#we deal in rare books and the dead

[izzy-b-hands]

My doctor messaging me at 12:30 in the morning to tell me she wants to do a telehealth visit abt the side effects I'm having with my new Lamotrigine dose (including worse insomnia than my usual insomnia, as u may have guessed lmao) is. something.

[webbedmirror]

High King Phantom looked at his surroundings with narrowed eyes. He rarely responded to summonings, however, this one came with offerings—sacrifices—. It perked his interest, and not necessarily in a good way. The summoning circle was sloppy, the summoners were dressed in cheap matching cloaks, they seemingly were in a random abandoned apartment, and most importantly, he was surrounded by bodies.

Seven bodies surrounded the king, seven bodies sacrificed to Danny.

"Your majesty," a person—seemingly the leader— greeted with a bowed head, "It is an honor to be in your glorious presence." Glowing green eyes stared them down, but they did not receive a response. Ever arrogant, the mortal continued talking, "We have used three sacrifices to summon you, and we hope to use the other four to strike a deal with me."

Phantom could not help but sneer. "You want to use the other four for a deal? You lot already seemed to be idiotic and somehow manage to anger me further." The summoners flinched, some preparing to flee. The king would not allow that to happen, a light tap of his foot and the floor was covered in frost, freezing the summoners in place.

"These people are dead, they are under my domain, they are my subjects. You want to give me something that is already mine?" Phantom yelled. "Even if you offered them to me when they were alive, what use would I have for them? I have trillions if not quadrillions of undead under my rule. Do you understand what that means? That is over a thousand times more people living on your planet. What do four or fuck— seven lives mean to me? Your sacrifices mean nothing to me, all you've done is needlessly kill your own kind!"

His words left the summoners speechless; it seemed they underestimated the king's power. They couldn't help but cower, a chilling, heart-pounding fear now embedded in them.

"Where is the tome you used?" Phantom was met with silence. "Do not make me repeat myself!"

"It- it's over there, your- your majesty," someone spoke up, shakily pointing a finger to a bag in the back of the room.

Phantom telekinetically brought the bag towards him, carelessly throwing things out the bag before finding the tome. He flipped through the book, quickly scanning it before freezing it solid. He raised the book high and then threw it onto the floor. Both the ice and book shattered like glass, becoming such small particles that one couldn't even hope to recover and put back together the tome.

"Now then, what should I do with you all?"

"I can take care of the rest," a new voice spoke. Phantom looked at the knight—or perhaps, hero, but the lingering of Lady Gotham on the man made Phantom prioritize the fact that he was a knight— dressed in black and blue.

"This is my issue, knight. I have the right to deal with in any way I'd like."

The knight walked closer to him, steps confident despite the icy floor. "You may be right, but you are on human land, you aren't judge, jury, or executioner."

[]

Nightwing was late-late again, too slow, too sloppy, too careless, and people died, again and it was his fault. Bludhaven was his territory, his city, and he couldn't even properly defend it.

The vigilante forced himself to not look at the dead bodies, faces crumbled in pain, tear tracks still on their faces, and instead looked the king of the dead in the eye.

"What do the rules of humans mean to me, when I am more powerful than a human could even wish to be?" A seemingly light tap of the foot resulted in the tile beneath him to crumble and the room filled with the screams of the summoners.

He'd made a blunder; sleep deprivation was not helping him speak to high-ranking alien entities. "That doesn't make us any less significant, nor does that mean you need to invalidate our culture and government. I hope if you are a just ruler, that you would respect our planet and the way it governs."

The king frowned, glowing green eyes stared at him intensely. "Get them out of my sight and we'll see how I feel."

Nightwing nodded, putting the criminals in handcuffs under the king's scrutiny. Once the king had evaporated the frost, he tied them up and put them in another room whilst talking to a police operative. While the vigilante took care of the criminals, the ghost took care of the sacrifices. A wave of magic surrounded the bodies, one by one, and their faces changed into a peaceful look. Seven orbs surrounded the king, and he looked at them with a soft sadness that surprised Nightwing.

The king's eyes focused back on Nightwing. "You will make sure those people are prosecuted properly?"

Nightwing nodded, "Of course."

"Then it's time for me to leave. Thank you for your help."

"Wait!" the hero bowed his head. "I know this is probably not the best time, but you're the king of the dead right?"

[]

The knight looked back at him, full of desperation. "My baby brother died not long ago, I just need to know. . ."

Phantom softened, "If he's a knight like you, he should be fine in my realm."

"He was." the knight clenched his fists, "I just. . . I need to know for sure that he's okay, that he's going to stay okay, and that I'm sorry."

"I can keep an eye on him, ensure his safety, and pass along information so long as you are alive in exchange of you passing along the final messages of these seven and ensuring that they receive a funeral of their liking." Unfortunately, as much as he sympathized with the knight, so long as he was within the summoning circle he could not do things for free. Whilst he could break out of it, it would be a waste of energy and he was sure the knight would agree to the terms.

"Thank you."

"We have a deal, Sir . . ?"

"Nightwing. It's a deal, King. . ."

"Phantom. We have a deal."

For the first time in a while, Nightwing smiled-soft and watery, nonetheless, a smile.

"Then, goodbye, Nightwing. And do take care of yourself, you look like shit and I don't want you to become my subject before you complete your end of the deal."

[End.]

Wahoo! It's been a while since I've written something original-ish like this so do forgive any inconsistencies or mistakes. This is a oneshot and I most likely won't add onto it so I'm just going to spill some of the background/ideas/would-be-plans for this :]

This is set while Jason is dead but before Tim meets with Dick

Speaking of Tim, I feel like Dick would be nicer and not so guilty for pushing him to become Robin

Shortly after he comes back to the realms, Danny goes to find Jason and passes on Dick's sorry as well as receives the message Jason wants to give to Dick

If this were a multichapter fic it would be slow burn friends to lovers Death Defying

I'd imagine that Danny & Jason get a brotherly bond

Clockwork essentially tosses Danny at Jason's grave when it's time for Jason to resurrect

Jason won't (initially) have his memories of being dead, but like post resurrection he doesn't have a lot of memories in the first place sooo

Whilst Jason is dead, he is located in Infinite Realm!Gotham under the care of Lady Gotham so Danny doesn't have to monitor him 24/7 and only visits him every 2 weeks or to pass along messages

Danny and Dick bond in a weird fucked up way of Dick "It took me a month to learn about Jason's death because I was off-planet and Bruce didn't tell me anything" and Danny "It took months for my sister to learn I was dead and years for my parents to learn about it and we lived under the same roof so you're off to a better start."

Oh, Nightwing isn't thinking straight because of Jason's death and his lack of coping mechanisms. I don't think I did a great job of showing that but that's why he's making a deal without hesitation

[poguehearted77]

rafe with pogue!reader with a mouth. she’s so sweet unless you don’t deserve it. and we all know rafe has done some things to get him in the dog house. she’s not afraid to put anyone in their place. but he finds that bending her over id the best way to shut her up.

mmfff. I love this ask.

Pairing: Sweet Girl! Reader x Rafe Cameron

a/n: answering some requests bc i'm finally back lolll

Rafe considers himself a lucky man to have a girlfriend like you--the luckiest, some would say, and he wouldn't disagree. You're sweet, kind, empathetic and probably too good for him if he's being honest.

You're the girl who bakes fresh bread and brings it to the nursing home on the weekends and volunteers her time at the local food banks whenever you have the chance.

It's a stark contrast to your stone-cold boyfriend who was rarely caught smiling in the presence of others except for his closest friends, but even they had a hard time making plans with him.

He's hard to get a hold of, and no one understands that more than you do at this moment. You're currently sitting at the elegantly set table in a reserved section of the Italian restaurant Rafe had booked just for the two of you.

Your diamond-embroidered watch which was a valentines gift from your overbearing boyfriend receives another frustrated glance from your intense stare. With precision the minute hand strikes, signifying the top of the hour and the end of your patience.

You couldn't believe Rafe had stood you up, despite your efforts to call him and the few gentle reminders you sent to his number. They were all in vain.

"Would you like more bread, ma'am?" The waiter comes back for what you guess is the fourth time in the last twenty minutes. Your cheeks rose over at the repeated question, realizing you'd have to admit that there was no one joining you any time soon.

"No, I'm alright thank you. Just the check will be fine." Your words paint a perplexed expression on the waiter's face before he visibly understands what's happened.

The waiter is sweet when he returns with the bill, "He's an idiot."

You didn't quite catch what he whispered under his breath, "Pardon?" His shoulders relax as a small smile graces his lips, "The guy's an idiot for standing you up." It's said thoughtfully, not with any ulterior motives, and you agree, feeling what was just surface-level disappointment morph into a simmering bitterness.

Rafe was going to deal with a bitch at home.

-

You found yourself stirring your freshly blended smoothie behind the kitchen island as Rafe continued his desperate attempts to get back in your good graces. "I'm so sorry, baby. The meeting went long and I couldn't get out of it." His hand tries to wrap around your waist from behind and you smack him away.

"Don't even, Rafe." The words come out through clenched teeth. He's startled but not surprised. He's seen this side of you before, though only once when a rude cashier had been insulting to your mother at the store.

"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry? The meeting ran longer than-" You don't even give him a chance to finish when you interrupt, "Oh my god, Rafe. Leave me alone!" You scoff, trying to push past him with your drink in hand but he holds you at the waist, cautiously taking the cup from you and placing it on the counter behind him.

He holds a stern gaze as he talks down to you: "Listen, I get it. You're upset, but you're not even giving me a chance to expl-" He tries to reason with you, but you don't want to hear it from him.

"Shut Up." You make dead eye contact, his towering height not intimidating you in the slightest. You're pissed off and now Rafe is too. Within the blink of an eye Rafe had you pinned down to the cool marble of the island with an arm behind your back.

"Ow~ Rafe!" You whine and he chuckles. "M'sorry baby. Am I hurting you?" He tightens the hold he has on your pinned arm, pressing his hips into the fat of your ass giving you a vivid understanding of where your attitude was taking you.

"You're such a fucking-" With his other hand he forces your head back down against the counter roughly but making sure not to hurt you. "Don't you dare." He warns from behind and you bite your tongue at the harsh tone he was using. He was not in the mood to play around.

"I'm sick of you avoiding me. I'm tryna talk to you-- tell you I'm sorry and you're not fuckin' listening." He curses as he lets your arm go, now moving its way under your dress the caress your ass.

He leaned forward, ensuring the breath of his words would tickle the shell of your ear as he spoke. "Such a shame too, you're usually such a good listener. A good girl." An icy chill runs down your spine as you feel him flip up the fabric of your dress.

There's a laugh, one of amusement.

"No panties? Thought I was supposed to be going to dinner with my girlfriend, not a whore." Your lip is tucked between your teeth when you hear the sound of his belt unbuckling. "Huh? Where's all your backtalk now, dollface?" You whine, arching your back up against your boyfriend.

"Rafe please-" He doesn't let you beg before he's sliding himself between your soaked folds, letting himself be overcome by the wet, hot sensation of your contracting walls. "Tell me you forgive me," He all but purrs in your ear. His words paired with the way his cock stretched you so good, you almost said it.

Almost.

"Fuck you."

He made you eat those words. The way he pistoned his hips into yours over and over with no remorse filled the kitchen with the lewd sounds of flesh against flesh. Your acrylics scratched against the marble tops desperately searching for something to hold on to.

"Say it." He grits and you shake your head, pathetic moans slipping with each thrust he gives you. "N-no!" He angles his hips, the head of his cock perfectly hitting the sweet spot. "Oh fuck- Rafe! I'm-"

"I won't let you finish until you say it-"

"I forgive you, fuck! I forgive you. Let me cum, please please-"

He gives you everything you need to stumble over the edge of ecstasy and more, he finishes soon after you. His weight leaning on your back, feeling his chest heave as he catches his breath.

"The waiter called you an idiot, you know." You mumble, cheek still pressed against the counter. "I am an idiot. I'm sorry, baby. Let's put this gorgeous dress to good use and let me make it up to you."

[iamgonnagetyouback]

Would you write some thing for Charlie Dalton from dead poets Society with a female reader, where she tries to make him jealous with Pitts?

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀────۶ৎ playing with fire

synopsis: ever since the argument, you and charlie haven’t spoken. the silence is unbearable, so you do the one thing you know will get his attention—flirt with pitts. it works, but now you’re left wondering if playing with fire was really worth it content warnings: angst, jealousy, miscommunication

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ᡣ𐭩 words.ᐟ 884

You and Charlie hadn’t spoken in three days. The argument still echoed in your mind—the harsh words, the way his eyes had darkened when he stormed out. You had never fought like that before, and the silence that followed was almost worse than the shouting.

You were furious, but more than anything, you missed him. Missed his jokes, the warmth of his arm slung over your shoulders, the feeling that with him around, life was just a little less heavy. But instead of reaching out, you did the opposite. You decided to make him feel the sting of jealousy he made you feel during the argument. You needed to get under his skin the way he'd gotten under yours.

That’s where Pitts came in.

Pitts had always been a friend—kind, soft-spoken, and the perfect person to help you carry out your plan. It wasn’t his fault he got roped into this mess; he had no idea what you were really doing. You weren’t even sure he’d agree if he did know. So, you played it cool, asking him to sit with you during lunch, joking a bit too much, laughing a bit too loudly at his comments. You were doing everything to make Charlie notice.

And, of course, he did.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Charlie watching, jaw clenched, hands tight around the book in front of him. His eyes, normally bright with mischief, now burned with something darker, something that made your heart pound uncomfortably in your chest.

Pitts was in the middle of saying something when Charlie stood abruptly, knocking his chair back in the process. The entire table went silent, every one of the boys glancing between the two of you, feeling the tension thick in the air.

“Can I talk to you?” Charlie’s voice was low, but it carried across the room.

Your stomach twisted. This was what you wanted, wasn’t it? To get his attention, to make him feel what you had been feeling. So why did you feel so damn sick about it now?

You nodded and followed him out, the door shutting behind you with a heavy thud. The hallway was quiet, save for the faint sound of the boys murmuring inside the room.

“You think this is funny?” he hissed, turning to face you, his eyes blazing. “You think using Pitts like that was a good idea?”

You crossed your arms, trying to mask the guilt rising in your chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit,” Charlie snapped. “You’re trying to make me jealous.”

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” you fired back, not even trying to deny it anymore. “You deserved it after the way you acted.”

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth. “I didn’t deserve this,” he muttered, more to himself than to you. His face was a mix of anger and something else—something vulnerable that you rarely saw from him.

“Then what did you deserve, Charlie?” you asked, voice shaking despite your best efforts to stay composed. “To just let you walk all over me? To act like it didn’t hurt when you completely shut me out?”

“I wasn’t trying to shut you out,” he said, voice quieter now but still tense. “I just… I needed time. We were fighting, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. I didn’t want to say something I couldn’t take back.”

“Well, congratulations,” you bit out. “You managed to say nothing instead, and that hurt just as much.”

His eyes softened for a second, guilt flickering there before he looked away. “You’re right,” he said quietly, the anger draining from his face. “I was an ass. But why did you have to involve Pitts? You knew I’d—”

“I wanted you to feel how I felt,” you admitted, interrupting him. “I was hurt, and I thought if you saw me with someone else, maybe you’d understand.”

“God,” he muttered, rubbing his hand over his face. “You think I don’t understand? Every time I saw you laughing with him, it felt like—” He stopped himself, eyes flicking to yours, raw emotion bubbling up. “I get it, okay? But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.”

Silence stretched between you, heavy and full of all the things you hadn’t said yet.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” you whispered after a long moment. “I just didn’t know what else to do.”

Charlie sighed, stepping closer, his hands finding their way to your arms. He didn’t touch you like he was angry anymore, but like he was afraid you might slip away from him.

“I hate fighting with you,” he said, voice barely audible now. “I hate it so much. But don’t… don’t ever do that again. Don’t use someone else to get to me.”

Tears pricked the corners of your eyes, and you nodded. “I won’t. I’m sorry.”

His forehead dropped to yours, his breath shaky as his grip tightened on you. “I’m sorry too,” he murmured. “I should’ve never left that night. I should’ve talked to you.”

You leaned into him, letting the warmth of his presence calm the storm in your chest. The argument still lingered between you, but at least now you weren’t drowning in the silence anymore.

At least now, you weren’t alone in it.

© iamgonnagetyouback ⋆.˚ please do not copy, translate, or repost any of my work.

[dovesdreaming]

Sunshine and shadows

Summary: Harry finds sunshine embodied in you, the daughter of hades, the most unlikely person. He can’t seem to turn his attention away from you.

Masterlist

Requested

A/N: I’ve been away from this account for so long I came back to so many notifications 😅 but I’m going to try writing on here again as much as life will allow me to! Sorry for any comments, messages, requests and anything else I missed <3

-

The Isle of the Lost wasn’t a place for brightness. It thrived on shadows, trickery, and sharp edges. People there didn’t smile unless they were up to something and no one radiated happiness unless they were completely mad. So when Harry Hook first laid eyes on you, standing in the middle of the marketplace with a beaming smile as you haggled with a vendor, he immediately assumed one thing: you had to be some sort of con artist.

“Yer not from ‘round here, are ye?” he asked, his pirate accent thick as he stepped into your line of sight. You turned to him, your grin widening. “I am from here. Born and raised! But I don’t hang around the marketplace much. I usually stick to the Underworld with my dad”. “The Underworld, aye?” Harry raised an eyebrow, the hand holding his hook resting on his belt. “And who’s yer dad, then?” “Hades” you replied cheerfully, like you hadn’t just dropped the name of one of the most powerful villains ever.

Harry blinked, taken aback. You didn’t look like the daughter of the god of the dead. Your hair shimmered with light streaks, your clothes were colorful, and your demeanor was so warm that it felt like standing under a sunny sky. “Yer joking” You giggled. “Nope! I guess I don’t exactly fit the family aesthetic, huh?” You twirled a strand of hair around your finger and shrugged. “Dad says I’m a ‘walking paradox’”. Harry didn’t know what to say to that, which was rare for him. Instead, he watched as you paid the vendor no threats, no trickery, just a genuine thank-you and skipped off, humming a tune as you left the marketplace. He wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t stop thinking about you after that.

The next time Harry saw you, it was by chance or so he told himself. You were perched on the steps of the dilapidated school building, flipping through a tattered book. The sunlight managed to filter through the grime-streaked windows, making you look like you were glowing. “Ye always this cheerful, or are ye just puttin’ on a show?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. You looked up and smiled. “I’m always like this. It drives most people here crazy”. “I can see why” he muttered, though his lips twitched upward.

You tilted your head, studying him with curious eyes. “What about you? You don’t seem like the brooding type. You’ve got that whole pirate swagger going on, but I bet you’re secretly a softie”.

Harry barked out a laugh. “A softie? Me? Lass, I’ve been runnin’ this Isle since I was old enough to hold a sword”. “Maybe” you said, unconvinced. “But I think you’re nicer than you let on”. He rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the faint blush creeping up his neck. “Ye don’t know me”. “Not yet” you said brightly, and that was the moment Harry realized you weren’t just another Isle kid. You were different, dangerously so.

The two of you started spending more time together. At first, Harry convinced himself it was because he was curious about you, nothing more. But then he found himself looking forward to your impromptu visits, your endless optimism, and the way you seemed to see something good in him that no one else did. You’d drag him to the docks and point out shapes in the clouds, much to his annoyance. “That one looks like a ship!” you exclaimed one afternoon, lying on your back with your head resting on his lap. “It looks like nothin’” he replied, but his hand absentmindedly played with a strand of your hair. “Come on, use your imagination!”

“Pirates don’t use imagination, lass. We deal in facts”. You pouted, sitting up and poking him in the chest. “Well, you’re missing out”. Harry chuckled, grabbing your hand before you could poke him again. “Yer impossible, ye know that?” “And yet, here you are” you teased, leaning closer. He couldn’t argue with that.

As time went on, Harry found himself drawn to your warmth like a moth to a flame. You had a way of making the darkness of the Isle seem just a little brighter, and he couldn’t get enough of it. One night, you snuck into Ursula’s Fish & Chips to surprise him after a long day of work. “Lass, what’re ye doin’ here?” he asked, though his tone lacked any real annoyance. You held up a small bag. “I made cookies! Well, I tried to make cookies. They’re a little burnt, but they still taste okay!” Harry stared at you, completely dumbfounded. “Ye baked? For me?” “Of course!” you said, grinning. “You’re my best friend. Well, maybe more than a best friend…” He froze, his mind racing. “More?” You suddenly looked shy, which was a rare sight. “I mean… I like you. A lot. I figured you already knew that, though”.

Harry blinked, your words sinking in. He wasn’t used to people being so open about their feelings, let alone toward him. But as he looked at your hopeful expression, he realized he felt the same way. “Yer somethin’ else, sunshine” he said, pulling you into a hug. “And for the record, I like ye too”.

From that moment on, Harry was completely smitten. He’d never admit it out loud, but he adored how you balanced out his rough edges. You challenged him to see the world differently, and in return, he made sure you always felt safe and protected. Whenever someone on the Isle teased you for being too cheerful, Harry would step in, hook glinting in the light. “Say another word, and ye’ll be dealin’ with me”.

And when Harry’s temper got the best of him, you were there to calm him down with a gentle touch and a reassuring smile. “You’re not as scary as you think you are” you’d tease, and he’d roll his eyes, but your words always softened him. The two of you were an unlikely pair, a pirate and a ray of sunshine, but together, you made the Isle a little brighter and a lot more interesting. And Harry wouldn’t have it any other way.

[swiggity-swexual-i-am-asexual]

Danny Phantom doesn’t want to be king.

And the Observants also don’t want him to be king.

Frankly, very VERY few people want him to be king, dead or alive.

But opening the sarcophagus, even if it’s closed NOW, disrupted some magic protections. Until those can be fixed, summoning spells need to be answered by SOMEONE. Not all of summons, just like—once a month or so. Because if they don’t let that power outlet happen, all of those summon magics build up and suddenly Pariah Dark reigns again. Answering the summon basically dispels the built up magic, like opening a dam.

Again, Danny doesn’t WANT to do this either, but everyone else involved is a bad choice. He won’t even be named prince, because THEN that implies he COULD be king. He needs a title, of some kind, a position in the court, no matter how tenuous, so he can do the thing. Something where no one in their right or even WRONG mind would think to try to kill him for the position or try to marry him or something equally annoying to deal with.

So.

He becomes the Ghost Court Jester.

He even gets a fancy little outfit upgrade when he’s summoned, all black and white bell hats and shoes, a stupid little ruffle collar and black parachute pants, even face paint with a tiny dot of glowing neon green at the tip of his nose. The works. Better yet, if he hasn’t been ‘unsummoned’, his human form is just the exact same costume with swapped colors. He can change into his normal outfits, but until that circle has been disrupted, the next summon, or the next full or new moon, he’s stuck into the outfit when he first transforms from either form.

The Phantom Jester, which is a title more intimidating than Danny appears to be if we are to be honest, cracks jokes and never, EVER takes the summons seriously.

“Listen, I just had to get my hours in and it’s the last day of the lunar month, you got lucky I came at all.”

“I got the position by virtue of not wanting to go to Time Jail for a crime I technically didn’t commit and technically probably won’t but, well, eyes are the beholder of the grudge or something else equally cryptic to make you mad.”

“Is this a slumber party? … do you have cake? Bummer. Well, enjoy the bleeding walls then.”

“Whether I help you or not is entirely dependent on how well of a run down you can give me on this book I have to read that I have not at all touched.”

“Explain the reason in three sentences or less. I suggest less. And if it’s stupid I’m hitting you—oh you think this circle can contain me? Haha. It won’t.”

“Is that chicken blood? Why?? What did the chickens do to you?”

There are props in his costume but he literally never knows what he’s gonna pull out of his sleeves. Danny can’t even do a balloon animal and knows exactly zero card tricks, which would be more of an issue if the cards weren’t the size of a dinner plate. He barely even juggles and he’s honestly probably just utilizing his rarely-used telekinetic powers, but he does give people flowers if they haven’t been a total jerk. And if those flowers are like, rare and have seeds for propagation, well… he literally wouldn’t know. No, really, he doesn’t. He gets summoned by at least two ecology departments and he has no idea why, I mean, if he had a nickel—

He also had pies and is NOT afraid to use them.

[luceafarul-de-dimineata]

Show don't tell

Pairing: Gamigin × Afab!Mc × Lucifer

Lucifer decides to take a more active approach in teaching Gamigin about intercourse.

Afab!reader but they only use they/them pronouns.

It's been a month since Lucifer won the Phenomenon photo contest, but Gamigin has been thinking about what he saw since the day it happened. He would stay in the comunal shower staring at his erection and pondering wether or not he should masturbate to the image of his king pressed on Solomon's child. The angered screams of his brothers wanting to use the bathroom would be the only thing that would snap him from his confused trance.

Lucifer, keen as ever, knew Gamigin's head was in other places not his work or any particular conversation they were having. He had a few ideas as to what might be clouding the dragon's thoughts, but when he found him sneaking into Marbas' room to try and grab some Abaddon magazines, he knew what he was dealing with.

"Bring Adam's child here." Lucifer ordered to Gamigin who instantly blushed and ran to the gates. The dragon was so excited to see them again, maybe his king will mate again with the human and he'll be allowed to watch once more. All the scenarios that used to be reserved for his dreams were now flouding his mind as he made his way to the gate.

You were sitting peacefully in your room in Gehenna, doomscrolling on some random social media, your mind elsewhere. A familiar glowing light illuminated the other side of the door before Gamigin burst into it with an excited smile. "Get in loser, we're going to Paradise Lost!" His loud voice accompanied by the even louder jiggling bells of his staff filled the previously dead room. "That was an actually good use of a pop culture reference."

"Thanks, I practiced." And with that Gamigin grabbed your arm and brought you to the calm botanical gardens in Paradise Lost. "We have to go to Lucifer's private office which is... on the other side of the country. Sorry, since Bathin left we can only teleport patients here."

The walk was uneventful, you and Gamigin starting and stopping conversation on a whim. Before long you reach Lucifer private office. A huge room inside the hospital with two queen sized hospital beds. Lucifer was sipping some tea while discussing with Buer. When Gamigin opened the door, Buer bowed and left without a word. It was strange how well coordenated the people of Paradise Lost were, especially when it was about their beloved king.

"[Strip]" Lucifer commanded to no one in particular, but you could tell it was ment for you. You took off your clothes and Lucifer picked you up and set you on the bed with your legs spread out. Your pussy was on full display for the two demons in the room. The king walked to his desk and took some medical gloves from one of the drawers. Lucifer turned to Gamigin and signed for him to get closer.

"This is the outer labia" Lucifer messaged the flesh before using two fingers to spread your lips. "This is the inner labia. They're the primary reasons why I got a real exemple for this leason on the body. In all the text books you'll see the same pictogram, one that rarely matches anything actually fleshy." Gamigin nodded, taking mental notes of your vagina.

"Lucifer, did you really call me ov-" "[Silence]" You couldn't even finish your sarcastic remark before you lost your voice to Lucifer's divine power.

"Under the clitoris hood you can find the clitoris or clit as it is more commonly known. Some people can ejeculate only by stimulation to this bundle of nerves, and, fortunatly, this one is part of this category. Pay close attention to the vagina, see how it convulses when I rub the clitoris." Lucifer begins to demonstrate to the gawking eyes of the young dragon. You wanted to moan but your voice had other plans, only letting out small gasps and whimpers.

Lucifer picked up a bit of your wetness on his gloved finger and brought it to Gamigin's mouth. "Lick." He didn't need to use one of his usual orders, he knew Gamigin would obey him blindly even without magic. The long tongue of the dragon greedily lapped up all your juices from the lead doctor's hand.

"Good. Now grab a set of gloves and come here." Gamigin sprinted and swiftly put on the plastic. The older demon was rubbing slow circles around your clit, enough to keep you excited but not enough to cum. When Gamigin arrived, Lucifer pointed to your opening. "Slowly insert one finger inside. They have a lot of experience, but the muscles around return to a tight state after a while. We don't want to hurt the patient, so be careful with the first finger."

Red in the face, yet still curious as ever, Gamigin slowly wiggled a finger inside your hole. A chocked moan escaped your lips as you spread your legs widder, your body already trained to recieve pleasure. The foreign feeling of the gloves rubbing against your walls and the circling of your clit was making your head spin. Slowly, Gamigin started to thrust his finger inside you at the guidance of Lucifer.

You can feel your orgasm approaching, but before you could release, Lucifer and Gamigin moved away from you. You saw the dragon sucking the finger he used to pleasure you while he looked up at the fallen angel. They were talking about something, but you didn't care what it was, you just wanted to cum.

You try to move but can't. Damn it, Lucifer must have thought in advanced about your little escape attempt and ordered your body to stay. When you look back in front of you, you notice that only Gamigin was there. Before you could question where Lucifer was, you felt him grab your body and setting you on his lap. He was naked, his cockhead touching above your belly button.

"As you can observe, most demons and angels are quite bigger than humans could normally handle. Yet, it can be observed that this particular human can take more than usual." Lucifer slowly picked you up so your hole was hovering over his penis and he began to decend your body on his.

You claw at the bed sheets and try desprately to at least moan. Gamigin was staring wide eyed at the copulation of the two of you, sight that only made you more emberassed than you already were. Lucifer bottomed out inside you after the most agonising 30 seconds of your life. You felt so full and stiff, like a sock puppet being worn by its master. One of his hands was wrapped around your throat and the other was set on your chest to try and prevent you from laying on the bed for support. He needed Gamigin to see it, that's why you were here in the first place.

"Do you see the bulge? That's how deep I went inside of them. Come touch it." Gamigin took a step closer and nervously felt the slight bulge from within. His eyes shifted rapidly from the bulge to Lucifer to you as if he was trying to imprint this moment in his memory. The dragon's three horns were already getting damp as he tried to massage lower before Lucifer glared at him to back off.

"It's not your turn to touch them yet. You still lack experience. Now, come closer." Lucifer started to thrust. Nothing too powerful, but enough to make you orgasm every time his dick was fully in. The hand that was on your chest moved to your hair as Lucifer began to move your head towards one of Gamigin's horns.

"[Suck]" He ordered and you obeyed, too weak from overstimulation to even think about going against the first light. You took one of the horns between your lips and started to suckle on it. The sweet devil energy washing down your mute throat.

Lucifer was quiet and you were forbidden from making a sound, but Gamigin was making up for the silence. His loud moans, whimpers and whines filled the room, so loud that everyone in the country must know what was going on. The dragon started to futely thrust against the air, his knees weak as his knuckles turned white from how hard he was gripping the bed.

The mind-numbing pleasure Lucifer was delivering straight to your very core was starting to get overwhelming when the former angel began to pick up the pace of his thrusts. A hot stream of tears imitating the leaking of your slobbering cunt began to fall from your eyes. When Lucifer noticed you began to cry he manhandled you off him and Gamigin and he layed you directly on the table.

"They're prepared enough now. Shed yourself of your garments and try to mate with the human yourself."

Gamigin noded and fumbled with his pants, quickly taking off his pants and boxers in one fell swoop. He got on top of you, his hands on either side of your sholders and his knees just under yours. He set there confused as he looked up at Lucifer who moved closer to Gamigin to help him every step of the way.

"Good... now move in, slowly, dear, slowly." He cooed to Gamigin. Even though you were the overstimulated one, Gamigin acted like teen in heat. He was much smaller than Lucifer, but he was way less experienced. His whimpers were beautifully pathetic as he entered your loose pussy. Lucifer was petting his head the whole way through.

"Good boy. How does it feel?" Lucifer voice was so sweet and friendly, it almost sounded like he was another person.

Between sniffles and whines, Gamigin managed to speak up with a hoarse voice "B-better than I could even i-imagine. Th-thank you, L-Lucifer."

Lucifer nodded in acknowledgement and grabbed Gamigin's waist, one hand on his lower stomach and the other on his tail bown. He started to thrust Gamigin inside your puffy pussy. It didn't take long before the dragon got used to the rythm set by his king and he got lost in the feeling of your wet cavarns.

Lucifer took a step back and watched the two of you have a go at it. The scene was lewd, sure, but to Lucifer it was the sweet deflowerment of his little brother. He was temped to take a picture to add to his album.

The rythm set only a few minutes ago was getting sloppier and faster as he was trying to reach his first orgasm inside someone. Gamigin hugged your limp body as he rutted inside, his head pressed to the matress. He practicly screamed as he came inside you. He colapsed on your body as he tried to even out his breaths.

With his strong arms, Lucifer picked you two up and walked to the other bed and layed you there. His touch was the gentlest you've ever recieved from the former angel, but Gamigin seemed used to the affection. Gamigin opened his mouth to speak but Lucifer covered it. "Sleep you two. You need rest after such an intense session."

You didn't need to be told twice, though calling it sleep would be an understatement. You both practicly collapsed into your own personal dream world, silently snoozing in Lucifer's office.

[thinking-emoji]

Phannie acronym/initialism* dictionary

*no i'm not getting into what counts as an acronym or an initialism. I'm also not telling you how to pronounce any of these

Please refer to the original version of this post to check for updates!

7SC: 7 Second Challenge

AP: AmazingPhil

ATF: Above the Fray, former management agency

atiwttmotiimpaowwmtf: And this is when, through the magic of the internet, I met Phil. And obviously, we were more than friends...

BFTD: Back from the Dead

BIG: Basically I’m Gay

BWAGFEO: Basically We Are Gay For Each Other

BWYBMS: Better With You By My Side

COTY: Coming Out To You

D&P: Dan and Phil

DAP: Dan and Phil

DAPB: DanAndPhilBEATS

DAPC: DanAndPhilCRAFTS

DAPFTTT: Dan and Phil Finally Tell the Truth

DAPG: DanAndPhilGAMES

DAPGO: Dan and Phil Go Outside

DAPGOOSE: Dan and Phil Go Outside On Stage Event

DAPWEPINOF: Dan and Phil watch every phil is not on fire (sic)

DD: Dystopia Daily; rarely: The Drug Deal

DILM: Dan is leaving me

DINI: danisnotinteresting

DINK: 1. dumb twink; 2. double/dual income, no kids

DINKWAD: double/dual income, no kids, with a dog

DINOF: danisnotonfire

DINOK: Dan is not Ok

DITL: Day in the Life

DJH: Daniel James Howell

DnD: Daniel and Depression; in our circles rarely: Dungeons and Dragons

DnP: Dan and Phil

DNPB: DanAndPhilBEATS

DNPG: DanAndPhilGAMES

dnptwt: Dan and Phil twitter, the twitter phandom

DvP: Dan vs. Phil

DvPHTSD: Dan vs. Phil Hometown Showdown

ETVAHTCTE: Embrace the void and have the courage to exist

FDITL: Festive Day in the Life

FFVII: Final Fantasy VII

FFXIV: Final Fantasy XIV

GANP: Gay and Not Proud

GDM: gays do maths

GG: Guru Gossiper; old forum site with dnp threads

GTPWTW: Giving the People What They Want

GwF: Golf with Friends

HEH: Heart Eyes Howell

HL: Hard launch

HTBYFIS: How To Befriend Your Favourite Internet Stars

IDB: In Depth Bants

IGTOHGMMWGHTHBWPOTC: I got the octopus, he's gonna marry me, we're gonna have tentacle hooked babies with parrots on the crib

II: Interactive Introverts

IOM: Isle of Man

ISG: Internet Support Group

IT: InterTalent

IT2: It Takes Two

KTANE: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

LAP: LessAmazingPhil

LEL: Love Eyes Lester

M&C: Martyn and Cornelia

MINO: mullet in name only

NBSII: No But Seriously Imagine It

PCOU: Post Coming Out Universe

PGPIA: Post gay Phan in Australia

PHA: public horse announcement

PINOF: phil is not on fire

PMAVEDFAW: Phil makes a video every day for a week

PML: Philip Michael Lester

PPA: Phan Porn Addiction

PSL: Pumpkin Spice Latte

RPF: Real Person Fiction; rarely: Roleplay F...iction???

SAP: SuperAmazingProject

SGF: Saying Goodbye Forever

SSAYWD: some shit a youtuber would do (dystopia daily segment)

SWWTTY: Something we want to tell you

TABINOF: The Amazing Book is Not on Fire

TATINOF: The Amazing Tour is Not on Fire

TIIH: The Internet is Here

TIT: Terrible Influence Tour

TTLMT: Trying to Live My Truth

TTSTWMG: Trying to See Things Without My Glasses

UTA: United Talent Agency

VPDO: Viewers Pick Dan's Outfits

VPMO: Viewers Pick My Outfits

WAD: We’re All Doomed

WDAPTEO: What Dan and Phil text each other

wdaptpeo: what Dan and Phil text post each other

WITL: Week in the life

WIQY: Why I Quit YouTube

wt md if: “what’s that [sound]? My dignity, in flames” from “Drama Llama” on danisnotonfire

WWWY: When We Were Young festival

YWGTTN: You Will Get Through This Night

Works Cited:

[bbyboybucket]

Okay besties, today I’m giving you the run down of Buckys finances and networth. Because as I’ve said multiple times, he’s obscenely wealthy despite the fact you’d never know by looking at him.

Now first off, MatPat (my fav YouTuber who I’m so sad is retiring, literally adore him) did a mini theory a few years ago, calculating Bucky’s compound interest in previously earned money from WWII in his frozen bank account while he was presumed dead. It totaled out to $51,143. This is just the money that he earned in the 30s/40s and has grown interest on. This is assuming the money wasn’t given to his family and for the purpose of this post, we’ll go with that it wasn’t. However, MatPat didn’t account back pay, for disability pay, and other military pay/benefits.

So as a starter point, we’ll use $51,143. Next, I’m going to calculate his back pay from being MIA/POW because he would have been considered active duty. A MIA/POW is given back pay of 50% of the average per diem rate, for each day held in captivity. The 2023 rate is $157 per day, and I assume that would be similar for him because TFATWS takes place in early 2024. So that means Bucky would get $78.50 per day. There is no time limit on how far back pay can date to, so the entire span of Bucky’s capture is accounted for. As per the Smithsonian memorial in CA:TWS, Bucky was captured in 1944, making it exactly 70 years of capture. So, the back pay for those 70 years, is $2,005,675.

Next, we’ll look at the different forms of disability pay he would receive. I’m only going to look at canonical, confirmed disabilities for this. Bucky would be classified under SMC-N 1/2, where one arm was amputated above the elbow and/or was amputated so close to the shoulder that a prosthetic cannot be worn. Now obviously, Bucky does have a prosthetic but it is implanted into his body, as a majority of his left shoulder seems to have been amputated. Since he is single and has no dependents, aka has no children and is not taking care of any family, and he is still able to work, he would be receiving $6,182 a month.

He also has PTSD, which he would most likely get a 70% percent disability rating for, as 100% is very rare to receive for mental and is considered to be extreme impairment in daily functioning. (He could recieve 80 or 90% but I’m being generous here and trying to give the most realistic assessment). All this means, his mental illness pay for PTSD would be $1716 a month.

It’s also canonical that he has brain damage via The Wakanda Files book. We know in that book, he’s described to have pretty severe TBI. However, we don’t know anything of his symptoms and the book only describes of the brain scan looks bad and that the serum is keeping him from being more impaired. The VA uses 10 areas of impairment as criteria to rate the severity of TBI disability. The only canonically confirmed area that we know Bucky deals with is memory. Since we know no other symptoms and we know he’s not extremely impaired, I’m going to estimate he’d be rated at 50%. Which would give him a compensation of $1075 a month.

Now, we can assume Bucky is retired from the military. From being a retired sergeant, we can assume his monthly pension is around $5,482.

Reminder, all VA pay is untaxed. All of these together, his monthly salary is $14,455. However, this is not including disability back pay. The VA sometimes will pay a lump sum from back from when the diagnosis was made. Assuming the Wakandans were involved in Bucky’s trial and pardon, I’d assume some of his medical records were brought in as well. Back dating to when he was being treated in Wakanda, that’s 7 years, however we don’t know if the blip would count so for that reason, I’ll say 2 years. So, his lump sum would be around $215,352.

Now, endgame was in October, six months before TFATWS, meaning it took place around March/April. Within, the span of October to March, Bucky woulda have accumulated $86,730. Because even if his pardon wasn’t official yet in October, he would still receive payment for that month.

Finally, in grand total, all of this is $2,358,900. His networth would be in a similar, slightly lower range. Meaning: yes, Bucky Barnes is a millionaire and nobody would ever guess.

[superfallingstars]

Personally I think jily is supposed to be idealized (like how James and lily were idealized) to Harry. James gets knocked of his pedestal in swm and so does jily by Harry questioning if his father forced his mother into marriage. Later when talking to lupin and Sirius James and Jily get a slight defense and Harry is back to feeling alright but with the knowledge that things weren’t perfect.

I personally don’t read Jily as abusive (even though I read James as being abusive to snape at school, but I don’t think that violent, physical behavior was extended to Lily) but I definitely don’t read them as a “good” couple (whatever that means). I think you can read it in many different ways given there is so little of them and I think an interpretation that their relationship wasn’t the healthiest is perfectly plausible with the scant information we’re given.

Yeahhhh that’s probably what JKR intended. James and Lily are the fridged parents who are dearly mourned and missed, and as a result, their flaws are completely smoothed over in everyone’s memories. But in Snape’s Worst Memory, Harry learns the hard lesson that things aren’t always what they seem, and that nobody is perfect, not even his dead father. Hurrah.

My problem with this is that I think it’s very boring, LOL. Like it really is probably exactly what JKR intended (given her middle-of-the-road takes on every moral and political question that happens in these books), but man, it feels like such a cop out. James basically ruins Snape’s life for no reason, and the conclusion we’re meant to draw from this is just, well, people are complicated! NO!!!! Bad answer!!! Like, Snape also did some terrible things, but at least he spends a ton of pages actively suffering/atoning for his sins. But James, on the other hand, is only somewhat implied to have changed maybe slightly a little bit somewhere off-page, and we just have to take #1 James Potter fanboy Sirius Black and serial understater Remus Lupin at their word. So if James was supposed to be “redeemed” – or even just excused – wow, it really doesn't work for me. You can't go as dark as "protagonist questions if his father forced his mother into marriage" and then just brush it off like no big deal, Joanne! And it’s so frustrating, because all it would've taken to fix this would've been to show James being a good person instead of just telling the reader that he was one (proof: trust me?). Ugh.

So because of all that, I agree that from what we’re given, it’s quite difficult to read Jily as “good.” We rarely see them interact, and when we do, James’s behavior is wayyyy too similar to the trope of “terrible guy eventually gets the girl even though she seems to hate him with every fiber of her being because his persistence and not taking no for an answer is just toooo romantic to resist.” Which sucks, lol. It feels like JKR is basically being like, “eh, James was young and dumb, whatever” and giving him a huge out for all the grief he caused Snape (and Lily, for that matter) – and she expects that the reader will agree that that is a legitimate excuse for his behavior, and by extension think that it's reasonable for Lily to forgive and eventually marry him. And man, I am just not sure if that is enough to convince me. (And evidently, I'm not alone, considering the “Jily is abusive” meta post that likely sparked this ask!)

With that said, I agree that it’s a stretch to say that James was abusive (or even implied to be abusive) toward Lily. It’s not a completely unfounded take – it could probably be written well in a fic, and even be canon compliant – but you would really have to extrapolate that dynamic from the little information we’re given (as you pointed out). And more importantly (at least, re: that meta), I don't think JKR intended that interpretation at all.

Personally, I just don’t think it makes sense for the narrative for James and Lily to have been in an abusive relationship. And by the narrative, I mean Harry. If Jily is an abusive (or even just bad) relationship, that would have massive ramifications for the way Harry sees his parents. Ideally he would have to come to terms with that at some point – I don’t think it makes sense for James’s and Lily’s relationship to have been this way and not have significantly affected Harry – but imo JKR clearly does not want to deal with that. Like you said, the point of SWM – aside from foreshadowing Lily and Snape’s relationship – was to knock James off his pedestal and basically go, See, nobody’s perfect. <3 And the story is not interested in engaging with James’s behavior on a level any deeper than that lol. Which ok, I don’t love it, but if we’re not going to spend time dealing with morally gray James, then it doesn’t make sense for him to be even more morally gray (or rather, have him fall face first over the line into becoming a downright despicable person) by making him abusive toward Lily.

So that's my Doylist analysis: no way in hell did JKR intend Jily to be an abusive relationship, but she also didn't do a good enough job defending and/or redeeming James after SWM, so we're just left to speculate about how much he really changed. Still, I don't think "JKR is a bad writer" is a very satisfying answer. After all, the only reason that I'm engaging with this text in the first place is because I'm a fan of it, so I think it's also worth looking at it from a Watsonian perspective – or at least, to accept the events of the book as they're written and try to fill in the blanks. (Imo so much of the fun of fandom is trying to fill in those blanks in a satisfying way, to expand upon a character and try to reach a more interesting conclusion than the author did... And I would be remiss not to mention that, because it undoubtedly influences the way that I (and probably also you, if you're on this side of tumblr) engage with the text.)

So for me, as a Marauders era fan, I’m faced with: ok, I don’t really like the idea of these two characters together, but they canonically got together, and I think the story is better because they got together, and it’s better if they genuinely like each other, and it all had to happen somehow – so how can I explain it in a way that both makes sense with the story and is satisfying to me? And my answer to that is twofold.

First, I imagine that James was not always quite such an awful guy (as in, not always as showy, combative, and cruel as he was in SWM). After all, there is a glimmer of goodness in him when he chooses to save Snape’s life during the Prank, revealing that somewhere deep down, he does in fact have a moral compass. And second, I think that he has to have changed. And I mean a genuine change – one that might not have resulted in completely different behavior (after all, he was still hexing Snape through his seventh year) – but regardless, something that makes him seriously reflect on his actions and reconsider his motivations. His behavior in SWM is just too inexcusable for him to get with Lily – partly because Lily is generally framed as a Very Good Person, and partly because regardless of how she is framed, James was still awful to her – without any self-reflection or growth. Of course, the problem then becomes explaining this in a satisfying way!

And I have some ideas in mind – but they’re definitely more speculation than fact, and omg this post is long enough already. Luckily, I received another ask on this topic, so I will save my self-indulgent headcanons for that.

There is one last thing I want to mention, which is (part of) my reasoning for why James may not have been such a bully all the time and why I think he has the capacity for change, and it's been nagging at me ever since I read that meta post (which again, presumably started this whole thing). I think one thing that bothers a lot of people (including me!) about James is that it seems like he chooses to pick on Snape in SWM because of Lily’s presence. He wants to show off to her, so he keeps looking over to the girls by the water, he ruffles his hair, he deepens his voice, and he tries to get her attention by targeting Snape. Following this logic, we can presume that James wouldn’t have done any of this if Lily hadn’t been there – and that’s the part that got me thinking. I have to wonder if Lily was perhaps not the only person who James wanted to impress in that scene… in fact, I think it’s incredibly likely that James would have acted differently if the Marauders hadn’t been there! (Harry has "the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James would have stopped showing off," and Sirius saying that he's bored is the inciting incident for James spotting Snape...!) Yes it’s going to be a James masculinity analysis because this is what happens every time I talk about these fucking characters apparently. So idk, stick around if you’re into that.

And of course, thank you for the ask!

[kalinara]

I've been contemplating why many of the Throuple or "Scogean" fics and meta that I see don't really work for me. This is not intended to target any one author or commenter. This is just my own personal, general opinion.

And I think my main issue is that I look for Throuple fic/meta that specifically deals with the 616, that is, the main comic book, continuity. And, for all that this is where the Throuple is actually canon*, it's actually pretty rare to find fic/meta about this specific dynamic.

(*No one's buying the eleventh hour denial, Marvel)

I think what a lot of Throuple writers don't realize about the 616 continuity is that Scott, Jean and Logan really are not a ship of two well adjusted individuals and their weird self-loathing, feral pet that they've coaxed in from the cold.

That dynamic may work for some of the other continuities, and that's perfectly cool, don't get me wrong, but if we're specifically talking about 616, the dynamic is ultimately very different.

I mean, yes, Logan is Logan. And he's got a lot of trauma and issues under his belt. He's also about 200 years old and has learned a shit ton of coping mechanisms. He's not always friendly, he's not always civilized, and occasionally he's an outright judgmental asshole. But he's mostly figured out his own shit.

Now let's look at Scott Summers and Jean Grey for a minute. The first and best of Xavier's child soldiers.

Jean Grey is the living embodiment of a god, who is constantly dealing with the fact that a loss of control on her part could and has led to billions of deaths. She has to deal with the fact that she dies, a lot and basically every time she comes back it's to a very different world than she left where everyone is yet again in some new bizarre crisis. She's constantly trying to relearn herself, her surroundings, her relationships, and atone for the things done when she'd lost control.

(A.X.E. X-Men #1)

Scott Summers is arguably the more normal of the three. He's not a god or an immortal, right? But this is a man who, in his last canonical nervous breakdown kicked Xavier from the mansion (twice), went from being headmaster of the School, to the benevolent dictator of the entire mutant race, to being an outlaw revolutionary that decorates college dorm rooms Che Guevara style and ended up on the cover of Rolling Stone even as SHIELD, the Avengers, and pretty much every world government wanted him captured or dead. Oh, and he thought it was a great idea to try to teach a new batch of students in the fucking left over WEAPONS X facility.

He's a little more stable now, admittedly. I'm not quite sure what to make of the whole outsourcing his moral accountability to his wife bit. But I'm sure the panic attack and the fact that he's now living in an abandoned Sentinel factory are not something we really need to worry about.

(Uncanny X-Men #527)

Obviously, everyone is going to have their own read on the throuple, but to me, the throuple is less two well adjusted people with their poor feral friend, and more one somewhat sane old dude who is dating a tormented goddess, and a modern version of Alexander the Great perpetually on the verge of a psychotic break.

I'm just saying, in the 616 continuity, LOGAN is the well-adjusted one.

[mixedcontents]

I think Tyrion and his barely sleeping and spending his nights distracted by women or books until he exhausts himself enough to sleep and even then not for long is 100% his chronic pain and I appreciate that about his character if not for his pov chapters would we as readers pick up from other characters that he is in intense chronic pain all the time? Probably not but then again it's rare for anyone to see someone in intense chronic pain even if they know they are and be able to tell people in chronic pain are SO good at masking it (though it comes out in ways that are obvious when one knows what to look for) like Tyrion is in intense pain even before he is further disabled by battles and people in chronic pain need more sleep ok average than healthy people and then there's the brain fog and irritability that chronic pain people have to deal with and even so Tyrion handles all three extremely well though at times he can't control his temper and snaps and then immediately tries to get it under control again and apologizes idk I hate what Tyrion did to Shae and Tysha (though let's be real he had little choice in the matter and has spent the years since thinking of her trying to convince himself he hates her ect) I believe he's a character who not only cares for people not just the 'important' people but the small folk the disabled the deformed ect and I really believe he could have a really interesting redemption and spend the rest of his life as hand or possibly a ruler/lord working to redeem himself and try and make up for all the worngs he and his family has done

On the other hand we had the mountain that rides Clegane who we also know is in intense chronic pain (migraines) and yet he lashes out and purposely inflicts as much damage and pain as possible on others even his own younger brother he has spent his life causing others pain at worse killing them at best he has no want to be or do good he has no desire for redemption no nor chance at it now that he is well not dead but rather Qyburn's creature of some sort (hinted at)

Idk if there is one thing i love about grrm it's his writing has many a disabled character main characters with their own pov chapters and non ones that are explicitly shown and stated to be disabled and ones that are only hinted at and I just really appreciate that hus disabled characters are as varied and alike in their disabilities as they are as people/characters but also how we see that affect their lives the perception of them as characters/people and what they do from Bran and Jaime to Tyrion and the Clegane brothers and many many more

[aphroditelovesu]

⸻ The Lost Queen - V ⸻

— summary: You woke up near a military camp without remembering how and why you got there, you didn’t understand why they were dressed like ancient Greeks, all you knew was that you weren’t safe and you needed to get out of that place as soon as possible. Too bad for you that you found yourself attracting unwanted attention from the Macedonian King and he won’t let you go so easily.

— genre: yandere, dark!au.

— warnings: time travel, obsessive and possessive behavior, murder, mention of torture, kidnapping, angst, fluffy (very rarely), dub-con, eventual smut, pregnancy.

— pairing: yandere!alexander the great x female!reader, yandere!generals x female!reader.

— word count: 2,370.

— tag list: @devils-blackrose, @faerykingdom, @hadesnewpersephone, @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 , @kadu-5607, @zoleea-exultant, @borntoexplore11-blog, @silmawensgarden, @elvinapandra, @jennifer0305 , @his0kaswife, @animetye-23.

— the lost queen series masterlist.

Chapter 5

You looked at Perdiccas fondly, feeling happy and relieved to have an ally, no, a friend in the midst of all this chaos.

''Can we come in?'' He asked smiling gently.

''Yes.''

Perdiccas took your hand and led you to the tent. Opening the flap of the tent, you entered along with Perdiccas and they were greeted by an impressive sight.

Even though they were in the middle of a military camp and in the middle of nowhere, it was still well prepared and decorated. There was a large table set up where everyone else was sitting and chatting like old friends. You looked at the food and there was a wide variety, to your surprise, fruits, breads, cakes, lots of wine, water and other foods that you couldn't identify at the moment.

It was really well done.

Everyone stopped talking the moment you started walking to the table. There were two free chairs, one beside a black-haired and bearded general and one beside another you had recognized as the one who had insulted your outfit a few hours ago. You snorted at the thought and, letting go of Perdiccas's hand, you sat down in the chair beside the black-haired and bearded general. Perdiccas frowned a little, but took the chair next to his friend.

You, aware of the stares, felt sulky and embarrassed. You coughed a little and looked at the general beside you who smiled at you.

''Hello...'' You murmured softly.

He chuckled a little and leaned in close to you, ''Hello.'' His voice was deep and amused.

You nodded, but didn't look away. You knew it was rude not to look at someone when they were talking to you.

''Your name is (Y/N), isn't it?'' It wasn't a question, but you nodded. ''Nice to meet you. I am Cleitus.''

Oh. You blinked in surprise, remembering him from the history books. Cleitus the Black, a veteran general who fought under Philip and Alexander after Philip death.

''It's a pleasure and an honor.'' You said, your voice a little louder. If it were possible, Cleitus' smile widened even more.

You just smiled, not knowing what to say. But honestly, what could you talk about? All of this still felt like a dream, a nightmare, but it wasn't. You was over 2,000 years in the past and was dealing with people who are already dead to you. So how was you supposed to carry on a conversation?

You had never been a very communicative person, although you had her friends, you were quite quiet and never bothered. Everyone understood you and it never bothered you that she was a person of few words.

But now...

Now you didn't know what to do. You needed to say something, you needed to because everyone was looking at you like you were an alien. Not that you judged them, because you was quite different from them. Maybe not in appearance, because as far as you was aware, you are human and looked like one, but... Your way of acting and the clothes you had worn earlier were obviously not common.

You needed to leave soon.

You cleared your throat and grabbed a glass of wine, sipping a little and, in a weak attempt to break the ice, you said, ''The wine is excellent.''

You stole a look at Perdiccas and smiled when you saw the explicit approval in his eyes.

''Indeed, it's excellent.'' You turned towards the voice and frowned a little when you realized it was the man who had called you a whore earlier. You didn't know his name, yet, but you could already tell the two wouldn't get along.

''Why, Craterus, be polite!'' You looked at the other man, Ptolemy, you recognized him, who had warned the one had called her a whore.

Craterus. She mentally rolled her eyes, of course it had to be him.

Craterus bared his teeth at the other man, ''I'm nice, Ptolemy.''

''Where are you even from, (Y/N)?'' You turned to look at who had caught her eye. You smiled at him, it was Hephaestion.

''I'm from...'' You thought for a while, ''a very far place, as I said before.''

Hephaestion smiled at you and his face got hot. Why did he have to be handsome?

''Yes, I remember.'' He looked at Alexander who was drinking wine.

He smiled at his friend, that is, if they were just friends, and turned his gaze to you.

''But we would like to know the name, ma'am.''

You frowned and sighed. Fine, if they wanted to know the name of your country, they would, but it wouldn't do any good.

''I'm from (C/N).''

''(C/N)? Never heard of it.'' He replied, looking at you intently.

''It's a very distant and unimportant place, not worth mentioning.'' You lied, hoping he would stop asking questions.

Hephaestion hummed and decided not to ask any more questions, picking up his glass of water, and drinking its liquid. You noticed that he was the only one who didn't drink wine at the table.

You grabbed your wine and drank one more time, sure you needed alcohol to settle your nerves from that night. Getting drunk wasn't the smartest decision, you knew that, but a little drinking wouldn't hurt.

It's not like you're going to fall down drunk, right?

Drinking really hadn't been your best choice.

Was it your tenth glass of wine? You had stopped counting after the seventh.

You weren't exactly weak to liquor, but this wine was pretty strong. It was sweet, which only increased your liking for it and you had lost count of the glasses you had had.

If you were sober you might have noticed Alexander's eyes on you.

''So, (Y/N)...'' Your mind, numbed by drink, had hardly noticed that it was Alexander himself who was speaking to you. ''How is this your Birthplace? (C/N), I believe?''

You muttered something unintelligible.

''What did you say? Repeat.'' He ordered, not taking his eyes off you.

You looked up from your plate and looked at the King who was staring at you as if he could read your thoughts. You frowned and pouted, but replied, ''It's a nice spot…''

''Nice?'' He looked more than a little dissatisfied with your answer.

''It's sparsely populated and unknown... No big deal, my King...'' Your voice was slurred with drink, but you were still sane enough not to say anything that might give you away.

''And the location?'' Alexander persisted.

''Very far away.''

''How far?''

You growled. Was this a fucking interrogation? Something clicked in your mind and you grabbed some water, thinking about your answer.

''Very far away.''

''If it's so far away, how did you end up near my camp?''

Fuck.

''I do not remember.''

''Do not you remember? Do you remember where you are, your name and you remember how to speak greek but you don't know how you ended up in my camp?'' He sneers and you feel like flying at his neck.

Fortunately for Alexander's neck, Hephaestion decided to intervene.

''Alexander! I don't think this is going to go anywhere, we're not in an interrogation and it's obvious that (Y/N) is drunk. Asking questions will do no good at this point.''

Alexander looks at Hephaestion and sighs, drinking his wine again. He must have had a pretty good intolerance for alcohol because he had drunk more than you and was quite capable of acting the way he wanted to.

You drank five bottles of alcohol with your friends and you were almost falling drunk on the sidewalks.

Your friends... Your heart ached at the thought of them. How would they be? Would May and Andrew still be their usual melodrama? Did they miss you?

With these thoughts about your friends, a wave of depression washed over you. You shrank back in your chair and that caught Cleitus's attention.

''Hey girl, are you alright?'' He was just as drunk, if not more, than you were.

''Yes... Just some bad thoughts.'' You mumbled and took a piece of bread.

''I know how it is...'' He frowned, ''Sometimes I have some bad thoughts too. It's horrible, isn't it? You would think a general like me would be above that, but I'm not.''

You were surprised by his sincerity.

''No, I don't think...'' You shrugged, feeling a little more sober, ''We all have bad moments and terrible thoughts. It's human, isn't it?

Cleitus looked at you and smiled lovingly.

''Yes, you're right.'' He brought his hand to your cheek and squeezed it gently, you looked at him in surprise but didn't interrupt him. ''Your skin is smooth and unscarred...''

You mentally scoffed. You weren't a soldier, so it was obvious you didn't have any battle scars.

Without waiting for your answer, Cleitus removed his hand and looked into your eyes. You felt something inexplicable when those eyes as black as night stared at you.

''I liked you, (Y/N). I hope we can be friends.''

You looked at him delighted and felt your eyes wet. Friends... You liked the sound of that.

''I'd really like that.'' He smiled at you and drank some more of his wine. You looked at his plate and picked up a grape, biting into it heartily.

Friends. That was good. It would be good for you to make friends.

The hours passed and you had forgotten all your sorrows, your fears as you ate, drank and talked.

You felt like you had known them for years and you liked it.

Cleitus and Nearchus were two comedies. The two of them together were like comedians, cracking jokes and laughing. You had even gone so far as to squirt wine through your nose after they made you laugh.

At that point, you felt more comfortable and happy.

Really happy.

You could get used to it, with them if everything was different. It was a disturbing thought, but true.

Everything was calm and fun. With the loud laughter and the strong smell of alcohol, but it didn't last long.

Not when Alexander, visibly drunk and not a little, decided to open his mouth.

''I wish to marry (Y/N).''

The entire table fell silent and everyone looked back and forth between you and Alexander.

Your heart soared at his words.

Cleitus looked at you and frowned at your reaction. That wasn't right and he decided to protect you.

The previously happy environment had become hostile and not even the music masked the discouragement everyone felt at Alexander's announcement.

You closed your eyes, feeling like digging a hole like ostriches did and hiding your head. Or to cry. Either option would do.

This was too much to handle. You hadn't even been there for a whole day and a mess was about to break out. You just hoped it didn't end in anyone's murder.

How foolish you were to think you could live in peace for a while.

''What do you mean, Alexander?'' Hephaestion asked, sure he had misheard.

''What you heard.'' The King replied to his best friend, drinking some more of his wine. You frowned, but wisely kept quiet. It was better not to say anything at the moment.

''Did drink rob you of all your good judgment, my King?'' Cleitus sneered loudly and shamelessly, drawing everyone's attention.

Alexander's head turned towards Cleitus and he glared at the general with seething hatred. Your stomach lurched and nausea hit you, an urge to throw out all the food you'd consumed tonight. By god, or gods, you didn't know that much more, but you prayed to anyone that no one was killed.

Especially Cleitus.

You had seen Alexander's maddening gaze and felt dread. Not for you, but for others. For the people you came to enjoy the company of after this feast.

''Do you dare question me, Cleitus?'' Alexander's drunken voice could carry through the entire tent and you flinched at his tone.

Cleitus didn't answer, just sipped his wine and picked up a lone grape from his plate, popping it into his mouth. He didn't say anything, but disapproval was visible in the veteran general's gaze.

And that was enough for Alexander.

Everyone alarmed when Alexander rose from his chair, furious, and pointed an accusing finger at the general sitting next to him.

''I suggest you hold your tongue, Cleitus.'' Alexander snarled, placing callused hands on his waist. It would have been a comical sight, you supposed, since he wasn't very tall, but that didn't stop him.

No, it definitely wasn't an impediment.

Alexander might not be a tall man, but he was intimidating. And that was understandable, he had been trained since he was a child and was a warrior, a general and a King created to kill and conquer and destroy those who stand in his way without remorse.

He was a dangerous man. A man who could make you die in the most painful ways. And yet here you were, sharing a meal with him like it was nothing.

Cleitus rose from his chair, his face twisted into a grimace.

''Do you want to marry her?'' He pointed at you, and if you weren't scared, you could tell you were offended. ''Are you that drunk, Alexander?''

Alexander pushed his chair to the side and your eyes widened as he grabbed a sword from his waist.

''Think carefully about your next words.'' Alexander growled loudly and raised his sword, pointing it at the general at his side.

But Cleitus didn't listen to reason, he picked up his own sword and everyone's eyes widened as he placed it on the table.

The others rose cautiously, Ptolemy holding Cleitus by the arm with help from Nearchus, while Hephaestion and Perdiccas held Alexander. Cassander and Philotas watched all this with neutral, amused expressions.

Craterus and Parmenion looked tempted to intervene, but they didn't budge.

You got up from the table and tried to calm Cleitus. You couldn't let him die, not like this...

But he didn't care and neither did Alexander. The moment the general raised his sword, Alexander broke free of his friends' grip and lunged at the general. You screamed as Alexander thrust his sword into Cleitus' abdomen, and Cleitus screamed in pain and fell against you and those still holding him.

Alexander had stabbed Cleitus.

You didn't know what to do. You needed to help him, you needed to save his life. Cleitus shouldn't die now.

You wouldn't let him die now.

— lady l: ...I don't have anything to declare, except that maybe this wasn't the drama you expected? This is just a taste of the real drama to come! I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for reading and drink water!!

[theatercatklio]

OC Intro - Klio

(click image for better quality)

"I'll change this world for the better. Doesn't everyone want to live in a fairytale?"

RARITY: ✦✦✦✦✦

⭒♬ Titles/Aliases⭒› Lady of the Theater, High Court Magician, Patron of Heros

⭒𝄞 Path⭒› Emanator of Enigmatia

⭒♫ Faction⭒› The Grand Promethean Theater

⭒♬ Combat Info⭒› 5 Star, Fire/Harmony

⭒𝄞 Species⭒› Grimalkin (species info to be added)

⭒♫ Planet⭒› Bacharach - Laurel Wreath Galaxy (planet info to be added)

@miscellaneouslibrary @raven-starlight hope you don't mind me tagging you two, but you both seemed interested in knowing more about her :D

COMBAT:

pretend XX is a number I'm too lazy to figure out what it would realistically be T-T

⭒𝄞 Basic ATK⭒› Cutting Words

Deals Fire DMG equal to 50% of Klio’s ATK.

⭒♫ Skill⭒› Lights, Curtains, Action!

Increases the ATK of a single ally equal to XX% of Klio’s ATK for two turns. At the same time, Advance Forward the targeted ally’s action by 20%

⭒♬ Ult⭒› Final Bow in a Full House

Creates a field that lasts for two turns, decreasing by one at the start of Klio’s turn. While the field is active, increase DMG done by allies by XX%. Additionally, while an ally’s energy is full inside the field, gain Patronage, lasting until the Ult is cast. Ults cast while Patronage is active use up less energy and deal increased damage.

⭒𝄞 Talent⭒› A Tough Act to Follow

After a character uses their Ult, their next attack deals XX% more DMG 

⭒♫ Technique⭒› Shifting Stargazer

....I'll figure it out later its late and I'm tired

LORE

Introduction

A playwright and Emanator of Enigmata who wants to make the world more like one of her shows (really taking the phrase "all the world's a stage" literally huh) She's revered for her storytelling and her status in high society as a patron of heros.

Personality

Eccentric and dramatic, Klio usually follows her heart over her head. She's very emotional and rarely seen being calm or serious. At worst, she's childish with a dangerous amount of power at her fingertips. At best, she's playful and happily uses her status to uplift others.

Character Stories

(to be added)

Voicelines

Voice Claim - ok imagine Furina's voice but 1) slightly deeper/mature and 2) slightly Italian boom done

First Meeting: "I've been keeping up on your journey, Trailblazer. If you ever want a stage adaptation, you must let me know at once!"

Greeting: "I've been running into you a lot...hey, this isn't a ploy to get free tickets, huh?

Parting: "Leaving already? Well, if you must leave so soon, make sure you come to see my next show!"

About Self - Book and Pen: "The book records and the pen rewrites- it's simple enough."

Chat - Intelligentsia Guild: "While the Genius Society is too busy to focus on me, and the IPC likes me enough to leave me alone, some members of the Guild have nothing better to do than bother a lady on her rest days- the day they stop messing with me will be the day I keel over dead!"

Annoyances: "Too often I have to wake up early for events- why can't they set them for later in the day, when people aren't asleep?"

Hobbies: "In addition to writing the scripts, I compose the music for my plays as well. It's rather relaxing, you should try it sometimes."

About Mr. Reca: "We disagree on some points, but I can always count on him to give me good feedback- that's why he always gets the first invite to my premieres."

About Dr. Ratio: "What was it he called me? Ah, yes- "a hedonistic fool who delights in obscuring the truth." Well, I was made an Emanator, and he hasn't gotten so much as a glance- let me ask, which one of us is the true fool?"

About Duke Bellerophon: "How he can manage to be that calm all the time is beyond me. If I had to sit through that many useless meetings I'd go insane!"

About Duke Bellerophon (2): "He's rather quiet, but I guess anyone would be considered quiet when compared to me, hehe."

Trivia/Fun Facts

⭒› She was originally designed to be a Masked Fool who was Elio's sister, and her first design was purple and black instead of red, white, and gold

⭒› VERY picky with her food, she's very gourmet and dislikes processed food. Her favorite food is sweet crêpes, she likes how versatile they are.

⭒› Despite being powerful magically, she's a coward, squeamish, and bad at most kinds of physical combat. No wonder she gets other people to fight for her!

⭒› Her last name is Vittorio, meaning winner or conqueror. She picked it out for herself after seeing it on the inside cover of her book.

⭒› Her and her planet are based on the Baroque period, specifically Baroque Italy/Rome, France, and Germany.

[splinterofpandora]

Batman is dead.

I know it sounds vulgar.

Oh, you didn't like one comic book and now the character doesn't exist for you. Come on, we go through this every day! Stop clowning, you're not Joker!

But they actually did it in 2023. A year later, I realized exactly what happened. And I think I know how to change it. Hold on, because I'm going to tell you who Bruce Wayne was, and why death was good for him.

Chapter one. This is where the story begins.

Ok, we all know that. The alley. The boy next to his parents' bodies. No one hears his tears. A promise by the bedside. The training. Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot. The Bat.

We rarely talk about Thomas and Martha because it was never their story. It was the story of a boy who found the meaning of life...no, at this stage, of existence...in fighting Evil. It was 1940s. The early years of The Dark Knight, in terms of plot, emphasized the common person's ability to overcome challenges and help those who cannot defend themselves. At first, the reader saw a “cool and intimidating” costume. The vigilante in action.

However, diving into the text we find that this Frightening Guardian is very...soft. He stays and tends to the victims of crime. Doesn't let people get discouraged. He is feared by criminals. He doesn't mind much that the police can do it either. But he's not an enemy of the society.

Later, Robin shows up. Alfred. Batwoman. Batgirl. The League...

But Batman remains their friend too. And so does Bruce Wayne, who...started life in the 1950s.

Chapter Two. Creating Identity.

Until about the early 70's(I'm using decades for simplicity, the actual timeline is a bit different) Batman's adventures explored the big issues people care about - corruption, war, crime. The wrapping of this was removed from reality. Took the form of evil clowns, spies in funny costumes, even aliens. Comics didn't want to pour complex things over our heads in their purest form.

But the important thoughts, the problems themselves and their possible solutions, along with the dreams of Mankind (flying cars, new discoveries in medicine, exploring the world), have always been the theme of the issue. For this reason, most of the dialog was directed at external things. The characters showed themselves through their actions.

We saw that Bruce can truly doubt, worry, and do crazy things. But he always cares about his young partner and wants to give him the best of what he himself has. Often in his interactions with Dick, Wayne shows pride in his son, his support. Many times he even risked Batman's life to save Grayson. And yes, the idea of separating man and suit, outside of formalities, didn't exist back then.

The idea of a billionaire wasn't a big deal yet, and 99% of the problems were solved by the masked vigilante, while the rich guy was a good cover for gathering information, which he did in the first issues.

Comics and media(audio, animated series, books) that recall this period especially emphasize the moment of complete father-son trust. As the point of supreme discovery of Bruce Wayne's mind. He wants to see a world where people are friends with each other. Openness. Sincerity. Idealism without drifting into absurdity. This is the Bruce Wayne of DC's first 30 years.

Chapter Three. Flowers are better than batarangs.

It's ironic, but with the visual darkness (relative to earlier works), 1970's Knight was the perfect middle ground between Bruce and Batman. The conflict of concepts was not yet seen from the angle of falling into darkness, but made many, not always consciously, afraid of their own protector.

My words should not be taken too literally. Gotham loved him. He openly cooperated with the police. Easily walked through the door of people's homes if invited. However, he could also be tough on crime and move like a shadow. That was troubling. But Batman doesn't cross the line. He's too kind. Everyone knows that.

Bruce is finally the man we know. Playful and frivolous, but the rich who loves beneficial initiatives for the city and its residents by day. And caped crusader by night.

He adores his children, starts many foundations and even a detective agency to help those in need and make police work easier. At the same time, Bruce's personal life is also going well. The authors are constantly looking for the man to be the love of his life, and the idea of retirement with the possibility of helping the world in some other way, without the cape, is increasingly glimpsed in stories about a possible future.

Unfortunately, the picture limit does not allow the narrator to continue his never ending battle, and so he will continue in the next post!

P.S. That and other themed post can be found under BrightKnightUpcoming tag.

[howlingday]

When I was a child, I knew exactly what I would be when I grew up. Because... I was a Grimm-Kin Princess! Of course, being a princess in the Darklands...

Cinder: (Reeeeee!) Mother, why does Tock get TWO more steaks?!

Salem: (Fufufufu~!) Because she's my first daughter, sweetie. You're THIRD in line, which means you're much more expendable~!

...is not as glamourous as you might think. My training started early and rarely had time to stop.

Cinder: Mother! Read me a bedtime story~!

Salem: Yes, Cinder. Shall we continue with the Big Book of Venoms, Volume V?

Cinder: I'm bored of venoms! I want you to read this other book!

Salem: Mm?

Cinder: LOOK! See? It has such pretty pictures~!

Salem: OH! Oh my! Where did you find this?! This is an outsider book! Sweetie, I don't think this is appropriate for you at all!

Cinder: (Holds "The Knight & The Princess") Please, mother~? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease~?

MY GRIMM-KIN STEPSISTER WON'T LEAVE ME ALONE

Part II: Princess In The Castle

(Part I)

--------------------------------------------------

By the time my training was complete, I had become my mother's "Right Hand".

...which was a nice way of saying "violent janitor"

Cinder: (Kicks down the door)

Cinder: Tock! What is it this time?!

Tock: Oh, Cinder! Thank goodness you're here! Man-slave #23 has expired. Clean it up, Ms. Janitor~.

Emerald: S- Sorry, Cinder! I think he coomed too much!

Cinder: Did you use climaxing venom?!

Tock: We were going for the record~. Whoop~!

Cinder: The way you treat your slaves is revolting!

Tock: Oh? Do we have a men's rights activist here? How cute~!

Cinder: I'm just saying-

Tock: What you're saying is you don't respect the pecking order and my authority to do whatever I want where I am. Do you have a problem with me, Cinder? Because if you do... (Taps clock) I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SETTLE THIS PROPERLY... AS SISTERS...

Cinder: ...Hmph! I'll deal with it. Leave the body outside.

Tock: Thank you~!

MS#23: W-Wait... I'm... not dead... yet...

Emerald: (Gasps) He's not dead yet!

MS#23: I... CAN STILL... COOOOOM...

--------------------------------------------------

If you want anything in the Darklands, you MUST take it from someone else. Food... Men... Whatever you desire, and if you desire more, you'll have to take if from those above you.

Guard: ALL HAIL QUEEN SALEM~!

I chose to remain where I was. It was easier that way.

And unlike my sisters, I loved my mother enough to not plot matricide.

Salem: Cinder, sweetie~! I need you to kill someone~!

This made me convenient.

Cinder: What is it this time?

If the Kingdom had a mess, I had to clean it.

Salem: We were providing supplies to-

Cinder: Again?! That's the sixth time in the last year!

Salem: Please, sweetie~? You're the only one I can trust! PLEEEASE~?

Cinder: ARGH! Fine! I'll do it! Stop begging! And don't call me sweetie!

Crush the coup attempt... Sabotage the Faunus army... Stop the slave revolt... Purge another magic cult...

Cinder: (Covered in blood, Amidst corpses)

I am fine. I am a Grimm-Kin princess. I was born to do this.

Cinder: (Keeping off her broken foot) This is nothing... I just have to keep going... Keep going until... Until...?

Cinder: ...

--------------------------------------------------

Cinder: (Stirs, Opens eyes)

Jaune: (Staring down at her)

Cinder: (Yelps)

Jaune: You okay? You were moaning in your sleep.

Cinder: I... I was... I WAS HAVING A WET DREAM! Those moans were intense NOCTURNAL ORGASMS!

Jaune: I don't think so. They sounded more like-

Cinder: SHUT! UP!

--------------------------------------------------

Cinder: (Reading "Dragon in the Streets, Draggin' in the Sheets")

I am bored.

Cinder: How long do I have to stay inside?!

Jaune: You and Mom are still technically foreign royalty, so you're still a huge risk for the city. Give it a few days; Dad is still pulling some strings.

Cinder: BOOOOOOOORIIIIIING! I want to go on human city adventures!

Jaune: Please don't. I'm worried you're going to stab somebody. Just sit tight, okay? I promise to keep you company until then.

Cinder: Y-You mean...

Cinder: You mean time will fly by when you break me on your huge human co-

Jaune: No. That's not what I meant at all.

Cinder: Fine! Then I'll take you up on your offer then! Let's see if you can satisfy me, A POUTY GRIMM-KIN PRINCESS~!

--------------------------------------------------

Cinder: I need a second pillow! A fluffy one~!

Cinder: I'm thirsty! Serve me tea!

Jaune: What kind?

Cinder: The non-ash kind!

Cinder: Let me play with your knife set!

Jaune: I don't have one.

Cinder: ...WHAT?!

Cinder: This book sucks! There's no plot! It's all just sex scenes!

Jaune: Yeah, my dad wrote that. Sorry.

Cinder: Get me a new one!

Cinder: My feet ache! RUB THEM!

Jaune: ...

Cinder: Lick my-

Jaune: NO.

--------------------------------------------------

Cinder: (Drinking tea)

Jaune: (Rubbing her feet)

Oh, wow. Well, this is nice.

No wonder my sisters were obsessed with political power. Being waited on feels great!

But what is with this guy?

Jaune: Is this okay?

Why is he so obedient?!

The first time I saw him, he seemed so powerful it sent shivers down my spine!

It was the first time I felt like I had seen a REAL man! UNBROKEN by the whip!

I thought I would have to fight, or at least seduce him to make him mine, but now he's tending to me like a slave, all on his own?

Jaune: (Drops foot)

Cinder: Ah!

Jaune: Okay. I'm gonna go get started on dinner now.

I don't understand him at all!

--------------------------------------------------

Jaune: Dinner is served. Don't worry; I help out at my mother's tavern, so I'm a decent cook.

Cinder: (Gasps) Wh- What kind of ash is this?!

Jaune: It's not ash; it's chicken cutlets, breaded and fried, served with a side of cheese-coated pasta-

Cinder: Are you even speaking the same language as before?!

Jaune: Try it.

Cinder: (Bites, Chews)

Cinder: !!!

Cinder: (Wolfs down her plate)

Jaune: Glad to see you like it.

--------------------------------------------------

Cinder: Ah...

So much has happened these past few days...

I almost died fight a half-man, half-bull...

I walked in on my mother getting mating pressed by a blond guy with a huge dick...

My kingdom collapsed...

I met my step brother...

So much has happened... But maybe... Maybe none of this is a big deal at all. Maybe everything is just going to work out...

Cinder: (Urrrrrguuuugh..) Hm?

--------------------------------------------------

Cinder: (One hour later, Kneeling at toilet) OOOOOOOOORGHKKK!

This is it. After everything. This is how I die.

Lying in a pool of my own vomi-

Cinder: HRRRGH! AAAAAAGHK!

Jaune: Cinder, I'm back! How are you doing?!

Jaune: I brought Dr. Nikos.

Mama Nikos: Good evening~!

Cinder: You bastard! "How am I doing"?! YOU POISONED ME!

Mama Nikos: Oh, so you're Cinder! Now, relax for a moment. I need to check your aura flow.

Cinder: How is this even possible?! I thought I was immune to all poisons!

Jaune: Dr. Nikos is one of the best doctors in Vale.

Mama Nikos: (Fingers deep in neck)

Cinder: (Half-lidded, Groaning)

Jaune: How is she, doctor?

Mama Nikos: Hm... I thought so... She has Dawning Sickness.

Jaune: Dawning Sickness?

Mama Nikos: It's a temporary digestive condition. The Dark Lands is a realm without light, and food is almost always high in magic, low in fat, sugar, and carbohydrates, and highly toxic, so Grimm-Kin gut biomes than humans and Faunus. Suddenly eating foods high in fat and oil can make a Grimm-Kin very ill.

Jaune: Oh, man... Sorry, Cinder...

Mama Nikos: Dwarves don't experience this kind of problem because they are Dwarves.

Nora: GOT ME A STOMACH OF STONE~! DWARF STRONG~!

Mama Nikos: Put her on this mushroom diet, then slowly mix in richer foods.

Jaune: Couldn't you just use your semblance?

Cinder: HOOOOOOOARGKH!

Jaune: She seems to be in bad shape as it is...

Mama Nikos: No, her gut needs to adapt, and my semblance would simply reset that. However, your semblance could help if done in short bursts. It shouldn't interfere with the acclimation process.

Jaune: Got it. And please tell Pyrrha I'll busy for the next few days.

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Jaune: Did you hear that, Cinder? I can use my semblance to help you.

Jaune: ...Cinder?

Cinder: (Curled in the corner) Go away...

Jaune: I'm... sorry about dinner. Here, let me help you-

Cinder: I SAID GO AWAY! I don't need your healing. I'm fine...

Jaune: ...

Jaune: Um... I'm going to say you DO need my healing. There's puke everywhere.

Cinder: I'm FINE, okay?! All my life, if I had a problem, I fixed it! By myself! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!

Jaune: What the... Alright, so, uh, what about the "help" I gave you today? The pillows? The books? The foot rubbing?

Cinder: That's different. Those are slave tasks, things I ordered you to do. The strong can order the weak, and I am not weak. I'm not weak... I'm not...

Cinder: Just... leave me alone...

Jaune: ...

Jaune: Cinder.

Cinder: What-

Jaune: (Picks her up) Don't puke on me.

A PRINCESS CARRY?!

Jaune: (On the couch, Lays head on his lap) Here. (Aura amps) Does this help?

His hands... feel rough... and cool...

Cinder: ...yes.

Jaune: Cinder, I don't know what kind of bullshit culture you have back in the Dark Lands, but it doesn't have to be that way. If life is awful, just ask for help. I'll be there for you.

Jaune: I'm your brother, remember?

Cinder: ...okay. (Shuts eyes)

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Salem: (Reading) "And so, the Knight shouted, 'Princess! I have traveled far to break the curse and free you from this tower!'."

Cinder: Mother, why does the knight help the Princess? Is he her slave?

Salem: Oh, not really. It's something called "Chivalry". Human men are always rescuing girls for some reason or another. They're very silly, and easy to manipulate.

Salem: (Licks lips) I bet this knight just wants to come inside~.

Cinder: Come inside... the tower?

Salem: I'll teach you in a few years, sweetie.

Cinder: Well, I think the Knight is great! I'm a princess, too, so when I'm sad, I hope a knight will appear and help me be happy, just like in this story~!

Salem: Oh, no! No, no, no, Cinder! That's the wrong lesson here! Men are weak and horribly unreliable! You mustn't trust them!

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Cinder: Nn... (Sits up) Morning?! Hm?

Jaune: (Asleep next to her)

Cinder: Foolish human... Sleeping with Grimm-Kin is dangerous, you know~.

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Jaune: Your asylum has been approved. We just need to finalize it at the Councilman's office. Then you'll be free to move around the city. So... Please, don't stab anyone.

Cinder: I'M NOT! STOP SAYING THAT!

Jaune: (Offers hand) Here. It can get pretty crowded. I don't want us to get separated.

Cinder: Are you joking?! I'm a trained assassin! I don't need to hold your hand!

Jaune: Okay, okay! Sorry...

Cinder: ...

"Take my hand," said the Knight. "The world is a scary place, but when danger comes, I will protect you. And when I fall, Princess, you will protect me. And hand in hand, we will walk this world together."

Cinder: (Takes his hand)

Cinder: (Walks with the knight)

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Mama Nikos: Oh, by the way! My daughter has been so worried about you!

Jaune: Pyrrha? Why?

Pyrrha: (Asleep in bed, Tossing and turning) Mmh... No, Jaune... Don't do it... It's a trap...!

Pyrrha: There's no way she hid the antidote... DOWN THERE!