with many boys with bad agendas, Race eventually meets Spot

Spot is a dark angel, also known as a demon

Jack and him don’t get along.

Race really likes him

Eventually, Race gets bit by Graves and Albert has to suck the venom from him before he turns into a vampire

Katherine Plumber

Katherine is an eighteen year old part time employee and Medda’s Mystery Shack.

While she’s very peppy and girly, she’s never afraid to get her hands dirty and join Jack and Race in figuring out Gravity Falls mysteries.

She knows Jack has a crush on her, if not from him flirting, from Race who constantly tells her.

She treats Race like her own little brother

While she enjoys hearing stories about the unexplained and the supernatural, she doesn’t believe any of it exists until her and Jack and Race and some of her friends get trapped in an abandoned convenience store

This is the first time she sees how brave Jack can be as he is the one who convinced the ghosts to let them go  

While she introduces herself as Plumber, her real name is Pulitzer, though she doesn’t like to admit it.

Joseph Pulitzer is a rich businessman trying to buy the town. He wants to cut down the forest which would cost many mythical beings their home and Medda her business

When Jack and Race are new to town, many are hostile towards them as they’re outsiders. Katherine always stands up for them.

Though she is extremely girly, she has tremendous strength and is a really good fighter

She speaks three languages, English, Spanish and French and dabbles in Latin

Though she loves Medda, she often finds ways to blow of working and even has her own set up on the roof that she shows Jack

It’s the first place they kiss. Jack makes the first move and she can’t help but kiss him back even though she has a boyfriend at the time

She adores her boys and every person Jack befriends that belongs to the supernatural world.

She has amazing survival skills taught to her by her five older brothers. These come in very handy when her and her boys are in trouble.

Medda Larkin

Miss Medda Larkin is a supernatural enthusiast

She takes Race and Jack in after learning that their mother was an old friend of hers.

It is eventually discovered that it was their mother who wrote the book they’re so infatuated with

She runs a Mystery Shack, a tourist shop full of regular merchandise and odd ones

When Jack and Race first arrive, she lets them have one thing each, for free.

Jack takes a baseball cap and Race takes a necklace

Medda has known about the unexplained since she was a child.

Medda often sends the boys on odd errands which mysteriously get them into trouble

She is extremely protective of Jack and Race loves them unconditionally.

Medda is the only person to know that there is not only one mystery journal, but three.

She gives Jack the third journal in hopes that maybe he’ll find something she hasn’t.

She tells them a story about a young woman who went missing deep in the woods and asks Jack to try and solve the mystery.

That woman was Jack and Race’s mother

Not even Medda knows what happened to her

What do you guys think? Wanna hear about other characters? Let me know!

For Snyder as Triangle Bill, click here!

For more Mood Boards and AUs, click here!

[lady-divine-writes]

12 Days of Blasphemy: Altar (Rated NC17)

Summary: When Crowley gets bored during a dinner party at Madame Tracy's, he starts speaking to his husband telepathically, reminding him of a time way back when in Crete when the two of them put a sacrificial altar to good use ... and suggests they re-create the moment when they get home. (2014 words)

Notes: Written for the '12 Days of Blasphemy' prompt 'altar'. NSFW. Warning for bondage and blow jobs.

Read on AO3.

‘Do you remember the last time you and I were in Crete?’

It’s a whisper.

Just a whisper.

But it breaks through the buzz of the current conversation - Madame Tracy (well, Mrs. Shadwell as of an impromptu elopement around two weeks ago) regaling Anathema with tales of her travels pre-matrimony: touring the spiritual hot spots around Europe, the various full moon festivals she participated in, her visits to shamans and high priestesses and wizards.

Also her stint at a popular burlesque show in Paris, a subject that makes Newt and Mr. Shadwell mildly uncomfortable but for different reasons.

No one hears Crowley’s question to Aziraphale. It slips deftly into Aziraphale’s brain, placed there by his wily demon. Crowley waits for a reaction, staring at him from the opposite side of the table, over the curved rim of his wineglass and behind the cover of dark glasses.

Aziraphale shifts in his seat, wiggles his shoulders, tilts his head left and right.

He does indeed remember the last time they were both in Crete.

But now is hardly the time.

‘We shouldn’t be doing this.’

‘Doing what?’

‘Communicating this way. We’re ignoring our hosts. It’s rude.’

‘They don’t care.’

‘How do you know?’

Crowley rolls his eyes, polishes off his wine. ‘Watch this.’ He clears his throat. “Hey! Hey, Pulsifer!”

The young man’s smile, plastered on for the sake of the conversation, dips as he glances over his shoulder at the demon suddenly vying for his attention after not speaking a word to him all meal. “Yes?”

“Aziraphale and me, we’re going to be talking a bit, brain to brain, so you lot can’t hear. You don’t mind, do you?”

“N-no.” Newt looks at Crowley strangely, as if he doesn’t know whether to believe him or not. Of course he’s a demon and his husband is an angel. They’ve probably been speaking telepathically the entire time he’s known them and he hasn’t had a clue. “Go right ahead.”

Crowley nods in gratitude. “Mighty nice of you.”

“Yeah. N-no … no problem.”

Shadwell’s head pops up, squinting with curiosity, but when Newt returns to the conversation, so does he.

Crowley smiles smugly. ‘See?’

‘He probably doesn’t believe you,’ Aziraphale responds, focusing a bit too hard on a dinner roll he’s been softening in his right hand.

‘Don’t matter. You didn’t answer the question.’

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

‘Why not?’

‘Anathema, for one.’

‘What about her?’

‘She’s going to hear. And possibly Mrs. Shadwell.’

‘Block them off. It’s easy as anything. Don’t even require much magic. Answer the question.’

Aziraphale shifts again, resisting the urge to cross his legs underneath the table to dull his body’s reaction to that question, Crowley’s voice, the intimacy of having it whisper through his brain. ‘It was long ago. Longer ago than I care to own up to. But I may remember … a few key points.’

Crowley leans forward, grin curling, his thumb working along the edge of his empty glass, in need of tactile stimulation. ‘They had all of those false idols, and that giant, gaudy altar. You were there to lead them back to the light. I was there to encourage them to keep going with their blasphemy.’

‘I recall.’

Crowley’s eyebrows lift. ‘Do you recall what I did to you on that altar?’

Another seat shift and more rigid shoulders are Aziraphale’s answer.

So Crowley decides to answer for him.

Refresh his memory.

“Oh … oh, Crowley …”

Aziraphale jerks, his chair leg squeaking against the floorboards of Mrs. Shadwell’s dining room. The sound elicits a few concerned glances, but Aziraphale smiles them away, bringing the roll to his lips as if casually ready to take a bite.

But he doesn’t.

If he opens his mouth at all, he might moan.

His own voice in his brain startles him, definitely, but it also comes with feel.

With touch.

Lips on his neck, a comforting weight pressing down on his torso, hands exploring up the sensitive skin of his thighs.

And his wrists and ankles locked down in metal cuffs.

His gaze snaps in Crowley’s direction, his eyes wide. He’d ask Crowley to stop, but those eyes … those gorgeous eyes …

Crowley doesn’t let his eyes run away from him too often. He does his best to keep them under control, humanlike, so if any mortal did catch a glimpse of them, they’d have to look twice to see any difference.

Which they wouldn’t.

If Crowley’s low, seductive voice didn’t bring this memory back in full force, those venomous yellow eyes, extending now from rim to rim, definitely do.

“No … I … we shouldn’t be doing this …”

Aziraphale chuckles lightly in the back of his throat, closes his eyes in embarrassment at how damsel-in-distress-from-a-cheesy-romance-novel that declaration sounds.

Turns out, closing his eyes? Not the wisest decision.

Because now, to go along with the voices, he can clearly see the moment playing behind his lids

‘It was a sacrificial altar,’ Crowley continues. ‘It had thick cuffs at the head and foot.’ He gulps. It upsets his whole throat. ‘All those times I spent breaking you out of chains, and here I was, putting you in them.’

‘Not one of my smarter decisions, I will admit …’ Aziraphale knows he should open his eyes to avoid suspicion from their human companions, but he can’t - too fascinated by the scene and the fact that Crowley seems to have memorized it so completely. Aziraphale smells the dry earth, the pottery by his head, the incense burning. He feels the hard clay underneath his back, its texture against the backs of his legs and his arse. He hears Crowley’s grunts pinging through his brain as he tries to collect them, record them, hide them away in his head for later review when he can replay the whole thing and yell at himself, “What were you thinking!?”

But mostly he feels Crowley – his weight; his heat; his skin; his mouth all over, everywhere at once.

Aziraphale does cross his legs now, his knee brushing the underside of the table, and clamps his thighs together.

‘I bound you to that altar. I couldn’t believe you trusted me. But I was euphoric. You were my offering. My sacrifice. Only mine. And I wanted you … so bad.’

“Crowley,” Aziraphale (in his memory) moans, less concerned than he should be when the demon starts wrapping his wrists in gold, slides the locking pins into place. “What are you … what are you doing?”

“I want you,” Crowley growls into the angel’s mouth. “I want you to surrender to me. I’ve wanted you for so long and now I’m going to have my way.”

“What are you going to do?” Aziraphale asks, knowing that whatever it is, he can miracle his way out.

“I’m going to taste you …” Crowley moves down Aziraphale’s body, down his chest and his soft tummy, hands caressing his curves as he travels down the angel’s legs, heading towards his ankles. He stops at his hips, stares at the simple linen robe covering him. He licks his lips and puts his mouth to the spot, breathing hot over the bulge growing between Aziraphale’s thighs.

Sitting at Tracy Shadwell’s mahogany dining table, the red in Aziraphale’s cheeks hitches up a notch as Crowley, in his head, begins lifting his robe. ‘You wanted to defile an angel, you mean.’

‘True. But I wanted you, Aziraphale. No one else.’

‘Well, you had me, didn’t you?’

“Oh … oh my … oh my G---“ Aziraphale bites the word off with teeth sunk into his lower lip. There’s no way in Hell he’s going to invoke Her name. Not now. Especially when She may actually show up. And he doesn’t want to think of that, of Her finding him here like this. And not even, wickedly, because he’s doing something wrong. Which he is. He’ll admit it. But because he doesn’t want this to end, what this gorgeous demon is doing to him with his mouth – kissing, sucking, devouring like he needs this. He needs to please Aziraphale like the desert needs rain.

To live.

To thrive.

Having Crowley pleasure him this way is incredible, but the need in him? Aziraphale wants that.

He wants it forever.

‘I did. And it ruined me, Aziraphale. I couldn’t tempt a single human with lust for close to a decade. Every time I tried, it made me think of you. But you weren’t there. You were never there and I … I became useless.’

Aziraphale’s eyelids flutter open, the red in his cheeks cooling to a softer pink as the sounds of climax fade in his head.

“Oh, Crowley … Crowley …”

“Aziraphale … angel … my angel …”

Aziraphale blinks. His brow furrows.

Was that … did he really?

“My angel …”

The furrows deepen.

Did Crowley say that? Really say that? Or is Crowley adding it?

If not, how did Aziraphale miss that?

Whether or not that happened then, it’s happening now. Aziraphale is Crowley’s angel.

That’s all that matters.

Aziraphale smiles. ‘Maybe we could try it again?’ He glances up at his husband, who has leaned so far forward he’s practically climbing onto the table, knee in the butter, to get at him.

‘How do you mean?’

‘You have that huge table at your flat,’ Aziraphale explains. ‘You have cuffs. We can re-enact the scene, minus the coarse sand and the smell of camel dung.’

‘Sounds like fun. Or … you can do the same thing to me …’

A new sound slips past Aziraphale’s ears - the sound of Crowley crying out, calling Aziraphale’s name, with a sinful desperation that revives that red flush, brings the dwindling sensations in the angel’s body back to life.

A chant of “Aziraphale! Aziraphale! Please! Don’t stop!” strikes his eardrums over and over as an image so vivid Aziraphale knows it’s partly real flashes before his eyes: his own sinister grin; his lips, slick with saliva, sliding down the throbbing shaft of his husband’s cock; that first glorious taste of pre-come tingling his tongue …

“Mr. Fell?”

“Yes!?” Aziraphale yelps and tosses his roll, squeezed nearly to the point of splitting in two, into the air. It bounces off the ceiling and ricochets back down, landing squarely on the tines of his fork, flipping it clear over his plate to somersault twice and land in the soup tureen.

The once lively conversation in the room goes dead.

Aziraphale stares down the length of the table and sees four sets of eyes staring back, blank faces accompanying them.

From across the way, he hears Crowley snicker.

“Are you all right, Aziraphale?” Tracy asks.

“Yeah,” Anathema says. “You look … flushed.”

“What?” Aziraphale squeaks, putting a hand to his cheek. “Yes! I’m … I’m fine! Absolutely. Maybe just … a tad warm. But that’s all.” He laughs nervously. “Probably all the wine,” he says, gesturing to his mostly full glass.

His only glass.

Tracy and Anathema share a look, one that’s a smidge more sly than Aziraphale would expect from those two. But that could just be his own personal paranoia kicking in.

“O-kay,” Tracy says. “We were about to move this party to the sitting room for dessert and coffee. Would you and Mr. Crowley like to join us? Or are you still … talking?”

“Uh …” Aziraphale peeks over at Crowley, but he simply shrugs, grinning unashamedly. “No. Yes! I mean, we’ll join you. Of course. Oh …” He stands a few inches, but immediately sits back down.

“Is there something wrong?” Tracy asks.

“Yeah, Aziraphale. Is there something wrong?” Crowley echoes. More in the know than any of the others, he picks up a green bean and sucks it between his lips into his mouth.

“No.” Aziraphale frowns sourly at his husband, a familiar ache thudding through his lower body when his rear meets the seat as he viciously projects an image into Crowley’s head of the demon spending the night alone on the sofa. “I just need … a few minutes.”

[yasbxxgie]

Why Octavia E Butler’s novels are so relevant today

It’s campaign season in the US, and a charismatic dark horse is running with the slogan ‘make America great again’. According to his opponent, he’s a demagogue; a rabble-rouser; a hypocrite. When his supporters form mobs and burn people to death, he condemns their violence “in such mild language that his people are free to hear what they want to hear”. He accuses, without grounds, whole groups of people of being rapists and drug dealers. How much of this rhetoric he actually believes and how much he spouts “just because he knows the value of dividing in order to conquer and to rule” is at once debatable, and increasingly beside the point, as he strives to return the country to a “simpler” bygone era that never actually existed.

More like this:

-        The 1968 novel that predicted today

-        The fiction that predicted space travel

-        The story of cannibalism that came true

You might think he sounds familiar – but the character in question is Texas Senator Andrew Steele Jarret, the fictional presidential candidate who storms to victory in a dystopian science-fiction novel titled Parable of the Talents. Written by Octavia E Butler, it was published in 1998, two decades before the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States.

Like much of her writing, Butler’s book was a warning about where the US and humanity in general might be heading. In some respects, we’ve beaten her to it: a sequel to 1993’s Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents is set in what is still the future, 2032. While its vision is extreme, there is plenty that feels within the bounds of possibility: resources are increasingly scarce, the planet is boiling, religious fundamentalism is rife, the middle classes live in walled-off enclaves. The novel’s protagonist, a black woman like the author herself, fears that Jarret’s authoritarianism will only worsen matters.

Fourteen years after her early death, Butler’s reputation is soaring. Her predictions about the direction that US politics would take, and the slogan that would help speed it there, are certainly uncanny. But that wasn’t all she foresaw. She challenged traditional gender identity, telling a story about a pregnant man in Bloodchild and envisaging shape-shifting, sex-changing characters in Wild Seed. Her interest in hybridity and the adaptation of the human race, which she explored in her Xenogenesis trilogy, anticipated non-fiction works by the likes of Yuval Noah Harari. Concerns about topics including climate change and the pharmaceutical industry resonate even more powerfully now than when she wove them into her work.

And of course, by virtue of her gender and ethnicity, she was striving to smash genre assumptions about writers – and readers – so ingrained that in 1987, her publisher still insisted on putting two white women on the jacket of her novel Dawn, whose main character is black. She also helped reshape fantasy and sci-fi, bringing to them naturalism as well as characters like herself. And when she won the prestigious MacArthur ‘genius’ grant in 1995, it was a first for any science-fiction writer.

Octavia Estelle Butler was born on 22 June 1947. Her father, a shoeshiner, died when she was very young, and she was raised by her mother, a maid, in Pasadena, California. As an only child, Butler began entertaining herself by telling stories when she was just four. Later, tall for her age and painfully shy, growing up in an era of segregation and conformity, that same storytelling urge became an escape route. She read, too, hungrily and in spite of her dyslexia. Her mother – who herself had been allowed only a scant few years of schooling – took her to get a library card, and would bring back cast-off books from the homes she cleaned.

An alternate future

Through fiction, Butler learnt to imagine an alternate future to the drab-seeming life that was envisioned for her: wife, mother, secretary. “I fantasised living impossible, but interesting lives – magical lives in which I could fly like Superman, communicate with animals, control people’s minds”, she wrote in 1999. She was 12 when she discovered science fiction, the genre that would draw her most powerfully as a writer. “It appealed to me more, even, than fantasy because it required more thought, more research into things that fascinated me,” she explained. Even as a young girl, those sources of fascination ranged from botany and palaeontology to astronomy. She wasn’t a particularly good student, she said, but she was “an avid one”.

After high school, Butler went on to graduate from Pasadena City College with an Associates of Arts degree in 1968. Throughout the 1970s, she honed her craft as a writer, finding, through a class with the Screen Writers’ Guild Open Door Program, a mentor in sci-fi veteran Harlan Ellison, and then selling her first story while attending the Clarion Science Fiction Writer’s Workshop. Supporting herself variously as a dishwasher, telemarketer and inspector at a crisp factory, she would wake at 2am to write. After five years of rejection slips, she sold her first novel, Patternmaster, in 1975, and when it was published the following year, critics praised its well-built plot and refreshingly progressive heroine. It imagines a distant future in which humanity has evolved into three distinct genetic groups, the dominant one telepathic, and introduces themes of hierarchy and community that would come to define her work. It also spawned a series, with two more books, Mind of My Mind and Survivor, following before the decade’s end.

With the $1,750 advance that Survivor earnt her, Butler took a trip east to Maryland, the setting for a novel she wanted to write about a young black woman who travels back in time to the Deep South of 19th-Century America. Having lived her entire life on the West Coast, she travelled by cross-country bus, and it was during a three-hour wait at a bus station that she wrote the first and last chapters of what would become Kindred. It was published in 1979 and remains her best-known book.

The 1980s would bring a string of awards, including two Hugos, the science-fiction awards first established in 1953. They also saw the publication of her Xenogenesis trilogy, which was spurred by talk of ‘winnable nuclear war’ during the arms race, and probes the idea that humanity’s hierarchical nature is a fatal flaw.The books also respond to debates about human genetic engineering and captive breeding programs for endangered species.

In her author photos, Butler appears a serious woman with an exceptionally penetrating gaze. At a talk she gave in Washington DC in 1991, later reported in the radical feminist periodical, Off Our Backs, she offered a fuller description of herself: “comfortably asocial – a hermit in the middle of Los Angeles – a pessimist if I’m not careful, a feminist, a black, a former Baptist, an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, certainty and drive”.

That certainty and drive can be seen in papers from her archive, now housed at the Huntington Library. In 1998, some motivational notes written on the back of a ring-bound writing pad begin “I shall be a bestselling writer!” She goes on: “I will find the way to do this! So be it! See to it!” Elsewhere, she’s to be found urging herself to “tell stories filled with facts. Make people touch and taste and know. Make people feel! Feel! Feel!”

Butler died in 2006, following a fall near her home in Washington state. Though she had begun suffering from writer’s block and depression, caused in part by medication for her high blood pressure, she’d continued to teach, and in 2005, had been inducted into Chicago State University’s international black writers hall of fame. She published a novel that year, too, Fledgling, whose vampire heroine must avenge a vicious attack, and rebuild her life and family. By then, her books had been translated into 10 languages, selling more than 1 million copies altogether.

In the years since, her fanbase has only grown. It turns out that she didn’t invent the campaign slogan beloved by Trump. It was used by Ronald Reagan in his 1980 presidential campaign, and later by Bill Clinton, although later he described the phrase as a “racist dog whistle to white southerners”. Nevertheless, as Tarshia L Stanley, dean of the school of humanities, arts and sciences at St Catherine University, notes, when readers spotted during the 2016 US election that Butler had chosen the slogan for Jarret, it “jarred people into recognising that she’s been doing this work all along. She’d been trying to tell us that if we do not make changes, this is what’s going to happen. She constantly gave that message: this is the logical conclusion if we keep treading down this path. I think when people saw that phrase, it started a whole new group of people reading her work.”

Butler’s work is today the subject of fan fiction, television adaptations (there are at least two in the works), and lively attention on college campuses, where it’s read from perspectives as varied as critical race theory, Afrofuturism, black feminism, queer theory and disability studies. Stanley, who last year edited the essay collection Approaches to Teaching the Works of Octavia E Butler, is also president of a society dedicated to the author. Its membership is broad, she says, but the most gratifying surprise is how many young people Butler’s work is engaging. At the inaugural conference, there was even a panel of high-school kids.

What would Butler have made of the present political moment in the US? “I don’t think she would have been surprised”, Stanley says. She puts Butler’s ability to envisage our future down to a deep understanding of human nature – knowledge gained from having the role of outsider foisted on her in girlhood. This she backed up with research, reading journals including Scientific American, listening to lectures, travelling as far as the Amazon. For Stanley, the one lesson to take from Butler’s work is hope. “World building is huge in her canon, and so there is always hope that since we built this world, we can build another one.”

There’s a scene in Parable of the Sower when the best friend of heroine Lauren Olamina insists “Books aren’t going to save us”. Lauren replies: “Use your imagination,” telling her to search her family’s bookshelves for anything that might come in handy. “Any kind of survival information from encyclopedias, biographies, anything that helps you learn,” she goes on. "Even some fiction might be useful".

Butler’s novels are just that kind of fiction. The child who began writing as a means of escape, ended up crafting potent calls to socio-political action that seem ever more pertinent to our survival as a species.

Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents, and other books by Octavia Butler are published by Headline.

[fmr]

[tealspells]

Could you list out everyone’s godtier and explanation? (Godtier because i can only remember knight/heir/rogue outfits) and explanation because I’m curious and I love your au!

sure!!! sorry this took so long to type out, watch out tho, this is gonna be long!

Mob:

For Mob, I gave him a Rogue of Hope! Reasons being... well:

Rogues have trouble embracing their aspect, in this case, being Hope. Hope is the belief that anything is possible and that positivity is the solution to many things, to embrace belief in yourself and your potential as well as accepting positivity from others. HE IS NOT A MASTER CLASS, which i know seems to be a popular class to give him, despite his power, and my reason for that is because giving his a master class such as Muse or even a potentially OP one such as Page, kind of destroys the point of MP100′s message of "nobody is special" and "because no one is special, your life is your own". I gave him a classpect to help him grow, not emphasize his power. He is given a class to help him overcome his lack of Hope (as well as to create a balance between the idea of positive and negative emotions.) and given the class of Rogue, he has trouble believing in himself, but has no problem motivating others. He is the IDEA of hope, (with many character citing their changes because of him in canon) but struggles accepting his own potential. In canon he is so quick to forgive and believe in the change of so many people, but refuses to forgive and believe in his own change in himself.) Hope players have strong convictions, and very strong sense to do what is right. That’s not to say Hope is just nice and healing, Hope is the opposite of Rage, and isn't entirely a good thing, combined with the often black-and-white views Hope players have, if their belief is strong enough they can cause destruction if they feel it is right. Hope is the IDEA of positivity, Mob would need to realize positivity can not solve everything, and learn to allow himself to feel negative emotions, and distribute this hope to everyone else, but not blindly. Mob still has his ESP, and is whenever he is prone to exploding, his aspect begins to mirror Rage.

Ritsu:

Ritsu is a Prince of Mind!

First off, we know Ritsu is intelligent. As a Mind player, they focus on rationality, not the impersonal.  Mind deals a lot with decisions, paths, and the consequences that follow. Because of all the potential paths decisions can make, Mind players are often burdened with the responsibility of choosing the “correct” answer. Mind players do not have all the answers, and this can lead to overwhelming these players with all the potential repercussions these choices can make. Ritsu has, from the beginning after the incident with his brother, shoved down his sense of self, and built a sort of goody-two-shoes, reliable brother act. He did this to keep his brother stress-free, to avoid the danger his brother could become and bring out. He made this decision at the expense of his own identity, his own emotions and feelings. So in a way, he destroyed his “self” with a decision (tying into his classpect. Princes are destroyers, either destroying with their aspect, or destroying their aspect. In this case, he destroyed WITH his aspect, with his decision). Mind is also the opposite of Heart, and because of this, Mind players have the tendency to, where Heart players are overtly concerned with their Self, Mind players concern themselves the least with their Self. Princes are stubborn, teetering on the edge of control and chaos, and often destroy their own aspect within themselves. While that sounds awful, the way I apply it to is that, the aspect has to be taken into account! So, Ritsu would destroy his own decisions within himself in order to come up with better ones, and at his worst moments, be void of any decisions so he is forced to act impulsively. For Ritsu, his challenge as a Prince of Mind would be to not let himself be destroyed by his decisions, and lack of decisions, and allow himself to rebuild his sense of self while realizing that rationality and self go hand in hand.

Tome:

Naturally, Tome’s a Space player! A Thief of Space! I went more into depth to why she’s a Space player tho besides.... she likes space (a lot also just being my interpretations.....)

Thieves are well-intentioned, and eccentric, and unlike Rogues, they have confidence in their aspect and hide away their insecurities to avoid looking weak. Tome is shown to be outlandish and loud, making her presence known (taking up as much Space as possible). Space players see things as a whole, not overly concerned with details and mostly go along with the ride. In her canon appearances, Tome is mostly seen lazing around and taking things as they come, and her fascination with space and aliens (as well as telepathy) take up most of her interest space, often becoming overbearing when she talks about her interests. She also uses her creativity, a Space player trait, to get herself out of situations, her eccentricity creating a more believable layer to this (much like how Reigen's sincerity and genuity adds dimension to his advice). Her confidence in her aspect hides her insecurity of wasting time and never pursuing her passion, mirroring in canon where she drops her interest in finding telepaths to focus on her schoolwork. While Tome would use most of her fascination of space to gather knowledge of how to game works for herself (especially anything to do with the trolls since they are aliens she's interested about learning, and her own role to breed the universe frog), her challenge is to use her creative solutions to help further progress in the session, as well as helping others.

Reigen:

A Heir of Blood!

The Blood aspect deals with bonds, leadership, and trust. Reigen, by all accounts, is not a commanding leader, but an inspirational one instead. Considering his class, Heir, they often end up in their roles either naturally or it finds them, and with Reigen, I’d definitely say the role of an inspirational leader both found and gravitated to him. While Reigen isn’t particularly seen as a leader (we know he’s either clueless to danger sometimes, because let’s be real, he’s out of his league dealing with supernatural stuff but does his best to manage, and calls his shots based on whether he knows he can deal with it or not), he also is very reliable and grounded, as a Blood player should be. Blood players offer sound advice as well, but that’s not to say Reigen is completely put together himself though! We see Reigen fall apart briefly before putting himself back together when Mob leaves him to his own devices, unaware of the effect Mob’s presence gives to him, mirroring how Reigen’s presence had an effect on Mob’s when Mob first sought him out, and all the advice Reigen has given Mob as well as others. Most Blood players have messy impersonal relationships, think about how Reigen deals with his mother, and how he seems to struggle with and have a lack of relationships outside of work. Blood players also are very “do as I say, not as I do” types, and charismatic, which I think fits Reigen perfectly! Heirs invite manipulation to their aspect, and invite manipulation through their aspect. Reigen would be able to encourage change in bonds and alliances as well as cause change due to bonds and alliances (a good example would be how the former Scar members came to Reigen for leadership).

Tsubomi:

A Witch of Time! most of this is my own interpretation of her character and a callback to her incredibly passive role in canon so i gave her an active one!

So!!! Time players, above all, value action over passiveness. Time is always moving forward, its players would do the same, not wanting to idle and do nothing. Since Tsubomi is an Heiress as a fuschia, she has long accepted her role and fate, knowing there would be a time she would have to face the current Empress, and lose. She cultivates a likeable persona, not much out of her own desire but to increase her chances of survival. Like in canon, this fits how Tsubomi had to keep up her “idol” personal up at all times, and if she slipped, she knew she would be an easy target due to her popularity (such as that time she had sneezed and needed a napkin). Fuschia Tsubomi figured if she was adored and well-liked by most of the population, she could turn the tides in the society and rebel, or at the very least, obtain enough help. She plays her “idol Heiress” role to the T, passive and agreeable, and most of it involves keeping herself out of trouble, despite all the death and injustice surrounding her and the society. Tsubomi would definitely be eager to leave her stuffy persona, and longs to take action and take things into her own hands, take charge of her own fate. Basically, not wanting to “sit and look pretty”. Time players are also goal-oriented, and her keeping her eye on the end to the moment she can finally act is true to this. Witches are breakers and manipulators of their aspects. Time is a constricting, never-ending flow and for a Witch of Time, breaking the flow and breaking from the flow, manipulating it as one wants, as Tsubomi would view it due to her having been stuck in her role as Heiress, freeing.

Shou:

A Mage of Void!

Void is all about secrets, holding them or discovering them. It’s all about the potential the void, “nothing”, seems to have, and how something can be built from nothing. Void players are mysterious themselves, their minds and thoughts processes hard to grasp, like their aspect itself. They prefer to exist on their own. From his first canon appearance, very little information is presented about Shou, and while he isn’t necessarily keeping his role a secret, he wasn’t really telling anyone about it either. He comes and goes, silent as a shadow, observant and keeping to himself until he reveals his presence. Void players cast doubt into what is already considered known, and refuse to bow to intellectual authority, especially when they believe something better can be built rather than what the authority claims. Having been raised by his ancestor, Touichirou, Shou is entirely aware of his plans of domination, having gathered this through poking around in the shadows for answers. His refusal to use Touchirou’s same blood color is both an act of rebellion as well as concealing his connection to him by using an orange color instead, effectively hiding himself from his ancestor. Mages understand their aspect and gain understanding with it. Shou was able to gather intellect due to his connection with horrorterrors and from using his caste abilities (he’s a blueblood after all, but not mind control like Vriska, more like making the mind believe things, a sort of illusion, and uses it to conceal his presence, “voiding” himself from reality). Mages also experience their aspect personally. Because he is a Mage of Void, Shou could suffer an overwhelming sense of loneliness, as well as the responsibility Shou burdens himself with of defeating and stopping Touichirou, could potentially cause a backlash to him if he fails to heed warnings and act on his knowledge (think of how Sollux, a Mage of Doom, failed to listen to warnings of doom, suffered a backlash of the death of his friends as well as his eyesight). Shou’s challenge is to open his mind to different perspectives rather than relying on his own knowledge.

Teru:

A Knight of Heart! (nothing new, just copy-pasted from that other post, figured i’d add it here to have them all together)

Heart deals a lot of with identity. A heart player would concern themselves with their identity and can become a bit self-absorbed bc of it, but it doesn’t have to be a in bad way, they just think everyone else think about their own identity like they do. So they’re very self aware. Teru from the beginning is very self-aware of who he is, and who he wants to be. even when he has his change from “protagonist” to “support character”, Teru still shows his self-absorbed nature but again, he just puts a lot of thought into his identity and grows from being aware of his own self. early on, Teru’s issues stem from forming his identity around how people view him, and we see how much it affects him in canon when mob tears down his perfect bubble he built for himself, and feels as if his identity was taken away. and because i placed him lower on the hemospectrum (he’s a goldblood), he also tries to make himself seem as special as he can, and mirrors the attitude of those higher on the caste system, and his thought process goes like this: im special because of my identity i worked hard to build up. troll teru is also very hung up on the quadrants, again, viewing it as a way to build his identity and solidify his place as Special. his class, Knight, ties into this because really, teru uses his identity as a facade. we see both dave and karkat (as well as latula) hide behind a facade, SHIELDING their “true selves” behind it (bc… knights and shields lol). Knights hide behind their aspect to hide their fears of failure, which i think fits Teru, again, when Mob breaks down his facade, bluntly telling him Teru is just like him. The challenge for Teru as as Knight would be to accept his skills as they are and not allow himself to be chained to his previous identity.

[asterythm]

Sanders Sides telepathy AU

Anyone remember this thing from before my accidental blog deletion? Yeah, I’m still proud of this, so I’m bringing it back. (I just kinda banged this all out in one sitting, though, so please excuse any typos :P)

In a nutshell, in this AU the Sides are four completely normal people in a completely normal world... except for one thing. For reasons unknown, the four of them are able to telepathically communicate with one another. This isn’t limited to holding a mental conversation; the thoughts they send each other are a little more abstract and are more senses than sentences. 

Warnings: mentions of panic attacks, bullying, and (imaginary) pets dying

Roman and Patton

Roman and Patton were best friends as kids and so they’ve always known about their power

They met in kindergarten and immediately felt a connection with each other that they’d never felt with anyone else

It was just like meeting their other half; they clicked immediately

Communicating through thoughts felt as natural as breathing, although at first they weren’t able to consciously think sentences at each other

It was more of a thing where when Patton felt sad, Roman realized that inexplicably he felt sad too??

One day Roman’s out on his bike and he falls off and scrapes his left leg. Patton is sitting on his couch at home watching Sesame Street when it happens and he suddenly starts bawling his eyes out. When his parents ask him what happened, he says, “my leg hurts!!”

This happens a couple more times that year, because Roman is very adventurous even as a kid and Patton has a low pain tolerance.

(Eventually, this behaviour earns Patton a couple disapproving words from his teacher, because Patton starts crying about how he’s in pain every time Roman gets hurt and his teacher thinks that he’s just being a selfish attention-seeking brat. The conversation is something that his teacher forgot about pretty much the day after, but it sticks with Patton, who can’t stand the thought that he’s disappointed his teacher. It eventually leads to Patton growing up to be someone who hides all his negative emotions… but that’s angst for another day.)

Anyway, the point is — the two of them projected their thoughts to each other since their first meeting. Since they didn’t have any control over their telepathy, they ended up sharing ideas and emotions 24/7, but never any actual words

It took them a long time to realise that so acutely feeling other people’s feelings wasn’t normal, and then after they figured out that they had superpowers they had to spend years developing their ability to be able to send each other concrete words

One time, Patton got caught seemingly talking to himself (it was easier to send each other sentences when they were being said out loud) by his parents. They asked him what he was doing. He panicked and responded that he was talking to his stuffed bear, whose name was Thomas

It became a running joke and from then on, they always referred to their telepathic connection as “Thomas”

By the time they were in high school, they could hold entire conversations in their heads, and they didn’t need to be as physically close to each other to communicate

There came a day when Patton was at a party where he felt incredibly uncomfortable. He sent an SOS signal to Roman, who called his cell phone only moments later and did an incredibly impressive imitation of Patton’s father crying and saying that their pet hamster had died and that Patton needed to come home right this instant —

Patton had never owned a pet hamster, but he was grateful for the excuse to leave

The next day, concerned kids came up to him all day to comfort him on the loss of Sir Squiggles The Brave (a name that Roman had made up on the fly). Patton wasn’t a good actor, nor was he good at improvising. Luckily, Roman was. Roman coached him through the whole day and sent ideas of puppies being kicked to Patton

(He apologized afterwards)

Another story: When Roman came out about a year later, he was constantly bullied. One person in particular wouldn’t leave him alone. The bullying may have gone on for much longer than it did if it weren’t for Patton

Patton noticed that it had been a long time since he’d received anything from Roman. He tried to contact Roman and ask what was wrong and found that he couldn’t get the thought through — Roman was completely closed off

Eventually Patton was able to confront Roman face-to-face and that was enough to break down Roman’s walls; Roman told him everything and Patton knew exactly what he needed to do to help

The next time someone came to bully Roman, Patton took control. He listened to the words that the bully was saying from afar and fed Roman a script of what he should say

The bully ended up on the ground in tears as Roman crouched awkwardly next to him, comforting him using Patton’s words

“I just carry so much pain inside of me all the time, and I take it out on you because I have low self-esteem and making other people feel bad makes me feel powerful! I’m sorry!”

Patton did this as many times as necessary; the school was a noticeably kinder place by the end of the month and Roman developed a bit of a reputation as a great problem-solver

They’ve long since graduated high school, but they remain impossibly close, because they know each other’s inner workings in an intimate way that would never be possible with anyone else…

Or so they thought.

Logan

Logan never knew anything about his ability until he moved into the town where Roman and Patton lived

To better acquaint himself with his new home, he went to see the local theatre company performing Romeo and Juliet

He loves Shakespeare, but he’s not usually very moved by theatre and was expecting the production to be mediocre at best

Boy! Was! He! Wrong!

He’s been feeling very strange the entire production; it’s not a particularly nice feeling, but he’s glued to his seat. He is fixated on the story with an odd passion that he’s never felt before

He finds himself focusing on one of the actors in particular; the attractive young auburn man playing Romeo

He acutely feels the thoughts and emotions of Romeo as the play goes on. Genuine anguish wells up inside of him when Romeo discovers Juliet’s corpse, and for the first time ever, he cries at the end

But then, during the bows, the pain disappears and he finds himself laughing, filled with adrenaline and euphoria? What is going on???

It turns out, the reason he was so fixated on the actor playing Romeo is because he’s unconsciously receiving Roman’s emotions

The fact that Roman is so handsome certainly doesn’t hurt either I mean what

He keeps coming to Roman’s shows and always sits in the front row. Roman comes to recognize the dashing young fellow who always comes to see his shows, and one day after a production he gathers his courage and goes up to Logan in the lobby to strike up a conversation

Roman finds himself fascinated with all the insights into Shakespeare’s work that Logan has and their conversation is going incredibly well until suddenly

It HappensTM

Roman absently exchanges thoughts with Patton. Logan can’t hear Patton, but he’s close enough to Roman to be able to clearly receive Roman’s reply — it’s like a loudspeaker booming in his mind

“HE’S EVEN CUTER UP CLOSE, PATTON! AND SO SMART, TOO!” echoes in Logan’s mind and almost sends him stumbling

????????????? what was that???????????????

It’s quite clear that the thought was not his of own volition — he doesn’t know anyone named Patton, after all

So, if the loud words he heard weren’t his own thoughts…

Whose were they?

Virgil

In a strange coincidence (or is it more than that? :o nah, jk, it’s a coincidence) Virgil moves to the city around the same time as Logan and gets a job at the same coffee shop as Patton works at

His story is quite like Logan’s; he never knew about his telepathy before he moved

Patton takes an immediate liking to his new anxious colleague and accidentally ends up overwhelming Virgil the first week that they’re coworkers by throwing him a surprise welcome party

Virgil does not take the sudden attention very well and runs off. Patton feels awful

It’s a little odd how quickly he’s able to find Virgil when he goes to apologize, but Patton brushes it off as just lucky guesses

Anyway, he comforts Virgil. He notes that he was more panicked than he usually is when he’s trying to comfort people, but he decides that it’s probably just because this time he was the reason someone needed comfort

After the initial scare, they become fast friends. Virgil feels more comfortable around Patton than anyone else he’s ever met, which is odd because their personalities are so different.

He figures that that’s probably pretty normal for Patton, though — his kind nature makes him a very easy person to talk to

One day he’s kicking back and taking a quick break when he suddenly feels incredibly agitated. He goes out to see that Patton is trying desperately to reason with an angry customer. Virgil quickly deals with the customer, but he can’t figure out what it was that alerted him to Patton’s dilemma

Another time, Virgil is closing up shop and Patton is on his way home when he’s gripped with a sudden certainty that something is wrong. His legs lead him back to the coffee shop, where Virgil sits on the floor. There’s a shattered coffee mug in front of him. He’s in the middle of a panic attack.

Patton is suddenly struggling to breathe and he falls to his knees, too

Virgil recovers first — he’s dealt with these before — and goes to comfort Patton, but suddenly Patton is okay? Also, he’s never known Patton to be an anxious person. How did Patton know something was wrong? How come the two of them were both struck by the same thing at the same time?

His discovery of his powers isn’t a sudden thing like Logan; it’s just a bunch of little instances like these spread out over the first two months that he’s holding his job. He spends a couple nights just lying awake puzzling over the strange things that have been happening before suddenly it just clicks.

Anyone wanna add to this? I’d be delighted to hear your ideas!

[aquariusfemme-blog]

Why Are Scorpios and Aquarius Such a Powerful Match?

Aquarius is exactly what Scorpio wants, and has always wanted. The Aquarius will always be mysterious to the Scorpio. The Scorpio will be perpetually on the hunt, always learning something new about the Aquarius. Scorpio is a strongly masculine sign, and loves to go after something it doesn't fully understand. Unfortunately, the water sign gets bored easily. Sometimes a pleasant match is too surface level for Scorpio. This sign desires a great deal of complexity, paradoxes, and affection. Aquarius's complex nature is enough to lure Scorpio. Scorpio is like the pipe organ of emotions and thought. They have a strong voice and are capable of arranging complex thoughts.

Scorpios are extremely powerful signs, but often misunderstood. They'll trail to the side and go on their own independent journeys. People don't always know what exactly a Scorpio is, so it'll fade from view without ever being fully realized. Fortunately, an Aquarius is capable of understanding the Scorpio better than any other zodiac sign. A mature Aquarius will know a Scorpio immediately just by their intense stare. A Scorpio's stare is enough to cut through titanium. No other sign has this.

What Happens When Water Signs Combine With Air Signs?

All water signs are representative of a certain amount of healing and creative power. Aquarius is a brilliant thinker with excessive creativity and intuition. When Scorpio and Aquarius meet, they make for a cleansing, healing panacea (or, if they are not mature enough, a tempest). All combinations have their healing and destructive powers. Either way, this combination is strong.

Monogynous relationships between these two signs tend to be stronger. Polygamous combinations tend to be weaker because the power is often not balanced between them. Monogyny works for them because a Scorpio can fixate on an Aquarius and help it to be more powerful. The two need to spend a lot of time getting to know each other. They also need to focus their attention on each other. There is a lot of unraveling they'll need to do as neither sign tends to be as open as a Cancer or a Sagittarius.

Scorpio is a magician, and often feels that the challenges around him or her are too dry. That many of the things around them are dull to a great extent until an Aquarius steps into their world. Aquarius is a visionary and will never bore the Scorpio. In fact, the water sign helps the wind sign's vision a reality. Meanwhile, the Aquarius takes a dormant volcano (the Scorpio) and makes it explosive, exciting their inner passion. These two can bring out the potential within each other.

They need to understand that they don't communicate like normal couples, nor should they. They're not like normal individuals either. Scorpio needs an Aquarius to gladly accept its affections. Aquarius needs a Scorpio to chase it (Aquarius isn't a huge fan of chasing). If done well, it's an incredible and beautiful journey and an amazing pairing. Unfortunately, many couples with this combination will move too quickly, leading to self-destruction.

Neither of these signs do well with zodiacs that are too simple or too controlling. They have to line up with each other naturally, sharing equal intelligence and desire or else the whole structure will fall apart before it really has the chance to grow.

What Are Scorpio and Aquarius Drawn To?

Scorpio

Aquarius

A banging body

Creativity

A charming personality

Loyalty

Intelligence

Intelligence

Good communication skills

Intuition

Aquarius is loving and intelligent. These are gifts the Aquarius employs with a fair amount of introversion or introspection (perhaps both). Scorpio can't unravel an Aquarius like it can most other signs. It sees that the Aquarius has more pure motives, a different range for ethics, and a massive capacity for love. Scorpio enjoys Aquarius, but it brings up a lot of insecurities from deep within Scorpio. Can the Scorpio possibly win the heart of the person who wants to take care of everybody's hearts? How can the Scorpio, which can be the lowest of creatures, win such a big heart?

Why You Should Consider this Combination

Embrace the calm of an Aquarius. The ease it has with life will match well with a Scorpio and its ever changing ways. Like ice, the Scorpio is the most solid of the water signs. Still, being the master of water, it can seamlessly drift into its liquid and gaseous states. (Pisces will always be the light waters and Cancer will always be the deep, troubled waters.)

Scorpio can go anywhere there is emotion, and Aquarius can go anywhere where there is thought. When they are together the two feel more complete, more like they can share their personal stories. They're not exact mirrors, or even in the same states, but they can explore each other and come to understand each other quite well. Don't force this kind of relationship. If it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be. But when intellect and emotion try to replicate each other and understand each other, beautiful and crazy things can happen. Albeit, if the two are not mature enough in who they are, it won't work so beautifully. Just remember to know and understand yourself before you expect anyone else to do the same.

Personality Traits of Scorpio and Aquarius

Scorpio

Aquarius

Loyalty

Humanitarian

Resourcefulness

Progressive

Intensity

Affectionate

Jealousy

Friendly

Passion

Popular

Seriousness

Broad-minded

Protective

Frank

Secretive

Insensitive

Possessive

Unpredictable

Vengeful

Detached

What Does It Mean to Be a Water-Bearer and a Phoenix?

Scorpio feels awkward having to face its insecurities in the light of someone who is so lovely. Aquarius often shirks relationships, sometimes delving into very independent phases and being void of sex. Aquarius can confuse people. They can be virginal, bisexual, pansexual, and sexually straightedge. No one really knows how to label an Aquarius, especially when they are so private. They have a sexuality that is massively deep and insightful, and there are Aquarian types who really are protective and intuitive about their sexual life. However, some Aquarians are extraordinarily exploitative. Aquarius doesn't feel a lot of chemistry with many signs on a sexual level. It may feel like having true chemistry with a partner is difficult to achieve. Their invasive thoughts can distract them from the amazing things in front of them

The water-bearer symbolically and eternally gives life and spiritual food to the world.

The water-bearer symbolically and eternally gives life and spiritual food to the world.

The Scorpio is one of the few signs that can get inside an Aquarius's mind. They feel a certain chemistry with this sign that is absent in the other 11. Scorpio also finds something in Aquarius that others do not have. These two signs are like magnets and immediately connect well with each other. They want each other. This connection most-likely has something to do with how they mix as fixed signs. Their emotional palettes work well together, creating extraordinary exuberant colors. If these two meet too soon, it is a major hurdle to overcome. They won't have enough knowledge to understand each other. There is a certain amount of life fluency they need in order to bridge the gaps they'll have.

Scorpio is known for having a crazy amount of range to their emotions. They have three different morphological cycles: the snake, the scorpion, and the phoenix. The other signs will usually have only one totem. This sign is naturally complicated. Other signs just don't have enough power to study the world with the same intensity. If you're not paying enough attention, it's easy to lose sight of a Scorpio. They can change their mask so easily. They are malleable, quick-learners, and, most importantly, they can easily dissect someone else's personality.

The phoenix is a symbol of rebirth from the ashes of the past. It is also representative of the victory of life over death.

The phoenix is a symbol of rebirth from the ashes of the past. It is also representative of the victory of life over death.

What Scorpio and Aquarius Want in Bed

Scorpio

Aquarius

Scorpios have an endless sex drive.

Aquarius wants to get to know the partner through making love.

Expect a Scorpio to take any and all sexual encounters very, very seriously.

Fascinated by the choreography of making love.

You can't shock a Scorpio. Try many ideas out.

Wants to be taken on a journey.

Wants to have a deep, and almost telepathic mental connection with you.

Aquarius is primarily curious.

Your trust in him will turn him on because it means he has managed to connect with you on a mental level (which is essentially what he desires).

Aquarius is also interested in experimenting with new positions.

Inside the Minds of Scorpios and Aquarius

Scorpios have busy minds, easily distracted by the noise of life. However, once they've found their match, they love deeply and loyally. They are searching for the right person, and they do not settle. They believe deeply in a soulmate, they refuse to stay with someone who doesn't fully stimulate them. Although they can seem grounded when compared to Aquarius, Scorpios (regardless of whether they flat out say it or not) are looking for a supernatural connection as well.

Aquarius can come off aloof to them, but Aquarius is like Jean Gray from the X-Men. They are intuitive, quiet, and amazingly charming. Nevertheless, they can unleash the Phoenix within them. They have powerful emotions locked up inside them. Because their emotional capacity is like dynamite, they don't let those emotions out unless they find it completely necessary.

These powerful emotions are what tie them to the image of being water-bearers. Yes, they can skate above the water all day long with beautiful thoughts, but they are also the water itself. They are spring wells of emotion, with astute emotional control. If there were an Olympics for emotional control, Aquarians would receive every gold medal. They have a relationship with emotion and thought that is difficult for many to read, therefore, Aquarians are sometimes seen as misfits, odd, and different. Their high capacity for thought and emotion make them odd ducks, difficult to understand. However, they're usually so sweet that people accept them. This runs contrary to Scorpio, who has a tendency to be brooding, grumpy, and dark. If you're a Harry Potter fan, think of the Slytherins. They get a bad reputation in the books, but in actuality they are great and must take responsibility for that greatness.

Scorpio and Aquarius get along because they are both odd, highly creative, and secretly emotional. They need to take things slow. Taking things slow is the key to making this pair work. It's like a red velvet cake. Make sure to preheat the oven, follow all the steps, and make sure you have all the ingredients before you pop the pan into the oven. Otherwise, you'll end up with a gooey, inedible mess.

They can rush things by taking it physical. They need to create a great deal of space to build trust and communication. This will take awhile. Because this relationship takes patience, many will give up. First, this pair needs to understand how to talk to each other. This is going to take some time because they are so different and have to learn from each other. It's like a newborn learning how to talk, it'll take awhile, but will be very rewarding.

[lexiecarver]

Needful Things

Pairing: Crowley x Reader (how shocking, I know. :) )

Word Count: 2,844

A/N: This was written for @kittenofdoomage’s Classic Movie Quotes Challenge with the prompt, “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.” This was also written for @chelsea072498’s birthday challenge with the prompts; caramels, the number 37 and a stranger arrives claiming to have the fix to the main character’s problems. Happy b-day, hun. Hope you have an awesome one. Here’s some Crowley fluff with a few sexy scenes but no actual erotica. Xoxo-Lexie.                              Also on A03

Italics= thoughts and telepathic communication

You hated these things but they’d talk more if you didn’t go. You hated hobnobbing with all the people you hated in high school especially since you weren’t super successful and didn’t have a family. You knew they would throw all their accomplishments in your face the second you got through the door. You decided to don your favorite black dress so at least you’d look good. You went in there head held high. The sound of your high heels clicked on the gym floor as you walked to the check-in desk. Taking a deep calming breath you look up at the woman behind the desk smiling back at her.

“Name please.”

Off to a great start.

“Y/N.”

“Oh, my god. Yes. Of course. Wow, you’ve changed.”

Yeah, I look like a stone cold fox. Thanks, bitch. Yeah, too snotty.

“I know I look amazing, don’t I? Cute top.”

Yep, perfect note.

The girl stared up at you angrily. Yeah, Missy always hated it when people called her clothes, “cute.” She nearly shoved the nametag into your hand. You took it with a smile on your face and headed to your table. Of course, you would be seated next to all your former bullies because the universe is just like that. As you approached the table, you noticed a strange man in a nicely tailored suit with a dark gray paisley tie. Actually, if you were being honest with yourself, he was fucking gorgeous and boy did you want him right here under the bleachers. You gulped and smiled at the table. You sat down next to him. A seat was actually free right next to him. Maybe the universe wasn’t so bad after all. You gave him a nervous smile and he smirked at you. Fuck, that smirk spoke volumes and then he opened his mouth.

"I’m Crowley.“

You heard yourself telling him your name but honestly, you don’t remember doing it. You couldn’t take your eyes off him. You were totally enthralled by this stranger.

He had an accent. It was British. Holy fuck. He wasn’t a student here. You would have remembered a British student. So that meant he was someone’s date. Fuck.

“He’s actually my brother, “ the woman next to Crowley said,

Your cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. She must have said that in reference to you. Were you being that obvious? Oh, man. And wait a minute – did she just read your mind? The woman and Crowley shared a glance. An obnoxious blonde next to you became a bit jealous of your vicinity to the handsome stranger and decided to speak with you.  Her voice was annoyingly high-pitched.

“Are you really at our table. Who are you?”

“Rude much Monica? It’s Y/N. Surely you remember me?”

“Oh yeah, the different kid always spending time alone thinking you were better than us. Huh. Wonder where you got that dress? You must be doing well for yourself. No ring on your finger?”

“Why does a woman need a man to define her?”

“Quite right,” Crowley added. He smiled against his whiskey glass.

“Only asked if you’re single.”

“What a scathing comeback. Tell me, homecoming Queen, two things. One, where’s your ring and two haven’t you grown up? We’re not in high school anymore.”

“I’m engaged. The ring is in the shop. It was a bit smaller than we thought. Grow up? I am grown up. Duh, I’m getting married.”

“Congratulations, then.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to make it. They don’t accept your kind there.”

“Excuse me?”

“Cheap -.”

“I suggest you don’t finish that sentence, Monica was it?

Crowley nearly growled. She held his gaze and then something about him terrified her because she slipped back into her chair.

"Don’t listen to her, love. You’re special. I can see it. The way you carry yourself, the way you wear that dress, the way you think. You are a class above these peons. I just wish you believed it.”

You fought hard to not react. No one had ever told you that before. I mean, you told yourself that but for someone else to see what you saw about yourself – and wait he was in your mind again.

You slowly turned your head to him and he smirked.

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”.

“So that’s a yes.”

He turned to you and you felt a blush rise to your cheeks. His eyes roved over your face, focusing on your lips. You unconsciously licked them. His tongue dove out of his mouth to lick his own lips. Then he turned his head back to the conversation.

The woman Crowley came with started talking to Stu. She seemed to cozy up to him.

“Nice jersey.”

"Thanks. I really love football but since my injury, I can’t play anymore. My favorite player’s jersey is number 37. Best team ever – the Chicago Bulls and Callahan, Bryce is the best player.

"Sports are so overrated don’t you think?”

“Totally, ” you said smiling back at Crowley.

Crowley put one of his hands on yours. He stroked the top of it while he smiled at you before he took your hand in his. “His sister,” looked tense but he nodded her off.

“You look gorgeous in that dress. It hugs all your-.”

“I have no idea how you’re talking to me in my mind right now. But stop it. You came with-.”

“How I wish I was on your arm…I could-.”

“Y/N?”

“Yes.”

“Is she daydreaming?”

“OMG. She was always doing that in class. So distracting. One hot guy and she’s lost.”

Crowley growled. Fucking growled at the insult. You could have sworn his eyes flashed red. His sister placed her hand on his.

“Why don’t we stop sniping at each other and play a fun game instead. Who’s with me?”

Everyone was jumping at the chance but something about her made you hesitate.

“How about we go around the room and each list things we would desperately want.”

“I’ll go first. I want you to get a life.”

Crowley stared at the girl white knuckling the table. He desperately wanted to kill her but he needed her to make a wish first. His trainee was nervous that the King of the Crossroads was so angry. He must like the human sitting next to him. But why? Y/N was just a human, nothing special. But the whole thing was above her pay grade so she quickly forgot it.

“Monica. I told you before to stop. We need everyone to list things.”

“We can fix all your problems. Just wish them away.”

“Fine. I’d like money. Lots of it and all the finer things in life. Oh, and if we’re talking fantasies how about a famous actor as a husband. That would be amazing.”

“What happened to your fiancé?”

“Please, I’d be marrying a star. Upgrade.”

"Uh, I’d want to relive my glory days and play football again obviously.”

“Knowledge – like I want to know everything. Have a lot of degrees and spend my time writing academic papers.”

Monica rolled her eyes. Crowley looked bored with the wishes waiting anxiously to see what you would ask for.

“I’d like a creative job that pays well.”

“Oh, how about this one: I can eat anything I want and stay a size 2.”

“And you, Y/N, what would you like?” All eyes were on you and honestly, it was a little daunting.

“Nothing. Just a good happy, healthy life.”

“There has to be something you want even if it’s something small.”

“Go on dear. I’m intrigued to hear what you’d like. I can offer so many things. I can fix all your problems,” Crowley offered.

You were starting to get uneasy. Crowley and the woman next to him sounded like pushy salespeople but what the hell were they selling? That was really the question.

“Um… Ok. A man who will love me for me and for a title. Mrs, the best…., mom, something just a title and a happy life. Basically, a life that’s my own and a place where I feel I belong.”

Crowley was impressed by your wish. You were such a fascinating creature. You were gorgeous, great at witty repartee, unique and not materialistic. You asked for love and a title. How innocent. Selling her soul for love. There’s something so bittersweet about that.

“Love you for you? I can do that. That isn’t a problem dear. I can fix everyone’s problems in a heartbeat. Everything comes with a price though.”

“You could-.”

“I take people as they are. No sense in changing them. Though I wonder why that is such a problem for you… hiding anything? Kinky? Dark? Why wouldn’t they love you for you?”

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD.”

“And go where?”

You see Crowley walk around the table, pulling your chair out forcefully and pulling you to his chest. His hands wind around your hair and he kisses you passionately. You can taste the whiskey on his breath. Feel his cock slowly grinding against your clothed core. “

You gasp, trying to cover a moan that desperately wanted to come out. No one has seemed to notice. Crowley is curiously sitting in the chair next to you like he never moved. It must have been in your head. You feel a warm breath on your back and feel someone nibbling your ear. A hand reaches down your body into your panties to rub on your clit and then just as suddenly it’s gone. Crowley winks at you, leaving you a confused panting mess.

“I can make you feel amazing, pet. Just give in to me. I promise that this whole table, all the people that teased you and made high school hell for you will have what’s coming to them. Their fates are already sealed. But I can save you if you want to be saved?”

“Saved from what?”

“From the consequences of my help.”

“That’s rather ominous. You’ve intrigued me so why not. Let’s see what you got.”

“Very well consider it done.”

“I have no idea who you are but you’re a hoot. Consider it done. What are you a demon or something? A wishmaster? Hilarious.”

The hairs on the back of your neck stood up. Wishes, demon, mind powers. You choked on your water. His eyes returned to you, filled with concern. His hand drifted out towards you fixing the problem immediately. You withdrew your hand quickly looking into his eyes with fear.

“Clever, girl. I am a demon but trust me, I have no intention of hurting you. You intrigue me too, dear, and it isn’t every day that a human does that. This is my job after all and I’m giving you a freebie.“

Soon afterwards everyone drifts away, some go home, some go to the dance floor. You decide to go, too, but before you could, Crowley pulls you aside nearly dragging you to the bleachers. He hands you two caramels.

“This is very important. You have to listen to me and remember it.  I mean you no harm but if you forget what I’m telling you, I won’t be able to save you. I will be back in 10 years. You will know when I’m back because there will be sounds of a hound, snarling and growling, yet you won’t see the hound. The second … and I mean the exact second you hear the growling, you eat the caramels. Understood?”

You nodded your head slowly and looked down at the candy. Before you could ask any more questions you found yourself alone in your car.

That night really shook you up. You didn’t know if you believed what happened. Maybe it was just a really vivid daydream? Whatever it was, you couldn’t shake the need to carry the caramels in your pocket no matter where you were or with whom.

You tried to shake off the man you met years ago as a feverish dream. But what if he wasn’t? It was true that everyone got what they asked for. They were all so happy, so content. Stu even played for the Chicago Bears. No idea how Crowley pulled that off and Monica married her favorite actor. But you never found a guy who accepted you. You didn’t get a title and your life wasn’t any different. Was that because you were meant for Crowley? That idea made you afraid but also so excited that a man, a being like that, could be that intrigued by you.

You had an awful lot of sleepless night wondering what the consequences would be and how caramels would save you. You stayed up reading as you usually did and the second it turned midnight you heard growling. You thought maybe you had fallen asleep and it was just another nightmare, but you were wide-awake. You were confused and went out to the balcony looking down at the ground but you saw nothing. The growling intensified and you saw the dining room table knock over. Whatever it was, was getting closer. You could feel its warm breath on you. You immediately started chewing on the caramels two at a time. You started running around your apartment trying to suck the caramels as quickly as possible. You ran to the kitchen to get a weapon and ran out quickly brandishing a pot. You hit one of the invisible dogs but another one charged into you throwing you to the ground making you swallow the rest of the caramels. It was a wonder you didn’t choke. You slowly turned your head to the side trying to get your face always from the dog. You were shivering with fear with an invisible dog on top of you. Crowley really was a demon. And this is what happens when you wish. Shit. Where was he? Didn’t he say he would protect you?

Gulping, you slowly turned your face towards the hound. The dog seemed to be smelling you, actually smelling you. Then it bowed its head to you and walked off only to come back to you. You moved back hitting a table leg in the process. The dog moved tentatively forward and licked your palm. You were so shocked you couldn’t move until you heard a whistle and saw Crowley.

“Good girl Juliet.

Crowley bent down to pet his favorite hellhound.

“I didn’t want you harmed.”

“Your dog licked me.”

“The caramels, dear. They had a little extra kick to them. So the dogs would recognize you as mine. I never leave anything to chance.”

“Yours? I belong to no one.”

“Feisty tonight are we? Is that any way to talk to your King?”

“King?”

“A lot happens in ten years. I was King of the Crossroads then but now I’m the KING of Hell. And you, pet, are quite special and indeed mine.”

You quirk your eyebrow at him.

“Darling, I’ve been around for many centuries. Trust me, I will give you pleasure you’ve never imagined. I can show things you’ve only dreamed of. You will want for nothing. I will protect you from everything.”

“Why?”

“Because I find you interesting. Or you could stay here and live your life on earth and I’ll walk away.”

“So I get a free pass.”

“Sort of. I’m a very jealous and possessive man and I wanted you. I could give you a title and a place where you belong, by my side. But I thought that you needed some time. So I looked after you, made sure you were happy, got the job you wanted, made sure you could get that vacation at the beach you so desperately wanted. I’ve been taking care of you hoping that you would choose me in the end. Your deal is for me. I’m your man if you’ll have me. And if not, then I will leave you to your life.”

You couldn’t believe what he was telling you. The King of Hell wanted you. You did wonder how you got all those things but you just thought it was good luck. Crowley was watching over you, protecting you and keeping you happy for ten years. Wow. And he was giving you a choice to go with him. You looked at his outstretched hand and placed your hand in his. If he existed, the world was a lot darker than you thought and having someone to protect you might be better. You honestly couldn’t think of a better future than with Crowley in your arms.

“We’re going to hell, aren’t we.”

“We are.”

“My car’s out back. I’d love to know how one gets to hell. Let’s drive on the highway to hell like the song.

Crowley quirked an eyebrow

“No highway? Okay, a road to hell?”

“Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.”

Confusion was written all over your face,

Taking your hand you appeared in a gorgeously decorated bedroom with rose petals on the bed and a King looking at you with curiosity and longing.

What was a girl to do?

[agentaw]

Detroit: Become Human - Funny story...

Okay... so Story Time because my friends pointed this out and it’s been fucking with me ever since.

This is the story of how I kinda...sorta wrote/ predicted parts of DBH about...2 years ago. Just hear me out...okay?

So this all started similarly to how DBH started, with that dope-ass demo back in 2012. My 15 year old self became enthralled in it, much like I am now enthralled in the full game. I’ve always loved story telling and had a sort of soft spot for digital modelling. So that demo was a masterpiece to me, it had a great concept and beautiful design. It was a short obsession but it had an impact. 

And that was the last piece of news I’d ever hear about it until a month after they released the full game. I remember hearing some rumour that they weren’t gonna make it a full game or something and left it at that. I didn’t hear anything about it’s coverage at E3 because while I like video games, I become absorbed in different obsessions from time to time. 

And two years ago I was obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons, the thought of creating a whole world and having others enter it was fascinating. And while I tried to create worlds from scratch, I had a problem. 

I had never been too interested in Fantasy things, I liked fantasy characters but tended to focus on too much of the political aspect of fantasy worlds and not the fun stuff like slaying dragons and stuff. 

The return of an old obsession began to try and take my focus off of DnD but I wasn’t ready to let it go yet. 

So I merged them, DnD didn’t have to be fantasy, I didn’t have to invent a world from scratch and luckily my old obsession had a world pre-designed. Marvel, specifically MCU had a treasure trove of lore and I could take a number of rules from DnD 5e and tweak them to suit the change in genre. 

So I started off with a one shot campaign, set in a HYDRA base. My three player characters would be playing themselves and making decision based on how they’d react. They ‘woke up’ in a white plastic robot body. Singular, all three were in the same body, looking through the same eyes and rolling for control over said robot body. It was entertaining to watch them figure out what they hell was going on organically. They quickly met the first NPC an old doctor/sciencist who was a very nervous person. He explained that they’d all been loaded into the same body by accident and that he was just testing out that his creation (the body itself) was working correctly. So my players decided to answer the jumpy doctors questions and let one of them take control as the doctor got them to walk around while still connected to the computer around them by a bunch of wires connected to the back of their neck. The doctor left the room briefly (to report to his superiors) before returning and calmly explaining that he’d need to shut them down before making the rest of the bodies. Yes, this was heavily inspired by the demo but the players didn’t notice or didn’t comment on it at the time. And they genuinely really like the one-shot. So, I started writing more, growing the campaign and expanding my list of NPCs.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “wow...you ripped off the demo and think that counts as writing a whole game” but I never said I wrote the whole story, that would be mental. But as both me and my players have pointed out, there is a large number of similarities which is spooky because as i already stated I didn’t know anything about DBH until almost a month after it’s full release. 

The first and most profound is Amanda. Or my Amanda, who’s called Ruth LaRue. Dr. Ruth LaRue, the trio’s psychologist/co-creator who acts pleasant (too pleasant) towards them...unless they disobey or resist their training to become Hydra Assets. One of my players is rebellious and LaRue has tried to manipulate and coldly threatened him as a result. While another obeys and gets praise and rewards as a result. Also she looks like Amanda (a character i didn’t even know existed), I originally described her as the same race, hairstyle, though slightly younger. And then I drew her (poorly) for my players to get a better idea of how she looked and Jesus Christ they look the same. 

Another is the fact that I have three player characters. There was a possible fourth player but work and life made it difficult for her to be a part of the game. Also my players are two boys and one girl. And while that’s all freaky, their characters appearances/designs are extra weird. Originally, after all getting their own bodies, they all had white plastic robot bodies, all male design (which female player wasn’t happy about because she missed her boobs). The only way to tell them apart was voice and the nervous doctor had given them different coloured eyes. Creating robots came with the challenge of figuring out how their bodies worked (one player was particularly interested in this). Once again inspiration partly came from the Kara demo, the robots are a water (blue liquid) based system, a pump (heart) transports water, which is collect in bags (lungs) through the robots absorbing moisture in the air (through breathing), around the machine frame (body). The water has two purposes, to thinly coat the white plastic casing (skin), which allowed the robot to feel pressure but not texture and also to keep the pump valves going, which creates the energy the machines (players) are run on. After learning that the white plastic version could be easily broken during training, the nervous doctor created a second batch of models, this time made out of metal (female asked for a female body and therefore the doctor gave her a large dent in her chest plate, she was pleased). They then get a new model, ones that are designed to blend in with humans. And this is where this section gets super freaky. The player got no say in how they looked because in game they wouldn’t. 

The female is the shortest model as well as they palest model with loads of freckles, the similarities with Kara stop there but the female player has been gifted a female kitten (thankfully named Cookie, not Alice) as the reward and is quite paranoid about it being taken off her or harmed (calm down, I haven’t hurt the cat...yet). 

One of the males is only slightly more tanned than the female with considerably less freckles and markings. He’s the tallest and the player has been surprisingly obedient, only "failing” when he doesn’t understand what’s happen or doesn’t think something will benefit HYDRA. Because of this he’s been promoted to team leader by the powers that be. He’s logical and is usually thinking about training and what’s going on in the NPCs’ heads. 

Lastly we have the second male who looks southern European (Spain, Italy, Greece and could probably pass as Mexican but the story is set in central Europe) so a different ethnicity/race to the other two. This is the rebellious player who generally plays pranks, cracks jokes and says “fuck you” to authority. Like I said before as a result, he tends to be the one looked down on and oppressed by the powers that be. He generally has a very clear line which he won’t cross no matter what and is willing to stand up if he views something as drastically wrong (refused to hurt his friends or pick up a gun).

Also when asked what they wanted to be called (I.e What’s your name?) The players decided to to sick to what the nice nervous doctor had designated them, i.e the colours of their eyes. Rebellious is Red. Logical is Blue and Female is Purple (name later changed to Violet).

Next is three more NPCs, who have enough in common with the DBH characters to mess with me. 

The nervous doctor, Dr. Thomas Thornley, while having a completely different personality, has formed relationships like Hank. A number of the players refer to him as “Daddy Thornley”, not to his face but when talking to each other in game. And most disturbingly the rebellious player has implied on several occasions that he “ships” the logical male player with father-figure Thornley, jokingly of course. And while in the beginning Thornley may have viewed the robots as a project or experiment, he now appears quite protective and fond of them. Even displaying discomfort when one is broken or completely destroyed. 

Their combat and gun trainer, Agent Woodrow who is ex-military and treats the robots exactly like you’d expect he would, like machines. He could either be Gavin or Captain Allen but either way he’s a genuine aggressor and dislikes/hates the robots. 

The Head of Hydra, Director Malachi Storm who has an air of mystery around him and commands any room he enters. He’s considerable less creepy than Kamski but is an “all-knowing, all-powerful” character. Also I guess I’m technically also Elijah Kamski (a.k.a GOD) and my players pointed out that i have his sadistic, power hungry play style (thanks, guys).

Lastly is a few game mechanics and events i put in the game. The players have always been able to telepathically talk to one another, they can also transfer images to each other. If broken beyond repair (i.e Killed) they now get automatically rebuilt, similar to Connor. I made LaRue give them a morality test which was mostly the “Track dilemma” which is similar to both the driver-less car AIs and the Kamski test. I actually did the motherfucking Kamski test with one or two of my players (but with humans instead of androids lol). Also the players believe they’re alive (which technically they are). They’ve literally been give zero context as to how they are in robot bodies in the MCU, specifically they’re last memories before the start of the game are of going to sleep in their beds in the real world. They are literally three robots walking around stating that they’re alive. 

And yes, I realise that Cage took shit from other movies but it have seen any of those movies so...:P

If I looked hard I could probably find more scary comparisons but a) I don’t particularly want to show all my cards, in case my players read this post, and b) I appear to have written a fucking TED talk out of what was supposed to be a short funny story.