#they rebuild their family and work to maintain it bc it’s all they have

[coffeeisfortheresponsible]

listen i know this is like. definitely not true but ykw idc. headcanon that wu and garmadon helped build the monastery as kids

[howlingguardian]

hi hello i just wanted to let you know that i just binge-read your butcher!Taylor story and holy crap. wow. i'm amazed by how relatable you've managed to make the Butcher personalities—many of them, specially Firecracker, Nemean, Anchorage and Tactical, make me feel a bit like "and there, but for the grace of God, go I"—if it weren't for my heaps of sheer dumb luck (and the fact that this is isn't Earth Bet, obviously), that could have been me. it makes the entire story super interesting, and makes me kinda hope for the time Amy manages to get those letters to their destination—i really hope they get some closure, and not just Flinch's family. This last chapter—aside from making me despair about the cliffhanger—was really sweet: i loved the Amy interaction and I agree with Anchorage's Grandmaw that good food heals all, and helps always. I also really loved the Sophia, Taylor and mall guards interaction as well—Taylor was right in calling those fuckers out, and idk whether or not you're white, but you get internet cookies for that. I'm also a fan of Danny and Taylor rebuilding their relationship, Danny visibly getting better, and how despite Taylor gaining a newfound confidence bc of the Butcher's memories & life experiences, she isn't magically over what the Trio did to her—they still affect her, even if she's better equipped to dealing with them. It makes her more believable as a character. I'm also deeply curious about T—I'm hoping for an interlude from his POV eventually. He's been right there through a lot of it, and he's stuck by Taylor, and we don't really know what's up with him—there are some hints about helicopter parents who are overly supportive, but it sure stands out how he hasn't really told them he's a cape, which makes me think they're more overbearing than supportive, but I don't know. The way in which he covers himself in metal sure feels like burrito-ing in a security blanket, times 10. My heart goes to Vicky too—what she's going through sucks, hard. And I really appreciate how you've made an effort to make Brandish come across as a total bitch who has her reasons—she's not totally irrational, just differently rational. Really comes across how she's very obviously talking from a place of trauma and not casual cruelty. Also loving how you humanized Manpower—made it real clear even the "well-adjusted" capes are a lil fucked in the head (/non-pejorative—so am i, frankly). And I *really* love your Assault. I'm kinda hoping he breaks lines and has some words w Elpis, off the record—just because I really like him, and as someone who also has some misgivings abt the Gov, I'd like to see what Assault is thinking—that bit where they referenced Assault's past as Madcap as his "misspent youth" really made me grind my teeth.

This has been enough ranting I wager but anyways, the point is: awesome story, I love it, tahnk you for writing it!!!

Holy shit, this is, by a wide margin, the longest ask or message I've ever got. Thank you so much! I'm working on the next chapter as we speak, and it's going to be a big one!

I did aim to try and make the point that the Butchers, like a lot of villains, did not just decide to turn to a life of crime for shits and giggles. Many of them were forced into it by circumstance and spiralled down to stay alive. In the right environment, they'd have thrived.

The letters too- those will play a part, showing the Butcher's human connections and emphasising that they are human themselves. Even if they are currently disembodied voices in the head of a tenage girl.

Tarquin is... honestly, thinking some things about myself, I think he's got elements of myself in him. My parents aren't so hovering, but I do get the idea of putting up a facade to hide your vulnerabilities.

Characterisation is important in fanfiction, and maintaining nuance can make or break a story. Sometimes it's fun to exaggerate a character's personality, but I wanted to stick close to canon, so it's very encouraging to hear you approve of how I've written Vicky and Brandish and Manpower and a lot of other tricky characters.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoy Here Comes The New Boss! The next chapter's coming out sometime this week, but if you can't wait until then, you can try my spin-off Hostile Takeover for a bit of fun.

[jujutsubarista]

Insane Trust Issues As a Gen-Z Adult

yooo, going through a rough patch rn and could really use some advice or insight. Back in March 2022, I started working at McDonald’s in Dublin where I formed a tight-knit group with some coworkers. Bonding over the high stress of the job and personal interests like anime and K-pop made the days bearable. I became particularly close with Marcus, Destiny, Sofia, and Mariam. My connection with Sofia grew stronger over time, leading to a crush that I confessed to Marcus and Destiny but kept hidden due to her having a boyfriend. (I also helped her with her ex-bf issues later when she broke up with him, and also helped her with her math graduating high school; fyi she was nearly 20, only finishing high school 😭 ) Fast forward, after a vacation in Malaysia, I spiraled into depression due to feeling ignored online, which hit hard. Thankfully, Destiny was supportive during this time, understanding my struggles deeply as he shared similar challenges. Life seemed aiight for a while, celebrating birthdays and hanging out, but then things took a turn. I rejoined university after dropping out, hoping to progress in my physics degree, but found it isolating as cliques had already formed. (I transferred into third year physics instead of first) Balancing studies, a pantomime side gig, and personal time became overwhelming, leading to poor academic performance and mental health struggles. I deferred my semester to rethink my path, diving into coding and barista courses but nothing stuck. The discord among my friends began when online activities in my server "The Hidden Ward" led to rumors and misunderstandings about my behaviour, causing trust issues with Marcus and Destiny. The fallout was painful, and I was eventually ousted from my friend group, which included being blocked on snap and ig by Sofia without explanation some time later. (like wtf? even though we sent each other gifts and flowers irl) As if friend issues weren't enough, family pressures and academic failures compounded my stress. I also dumped my ex-gf who only cared about herself and her poor english made it harder to maintain it, with communication issues and all. I felt bad when I used her to fill a void in the midst of losing friends and attention. Despite repeated years and university switches, I'm still struggling academically and financially, reliant on my parents who are already burdened with my siblings' education. Ngl I've recently been trying to self-reflect and focus on what could be next for me but feel stuck and misunderstood, especially given my autism and ADHD. I'm really at a loss here and could use some guidance. How do you rebuild when it feels like every part of your life is crumbling? Any advice on handling isolation or improving my situation would be nice iwl 🥹 i have insane trust issues rn and i hate myself atm (If I ranted this to my ex-friends or my mom, they'd call me weak, beta and tell me to get on with it, but that's lame advice bc how?)

[duskoscrawl]

duskoscrawl - writing blog - beauteousmajesty

hiya! welcome to my writing sideblog. you can find my main @duskodair. my crit role spoiler tag is '#crit role spoilers' and i keep the tags on for the most recent week. my asks are open if you want to request anything :))

i know i have lots of works on ao3 so here's a brief introduction to my projects (by fandom)

original work

a town called danser - this is a collaborative project with some friends based on some dnd oneshots we've played. all you need to know is that all of the main characters are queer. from nothing to noel is my set of works about my rogue, noel (for more content, check the 'a town called danser' tag here on tumblr

cinderbrush (critical role)

rebuilding lives, brick by brick - this is a post canon cinderbrush series where the characters recover from the events of the oneshot and have wholesome teenager times

the soundtrack to cinderbrush is mcr - this is a post canon cinderbrush series where i put on the edgy music i listened to as a teenager and write teen-angst fic about the cinderbrush characters (warning: often very sad)

avatar the last airbender

time isn't real if the moon is drunk - a very silly series based in post-canon atla (non-korra compliant bc i haven't seen it). the premise is that zuko briefly time travels to be his own gay and trans awakening and to roast the shit out of azulon (there is no conflict in this bad boy). i also have two other atla works with trans zuko - there is no angst

critical role (campaign 2)

aeor era au - like a modern au, but set in the age of arcanum, the mighty nein live in the flying city of aeor. shadowgast are working the t-doc, caduceus is protesting unethical experiments, the brenattos have a lab... its very fun and very exciting and i love it... welcome to wizard city

thinner than a razor - this is my beloved chapter fic. its gonna be a ride i promise. it is an au wherein lucien (profile 1) joins the mighty nein in trostenwald. no spoilers but when i read through my notes i have to lie on the floor bc it knocks me out im so excited

tiefling time - this is a complete series that runs through campaign 2 about the nein learning more about their tiefling friends and how to love each other

when we stop running - this is my post canon series. this is mostly fluff about the nein doing things and being friends in their soft epilogue (for bonus points, this series can be read as a follow on to tiefling time)

the voices beneath - this series is an exploration into the way the dwendalian empire works and how it maintains the loyalty of its people. very very caleb and blumentrio focused. featuring blumendrei clear out trent's tower and una ermendrud watches her son grow up

oops! all essek - here are my fics about essek! i am obsessed with xhorhassian cuisine and i have lots of thoughts and research about it. you want soup? jessek go to claires? beau's article about xhorhassian food? its here

lives of nein - a series wherein i am rewriting the stories of the nein. veth, molly, jester, and caleb are up so far (others in progress)

random mighty nein aus - i love aus, in this collection we have:

the venom in our veins - every member of the nein misses their call to adventure, but their paths still cross

basically a god - molly can see the future and the past (just like jester claims), this changes nothing, it just makes it sadder

focus - the raven queen considers the different endings of campaign two, exploring the different corruption arcs for each member of the nein (perhaps it was for the best we got aeor)

critical role (campaign 3)

krook house family shenanigans - adventures of the krook house family: milo, anni, fcg, and ashton, living their best disaster lives

campaign 3 fics - i am tagged each new campaign 3 fic i write, but i'm having a good time (i get very excited when i can start a new tag)

i have so many fics! i get really excited about comments and stuff on my less popular works <33

[c-is-for-circinate]

So as close as I am to fully escaping Hades for the first time, I figure I might take this opportunity to write down a couple of things I'm scared of from this ending. The story is so good so far! But I have seen good stories before! And there are patterns, right, patterns it's so easy for even good stories to fall into, so yeah, I have fears, and they mostly come down to Hades himself.

(Yep, this one got long again! People seem to be enjoying my game-reaction rambles, so, for your enjoyment under the cut: themes of separation and reunion, predictions for what Zagreus is the god of, and a whole lot of discussion of familial abuse dynamics, how they're depicted in fiction, and the work it takes to change them in real life. Stay warned! Stay safe!)

(ALSO, I still haven't made it past the first couple of chambers in the Temple of Styx, so no spoilers in the reblogs/comments please! Yes, even though the whole post is me going on about predictions and hopes and concerns about the path the story might take. I WILL GET THERE SOON.)

It has been really interesting watching some of the stuff the game is doing with themes of parting and reunion, and how that corresponds to life and death. So many of our social links are about reuniting estranged loved ones: Chaos and Nyx, Eurydice and Orpheus, Patroclus and Achilles. Hades is estranged from Olympus, Persephone left. And every time we leave, or try to leave, it is both an attempt at a parting (and Meg and Than are so hurt by that goodbye, or lack thereof) and an attempt at a reunion with our mother. Every time we die it's a reunion, every time we die it's fun, it's great, we get to go back home and check in with all of our friends and be impressed by whoever made Employee Of The [Timeperiod] and sell fish to the cook and put down yet more rugs. (My Zagreus has something of a rug addiction. What can you do.)

It's at the point where I feel pretty secure in stating that Zagreus is going to discover eventually that he is both life/death/rebirth god, and god of partings and reunions. Both halves of both of those things. People leave each other when they die and re-find their loved ones in death; you go away from one group of people to come back to another; you have to depart to return, and I really think that's where we're going to end up with Zagreus. He's going to reunite his various friends with their loved ones, he's probably going to restore communications between Hades and Olympus and even Persephone, he's going to reunite with his mom, and he's going to come back to the Underworld before he leaves to see everyone up top all over again. And of course the vehicle for all of this coming and going is death, because death is the ultimate departure and reuniter. (This is absolutely a religious concept containing a whole bunch of "oh hey our culture has a lot of Christian influence, doesn't it", Greek trappings aside, but that's fine, it's a game made in 2018 not 300 BC, these things happen. They keep calling the Underworld 'hell' and 'infernal'. It's all good.) Of course he's a cthonic god. Of course he bleeds, because you have to bleed in order to die, and Zagreus has to die again and again and again. That's his whole thing.

Thing is, though, looking at those themes, I am also continually aware of the fact that some partings are for a really good reason. Some partings should not end in reunion.

Yes, of course this is about Hades the abusive dad. I have been talking about Hades the abusive dad basically non-stop since I started playing this game, where did you think this post was going.

There are a few things I'm nervous about, separate but related, and at the core it all comes down to, I'm not okay with it if we learn why Hades got to be this way, and Zagreus forgives him as we-the-audience are meant to do, and Hades promises to do better, and nothing concrete about the situation is forced to change. Actual, meaningful, practical, logistical, non-hypothetical non-metaphorical change, not just for Zagreus but for Hades himself.

Because I know how this story tends to go, in fiction. Fictional abusive parents (especially in fantasy/sci-fi stories) tend to come in two types: 'coerced their offspring into actual murder with a side of physical abuse and optional unethical lab experimentation', or 'this was here to create character conflict, we didn't mean for it to read as actually abusive, this parent just has flaws to make them a good character, we swear!' Hades isn't the first type--we have never once seen Hades strike his son, or anybody, or even come out from behind his desk--which means that the fear is, always, always, in every piece of fiction, that he's the second. That the writers are going to decide that the right response to his abuses is remorse, forgiveness, and one really good conversation. That they don't realize it's abuse in the first place.

And, like. They have to know, right? They have to. They can't have done this by accident. (Sometimes, writers get so close by accident.) They can't have done so well at drawing out this situation simply by going, 'well, people are meant to fear this god, so they'd probably react like this, and I guess based on what I've seen in other stories or vague acquaintances they'd then do this,' and never put the name on the situation. Every single time we leave to the tune of a Hades word-flash, he's being dismissive, insulting, and sometimes downright cruel. He is cruel. They have to know!!!

But oh boy have I been consuming media for a lot of years, and oh boy have I run into a lot of writers who don't know.

Reconciliation is such a loaded word, but stories about dysfunctional families really do love it. Stories based around themes of reunion are primed for it. And of course, it's nice, it ties a happy ending off with a sweet little bow, everyone gets to be with the people they love and the family is safe and nobody gets hurt, but so rarely have I seen stories that show the actual work required to rebuild those relationships in a realistic or meaningful way. So rarely do stories trying to build that happy ending actually let the victim of abuse set and maintain boundaries. The character never gets to actually just cut the damn ties to the thing that hurt them. The character so rarely even gets to be safe.

And it's so hard in this game specifically, because "THERE IS NO ESCAPE", because every single thing about this game says that the story's not over when Zagreus gets to the surface, that no matter what he's going to have to come back. It's so hard, because this is a game about reunions. I am not going to get an ending where the abused kid trying to flee his toxic home and abusive dad actually gets to leave and stay gone, not in this one. And that hurts (I have watched and supported and done my best to help multiple real-life friends get the fuck out of homes like that, and stay gone, I have seen how hard it is, how complicated, how awful, and there are never stories for that), but I can live with it, if I get an ending where Zagreus is at least safe. Where things change. Where they really change.

Which is why I need actual, concrete, material changes in the logistics and power structure of the Underworld for this ending to be okay. Understanding why Hades is Like That doesn't cut it. Remorse doesn't cut it! Because look, even if Hades wants to do better, even if he admits he's at fault and tries to be better, he is still set up in a position as an all-powerful tyrant, and trying to become a better person is hard. There is nobody around who can keep him in check when he starts backsliding, which he will. Even if he doesn't want to, he will.

Because people are people, and it's really difficult to break patterns! Especially if everything around them stays the same. Hades is going to slip at some point, be cruel, be callous, be tyrannical, no matter how much of an effort he's making. Not to mention, it is STRESSFUL to face your own crimes and improve, it sucks, it feels bad. And what do habitual abusers do when they feel bad? What's the only coping mechanism Hades appears to have established for dealing with his own shit? That's right, it's inflicting suffering on everyone else around him. (This is why it doesn't really matter what circumstances drove Hades to act this way, why it can't matter--I believe that he is suffering, but he copes with that suffering by inflicting additional suffering on everyone around him, everyone who relies on him, and that's still true no matter what made him feel bad to begin with.) So then we just get a great old guilt-->lashing out-->more guilt-->more lashing out merry-go-round of abuse even as Hades is trying to change. That's how these things work. And yes, change is possible, improvement is absolutely possible, but the environment needs to change first. The system that enables and rewards Hades for acting this way can't stay in place. Things need to actually change, with people who are around to support Hades in his growth and also check his power, people who have power of their own to stop him. And however it happens, for this story with this protagonist with these goals to feel like a happy ending, Zagreus needs to be safe.

It would be okay, though a little disappointing, if those changes were mostly based in magic and fate and, idk, divine mind-control. (This story has been so grounded in actual human dynamics that a fantastical solution to a realistic problem would feel like a letdown, but if it actually solved the problem I'd be okay with it, more or less.) It would be okay, though a little disappointing, if the responsibility for bringing Hades to heel fell upon Zagreus and Persephone, if the two family members who he hurt badly enough that they felt the need to run away from him entirely now had to shoulder the burden of helping him fix himself. (There are definitely ways to write that dynamic better and ways to write it worse, and I think I trust these writers to land on the 'better' side of the scale, but I still don't love the implications.) I think I'd be pretty into it if Hades took a vacation off to Olympus to Work Out His Shit with his own family, while a coalition of Meg, Nyx, Thanatos, Zagreus, and Queen Persephone took over running the Underworld in his absence. I think we might end up getting some combination of those things. I'm hopeful. I think these writers might know what they've written. I think they might have a sense for what it'll take to fix.

But yeah, I'm nervous. (Nervous enough that I might switch to God Mode just to get through, combat has started getting really tedious instead of fun, I want to know what happens next, and this is a game and there is no shame in making it more fun for myself by making the boring parts a little quicker and easier.) I've seen so many stories go wrong. This one has done so much to earn my trust. We'll see if it breaks.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Written In The Stars CXLIV (Harry Potter xF!Oc)

A/N: I hate the absolute lack of organization my career has and I’m so full of violence bc of it omg -Danny

Words: 4,862

Series’ Masterlist

Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Listen to: ‘Wicked Game’ -by Gemma Haynes

Chapter Six: Growing Hopes.

Mel walked into the kitchen twenty minutes after her talk with Harry, her heart still beating harshly against her chest.

Her theory could be wrong, but at the same time, it was the best way to keep the lifeline and make sure it'd be useful.

They had three rules:

Keep a clear head, no romance could happen between them.

They would use the connection in case of major injuries, and only if they were given consent.

Harry had to learn to ground himself, and they would stay away from the other's problems unless requested differently.

"Hand me that baby!" She demanded Erick when she saw him.

"He's happy with me!" He complained, turning his back on her.

"I'm his sister!" Mel tickled his sides and he immediately gave in, Erick hated to be tickled. "Come here, Leggie, was this bad man annoying you?"

"It just won't budge, this has always worked before, I just can't understand it!" Mrs Weasley said from across the room, struggling to fix Hermione's eye.

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," Ginny shrugged.

"But it's got to come off! I can't go around looking like this forever!"

"It won't stay forever," Mel said. "They're not that cruel..."

"You two stop moving around, you'll upset him!" Emily warned them, looking at the way Mel and Erick continued to fight for the boy's attention.

"We'll find an antidote, don't worry," Mrs Weasley patted Hermione's head.

"Bill told me 'ow Fred and George are very amusing!" said Fleur.

"Yes, I can hardly breathe for laughing," Hermione said sharply.

"Sorry about that," Mel sat down in front of the blonde. "She's a bit on edge — our O.W.L's will be arriving today..."

"Mrs Weasley, you're quite, quite sure no owls have arrived this morning?"

"Yes, dear, I'd have noticed. But it's barely nine, there's still plenty of time..."

"I know I messed up Ancient Runes," Hermione paced around the room, "I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back —"

"Hermione, will you shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" Ron exclaimed. "And when you've got your eleven 'Outstanding' O.W.L.s..."

"Don't, don't, don't!" said Hermione. "I know I've failed everything!"

"Were you nervous about your O.W.L.s?" Harry asked Erick, he sat next to Mel and started playing with her brother.

"I was more worried about my family finding out I was talking to a muggle," He shrugged. "I had done all I could — Studied and wrote until my hands and eyes hurt, there was nothing I could do apart from waiting..."

"Erick was obsessed with getting his Prefect badge, the fifth-year examinations were a piece of cake for him, right?" Mel smiled.

"Yeah well, I really wanted to be a Prefect," He sighed. "I was an idiot..."

"You still are," Mel barely managed to cover Reg's face from the cloth Erick threw her at her remark. "Careful, you twat!"

"What happens if we fail, though?" Harry grabbed the baby, not wanting him to get hurt.

"We discuss our options with our Head of House, I asked Professor McGonagall at the end of last term," Hermione replied.

"At Beauxbatons," Fleur started, "we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think it was better. We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then —"

Hermione screamed and ran to the window. Mel stood up and followed, Reggie started to cry.

"They're definitely owls," said Ron, looking out the window and gulping.

"And there are four of them," said Harry, walking up to them with the baby still in his arms.

"One for each of us," Hermione shivered. "Oh no... oh no... oh no..."

The girl gripped Ron's arm, Mel tried to quiet her brother distractedly, but she was too nervous to do it in a gentle way. Emily got closer and grabbed the baby, Erick stood next to the group.

"It's going to be okay, guys," He said simply.

"Oh shut up, what do you know?" Ron frowned.

"Oh no!" squealed Hermione, squeezing Ron's arm harder.

Mrs Weasley opened the kitchen window. Four owls landed on the table and lifted their right legs so they could grab their letters. Mel grabbed her own and ripped the envelope so fast she almost ruined the letter.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Pass Grades

Mel Dumbledore Sultens has achieved:

Astronomy (O)

Care of Magical Creatures (O)

Charms (O)

Defense Against the Dark Arts (O)

Divination (P)

Herbology (E)

History of Magic (O)

Potions (O)

Transfiguration (O)

"Eight O.W.L's!" Erick had been reading over her shoulder. "That's wonderful, Mely!"

"Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?" Ron said brightly, showing her his letter. "Here — swap —"

Harry showed her his letter, there was only one 'O' in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but the rest was okay, all E's... and he'd gotten a 'P' on Divination like her.

"Knew you'd be top at Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron punched Harry and Mel on the shoulders. "We've done all right, haven't we?"

"Well done!" said Mrs Weasley, ruffling Ron's hair. "Seven O.W.L.s, that's more than Fred and George got together!"

"I'm so proud of you!" Emily said, kissing Harry's cheek and hugging Mel tightly.

Erick pulled her in for an unexpected hug and lifted her from the ground, Mel laughed at his outburst.

"Hermione?" said Ginny carefully, noticing she was the only one who was quiet. "How did you do?"

"I — not bad," Hermione replied.

"Oh, come off it," Ron snatched her letter and read it quickly. "Yep — nine 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defense Against the Dark Arts. You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"

Hermione shook her head quietly, Mel and Harry laughed. Ron was looking at their friend with so much affection she couldn't believe she was the only one noticing.

"Well, we're N.E.W.T. students now!" grinned Ron, then he walked up to Erick and shook his hand. "Hope you're ready to welcome me in in those study sessions of yours... Godric knows I'll need them. Mum, are there any more sausages?"

Mel noticed she was still quite settled in Erick's arms and quickly moved out of his reach, patting his arm awkwardly.

"Your last year," She said. "How are you feeling?"

Erick looked at her.

"I'm not ready to say goodbye."

When the letters with their booklists arrived the morning after Harry's birthday, they had a pleasant surprise in them.

"I'm Headboy..." Erick said under his breath.

"I'm Captain!" Harry exclaimed.

The room lit up instantly, Mel got closer to examine Erick's badge and hugged him tightly, then she went to Harry.

"That gives you equal status with prefects!" Hermione was saying. "You can use our special bathroom now and everything!"

"Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these," said Ron. "Harry, this is so cool, you're my Captain — if you let me back on the team, I suppose, ha ha..."

"He'll let us in if he knows what's good for the team," Mel teased. "You and I are the reason why we won last year. And where was he? Playing hide in seek with Hagrid's little brother!"

"Careful, you don't want to upset your Captain," Harry joked.

"Oh, shut up," She snorted.

"Well, I don't suppose we can put off a trip to Diagon Alley much longer now you've got these," said Mrs Weasley. "We'll go on Saturday as long as your father doesn't have to go into work again. I'm not going there without him."

"Mum, d'you honestly think You-Know-Who's going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in Flourish and Blotts?"

"Fortescue and Ollivander went on holiday, did they? If you think security's a laughing matter you can stay behind and I'll get your things myself —"

"No, I wanna come, I want to see Fred and George's shop!" Ron exclaimed.

"Then you just buck up your ideas, young man, before I decide you're too immature to come with us! And that goes for returning to Hogwarts as well!"

Ron turned to look at his friends.

"Blimey... you can't even make a joke 'round here anymore..."

"Don't feel bad, you have the emotional range of a teaspoon, you can't help it!" Mel taunted, walking past him.

Mel left the burrow with her Firebolt on one shoulder, ready to go and play with her friends when she spotted Erick sitting under a tree, reading one of the books he'd borrowed from her. For some reason, she felt like talking to him even though there was nothing new to say.

"Don't you get tired of reading?" She nudged his leg. "Don't get me wrong, I love books, but summer should be spent under the sun, gaining a bit of colour..."

"I have enough colour," Erick looked up at her. "I get all sweaty under the sun — hugely unattractive, and I have a reputation to maintain."

"As the heartthrob of our group?" Mel smirked. "I thought that was my title!"

"Your title is Lady Dumbledore," He grinned.

"Leaving you alone with Fred and George in Grimmauld Place was a mistake," She sat down next to him, examining his book. "Dracula? Finally reading something else than romance and fairytales I see..."

"Dracula's kind of romantic. Sort of fairy-like as well... if you look past the blood and violence..."

"Well, sounds like something realistic for sure..."

"Oh, please, didn't you say to me years ago that life could be a fairytale and all that?"

Mel groaned, she shook her head.

"That same day you told me how hard it is to choose between emotions and duty. We can't always be happy — What was I thinking when I thought I'd get the princess's ending, anyway? I'm a witch!"

"That's not the bubbly miss I used to know," Erick raised a brow. "I understand, though. My dreams were never as pink as yours, but they were ambitious... I guess they still are, but in a prudent way..."

"It's a start," Mel leaned against the tree. "I feel like I'm rebuilding myself... It's complicated."

"That makes two of us," He sighed. "It's good to have someone that understands, right?"

Mel suddenly felt self-conscious about how close they'd become over the last few weeks. It triggered the fly or fight reaction in her. Whatever she'd done with Fred last year helped her move on from her heartache, but it didn't make her trust her romantic feelings, whatever those pesky things were.

"Everything okay?"

She felt a tingling sensation, like thunder announcing a storm. Had his eyes always looked that honey-like with the sunlight?

"Yep," Mel squeaked, standing up and grabbing her firebolt. "I want to play..."

"Sure..." Erick frowned slightly. "Yeah, go ahead..."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"My hair would get messy and I'd be all out of breath! Such a nightmare..."

"That's the whiny Prince I know," Mel smiled tensely, walking away.

Diagon Alley was nothing like the bright, lousy place she used to remember. Every window had been covered with Ministry posters, Mel anxiously ran her fingers over the scars on her hand, scowling at every single banner.

Emily, Hagrid (who was there as their guard), Ron, Hermione, Harry and her went to get new robes. Ginny, Erick, Mr and Mrs Weasley decided to go and buy the books everyone needed.

No one noticed Harry Potter was passing next to them, Mel was starting to understand what it'd been like to live during the first wizarding war, and now she was living the second wave. She was slowly sinking in her own anguish when someone touched her shoulder gently.

"Don't get upset," Harry said, making eye contact. "Remember our game?" She nodded. "You want to play?"

She nodded again. He took a moment to think of a word, then he continued:

"Quidditch. Q—U— I— D..."

"D..." She whispered. "I— T— C— H."

"What's your favourite spell?"

"I..." She tilted her head. "I don't have one."

"Wise choice," He held her hand and guided her towards the next shop. "C'mon..."

Mel stared at him, Harry was acting so differently compared to last year it was almost scarier than his angry version. Still, she didn't let go of his hand until they entered the next shop. Emily went in with them, Hagrid stayed outside to watch the entrance.

"...not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."

"Now, dear, your mother's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it's nothing to do with being a child —"

"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"

Draco walked out of the dressing room and stood in front of a mirror. After a second of quiet staring, he realized they were there.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother," Malfoy sneered. "A Mudblood just walked in..."

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" Madam Malkin walked out of the backroom as well. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!"

The boys had their wands out, pointing at Malfoy. Hermione whispered something about ignoring the boy.

"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic out of school," Malfoy scoffed. "Who blacked your eye, Granger? I want to send them flowers."

"That's quite enough!" said Madam Malkin. "Madam — please —"

Narcissa Malfoy stared at Emily for a long time, then at the rest of the group.

"Put those away," she said shortly. "If you attack my son again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do."

"Really?" Harry stepped forward, he was as tall as the woman, and this seemed to encourage him. "Going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?"

"Harry," Mel said in a tone of warning, Madame Malkin gasped.

"Really, you shouldn't accuse — dangerous thing to say — wands away, please!"

"Harry," Emily insisted. "Be wise..."

"I see that being Dumbledore's favourite has given you a false sense of security, Harry Potter," Narcissa smiled. "But Dumbledore won't always be there to protect you."

"Wow... look at that..." Harry looked around. "He's not here now! So why not have a go? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband!"

"That's enough," Mel said sternly, lowering the boy's arm.

"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!" Malfoy tried to get close but stumbled on his long robes.

"It's all right, Draco," said Narcissa, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I expect Potter will be reunited with dear Sirius before I am reunited with Lucius."

Harry tried to raised his wand again.

"I think we've had enough useless fights!" The girl stopped him. "My uncle may not be here but I'm pretty able to stop you on my own, Harry."

"Mel's right..." Emily put a hand on his shoulder to ease him.

"I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more," Madame Malkin said anxiously, reaching for Malfoy's robes. "Dear, let me just —"

"Ouch! Watch where you're putting your pins, woman! Mother — I don't think I want these anymore —"

"You're right, Draco," said Narcissa, "now I know the kind of scum that shops here... We'll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting's. Oh, and Sultens," She eyed Emily one last time before leaving. "Congrats on birthing another bastard..."

"Let them go," Mel said roughly to the boys, noticing they were ready to attack again.

Emily looked away while the Malfoys exited the store.

"Mum?" The girl approached the woman carefully.

"It's fine," She said quietly. "I just need a moment... I'm fine."

"Got ev'rything?" Hagrid asked them once they left the store.

"Just about... Did you see the Malfoys?"

"Yeah— Bu' they wouldn' dare make trouble in the middle o' Diagon Alley, Harry. Don' worry abou' them."

Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny and Erick arrived, all holding large packages.

"Everyone all right? Got your robes? Right then, we can pop in at the Apothecary and Eeylops on the way to Fred and George's — stick close, now..."

Mel remained silent the whole time they spent in the Apothecary, she picked the few ingredients for her next term and paid without focusing on what she was doing.

"How are you?" Erick caught up with her. "Harry told me what happened... You know the Malfoys are rubbish..."

Harry had sent Erick to talk to her? Instead of going himself? He was definitely keeping his distance. Which was excellent, but she didn't know why it hurt her anyway.

"I've heard it once or twice... never bothered me because I knew my father loved me, I never stopped to think about my mum..."

"What?"

"My parents never married," Mel explained. "They did everything a married couple is supposed to do... everything except marrying. They were waiting for the war to end."

"Titles are nothing unless you give them meaning, your mother knows that. Names mean nothing unless you want them to... Mel Dumbledore, that's one that'll mean great things one day."

Mel knew he was right, her parents had loved each other, and she had all the right in the world to be treated as a Dumbledore. Leon Regulus would be a Black if he wanted to, and her mother didn't need to do things like everyone else to be valid.

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was the only cheerful building left. They knew how to brighten up even the gloomiest of places. Mel felt a strong tug at the base of her stomach; she'd missed her friends.

'WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?

U-NO-POO—

"They really know their priorities, don't they?" Erick raised a brow.

"They'll be murdered in their beds!" Mrs Weasley lamented.

"No they won't!" Ron laughed. "This is brilliant!"

Mel couldn't help feeling a bit anxious, Emily stared at the sign and smiled absently.

"Sirius would've loved this..."

With every step she took inside the loud and crowded place, her chest warmed up with memories. She'd been present for the creation of at least half of all those, it was a nice change to reminisce over something that made her happy instead of miserable and mournful.

"'One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream," Hermione read. "Easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side effects include vacant expression and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens' — You know, that really is extraordinary magic!"

"For that, Hermione, you can have one for free."

Mel turned around so fast she accidentally hit Harry's face with her hair. She jumped into Fred's arms and squeezed him as hard as she could, a pleasant wave of accomplishment washed over her when she noticed she was almost as tall as him now. Almost, the top of her head was barely reaching his nose, though.

"Good to see I've been missed," He beamed. "How are you handling our break-up, Lady? Not good I see... Listen, I'm trying to date new people, having you in my arms every time we see each other it's kind of a bad look."

"Shut up," Mel quickly cleaned her tear-stained face. "I'm sorry, I don't go around jumping on people and crying — I'm just happy to see you."

Fred ruffled her hair and offered her a handkerchief he pulled out from his pocket.

"How are you, Harry?" He reached for the boy's hand and shook it. "And what's happened to your eye, Hermione?"

"Your punching telescope."

"Oh blimey, I forgot about those! Here —" He pulled a tub of something out of another pocket and gave it to her. "Just dab it on, that bruise'll be gone within the hour. We had to find a decent bruise remover. We're testing most of our products on ourselves."

"It is safe, isn't it?" Hermione asked reluctantly.

"'Course it is! Come on, guys, I'll give you a tour. Wait —" He looked around. "Where's the Prince?"

Mel looked around as well. "He was right behind me when I walked in!"

"We'll find him," Fred put an arm around her shoulders and guided her towards a shelf. "You've grown! Try to stay like this, won't you? If my ex-girlfriend ends up being taller and prettier than me..."

"Looks like I'm halfway there!" She teased.

Harry followed them, Hermione decided to stay behind.

"Muggle magic tricks!" Fred happily pointed to the boxes on their right. "For freaks like Dad, you know, who love Muggle stuff. It's not a big earner, but we do fairly steady business, they're great novelties — Erick will love them... Oh, here's George — Ah, hello there, Prince!"

"Caught him snooping around the love potions," George smirked, his own arm around Erick, who was now taller than him. "Can you believe it? As if this twat needed one! — Blimey, lady, you're taller too! That's not fair!"

George shook hands with Harry, and Erick allowed Fred to give him a hug.

"Giving them the tour? Come through the back, guys, that's where we're making the real money — pocket anything, you— and you'll pay in more than Galleons!" George warned a boy who was trying to get edible dark marks from a tub — "they'll make anyone sick!"

George guided them to the back, Erick approached her with a worried expression.

"You've been crying."

"What?" She touched her face, but it was dry. "How do you..? Doesn't matter, I got emotional, that's all."

"Emotional?"

"I'd missed the twins, alright?" Mel replied defensively.

"You didn't even date for real..." Erick grumbled, she pretended not to hear.

"We've just developed this more serious line," Fred explained to them. "Funny how it happened..."

"You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do a decent Shield Charm," George mentioned. "'Course, they didn't have you two teaching them."

"That's right... Well, we thought Shield Hats were a bit of a laugh, you know, challenge your mate to jinx you while wearing it and watch his face when the jinx just bounces off. But the Ministry bought five hundred for all its support staff! And we're still getting massive orders!"

"So we've expanded into a range of Shield Cloaks, Shield Gloves..."

"...I mean, they wouldn't help much against the Unforgivable Curses, but for minor to moderate hexes or jinxes..."

"An abrupt attack would no longer be useful," Mel said in astonishment. "Boys, this is wonderful!"

"We thought we'd get into the whole area of Defense Against the Dark Arts, because it's such a money-spinner," George nodded. "This is cool. Look, Instant Darkness Powder, we're importing it from Peru. Handy if you want to make a quick escape."

"And our Decoy Detonators are just walking off the shelves, look," said Fred. "You just drop one surreptitiously and it'll run off and make a nice loud noise out of sight, giving you a diversion if you need one.

"Impressive," Erick admitted, examining the boxes.

There was something absurd about the way Fred and George were so casually talking about their newest products. The context in which these things had been created was dark, but to them, it was just another funny experiment that had succeeded, and as crazy as it was, Mel felt hopeful. If something as bright, colourful and happy could still stand in the midst of war, then surely not everything was changing for the worst.

"Handy," said Harry.

"Here," George grabbed a fistful of the products and put a bit on the hands of the three friends.

"There's a customer out here looking for a joke cauldron, Mr Weasley and Mr Weasley," A girl said through the curtain.

Hearing the 'Mr Weasley' reminded her that time wasn't forgiving, and soon enough she would also be of age. However, this seemed terribly unimportant when so many marvellous things were happening around her.

"Right you are, Verity, I'm coming," said George. "Guys, you help yourself to anything you want, all right? No charge."

"I can't do that!" said Harry.

"And neither can we," Mel frowned, Erick nodded.

"You don't pay here," said Fred, brushing it aside.

"But —"

"You gave us our start-up loan, Harry, we haven't forgotten," said George. "Erick, your gran' got us this place and he asked for nothing in return but for us to watch over you, and that means we don't accept the money he left so you could watch after yourself. Mel," He smirked. "You're just too pretty to pay."

"Don't forget she's always believed in us! Helped while we were making half of these!" Fred added. "But yeah, being good-looking is the main reason."

Mel snorted, she was unaware of the way Erick rolled his eyes at the innocent and playful compliments.

"Take whatever you like," George shrugged, "and just remember to tell people where you got it, if they ask."

Fred led them back into the main room, Hermione and Ginny were still checking the Patented Daydream Charms.

"Haven't you girls found our special WonderWitch products yet? Follow me, ladies..."

"Oh, wow," Mel grimaced. "This looks like something Umbridge would love..."

Near the window was an array of violently pink products around which a cluster of excited girls was giggling enthusiastically. Hermione and Ginny both hung back, looking wary.

"There you go," said Fred. "Best range of love potions you'll find anywhere."

"Do they work?" Ginny asked sceptically.

"Certainly they work, for up to twenty-four hours at a time depending on the weight of the boy in question —"

"— and the attractiveness of the girl," George was suddenly once more at their side. "But we're not selling them to our sister. Not when she's already got about five boys on the go from what we've —"

"Whatever you've heard from Ron is a big fat lie," said Ginny curtly.

"Wait," Mel smirked. "Were these the potions you were examining a while ago, Prince?"

"Oh yeah," George said, a devilish grin on his face. "But he doesn't need them. Not when he's finally gaining weight and colour! I tell you, now that he's a hero he'll be having hoards of people lining up for a date!"

Mel laughed, picking up a bottle. "I'm intrigued..."

"Oh no," Fred snatched the bottle from her hand. "You give this to a boy and you'll drive him mad!"

"He'd end up in St. Mungo's for sure," George nodded solemnly.

"Sod off, you two," Mel protested. "I wasn't planning on buying it!"

"Good," said Harry and Erick at the same time.

"What's this?" Ginny asked promptly, distracting the twins.

"Guaranteed ten-second pimple vanisher," said Fred. "Excellent on everything from boils to blackheads, but don't change the subject. Are you or are you not currently going out with a boy called Dean Thomas?"

"Yes, I am. And last time I looked, he was definitely one boy, not five. What are those?"

"Pygmy Puffs," said George. "Miniature puffskeins, we can't breed them fast enough. So what about Michael Corner?"

"I dumped him, he was a bad loser — They're really cute!"

"They're fairly cuddly, yes. But you're moving through boyfriends a bit fast, aren't you?" Fred insisted.

Ginny turned to look at him, both hands on her hips and looking alarmingly similar to her mother.

"It's none of your business. And I'll thank you," She yelled to Ron, who had just appeared, "not to tell tales about me to these two!"

"That's three Galleons, nine Sickles, and a Knut," said Fred. "Cough up."

"I'm your brother!"

"And that's our stuff you're nicking. Three Galleons, nine Sickles. I'll knock off the Knut."

"But I haven't got three Galleons, nine Sickles!"

"You'd better put it back then, and mind you put it on the right shelves."

Ron dropped the boxes, yelled at Fred to put them right up his arse, and showed him his middle finger. Unfortunately, Mrs Weasley was there to witness it.

"If I see you do that again I'll jinx your fingers together!"

"Mum, can I have a Pygmy Puff?" asked Ginny.

"A what?"

"Look, they're so sweet..."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Mel and Erick suddenly had a wide view of the window. Malfoy was hurrying down the street across from theirs.

"Wonder where his mummy is?" Harry asked.

"Given her the slip by the looks of it," said Ron.

"Why, though?" said Hermione.

"Throwing a tantrum, maybe?" Erick offered.

"Get under here, quick," said Harry, pulling his Invisibility Cloak out.

"Oh — I don't know, Harry," Hermione looked towards the rest of the group.

"He's Malfoy, who cares what he's doing?" Mel frowned.

"Come on!" Ron insisted.

Erick looked over his shoulder, making sure no one was watching.

"I'll distract them," He said. "Just try to be back soon."

"Thank you," Mel whispered, disappearing under the cloak.

Next Chapter —>

Taglist.

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[ereawrites]

Batfam x Game Of Thrones AU

under the cut bc it’s long lol

HOUSE WAYNE:

An ancient house, which is held in high esteem both in the royal court and by commoners. Although House Wayne no longer holds a great deal of land (the border cuts through the Kingswood, just south of King’s Landing), they still act as lords over a large stretch of coastline in the south. The ports here allowed House Wayne to build their fortune, cementing their status as a high house.

In recent years, the Waynes have maintained and built their wealth through a combination of loans and investments. Often, they loan money to the Crown or the Iron Bank, and they control much of the trade of silks and spices from Essos. 

The Waynes are known to be a proud family, and very honourable, similar to the Starks in the North (for example, there are almost never rumours of bastards). They are known to treat the common people on their land well, and are well-bred and well-liked at court - however, the family is also somewhat reclusive, and little is known about their business.

Furthermore, in contrast with many of the great houses of Westeros, the Waynes tend not to have many children. This may be because of their isolated nature, or perhaps due to a lack of ambition - many lords of this house will only have one or two sons in their lifetime.

Good relationships with the majority of houses in Westeros, as well as connections across the Narrow Sea, but their main allies include the Tyrells and the Tullys. House Wayne also commands some bannermen, including House Kyle.

Traditionally, the Wayne’s colours are silver, grey, and deep blue - these are the colours of their armour and banner (a silver moon, partially obscured by a stormcloud).

House words: we are the night.

BRUCE WAYNE (THE BAT):

Bruce Wayne is the only child of Lord Thomas Wayne, and his parents were killed in front of him by bandits as a boy, while the family was travelling to King’s Landing.

Following his parents’ death, a young Bruce was sent to foster with the Starks in Winterfell - here, he began to train harder than ever in swordplay, archery, and riding. Soon, Lord Stark allowed Bruce out with Winterfell’s guard to hunt down bandits roaming the land: even as a boy, Bruce was a natural leader, and often convinced his fellow soldiers to use non-lethal force. This sat well with Lord Stark, who encouraged Bruce to continue his training after leaving the North.

Bruce returned to his own lands aged eleven, ready to become Lord Wayne and take command of the lands back from the family steward, Alfred Pennyworth. Although Bruce took well to managing the estate, the lands were not large or particularly difficult to run, and so he soon left again to train. Command of his lands was once again left to Alfred.

Over the next few years, Bruce trained in a variety of styles, often fostering with other houses. Wherever he went, he would always sit in on council meetings about criminals and traitors, and took a particular interest in their punishments. He quickly built a reputation for being strong-willed and passionate, but very much against sentencing men to death: many lords took his advice to send criminals to the Wall.

By the time he officially took the title of Lord Wayne aged 17, Bruce had trained with the Dornish, the men of the Night’s Watch, Braavosi sellswords, the Kingsguard, and a khalasar of Dothraki. He also returned with a new master-of-arms, Lucius Fox, who came from Qohor and had the knowledge to rework Valyrian Steel.

As Lord Wayne, Bruce is an excellent leader, even if he rarely deals directly with his subjects. He ensures the safety of his people, and commissions a new port on the coastline - he is also renowned for charitable donations, and opens the castle gates to commoners during winter.

Very well-liked amongst the other houses, and in the royal court; lords and ladies pity him for his parents’ death, and find him perhaps a little boyish, but Bruce is undeniably charismatic. He builds a playboy reputation in his later teens - brothels always make more money when he visits King's Landing, and he refuses to even discusses betrothals - but this is as a cover for his true intentions.

With the help of an enthusiastic Lucius Fox, and an exasperated Alfred, Bruce takes up the identity of the Bat, a mysterious vigilante in a black cowl and cape who roams the south on a black stallion. At first, the Bat is dismissed as a low-born playing at being a knight, but people soon begin to take notice when a notorious group of bandits is found, disarmed and tied up, outside the gates of King’s Landing.

The Bat never kills his victims, and always leaves clear instructions that they should either be thrown into jail, or sent to the Night’s Watch. Other lords will generally respect his wishes - after all, this vigilante is saving them a lot of work and trouble, and it’s easy enough to send a few bandits North.

Single-handedly rebuilds the Night’s Watch, halves petty crime in the South, and does it all without anyone other than his steward and Lucius Fox knowing his identity.

He doesn’t know why people started calling him the Bat, but he assumes it’s because of the black cape, which can look like wings in the night. He had a special cowl, with pointed ears, designed so he could play into the role. Also, people often assume that the Bat is one of the Whents, as their coat of arms is a bat. Bruce finds this hilarious.

As Bruce ages and his children begin to take over his work, Bruce begins to relax into the role of Lord Wayne more. He even begins to discuss the potential of marriage. Currently, he’s courting Selina Kyle, an only child who took over leadership of her house after her father died under mysterious circumstances. He also is taking the opportunity to travel more, since he can trust Dick and Tim to run the lands in his absences.

DICK GRAYSON (NIGHTWING):

Originally from Pentos, Richard Grayson (called Dick by his family members) was born into a large and successful circus - when he was young, the circus travelled across the Narrow Sea to Westeros, where he grew up performing in King’s Landing and Highgarden.

It was at one of these performances where his parents died. The Lannisters were implicated in the murder, after the circus accumulated unpaid debts to them, but nothing was ever proved. Young Dick was comforted at the scene by Lord Wayne, and later taken in as his ward.

An incredibly skilled acrobat, and, as Bruce soon found, a natural at fighting, Dick thrived as a ward of a great house. He missed his parents greatly, and vowed to hunt down the hired thugs who killed them (as well as all other criminals), but he also grew to love Bruce Wayne as a father.

Became Robin - a vigilante dressed in a signature red cape - aged 12. He would have done so sooner, if Bruce had allowed it, but he’s incredibly eager and loves the role. He incorporated fighting styles from Essos, as well as his acrobatic skills, into his fighting, which made him incredibly difficult to predict during sword fighting. He preferred a one-handed longsword, but he was equally as likely to use a staff.

The people of the royal court loved him. Dick quickly learned how to navigate high society, and as a naturally friendly and charming person, also learned how to make people like him. This was necessary, given people’s tendency to dismiss him as a lowborn foreigner, and after a few years of lessons, Dick managed to wrap half the lords and ladies of kings landing around his little finger.

Officially adopted and given the Wayne name in his late teens, as a result of Bruce’s long-term efforts to convince the King to allow it. However, Dick chooses to pass over the line of succession, and hates when people call him a lord. He can often be found playing with local children, teaching them somersaults or learning songs from them.

As a foreigner, he wasn’t permitted to officially join the Kingsguard, but he did spend a brief stint as Commander of the City Watch in King’s Landing. It was after Jason’s death and during a time of identity crisis for him. He enjoyed the role, but felt that he couldn’t overcome the corruption within the City Watch.

Became Nightwing after this time, and currently uses this identity. Nightwing wears black and blue leather armour, and fights with a distinctive staff inspired by his ancestors in the East. Nightwing roams the South, sometimes venturing as far North as the Neck - he has a talent for sniffing out assassins and hired thugs - but always returns to Wayne lands.

When he isn’t covering his lengthy absences as training, Richard Grayson-Wayne spends most of his time with his family in Gotham. He’s particularly good at teaching the others the finer points of high society (people always wonder why he rejected the chance to become Lord Wayne) and is deeply protective over his family. Dick also travels across the Narrow Sea on his father’s trading ships often, as he misses Essos.

If Dick doesn’t receive at least 3 proposals per week, it’s a slow week. Every woman (and half the men) south of the Wall have fallen in love with him. However, Dick has no particular interest in marrying or creating heirs, and he’s currently focusing on eradicating crime, where he can, as his own person.

JASON TODD (THE RED HOOD):

A low-born boy, Bruce found a young Jason trying to steal his black stallion in the stormlands. Although Bruce was of course frustrated, he saw potential in Jason, and followed the boy back to his home at the local village. Here, Bruce saw that Jason had no future, other than the likely path of being forced into joining a local gang of thugs.

Bruce returned to the stormlands the next week, as Lord Wayne, and pretended that he was searching for a new stablehand. Jason jumped at the opportunity to leave his village, and took full advantage of Gotham’s master-at-arms and armoury. He could often be found in the dead of night, hacking at training dummies with a greatsword he was too young to lift - soon, Bruce intervened and began to train Jason himself.

Jason built a close relationship with Bruce, who allowed him to become Robin after two years of intense training (and the realisation that Jason was going to get into fights either way), and Dick, who accepted the younger boy as his brother after a frosty first impression. He would never have admitted it, but in his first few years with House Wayne, Jason craved their approval and did everything he could to fit in.

Although officially the stableboy, Jason was treat as a ward, and was eventually adopted in a similar manner to Dick. Jason pretended not to care, and Bruce kept it a quiet affair, but it meant more to Jason than he could manage to put into words.

Did well as Robin - beyond a few thugs ending up with severely damaged ribs - but, upon finding out that his birth mother was actually a prostitute from the Vale, decided to take a temporary break in order to track her down. With Bruce’s blessing and House Wayne’s money, Jason left Gotham and travelled for months, eventually finding his mother in Volantis. It was here that she sold him out to the Joker, a sadistic man whose origins were unknown, and Jason was killed in an explosion of wildfire.

Resurrected by Talia Al’Ghul, an ex-Red Priestess who once knew Bruce Wayne and had followed Jason’s journey in Volantis. Jason experienced a temporary madness from this resurrection, however, and ended up leaving the city to train with a Dothraki horde for some time - these were the only people who could manage his newfound strength and lust for violence. After this, Jason took up the mantle of Red Hood (a red cowl, with silver-plate armour) and worked as a mercenary in Essos.

Upon finding out that Bruce Wayne hadn’t avenged his murder, Jason returned to Westeros as Red Hood, now an extremist vigilante who killed the Bat’s targets and left them waiting to greet the Bat. This behaviour continued for years, until Dick managed to track Jason down and talk him down.

Now, Jason works more closely with his family. He still kills the worst of criminals - rapists, serial killers, etc. - but takes great measures to hide this from them. He fights with a silver greatsword, and is feared by bandits across the kingdoms. Jason is also the most likely of his family to venture into the North, and has even travelled beyond the Wall.

His absence from Westeros was easily explained away by House Wayne - Jason never appeared much at court as a child, so his disappearance was hardly noted - and Jason has taken somewhat more of an active role in the house since his return. He takes the title of lord, but passes over succession and still feels a little uncomfortable dealing with other lords, and instead keeps mostly to studying and dealing with the affairs of the Wayne’s land.

Builds a reputation as being harsh, but fair. No one even bothers to ask for a betrothal. They know what the answer will be. Even if his identity as the Red Hood is a secret, Jason Todd-Wayne still carries a greatsword with him at almost all times, and he intimidates even the mightiest of lords.

TIMOTHY DRAKE (RED ROBIN):

Tim was born into a noble house, distantly descended from the Targaryens (hence the name, Drake). However, he was part of a branch of the main family, and therefore was not expected to inherit all the lands and titles. Instead, Tim spent much of his childhood studying at the Citadel, and had the potential to become a great maester. 

However, he had been transfixed with Richard Grayson since attending one of his performances as a very young boy, and seeing Bruce Wayne comfort Dick after his parents’ death. After following their exploits for many years, and reading Citadel reports on the Bat and Nightwing, Tim deduced their true identities. When Jason Todd was killed, Tim travelled to Gotham and confronted Bruce and Dick.

He was accepted as the new Robin at the urging of Alfred and Dick. Tim gave the role of Robin a new meaning - although he was a skilled fighter and trained just as hard as Bruce and Dick, Tim was particularly good at following clues and setting clever traps for his targets. Many of his victims were lured into easy crimes, for example robbing a lonely woman on the side of the road, but were disarmed and subdued before they even realised they had been tricked.

Tim chose to fight with a staff, similar to one he once saw Dick using (he never quite gets over his admiration of Dick Grayson). He was physically very small until his late teens (where he experienced a much-anticipated growth spurt) and preferred to avoid physical confrontations where possible.

Disguised his time in Gotham as fostering with the Waynes. This is common amongst the sons of great houses, and when his parents died, Tim was officially taken in as a ward of House Wayne. Tim was not close with his parents at the time of their death (he resented them for essentially abandoning him as a child) and he saw the Waynes as his true family.

As he grew older, Tim took more of an active role in the House affairs: having grown up as part of a great house, he was a natural at diplomacy, and had a talent for manipulating lords and ladies without them being any the wiser. He single-handedly doubled the Wayne’s exports in the course of two years. Similarly, Tim was an expert at court, and therefore was often chosen to escort Bruce to King’s Landing (Dick was a little too over-friendly, and Jason was impossible).

Became Red Robin in his late teens, around the same age that Dick became Nightwing, and currently uses this identity. Red Robin still works closely with Batman, but he enjoys the freedom to experiment with his methods. He also regularly visits the King’s Landing dungeons, to interrogate prisoners and learn more about their minds.

He still spends at least a month of each year at the Citadel; he is hailed as one of the brightest minds in Westeros, but he doesn’t care for flattery or fame. Tim is purely focused on research, and bettering the Kingdoms as much as he can. If that means studying agriculture so he can ensure the people on Wayne lands will have enough to eat in winter, so be it. If it means taking on the identity of Red Robin and hunting down human traffickers, so be it.

Arguably the most dedicated vigilante in the entire family. Trains harder than anyone to make up for his smaller frame, reads and plans all night, and never gives himself enough time to recover from injuries. Bruce has a constant headache from worrying about his ward.

Tim is never officially adopted - his House name is too valuable to give up - but is generally referred to as one of the Wayne children. He is seen as a great potential marriage by many other houses, but always manages to slip away from meetings about betrothals at the last second. Some in Gotham suspect he has a secret lover (no one knows who, but it’s Kon Kent).

DAMIAN AL’GHUL-WAYNE (ROBIN):

Born to Talia Al’Ghul, who seduced Bruce during one of his visits to Essos to discuss trade. Talia used her powers as a Red Priestess to ensure that Damian would be genetically ‘perfect’, and she originally intended to induct her son into Ra’s Al’Ghul’s League Of Assassins - however, she later had a change of heart and sent Damian to Westeros for his own protection.

Damian, considered a bastard in Westeros, was given the surname Storm. Although raised by Bruce and treated just as well as a true-born son, Damian struggled greatly with this perceived rejection, and often fought with his adoptive brothers: he tried to elevate his position by justifying himself as the only ‘blood son’ of Bruce Wayne.

Thanks to Talia’s intervention, Damian was aware of the Wayne’s vigilante identities from as early as he could remember, and therefore he fought hard to become Robin as soon as he landed in Westeros. This caused initial tension between him and Tim, but the two reconciled as Damian grew and began to understand the importance of the role of Robin.

Became Robin within two months of coming to Gotham - Damian had spent much of his life training under Ra’s Al’Ghul, and he was arguably the most skilled Robin of all. He chose to fight with a simple curved sword, but was not opposed to using daggers and was equally comfortable with a broad range of weapons.

At first, Damian was very violent, and even struck out on his own and attempted to kill a particularly troublesome bandit leader in the Westerlands. The rest of the family never really directly addressed this, but gently continued to steer Damian away from his intensity. It was very difficult for him to learn to be merciful, but as he grows, he’s beginning to become more compassionate and less of a brat.

Thanks to Bruce’s high status and close relationship with the King, Damian was recently legitimised, and therefore is the heir to House Wayne’s lands and trades. As a result, he tries to take a decently active role in family affairs, even if they bore him with their ‘mundanity’ at times - Damian admits that he has a lot to learn from Tim in this regard.

Struggles with diplomacy. He’s already making a name for himself as a harsh lord: he doesn’t take kindly to people who rely too heavily on help from the Waynes, and often argues with other lords who try to take advantage of his family. It falls to Dick to apologise on Damian’s behalf. However. Damian is fiercely protective of the commoners living on Wayne lands - no one really knows why, but Dick suspects it’s because Damian believes he can protect them and better their lives.

Damian is one of the only high lords in Westeros who believes in the Lord of Light. He’s seen the Lord of Light’s power first-hand, through his mother’s powers and his grandfather’s Lazarus Pits, and he openly rejects the Old Gods or the Seven. This causes some tensions with older families, but people in Gotham are beginning to come around to the religion of the Lord Of Light, and this is further cementing Damian’s position as the future Lord Wayne.

Currently, Damian has no desire to stop being Robin. He’s still young, and has a lot to learn; plus, he appreciates the good he can do working with his father. Although he’d never admit it, the time he spends with Bruce in their vigilante identities is among his most treasured memories.

Accepts that he will be expected to marry one day, for the good of the family. Damian has a strong sense of duty. Betrothals are often discussed, but Bruce and Dick are strangely reluctant to allow their baby boy to marry just yet.

EXTRAS:

Stephanie Brown - a low-born girl living in Gotham, whose father was running a low-level crime ring at the docks. Steph, with a strong sense of morals, took on the identity of Spoiler to defeat her father: this caught the attention of Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne. After some time, Steph managed to convince them to allow her to be Robin - Tim revealed their identities to her during a short-lived secret romance - and this led to her near death at the hands of Black Mask. Now, Steph operates again as Spoiler. She can often be found in House Wayne’s castle, posing as a serving girl or handmaiden, causing general havoc and training with Damian or Tim.

Barbara Gordon - Barbara is the daughter of Jim Gordon, who once served as Commander of the City Watch in King’s Landing. She grew up with a close relationship to Bruce, and when she deduced his identity as The Bat, she decided to take up the mantle of Batgirl. After a fight went south and left her crippled, Barbara used her connections at the citadel to get a wheelchair designed, and she now works as Oracle. She has many connections across Westeros and Essos - both through her father’s work, and her own - and uses these informants to keep the rest of the family up-to-speed on crime.

Cassandra Cain - Cass was born into the Faceless Assassins, and was raised to be a perfect killing machine: illiterate, mostly mute, and trained to read emotions precisely. However, this skill caused her to become extremely emotive, and she fled the Faceless Assassins after making her first (and only) kill. Bruce Wayne found her in his ports, stowed away on a ship, and decided to take her in as his own. Cass currently fights crime with her brothers and sister, but prefers to stay in Gotham painting or drawing. She’s known to be soft-spoken around strangers, but comes out of her shell around her family.

Duke Thomas - Duke and his family emigrated from the Summer Isles, in order to avoid piracy and raids for new Unsullied soldiers, when he was very young. The family came to Gotham due to its reputation for being relatively welcoming - Duke grew up idolising Robin, and later joined and led the informal We Are Robin movement: a group of low-born boys, trying to clean up their villages and create better lives for themselves. Duke experienced an awakening of his meta powers in his early teens, and sought out Lord Wayne for advice, knowing he had travelled and likely encountered similar powers. Duke now works with the Waynes to control and hone his powers, and has a close relationship with Jason in particular.

[samiholloway]

Finally watched the last sw movie and it wasn't as bad as everyone said but it also didn't make more sense than people were claiming or anything.

I still maintain that there should have been:

A literal awakening of the force with tons more people suddenly sensitive and full force using, even adults, with no one to train them so they develop a way that isnt Jedi or Sith, and thereby balance the force for real. This really needed to be about stopping the divide between dark and light that is the actual root of the problem.

If they need someone to be a Palpatine (which is dumb and gross), make it Han, who has no idea who his people are, then make Rey and Ben a dyad because they're siblings, while also explaining why Han never sticks around: people are always after him. Also Leia would know who Rey is that way, even if her mom is different.

Or make Rey Luke's daughter like it looked like she was gonna be, so they're cousins and a dyad bc of uniting the two strongest bloodlines, works either way

Finn should've gotten to have his proper uprising, freeing all the stormtroopers he knows are real people, and then getting to bring them back to their families. Maybe he finds a record of where they're from or smth. Maybe go so far as to let him be lando's kid, or jaana can be, or both. Maybe he could've gotten Phasma to turn too, that'd be super cool. Also he probably should've had a harder time killing people who had been him. And we should have seen more stormtroopers not liking the things they're being told to do.

Let Rose be a thing. She could have been a way into the normal people of the rebellion, the support, the families, the non heroes. That could be a good story.

If Palpatine is really gonna stay, he should've been there the whole time, even if only in weird reports and rumors. Snoke didn't need to exist and didn't need to be that. Maybe he could have been a failed clone who got too big for his purpose or smth if they wanted him so bad. But he's better as a new emperor without Palp.

The Knights of ren really should've been literally anything, but best if they'd been characters, friends of Kylo who knew him and knew he was getting weird and there was strain because he was clearly a favorite and maybe was treating them as disposable. Then his redemption could've included fighting them except it means something. Or saving them when they go too evil. Instead of him causing the deaths of both his parents.

More scavenger Rey fixing things with scrap.

More clear ot3

When lando is reunited with the falcon, that should've been a moment, knowing what we know about the ship's AI now. Maybe she finally works right because she's been waiting for him or smth.

Poe needed to be more about rebuilding the rebellion maybe. All those people who showed up in the last movie, maybe he could have been trying to talk to them in the second? Instead of messing up so bad, or to make up for it? (Also I personally would love if it turned out his parents were Jyn and Cassian and they told us how they survived Scariff and made their ways back to the rebellion years later with a kid. Just saying.)

I'm sure there's more. Maybe I'll rewrite it like I keep telling myself I'll rewrite the prequels?

[the-twin-trollhunters]

it’s been literal ages since i’ve actively DONE anything with this blog but i really wanna get back into developing this au since i love it a lot,, even if “developing” is more just. writing scattered drabbles and snippits instead of writing through it chronologically so...

if you have questions or prompt ideas or cool thoughts about any particular era, please do let me know, i love talking about this crossover! 

the 5 eras of this crossover:

Era 1: (August 1967- June 1968) Glass Shard Beach/Quartz Shard Cove Era 2: (1968-1982) Stan in Trollmarket/Ford’s research years Era 3: (1982-2012) Wilderness Years Era 4: (2012-2016) Summer 2012 and beyond Era 5: (Spring 2016~) The new trollhunters

(a ton more rando ideas under the cut)

Era 1: (August 1967- June 1968) Glass Shard Beach/Quartz Shard Cove

Big ideas: -Stan finds amulet, discovers underground civilization of trolls alongside Ford -Helps protect Quartz Shard Cove, the troll city below them, over the course of senior year -Major foes are Korsiva (a disgraced ex-general of Gunmar who’s been in hibernation for years) and an east coast branch of the Janus Order -Stan and Ford’s baby nephew (son of their big brother Shermie), Alexander, gets swapped out for a changeling. Chaos ensues. -Carla- Stan’s best friend- is brought into the fold/fights alongside the twins. -That time they recovered a single piece of the Killahead that was unguarded- they learn the changelings are trying to rebuilt it early in this AU. The piece is stowed away for safekeeping in Trollmarket, deep in the catacombs.  -Over time there’s found family themes with Alex the changeling, and he ends up defecting from the Janus Order entirely.. after experiencing all the horror of the Darklands, he just wants the chance to live a good and honest life. Through ancient magic, he finds a way to wipe the evidence of his existence from the Order. -Blinky and Aaarrrgghh pretty much slam adopt on all of these humans. -Stan and Ford’s relationship becomes more and more strained as the year goes on because Stan keeps pushing him away (thinking he’s protecting him by doing so)

Era 2: (1968-1982) Stan in Trollmarket/Ford’s research years

Big ideas: -After Stan is kicked out, he moves with Blinky and Aaarrrgghh back to Trollmarket. -Ford, to college. -Stan becomes really close with Draal during this time. -A lot of Stan’s work during this time is working to maintain peace in the troll world with the continuing threat of Killahead bridge being knowingly rebuilt, and trying to figure out WHERE the bridge pieces are being stored. (Currently it’s being hidden in a place far away from Arcadia.) -Ford still goes to Gravity Falls to research the strange and bizzare, and the Bill Cipher stuff still happens, except in this AU the Nightmare Realm and the Darklands are the same place, just this interdimensional dumping ground that Bill and Gunmar are both trapped within. They’re pretty much both competing to see who can get out first.  -Stan sent to go investigate the going-ons in Gravity Falls bc the trolls sensed an open portal to the Darklands there. He’s pissed and confused to realize it was his brother’s doing. -Ford gets sucked through the portal, along with Stan’s amulet.

Era 3: (1982-2012) Wilderness Years

Big ideas:  -The troll Tribunal forbids Stan from setting foot in any troll settlement in punishment for losing the amulet to Gunmar’s clutches. They’re essentially without a trollhunter for these 30 years. -Stan realizes the truth about Ford, that he was manipulated by an ancient eldritch being. Now feeling insanely guilty for leaving him to the whims of something like that, he begins to rebuild the thrashed portal. It may be ultimate treason to the trollkind he once swore to protect, but his family is forever more important to him than law. -Ford, meanwhile, discovers a shocking fact- the amulet calls his name too, and he can wield the armor and Daylight as well. He travels the multiverse for 30 years, learning more about the amulet and what it means to be a trollhunter along the way... crossing into dimensions where other trollhunters exist, gathering stones to use in it, gaining proficiency at fighting... -Alex- or as he comes to call himself, Lex- grows up, moves to California, falls in love with a human woman, and to his great surprise they’re able to have kids- twins. As far as he knows at that point, they’re essentially fully human- but they all know about his changeling nature. -They raise their kids in Arcadia. Occasionally, Lex does reconnaissance work for the trolls- Blinky and Vendel specifically.

Era 4: (2012-2016) Summer 2012 and beyond

Big ideas: -Lex sends his kids to GF for the summer for Stan to watch, paranoid that the Janus Order discovered what he did to their records and found him again  -Much of the summer is spent trying to uncover their Grunkle’s hidden past (he’s kept all the trollhunting stuff on the down low from family as a result of his disgrace from troll society. only lex knows the full story.) and what’s up with this mysterious journal in the woods. -The journal is p much the same except it has a toooon of troll stuff in it too. Ford’s a nerd. -Wendy is a changeling. Originally she was stationed in Gravity Falls to keep an eye on Stan and make sure he’s not up to no good, but she’s never actually gotten the chance to sneak into his basement to see what he’s working on. His security is too top-notch. When she’s finally a teen in human years she gets a job in the shack so she can get closer to him.  -Honestly I think she also flips. Just, all the changelings eventually flip when they see how great found family and friendships and anything that’s not Gunmar is, okay? XDD -Fiddleford isn’t actually entirely insane- but he’s still not all mentally there. Long story. He lives with his son and actually wears clothes most of the time. -Yknow I’m pretty sure Dipper and Mabel prob catch Wendy shifting between forms and that’s how they esp bond -Also let’s be real the two of them definitely end up exploring the troll civilization under Gravity Falls -the Wham moment where Ford walks out of the portal wearing the Armor of Daylight and everyone’s like :O OOO two trollhunters!!! ! -Weirdmageddon’s weirdness wave activates long dormant changeling genes for Dipper and Mabel, and they shift into troll forms. They’re a unique case of changeling because they are their own familiars. -Post 2012, the full story of what happened with the amulet becomes known to trollkind, and Stan’s ban from underground is lifted. He and Ford together continue trollhunting business, and they’re still a force to be reckoned with, even with their age. -In early 2016, the amulet leaves Stan and Ford, and stops responding to them both. The assumption made is that it senses the two of them are unable to carry out their duty anymore at their age, and has made the choice to move on. (normally a trollhunter just... would die long before they grew old enough for this to be a problem, so...)

Era 5: (Spring 2016~) The new trollhunters

-Dipper and Mabel are both 18, in senior year. They are fully able to shift between forms at whim by now. -Amulet picks Jim. A lot of broad canon strokes remain the same, but the trolls already are aware of the changelings still existing, and of the Killahead bridge’s threat- and have made the appropriate precautions. Tbh I still need to develop more logical divergences this new canon would make in what happens. -But I do know for sure that the changelings have to infiltrate Trollmarket to steal the stone Stan retrieved LOOONG ago in 1968 to even open the Killahead bridge at all.   -And I think Bular’s been out and about for some time trying to sniff out where this piece was being kept. His hunt has only recently brought him back to Arcadia. -Dipper and Mabel accidentally out themselves to Bular during the equivalent of the ep Young Atlas as they try to rescue Jim. This also outs the fact that ONE of their parents must be a changeling to the Janus Order.  -There is a Kidnapping that occurs,,, as Strickler is trying to pry info on where the last piece is from Lex, using Dip and Mab as collateral. Strickler gets the info he wants, sigh. -Through the battle of Killahead that eventually ensues, both Nomura AND Lex are sucked through into the Darklands. Not only does everyone want to rescue Claire’s baby brother, but they want to rescue Lex too. (There’s also some interesting ethics on whether or not they should rescue the REAL baby Alexander Pines afforded the opportunity, too. I’m still not sure if they do or not.) -When Jim goes into the Darklands, Stan and Ford return from their sailing expedition to keep the peace as best they can in Trollmarket/Arcadia. Sans amulet, of course, bc it won’t respond to them anymore but.. it’s something. -They’re there for the remainder of “S2-3.” -Ford ends up trying to defend Jim at the tribunal, but despite his eloquence still fails to convince them of anything. -When the Merlin quest happens, Dipper and Mabel are there as well. They can’t shift forms because of the magic ban, but their addition is enough to help fight off/kill Angor Rot and save Draal. -Ford knows from his journeys through the multiverse what Merlin aims to do (he’s met a future half-troll version of Jim, he Suspects) and is Against It. They fight alone at one point. -Battle stuff... Except the battle goes Fucking Wrong because of some key elements (no Angor Rot to blindside Morgana) and it ends up with the eternal night becoming permanent and some hellish frickin stuff, Morgana murders Merlin, she reconstitutes the shattered fragments of Bill Cipher within Stan’s mind (those two have History and that’s literally a whole nother Story please do ask me about it) and whisks him away in seconds to GF to go break Bill’s full essence free from his stone prison because she wants to p much steal his power for herself. -Ford found a sort of special amulet stone whilst in the multiverse that he’s been keeping all this time in case of emergencies... it allows the bearer to jump backwards in time, but only once. Only thing is, it’s also. in Gravity Falls. Kept safe in Fiddleford’s mansion. -Claire jumps them to GF via shadow staff. -Jim gets the stone and is able to use it like, just before they pretty much all die. He jumps back to RIGHT when Merlin wakes up in the tomb. -He realizes that the only real way he can stop all of this from going to hell completely is by making sure that all the shards of Bill in Stan’s mind are well and truly destroyed forever... and so they do just that. It’s a big dramatic mind demon eternal exorcism, a family/friends effort.

-there’s probably more but I’ve literally been rambling on like a noob. that’s pretty much the highlights. please do ask me questions about events/character relationships/places/timeline stuff/etc etc etc i would love to see them!

[archivestoriescrafted]

MUSE INFO   —   PEGGY CARTER.

formerly found at: andxpeggy  &&  firstthirteen.

all information outlined below is based on canon information,  and can vary by verse.  some of it is headcanon based,  and has developed over my time writing peggy.  anything noted with a * is based on personal headcanons.

FULL NAME:  margaret elizabeth carter. FACECLAIM(s):  zoey deutch  &&  hayley atwell. PLACE OF BIRTH:  hampstead,  england. CURRENT RESIDENCE:  washington,  d.c.. DATE OF BIRTH:  april 9, 1921. DATE OF DEATH:  june 18, 2016  ---  age 95. HEIGHT:  5′8″ EYE COLOR:  brown. HAIR COLOR:  brown. PARENTS:  amanda carter (deceased),  harrison carter (deceased). SIBLING(S):  harrison michael carter (deceased),  helen marks carter (sister-in-law, deceased)*. SPOUSE:  gabriel ‘gabe’ jones (deceased). CHILDREN:  N/A. EDUCATION:  nothing formal beyond secondary education. PAST OCCUPATIONS:  codebreaker (1939),  mi5 agent (1940),  member of project rebirth (1940-1943),  head of candidate training, project rebirth (1943),  ssr agent (1943-1949),  s.h.i.e.l.d. co-founder  &&  director (1950-1998),  s.h.i.e.l.d. consultant (1998-2005). SEXUAL ORIENTATION:  bisexual. ROMANTIC ORIENTATION:  biromantic.

IMPORTANT CANON RELATIONSHIPS:  tbd.

IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE DECEASED:  tbd.

IMPORTANT PORTRAYAL BASED RELATIONSHIPS:  tbd.

became a spy at age 19.

was one of the first people to encounter johann schmidt after his transformation as red skull,  as she was undercover at his headquarters at the time in order to rescue abraham erskine.

was basically disowned by her parents for deciding to join the military instead of getting married and doing what was expected of her.*

kept her own last name after marrying at the request of gabe bc he knew how much carrying on her family’s name was to her.*

reforged a relationship with her family after the creation of s.h.i.e.l.d. through her nephew harrison,  and her niece elizabeth.*

treated her great-niece,  sharon,  as a surrogate daughter since she never had her own children.*

was instrumental in assuring sharon was named the new agent thirteen,  as it was peggy’s codename during world war ii.*

godmother of tony stark.*

mentor of nick fury.*

after her resignation as director of s.h.i.e.l.d.,  she became a consultant,  and following her full resignation from the organization,  she signed an agreement to have her memory wiped as she decided it would be too risky to allow herself to be a civilian with the information and secrets she held in her head.*

i’ll add more later but these are the most important <3 

VERSES UNDER THE CUT!

CANON ARC.  MEANT FOR MORE THAN THIS.  pre mcu. CANON ARC.  AGENT THIRTEEN.  the first avenger. CANON ARC.  I KNOW MY VALUE.  season one. CANON ARC.  DO AS PEGGY SAYS.  season two. CANON ARC.  WE’RE THE GOOD GUYS.  ssr. CANON ARC.  SET HISTORY STRAIGHT.  s.h.i.e.l.d. CANON ARC.  NONE OF US CAN GO BACK.  the winter soldier / present day.

VERSE.  TAKE A STAND WITH PRIDE.  616. fc: aj cook comic verse (616). peggy carter was born in richmond,  virginia to the wealthy harrison and amanda carter.  as a teenager,  she packed up and left for france,  to join the resistance there.  after the war,  she worked mainly on her own, deciding that no one could be trusted to stick to the morals she held dear. [depending on interactions,  and my mood,  there are some instances where she’s (hesitantly) joined shield in this verse]

VERSE:  THE WORLD STILL SPINS.  modern i. fc: hayley atwell after being exposed to the effects of an 084 in the 50’s,  peggy’s aging slowed to a point where it would seem she has yet to age a single day since.  she remained director of s.h.i.e.l.d. until the mid 1990’s when howard stark died,  and she decided she’d much rather return to work as a field agent.  [verse can vary in time from anywhere in her timeline, so if you have a preference, let me know!]

VERSE:  WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE.  civil war. fc: hayley atwell [subverse of modern i] following several unfortunate occurrences involving enhanced individuals,  it was simple enough to see things weren’t ideal, to put it mildly.  before anybody knew otherwise,  the sokovia accords were being presented.  peggy carter was asked by thaddeus ross to accompany him to the avengers compound to help him present the accords.  it seemed foolish to protest,  so she joined him,  staying after to gauge reactions to the proposed document.  it was obvious enough that things were going downhill quickly,  considering the number of those who were opposed.  deciding it was best to leave those directly involved to deliberate,  she left,  though that seemed to be the incorrect course of action.  it seemed before anybody knew any differently,  sides had been taken,  and reasoning seemed pointless.  it was clear that both sides had a point,  the accords weren’t perfect,  but fighting against the law seemed foolish,  so peggy chose to back tony.  [this verse will encompass all events that might take place directly before / during / after the movie]

VERSE:  THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.  infinity war. fc: hayley atwell [subverse of modern i] currently in development!

VERSE:  THE CHOICES YOU DON’T GET TO MAKE.  post tfa divergent. fc: hayley atwell a verse encompassing events that might’ve taken place had steve’s plane not gone down at the end of ‘the first avenger’.

VERSE:  TAKE UP THE SHIELD.  peggy!cap. fc: hayley atwell following the disappearance of steve rogers,  it was decided the world needed a new face to rally hope in the face of a world trying to rebuild itself after the war.  peggy carter was chosen as that face.  but sometimes it feels like,  as hard as she may try,  the shoes she’s trying to fill are far too big.

VERSE:  A YOUTH WELL LIVED.  teenage verse. fc: zoey deutch all encompassing,  from 1930’s,  to modern AUs.

VERSE:  TO BOLDLY GO.  star trek. fc: hayley atwell margaret carter was born on earth, in england in the mid-2330′s [this can adjust based on who i’m interacting with tbh] and was quick enough to realize that enrolling in starfleet academy and serving on starships was her key aspiration in life,  and she did.  she flourished at the academy, and quickly earned the rank of ensign upon graduation. it seemed it hadn’t been long at all until she’d blown through the rank of lieutenant junior grade to full lieutenant,  and so on.  tbh,  this verse can encompass anything from cadet to tactical / security / a brief stint starfleet intelligence to starship captain and later ambassador tbh

VERSE:  A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC.  harry potter. fcs: hayley atwell, zoey deutch harry potter verse.  age varies depending on plots / person I’m interacting with.  peggy is a muggle born slytherin,  beater on the quidditch team,  and member of the dueling club.  as an adult,  she becomes an auror.

VERSE:  ON THE EDGE.  edge of tomorrow. fc: hayley atwell. following a meteor strike in germany, an alien force known as the mimics have begun a hostile takeover of the earth.  peggy was already involved in the military,  and as soon as the war broke out,  she quickly began rising through the ranks.  

now,  three years into the war, lacking a single victory — it’s difficult to maintain hope;  but sometimes it seems like hope is all that’s left.currently,  she’s stationed in france,  working mostly as an ambassador between the french and the english;  an assistant in attempting to coordinate military movements and one of those most sought out for determining new potential strategies to help the whole of humanity survive and endure this war that’s been so devastating.

VERSE:  TO SURVIVE.  the walking dead. fc: hayley atwell. description coming soon!

[mychocolateroses]

The road to self-love

There are two relationships that will significantly affect you in your lifetime.

The ones with your lovers,

And the one with yourself.

A relationship with a lover will be extremely challenging to maintain and take care of if you do not have a solid relationship with yourself.

It’s one thing to know you deserve to be happy, and it’s another thing to allow yourself to be.

(If you don’t care to hear my personal experience then you can skip to after the italics)

Even when I was emotionally attached in a toxic relationship, I still knew that I deserved better. But I didn’t love myself enough to do what it took to get there. I needed to detach myself. Feel the pain for a little while until my mind was clear enough and I could start evolving as an individual again. I could’ve argued and named multiple other reasons why I couldn’t leave but it always boiled down to two things. Comfort. Attachment. I’m going to tell you one thing that I know for a fact. If I truly loved and valued myself I would have not remained in a toxic relationship. I would’ve left my relationship much sooner, and in much healthier circumstances. I also probably would’ve been less of a b****. My relationship got the best of me. And I’m sure we’ve all been here or been through similar situations. Some people are living this right now. But we all find our way out. Unfortunately for me it was self destruction that got me away from the toxic relationship I was in. All of the times I’d been let down and then forgave anyway. All the times I felt like nothing I did was appreciated or reciprocated and I stayed anyway. It’s all the times I chose “us” instead of what was right. Allowing someone to suck the life out of me was exactly what I did. Trying to “fix” someone by attempting to fill their empty spaces with all of the things I needed from them. All of what was me. I gave my all to someone who was empty because they hadn’t learned how to love themselves either, and I ended up feeling like I had nothing left BUT THEM. But they couldn’t do anything for me. What I didn’t know then is the most important investments are first within ourselves. I should’ve chosen me but no one ever taught me this. I learned the hard way. When we are not mentally healthy and put more effort into a lover than we do ourselves, we are only making things worse. The more we feed excuses to a toxic situation, the more toxic it becomes. So like I said earlier, it wasn’t before I self destructed, that my relationship came to an end. It wasn’t before self-destruction that I started to learn my worth, how to have a solid relationship with myself, and how to rebuild the person I had lost. I wish we wouldn’t do this to ourselves.

{For those of you who are single, who have already overcome a toxic relationship, who never want history to repeat itself, those who can’t remember the last time they were in love or maybe you’ve never even been in love. The ones who get wrapped up in dating the wrong people, or the ones who just don’t date at all and feel held back, you need to take the first step of choosing to INVEST IN YOURSELF. Stop worrying about when you’re going to find love. Stop worrying about what keeps going wrong. Change that focus onto yourself. This process may begin at a different level for you than it will for someone else. Meaning some of the things I’m about to talk about may be things you’ve already accomplished. Begin to invest where you need to. You know you the best.}

{For those of you who are in the predicament I was in or are overwhelmed with emotions. Maybe feel like you do not have the will power to leave your relationship or don’t have the right support system or guidance to do so. Even for those of you who try to avoid the reality that your relationship is toxic and that you are not happy by pretending you are happy. Masking the cons of your relationship for social media by putting the tiny amount of pros on a public pedestal. ANYONE who knows they are settling, y o u d e s e r v e better. You deserve everything you’re missing. And so do the ones around you. You could have everything if you just took the first step to loving yourself. Not the first step to breaking up with your significant other, not the first step to losing the love of your life, not the first step to getting rid of someone, not the first step to breaking up a family, not the first step to your world crumbling down. THE FIRST STEP to loving yourself. The first step to being genuinely happy.}

The first step is just investing. Change your focus and invest in yourself. Invest in finding happiness. I can almost guarantee doing this will naturally pull you towards what’s meant for you and pull you away from what’s not meant for you. One step in a positive direction is all it takes and the rest will fall into place. Take the pressure off your relationship. No this isn’t easy. No one said it was.

Ways to build a healthy/solid relationship with yourself:

1. *Be content with being alone.* You have to be happy by yourself. If you constantly feel like you are alone, thats your mind telling you that you need yourself more than ever. Get to a point where you’re not thinking “I’m so lonely”, “I’m so bored”, “I wish I had a friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend to hangout with”. If you are not content with being alone and being in your own company without complaints, you will struggle in a relationship. Learn to love your own company. Learn to not even realize you’re by yourself. The trick is to STAY BUSY!!

2. *Focus on what brings income and what you love to do and do your best!* Working is something we’re doing probably 50-80% of the time maybe less, maybe more. If you are half-assing your work, you’re really only half-assing yourself. We need to be productive and self-sufficient. The goal should be to accelerate, learn more, or at least give your best efforts. Doing these things will increase your mood dramatically and open one door after another. But just remember; Don’t overwork yourself. We all need balance and we all need a break physically and mentally.

3. *Make the most of your spare time.* If you’re depressed, mopey, lazy, etc. recognize this right away and get up and do something to change your mood! Try not to linger in negative energy. Go do your dishes. Clean your home. Put your favorite song on. Light a f*cking candle. Clean your car/truck/SUV. Fold the clothes that have been sitting in your dryer or clean basket for days. Stand up and give your mind a rest. This is something I always do and I’m telling you it’s a life changer.

4. *Be aware of your feelings.* Even though it’s important to not linger in negative energy, sometimes we find ourselves doing so. And most of the time it’s good that we just dust off our shoulders and move on. But sometimes negative energy needs to be addressed in order to get rid of it. You have to be aware of your moods & what you’re feeling. Be in the moment. For example, my mom taught me something that I’ll never forget. Anytime you get mad about something someone else is doing... really stop and ask yourself why is it bothering you? Is it because this is something you’re insecure about? Are you being triggered bc something deep down? ... this made me view things a lot differently. And if I had no idea why I was mad I would just ask myself is it helping me to be mad about it? When we get defensive, a lot of the times it’s because it triggers an insecurity. My mother taught me to recognize this. But one thing I figured out on my own later down the line is there’s also things that cause extreme excitement and it’s just as important to be aware of this as well. When something makes us happy, SOAK in the moment. Take a step back and appreciate everything good that’s before your eyes or that’s happening to you. Appreciate what you have. Remember the things that bring you this feeling and go there as much as you can. Appreciate the people around you who make you feel good too. Be aware of your feelings and understand them. And be aware of how your surroundings make you feel. This will be so crucial in the process of manifesting the life you want.

5. *Communicate your issues and concerns.* For example: If someone you care about is making you feel some type of way, confront them about it. (If it’s worth it, right?) This doesn’t mean be rude or disrespectful, it means in order to resolve problems you first have to address them... so you can FIX them. Why would you want to keep tension? Why would you stress yourself out by reserving bad feelings? Friendships will fail if you bottle up everything inside and try to ignore what makes you feel a way. Doesn’t matter what it is. Another example: If your friend was super quiet and seemed upset, wouldn’t you do your best to see what’s wrong and help them? Wouldn’t you want to come up with a solution and see them happy again? So why wouldn’t you do the same for yourself? Why would you want to stay upset over something? If you can not communicate with yourself or others, how can you have a successful relationship?

6. *Stop entertaining your insecurities.* Everyone has insecurities. Insecurities come from many different things... the way we were raised, the environment we were around as a child and throughout our life or from toxic relationships, etc. I think insecurities are built-in. And on top of it society has played a role in magnifying our insecurities. Insecurities mimic behavior. Some insecurities crave attention, some insecurities are clingy, some are mean to others or disrespectful, some are even overly nice. Some insecurities are flirty, some are quiet. The list goes on and on. To make this short and sweet; if your behavior or mentality is causing an imbalance in your life: resentment, sadness, anything that isn’t helping you grow as a person most likely it’s an insecurity trying to take the spot light. If you understand why these insecurities are there, you can figure out how to get rid of them. And insecurities are much more obvious than you’d think. Especially to others.

7. And that leads to my last step of advice: *Accept yourself for who you truly are.* As soon as we begin to be our authentic selves, the better we become. Don’t compare yourself to others. Accept your flaws, your mannerisms, your humor, your personality, your body.. we should work to love ourselves physically just like we should love ourselves internally. If we cannot love ourselves for who we are, we cannot love someone else properly.

***NOTE: It may be a difficult/timely process to really face yourself and build (or finish building) a solid relationship with yourself but its much more a rewarding one. And even when we begin to master these steps, we will still remain flawed and there will still be moments where we feel like we fall short. But all we need is a reminder that loving ourselves is a life long investment but once we have built a relationship with ourselves, we have all we need to get back up and keep going.

Written by: Breonna Granto

[imperialsea-a]

What is an aspect of your muse that you’ve wanted to explore the most? / Name one idea for a plot you’ve had but never gotten around to writing. / If you’re a multimuse or have more than one blog, is there a muse you wish you used more? / Name one of your favorite tropes.

easy meme for a burnt out mun & accepting.

♛   What is an aspect of your muse that you’ve wanted to explore the most? 

    hhhhhhh i don’t know, it fluctuates a lot? Though it mainly changes between the worst time of her life, and the best, that being: post-academy fall/association uprooting + yuuki’s awakening + surprise, eva’s not actually dead for now VS. she’s happily married w five kids and has grown up a LOT since her teen years. 

    Bethy is a naturally orderly and strong-willed person who, after making some tough decisions, becomes totally dedicated to her job as a hunter; she was born into that world at the peak of their society being the descendant of the Averill line + the only child of Kaien Cross who is a hunting legend– whatever his current status may be, and despite having struggles related to the social/emotional complexity of balancing out the human world, vampire society, and her own place in those realms, she remains determined to play her part in maintaining the peace. UNFORTUNATELY for her, she relied too much on the Association– I mean, she revolves her entire self-worth on being a hunter, and when things collapse? She does too. She feels disgusted stupid and used and worthless.

    The rug’s been pulled out from under her, the status of her mother being alive isn’t exactly stable– her best friends are gone (bc yeah im including eiri in this THAT’S HER BERRY ; O ; ), she’s so furious (half-rationally,half not-so-much) with Kaien she could actually KILL him, and then she’s carted off back home with her grandparents (Florence + Alexandria) to recover since she’s also sustained some physical injuries along with the heaps of emotional strain. She’s not okay for a long time, but she does recover and returns to HQ eventually. So, I guess I’d like some threads during the time of her recovery? It’s flexible enough since she doesn’t stay cooped up indoors the entire time she’s away; after the first few weeks of serious depression, she begins going out and doing normal non-huntery things. Not 100 percent all better, not even when she does come back, but away from the entire work situation, she’s healing and learning to rebuild herself, and her self-worth doesn’t revolve solely around work/the few friends she’s managed to make. She’s finally living for herself, muh bby i cant– i love bethy sm, she develops so much here

    OTHERWISE, I JUST LOVE MOM/ADULT! BETHY. She’s the happiest, healthiest version of herself and has really grown comfortable with the ‘imperfection’ of her situation– I mean, she got to marry for love (after her grandfather tried to set the man on fire) which is something she thought she never could do, her sister in-law is an aristocrat married to Takuma Ichijou aka weirdo from the strongest vampire noble family, her best friends are KURAN  PUREBLOODS, and she’s on speaking terms with Kaien so–. who’d have thought. she even survives twins.

    The first broken/recovery timeframe might lead to some more flexibility plot-wise / crossover-ish sort of things? since she’s not really  h u n t i n g  and is existing quite normally (though that’s not to say she won’t pick up 1 of several weapons and fight if she needs to), but- IDK I KINDA JUST RAMBLED / INCOHERENTLY DUMPED STUFF HERE. 

♛   Name one idea for a plot you’ve had but never gotten around to writing.

     I’m not overly plot-specific when it comes to threading with people, but I’m always open to it. I guess one I’d like is really simple: strangers meet + have a pleasant convo over some form of public transportation / helping the other with something, kinda gets really personal in conversation since whatever they’re doing is taking a  l o n g  time, and they kindly part ways, thinking they won’t see each other again, then meeting again some time later in an either mundane situation or ‘uh so someone’s destroying the city’-level action. what happens from there depends on characters / story? I had a thread sort of like this, and it led to one of the best relationships Bethy ever had, but the mun deactivated and I’m still kinda, like, sad about it kfjdlkfjd

    That, or maybe something like–??? one muse saves the other from something, and they somehow end up getting stuck together through a really bad situation and help each other out. AS U CAN SEE, I don’t, uh, plot a lot .  .  .  o w q ;;

    as a sidenote, this goes across all my blogs: i love one-sided love :’D

♛   If you’re a multimuse or have more than one blog, is there a muse you wish you used more?

    Arata and Eva, for sure but u knew that. It’s more just a matter of meee…….nnnot writing out their backstories, even though I have it all there. Arata (affectionately called RaRa/Rara ooc–) is a vampire hunter like Beth, from a really powerful family, who somehow ended up unofficially officially adopting 3 kids after a like, 7 yr old saved his punk 17 yr old butt from a vampire. he grew up, wears glasses for fashion bc he doesn’t need them, and is all around a really good guy; he’s kind of awkward and is a family disappointment, but he’s got hunting skills fo dayyyys, just ask the chunks of noble flesh for touching one of his bbys–. He’s no joke my favorite OC EVER, and if it weren’t for my inability to actually be active, i’d give him his own blog. I love RaRa, man.

    As for Eva, she’s Elizabeth’s mother, for those who don’t know. She’s a fun character to write, though I don’t much for the above reasons of ‘no bio written for the public’–. She’s made mistakes, the big one sticking out as letting herself get cornered by the president (marrying kaien wasn’t one of her mistakes somehow), and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a consequence, she got bitten by a Pureblood, and the pres, being the opportunist he is, took advantage of that, locked her up, and held her prisoner for years. When she’s out, she’s got a lot of recovery to do, but she’s okay in the end. She’s also one of Bethy’s biggest influences, and where she learned her kindness/fun side from. bethy is a kind girl ok, she’s just got a few HIGHLY situational layers to get past– but yeah. I liked Eva so much I kept her alive; I can’t imagine my OCs without her now.

♛   Name one of your favorite tropes.

    This is something I never really thought on before, since I don’t really pay attention to tropes. I don’t know what it would be called, but something pertaining to opposites or contradictions, I guess? Since, Bethy is practically a land-confused mermaid :’D and i associate her/gentle tides with water and the calmness+peace it brings her, but she herself, along with her family, is heavily fire-influenced, or in takashi’s case, WATER = NO, IM GOOD, THANK YOU. but somehow, it still works? 

    Same with her overall existence? she’s a beautiful liar/actress, but she doesn’t lie where it isn’t necessary. she has to keep her hunter/vampire involvement a secret– that’s something she’ll never casually spill, but she’s not really as closed off as she seems, the situation just needs to be right. ahh… bethy’s pretty open-minded to things despite how straight-laced she is, and it really shows later in life. love of her life = hunter from an incredibly nontraditional family. mother = lvl d vampire. two of her children = cursed twins. bffs = no joke all vamps. yuuki…eiri, zero– i dont think she has human friends outside of akemi. hhhhh….. ANYWAY, all of that, it’s far from the idea of ‘picture perfect’ she upholds through her early life, but in the end, it works out? and it is perfect, for her.

    Not really a TROPE, i suppose .  .  . but she’s a bit of a mess in terms of contradictions both personally and thematically. if there’s a trope name for that, she’d fall into its category.

THIS IS RLLY LONG IM SORRY–

[liviaarts]

Ka-man Tse

Photography 

LGBTQ+ artist in Hong Kong 

Opening of book from 2018: 

Faces that would not kiss in life 

Press together as the pages 

Close 

-Ken Chen, Echo, Juvenilia 2010 

Book title: Narrow Distances (?) 

How to bridge/connect things, people, ideas that feel disparate. Physical distance, other space stuff. Photography is only a fast medium on the surface. Maintain the fast spectacular want of the art world. Rushing forecloses the ability to take things properly, talk, prepare, etc. When fast we become limited in kinds of language and making. Interested in the slowness and intimacy. Move at the speed of trust, with people, medium, etc. Listening in relation to seeing. Uses a really old camera, carries 10 holders, 20 pics per session (all day). Dislikes the negative use of photography in both the past and present… language of taking and shooting. Instead of taking, making. What if it was built not transactional. The idea of mental imaging and video echos. Through time and iteration comes to fruition. Take echos from old photos into new.  

Family: 

Had photo albums with parents in kong kong… in the photo with her sister as a baby she thought that the cranes in the background were actually part of an amusement park for a really long time. Parents didn’t have photos from when children… didn’t have access to a camera/means to go to the studio. Echos (through time?) in what family photographs they did have. Time to make the picture new… aunt is holding it, uncle on the other side, Ka-Man also there. She’s wearing her wedding band, but in Hong Kong gay marriage not recognized, felt the need to include it. 

Steakface: Represents a moment where really at the time invested in reconciling who she was… all the disparate parts and divergent things. Wanted a family picture… wanted her  wife and parents in the same photo. Represented years and years of work trying to bring her parents back in, represented them coming to terms. Came out as a teenager, told she  would go to hell. Took years and years to unlearn. Several years later, progress one foot forward 2 steps back, for every loving moment still moments of harm. Photo setup with lights. Gesture of giving food to wife. Dad got frustrated and just started eating. Inspired by The Jangs by Jang(?). The dining room table also a battle ground (Cruz also talked about the kitchen table… he has a piece he described as the closet on the kitchen table smeared with chocolate).

I like this photo a lot. The way the lighting/shadow is set up makes the table seem as if it is floating to me. The sense of motion is also very real feeling. This dining room also looks really similar to the one in my South Korean friends old house. The curtains and table cloth are almost eerily similar, and she had a big white dog that would sit under the table. 

Trying to rebuild. Mom makes dishes for wife Sheryl(?)… becomes code for progress, then says something hurtful. Learned for years to think about family, like a chosen family outside of blood. In Queer theory expansive notion of family and community outside of sanguinity. Wanted to bridge all of that. Portraits with wife and parents in the same negative. In a public space together… if you run into an acquaintance will you deny me? 

Light as a character/actor: 

A character , it can envelope, it can draw, the dimensionality of being able to sculpt a thing, can be a portal, guide. Doesn’t have to function in a literal or descriptive way, can become more metaphorical. 

Places/Businesses: 

Decommissioned airport in the middle of the city, overgrown and filled with plants. Decommissioned in 97, handover by British colonial gov? There was a surplus so they made land for the airport, throwing money back into infrastructure/back to British companies. 

Lived experience, time? Businesses in photos gone, makes some sense because it has been 20 years. Intergenerational photos. 

Queer bodies/relationships: 

Guy who would change in the stairwell to avoid fighting… a practical thing to save time and stress of fighting. Tse had to find a stairwell… one with natural light. Lighting is really key, coming through the shirt. (The light in this photo is really beautiful, especially when coming through the white transparency of the shirt)  The picture has been read incorrectly, sometimes he’s misgendered, sometimes it's seen as an act of hiding or shame. 

Portraits outside, important to occupy and hold public space. Its crowded and contested, as a queer person here and taking up space. What is a space that is important to you, holds meaning. Then later in the book portraits get inside. 

Having conversations about what it means to be seen, community, what does this place mean to you, places holding significance. How is the map of hong hong drawn? Photo of a couple that met at work during cigarette breaks, and felt that that was their place. Wanted to be a Gap (like the store) couple. Private space in the exterior environment. Matching shoes… something minor but yours together and therefore important. Interested in the everyday, everyday means. Certain jesters can be really important, even if small. Hand holding for instance… unease in photo bc of judgmental eyes. 

Boring rainy day photos are important too. “Rainy Tuesdays” 

Long conversations build together. Living the film happy together… redo a scene. Film in 1977 about a toxic relationship between two men, break up, come back together, again, again. Etc. also about Hong Kong and queer relationship. 

Quiet as a modality of its own, not an absence of voice. 

Important to have people smiling and laughing, not just “photo face”. People not wanting to show face, practical reasons, not safe, lose their job, etc.

People are endless.

November 9, 2020

[mjackdaw]

in search of softness

(sorry for the long post but this Hell Site wont let me put a read more in for Some Reason) just finished the adventure zone finale and....jeez. cried myself a stomach ache rly glad i got into it last summer and got to watch it wrap up a calendar year later, nice coming in a circle thing?  but like, wow, im very glad it ended the way it did and it gave me all of those nice douglas adams and terry pratchett vibes and im glad this story exists in the world stories about the specific kind of found family that is like 

“the world is an absurd, unpredictable, and often inhospitable place but somewhere in it you will find Your People, and you will make a small and good and earnest and bright thing with those people, and that thing may be an actual tangible thing or maybe the thing is bringing those bonds into the world and those good vibes into existence. but, regardless, that thing will be Yours and you will be better for it and because that thing exists you will be able to stitch up all the wounds this bizarre and often terrible world has given you. the search for and the maintaining of Your True and Good Thing is what makes waking up to survive and push through another day worth it”  will always be my kryptonite  it has the same kind of vibe that i think some of the best night vale episodes had and i wish i had transcribed joseph fink’s answer to the q i asked at an interview panel once bc its that same thing. about people surviving the shitty times and making the good times regardless of whether the bad times are cancer or if they’re unknowable monsters.  what makes me call a story “kind” or “soft” has little to do with whether like the characters are nice (what a loaded word that i have lots of asterisks about) but like, if the story depicts that sort of thing and gives people material with which to tell themselves “yeah you know ill be okay”. works and stories are kind if they can do a kindness of fortification and catharsis and comfort to those who read them  i think tabletop rpgs can be really good at telling that kind of story and that’s why ive been drawn to them for over five years on one hand they are by definition a collaboratively crafted story. you and your fellow players build something together and share in it and can sometimes work through stuff  (i.e. my first dnd character for working through feelings of inadequacy/being not enough/ being too dumpy) but its also the case that like, because a lot of rpgs follow the structure of “these people coming together and being pulled into a shared narrative” they can be REALLY good for telling a story about a hurt and hurting group of people with their own baggage looking to find healing and hope and a happy ending and often finding that ending or at least support on their journey to that ending in each other  i think the best shadowrun, d&d / pathfinder/ dungeon world/ any-other-murderhobo-game, and also monsterhearts are good at this kind of narrative  (monsterhearts is especially good for helping characters grow together and begin to put a name to their feelings and their identities) i liked taz because it was a piece of rpg media that took this concept to heart. taz ends with people coming together and rebuilding and getting their just rewards and it really hits close to home. it gets this softness and hopefulness in a way i was afraid as a fifteen year old rpg narriatives never would and that honestly caused me to be was told i was stupid/dumb/didn’t get it because i wanted that kind of narriative.  im so glad to have met so many people thatre super important to me through taz because it let me find other people who got that softness  its super cool that starfinder began on the same day taz ended esp because as soon as starfinder was announced i began working on a starfinder inspired oc project w/ a dear dear person i met through taz 

[lesbirdan]

I don't remember the name of your characters or the fallout games they are from but every fallout game has companions so tell me bout their relationship with them! And also their name of the char you'll choose so I will remember this time. :>

AAAA THANK U THIS IS THE PERFECT QUESTION

My Sole Survivor is named Crow! Or Buzzard, I started calling them Buzzard for distinction because I joined a discord where someone already had a well-known OC named Crow

The point is, when they came out of Vault 111, they were mostly nonverbal for a long time (due to trauma + freezer burn), so when Preston asked for their name, they pointed at the nearest bird, and it stuck.

I’ll just go down the companions in order of importance!!

speaking of Preston: Preston is the most important person to Crow. They rebuilt the Minutemen together; they met each other at their respective rock bottoms, and helped each other climb out of that pit together. Crow loves Preston’s compassion, hope, and determination; Preston loves Crow’s devotion, passion, and caring. Crow trusts him with their life, and does their best to make sure he can trust them with theirs – and with other things, like how he’s feeling, and work that needs doing around Sanctuary or the Castle.

Preston tried to stay out of the spotlight during the Minutemen’s resurrection, not wanting the pressure or responsibility of all those lives weighing on him again, but he was for all intents and purposes a General, and as a largely informal organization, the Minutemen didn’t put much stock on official titles anyway. His Generalship became official in name after retaking the Castle, both with his mental health in a much better place, and due to concerns about defectors from the old Minutemen trying to reclaim authority.

Generals Crow and Garvey are very married, and they place a lot of faith in each other. While circumstances often demand they be apart, they always look forward to seeing each other again.

that was really sappy wow. also, Piper: Piper is another important friend to Crow, though Crow didn’t quite know what to make of her at first – sensationalist fear-monger, or radical truth-teller? Piper did turn out to be the latter, though, and Crow greatly admires her bravery, resourcefulness, spirit, and comedic sense, while Piper likes Crow’s patience, kindness, loyalty, and dedication to justice. While originally dubious about the Minutemen thing, Crow and Preston’s perseverance and mounting success won her over; a couple of well-timed articles and a few words to Travis gained a lot of support for the fledgling cause.

Piper and Crow are also quite close. Piper helped relay messages and keep an eye on information during the mess with the Institute. She and Crow trust each other a great deal, and have a complicated mutual crush they worked out amicably (Crow didn’t want to risk their relationship with Preston); they still care about each other very deeply, and Piper and Preston are also good friends who trust each other, so things are good.

thats pretty gay. also, Nick: Nick Valentine is the third of Crow’s very important friends. (Preston is a friend, they’re just also married. You should be friends with someone you love.) Nick resonated with Crow’s selfless-bordering-on-self-destructive tendencies; they share a feeling of being out-of-place, though they both have less than pleasant memories of the old world. Nick offered them help with a cause they didn’t really believe they could pull through; he accompanied them on the mission into the Glowing Sea, being safe from the radiation. Crow has faith in Nick as his own person, and a real person, regardless of his nature as flesh-and-blood or not. That means a lot to him.

Hancock: Crow sometimes doesn’t know what to make of Hancock, but in general they like him a lot, though. He’s blunt, honest, and straightforward about his intentions, which they appreciate greatly. He wants people to have safety and freedom, which they value a lot. The Minutemen cooperated closely with Goodneighbor and the Railroad during the Institute fiasco, and Hancock maintains a friendly professional relationship with Generals Crow and Garvey, but you couldn’t pay Crow to move to Goodneighbor.

X6-88: Crow has complicated feelings about X6-88. On the one hand, they appreciate his honesty, dry humor, and exacting efficiency a lot. On the other, it’s hard to like someone who keeps talking about how disgusting your home and your friends are. The Institute is bullshit, though, and Crow is trying to pry at the chinks in X6-88′s convictions; he is a person, and not one they’re willing to leave behind. They worry a lot, though, about pushing things too far, and losing his respect; or pushing too far in the other direction, with the Director’s authority they didn’t ask for, and trampling boundaries.

They develop a stronger relationship after the Institute is destroyed, although X6-88 gets to be closer with Preston than he does with Crow.

Curie is a good friend to Crow, although she remains in her Nurse Handy chassis. Crow refused to go through with a plan that would so badly hurt their friend and comrade Glory, which Glory clearly didn’t want to and would regret. Nonetheless, Crow encourages and engages with Curie’s scientific pursuits. Curie accompanies them into the Glowing Sea, alongside Nick.

Deacon is Preston and Crow’s comrade in the Railroad, and that’s about it. Neither of them appreciates his snideness about the Minutemen. Crow is strongly offput by his lying and sarcastic nature, while Deacon thinks they’re too straightforward and not cunning enough. Sure, it’s mostly harmless, but they don’t know what to make of him, and they can’t trust anything he tells them, which is stressful.

Dogmeat is a good good good good boy, yes he is.

Crow doesn’t recruit Danse or Maccready – they refuse to join the Brotherhood of Steel, and they have no reason to hire a mercenary nor desire to interact with anyone affiliated, however distantly, with the Gunners. They also don’t interact much with Cait or Strong.

(That’s about it, for companion relationships.)

Bonus though bc I love them and they’re important:

Sturges: A trusted friend. Finding out he’s a synth did not sway Crow’s opinion on him: he’s worked to protect and rebuild Sanctuary, and he’s part of their family. It does explain how he’s so God Damn Tall. Sturges is sturdy, a stable, amiable temperament, and he serves as a ground for Preston and Crow, who are both prone to anxiety spikes and freezing up.

Marcy Long: Crow isn’t sure Marcy would count them as a friend, but they care about her a lot. They want her to be okay, but don’t know how to approach her prickliness, so they try to avoid her bad moods and encourage her good ones. They were scavenging partners in the early days at Sanctuary. Marcy is good with animals, as is Crow, and they bonded over that, as well as a shared hatred of raiders and those who are needlessly cruel.

Jun Long: Crow really, really cares about Jun. He’s a good, kind, soft-tempered man, and he and Marcy love each other a lot. Crow and Jun share a kind of loss they both feel deeply, and they help each other get through it, pushing each other to escape the kind of suffocating grief it’s easy to fall into. They work on Sanctuary’s gardens together. That helps.

Mama Murphy: Grandma. Crow trusts Mama Murphy implicitly, and cares about her deeply. She was one of the first to accept Crow into the group of Quincy survivors, not just as a tacked-on pair of hands but as a family member. Crow values her wisdom, knowledge, and storytelling immensely, and tries their best to make sure she can live comfortably – she deserves it.

Crow has a very big gay crush on Glory. Also Dr. Amari, also kinda Desdemona, also Magnolia, also … Crow is just a Big Ol Gay