#tricky gambit

[ex35life]

I'm not super up to date on X-Men comics, but I had the release date for the new run of Uncanny X-Men on my calendar. I bought it yesterday, and I love it so far. Reading an X-Men story from Rogue's pov is so refreshing. The team will be made up of my very favorite X-Men (Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and I think Jubilee). There are some great moments between the characters and their different relationship dynamics.

Also, my pre-Columbian obsessed self seeing a Feathered Serpent hanging out in Teotihuacan sold me honestly.

[globalrebrand]

An Unexpected Evening

Warnings: Capitano x Reader, not sfw, mutual masturbation, slight coercion

A/N: A piece posted from my Ao3, a gift for @gojoidyll for their stubborn hearts series. Posted here after a request.

It had nearly been a month since your impromptu arranged marriage to Capitano. The first of the Lord Harbingers. He was a notoriously aloof and enigmatic figure, and thus far, married life had been far from standard. Not that it bothered you per se. You both agreed to have minimal expectations of one another. However, you weren’t entirely used to your independence being hampered by the proximity that marriage brought. You two now shared a home, a bed, and the occasional bath, and while you didn’t mind, sharing these important spaces made it difficult for you to have much-needed “me time,” especially in light of the fact you and your husband had yet to be intimate. 

It is late, and Capitano is in his office. You’d spent much of the afternoon helping to archive some older documents at his request, and while you were happy to help, you hadn’t been able to be very far from him since his return home last week. He’d often request your company for all manner of tasks and activities. It was evidence that your marriage was going far better than expected, considering it seemed that Capitano really enjoyed your presence or was putting in effort to acclimate to you, but all of this attention is also what has you feeling rather frustrated as of late. 

“Um, my lord. Is it alright if we sleep in separate quarters tonight?” It had taken you all night to gather the courage to make such a request, but you were pent up and desperate for release. 

“Why? Are you unwell?” Capitano's brows furrowed with concern as his hand came to his favorite perch on your chin, tilting your face this way and that as an impromptu medical examination. Gently, you gripped his wrist and pressed forward with your gambit. 

“No, I would. I just like a bit of alone time, just for this evening.”

Your husband's lips pursed. It was clear this was not an acceptable solution to him, so you offered a compromise.  

“I could even come back later in the night if that would be preferable.” 

Capitano's eyes narrowed, before a slight look of epiphany flashed across his features. “Wife, do you intend to touch yourself? 

“What! No, I-” You stuttered, embarrassed he would state things so plainly. Not that it was all too surprising based on what you knew of his character. 

“Do not lie to me. I am your husband, and you needn’t be coy with such matters.” He said sternly. Your eyes snapped to meet his gaze, knowing well that if you didn’t meet his eye, he would simply make you. 

“Yes.” You admitted, shoulders slumping with embarrassment but doing your best not to break eye contact. “I felt it would be rather inconsiderate to do so next to you while you slept.” That and you usually kept the light on to read whatever smut novel you liked from your collection. It was quite a challenge balancing a book, flipping pages while stimulating yourself, but you’d gotten the science down to an art. Capitano’s expression relaxes, and you feel a bit of hope that he’ll grant you what you desire. 

“Thank you for your consideration, wife.”

“Of course, I’ll be right back after-” You eagerly assure him, a light smile settling on your lips, but your excitement is interrupted, by your husband's thunderous voice. 

“You get ahead of yourself, wife.” He raises an eyebrow. “I will not permit you to sleep in the other chambers tonight.”

“Oh…alright.” You sigh. Perhaps he would at least allow you to bathe alone…balancing a book in the tub was tricky, but you’d managed before.

“But do not fret. You are permitted to masturbate in our shared quarters.” You cringe at his phrasing but continue on in desperate need of a bit of clarification on the logistics of exactly how you’ll get off…privately, of course. 

“…and where will you be, my lord?” You question.

“I shall be watching.” Capitano attempts to hide his grin as you gasp at his declaration, and the color drains from your face. 

“Oh no, that’s quite alright.” Touching your tender parts in front of your husband was out of the question. Besides a few kisses and bathing with each on the rare occasion he was home, you and Capitano were nowhere close to consummating your marriage as far as you were concerned, but even so, this ask to touch yourself, to bring yourself to completion in front of his steely eyes, felt like an even more intimate prospect than sex.

Capitano catches your flustered expression, eyes darting back and forth as his piercing stare silently demands your attention.

“While I am home, you will take your pleasure with me or not at all.” His countenance is stern. You instantly understand this is an important rule to follow if you want to stay in your husband's good graces. And to a certain point, you understand his perspective. He is seldom home, and to pleasure yourself without him would be cruel, but you had not yet broached actual intimacy…how would you manage such a task!?

“I promise it’s not an event that would be worth watching.” You try to insist. Eyes quietly pleading with him to just allow you to have your privacy. 

“I shall see for myself.” Capitano peered over your shoulder. “Are those your materials?’” He gestured to the book you had held behind you back. 

Your face threatened to burst into flames, but any further protest would likely only upset your husband, with your glance askance you quietly muttered “yes.”

“I can read it for you, so you may use both hands.”

“No, it’s ok!” You urge politely.

“Then you will read it aloud so I may hear what arouses you.” He suggests instead. 

Fuck. This was certainly not the anticipated or desired turn of events. 

The short novella you’d selected was an absolutely debauched tale about a menage-á-trois, where a married couple corrupts a young, innocent maiden who stays weekend at their country estate in Fontaine. Capitano would certainly think that you were a horribly lewd young woman if he heard this. 

“I’ll pick another selection-“ Capitano interrupts you by abruptly rising from his seat. 

“No, we’ve already wasted enough time on this matter tonight.” With that, Capitano grabbed your arm, his burly hand gently tugging you out of his office and up to your bedroom. If you didn’t know any better you would think he was rather eager to watch your toy with yourself—something you’d never done for an audience. 

Should you try to make it good for him? Being deliberately sexy was not something you were familiar with, any perceived sexiness in your past intimate encounters was just consequence of your desperate arousal. 

Ugh…you were regretting not just trying to figure out a workaround in the bath. Maybe if you’d perched your book on the end of the tub between the faucet and spout, you flip the pages with your toes? And just drape one foot over the side so your toes wouldn’t wet the pages? 

But then again, you’d ruled out that idea because Capitano’s tub was made for a man of his size and stature, the end of the tub was nearly a mile from the back rest-

“Wife. Make yourself comfortable.” Your husband drops your hand as he finished guiding you to your shared chambers. The opulent room is on the top floor of his manor, and while the wooden finishes are beautifully dark and glossed and the windows suitably grand and imposing, the furnishing in the room remained rather spare. 

Thanks to you there was now a plush rug, set of twin wardrobes and a perfectly situated  chaise, oriented to look across the dark forest to the nearby bay. Before the bedroom consisted of  just a bed, a rather cruel looking bearskin rug and one side table with every drawer neatly packed with a variety of state documents. But even with your additions in the dim candle light the room felt cavernous. It would take quite a bit more furniture to make things feel homey in your opinion. 

You glanced at Capitano as he pulled his night clothes from his armoire, without missing a beat you moved to do the same, but you struggled with the the back of your corset. Normally a lady would help you undress for bed but Capitano had seemingly been so impatient for this evenings decided course of events that you were now stuck fumbling with the laces on your back. 

You let out of slight groan as your nail bent crudely as you picked at ribbons, but before you could even register his advance Capitano was at your back. His hands surprisingly deft and focused as he worked you out of the piece of supportive clothing.  

“Thank you. “ You spoke softly but gasped in shock when your husband immediately went to pull you out of your dress and underdress, pulling both layers in one go, leaving you only in your stockings and garters. 

You were too shocked to utter any rebuttal, and it seemed that Capitano interpreted this as consent to strip you entirely.

You felt his course hands glide down your thigh to begin undoing your garter and pulling the stockings down your legs, but his thumb grazed too close to your bare cunt, and you leapt away from the contact. Entirely unprepared for the feeling of his coarse hand against your silky flesh. 

“It’s ok husband I’ll do this part, thank you for your assistance.” With no more than a grunt of  approval Capitano retreated to the bed as you undid your stockings and put them away. You cast a glance over your shoulder only to see your husband reclined on his side of the bed and quickly scanning a fresh stack of documents as he waited for you. Turning back to your wardrobe, you reach for a nightgown, but you are interrupted by your husband’s booming voice.

“You won’t need that until later now come.” He patted your side of the bed.

You hesitated at his command, a bit petrified at the prospect of laying next to Capitano naked, especially when he had the privilege of being clad in silk pants and a matching buttoned top which laid open against the firm planes of his chest and torso, dimly illuminated by lamp light. 

“Okay.” You muttered softly, resigning your yourself to the surprising turn of tonight's events. 

As you climbed into bed, Capitano handed you your book. He must have grabbed it while you were busy undressing. It was already open to the flap with the plot summary. Ugh, archons save you.  You gingerly took the book from him and placed it on you pillow. The poor novella was so accustomed to being used for this nightly ritual that its spine gave absolutely no resistance and fell prone, pages splayed against downy sheets. 

Your nerves were through the roof, so to calm yourself, you decided it would be best just to pretend your husband wasn’t there and that you were alone in your old dark bedroom in the attic, reading by candlelight. 

Your favorite position was a bit unconventional. Turning over in the bed, you got on all fours before sinking to your forearms and leaning back on your heels. Capitano let out a light groan as he watched you prostrate yourself, his hand slowly stroking against his thigh.

“Begin.” He encourages gruffly. 

Like you’ve done hundreds of times in your dark bedroom, you slide your hand under your body and touch your pussy lightly, letting your fingers slide through your folds to gather slickness. To your absolute surprise. You're completely soaked. Usually, you need to read a bit of the story and thumb yourself over your panties before your fingers are damp enough to glide through your plump lips, but tonight, even the creases of your thighs are slick with the evidence of your arousal. 

With a shaky breath, you begin. You skip to the best bits of the story, hoping you can get yourself to come quickly. 

You finger yourself through the plot, reading aloud all the while. Describing in vivid detail, Monsieur Guillaume Berteau secretly fingers the protagonist, Vivienne, in the bathroom. At the same time, his wife entertains the rest of their party guests, then steals her sopping panties, forcing her to parade around sans culotte for the remainder of the evening. 

But you get really close when, later, the couple seduces Vivienne into the swimming pool, and she shares a kiss with both husband and wife as she relishes being the center of their attention. Then Carmen guides Vivienne to spread her legs and welcome her husband's cock with all the enthusiasm of a baker gleefully spooning a first bite of something sweet into a child’s mouth.

You spare a glance at your husband. Capitano has pushed down his pants, leaving his groin exposed as he strokes himself to your words. Something about his arousal spurs you on, making you feel even hotter, even closer to reaching your peak. The headiness of your husband stimulating himself only inches away while you did the same felt empowering. 

Your cunt aches deliciously as your stroke between your folds even faster. Your awareness of Capitano’s arousal is riling you even more than the contents of the story at this point. You turn to look at your husband, and with just a  few more tight circles on your clit, you feel your whole pussy begin to spasm. You accidentally push the novella onto the floor. It's work done as your hole clenches around nothing as you start to cum, your fingers pressing firmly against your nub, working you through what is likely your strongest orgasm in recent memory. 

Capitano catches your eyes as his hand slides fluidly over his shaft while his thumb occasionally teases the head. His cheeks are flushed with pleasure, but his eyes are so frighteningly intense that your natural instinct is to turn away from his predatory gaze. Faintly, you hear him scoff, but your mind and body are too far gone to register what that could even mean. 

You shudder as you come, hips dropping, twitching, and grinding against the quilt of your bed to elongate your pleasure. With a few heaving breaths, you struggle to collect yourself. Eventually, you turn back to face Capitano, only to find him scowling. 

And still hard. 

“Turn over.” He instructs, not quite waiting for you to move of your own accord and flipping your hips. 

You spook slightly as he positions you on your back and spreads your legs. 

Is he going to fuck you!? The thought doesn’t scare you as much as it should, but this definitely wouldn’t be an ideal scenario for you to finally make love to your husband. 

By way of protest, you offer, “Should I get the bo-”

“No.” He cuts you off immediately. 

Capitano hooks your legs over him as he kneels in front of you, his thick thighs keeping your legs parted. 

You tense as he takes his member in hand and begins to stroke himself again. His eyes first trained on your cunt. He groans at the sight, and his other hand steadies itself on your thigh. 

“May I touch you?” He asks, only slightly breathless. 

Silently, you nod, and Capitano takes the invitation to slide his hand higher. He pushes aside the curtains of your hair that have fallen over your breast and takes a soft mound in hand, grasping it with surprising tenderness and swiping his thumb firmly over your stiff nipple. You whimper at his ministrations, and his eyes snap your face. His hand quickly follows his stare as he brings his rough palm to your cheek, not waiting for permission, and presses his thumb between your plush lips. Capitano licks part his lips to offer a command, but you’re already sucking on his thick digit before he can instruct you. 

Your husband hisses and tosses his head back. You take the cue glance down to his member just in time to see the firm planes of his abdomen contract, and with a few more tugs of shaft thick white seed starts to spurt out. Then it is your turn to cry out at the contact of the hot liquid splashing onto your clit and dribbling down between your swollen folds. 

Capitano’s eyes return to your body, his steely orbs now pinned to where his spend clings to your cunt lips. Your frame is tense, but with a few strokes of his strong palm against your side, you begin to relax. 

“Good girl.” he praises as he begins to lower himself over your body. You reach a hand between the two of you and gather some of the semen coating your pussy on your fingers. 

Without thinking, you bring a hand to your mouth and tentatively suck his seed from your digits, tasting the viscous fluid like an adolescent sipping wine for the first time, which was essentially what you were. You didn't hate it as you thought you would, your eyebrows raise as if to say 'not bad.'

“Who taught you such a whorish trick?” He growls, grabbing your wrist. A slight look of awe mixed with a flare of righteous anger.

“I um, just wanted to taste you. I was curious.” You mumble shyly. Honestly. This was the most intimate contact you've had with a man and every physical sensation became new grounds for exploration.  

Capitano glares at you skeptically for a moment before pulling you up into a kiss, far deeper than any you’d shared up to that point. His tongue seeks yours eagerly, his lips surprisingly plush against yours. When you part, he gingerly lays you down and settles atop you, pressing you into the mattress. He lets out an aching sigh into the crux of your shoulder. 

“Beautiful.” He decides.

And your heart races.

[rebelliousstories]

From the Shadows

Relationship: Remy LeBeau/Gambit x Reader

Fandom: X-Men

Request: Yes by Anon

Warnings: Fluff, Angst

Word Count: 2,759

Main Masterlist: Here

X-Men Masterlist: Here

Summary: Shadows never cheat, steal, fight, or lie. But they are not all good either. A balance must be struck.

“Have you been able to find where she might have gone?”

“No, professor. She’s not anywhere we can reach ourselves. Have you not been able to reach her mind?”

This was now the second day that they had been searching for the young girl that had disappeared. Storm felt her heart drop when Xavier shook his head solemnly. This was not boding well for the situation at hand.

“Where’s the kid?” Logan had shown up from his excursion, and noticed the missing face from the equation.

“She is missing, Logan. Can you try to find her? Ororo, help him.” The professor delegated. He looked towards his friend, and nodded his head towards the door. As they left, Logan threw one last look to Charles, who looked defeated. Once the two were outside, Logan stopped Storm who looked a bit confused and a lot concerned.

“Be honest, Storm. How bad is it?” He grumbled, a furrow forming on his brows. There was a pause, and her expression worsened.

“It’s bad, Logan.”

~

A blissful Saturday morning had swept over the school. And two people were trying to make the most of it. While she tried to make them breakfast, he was too busy shoving his days old stubble into the crook of her neck.

“Remy, you gotta stop that. I swear, these eggs and bacon will be so tough, Wolverine can’t cut them.” She tried to shake off the man, but it was of no use.

“C’mon now, chere. Gambit’s jus’ bein’ friendly. You gonna turn down some lovin’?” He teased, sending a cheeky smile her way.

“Yes, I am.” She retorted, and giggled as she saw the faux offense that was apparent on his face.

“You wound me, chere. Ain’t neva’ gonna recover.” Remy made himself busy, while she was cooking, by getting the plates and silverware out for them to use.

In just a matter of moments, they were sitting down at the table and enjoying their breakfast. All was going well, until it was not. In between them discussing plans on what to do for that day and a personal vacation at some point soon, Storm had arrived in the dining room.

“Forgive the interruption, Gambit. But the professor wishes to see you in the war room.” With a sigh, he wiped his face off, and muttered an apology to his girlfriend. She watched the two of them go off together, and finished her breakfast alone.

It was just an hour or so later that he finally found her again. In a darkened corner of the library, he saw his lover reading. Having some time to herself is a welcomed treat on this Saturday afternoon now. His shadow blocked out the remaining light from the doorway, causing her to look up. She went to greet Remy, but it died on her tongue. He was in his suit, with a duffle bag at his feet.

“How long?” She asked, dog earring a page in her book.

“Hopefully, jus’ a couple days. Should be no more than five.” He replied solemnly. Her book was abandoned in favor of wrapping her arms around him as he did the same.

“No more than five days right?” Her whimper made the man’s heart break listening to it.

“No more. Look at me, chere,” he pulled them apart just enough to see her face. “Ol’ Gambit’s gonna be jus’ fine. You stay safe here for me, yeah? Can you do that, mon amour?”

She nodded, and stood on her toes to press a kiss to his lips. That was eight days ago. Eight days since he had left for that mission. Three days since he should have been home. And two days since she had disappeared into the shadows that she once called home. No one could find her because she did not wish to be found.

The Shadowlands were a tricky area to navigate. During the day, there is only so much space that she can travel through and manipulate. During the evening, however, she can roam more freely and has a far greater ability. Yet, with each passing second that she spends there, the light from the door back to the real world gets dimmer, and the shadows have more control over her.

Here, she found a projection of her favorite memories with her Cajun thief. Major moments like when he first said, “I love you,” or when he had saved her on a mission. There were small moments, everyday things, that played out as well; dinner at a nice restaurant to celebrate their anniversary that they had finally gotten the night off for, or even a time that she was able to lay on his chest and listen to him read for a change. Even when they first meet played out in her hall of memories.

Being on the street for a majority of your life was rough. Being a mutant on the streets for a majority of your life, now that was even tougher. But, it meant you grew up fast and quick. This was definitely her case. Marking her target, she did not feel bad about stealing the mutton chopped man’s wallet and taking off with it. However, when she bumped into a man close to her own age in a long brown leather trench coat, she came to regret it. Apparently, the two were friends, and mutton chops was not happy.

But the kind stranger did not throw her to the man or scold her. He just laughed. The stranger laughed as he took the wallet and tossed it back to the older man. Mutton chops stalked away, but the kind stranger stuck around. He had introduced himself as Remy LeBeau, or Gambit. Oh, he did tell her not to steal from scary people again, but he also gave her a wink and a card. Remy told her to call him if she ever wanted to be with people like herself.

At first she thought that he had meant other thieves, but no. Somehow, he knew that she was a mutant. That was the first time he saw her disappear into the Shadowlands. Gambit had seen the pretty woman one second, and then the faintest dark purple outline, before she went away completely. However, Remy noticed that the shadows were darker wherever he walked and felt himself smile.

That day stood out to her. This had been the first time someone was able to catch her going between the two fields. It was also the day that she realized that she would never be able to live without Remy LeBeau.

~

Stumbling in from the Blackbird, Remy felt his muscles seize from the long week it had been. What should have been an easy mission was anything but. Sentinels had captured them, destroyed the coms on their uniforms, and taken them longer than a week to get back home. But him, and his team was finally home.

“Everyone go get some rest. I’ll talk to the professor now.” Cyclops stated, nursing a busted lip and bruised cheek. Everyone thanked him before walking off to their own rooms. Remy was happily a part of the crowd until he came upon Storm and Wolverine running around frantic.

“You two look more nervous than a gator at a fish fry. What’s goin’ on?” He questioned, readjusting the strap of his duffle bag on his shoulder.

“We can’t find your girl, Cajun.” Dread filled his heart. The bag dropped.

“Well she didn’t just leave. She couldn’t’a just left!” Remy held his head in his hands, and looked like he was going to collapse. Storm placed her hand on his shoulder and helped to stabilize him.

“Wait, I think I’ve got something,” Wolverine commented. He began taking off in the direction that his nose was leading him to, with Gambit and Storm close behind him. Following the trail, the group was lead into a room that was all too familiar for Gambit. This was his room, the one he shared with his lover.

“It smells like her, but it smokey. Kinda like Nightcrawler’s scent after he teleports.” Logan explained, moving closer and closer to where the smell was coming from.

“She been dabblin’ in the Shadowlands then. Oh I hope she ain’t been in der long.” Remy opened the door that led them there to find, nothing. There was no sign of anyone; living or dead. But when he turned on the light, he realized that he knew what happened.

Different coats and pieces of his clothing were strewn about the closet. They looked like a little nest in there, with her favorite article of his at the top. An old sweater that he has had since his thieving days back in Louisiana. She loved that thing for some reason, but he always let her take it. There was still a faint purplish hue that lingered in the room. And that told Remy all he needed to know about where she had gone.

“We gotta find some way to get her back. We don’ know how long she been in dem Shadows.” Remy grumbled, stalking out of the room. The other two X-Men followed close behind and each exchanged worried glances with the other.

“Professor. Professor!” Gambit called out as he stepped into his office where the man was reading a book in the corner.

“Gambit, glad to see you are back. I imagine the others have informed you of the situation at hand.” His words were always so calm and precise, but that was just adding to Gambit’s frustration.

“She’s in the Shadowlands, Professor. We gotta get her back here.” The man near growled.

“I understand your frustration, Gambit. But you and I both know that it’s extremely difficult to get into that plane of existence without her help. That said, Beast has made a machine that should work,” Charles began to lead the trio of his students down to the lab. “We began working on it the last time she got stuck there. It works similarly to the way she is able to get in. By displacing matter inside of an established shadow, you should be able to join her in the Shadowlands.”

Inside the lab, Beast was working on the final touches to a new machine in the corner. The man was excitedly tweaking the different knobs and whatnot. As Remy stepped closer, he looked suspiciously at it.

“Don’t much care about how it works, only that it works.” He said sincerely, watching with intent in his eyes.

“Okay, stand back. We’re going to try this.” Dr. McCoy stated, going over to a panel off to the side. Stepping back, Remy watched as, in just a few moments, a purple, misty portal like image showed up. Taking a deep breath, he decided to just jump straight in without a care in the world.

Landing, he immediately noticed how different the world looked. Everything was casted in a shadow. Everything was dark, and crumbling around him. But he did not care; Remy was going to get his girl back. Shadows jumped from around corners, and startled him a couple of times. He just kept going. Leaving no stone unturned, Gambit was scouring the world he was in for his girlfriend, and yet he could not find her. That is, until he saw something. Rather, he heard something. He heard his own voice play out in different clips, and her own respond to him.

“Chere!” Running towards the sound, Remy breathed a deep sigh of relief as he saw her. She was watching the memories as if in a movie theater. It did not appear that she heard or registered that her actual boyfriend was there in front of her.

“Chere, thank heavens I found you.” This finally caught her attention. Turning to face him, she gasped and tears welled in her eyes.

“Remy,” she breathed out in a whisper.

“Hey, whatcha doin’ here, chere? You know it ain’t good for you.” Kneeling down, he wrapped his arms around her and brought her in close.

“You’re real? You’re actually real and here?” She whimpered, feeling the tears racing down her cheeks and land on Gambit’s shoulder.

“Whatchu mean, chere? Course Gambit’s here. Ain’t nothin’ keepin’ me from comin’ home to ya.” Pulling away, his hands cupped her face and wiped the tears from it.

“I thought you weren’t coming home. You’ve been gone with no contact the last few days. I thought… thought,” her words trailed off as she felt more tears form.

“Put that thought outta ya head, chere. I’m alrigh’. Your Remy is right here.” He tried to comfort her to the best of his ability in this world. They sat there for a few minutes as they allowed themselves to console each other. But Gambit had to pull them away in order to look her in the eye.

“Chere, we gotta get outta here. C’mon, let’s go back. Get you well again.” As he pulled them up, she looked to be in a bit of a daze.

“I don’t even know how long I’ve been in there.” She confessed, looking around. Yet, Remy just placed his hand gently on her face and brought her gaze back to him.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it. We’ll make you better once we get out. Just focus on that.”

Taking her hand, Gambit led them around the Shadowlands. He was trying to find the door again, but it was so easy to get turned around in there. And Remy knew that she had been in too long to get them back out herself. Which only left it to him finding the door Hank had unlocked. Hopefully, it had not shut again.

Slowly but surely, everything started looking familiar which made him feel better. She was busy keeping a lookout on their backs, as she usually did when they were on missions together. The light from the door shown through the darkness all around them. But a tug on his sleeve got the man to turn around to whatever his girlfriend was looking at.

A large shadow monster was snarling down at them. Purplish flames danced around the outline, and glowing white eyes stared them down. Remy knew that this was just a manifestation of her own mind attacking her. However, she was not able to get out of that state of mind as she was frozen in shock.

“We gotta go now, chere. Don’t look back.” He tugged her forward, but was unable to get her to move. Sighing deeply, Gambit picked her up in his arms and ran towards the door that was shinning brightly.

He could hear the beast growling behind him, but did not slow down. Tucking her head in close, Remy jumped through the gateway and waited. When he opened his eyes, he saw the lab. Beast, Storm, Wolverine, and the Professor were all looking at them down on the floor. In his arms, his girlfriend was passed out and slumped over.

“Beast, let’s get her to the infirmary.” Xavier ordered. Gambit picked the woman up, but the blue furry man took her from them before he could fall again. Vaguely, Remy heard the professor call for Wolverine to get him to the infirmary as well, but it all sounded like it was coming from underwater. Black overtook his vision while the man hauled him over his shoulder.

Something warm encompassed his hand as Remy came to from his sleep. His eyes blinked away the bright lights that blinded him, but he was slowly coming out of it. Shaking his head, he began to sit up and looked over at what was warming his hand. Slumped over in a chair next to him was his girl. She was asleep herself, but he smiled as he reached over with his other hand to brush a strand of hair away. In doing so, she began to stir.

“Remy!” She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him and tackling him to the bed again.

“You miss me, chere?” He chuckled, and wrapped her up in his embrace. Pressing a kiss to her head, Remy let out a deep sigh as he relaxed.

“Don’t do that again, please.” Her words were muffled by his chest.

“Neva’ again. Ol’ Gambit’s stickin’ ‘round for a bit. So long as you don’t go stickin’ ‘round dem shadows again.” Nodding, he felt her own body relax into their embrace. Both of them were just happy to have the other in their arms after such a bad scare from both parties.

[urdreamydoodles]

hello, i hope you’re doing well! i’ve been following your blog for some time and i just wanna say i love your work! you’re such a talented writer and honestly you are the answer to my prayers!

i’d like to ask (and feel free to decline), could you write some gambit x reader x rogue (poly) headcanons? they’re both so hot and such good characters! again feel free to decline if you’re not interested! thank you so much <3

Remy LeBeau x Reader x Rogue (Poly) Headcanons

How is your relationship with Remy and Rogue

In your polyamorous relationship with Remy LeBeau and Rogue, the three of you share a dynamic that balances playful banter, deep affection, and mutual respect.

My favorite X-Men couple. I hope you like it <3

- Being in a relationship with both Remy and Rogue is as exhilarating as it is heartwarming. Remy, with his flirtatious charm, makes every day feel like an adventure, while Rogue’s protective, nurturing side grounds you all. Together, the three of you form a beautifully balanced dynamic where love, laughter, and passion intertwine in ways you could have never anticipated.

- Remy is always the instigator of spontaneous plans. Whether it's whisking you and Rogue off to a hidden bayou in Louisiana or planning a late-night rooftop picnic, he brings his sense of thrill and romance to the relationship. Rogue often goes along with his plans begrudgingly, but her eyes light up with anticipation the moment she sees you’re just as excited.

- Rogue is fiercely protective of both you and Remy. Her powers may make physical touch tricky, but she makes up for it with words and gestures, constantly reminding you both of how much you mean to her. She’ll wrap her arms around you two whenever she can, and though her touch is careful, you feel the warmth of her love as deeply as if there were no boundaries.

- Remy is a natural flirt, and it’s a game for him to see how he can make both you and Rogue blush. He’s full of playful winks and whispered compliments, his smooth, honeyed accent rolling off words that make your cheeks warm. Rogue, meanwhile, gives him a knowing eye-roll, but there’s no hiding her smile when he directs his charming words at you both.

- Even though Rogue has her reservations about her powers, she’s learned to be comfortable with you and Remy. The three of you have crafted a language of subtle touches, gestures, and careful embraces that express your affection without needing full physical contact. A gentle squeeze on her gloved hand, a quick brush against her shoulder—these small moments mean the world to her.

- When it comes to nights together, the tension between the three of you is palpable, building up slowly and leaving you breathless. Remy, ever the passionate one, finds ways to make you feel adored, drawing out every moment. He loves watching the way you and Rogue react, knowing that his attentions are making both of you melt in a shared moment of intimacy.

- Rogue takes her time when she lets her guard down with you and Remy in private moments. Her confidence in these shared moments is something she’s grown into, and she finds joy in showering you both with kisses through the fabric of her gloves. She may not be able to touch directly, but her affection is no less fierce, and her love radiates through every careful caress.

- Remy, being the gentleman he is, often takes the lead in romantic settings. He has a knack for knowing when both you and Rogue need comfort, desire, or simply a listening ear. When things get steamy, he’s attentive to every movement and reaction, taking his time to ensure that both you and Rogue are completely immersed in the moment, feeling loved and appreciated.

- On nights when Rogue feels more daring, she’ll let herself get a bit closer, her kisses lingering a little longer, the intensity deepening between the three of you. There’s an unspoken understanding that each touch is significant, each moment of closeness a testament to the trust and love you’ve built. For Rogue, these nights mean everything, a rare chance to express her passion without reservation.

- The three of you love cuddling together after a long day, though it’s a delicate process with Rogue’s powers. Remy’s arms around both of you, with Rogue carefully nestled against you, create a cozy tangle of warmth and comfort. These evenings are full of gentle laughter and soft whispers, all three of you sharing dreams and plans, feeling the deep connection that binds you together.

- Remy has a soft spot for surprising you and Rogue with little gifts. He’ll bring you a single wildflower he found or an antique trinket he picked up on a mission, his expression soft as he hands it over with a charming grin. Rogue, though embarrassed at first, often finds herself touched by his gestures, storing each token away with fondness—and with a growing collection of keepsakes that you both treasure.

- Rogue can be a bit of a tease, though it’s not as obvious as Remy’s flirting. She’ll make sarcastic remarks or playful jabs, only to flash you a knowing smile that makes your heart skip a beat. These moments reveal the lighter side of Rogue, her guard lowered as she relaxes into the relationship. You and Remy love seeing this side of her, knowing that her happiness comes from a place of deep trust.

- The three of you share a deep, emotional bond that goes beyond physical affection. Remy and Rogue each bring something unique to the relationship, creating a space of unconditional support and love. Whether it’s Remy’s boundless charm or Rogue’s quiet strength, you know that the three of you are stronger together, each of you lifting the others up, sharing joy and laughter, and creating a love that is truly extraordinary.

[buriedpair]

AHH SORRY COULDN'T RESIST ASKING FOR MORE!! I just love this whole idea of a casino setting frfr

What if MC wanted to try what OCs do? Following OCs around like a puppy lmao🧎

Amias: they pester him trying to get him to teach them the da way of winning (and pool game. Pool games are hot, you can get quite handsy with someone while teaching lmao)

Edge: they follow him and clumsily try to shuffle the cards and do tricks. Ain't it adorable? Look, Edge, it's a new focus!!

DD: MC wearing clothes to match him and begging to get their hands on DD's scythe to try to scare away problematic players like a bouncer (they don't. The one scaring folks is behind MC l can sense it 😭)

Jackpot: dancing. Pole. Pole dancing 😳 shy MC wanna try it, but oh my would you look at that, such snuggly fitted outfit may reveal too much (and everyone can see it? Scandalous!)

Gambit: MC follows them with a masterfully crafted pout, trying to copy them and their stoic posture. Someone giving trouble to Gambit? MC is here to save the day! (apparently, the poor naivety doesn't realise Gambit can scare everyone in this room by only a stare)

- stargazer who is set on knowing the lore!! 😭

Well well well, stargazer. Ask and ye shall receive!

Yandere!OCs x GN Reader

Teaching MC to be like them!

Amias

You're right. Pool games are hot. Amias is definitely enjoying his chest pressed against your back as he leans over you to teach you how to hold the pool cue. You seem thrilled when you so much as hit a ball. It's cute.

You wanna learn to gamble like a pro? Sure, just sit on his lap and he'll teach you the ways of the cards. He'll tell you all the values of every hand, he'll teach you to spot a liar, and he'll teach you how to get past Edge's tricky dealing.

Edge

Did you know you only have to shuffle a 52 card deck seven times in order for it to be as shuffled as it can be? Well you will. Edge will literally lecture you on cards and dealing and drunk customers. Hell, Gambit will practically hire you after he's done.

He's happy to teach you all he knows, especially if it means you're giving him your undivided attention. EXTRA especially if it means he can punish you when you get something wrong. Nothing too bad, dear. It's a beginners mistake. You still need to learn somehow, though.

Double Down

'Oh my god couples outfits' is probably his first thought. God, you look so cute. He's not even sure where you got clothes that match his, but he's living for it. As for his scythe... Sure, use it. He doesn't care if you wreak havoc on those around you, it just means you're a quick learner. Even the adorable you is more threatening with a giant human-sized weapon.

He still thinks you're cute though. Of course you can't stomach his job, that's why he has to do it. It's okay though, you can pretend like you're scaring off drunkards with your silly scowl and he'll threaten to throw them into the fountain if they try to tell you you're not scary.

Jackpot

No. Never. Not in a thousand years. You're too divine to be seen in that outfit, please change. He's a hypocrite in this situation, but does he care? Absolutely not. He'll steal Gambit's jacket to cover you up and sneak you off to probably go cry.

He'll sob into your confused, barely covered arms in the back room, whining all the while about how unfair it is. You're for his eyes only! Don't you even care? Why are you laughing?!

Gambit

Gambit doesn't understand why you want to be like him. He'll teach you how to handle finances if you want, but he doesn't think you'll like it. It is enjoyable to watch you glare at disrespectful customers like you're his own personal bodyguard, and it's nice to have you hang around, too.

If anyone gives you trouble, though, they're banned for life. You're the new co-owner, and he will not tolerate any disrespect toward you. Besides, you'll have to get used to it anyways when you eventually become his sweet little spouse.

[pixelatedraindrops]

Happy 1st Anniversary RainCode!

☔️6🔎30👻

Thank you for bringing me so much joy 💜💕

(and thank you for giving me the gift that is yuma kokohead)

I didn’t think I’d make art for it at first, but I figured this game has done so much for me, so I’ll give back by drawing the duo that started it all 💜🩷 These two are such an iconic pair and I will draw them together as much as possible c: (tho Shinigami will be mostly in her ghost form if I do)

First time drawing human form Shinigami non-chibi, and I admit she was a little tricky with that outfit. But I think I did it decently enough… xD

little bonus for the kokogami enjoyers 💕

miss death god is too much woman for this little boy to handle~ 🤭

i know he's an adult but can you honestly look at him without context and say this is a man??? he's just an eemey meemey little guy.

Personal Rambling below (because I love this game so much)

WARNING MINI ESSAY INCOMING (lmao)

Oh RainCode... Where do I even begin...

RainCode is a game that has changed my life along with likely many other people’s lives. Although the premise of it is fairly straightforward, the characters and atmosphere make this game so much more. The successor to Danganropa is honestly its own unique story and structure, and tbh I think I love and enjoy it far more than Danganronpa. But this game…is just so much more for me.

I truly never expected this game to be such an impact on my life, let alone become my next fixation.

So, for history, I was honestly in no real hurry to get the game on its release date last year, so I got it a day later. On July 1st, I played the game for the first time. And I didn’t think much of it at first. The only thing that was on my mind when I started this game, was that I was positive I was going to be treating the protagonist like Makoto Naegi and Kyoko Kirigiri’s son the whole time.

This was the first post I made about RainCode back on twitter in 2023.

Yeah... Kinda silly when I look at it now... XD But I do still beleive this headcanon.

When I started the game my 2016 fixation of Danganronpa came back a bit. As a previous DR lover, I did make comparisons here and there to all of the characters. Yuma was very much like Naegi with his shy and timid demeanor at first due to having amnesia, and it felt like déjà vu when playing through the start of the game. But then it happened. The moment that solidified Yuma as my next and now permanent target. When he got sick/dizzy on the train... God that moment still lives rent free in my head. (I know the cause of it was different/related to the first mystery/case, but as someone who enjoys any sort of sick whump moment, regardless of if its little crumbs or a whole-ass meal it still counted for me) I was still shy and hid in the shadows with my silly little niche back then, but I told myself. Yep, once I finish this game, I’m writing a sickfic for this game and he’s the victim. (though what surprised me was that I wasn’t alone on that, 3 other people made sickfics with yuma before I did so that was a pleasant surprise xD)

As the game went on it shocked and impressed me in many different forms. I realized that this game isn’t the Danganronpa clone I thought it would be. Sure, it had a lot of similar elements and mirrored mini games like Hangman’s Gambit, Spot Selection, and of course the Conclusion Comic of the whole case, but the story the world and the mysteries were honestly different from the way DR structured them. And it pleased me when not many people from the main team had died. Most of the deaths were of side characters that had appeared in their respective chapters. Which honestly was a breath of fresh air for me, and I think that’s the real reason it’s separate from DR. It’s not as cruel and not as stressful. It’s a lot more chill, but the mysteries were still enough to get me excited and look forward to the next maze I would enter. The mystery labyrinths were probably my favorites elements of the game. They were just so much fun. And every single character was so likeable, (yes even some of the peacekeepers were fun aside of one or two that I absolutely despise. mostly yomi and guillame lol but I guess I kinda like yomi a bit more bc of the fandom)

And I grew to love Yuma EVEN more. He is honestly one of the best written protagonists I’ve seen in a long time. It’s hard to do timid protagonists right, but RainCode definitely nailed it with Yuma. He had his moments, but it wasn’t enough to be obnoxious. He also shined in more ways than one. And my god, so many relatable moments… (I have anxiety too xD) He was so charming and cute the whole time and even had his badass moments. This little guy is the whole package and I LOVE him for that. Truly a unique and fun main character that blows every DR protagonist out of the water.

(Yes, I said what I said.)

And the ending, GOOD LORD THE ENDING?? It was so well executed, and the ending twist villain was immediately my second favorite character after the protagonist. I could go on about how much I loved the ending but if I did, we’d be here all day and I don’t want to spoil the entire game…so… I’ll leave it at that.

When I finished the game, I was so satisfied. (Yes I love it more than DR, what are you gonna do about it?) It left me super happy and made me want to make some fan content for it. Though I was still very quiet on twitter and had a feeling since twitter is a more complicated platform, I couldn’t gush about the game too much due to fear of spoiling other people…and when one of your favorite characters is just the whole secret of the game’s core mystery, I couldn’t talk about it too much… >.>

So, then I did the unthinkable. I went back to tumblr… It’s a little embarrassing but this account is actually my old one I had from years ago. I was on tumblr more 2013 to 2017 before I abandoned the site when it no longer seemed fun and there were times that I’d rather forget... (let’s just say that I used to RP with my OCs and…one of my RP ex friends catfished me and it made me feel VERY uncomfortable. I wanted to forget it, so I ran away and never returned.) I was super nervous to come back and try to post again, so my first RC related post was about him being a naegiri child.

After that I began making more edits once I gained access to the sprites and full body arts. I made some Pokémon AU edits because those were always fun, and then I started making feverish edits of Yuma’s sprites. My first post ended up becoming a hit and I caught the attention of some people. They liked what I was doing so it gave me a bit of confidence to continue. I got even more attention, and it made my confidence go up even more.

And then I started trying to draw art again, something I gave up long ago. My first few arts were a little rocky at best, but so many people enjoyed it! One of my older arts ended up becoming pretty popular. Through this my few pieces of art, my many sprite edits, and my first fan fiction (Home Is Where The Heart Is) got me pretty well recognized in the Rain code community on here. So much so that I felt confident enough to give myself a title. The CEO of RainCode Whump or “Whumpcode” and all of this confidence made me decide to turn my blog into a fandom and sick whump blog. It became a full blown obsession that possessed my mind that I've become TOO passionate about. Never thought making these little guys suffer would bring me this much joy... XD

Over time, I’ve drawn more art and written more fics than I ever had for a fandom. Before I never ever made fandom art, and I would usually only write one sickfic per fixation. (my last ones being demon slayer and spy x family) But here I am, making more art pieces than I ever have before (hell even doing a MONTH ART CHALLENGE) and improving even! And having 7 fanfictions of RainCode, 6 with Yuma and one with Makoto. And those two became my prime targets and muses for my art. Drawing them is easier for me and they’re my favorites so it brings me such joy to draw them. I love MakoYuma so much. Maybe not so much romantically, but friendship and familial. They have such potential to be so much, and I adore them. Plus putting them in sicknarios and situations is fun (I think we can all agree on that haha)

I think I’m talking too much, so I will say one more thing. I never thought my fixation on this game would last this long. I was positive it would go away after just a few months at best. The game is great but nothing amazing to keep thinking about for too long for me. But I think the main reason I was able to keep my fixation on this game for almost a year (and ongoing) is because of the fandom. (specifically, the Tumblr fandom, but some people on twitter are cool too) I’m honestly so happy I returned to tumblr and was able to make a name for myself in this community. I have met so many talented artists and creators and even made some new friends (and even got a few apprentices to take under my wing) If it weren’t for everyone’s support, I don’t think I would have ever done this much and made it this far.

I’ve essentially made a platform for myself, and I didn’t think tumblr would be a place I’d check daily ever again. To think this silly little game…would change my life so much and make me happier than I’ve ever been in such a long time. I feel recognized and like I belong, I’m finally able to be loud and proud about my passions for sick whump and not worry too much about it, I’ve finally found my prime target and I have fun with him every time, I’ve gotten back into the arts of drawing and writing again and I think I’ve made some of my best work yet, and I’ve met so many wonderful people and even collaborated with them on some fun projects too! (Here's the most popular one and also the first one I did!)  It’s just been…so wonderful… I am so happy to be part of such a chill talented and fantastic community TwT So thank you everyone… this is all thanks to your support… <3

Sorry I’m getting a little mushy here aren’t I… x’D I just couldn’t be more grateful for this game if I tried… So, thank you so much Rain Code, for existing and doing so much for me and making me so happy… I have never had this much fun in a fixation before, and I never felt like I was ever truly part of any fandom and was always just a lurker. It feels so good to finally feel like part of a fandom you love, and also be well liked, admired and accepted by others despite your niche being a little on the odd side… XD

I really hope there will be a sequel for this game, and we’ll see all these wonderful characters again. After all I’ve been through with this title and how much joy and purpose it brought me, consider me a fan for life. I will be dedicated to every future title in this series and play the hell out of it. And I hope it gains a wider audience come October when it is released for more consoles. (Just hoping no weirdos take over and ruin it with stupid drama and horrible things like the DR fandom…)

Though once new fans come in and are also tumblr users…I wonder what they’d even think of me and my place and takes when it comes to this series… XD (hopefully they’ll be nice to me… XD)

Anyway, I’ve said enough.

Happy Anniversary RainCode!!

☔💜👻🔍

[lifes-line]

Something something

Gambit is the Jack of Hearts while Rogue is the Queen because the Jack has that status of never being king while also preferring the queen

Something something gambit is the ace of spades because he’s tricky and unreliable but very clever and mysterious

Something something gambit is the king of hearts to go with rogue

Something something gambit is the ace of hearts cause of his Cajun charm

Something something

[tinkerbitch69]

I have to talk about this scene from X-23 #11 and how it reads as so trans fem coded to me. TW: discussions of self harm.

during some down time Logan, gambit and jubilee take Laura shopping in Paris. This isn’t just for fun tho, this whole arc began with laura self harming in a public bathroom and all of them are trying their best to make her feel as loved as possible and yes it is so adorable. Especially gambit. If you love him, you got to read Marjorie liu’s X-23 but I digress. So it’s x meets Emily in Paris and this is how it goes.

Immediately, I read this as laura experiencing complicated and conflicting emotions about presenting in a feminine way. The fact that she struggles to find words to express how she feels about the situation and yet she spends ten minutes looking at herself in the mirror? That’s a long ass time. Clearly, it must be a little more complicated if she doesn’t get some level of satisfaction in what she see’s, right?

the ‘it feels wrong’ line carries so much subtext to me. Along with the reason brought up later in the scene that Laura is very much more of an alt girl than a high femme, there is also the possibility that she feels wrong experiencing pleasure in her presentation. This whole arc is an exploration of her shame, her guilt over being used as a ‘weapon’. the thing she was always seen as from the moment of her inception yet never wanted to be. It’s important to note Laura has a long history of self-harm in the comics that she was still grappling with at this point (something sadly all too common among trans femmes) and she has been seen to resort to that when receiving care from others or experiencing joy. I personally read her negative response in this scene as a her guilt overwhelming any potential euphoria. The part of her that tells she was, is and always be a ‘weapon’ making her feel disgusted with herself for allowing herself nice things. For allowing herself joy.

I hope you haven’t had to read too far between the lines to realise how easy it would be to swap out ‘weapon’ for man for this to be very consistent with a trans femme experience. Imposter syndrome and societal reinforcement that we are ‘invaders’ in cis women’s spaces and that our maleness is somehow innate can often result in intense feelings of shame or guilt when we try to claim femininity for ourselves. That, as a ‘man’, an ‘interloper’, a ‘dangerous predator’ it is wrong for us to experience the euphoria of wearing feminine clothes and enjoying it. Much in the same way, Laura seems to feel guilty at feeling happy because she herself is a ‘dangerous predator’, crafted to be a killer. Or so she believes. And she shouldn’t be allowed to be happy.

there’s also another significant exchange in the scene that further explains her thoughts. As Laura explains to jubilee,

That feeling that she shouldn’t be here seems to be palpable to her in this scene. That feeling that she is in a space that is not meant for her. That a woman’s changing room is no place for a ‘weapon’ like her. And then she goes on to explain how style and presentation have always been wrapped up in tricky associations of identity for her. It seems to be something she actively avoided thinking about. Allowing others to present her with clothes and gravitating to what she felt best suited her I.e punk/goth with a slightly androgynous but mostly femme-leaning bent yet she still seems to express resentment at never being ‘taught’ how to dress. An odd statement since she clearly knows ‘how’ to dress. Yet when considered through the lens of a trans feminine interpretation, this line makes a lot of sense.

Early in transition, it’s common for many trans women to feel overwhelmed by figuring out how to present themselves. Clothes shopping like this can be a daunting task especially considering they have often never been familiarised with feminine presentation. The fine points of fashion, style and what is generally considered appropriate or societally acceptable to wear in any given occasion is not knowledge that has generally been presented or even accessible to us, unlike those who were AFAB. It’s understandable that a lot of trans woman experience some level of resentment at their care givers for not providing them with an education on how to navigate these aspects of life like they would have to a cis daughter and I think at the very least, Laura holds a similar resentment in common.

Next, she expresses doubts about her clothing choices wondering if the high femme clothes jubilee has chosen for her is ‘who she should be.’ Again many trans women, like cis women, can feel pressure to fit into the patriarchal norm of what is expected of women, especially in presentation. The desire to be seen as anything other then our AGAB often necessitates a high femme presentation to deter any transphobic responses to visible ‘maleness’ or doubts surrounding our identity, either from others or ones we may have internalised ourselves. Yet that may not necessarily be how we prefer to present. There are many trans women who would probably feel more comfortable in alt clothing like Laura but think like they should present in a more traditionally feminine way. That they should want this, as women after all. That a desire to present in any other way is potentially a sign of their ‘male socialisation’ which they should be ashamed of or work to hide, at least. I think laura is definitely experiencing something like that in this scene. If she ever wants to be a ‘real girl’, to be anything other than a ‘weapon’, she thinks she must conform to the traditional ideal of femininity as closely as possible. The more she conforms the more of a person she is and the more people will finally see as anything more than a bloodied blade. And if she doesn’t, that’s all they will ever see.

Even if you choose not to read Laura as trans, the specific way this issue intertwines Laura’s shame and trauma with her complicated feelings around her choices of presentation manages to convey the complexities of a trans femme experience that I see few media do so as well as this. And that’s part of why i read Laura as trans femme.

Bonus: this scene were where laura comforts jubilee when she is distressed by what she see’s in the mirror?

That’s incredibly sweet and a very common experience among trans femmes. We love to see it. Oh yeah, forgot to mention jubilee was a vampire this whole time. thanks for listening to my ted talk! ☺️

[liketheletter-l]

F H Q U V

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASK THIS IS SO EXCITING!!! OMG!!!

F: Share a snippet of one of your favorite dialogue scenes you've written and explain why you're proud of it.

hmmmmm. okay i really wanted to share something i HAVEN'T posted but i think i have to do the argument in scotch gambit chapter 2, so here's a snippet:

i spent like an entire month on this argument, making sure there was tension, tweaking the meanness level, etc etc. i'm a big fan of the way it all dovetails and i think the rhythm & pacing of the whole scene turned out really well. Also i love my donnie lines. he's probably my favorite character to write dialogue for

rest under the cut:

H: How would you describe your style?

OOOH i like this question a lot. i would say: very conversational. full of...Flavor. others have described my writing as like saturated which i think tracks. im pretty sure it would taste like sour candy

Q: How do you feel about collaborations?

LOVE THEM!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!

U: Share three of your favorite fic writers and explain why you like them so much.

Okay im going to do fic writers that are not my friends (Yet 😏) bc that seems more fair (but please check out radish and rem and russ and dandy)

@magicalspacedragon (ao3)

god the fucking. The. i don't even have the words to express how much i love this author's writing it's (goes on to express in words) it's just so fucking VISCERAL and full to the brim with personality. This is the type of shit that makes me really THINK about the characters and their motivations and it makes me want to write self-indulgent thinkpieces and characters studies and i just AHAGRARUAGRHGERHGEUYGA';6'35PL63;.' im normal

2. @turtleinsoup (turtlesoupswimmer on ao3)

the lemonade leak is one of the best fics i've ever read dude. The pacing the fucking BUILDUP but i would honestly read this author's grocery lists. their style is So enriching to read it is like a treat for my brain. Literally countless times reading their work i've had to close my laptop and stare at a wall for ten minutes like How Did They Do That. i've been thinking nonstop about their reincarnation au "and again" so you should read that if you want to be really fucked up about twins

3. @stillateenageabomination (ao3)

This author ended my life with "eight long months" and then just kept resurrecting me and killing me again with their whumptober series. Holy fucking fuck. this person is REDEFINING the whump genre guys Literally doing angst like no other. Every fucking time i read a stillateenageabomination fic it moves into the apartment complex of my brain permanently. RENT FREE.

honorable mention: @i-logophile for writing "the glass pawn" one of my Favorite Fucking Fics of Ever. i hope you write many more things in the future because i will devour all of them ravenously holy fuck that fic is so good

V: If you could write the sequel/prequel to any fic out there NOT written by yourself, what would it be?

this is tricky because there are a lot of unfinished fics out there i would love to explore the rest of but wouldn't want to be like "well i'd write a sequel because THEY'RE NOT FINISHING IT FAST ENOUGH 🙄" cuz not only is that rude it would send me directly to Hypocrite Hell

Buuut in terms of fics that are like, well and truly finished, i would fucking love to see the aftermath of "skinning the children for a war drum" by @jumpinginmuddypuddles. this fucking fic is so good. The leo chapter exploded me and all the boys have such strong characterization and interesting backstories and i'd love to see them interact and learn to trust each other/become a family again🥺

---

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS ASK! SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO ANSWER ILY!!!

[full-frontal-lotus]

OmoiLee Pokemon AU

Omoi and Karui used to run the eighth gym in the Hidden Cloud as a double battle gym, using their combined Steel- and Electric-types to synergize into a tricky gym to beat. So much so that the League eventually decided to split them up and gave them a choice: one would keep the gym, the other would join the Elite Four.

Karui turned down the Elite Four position. She didn't want to give up battling regularly in order to sit and wait for somebody to finally beat the challenging Land of Lightning League (The Triple L, for how many 'Ls' people usually took for each gym.) She wanted to keep her gym, so Omoi got bumped into the free Elite Four spot.

Not much to do when The Triple L was such a gambit, so Omoi starts traveling again with his Poketch turned on. He heads to the Land of Fire, knowing Karui's long distance lover was also a gym leader there. He decides to have a bit of fun and challenge the gyms of the region and - fitting a trainer of his caliber - he knocks through most of the gyms. He is prepared to tackle the final gym, only to be told he'd need the Strength HM in order to get there and the only way to get it was to challenge the Dojo just outside the Hidden Leaf. Assuming it was going to be an excursion not unlike the other dojos he'd seen before, Omoi waltzes in prepared to get the HM and be on his way.

Little did he know that this Dojo was considered to be the unofficial ninth gym of the region. The Dojo Master Rock Lee specialized in Fighting-types, who would normally be a neutral cake walk, but these are pokemon unlike any Omoi had faced. They're trained to peak performance and outspeed his team at every turn. Their offense is powerful and their defenses enormous, but Omoi scraped against beating Lee but couldn't quite make it - taking his first loss in the region.

Lee encourages him to not give up, that others had beaten him before and continued on to the eighth gym. He invites Omoi to join his Dojo and train with the team that had bested him, to whip his team into their best shape.

Omoi - charmed by the encouragement he received and mesmerized by Lee's impossible body - takes him up on it and trains there. The two spend their days killing kids' dreams of facing the League and working out, chatting about their experiences and what their journeys had been like. Omoi finds himself enamored with Lee and forgets why he was there in the first place.

Eventually, Omoi is called back to face an opponent that had somehow struggled through Karui's gym. He is devastated to be reminded of his position, but Lee is encouraging and hypes him up for his first official Elite Four match. He said he'd tune in for the match and cheer him on, though he would not need it as the training had surely paid off.

Omoi returns to The Triple L and- unsurprisingly- stops the challenger in their tracks. Three times. The kid is devastated, but Omoi solidifies himself as a member of the Elite Four. Having slaughtered a hopeful kid's dream of being Champion, Omoi returns to the Hidden Leaf and challenges Rock Lee's Dojo again. This time- by the skin of his teeth- Omoi gets one past Lee's Infernape and wins the match.

Lee proudly- but sadly- hands over a copy of the Strength HM and congratulates Omoi on a job well done. Omoi decides that - rather than finish what he started - he'd stay and train just a little longer. He couldn't be Champion of this region, but he could always work harder and become Champion of The Triple L.

So the two continue their friendship that soon blossoms into something more, until one day they welcome their son Metal Lee to the Dojo for the first time.

[creative-classpect]

Seer of Rage, Rogue of Doom, Bard of Void VS Muse of Rage (corrupted)

Team #1

Look, fighting a masterclass is never fun. They are anomalies that distort the very nature of the game, warping Sburb, reality, and even the Fiction Itself around them. It's a stacked deck.

However…

That doesn't mean the Seer, Rogue, and Bard should simply give up. Any group going against a masterclass lacks the fundamental destructive power to truly come to blows with them in earnest. Thankfully, the team is uniquely situated for the amounts of tricky bullshit to drive the Muse of Rage crazy.

The Bard of Void stresses the Blind Rage aspect of the corrupted Muse of Rage. Clarity of purpose and intent is muddles, based on their condition, and the unique abilities of the Bard. What the Muse doesn't know can certainly hurt. By destroying their blindspots, the Bard can help direct that anger somewhere in a rather dangerous gambit, like sending a runaway train down the track, they can only guide and lead, not control the overwhelming force or who might be on that track. Additionally, when the Muse is distracted by another party member, the Bard could erupt with devastating sneak attacks.

This is magnified greatly by the Seer of Rage. The Seer is a necessary radar for finding where and when the Muse will strike, a warning that turns the lightning-speed rampage of the Muse into a predictable weather report. Though the Seer of Rage would certainly be overwhelmed by themselves compared to the Muse, they are uniquely equipped for the necessary mental battle. With the Bard of Void, the Seer has the necessary edge required to manipulate the Muse, allowing them to keep them distracted, find their physical, mental, and spiritual weaknesses, and then target them with precision.

While these two can work with great synergy, they still are desperately fragile in the face of overwhelming odds, even if they can distract the Muse and target their weaknesses when they aren’t looking. Enter the Rogue of Doom, the safety net.

Anytime the Muse makes a decisive strike, the Rogue is able to maneuver allies out of the way and even redirect it back to the Muse, creating a dangerous feedback loop. As the Rogue throws their own destruction back to them, the damage would only strengthen the Muse and, simultaneously, make them increasingly erratic. Deliberately angering the Hulk is a very dangerous plan, but not one without merit when you and your allies can skirt around their blindspots and target their weaknesses with laser precision. The Rogue is ultimately playing keepaway, staving off debilitating debuffs and curses, deflecting whatever attack they can bear (but never fully stopping) and empowering their team by exchanging their stress, harm, fate, and even death itself to another. A lot of sacrifices have to be made for this fight and the Rogue is equipped to make those tough decisions.

Team #2  - Muse of Rage

Assuming there are no minions to do their bidding, the Muse of Rage is still a powerhouse in their own right. And even while corrupted and not of sound mind, body, and soul, they still have more than enough power to overwhelm a party of 3.

The Muse's best path is to fully and completely overwhelm their enemies. Arcs of rampant lightning, massive explosions, curses spewing across the battlefield. While their precision is lacking due to the nature of their enemies, the Muse can still unleash all manner of hell to Everything around them. No amount of tricky maneuvering is going to stop the total annihilation of Everything after a long enough time.

The Muse wants to play the long game, using their endless stamina and wildly destructive powers to chip away at the energy of their enemies. While they may lack sound judgement due to their corruption, there is only so long until the Muse as turned the battlefield into a crater, devoid of hiding places, devoid of any targets to transfer ruin to, until it is truly just 1 on 3 as the Muse unleashes pure, indiscriminate, random bursts of energy

That being said, it is still uniquely challenging as they contend with such a deeply frustrating enemy. Being held up on what they can not do (accurately aim and lock down) does stand the risk of overwhelming them into overclocking themselves, making them only more sloppy, continuing the vicious cycle.

Conclusion

Team #1, the Bard/Seer/Rogue want to play keepaway, never allowing themselves to be hit, and giving them time to redirect/steer/distract the Muse for powerful precise strikes to either their body or mind/soul to snap them out of their corruption. Doing so is dangerous, causing a negative feedback loop for the Muse until they eventually destroy everything around them, removing Team #1's advantages.

Essentially a very high stakes bomb defusal and should Team #1 not find a solution quickly, that bomb will explode in their face

Good luck~!

---

This was a commission for @land-of-troves-and-rabbit-holes ! If you want to commission me or support my content, you can find me @ https://ko-fi.com/kesscal or over at https://linktr.ee/Skywhale09 !

[autistic-human]

Silly Game Time: Who are some of your favorite "rogue" characters? And what do you like about them?

They can be of any class or race/species (in the fantasy or sci-fi sense), so long as being sneaky and tricky (a thief, a lockpick, a con artist, or etc.) is a major element of their job in the story and their identity as a character.

Gambit the king of thieves is the most correct answer

[comebackali]

one thing i cannot stop thinking about with daal and screecher’s reach is like, had she been born in the republic we would have identified her sooner!! something something about the inherent class differences between children identified and raised as jedi and those, not. kids from backwater planets either left to their own devices and discovered too late (greti from lanteeb from clone wars gambit siege) or instead scooped up by the sith (daal from screecher's reach). anakin’s kinda tricky because he obviously was discovered by the jedi, but he was also groomed by palpatine, and i firmly believe if the jedi had decided against training him because he was too old he would have been scooped up by palpatine right then and there. not sure exactly where maul fits in this because dathomir’s kind of it’s own thing (and i haven’t read all his backstory yet so i don’t know for sure) but i feel like he fits in here too. just thinking thoughts about poor kids from impoverished planets being THEE prime real estate for sith lords looking for apprentices.

[we-cross-universe-king-relate]

Young Justice animated x fire emblem unit

the next person person from the team I'm making as a fire emblem unit is one of DC's most well-known characters

Name: dick Grayson

Personal: acrobatics: if unit stands on terrain effect that grants bonuses unit gains +15 avoid.

Overview: dick has good speed, dexterity, charm and luck but the trade offer is is that his strength, magic, defense and resistance are poor. It's good speed let him get off two hits from slower enemies and good dexterity means he can consistently land hits on enemies but due to his poor strength and magic he will not deal any significant damage physical wise or magical wise, his good speed can help him avoid most attacks though, and his low defense and resistance means a strong attack from a physical or magical unit will normally be enough to KO him. His good luck helps protect him from critical Hits and his good charm ensures that a majority of his gambits are successful.

Dick has proficiencies in Lances, gauntlets and flying and a subject weakness in armor and axes and a budding talent in flying. Putting Dick in the soldier route, because of his strength in Lances, then cavalier can help patch up his low defense and Grant him access to desperation also making him into a paladin then gaining Aegis can help further protect him from magic and bows due to his good dexterity which can cause Aegis to trigger often. Putting dick in the Brigand class and gaining death blow can help patch up his low strength and damage output but his can take a while due to his weakness in axes. Dick's strength in gauntlets means he can become a brawler then a grappler both classes stats growths in HP, speed and dexterity can help play his already good speed and dexterity and gaining tomebrakers can help make him something of an anti-magic unit. His strength in flying means dick can be a wyvern Rider, but because of his weakness and axes it can be tricky to make him one, the classes growths HP, strength and defense can help patch up his lacking damage output and resistance and Grant him access to seal defense, if he masters the class, giving him a debuff support role and giving him more mobile freedom on the battlefield. His subject weakness in armor is not a total loss given his low defense and resistance. Dick has a budding talent in authority granting him access to rally speed and helps him gain access to higher rank battalions.

Dick's rally list:

Rally speed

Rally dexterity

Rally strength

If one wants dick could also be something of a supporter for the rest of his group but given the fact putting rally skills can use up his three skill slots it can be somewhat detrimental to him.

Dick's personal skill acrobatics grants him +15 avoid when he is standing on a terrain effect that grants him bonuses. This can help dick with his survivability and helps him take advantage of the terrain he's on.

Overall: overall dick, given his personal, is a character that thrives off the benefits from the terrain of the battlefield and give his list of rally skills plus his evasiveness when build properly he can be a support character for his team that has a high level of survivability.

[buriedpair]

What kind of personality types does the gang have, and do they have traits that they look for in a MC?

LETS GOOOOO 💪 HOPE THIS IS GOOD! I don’t have like. mbti’s for them or anything, but this is the gist of their yandere habits and ideal partners.

Amias

Amias is definitely the type to calculate every move before he makes it, and you won’t know what’s coming until it’s too late. He has a great poker face, so to speak. He’ll watch and wait, and he’s got all the patience in the world.

What Amias wants in a partner is risk. Someone difficult to obtain. Someone worthy of placing a bet on. You’re like a prize to him.

Edge

Edge is responsible for tilting the scales. Whoever he wants to win will win, no doubt. He’s got several tricks up his sleeve. HE decides who lives and who dies in this casino. It’s sure to get to his head, but he stays sharp. He’s constantly practicing sleight of hand. He’s tricky, but easily impatient. It’s why he and Amias make good rivals.

His ideal partner is someone malleable. He’ll twist and sculpt and change until he’s satisfied. You’ll probably catch his attention initially, and before you realize it you’re not who you used to be... and at his beck and call.

Double Down

DD is charming. He’s got smooth words and caring gestures in his pocket, enough to lull anyone into a false sense of security. He’s a busy man, with all the losers in the casino and etc. Though, he’s not afraid to slack off once someone catches his eye. He’s definitely experienced in the field of romance, but everyone he gets his hands on seems to die. I wonder why? Lol.

His ideal partner is unassuming, but has multiple faces. He wants to unravel you like a spool of thread, and discover your parts and pieces. He wants someone with layers.

Jackpot

Jackpot is like a dog. He’ll melt under attention, and follow you around. You just have to give him a treat first. If he finds that you’re what he wants, he’ll be at your mercy. He’s confident, but he isn’t above you of course. He’ll tease at first, but inevitably to him, you are god.

He’s looking for someone on the kinder side. He was picked up as a kid by Gambit’s family and they’re incredibly close, so it’s very difficult to get past Gambit to get to Jackpot. First, you have to earn Gambit’s favor. However, if Jackpot DOES fall in love and Gambit doesn’t like you, you might be fucked. Oh, and don’t even get me started on a scenario where they both fall in love. Yikes.

Gambit

Gambit has bank. All the money from the losers? His. He’s a reliable guy, and very strong to boot. He’s powerful, and has a lot of influence. On the other hand, he depends a lot on Jackpot for emotional awareness. He might be to the level of dreaming of keeping you to himself and not realize his feelings. If Jackpot doesn’t like you, he may never realize them.

He needs someone who’s emotionally available. He’s dense. He needs help. Someone supportive and well-versed in emotions is perfect for him. Especially someone who’s confident enough to confess first, so he gets the chance to actually consider love. He’s possessive as HELL though, so be careful. And don’t be mean to Jackpot.

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

Back to the 50's, Volume II 1988 Doo Wop / R&B / Rock & Roll

Another awful installment from this Back to the… series that I'm now currently wading through 🥴. Originally this collection began with the extremely prolific K-tel, the 'As Seen on TV' company that managed to hawk cheap goods in a tacky infomercial style while simultaneously cornering the budget comp market in a similarly pervasive and memorably goofy fashion, which then led them to becoming a successfully kitschy staple of 1970s pop culture writ large. At a certain point, though, and for a reason that I can't quite figure out, after K-tel declared bankruptcy in 1986, this particular series was re-routed through their Dominion subsidiary, even though the K-tel brand itself was still standing and continuing to release a variety of comps.

And the reason I guess why I'm a bit confused here is because this second volume of Back to the 50's, despite being released on an ostensibly different label, is really just as equally worthless as the first volume, which employs the same formula of loading up on a whole bunch of horrid and unwanted re-recordings of classic and long beloved 50s hits 🤢.

But at the end of the day, you really can't blame the artists for participating in this frustrating gambit. Because the record industry itself is, overall, a wretched and conniving beast, these folks who made the original versions of these hits barely saw any profit from them when they were first popular, so when a label comes knocking with any amount of dough to remake a song, of course, they bite, because most of these artists were probably struggling financially when that offer came in. And because labels like K-tel/Dominion would rather skimp and not pay the higher fee to obtain a license to an original master recording, they do this ploy instead, able to put together a deceptively hefty tracklist that'd fool anyone who didn't read the release's fine print that indicates with tricky language that most of what the potential consumer is holding in their hands isn't actually what it seems.

Once in a blue moon, though, you *do* end up coming across a quality re-recording, but unfortunately, in this case, there isn't a single one here.

But this post isn't to besmirch K-tel's reputation altogether. One thing you could never associate them with is quality, but they thankfully didn't do this re-recording shit all the time, either. Their catalog is still immense and worth plundering if you're looking to dive into a whole bunch of oldies from all sorts of genres and eras. A lot of people correctly describe them as a 70s equivalent of Now That's What I Call Music!, but while Now's main get down has purely been the popular music of the day, K-tel's operation was, and still is, far, far more expansive, seemingly having releases for all sorts of sounds, subcultures, trends, and themes that have popped up over the years. It's just that it's all been filtered through a lens of self-aware, leisure suit-wearing, Midwestern squareness 😅.

No highlights.