#this was a BEAST to write good GOD

[antigonesghosts]

What I loved about Cinderella's Castle is it is so entirely about Ella. We know starkid can handle a show with tons and tons of characters but I found it quite refreshing for it to be so wholly her story? I think it was a lovely choice for this show and man Bryce did such a perfect job of it, she is truly such a star

[bogkeep]

saw some lego dinosaurs today :3

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

strangling my past self How Did You Write Reasonably Sized Fics So Easily

[shannonsketches]

I saw discourse so this is the reminder to the class that I think the lore would be 1000000x better if Hylia was a magnificent terrifying red bird god and Demise was a ghibli style angry boar god horror show and neither of them looked humanesque at all thank you

[zukkaoru]

the disparity in kudos between a skk fic and a fic for literally any other bsd characters/ship :/

[whinlatter]

reading | listening | writing | summer '23

sulking in bed with tonsillitis - never had it before, thought i was built different, crushed to discover i am, in fact, built the same (sickly). so thought was overdue a share of some of the fics i have loved that i've read these past few months (even though my TBR remains colossal), as well as some tune/travel updates, a lil writing check in, and a lil sneak peek of chapter eight of Beasts because the ex boyfriends are back, baby!!!

Reading

Bookbinding by @saintsenara (Myrtle/Tom Riddle, AU, 35k, multi-chapter, completed)

look. this is how it's going to go. i'm going to say myrtle/tom riddle AU, you're going to say 'are you right in the head you're a canon compliant girlie kindly get a grip on yourself'. but then you're going to click the link, and read it, and then you'll be chuckling and filled with boundless delight and want to read this stonkingly well-written properly funny rich magical little fic all over again as soon as you've finished and you'll have me to thank for it. it's a rom-com, people. dare you not to be enchanted. their ship name is literally tyrtle? the tag is 'she said: I can fix him! and she's right'. (and then you're going to read this hinny one, also by @saintsenara as a gift to me as a delectable chaser and lose your mind!)

everything i am is yours by @brightlybound (Hinny, AU, 4k, oneshot)

remember when i was like, AUs, not my bag! and then i read a load of AUs and realised i was talking out of my arse? weird. anyway, here is a lovely little hinny AU that i've gone back to a bunch because it's just really beautifully written and deeply charming and actually does something a lot of muggle AUs don't always do, which is play with harry's characterisation ever so deftly to say, hey, harry is harry, but if nothing bad had happened to him and james and lily lived, he'd be a little bit different, wouldn't he? this harry is our harry, but he's just that bit more confident, that bit more capable of digging an active flirt out of his back pocket. and that makes me happy!

The Last Something That Meant Anything by anonymous (Percy POV, Percy/Audrey and Percy/Oliver, short multichapter, 21k, completed)

i have a lot of percy thoughts these days. fanon percy, steeped in weasley bashing, doesn't do very much for me, so i really loved this belter of a percy character study that considers him both within and apart from his family in a way that attends to his trauma and inner life, but also shows the truth: he's not doing well, he does fuck up with a big moral lapse, and then he has work to do - interesting, deep, personal work - to make it right. please check the tags with this one, as it does contain reference to SA, but really do recommend a read if you feel able.

haunted mansion by @bronzeagepizzeria (Sirius-POV, 1.5k, oneshot)

this brilliant short fic really left me with so many sirius feelings: it just gets the claustrophobia and the grief of sirius' last year alive exactly right, and it just has these fabulous cameos that have detonated a thousand deep sirius thought bombs in my head forever. l o v e d it

perpendicular by akissinacrisis (Hinny, AU, 4.5k, oneshot)

harry/ginny AU, where harry goes to stonewall high and meets ginny at a party. it's so tender and beautiful and stiff and sad and understated, and it's really stayed with me. also it does what all good hinny fics must do (have them chatting. just talking, hanging out, shooting the shit together. they just love to chat, those two lil magnets snapping to each other).

empire builders by she-crow (Prongsfoot, possibly canon-compliant but technically AU I guess, 25k oneshot)

i read this laid out beside a lake and needed at least four more days of lying by a lake to think about it. it's a) one of the most beautiful fics i've ever read b) rip your heart out and staple it heart-wrenching and good and c) some of the best sirius and james characterisations i've read that really serves as a manifesto for playing around with marauders multiships to really different characters in such different lights. the other beauty of it is that it could be canon-compliant? like it could be read as a fabulous doomed tragic love affair between two boys completely infatuated with each other and not sure where to put it. and i think that's kind of gorgeous. so yeah uhh big fan

Notes from the Ravenclaw Bulletin Board by lostrobin (Gen, 11k, completed)

this is a fic told through (very funny) little notes on the ravenclaw bulletin board. been thinking a lot about different house dynamics atm and this a) made me laugh out loud and b) really think, you know who is really sound? those ravenclaw kids. love those bookworms. the crookshanks and fred and george cameos really make this, too. you'll zip through it and you'll giggle. there's nothing more to it!

Listening (while out and about)

i listened to things like this:

pink light by muna (saw em live, lost my mind!) | space invader by the national (anthemic) | mountain by the joy (they're too good) | the greater wings (album) by julie byrne (literally stunning) | gorilla by lil simz (best beanie man sample of all time?)

Writing

other than this birthday microfic for mr potter, a bit of tinkering and dawdling with other misc projects that i pick up and put down over and over again, and my usual meta nonsense, i've just been writing Beasts! put four chapters out since last check-in, and am hard at work on chapter eight, which has some of my favourite scenes in the fic so far. we're gearing up for some chapters away from the castle (writing the winter break chapters in august. what am i like!) and some scenes i've been sat on for ages and some others that i'm having so so so much fun writing. i'm a michael corner stan now? who knew?

She lugs the trunk off the bus at the final stop and traipses around the warren of streets in Soho for a while, looking for the address written on the piece of parchment clutched in her hand. Finally, she finds the building, battered door with the doorbell hanging half off, and stands awkwardly in the street, catching her breath, until the machine crackles and a familiar deep voice says: ‘Hello?’ 'Hi, it’s me.’ She clears her throat. ‘It’s Ginny, I mean.’  ‘Oh, hi. Come on up.’  The hallway has an unmistakably damp, squat-like feel about it. Loud laughter spills out of the flat on the first floor, and a group of uni students, squabbling amicably among themselves, parade past her on the second floor staircase as she rings the doorbell and loiters in the corridor, feeling hopelessly out of place. ‘Your hair’s so nice!’ one girl with thick black boots and a face full of piercings says admiringly as she passes by, just as the door to the flat swings open.  ‘Oh, good, you found it. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to.’ ‘Why wouldn’t I be able to?’ Michael rolls his eyes. ‘You know, Ginny, seen as it's Christmas, maybe we could try not to argue before you’ve even set foot in my flat.'

okay, one more 🕺

THE BOYS OF 12 GRIMMAULD PLACE INVITE YOU TO  THE NEW YEAR’S PARTY OF THE CENTURY Eight til late, BYOB because we’re skint THE THEME: ‘MUGGLE MAGIC’ (BRING OUT THE MUGGLE IN YOU -  BECAUSE MUGGLES ARE MAGIC, TOO!)

[lizardkingeliot]

going back and forth between writing queliot and loustat is a wild fucking ride you guys lmao

[summertimemusician]

Linktober Shadow Day 5

Master Kohga

*slams this down* LATE AND WITH ONE HECK OF A HEADACHE BUT I MADE IT!

Also I feel like we also need to talk about that the reason the Yiga are such doofuses usually is because they're riding the high of a full 100 years victory, and that after getting throughly kicked in the ribs they're probably gonna commit more crimes and probably return to their even more brutal roots actually, Kogah probably being the most likely one to shift to that first.

This goes out to you Warriors fans and simps, because ooh boy is he a delight to write, I think the duality of his name and status as a soldier is neat even if he's not my favorite Link.

Though the regular Linktober one will have to wait after I'm a bit more rested though so either later today or tomorrow, sorry folks.

Also uh warnings ahead?

TW:

Some descriptions of violence, specifically wrist targeted violence, kidnapping, and Reader going a little feral in defense of Warriors, nothing too big, but as this is coming from a horror fan I advise anyone who is squeamish to skip this one.

On a scale of one to ten of intimidation wrought by enemies of the Chain has faced, you’re pretty sure Kohga and the Yiga wouldn’t make even a negative ten on a normal day.

You’re not sure if it’s due to Wild’s most blase attitude about having a literal clan of traitorous, murderous Sheikah at him, a mix of bafflingly phlegmatic and elated with amused delight when talking about schemes you’d more associate to slapstick comedy than anything, the way you’ve seen any Yiga members dive for any throw bananas like a starving Wolfos pack on a lone Stalfos even if there was a cliff right in front of them with even more single minded determination than what was given to their mission, the way he’d refer to them as “Look they’re technically insane menaces to polite society out for mine and Flora’s blood, but they’re our technically insane menaces to polite society out for our blood” with a mix of bemusement and amusement or a mix of all three but according to the resident cook they truly weren’t a threat compared to, say, the cultists of Hyrule’s time whose sole goal wasn’t even to kill him but simply make him bleed, or Majora whom indirectly inflicted endless torture on Time, or Demise who literally started the cycle all of your heroes inevitably went through (because you could never blame Sky, none of you would even if it took shaking the notion into his thick skull). And they’ve apparently gone even more docile and to ground after Wild had defeated their master.

“And THEN he apparently has the nerve to go through our base and raid our banana supply! The nerve of that pesky, insistently annoying pest- Hey, are you even listening?” The sudden call made you jump, hissing as your wrist restraints dug into your skin, because apparently shackles with spikes on the inside of them are a thing and you very much would not have liked the approximate feeling of barbed wire wedged into your skin, biting into your flesh with all the viciousness and brutality that ensured you wouldn’t move your hands without feeling agony, the tone indignant as the presumably dead man stomped his foot nearby, “This is serious! First he peels me and my clan members like a banana, greatly exaggerates the rumor of my death and then THIS?!”

You school your features, trying really, really hard not to act out again as it comes down dangerously close onto Warrior’s unconscious head. Nodding along with the seriousness and solemnity worthy of a funeral, “Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Such disrespect, at least you guys didn’t exaggerate about his death. And you’re supposed to be the bad guys here?”

(Well, more like you couldn’t move, really, funny thing about spikes on one’s skin and having one of your legs broken to the point glancing at exposed bone makes you want to dry heave at the gory sight, it.is.agony. Funny, how pain is an effective restraint in keeping people pinned down better than any arrow.)

You quickly revised your opinion and reassess the threat given the situation you're in now, as after your patrol on Wild’s Hyrule with Warriors you’d gotten ambushed and kidnapped through a mix of a double Silver Lynel ambush and sheer element of the surprise as bait, Warriors going down protecting you with all of the ferocity of his namesake, and choosing to risk getting a little roughed up over being separated from him.

You’re quite proud of yourself really, what with the way that you almost fully tore a chunk out of a Blademaster’s throat with your teeth and before they gave up, leg broken and with the spikes on your wrist as you woke up first with the fury of Volvagia’s fire scorching your veins, overwhelming the icy chill of terror in your veins and only instinct driving you because who knows what they’d done to him. Worth it. You wouldn’t forgive yourself if you let something happen to your favorite soldier boy. At least now you’re both in the same place, even if it’s with the man running the doomsday show himself.

“I know right?! Once I get my hands on that little nuisance, I am going to kill him dead!”

It’s a bit of a pity, in a way. You’re sure that under better circumstances you’d be as amused as Wild by him and he’d be a lovely conversation partner, you doubt the Yiga would follow him if he wasn’t charismatic after all, like watching a wet cat get their head stuck in a jar you had to admit watching the man struggle and fail was just a bit hilarious.

Alas by the whims of the gods spinning the wheel of fate and making it be fully comprised of misfortune to the point you really would like to have a nice chat involving your fists and their faces and maybe one foot straight up Hylia's gash, twas not to be, but it works in your favor. You just needed to stall for as long as you could until Warriors woke up or had an opening stop feigning sleep, either works.

“I just had a thought, a truly magnificent idea worthy of someone as worthy of being the Calamity’s most trusted champion! You travel with that twerp and his companions don’t you?”, the man stilled, then swerved towards you, you contained a flinch in a sudden movement, just on the edge of cartoony, adamantly looking over his shoulder rather than the twisted, crimson eye of the cold mask of the leader of the people who joked about keeping one of Warriors’ eyes as a necklace for it worked just as well as gem, “You could work for us instead, we’d pay you quite well for the information.”

Adamantly trying not to look at Warrior’s behind him, you hummed, head tilted, pretending to think about it, then shrugging, “Eh, I’ll pass. You Yiga don’t take well to traitors no?”

The man crossed his arms, adamantly nodding, “Of course not! Any and all who forsake our god should be slowly watch as their body parts are fed to Moldugas while they’re still alive!”

Cool, cool, lovely imagery to have, you were going to have one serious talk with Wild about proper threat assement once you’re back in camp by the way. You smile a bit back, remembering Warrior’s and using it as a reason to force a grimace away. Of the way he could charm better than any prince, making people fall in love with him effortlessly for better or worse and how you or Legend would viciously defend him from the worse crowd even if it gave you both Time’s exasperation (and grief from the other Links, who are all menaces whom you wished were less perceptive at times). Of the way he amusedly shared with you he main advantage was that no one could ever tell wether he was being friendly or baring his teeth, and how he slowly let you notice wether the curve was sharp or soft as you got closer. Making a point of showing your bloody, bloody teeth from both the Blademaster and which dripped down your head from one heck of a Lynel kick, you did not have Warriors natural charisma but you’d make do with your mediocre charm. “Well, I’m not in the habit of liking traitors much either you see. Sorry to let you down on that, plus if I can turn on them I can turn on you right? Better we skip that, I can give you a banana cake and banana pretzel recipe from where I’m from as compensation though?”

(You did not, in fact, know a recipe for banana cakes and pretzels by the way, but at this point you'll say anything just to buy you more time. Nothing like the age old ancient technique of lying. Wars would be proud his lessons came in handy.)

To his credit, he didn’t flinch. You’d actually be a bit shocked if he did given his clans entire gimmick to be fair. Sliding away from Warrior’s prone form and towards the one actually open door, keeping his back to the soldier, although his attention immediately focused on you like a Guardians aim, completely missing the light twitch to Warriors’ fingers you could spot in the dim torch light, “Fair enough, though you’re missing out on a lot if you ask me. Now! Banana cake you say? Might you be a person of culture after all even with an horrendous choice of company?”

Would you look at that, looking like a horror show does have it’s advantages!

“I mean I’d write it down but you know,”, you make a vague motion with your wrists, wincing a bit at the spikes, those would be a pain to get out later, you’d much have preferred ropes or chains, “But if you get some paper or get me to a kitchen I can direct your folks how to make it? You’d be the first to get a taste of it if you’re there too.”

He hums, pacing back and forth, Warriors eyes lightly crack open, the sapphire clouding with shock at your state, you can’t look at him long enough to figure out the ensuing combination of emotions, flashing, but you do see when the gems are forged into cobalt blades, you quickly mouth to him ‘Get free’ as soon as Kohga isn’t looking at you, he closes his eyes as Kohga turns towards him and nods. Though the Poe flame azure of his gaze could have probably killed the leader of the Yiga ten times over as he addresses you, “You’re an awfully generous hostage aren’t you? Though I like the way you think.”

You shrug, “I mean I’m not being manhandled, plus I’m bored so why not make some good food to kill time?”

You can see him weight his options, unnervingly staring at you beneath the mask. You adamantly don’t look at Warriors’ as he slides his boot very lightly against the wall, a small blade springing from the small compartment, thanking the Three the Yiga didn’t check either of your shoes as he twists around as silently as he can manage to cut himself free as Kogah nods, “Anyone with an appreciation for bananas should be allowed to share their wisdom, can you walk?”

You give him a flat look, you think Warriors bites his tongue to keep from making an equally indignant sound as Kohga seems to have the dots, awkwardly coughing, “That was a retorical question of course you can’t! I shall however extend you my benevolence, and call on my subordinates to carry you-“

He doesn’t even get to finish his sentence when Warriors pounces with a snarl, you lurch back, hissing as the spikes make your wrists bleed and chocking down a shout at the pain that crawls through your leg like lightning, but it’s enough.

Warriors wraps the remains of his rope around the Yiga Clan Leader’s throat in a makeshift garrote, and make sure to use his momentum to slam his head against the cold, hard ground of the hideout, doing it again for good measure with all of the strength and ferocity you knew for a fact he kept as well sheathed as a hidden blade.

It all took but a second, he didn’t even scream. You doubt that killed him, but he isn’t getting back up any time soon.

You slump over, coughing blood from your mouth, it wouldn't help much but it was a start, “Welcome back to the land of the living, Wars.”

He rushes towards you as soon as he finishes tying Kohga up with the remnants of his own rope, gently wiping the blood from your sight, he was battered and bruised but the most beautiful thing you’ve seen in your life as he checked you over, and you couldn’t help but lean into his touch, relief ringing like a sword being sheathed, it would be alright. “Can’t say I’m happy to be fashionably late this time. What did they do to you?”

“Hey, none of that,” you gently touch your foreheads together, you smile, tasting rust on your lips though Warriors doesn’t mind as you lightly try to take his mind out of it, “You should see the other guy.”

He sighs, fondly exasperated as he shakes his head, you consider the quirk of his lips a win even as he pauses over your wrists, eyes flashing with rage before focusing on your leg, “I’m sure, that was a killer performance. Maybe after all this is over you should take up acting back home.”

You snort, “I mean I did learn from the best-“

it distracts you long enough for him to snap your leg back into place. And all you know is that you with pain, ripping through your throat as you finally, finally, feel safe enough to pass out.

(Warriors winces sympathetically, heart breaking a little at your pain but knowing it was the only way you wouldn’t focus on it, better than for . Holding you close and allowing you to muffle your scream into his shoulder as he wraps your leg in his scarf, guilty and fury carefully hidden behind the soldier mask, knowing that the only thing that would satisfy the flames of retribution in his chest would be to use the Yiga as kindling until they eventually burned the remnants of protective rage all away to ash.

But he could make do with taking you as gently as he could as you pass out in his arms, resolve himself to get the contraption on your wrists out as soon as you were both back at camp. And to kicking Kogah on the way out. It's not nearly enough but it's a start.

You protected him as best as you could, it’s his turn to return the favor as he can as well. Anything else can come later.)

[oozeandgoo-art]

stupid asshole who lives in my brain

[deadlifeseries]

How to move on

This one is reaaaaallly angsty.

Inspired by this post by my lovely mutual @featherglum i give you: post-cannon ficlet where Bulkhead tries to cope ith Prowl's death with a side of paranormal activity.

This one might need some content warnings: vague references to suicide statistics and suicidal thougths (not sure how to formulate this one), major character death (duh)

They all knew that something like this could happen.

As much as they wanted to push it down and not think about it they all knew that any battle could be their last.

And while their victories quelled some of that anxiety it still crept in at night when they tried to sleep. When they felt the dull aching from injuries they suffered.

It was like a looming shadow, like the grim reaper's scythe was always just an inch away from their necks.

But this knowledge didn't make it any easier to cope when the worst really came to pass. Seeing Prowl's lifeless body cut deep, it made what should be a massive victory feel like a loss.

It made the journey back to Cybertron quiet and gloomy, everyone was trying to cope with the reality of what happened. Knowing that Prowl was dead, that his sparkless shell was laying tucked away on the ship and would remain there until they arrive on Cybertron haunted everyone.

Of course it was hard for everyone. Prowl was their friend, their family... but it was clear who took it the hardest. Bulkhead, his conjunx.

It was hard to navigate. They wanted to give Bulkhead space to mourn, but at the same time they all knew how often a bot who recently lost their conjunx would decide to join them. So they would take turns checking up on him. Making sure he's eaten even a little bit, making sure he at least tried to get some sleep, or simply sitting with him for a little while.

It didn't get any easier once they got to Cybertron, either. Having to deal with the attention from having beaten Megatron, Prowl's funeral, a whole lot of questioning from the elite guard, and of course they acted like noting was wrong but it all felt so hollow. It didn't feel right that Prowl wasn't there with them.

It also didn't help that Bulkhead was consulted for how Prowl's funeral should be. It only made sense that they's ask him but Bulkhead's state of mind made him unable to contribute much, so he went along with what the cyberninja corps suggested with a few things he insisted on. Like keeping Prowl's weapons as a memento, he was allowed that.

The next few days felt empty, it was like Cybertron wasn't home anymore. Optimus came to Bulkhead one day and said something is happening on earth and aksed if he wants to come with. With nothing else to do he accepted the offer.

It was nice to get back, even if it was only because he could find somewhere quiet. Walking through the old base felt foreign, everything was untouched, exactly where it was all left. He didn't dare to enter Prowl's room. Part of him hoped, clung to the thought that maybe everything that had happened was just a weird dream. That if he entered that room he's see Prowl meditating under the tree and he'd look up and smile. But that wouldn't happen. Prowl was gone, and as much as Bulkhead ached to be together again he knew it was no use.

He tried to distract himself, everything from painting to walking through the woods. But everyhting just made him think of Prowl. He went out and ended up on a forest path that Prowl had shown him. It was almost like he could feel Prowl next to him, talking about the different things around them. That walk ended up with Bulkhead sitting and sobbing for a little while.

As days went on a lot of the intense emotion mellowed out just a little bit. What first felt like half of his spark getting violently ripped out became a dull aching. But the longing for having Prowl close to him once again was only growing stronger.

One particular night the longing grew so extremley strong that he didn't know what else to do. So he went to Prowl's room.

It was exactly like how he remembered. The tree, the poster, the paintings and other things that Bulkhead made for Prowl. He looked at the leaves all over the floor, Prowl always made sure to keep the floor clean. To have something to do Bulkhead picked up a broom and began cleaning up the leaves and swept them up neatly against the base of the tree the way Prowl always would.

He sat down near the tree and sighed deeply, looking blankly up at the leaves on the tree. It was sombre, the setting sun painted the sky in warm shades of yellow and red, with the clouds looking pink and fluffy. It was a beautiful sight, it was almost comforting. Bulkhead sighed and closed his eyes, he began humming.

After a few moments he thought he could hear Prow's voice next to him. Bulkhead opened his eyes again and looked down.

It was Prowl, or at least an apparition of him. He looked up at Bulkhead and smiled. It was too good to be true but there he was.

"P-Prowl?" Bulkhead's voice was barely above a whisper, like anything even slightly louder would make this moment end.

Prowl stood up, it was en effortless and smooth motion like there was no gravity. He stood up and reached out a hand, gently carresing Bulkhead's face.

"Yes, it's me" his voice was filled with a warmth that made the sunset behind him seem bland, "I'm... I'm so sorry.... I didn't want to leave you like this". The edges of Prowl's visor were tilted down, his voice held such chilling sorrow.

"I miss you... I... don't know what to do" Bulkhead leaned into Prowl's touch, he wanted to keep his composure, but he couldn't keep his voice from shaking, "I just want to be with you again".

"i know, I want to be with you, too" Prowl was floating, and he leaned in close to Bulkhead, "but, please... don't rush to join me. I want you to live, for as long as possible".

Bulkhead was losing his composure more by the moment, small tears apprearing in the corners of his eyes. "But... I can't live without you" his voice was quiet and pleading.

Prowl wrapped his arms around his neck and continued speaking softly, "I know that it's hard, but i know that you can do this. You're strong, and I will patiently wait for you no matter how long it takes".

It had been so long, too long since the last time they sat together like this and getting to feel it again broke whatever facade Bulkhead was trying to uphold. It started with a small tremble, then his breath hitced in his throat and he broke down sobbing. "It's not fair.... it's not fair.... it hurts... why does it have to hurt so bad? Why couldn't we just be together?".

Prowl did his best to console him, but nothing changed the reality that he couldn't do anything. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... please forgive me...". Prowl knew that there was no other way, no matter how much he wished that there was. So he sat there with Bulkhead, listening to him, doing his best to comfort his conjunx until the sobbing subsided.

"Please... I want you to keep living. Can't you do it... for me?" Prowl leaned back to look at Bulkhead "I will wait for you, for all eternety if that's what it takes", he gently wipes his love's tears away.

Bulkhead sighs and nods, "I'll... do it, for you" he looks at Prowl, the apparition slowly fading, he leans in for one last kiss. It feels warm, like nothing ever happened. And with it it's like a piece of himself that Bulkhead had lost was restored.

He opened his eyes again, looking towards the now darker sky. It was still painted in reds and pinks, but the mood in the room had shifted. The once melancholy mood had become lighter, and while being in Prowl's room knowing that it no longer had its occupant was still saddening, getting to hear Prowl's final wish for him made Bulkhead think of all the things he had to do. He still had people who cared about him, he still wanted to do so many things, and he would do all of them for Prowl.

An he stood up and left Prowl's room he looked twards an empty canvas, it was left untouched since the day he set it up before they had their final battle against megatron. He sat down and started painting, it was a scene of a vibrant sunset with the sihluette of a certain someone sitting in the horizon. He signed the painting and wrote "I promise" on the back.

He hung the painting up in Prowl's room, and whenever the feelings of sorrow and loss became too much to bear he'd come and look at the painting. It was a reminder to the promise he made, he would live his life to the fullest and he knew that Prowl would be waiting for him on the other side.

[khruschevshoe]

My Hot-Take/Controversial Ranking of Doctor Who Seasons (excluding specials bc my special order is really unhinged)

3 > 1 > 10 > 4 > 5 > 8 > 11 > 12 > 9 > 7b > 2 > 6 > 13 = 7a

Disclaimer: I have favorite episodes that come from every single season on this list, including 7a. For example, even though Season 6 is low on the list, the God Complex, Almost People/Rebel Flesh, and Impossible Astronaut are some of my favorite of the show. I do really love the Power of Three. These are based on season arc/average feeling per episode/rewatchability on a subjective level.

[ganseylike]

ok goodnight this one is not anywhere close to done yet but's it's two am.

[azuremliam]

More writing for this and art underneath the readmore! Not very descriptive, but heads up Scarab fries the bird. And then deals with fixing Liam's dislocated arm (blood stained armor) + helps calm Finn down. This leads to Scarab accepting that Liam is his friend.

Scarab could hear Finn and Jake screaming from their hiding place under the thick foliage the moment he stepped through the portal.

And then felt a rush of dread and rage at the sight before him.

Liam was getting crushed into the muddy earth by giant talons, their arm mangled and bloodied, twisted in a way that made his carapace rattle with rage. The Beast tormenting them leaning over, readying up to take a bite.

His grip on his crystal tightened and he immediately took aim at the wretched thing. The plates of his mask separated and he snarled, teeth bared, "Get off of them!"

The "small" bird Beast paid his sudden appearance and outburst no mind- its teethed beak beginning to lift a now quite Liam's arm up. That is until the crystalline powered beam of energy hit its eyes!

The wren squawked and stepped off of Liam in a brief panic, the stench of burnt feathers filling the air to his spiteful delight.

Its attention now completely focused on the new threat toward it's hunt- but Scarab wasn't letting up.

His previous encounter with that gigantic mutated woodpecker taught him to not give these creatures any respite.

As the birds wings flapped to right itself, it was met with another blast of light to its underside, again, and again!

Scarab could hear Liam's brothers shout something to him, but his ire had him deaf to their cries. Instead, storming his way to the squawking, pitiful, smouldering Beast writhing on the ground.

He dug his foot into charred feathers as he climbed atop it, the Beast weakly snapping at him in distress.

He simply narrowed his eyes and glared down at it with complete disdain.

How dare this creature have the absurd audacity to think it could harm him- and to have injured the one he was charged to protect!

The crystal hummed as Scarab began to charge it up to its full potential.

How dare this damned Beast hurt his friend.

'...Wait, what? Friend?'

A close nip at his legs had him shake the thought from his head. That wasn't important , he'd deal with that thought later. For now, this was about enough of this creature's gall he could stand. "Good riddance."

The crystal's charge blasted forward, the force of it making his arm recoil back, the bright ray of light engulfing the Beast's head and it fell back to the floor with a loud thump. Underneath him he felt it twitch a few times... and suddenly still.

'Finally', he growled and kicked off of it, landing closer to where Finn and Jake were huddled around Liam. His anger was quickly replaced with worry as he rushed over to them.

Glancing over the two brothers, he was relieve to see that they were more or less fine. Finn was a mess of tears and boogers. His eyes were red and his leather armor had signs of being tossed about and slightly torn. Jake's shell was scratched up a bit, but other wise nothing a few days of rest couldn't fix for the both of them.

Liam on the other hand...

Scarab grimaced. Their carapace armor had impressive dents on the chest plate and a small cut on their forehead. Despite being crushed under the Beast's foot, their armor and mud appeared to had saved them from further damage thanks to how soft it was. They were simply shoved into the earth and didn't take too much of the brunt of the weight.

But that all paled in comparison to the state of their bloodied right arm. He needed to get to mending them right away.

The only relief he had was the fact they were still breathing, but their face was slightly pale and the cut on their head had him worry if they potentially had a concussion .

"What happened?"

Jake and Finn both started at the same time-

"We were with scouts and- "

"-the caravan we were with had to escape-"

"-Liam distracted it-"

"-and it tired to grab Finn and, and-"

His extra arms formed out of his carapace to grab the two's shoulders. Jake quieted down, but Finn was still breathing hard. He let of Jake, but still held onto Finn as he set about carefully removing Liam's vambrace. "Deep breaths, copy me-"

Finn was thankfully, getting calmer with each round of the breathing exercise. And with Jake now by his side, Scarab was relieved to see the boy begin to fall asleep. He didn't need the young human worrying more about what he had to do to help Liam.

The counting and breathing honestly had helped him recollect his thoughts too.

Now he could get to the literal meat of things.

Scarab set the crystal sap bottle down and rolled up Liam's sleeve, silently thanking Glob they favored that baggy clothing of theirs, and gauged the situation of their arm.

The blood made things look worse than it seemed. Still, there were deep punctures where the Beast had sunk its teeth into their arm, the unfortunate spots not covered by their gear. Besides the bite, it appeared to be dislocated at the shoulder as well. He grumbled, he'd have to set that back into place before he used the sap- otherwise it could fuse itself awkwardly.

'Aaugh,' he hated how his insides turned at the state of Liam unconscious and bleeding. “Jake, while I'm tending to them, calmly now, tell me what exactly happened while I was away.”

Jake leaned a now sleeping Finn onto his side, his antennae swaying, “Well... Um. After you left to go do your report, Li got an urgent package delivery requested to them. So we did what we always did and joined a scout and caravan group to go about our usual pathways-”

He paused and winced as he watched Scarab grab at Liam's wrist and guided it straight out to their side. “Everything...everything was fine at first- the scouts had done their survey work for the past two weeks down this path, so we expected no Beasts to interfere.”

Jake paused again, now confused as Scarab moved their arm in a small slow circular motion, as if he was shaking their hand. “Continue.”

“O-oh right. So we were halfway on our route when one of the Scouts spotted it flying above us. So we all went into cover of the underbrush. But I guess it spotted the Caravan before they could completely reach cover and dived down at us.”

Scarab angled Liam's arm again and repeated the motion. “Me and Liam ran out of cover to distract it so the caravan could make its way back to the hive- and we had left Finn with the three scouts just in case- and we were handling taking turns distracting the big jerk pretty well, but...”

His antennae twitched when he heard Scarab making a clicking noise. “But what?”

“The Scouts figured it was a good idea to come out and try to help too- I mean one did fire off a flare so we'll be getting a Beast Rescue ride to the Hive we were planning to go to soon thankfully, but them doing that made roasty and toasty over their really irritated. It started pecking everything and anything.” Jake rubbed one of his arms. A habit Scarab noticed that Liam also tended to do when nervous.

“And it kinda, well, skewered and ate all three scouts. Then it was about to take a jab at Finn- he was trying to rush to me so I could grab him and we could buzz on outta here. Like how Liam always tells us to in situations like this. But we were too far a part and Liam was closer to him- and, and...”

“Liam got him out of the way and got plucked up instead, didn't they?”

Jake's antennae drooped. “Yeah.”

Had Scarab not gotten used to how Liam usually acted before hand, he would've cursed them out for playing hero. Granted...they had even more reason to, given that their own little brother's life was on the line. Had any of the three died while he was away...

That irritating feeling welled up inside of him again and he clicked in annoyance again.

Carefully, he moved their arm close to their head and rotated their arm once more. Ah, there, it sounded like it was back in place-

“Uugh.” Both of their attention went to Liam when they groaned, but still, they remained unconscious. He paused in his ministrations to look them over again, and sighed. Now it was time to deal with the cuts.

“It shook them by the arm for a while and then threw them at the ground. They're gonna wake up right, Scarab?”

Scarab bit back a growl. That stupid bird... “Yes. Speaking of that, I'm worried about them having a concussion. And their arm, it was dislocated-” He popped open the crystal bottle and let a small amount of sap ooze onto his hand. Just a bit should do wonders for them. “Where were headed, does it have a medical facility suited for humans?”

“Our aunt Abegail lives there. She's a human medical specialist, she'll be able to help.”

“Good.” Scarab massaged the sap into the wounds of their arm, Jake watching mesmerized as the sap cleared away the little remnants of mud and sealed up the cuts. Then, with a bit more care than he intended, caressed the remainder into the cut on their forehead.

Behind him, he heard Jake snicker. Scarab's hand twitched and he pulled away from Liam, choosing to ignore him.

Them moving around in their sleep could undo his work he did with their arm, it needed a sling. He thought of removing their belt, and his eye twitched. No. What else... ah. He hissed quietly and undid his tie. “You're in charge of carrying Finn. Now, where's Liam's pack?”

Jake looked confused at why he was removing his tie while he picked up a now snoring Finn. “Its right under those ferns over there.”

“I'll carry Liam,” This better not become a habit with them, getting injured and him having to pick up the pieces, “and their backpack.” Scarab wrapped the tie around their arm and neck, satisfied at the makeshift sling, and ignored Jakes, 'Oooh that's what you're doing' as he hefted Liam up.

Him carrying Liam like this was beginning to feel like deja vu.

He huffed. His...dare he admit it?

Scarab clicked his tongue again and tapped his foot.

They were, weren't they? He held Liam tighter to him, mindful of their arm.

His first friend and they were such a literal handful.

“We'll wait for the Beast Rescue team by their pack, come on then.”

Jake did his best impression of a smile at him, “Right!”

Them being his friend wasn't going to save them from the earful they were going to get once they properly recovered, however.

[shiroselia]

If anyone wonders how I'm doing, I'm starting to realise that I'm on the last stretch of writing QuintSum

Here's the current review:

I have 3 chapters left on the current arc (I should be able to get all of those done tomorrow, they're short and to the point)

Then I have One (1) long arc left, this is arc 9/12. It'll probably be somewhere between 14-24 chapters I have no idea. There's a lot to get through though, so it'll be Longer.

Then I have arc 10, which will be 7 chapters.

Then I have arc 11, which will Also be 7 chapters.

Then I'm writing the last arc.

Get ready fuckers, you never know when I might hit you with the Btw I finished QuintSum today the coming month(s).

[prophecydungeon]

unsurprisingly i am absolutely fucking enthralled by tucker going back to chorus to fix that particular paradox. this season did tucker right in so many ways, i'm sure people have done words about that better than i could, but specifically the way that it was tucker who had to go here was such a good choice.

i think, of all things, what really made it hit for me is when wash is rallying everyone over the radio and says "we can still do this!", and then tucker is the one that we hear say "no, you can't" in place of locus. all of this happens, tucker lets himself lose his friends, and then faces off against felix of all people -- and then felix and genkins are his audience (unwilling, uncomprehending, or otherwise) for a really fantastic character moment that honestly even without the horrid sting of 16 would have been great. sucks to lose, but it had to happen. that's war. not everyone makes it back.

and then genkins starts talking to tucker, and two things happen: genkins starts goading tucker, and tucker says out loud "[time won't crumble], because donut has a plan, and i'm sticking to it," and felix replies "wait, what?"

thing 1: genkins hits squarely on what might be lurking at the corners of tucker's mind. fuck it, what if i do kill felix? just this once? couldn't hurt, could it? and in all the ways that genkins has fucked with people and subsequently with time, this is one of my favorites. tucker feels so strongly about chorus. it's evident in what he says next! he knows that this is an instrumental part of who he is and who he's become, and he also knows that felix was the catalyst for so much pain -- not just his own, but his friends' and the rest of the planet's, too. i think tucker struggling with leadership is a great character choice for him and that 16 did it in literally the worst way possible, but 17 really, really soothed that sting with this.

i know that these are all moments that whatsherface had "scouted" for them as being important, and i can only assume that the crew's divide-and-conquer strategy involved them choosing who goes where when, so i love the idea that tucker chose this for himself. yes, i'm going to go back to the worst moment of my life. yes, i'm going to go face the person who hurt all my friends. yes, i'm going to listen to all of this bullshit that just hurt me more in the end. and i'm going to let it happen because it needs to happen, and because it made me into who i am now.

thing 2: to preface this, 11 is one of my favorite seasons of this show. i could write Big Words about why i love it so much. to pare all that down a bit, one of my favorite things about 11 is how much it works on a re-watch, when you Know about felix and locus and can go back to pick at the seams. this loop back to chorus did a great job of pulling back that curtain for us just a little further; as things shift within acceptable bounds of the paradox it's felix, this time, who takes advantage of the fray to shoot donut, and his dramatics feel both just right for the moment and incredibly transparent.

felix also, in this shift within acceptable bounds, repeatedly harps on what the fuck is wrong with cece/dos.0 because that's not part of his and locus's plan -- in 11 he's got, i think, two moments where he reacts to cece/dos.0 with genuine surprise, but i love the way it's played up here. he and locus choreographed everything ahead of time and when genkins fucks with that, the ripples really hit. felix's "wait, what?" after tucker goes off about donut's plan to seemingly-thin-air is, obviously, just flat-out confusing, but imo there's also real concern there: if tucker and donut, split apart like this, have some kind of plan, then there is something that he and locus did not account for in their choreography. (there's another essay to be written about felix, contrary to fanon, not actually being very impulsive, but rather extremely good at rolling with the punches; locus is way more impulsive than he is.)

anyways this was like a five-minute segment of the entire season and i am probably never going to shut up about it

[softersinned-arc]

hehe found my first writing for astoria 🥰