#what is their ship name?? like just the two of them

[spiderben2011]

Jason coughed softly as they began to unbuckle. "Another perfect landing."

Carol punched Jason in the arm, before using her powers to break out of the ship and sees the crowd fighting outside. "Have the others handle them. Let's just get to Lunella and get out."

Jason nods in agreement. "Vixen, where we at?"

Vixen got out of the ship, with Groot carrying his little friend. "It looks like we're about a few hundred feet from our destination. Fortunately, it looks like we should be able to get to her if we go straight through here. Avoiding any nasty surprises."

Suddenly, the entire room began to grow dark and begins engulfing around them. "Stay close!" Jason exclaimed as he got his weapon out. "What is this?"

"I don't know. Can't detect whatever this is," said Vixen as she tried to scan the area to see what is doing this.

Carol though had an idea of what this is and soon saw something appearing behind her two mothers. She rushed over, formed a sword with her nanites and blocked the attack.

"Knull," said Carol as she used her powers to push the enemy back, causing the darkness to disappear. "How in the hell are you here?"

"Does it really matter, child? I'm here now and I have come for her," said Knull as he aimed his weapon towards Jen.

"Um Carol? Introductions?" Jason asked as he opened fire, but his attacks didn't seem to harm Knull, only make him laugh.

"Short-version. His name is Knull, the creator of the Symbiotes and god slayer," said Carol as she motioned to his sword. "That blade of his, its the Necrosword, capable of killing a god."

@mazamba

Closed RP w/mazamba

This planet Jason was on was once thriving world. A planet full of trees, water, animals, and people. All who lived peacefully on the planet, until a war broke out in this sector. This left the planet in ruins, all of its resources plundered, and its people nearly wiped out. Centuries have passed and the planet has been nearly forgotten.

Jason was told the planet was under the control of a group called the Klingons. He didn’t think too much about it and knew he would be out of here before they found out or one of their allies.

He walks over towards his prize. A box containing a valuable item that he knew would come in for a pretty penny…or whatever currency the people of this universe use. He walks over and begins to disable any security systems around, before getting his prize. He wipes away the dirt from it, opens it, and smiles when he saw what’s inside.

“Just like the buyer said,” Jason whispered before putting the box in his bag. 

@mazamba

[killuabutgayer]

sonadow is genuinely a really good ship that makes a lot of sense if u let go of homophobia and "cringe" and just think about it.

they match each others dynamic SO well, very protective of one another, literal two sides of the same coin w direct parallel experiences, the fruity looks they give each other, shadow being the only one able to keep up w him even in super form, sonic being a lot like maria

"it'll never be canon" idk the vas and writers seem to like it🤷‍♀️ the takeovers and sonic prime is close enough to make us happy, plus if we're strict to canon nothing would be fun.

and why is everything titled sonic x shadow LMAOO- first the game then the takeover then the jp title.. they couldve used any other name or variation but no. SONIC X SHADOW take it or leave it (they're definitely aware)

sure ig ships and romance can be cringe sometimes but its for fun yk?? every single time i see someone post or mention sonadow as a ship some homophobe always goes in to ruin the fun like "theyre JUST rivals and friends nothing more do NOT ship them they are straight it'll never be canon" even making up shit to make it "problematic" like stfu omggg... i hate plenty of ships but commenting on others posts is so unnecessary just mute/block n move on??

why are you even there anyway? esp on youtube like bro clicked on a sonadow video posted by a channel named sonadow fan and get mad when u see sonadow what were u expecting😹

not just that but sonadow specifically gets way too much hate compared to anything else. the amount of posts ive seen like "worst things in the sonic fandom: *sonic just kissing shadow* *pedophilia* *weird asf fetish* *incest*" then everyone in the comments only dogpiles sonadow like r u fucking srs rn😭😭

[catsushinyakajima]

KLANCE FIC RECS FOR THE NEW YEARS RECAP PART TWO

Ghost of the Future & Shadow of the Past by wittyy_name/@wittyy-name, Zizzani/@zizzani | 300k+ | Time-travel | Dual fic

These fics were genuinely so. What the fuck. Oh my god. I came into it not expecting too much and I came out of it like ahjhsihfs. I’m so so upset that it isn’t finished, that too right before the last chapter. There are so, so many good aspects to this fic. First off: the plot and its delivery. The idea of switching places with a past version of yourself is not an uncommon plotline. However, having the story be split into two stories following both the past and the present with each chapter parallelling each other was flawlessly executed. I would read one chapter where they would do xyz which affected the past, and then be so excited to see what happens next, and then be even more excited that I could simply read how it happened in the past. It felt like I was time itself, reading through parts of these characters' lives non-linearly. The KL chemistry is beautiful, the plot is beautiful, I sincerely love it.

it’s five o’clock somewhere by soulreapin/@soulreapin | 8.1k | Bartending AU | First Date

This fic was so so soft and funny. There were parts of the fic where I was so floored by the comedic writing that I was like damn why didn't I write this? Also, their first date is just so cute!

Run into the Bright Lights by peanutbutterapple/ https://hugoweasley.tumblr.com/ | 36.8k | April Fools Day | Canon Compliant

I've never seen an april fools day fic before and omg I wish there were more. The miscommunication between KL is so genuine and not a product of stupid actions. There's beautiful hurt/comfort. I've reread this two billion times.

AITA by perfchan/@jacqulinetan | 34k | Post-War

This fic is so so funny and just. It sums up the whole let down of returning back to civilian life after war very well and the way Lance shuts people out. So so good.

to breathe in this mirage by existwound/@existwound | 34k+ | Time-travel | Domestic KL

This fic is so good!?!? Astra writes KL fighting so well and it leads up to beautiful ANGST which leads to beautiful hurt/comfort. This fic is not finished but I love it so so so much.

Spider-Man Klance AU by iwriteshipsnotsailthem | 102.6k | Spider-man!Keith

This author captures the essence of spiderman in a fic so much. Many other spider-man aus will focus more on ships than the spiderman aspect, but this author balances it so well. There's a perfect blend of action and romance.

finally, you're mine by nezueye/@nezueye | 7.2k | Friends to Lovers | Modern AU

This has to be hands down one of the best fluff fics ever. Every scene with KL, which was all of them, was so satisfying and cute. I loved it so much I reread this all the time.

Even the People in Your Dreams Will Lie to You by popering/@roylustang | 314k+ | torture | angst

This fic is INSANE!!! Literally!! There's so much thought and detail that goes into the worldbuilding of the fic despite the world literally being canon VLD! This is a fic where every detail counts, and where you yourself might doubt your hindsight and knowledge too. I feel so bad for everyone in this story, and I eagerly await the last chapter (author take ur time w it tho plz)

my my, how can i resist you? by nikkiRA | 1.7k | Est Relationship | Watching Mamma Mia

This is a follow up to a fic where KL get together, but this snippet just has my heart. It's so beautiful to see the way Keith loves Lance.

what makes you beautiful by seventies | 4.5k | MMA!Keith x Nurse!Lance

The funniest fi in the world. I wish I knew the author IRL so I could laugh at their jokes everyday. They're so funny. This fic is so so funny.

I love you more than fried chicken by AsterikaMay/@catsushinyakajima | 9.1k words | Asexual!Lance

This is one of my fics...I included it cuz I'm ace and I LOVE ace fics LMAO

part one here

[candycandy00]

The skeleton of an idea I had for a Kid x Reader fic. I might write a full version when I get time!

You’re a childhood friend of Kid’s. You were very close as children and he was very protective of you. He even said he wanted to marry you when the two of you grew up. 

After he left to become a pirate, you missed him terribly. You were excited to see his wanted poster, and you thought he looked so handsome. You’d always been in love with him. 

One day you decide you can’t wait any longer, you have to find him and ask to join his crew, even if you just cook or clean. So you go looking for him. 

You get kidnapped, and end up at a strange and terrifying “human auction” with a collar around your neck. They bring you out on stage to sell you, and you watch in horror as rich old men prepare to make bids.

As your eyes scan the crowd, you notice someone tall standing near the back. It’s Kid! You’d recognize him anywhere, even though it’s been years since you saw him last.

At the same time, Kid is watching the auctions out of morbid curiosity when you, a beautiful young woman, are brought out on stage. He jokes with his crew about buying you. But the longer he looks at you, the more familiar you seem. When you look at him, and your eyes meet his, he knows. He’s certain you’re the girl he loved years ago, the girl he wanted to marry someday. 

An older man is sitting a few feet away, talking loudly to his friend about how much he wants to buy you, shamelessly outlining all the depraved things he intends to do to you. He even laughs and says he loves to torture his sex slaves and watch them cry. 

The bidding begins, and you’re horrified as strange men keep placing bids while Kid remains silent. You look at him pleadingly, hoping he recognizes you. Should you call out to him? Just as you open your mouth to call his name, he suddenly places a huge bid that blows all the others out of the water. 

You’re so relieved, tears fill your eyes. 

Later, you’re taken to his ship. He’s walked right by you several times but hasn’t acknowledged you at all. You suppose he has an image to maintain in public, so you don’t do anything to jeopardize that. 

As for Kid, he has no idea what to do with you. He can guess why you came looking for him, but there’s no way in hell he’s letting you join his crew, where you’d be in constant danger and become wanted by the marines. 

His only plan is to pretend he doesn’t remember you and drop you off at the next populated island. In the meantime, he’ll be an asshole to you so you’ll never pull a stunt like this again. He’d much rather you hate him in safety than love him in danger. 

The first time he approaches you on his ship, in the privacy of his quarters, you run over to hug him. He doesn’t hug you back, instead lightly pushing you away. He denies knowing you, even when you tell him your name, even when you talk about things from your shared childhood. 

You know he’s lying and you tell him so, saying you came to join his crew, to help in any way you could because you miss him. 

His response is to tell you he doesn’t need you, he doesn’t remember you, and he’s dumping you on the next island. You argue, just like you did as kids. You’re not intimidated by him at all, even if he tries to act like a big scary pirate. You’ve known him too long for that. 

In frustration, and desperation to scare you away, he slams his hand into the wall beside you and leans down, looking as menacing as possible as he tells you to shut up and leave him alone. If you can’t be a good little slave, he’ll have his way with you. 

You blink up at him, heat rushing to your face as you give him a shy smile and say you’ve been hoping for that all along. 

He very quickly turns his back to you, swearing as he stomps out of the room. Out of your view, he curses himself for his own lack of control. He’s been with women before, one night stands during his travels, but he’s never been with someone he loves before. Now his face is red, like a damn virgin, at the thought of throwing you across his bed and fucking you until morning. 

That evening is torture for him, knowing the woman he’s loved for years is in his quarters, waiting for him, wanting him. He tries to resist, tries to avoid you and just focus on literally anything else. But, well, Kid is strong but he’s not that strong. 

He suddenly bursts back into the room, throwing off his captain’s coat as he goes. Within seconds he’s pulled your thin dress over your head and got you pinned against the wall, your legs around his waist and your arms around his neck as he plunges his huge, hard cock into your dripping pussy. 

You can only moan and whimper into his mouth as he kisses you, giving you everything you’ve been wanting from him. Hours later, after you’ve exhausted each other in many different positions, you’re lying in his bed, wrapped in his arms. 

He confesses that he never forgot you, that he never stopped thinking of you, but he still can’t take you with him. It’s too dangerous, and you’d end up being a weakness for his enemies to target. Reluctantly, you agree. He promises to come back and make you his Pirate Queen someday. 

The plan is to drop you off at the next safe island, but it’s at least a week away, and the two of you will thoroughly enjoy your time together until then. 

[guess-that-ship]

Guess That Ship Tournament Season 14: Submissions OPEN!

The Concept: You describe your ship* to me, I pick out the submissions which I find most compelling and pit them against each other without revealing who they are, people vote on them, and their identities gets revealed once they’re eliminated.

Submission Guidelines

*For the purpose of this tournament, relationships do not have to be romantic in nature. (I’m sometimes going to use “ship” as a shorthand, just know I mean “relationships” in general.)

Relationship can be between any number of characters.

Real people are accepted if they’ve been dead for more than 100 years.

Roleplay characters are accepted as long as the description only pertains to the characters and not the players.

Crossover ships are only allowed if the crossover is official.

OCs are accepted. (However, OC x Canon is not accepted. Please do not submit other people's OCs without their permission.)

No overtly NSFW submissions. (Mentioning they have sex or are a sex worker is fine, but try to avoid anything more than that.)

Two submission per person. (Do not submit the same ship twice. I cannot enforce this on Google Forms without forcing you to log in. So just be champs and respect this rule.)

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in all of your submissions being disqualified for this season.

Summary Guidelines

Selection Process: I will read through the list of descriptions submitted without reading their names and pick the most compelling submissions. Then, I will check the name to make sure there's no repeats.

Keep it concise, but also bring something unique to the table. Make sure to describe their relationship, not just summarize the events of the story.

Previous submissions for reference. The ideal submission should be 1-2 paragraphs, but you can make it as short or long as you want. Please keep in mind the longer your submission, the less likely it is to get in.

Tips on what to avoid while writing a summary can be found here.

Descriptions should be based on canon, not headcanon. (e.g. You can say “they love each other” instead of “they’re lovers” if their romantic nature is debatable.)

Avoid author commentary. (e.g. "They're canonically x," "I love them," "Play/watch/read this," etc.)

Use canonical pronouns.

Avoid identifying information or setting specific giveaways. (i.e. ninja village, space necromancers.)

When submitting OCs, please make sure to at least put a name somewhere. (e.g. "John and Bob by anonymous" or "OCs by Joey.")

The more popular your ship is the more vague the description should be.

Exclusions

Generally, ships that have been accepted into previous seasons will not be accepted. For a complete list, please look here. (No need to look through the whole list, just Ctrl+F to find the ship you want.)

Any submissions from Harry Potter will also not be included.

Notes

I will not vet the ships/pairings for problematic content.

If you participate in this tournament, know that you run the risk of unintentionally voting for your nOTP. The mod does not take any responsibility for any distress that may cause you.

There will be a limit of one ship per media in the bracket. You may submit two ships from the same media, but keep in mind only one ship will be able to get in. (A series or franchise will generally count as one media, but they will be evaluated on a case by case basis.)

Submit your ships here! Submissions will be open until Sunday, January 5th at 9 PM EST.

Please reblog this post to spread the word! The more submissions, the better!

[lvrstrsh]

the way this song is so fitting for the three arcane ships (caitvi, jayvik, timebomb) omg?? maybe not so much caitvi but during their breakup era yes a little bit.

"you're the best thing to ever happen to me but also the worst thing to ever happen to me. on that day when i met you, maybe i would rather that it never happened to me" is SOOOOOO JAYVIK CODED I'M ACTUALLY GONNA JUMP OUT A FUCKING WINDOW JAHHSWQO. viktor saved jayce from killing himself, helped him achieve his life's goal to channel magic. alternatively, jayce helped viktor to be more than just an assistant, gave him purpose and did with hextech what viktor always wanted to do: help people. HOWEVER, them meeting ultimately led to their deaths (actually erm i refuse to believe they're dead and prefer to believe they're in some higher form of existence giving each other cosmic backshots 💜). them meeting helped bring hextech to the world which, as it happens, was the beginning of the end. the formation of the hexcore, viktor turning into robotic jesus, starting the cult, the formation of the anomaly that sent jayce to the ruined dimension (poor guy also lost his mind) so although jayce was able to fulfill his life's dream, it also was the thing that ruined him. if they never met, this all could've been avoided, which is easily seen in the dimension ekko & heimerdinger were sent to. they were best friends, equals in the sense of intellect and generally just two halves of one whole (saw someone on insta relate them to the sin²x + cos ²x = 1 formula and gen crashed the fuck out) hence, the best and worst thing to ever happen to each other.

"why does hearing your name hurt me when it hides right there in the vicinity? what kind of emotion, is it hatred or pure sweetness when i hear your name?" we all know ekko and powder were childhood friends. due to a series of unfortunate events, powder was taken under silco's care — the same person who was the cause of vander's and benzo's death (who were like father figures to ekko). powder became jinx and was working for silco, who was using shimmer to exploit his own people. as ekko grew up, all he did was work to defeat the purpose jinx was working for. imagine how much it must hurt for him to know someone who meant sm to him is doing all this to his people. her name brings bitterness, but also the sweet press of memories of simpler times. then, obviously, ekko was sent to the other dimension. saw that other dimension have everything he ever wanted (except vi ☹️). powder was still HIS powder. his life was playing out just the way he wanted. however it wasn't REAL. he got a glimpse of what could've been. in that dimension ekko and powder grew up to fall in love. imagine coming from your reality where you're enemies, and the being sent to this one where you're lovers. but you can't stay, no matter how happy it makes you. he got a taste of the sweetness that could've been. then he had to go BACK to his reality, where he saw the same girl he could've fallen in love with try to kill herself. and, afterwards, when you've basically saved the world, you're left all alone and are led to believe she's dead (uhm which she's not trust 🙏)

i don't think i have to explain the 'worst of all blessings, the best of all curses' verse in relation to both the ships because AHHHHHWJWJWJWIWIWIWJSIQIQJWIIWIWSIJQIDBCIAOJW

alright guys anyways thank u for coming to my ted talk 😁

[dc-gotham-instincts-wild]

Guys I don't know what to name this fic so gimme ideas and I'll change the title

Summary: At one point when everyone is at Jason's apartment for no reason, Jason, Cass, and Dick are faced with the challenge of getting their younger siblings to sleep (Bruce promised them money) while Bruce is away on a case.

Notes:

I don't ship any of the Batkids, they're all siblings to me.

In my mind, Dick is the oldest, Cassandra is about seven months older than Jason, Tim and Steph are about 4 months apart, Duke is about 2-4 years younger than them, and Damian is obviously the youngest.

Dick, Cass, and Jason form the older trio, Tim and Steph are the middle, Duke and Dami are the youngest, but it's basically oldest three vs youngest four.

Yes Bruce has/did have legal custody of all seven. Tim? he stole it. Was pretty easy for him too.

The next door neighbor part is because..... I didn't exactly know how to start it so i started it that way.

THE ENDING WAS INSPIRED BY THIS FIC, SO UHHH CREDIT FOR THAT PART GOES TO THEM!

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

The Batkids all basically lived at Wayne Manor, but Dick, Cass, and Jason, being the oldest three, and the legal adults, all had their own apartments that they did use, just they liked breaking back into WM because it was more home than their apartments.

But every now and then the whole gang just kind of.... went and rolled down to any of the apartments, chilled, fooled around, watched something, even stayed the night etc, etc. 

Case in point, once when Bruce was off on a larger case, but Tim, Steph, Duke, and Damian had school the next day and Cass had a broken arm, so he left Jason, Dick, and Cass in charge and for no reason they kind of just rolled over to Jason's. 

-

The next door neighbor, Owen, knocked on the door, wanting to know about the sudden influx of noise. He didn't mind, he was just curious. 

Jason opened the door, looking a bit tired, his hair messy and a bit sweaty, but there was a spark in his greenish-blue eyes that Owen hadn't seen before in their earlier interactions. 

"...What?" The young man asked. Owen hesitated, hearing voices from behind his strange neighbor.

"Just, uh, heard more noise than usual and got curious. Not annoyed, just curious."

Jason blinked, then seemed to realize.  "Oh, that's just my siblings. They're over." Owen blinked in surprise. "You- you have siblings?"

"Yeah, there's seven of us!" Yelled a girl's voice behind Jason.  "Adopted!" Added a young male voice. 

Jason rolled his eyes, though a hint of fondness was there in his eyes.

"Yeah. Me and my older bro and sis are the oldest three, so as thus-"

"We are left in charge while Dad is away." finished another young man, appearing behind Jason. He seemed to be a bit older than his brother. "I'm Dick. Oldest of seven insane siblings. Jay here is the third oldest."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Our sister Cass is between us. Anyway, sorry about the noise, we're trying to wrangle the little ones to bed since they have school tomorrow and Dad ain't here. We're here at my apartment instead of the main house for no reason other than pure randomness."

Owen blinked. Looking over The twos' shoulders he could see two girls, one seeming between Dick and Jason in age, the other somewhere in high school, plus three boys, one the same age as the younger girl, the other two younger than that but still apart. 

"It's fine," He decided. "Hope they sleep though." He added with a wry grin.

Jason actually laughed. "Yeah, Dad promised us money if we manage to get them to bed, so..."

Dick grinned. "Yup!" He turned around to the room. "So you four better get to bed real fast!"

Owen nodded and grinned as the door closed. 

It was nice to know his neighbor had a good family.

-

Jason turned around to his younger siblings. "You heard Dick, hit the hay!"

Steph rolled her eyes. "Do we have to?"  Cass tapped her sister on the shoulder and silently pointed to one of the other extra rooms.  'Go,' her eyes said. Cass was like that. Her siblings didn't even need her to sign to understand. Just her presence was enough.

"Steph....." Dick warned. "School is next morning, sis." Steph sighed and finally slipped off to bed. 

Next was Damian. 

"Demon Brat, you heard us. You have school tomorrow and besides, it's almost past your bedtime, little one." "I am too old for such restrictions." Damian answered stubbornly, crossing his arms.

Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. 

"Damian...... You do know that I'm saying this on Bruce's orders, right?"

A stubborn glare.

Dick tried. "Hey Dami, if you don't go to bed then you'll be tired during school. Me and Jason can manage patrol and like Jay said, you usually go to bed on this time when you're not on patrol. You want me to call Alfred?" 

That worked. Damian sighed, and went into one of the extra rooms, grumbling. 

Alfred card always worked.

Jason slipped over to the table where Duke was hunched over his math book. "You done with your homework, bro?"

Duke sighed. "Nope. I literally can't get this last one."

Jason looked at the problem and sighed. "Lemme guess- Ms. Rue is the teacher for your math class. Duke blinked at him in surprise. 

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

Jason smirked. "Oh, I had her. She's infamous for being the worst teacher ever." 

Duke groaned. "Tell me about It!"

Jason grabbed the pencil and started telling him how to do it properly. 

Meanwhile Dick had wrangled Tim off the couch and was gently guiding him to another room with an arm slung across his shoulders. It had taken Tim trying to bolt and getting scruffed for that to happen. 

Dick managed to get the younger male to bed and smirked at Tim's glare. 

"Hey, it's not so bad, little brother. You have school tomorrow anyhow."

Tim groaned but reluctantly settled down and pulled the blanket over himself. Dick chuckled fondly and ran a hand through the younger one's hair. 

"Tell you what- you go to sleep right now and tomorrow after school I'll take you and the others to get some hot chocolate, deal?" 

Tim brightened at the prospect of that. "Okay!" 

Dick smiled and knelt to nuzzle him a bit before leaving. 

Meanwhile Jason had gotten Duke to bed, and made sure Damian hadn't tried escaping, while Cass cleaned up the living room. 

Jason sighed big and flopped down on the couch.  "Damn, why'd Dad put us in charge?"

Dick grinned and ruffled his hair, earning a halfhearted swat. "Probably 'cause we're the oldest." Cass rolled her eyes. 

After a bit Jason stood up and grabbed his leather jacket and his Red Hood helmet, while Dick went to a room to find his Nightwing suit. 

"You'll be fine watching the little ones?" Dick asked Cass, whose arm was broken. She nodded and pointed at the window. 

Red Hood and Nightwing clambered out, shot out their grapple lines, and went off on patrol. 

-

Commissioner Gordon raised an eyebrow at the two near the end of patrol when they showed up on his roof with some of Penguin's henchmen tied up. 

"Just you two tonight?" He asked. Nightwing grinned.

"Batman has a larger case on some traffickers, it's a school night for Red Robin, Robin, Spoiler, and Signal, and Black Bat's arm was broken the other night so she's watching the little ones to make sure they don't sneak out."

"Yup, so it's just the two oldest sons tonight, Uncle Jim." Red Hood smirked. 

Gordon sighed, shaking his head as the two grappled off.  "Oh, they are the Bat's sons alright," He muttered.

 -

Bruce, finished up with his case, slipped into the Batcave and took off his cowl and all, slipping into a light grey T-shirt and pants with a black jacket (it was winter).

He knew from a text Dick had sent him that his brood was at Jason's apartment, so he got into his normal car and drove off after briefing Alfred. 

He found the apartment easily, unlocked the door (So, he had one of the keys to his son's apartment, sue him), and slipped inside.

It was dark and quiet. He checked each room, finding one or two of his kids fast asleep in each.

Dick was curled around Damian, Cass was asleep in the bed next to Steph's (Why did Jason's apartment have more than one two-bed room?), Duke had somehow gotten into the same room as Tim.

Finally he found Jason, conked out on his bed, looking relaxed and happy for once. 

"Oh," Bruce sighed. It was so long that he'd seen his son like this, ever since everything fell apart but somehow came back together again. He and Jason were working it out, gettin over the awkwardness and slowly healing their bond. 

“Dad?” Jason mumbled, fist rubbed harshly against his sleep-squinted eyes. 

Bruce ignored the ache that filled his chest at the word, knowing, relieved that his son was... okay. Not mad at him anymore, Here.

Safe. 

“Just me, Jaylad,” He sighed, and pulled the blanket over his third oldest. 

“The case?” Jason mumbled. His voice was deep, rough with sleep, but it was still Bruce’s kid, sleepy but safe, checking in with Bruce after every patrol. 

“Everything was fine,” Bruce whispered soothingly, reaching out to tuck the cowlick of white hair away from Jason’s eyes. He blinked at Bruce, eyes more blue than green. He didn’t push him away.

“You can go back to sleep,” Bruce told him softly. “It’s late, little one.”

And Jason, with the same tiredness as the rest of them, didn’t argue. His eyelids slowly closed, his body finally relaxing.

“Stay?” Jason murmured.

Bruce almost said 'maybe', almost turned to let the younger ones sleep in peace, worried he'd disturb his kids, but Jason’s hand reached out, found the knee of Bruce’s pants and clutched the fabric in a grip so reflexive and old and instinctual. 

And there was a question when he asked Bruce to stay, instead of knowledge that Bruce would do anything he needed, anything he wanted.

So Bruce gave in to what he wanted, sitting down and wrapping one arm around his son, hugging the younger male's head to his chest.

“I’ll stay,” Bruce heard himself say, exhaustion already entangling him. “Love you, kiddo.” Jason mumbled an agreement. 

Bruce ran a hand through Jason's hair and closed his eyes. 

[dragonkeeper19600]

More Warden Ingo Headcanons

Part two to my previous post about Ingo in Hisui, which you can read here.

Where Ingo lives: Ingo has a private hut out in the Coronet Highlands, sort of like the one Iscan has in the Cobalt Coastlands. That was where he was living after he was made Sneasler's warden and before he met the player character. He also has a hut in the Pearl Clan Settlement. That location in the Alabaster Icelands is where he stores the belongings he had on him when he first arrived in Hisui (namely, his other clothes, his apartment keys, his wallet, and his Xtransceiver, which has long since run out of battery).

He absolutely refuses to throw away any of the belongings he had when he arrived, even though his work shirt and gloves are full of holes, and he doesn't remember what the Xtransceiver is even for.

There wasn't much in his wallet except for some cash and his trainer card, which has his photo on it. When Ingo found his trainer card in his wallet, he was able to recognize himself as the one in the photo, but couldn't understand why he was frowning and pointing like that. He was all, "This must be me, but why am I making that face?"

The face in question.

Even before he lost his memory, Ingo didn't have much awareness about his facial expressions. Pokémon Masters shows that Ingo genuinely doesn't realize that he's always frowning.

After moving to Jubilife, Ingo sleeps in the building behind the Training Grounds. Zisu also sleeps in that building but in a separate room. (I don't ship them.)

He still sometimes goes to the Coronet Highlands or the Alabaster Icelands for warden duties.

Not so much a headcanon as an observation: A lot of the Pokémon in Ingo's team at the training grounds are the evolved forms of Pokémon you can find in Unova in Black and White 2. Magnezone, Probopass, Tangrowth, and Gliscor are all obtainable in Black and White 2. Machop and Abra, meanwhile, are obtainable in the White Forest, which is a location exclusive to White. Even though he has no Gen V Pokémon on his team, his team is still connected to Unova, and especially White version.

The Razor Fang he used to evolve Gligar was actually purchased from the Gingko Guild.

None of the human characters have ever seen Ingo cry or laugh. He has, however, cried in front of his Pokémon. Gligar, in particular, has sat up with him many a night as he cried.

Ingo had only met Volo twice before running into him in the Ancient Quarry while escorting the player character. Volo doesn't take his job as a salesman very seriously, but when he found out about Ingo, he asked the merchant who normally goes to the Pearl Clan Settlement if he could go in his place that week, just so he could meet Ingo.

Ingo never knew quite what to make of Volo. He seemed friendly enough, but some of the things he said were a little...off. He once commented to Ingo that there were certain people who might envy Ingo's amnesia because it would relieve them of their painful memories. Ingo responded that he couldn't agree; he would rather keep his painful memories because he feels hollow without them.

Afterward, Ingo wondered if "certain people" included Volo himself.

Still, Ingo is grateful to Volo for selling him an empty notebook, obtained from the Galaxy Team, which Ingo uses as a journal. Ingo had been wanting to keep a journal for a long time, and he really appreciated that Volo was able to get one for him.

Ingo has no idea that Volo is the one who opened the Space-Time Rift.

The first time Cogita came to Jubilife Village (during the crisis when the sky was blocked out), she actually caught Ingo's eye. Ingo was working with the Galaxy Team and the other wardens to keep people calm. As he passed by the Clothier (where Anthe works) he happened to see Cogita inside and was struck by her beauty.

It wasn't love at first sight or anything. It was more, "Wait, who's that? Oh, she's lovely..."

He was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu. After a moment, he realized her resemblance to Volo and figured that's where the feeling of familiarity was coming from.

In reality, he'd had a similar feeling of déjà vu when he first met Volo. He even asked Volo if they had ever met before, but Volo answered (truthfully) that they hadn't.

Of course, who Ingo was actually remembering was Cynthia, who he and Emmet had become acquainted with through her trips to Unova.

Basically, Ingo's complete train of thought when he first saw Cogita in the Clothier was: 1. Who is that? 2. Oh, she's lovely... 3. She seems familiar... 4. Oh, she looks like that merchant, Volo. 5. Yes, that must be it. 6. I've been staring at her for a while. 7. I should go.

Since then, whenever Cogita visits Jubilife (which isn't super often), Ingo takes notice. He doesn't follow her around or anything, but she has to pass by the Training Grounds to enter the Galaxy Hall, and whenever she does, he quietly gazes at her from the fence.

He has no plans to actually approach her. With the gaps in his memory, Ingo feels that he's "incomplete" as a person and doesn't think he has anything to offer her.

He's also worried that he may already have a spouse or romantic partner somewhere that he's forgotten about. (He doesn't.)

Cogita has actually noticed him staring at her. (He's not being nearly as discreet as he thinks.) She's not alarmed or offended by it. She thinks it's kind of funny. Cogita isn't the type of person to be surprised that men are checking her out.

[imagionationstation]

💬 or 💤 for Leo and Donnie? ‘12 or ‘03, whichever you prefer!

💤 - Just try to stay awake

All he’s done for hours is scream.

Most of his senses have been knocked offline, claimed by the serum that courses through his veins. Leo’s terrified to see what’ll happen when the final one goes, to witness the moment when he can’t see reason anymore. How he reacts to being truly alone.

It had started with the drug. One of the scientists had injected him with it when they burst in. Donnie swore that there were no effects. He’d been dizzy, but then he was okay. No pain, no confusion, nothing but an immense gratification to be free of that facility.

He felt fine. And then they got back to the lair.

Smiling with relief, Donnie bit into a pizza.

Minutes later, the plate was on the floor and Donnie was gagging up what little food was in his stomach. He said it tasted rotten. The new, fresh pizza that they got him tasted like mold.

The water was coppery like blood.

Everything tasted wrong in the worst way possible.

Donnie went into his lab to figure it out.

It took two hours before they heard the first scream.

Donnie’s hands were clamped over his head, down on his knees, face pressed against the floor. He couldn’t hear them. He shouted whenever he tried to speak. He didn’t know he’d screamed.

He was too distracted drowning in the sounds of death.

They must have been overlapping, all growling and shouting and crying and crammed into one another. There was no reprieve unless his hands were on his head. No decrease in pain unless his brain thought they were being drowned out.

Donnie gave up trying to talk to them.

He just kept shaking his head, tears streaming down his face.

They’d called Rockwell.

His sense of smell went next.

They saw the moment that his brain switched gears. He went tense all over, babbling about rotting corpses and the sting of copper and the heavy stench of sweat. He couldn’t escape this one.

His sight went not to long ago. That’s when the screams started.

He was worlds away, where horrors that his own mind created awaited him, stabbing sofas and kicking the air and sobbing out for them. Leo’s heart broke when he watched him crumble to the floor, clawing at his head and begging for help in a broken voice.

Raph and Mikey had gone to investigate with the Mutanimals. Leo had sent them away, and then he’d stayed, because he couldn’t leave. Rockwell had called a while ago.

He said why they’d done this. Explained how such cruelty was written off in files and reports to be shipped to heartless men. It was something to do with protecting information. Something about shutting down the experiment.

His brother was screaming. Leo wasn’t listening.

Rockwell told them what to do.

Donnie couldn’t pass out. If he lets it overcome him, he’s gone.

They’d told Donnie this when he could still see. He had to stay awake. He couldn’t let his big brain shut down. Not for a second.

“Just try and stay awake,” He’d mouthed carefully, “Hold on. Please.”

Leo would hate him if Donnie asked him to live through that kind of hell. He’s not sure how long he’d last if he had to endure it.

His little brother is suffering, but he’s not letting him break him. And it’s that strength that keeps Leo by his side even though he wants to take off running and never look back. He doesn’t want to hear him scream anymore. He doesn’t want to see him suffer.

But he clings to the last sense that Donnie has left.

Leo gives himself for Donnie to bruise and scratch and wail against. He holds his trembling body close as his nails draw blood and he cries for it all to stop and gently rubs his arm and his hands and his face because he knows he can feel it. He wants Donnie to know that the monsters haven’t gotten him yet. His big brother is here.

I’m here I’m here I’m right here I won’t leave you

He sees every breath hitch, every time Donnie’s face flickers with recognition, every time he rasps his name like he’d forgotten, every time he tightens his grip as if to confirm that Leo’s holding tight.

“Leo it’s loud Leo it’s loud please I can't you-”

“I’m trying need trying I’m promise-”

“It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts don’t go I need-”

And Leo rocks him and wipes his tears and makes promises that he can’t hear because it’s the only thing keeping him together.

If this is the last thing that he’s every going to feel, Leo wants it to be full of love. He wants everything he does to be soft and kind and vulnerable and delicate and warm and full of love.

He wants Donnie to feel it.

I love you I love you I love you I love you I’m sorry I’m sorry

He’s lost the rest of his senses. He might lose this one too.

There’s no other way for Leo to tell him it’s okay if he needs to let go.

That was the worst night of sleep I’ve had in months and somebody’s gotta pay for my misery. DONNIE

[stubz]

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" whispered the Beerix.

"Your communicator doesn't have service on Earth and my phone is dead. I need to charge it somewhere and this is the closest place that won't ID us." the human looked through the window into the crowded pub searching for an outlet.

"Just...hood up, hat pulled down, and stay close to me." she whispered as they reached the front of line.

"How do you know they won't ID us-?"

"Two people? Alright, come on in!" smiles the doorman.

The human and beerix walk in and are hit with body heat, loud music, dozens of loud voices, and a wave of bodies.

"Told you, now come on, there's an outlet over there."

Pushing and shoving their way through the crow the duo makes it to the back of the pub where a table and some stools are. Quickly the human takes out a charger and plugs in her phone.

"Great, now we just need to wait."

"For how long?"

"At least 10 minutes so we'll make it to the nearest base."

"I hate it here. It's loud and...smelly." wrinkles the beerix's snout.

"I know...here I'll buy you something to eat. Want a drink too?"

"...fine. Just be quick."

"Alright, remember, hoo-"

"Hood up, hat pulled down, yeah yeah I know Kim, you only told me a hundred times tonight."

"...sorry, I'll get you that food and drink!"

He watched as his friend disappeared into the crowd and huddled into chair. Every couple of seconds he checked the phone hoping that'd it'd miraculously be fully charged so they could go.

"Come to Earth they said, it'll be fun they said...why couldn't we just have stayed on the ship and go to the new year's party like usual?"

"Excuse me mate? Can we sit here?" he whipped his head up to see three humans standing before him.

"Uh..."

"It's just that there's no where ta sit and it looks like it's just you and friend so could we?"

"...sure." he forced out knowing it'd draw more attention to say no and that more people would just ask this very same question later.

"Thanks mate! I'm Arty, this is Celia, and this is Sean. What's your name?"

"...Quip."

"I love that name! And your hat! It's so gorgeous, where'd you buy it?"

"Oh my god Celia look at his eyes! They're shiny like...like flashlights."

"Don't mind them, they're a bit drunk right now." Laughed Arty.

"No worries..."

"Real nice hat though, never seen a design like before."

"Thanks...it's foreign."

"From where???" lean in the two Irish.

"Knock it off you two or I'll knock some sense into you."

"I...it's from..."

"Sweden! Hi nice to meet you, I'm Kim. Got you fries and a Guinness." she slides over to her friend.

"Oh lovely choice! They got great Guinness here!"

"I know, got one for myself."

The three Irish began to talk amongst themselves while Quip grabbed the attention of his friend and crewmate.

"We gotta go, now." he hissed.

"We can't until finishing our food and drinks, leaving without doing so would raise suspicion." she whispers back smiling at the three other humans.

"Two of them are drunk and the sober one wouldn't care."

"Maybe or maybe he would since as the only sober one he's on high alert right now. Besides I only have 8%. We need to wait now drink your Guinness and eat your fries."

"...you didn't even get one of those tiny drinks I like."

"Those are shots and this will last longer and tastes better."

"Better..."

[Four Guinness later]

"HE WAS A SKATER BOY SHE SAID SEE YOU LATER BOY, HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER!

SHE HAD A PRETTY FACE BUT HER HEAD WAS UP IN SPACE, SHE NEEDED TO COME BACK TO EAARRTH!!" screamed Quip, Celia and Sean, the three drunkenly dancing and singing to the song playing in the pub. Somehow Quip's hat ended up on Celia along with his hood on Sean, his pointed ears, snout and grey skin out for everyone to see.

"I can't believe how good your friend's cosplay is."

"I know...he loves Dragon Ball." smiles Kim thankful that Celia thought Quip said he was Beerus instead of Beerix.

"Yeah killer Beerus cosplay, too bad he couldn't get purple paint though."

"MATE HOW DO YOU NOT KNUR DIS ONE?!"

"I KNOW IT NOW!"

"OI SHUDDUP IT'S THE BESHT PART!"

"CAUSE I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABY! YEAH I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABY! LISTEN TO IRON MAIDEN BABY!!"

Kim laughed as she watched her friend continue to poorly sing to the songs her and most of everyone else here grew up with.

"Quip! Quip! it's time to go!"

"Don't wanna! It's fun here!"

"Quip, Kal and Glip are probably worried about you! My phone is charged up, let's go!"

"Nooo!"

"Aw listen, listen to your friend mate, gotta get home to your family..."

"Yeah, don't wanna worry 'em. My girlfriend would call tha police if I didn't check in with her..."

After some more coaxing from Sean and Celia, Quip finally gave in and followed Kim out of the pub.

A phone call and bus ride later the two were soon reunited with the rest of their crew and soon went back to their ship.

Tomorrow Quip will be banned from drinking for 3 months by his partners and the Captain as he was trending on social media due to Celia and Sean posting the selfies and videos they took with him...which he drunkenly agreed to while his hat and hood were down.

For the rest of the month #IrishBeerus was a popular post.

[synthapostate]

@lastdaysofwar, Day 2 - Mistakes/Language/Apologies (Newt/Hermann, Lars Gottlieb)

Note: Fair warning, I took “language” to mean the F word.

It’s lunch time, and Newt couldn’t be happier. Not so much because of the meal, though, which bears a vague resemblance to garlic noodles as interpreted by an alien that once had the concept of flavor described to it by an anthropologist. Which is to say, they’re still working through the rations that came out of some army supply warehouse years ago. But that’s okay. Because he’s having lunch with Hermann.

Okay, so there’s nothing new and different about that. They’ve been eating together every day for years and years. They’re not even having a wildly different conversation today. Hermann is holding forth on the incompetence of some people, who can’t even be bothered to get a name right on a simple shipping label, and the Shatterdome’s own mailroom staff, who should have been able to work out on their own that “Dr. M. Gibraltar, K-Science” must be intended for one of the two of them—after all, there are only two left to choose from!—instead of letting it sit unclaimed in the warehouse for over a week.

“What if it had been something perishable?” Hermann insists, further incensed by the giant grin Newt can’t wipe off his face.

“It wasn’t. It’s fine.”

“It might have been! They didn’t know it wasn’t!”

“Yeah…” Another time, even just a couple of weeks ago, Newt would have been all over the guy, reminding him of every mistake he’s ever made. Where does Mr. Dr. Perfect here get off taking out his frustrations on whatever minimum wage warehouse worker couldn’t spell—whichever name Hermann tried to give them?

But there is one thing different these days. Now they’re dating! Instead of being mad at Newt all the time, Hermann is pissed off on his behalf, because he’s mad the mailroom screwup made him late giving Newt a birthday present, which is just, like. Nice. Newt wasn’t even expecting a present, but Hermann got him one because he like cares and stuff, it’s really sweet. Also, Herms is hot as hell when he gets all worked up like this. Also-also, Newt is just absolutely, hopelessly, disgustingly in love with him.

“Fuck those guys anyway,” Newt says, with an even bigger, dreamer smile. Hermann’s shoulders go stiff.

“Really, Newton, must you be so vulgar?”

“Yeah, babe, it’s what I do. Maybe you should act your age for once. Use it as punctuation like a normal millennial.”

“I’m normal!” Hermann stabs a fork into his noodles, lips petulantly pursed. He is so not normal, but Newt loves that about him, too.

“You can’t even say ‘fuck,’” Newt teases. “I don’t know how you can do it if you don’t even know how to say it.”

“I can say—” Hermann takes note of the volume of his voice, and the crowded setting of the mess hall. He shoots Newt a dirty look and says, more calmly, “I know how to swear, of course, I just don’t use that sort of language without good reason. It’s unprofessional.”

“But it would be hot,” Newt says innocently, batting his eyelashes. Hermann’s cheeks instantly take on a hint of pink.

“A-ah,” he stammers. “Would it?”

“Yeah, man. If you said ‘fuck’ right here and now for everyone to hear? I don’t know what I’d do. Probably couldn’t contain myself. I’d have to start tearing all my clothes off, right here in the mess hall.”

“Newton,” Hermann protests. “That—that is—” He lowers his voice to barely more than a whisper. “That is fucking uncouth.”

“Fuck, yeah!” Newt loosens his tie, which was already pretty loose to begin with, and tosses it aside. For saying it so quietly, that’s all he gets.

“You are a fucking nightmare,” Hermann says, a little louder.

“Ooh!” With an exaggerated shiver, Newt pops the top button on his shirt. Hermann leans toward him across the table, less nervous now, even though the blush has spread all the way to his ears.

“I would like to take you back to my room and fuck you until you can’t walk straight.”

“Guh—n-not—that’s not punctuation,” Newt chokes out, fumbling with the rest of his buttons. It’s actually like. Really warm in here all of a sudden.

“To hell with punctuation,” Hermann says. “I’ll swear however I fucking like.”

“You are so fucking sexy.” Newt wriggles out of his shirt and drops it on the floor behind him. Down to his undershirt, he sets his elbows on the table and waits for Hermann’s next move.

“You have all the maturity of a juvenile fucking delinquent,” Hermann says, struggling now not to smile.

“Yeah, and you fucking love it!”

“I sure fucking do.” Hermann is practically yelling now, loud enough for everyone to hear, and Newt is going to have to actually take his pants off, or else throw his boyfriend over his shoulder and carry him off to bed. They may be just playing around here, but at the same time, fuck it’s hot when Hermann lets loose.

“Fuck, Herms,” Newt groans.

“Fuck, Newton,” Hermann agrees.

“Fuck.”

“Fuck!”

“Fuck!”

“Fuck!”

“Doctors,” someone says sharply from just behind Newt. The hint of a smile slides right off Hermann’s face.

“F-father,” he stammers, looking guilty as a kid caught sneaking out after curfew. Newt turns, silently begging for this not to be happening, but sure enough, Old Man Gottlieb is staring down at them, as stern as Hermann’s ever been, but in a way that’s deeply, deeply unsexy.

“You call your son Doctor?” Newt says without conscious decision. He turns back to Hermann. “When I say that about my mom, it’s a joke.”

“What are you doing here?” Hermann asks, ignoring Newt completely.

“I wanted to speak with you. I must admit, I never expected to hear my own son using such language in a public place.”

“Ah.” Hermann looks like he’s about to throw up. Newt reaches across the table to take his hand, which, for just one second, makes him look a hundred times worse. Then he looks at their entwined hands, squares his shoulders, and scowls up at Dr. Gottlieb with such withering disdain, it’s amazing the old guy doesn’t spontaneously combust. “I never expected to see my own father throwing his support behind such an asinine project as the Wall of Life, but here we are.”

“I see. Is that why you won’t return my calls? Out of some misplaced—”

“Not misplaced,” Hermann interrupts coolly. “My loyalty to Stacker Pentecost and the Jaeger Program was never misplaced. Even you must admit that’s true.”

“Yes, I can see your ideals were borne out in the end,” Lars concedes.

“Really?” Hermann is on his feet so fast, his chair clatters halfway across the aisle behind him. And since they’re still holding hands, Newt is jerked to his feet along with him. “You can’t just say that I was right? It’s not that I knew what I was talking about all this time, oh no, how could I ever? I’m just a foolish idealist who happened to put his faith in the winning team by sheer dumb luck!” He starts off at a dull roar, and works his way up to possibly the angriest Newt’s ever seen him. And that’s saying something.

Newt tries to stagger over to his side in a suave, I’m-dating-your-son-and-I-support-him kind of way, not in a rag-doll-thrown-around-by-a-tantrummy-toddler way. Not that it really matters. Neither Gottlieb is apparently aware of his presence at the moment.

“Hermann, stop making a spectacle of yourself.”

“A spectacle? Oh, that’s rich!”

“I did not travel halfway around the world to argue with you!”

“Then why did you come? You’re not wanted here, and I can guarantee I’m not the only person in this room who feels that way!” He gestures around at their colleagues, most of whom are pretending to ignore the show. But more than a few are openly preparing to throw rotten tomatoes at the dickbucket who hijacked their funding and almost cost them the war.

Wait. Tendo has an actual, literal tomato in his hand. Where did he even get that?

“I came here to talk to you.” For the first time, Lars Gottlieb sounds like an actual human being. Looks like one, too. Like a real father reaching out to his son.

Hermann squeezes Newt’s hand even tighter. Ow ow ow ow ow ow—

“I have no desire to talk to you. Sorry you’ve wasted a trip. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have rather a lot of work to do. Come, Dr. Geiszler.” He strides out of the mess hall. Newt follows along in his wake.

“My shirt,” he says, once they’re out in the hall.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

“No, it’s okay.” Someone will probably grab it for him, or else he can go back and get it later. What’s more concerning is that they left their noodles, and now that Hermann’s all upset, it won’t occur to him to eat anything else. Newt will have to get him some snacks for later.

“I am terribly sorry about this.” Hermann slows as they approach the elevators. The dude can book it when he really wants to.

“You didn’t do anything.” Newt checks behind them to make sure Lars hasn’t decided to follow them before he pulls Hermann to a stop and asks, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, of course. Perfectly all right,” Hermann says, which is, of course, what he always says when he’s not.

“If you want, I’ll run interference until he goes home. You don’t have to see him, you don’t have to talk to him, and whatever he’s here for, he can’t have it.”

“He wants my forgiveness,” Hermann sighs. “He’s left voicemails. I couldn’t help listening.”

“Oh,” says Newt. That’s…good, right? The old man is sorry, and ready to admit that he was wrong. He’s been stubbornly devoted to making nothing but bad choices, and on a personal level, he should be horribly ashamed of the way he’s treated his own son, but now he’s trying to make a change. Right?

“Don’t let me change my mind,” Hermann urges. “If I decide to give him another chance, lock me in my room and sit on me.”

“You’re giving me permission? That’s awesome!”

“Newton.”

“Well, it is. I’ve always wanted to sit on you.”

Hermann grimaces and hits the elevator button with his cane hand. The other is still clinging to Newt’s, so Newt raises it to his mouth and kisses the first finger he can get to. Some of the doom and gloom clears from Hermann’s expression.

“I really mean it, Newton. I don’t want to hear an apology from that man, because I will be stupid enough to accept it. And I don’t want to forgive him. It’s disrespectful to the dead.”

“Hey. You’re not stupid.” Hermann opens his mouth to argue, but Newt shuts him up with a finger to his lips. “It’s not stupid to want your own father to be better than he is. It’s not stupid to expect him to be decent. Okay?”

“Newt—”

“Okay?”

“Hrm.” The elevator doors slide open, and Hermann steps inside without giving him an answer. Not cool.

“You don’t have to forgive him,” Newt insists. “But maybe you deserve to hear his apology, just for you.” He kisses Hermann’s hand again. “Hey, if it makes you feel any better, nobody around here will ever let him off the hook for his part in prolonging the war. And I never liked the way he talked to you, even when I had my head so far up my ass I couldn’t even be your friend. I hope you don’t decide to forgive him, but even if you do, I won’t.”

“Thank you, darling, that’s very kind. I…think.”

“Nothing kind about it! I can hold a grudge for both of us. You know I’m good for it.” Newt waggles his eyebrows as dramatically as he can until Hermann stops looking like a world-weary old man and rolls his eyes like an irritable teen instead.

“By Jove, Newton,” he sighs. Then he looks down at their clasped hands until he’s finally forced to smile. “You are marvelous, you know. By fucking Jove.”

[green-socks]

2024 fic reading stats / AO3 Wrapped - Reader Edition

Last April I got the idea that I wanted to, in some form, get a better understanding of how much and how often I read fic, and some other stats as well. Obviously I knew the answer was a lot and often. But you know the urge to make lists and sort things when you're stressed? Yeah, that hit, so I started up a spreadsheet starting May 1st. In my spreadsheet I logged the date I had read the fic, the fic's title, author, fandom, ship, rating, and word count. I also added the AO3 link to the fic which has proven handy in looking up recs and stuff like that!

I just wanted to share some of those stats now that I've made lil graphs to go with them and everything lol

Starting with the totals:

Last year, from 1 May to 31 Dec, I read about 3,928,191 words of fanfic. (Now, that's the logged amount, but it's not... perfect. I won't go into detail but let's just state that that amount is still very telling!)

Total of different fics I read during the logged time was 478. (There are 479 logged entries but one of them was a reread, so.)

The most amount of entries for a single day was 8, and it happened three times lol. Two of those I know I was sick but idk what that third day was, probably a wonderfully lazy sunday.

Authors:

I logged at least 141 different AO3 authors. (Some people using several pseuds may have confused my count a little but give or take a couple!)

Here I have to shout out @fuddlewuddle because if I read 478 fics, 93 of those were hers. I don't even know what to say except that I'm glad our freaks match each other <3

A fun thing to note was that I myself made it on my top 10 list of "favorite" writers based on the amount of fics logged because I reread my own stuff frequently enough! That's kind of uplifting to think about. If sorted by word count, however, I am farrr from the top, because I tend to write shorter fics :D But I'm happy to keep it that way!

Fandom:

Showing off some percentages based on the 478 logged fics. Ahem, as you can see, Top Gun continues as the ruling fandom in my life, but there were some new smaller fandoms coming in as well! And that strange, two movie fandom fusion is, of course, courtesy of Fuddle...

If I were to sort these by word count instead, the percentages would stay pretty much the same, except Other fandoms would give a tiny bit of its slice over to Ted Lasso.

Ship:

Again, this is based on the total of 478 logged fics. Quelle surprise, I'm a hangster girl and there's a lot of that on the market, so 183 out of those 478 were hangster fics. Other ships here entails multi-ship fics (where the ships are equal instead of clear main ship & background ship type of thing), poly ships with a number of varying character combinations, and ships that had less than 5 logged fics with it as the main ship.

(The tiny red dot says roykeeleyjamie and it had 6 logs in total. The purple dot with the name not fully showing is macheresin with 10 fics.)

Rating:

This is again based on the total of 478 fics.

My own writing stats:

I posted 18,687 words' worth of fic last year (though some thousands of words haven't made it to AO3 yet, but were still written last year). As you can see, I am still very much a reader rather than a writer, but it's the best of both worlds, getting to do both!

Overall, I thought this was a fun experiment, and I'm going to keep up with my spreadsheet for the new year – because what is life without spreadsheets, really.

Guess if I realized I had forgotten to log at least one longer fic after finishing up the last of those graphs!!!! Sighhh

[helenofblackthorns]

Taylor Swift being name dropped in tda is so funny, especially when you think about what she was actually doing in 2012. like wdym on the 13th of August she dropped the first lead single of Red, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, and on the 14th of August the entire final fight against Malcolm in Lady Midnight happens. this includes Kieran's and Mark's (first proper on page) break up btw.

[obsessedwithstarwars]

Jazz makes a deal with Desiree after finding her brother in their parent’s basement. And it’s not a pretty sight.

Her deal: Desiree gets a slightly longer leash (in a matter of speaking) as long as Danny and Jazz are safe. (Or something like that. Point is, she made a deal)

I wish this never happened and that Danny and I were safe somewhere else!

There’s a snap of fingers, a bright flash, then she’s outside in an unfamiliar city with sirens blaring and people wailing as a scarecrow runs by with some sort of gas, chased by someone dressed like Vlad adjacent except all black with a weird looking bat symbol on his chest.

Not normal, but also not the weirdest thing she’s seen.

But there’s no sign of Danny.

Desiree looks at Jazz and smiles bitterly, “I never said you’d be safe together.” And disappears.

Meanwhile, Danny wakes up screaming in an alley until he realizes he is not in pain and somehow has no wounds from their parents. His screams attract the attention of a man walking by, who comes to investigate, Danny decides to go invisible right in front of him which was dumb but he was injured just a couple seconds ago so cut him some slack. It really should have freaked the guy out, but he just has an astonished look on his face before also turning invisible.

Or: Jazz is sent to Gotham and Danny is sent to Coast City. Jazz becomes an unwilling part of scarecrow’s scheme (could be any villain) and is saved by a bat (any bat, although I prefer Red Hood or Robin) and Danny accidentally showed Martian Manhunter his powers.

Could work with Superman too in Metropolis. He could pick up a dumpster and throw it at Clark and Clark would calmly catch it while Danny is babbling/apologizing for getting scared and throwing something that could have killed the man, then slowly everything clicks and he disappears, leaving Clark Kent to investigate.

(Also background: Danny has just been told he will be the future Ghost King in this and Jazz was told by Clockwork that she would have a difficult decision and a difficult future in store but that it will be good for them and for the realms. Jazz doesn’t believe in fortune tellers, especially vague ones and says so to Clockwork’s face which cracks a smile. I’d personally write it as a Hardcover ship, but honestly if anyone wants to yoink this and do something else with it, I’d be okay with that too!)

[epicfirestormer]

(holds all three in my hands) I just think they're neat

[zarnzarn]

The doors to Olympus are sturdy and strong, given everyone's preferences for drama and slamming said doors open and sending them cracking into the wall whenever the opportunity arises. Which is why it's a surprise when they creak open during the once-a-decade pantheon meeting; less so because no entity worth their salt would take so long to open the doors, and more so because everyone who is anyone is already there.

But if everyone is being honest with themselves- which no one is, usually- these gatherings are boring enough that the bland conversation is dropped immediately in favour of craning their necks to catch a glimpse of whatever is coming to relieve them of their boredom.

When the doors finally open however, several of the pantheon murmur in surprise.

"Odysseus," Athena whispers, wide-eyed as she pushes herself off her throne to her feet. It is him- in the king's garb he was buried in but the face he has when he reached home, hair till the shoulders and speckled with grey, face oddly blank. His feet are transparent.

"What are you doing here, sceptre?" Poseidon booms, hair the color of a stormy sea. Zeus, beside him, looks reserved, observing the ghost with something approaching curiosity- eyes flicking to the lightning scars on his daughter's face and back. "Your time has long passed, and Hades-"

"It is a temporary agreement," Odysseus says curtly, barely sparing him a glance as he approaches his patron. "Athena."

Her armour clinks as she steps forward and the gods all twitch, trading glances. Owls are silent creatures- to have her aspect so affected to make noise was... uneasy to say the least. She even holds herself different than usual, something like confused delight shining in her eyes. "How did you-"

"Did you sleep with my wife?"

The throne room is silent. Several jaws drop.

Athena straightens back up, blinking in surprise. She looks a bit shifty, some of the nymphs closest whisper to each other, which- well, almost every single god present owed some part of their existence to the mere story of Odysseus loving his wife.

Would he fight his own patron goddess over it in front of Mount Olympus, though? He certainly was unbalanced enough; Athena herself looked rather uncertain of her odds, even though-

"Are you addled in death, King of Ithaka?" Artemis drawls, looking amused. "Did you forget that your own patron is celibate? Whatever rumor you-"

"No, I-" Athena says suddenly, shifting her spear to her other hand. "I did."

Artemis chokes on her breath and several assorted divine beings gasp in shock and the rest shouting for explanations, although everyone is nearly drowned out by Aphrodite's loud, "WHAT?"

Odysseus inhales sharply and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I cannot believe you."

"She asked-" Athena starts, only to be drowned out by the din of various beings screeching and shouting about the scandal.

"ATHENA!" Hera hisses, peacock tail fanning behind her sharply as she pushes herself up. "Explain yourself!"

Athena half-turns to face her, face creased in a frown. "Mother, I-"

"LET ME REPHRASE!" Odysseus cuts in loudly, and the shouting settles down into silence. He walks to his patron, eyes blazing. "I cannot believe," he throws his clenched fists wide as he growls the last word, "-you took Penelope to bed-" Athena surprisingly stays still as he reaches her, mouth falling open as he grabs her by the chiton to yank her down, uncaring of the gasps of horror from all around as he snarls, "-before you ever kissed me."

And then Odysseus grabs Athena by the face roughly and kisses her.

This time Aphrodite's shriek cannot be escaped by anyone.

"Aphrodite, please," Zeus says a few moments later, wincing as his throne reforms around him, stained oddly pink. Quite a few minor entities have discorporated, and the ones nearest to her are still trying to regenerate their hearing. "Control yourself."

Their eyes land back on where Athena has dropped her spear- dropped her spear, Ares in the corner seems to be having some minor hysteria over this, well warranted- and is also on the floor, still being thoroughly kissed by that insufferable, mannerless hero of hers, perched on her stomach to reach. Zeus inhales in fury, Poseidon close behind him as the shock wears off, lightning crackling around his fingers as he opens his mouth to shout- of all the indignities-

"If you two ruin this for me," Aphrodite thunders, warping in front of them and glaring. "I will make you both regret it."

Both gods visibly blanch at the threat, taken aback for one brief moment. Threats from Aphrodite are far worse than any of her more violent siblings, at the end of the day.

Zeus visibly gathers himself just as Athena's helmet clatters to the floor, and he gains a second wind immediately, eye twitching as he spreads a hand to the spectacle in the middle of the hall. "WHAT MANNER OF DISRESPECT IS THIS? TO BARGE INTO OUR MEETING AND THROW ONE OF THE OLDEST GODDESSES TO THE FLOOR LIKE A COMMON WENCH-"

"Zeus," Hera says quietly. Everyone falls silent, although it's not quite enough to stop the two tangled together on the ground. She clears her throat, which finally seems to get through to Athena, who had finally seemed to have gotten over her shock enough to reach out, hands hovering over Odysseus hesitantly. Still, at the noise she seems to remember herself, pushing herself up on an elbow and dislodging him enough to break their necking. He pouts at her, but Athena's eyes are too glazed over to notice, heaving for breath.

Hera opens her mouth to speak, crown manifesting on her brow as she steps in front of the throne, but closes it as the door rattles again.

This time, the spectre shimmers with a faint hint of scales that comes with a freshwater nymph's heritage and excited whispers starved for drama explode across the room as the Queen of Ithaka steps into the room, skirts hitched in her hand and panting as if she'd been running.

"Your Graces," She bows respectfully before entering, Spartan princess through and through, until she catches sight of her husband and Athena, the former of whom seems to have taken the opportunity to start kissing the wisdom goddess again, fingers in her curls.

"What are you doing?" She snaps, rushing over. The entire courtroom holds its breath. She slaps her husband upside the head, making him yelp and move back to shoot her a betrayed look. Athena looks even further dazed than before, cheeks red. "Argos has more manners than you! No wonder Lady Athena wanted nothing to do with you- ah, hello, darling, by the way."

"Penelope," Athena murmurs hoarsely, and the Queen of Ithaka leans down to kiss her as well.

Odysseus chuckles, then jumps with everyone else as Hera slams a hand down on the throne elegantly, cracking it to the base.

"Ah, goddess-" He says, clambering off Athena to bow.

"Silence," Hera interrupts, holding up a hand, eyes cold. "You will not say anything to me apart from an explanation. My agreement for your release from Ogygia was due to the assurance that your marriage was one of the truest I have ever witnessed, conveyed by Athena herself when bartered with all of us to let you go. Tell me, was it a ploy? Because from the disgraceful looks of it, this seems to not be the case in the slightest."

Odysseus frowns, face twisting in confusion. "Athena bartered with...?" He turns to look at his patron, who stares back, unspeaking. His eyes flicker to the lightning scar over her right eye as Penelope traces it with horrified eyes and a gentle thumb, and understanding seems to dawn.

For a moment, rage seems to fill him, glaring with a hatred towards Zeus that everyone whispered later wasn't met by the god king with anger, but a flicker of remorse- before he visibly throws it away behind Athena's old smile and bows.

"God-queen," He says formally, gracefully. Hera twitches a bit, and they'll all talk later about how odd it was to so clearly see Athena's younger mannerisms in the man, down to the curl of the letters. "My marriage to Penelope has never been false, never been broken, this I promise you." He takes Penelope's hand and squeezes it for emphasis, and she raises them as acknowledgement. "But... can you not argue that Athena has been part of our marriage all this time? From its start, where she advised me on courting and her on what to look for, to the twenty years she spent with both of us- me on the battlefield and Penelope in the court; to say nothing of how she helped raise our son and lived in our palace in the days after. And is she not so unbearably beautiful that even my Penelope couldn't wait-" He shoots a glare at her, which Penelope returns with a smile. "-when the chance was presented? How can you fault us for disgrace, after being so long apart from our wife?"

Hera raises both eyebrows at the impudence, the kind of disbelieving expression that hides a warning to tread carefully. "So you claim to be both married to Pallas Athena?"

"In every way that matters except legality," Odysseus says, fearlessly. He is dead, after all, what much can you do to a shade that they didn't already put him through when alive. He is sort of worried about Athena, though, as they both help her back to her feet, Penelope busy whispering compliments and updates and endearments in turn- she's not usually one to be quiet in face of a problem.

Hera tilts her head. "Ah, but you see. I need the legality, if I am to finally-" A helpless, excited smile pulls at her lips once, twice, before unfolding into a bright grin, peacock tails unfolding to their full wingspan. "-finally arrange for a marriage for my eldest daughter who has not once- oh finally, I can hardly believe this day has come-"

"I do not like the way you grabbed her, Sacker of Troy," Ares steps forward as Hera starts ranting half to herself, half to an equally loud assemblage of joyful entities about wedding arrangements, eyes narrowed.

Odysseus barks an incredulous, loud laugh, gesturing to Athena with a slightly crazed look in his eyes. "This lady has broken- and I do not exaggerate- every single bone in my body before I saw my sixteenth year. I have punched her a hundred times in the face when she taught me how to fight. We'll survive, thanks."

"That is fair," Ares steps back, hands raised.

"What duties will you provide as spouses, Ithakan Queen?" Hestia questions, stepping forward.

"Oh, the same we did when we were living," Penelope huffs a laugh. "Keep her busy, make her laugh, be of mild frustration to her, love her well, worship her-"

"I do not. Need to know," Hestia closes her eyes and raises a hand to cut her off, stepping back. Around them, the din catches speed and volume as no further objections arise, excitement spilling into the air.

"What is happening?" Athena says faintly, looking around as if she was just waking up.

"-oh, and we can get out the decor once more! Hebe, Aphrodite, loves, do you remember where we kept the fountains-"

"-finally, a reason to celebrate! Call them all out of hiding-"

"-can't believe this is finally happening, oh sister, what songs should we-

"Why am I getting married," Athena says with much more alarm and horror. She turns to Odysseus and shakes him by the shoulder, eyes wild. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!"

"How is this nothing? Do you have any idea the headache-"

"Athena, sweetheart, will you consider changing into that beautiful piece you made for the ceremony?"

Creakily, she turns her head to Hera, disbelief pasted across her face. "Mother," She says slowly. "They are both dead."

"Oh, I'll make a deal with Hades or something, you hush!" Aphrodite leans forward and snaps, before her irritation melts back into a manic joy. "Oh, what paint shall we do?"

Paint, Athena mouths, looking afraid for possibly the first time since her conception.

Penelope laughs and tugs on Athena's hand to make her turn, tucking dishevelled curls behind her ear. She wonders if the goddess knows how beautiful she is when she's flustered. "Take us away," She whispers. On Athena's other side, Odysseus leans against their patron with a besotted, helpless smile as he stares up at her, her helmet and spear in hand. She'd missed Athena like a limb, missed her deep laugh at night when they'd discussed the day's court, the dry jokes, the hands over hers as she weaved- but Odysseus wasn't himself without her, happy though they were in Hades' lands together, all of them.

"I'm-" Athena wavers, then looks around once more at all the excited screaming, something unreadable flashing in her eyes. Almost against her will, her eyes fall to Zeus, who is sitting silently and staring back at her. Poseidon looks like he still wants to start a fight, but clearly by his wary looks below can tell he will be heavily outnumbered by the overexcited crowd to not try, but Zeus just stares back at her, face blank of any emotion.

"We ask you formally this time," King Odysseus says, walking in front of her to take her attention away, holding onto her hand. His voice has strength in it, drawing the eyes of the murmuring crowd, but he's deaf to it as he stares up at her.

"Will you be our wife?" Queen Penelope asks, joining him, watching their beautiful patron shudder for breath she does not need as her eyes flick to one of them and then the other.

"Yes," She whispers and cheers erupt all across Mount Olympus.

"Finally!" Odysseus complains, and then pulls her down once more to kiss her, all three of them fading at the edges as one of the generous gods present there- who seems to realize that they're not very inclined to stop anytime soon- thankfully teleports them away into a nice room with a large bed.

"Finally," He whispers as he breaks apart to lay her down, cupping her face, voice heavy with the longing of a full lifetime and more. Penelope circles to the head of the bed and starts undoing Athena's braid, staring at them both lovingly.

Later the ones closest will murmur, as the silhouettes faded away, that tears had slipped from proud Pallas Athena's eyes as she placed one hand against Odysseus' cheek, trembling.

"I missed you," She will whisper back, and all three of them fade away to their own story, yet to be made.